by Sharon Ihle
She looked at him expectantly, and suddenly, Cole Fremont had no idea what to do. She was talking like a proper lady from back East, presenting herself to him as if she were indeed a stranger. If she were, he would have had no problem with his next move. He would escort her outside. And leave her there.
His smile grew lazy, crooked, as he thought of pulling the ribbons from her hair and dragging his hands through it until all the tight little curls had relaxed. His cool green eyes warmed, turned potent with the promise of spring as his memory returned to their playful pursuit through the tall meadow only a few days ago. And then his mind forced his thoughts to the present, told him he had to stop daydreaming about what had been, what could be, and get on with the present. But it didn't stop him from sliding his hand around her waist, or pulling her close and whispering the words he knew she wanted to hear.
"You look beautiful, Sunshine." Cole slipped his finger under her chin and tilted her head to receive his kiss, but she resisted, stiffened her entire body to match the rigidity he felt surrounding her waist.
"Please, I cannot." Sunny wasn't sure if it was the excitement of the party or just the damnable corset squeezing the breath out of her, but she was certain of one thing. If she stayed in Cole's arms or allowed him to kiss her, she would faint dead away, and most likely ruin her chances of fitting in with the other ladies in the bargain. She tensed her spine and he released her.
"Sorry." Cole's apology was awkward and uncertain. How should he behave around this new version of Sunflower Callahan? Contrite and remorseful? Or playful and honey-tongued? Working at blending all those sentiments, he tipped his hat and bowed at the waist. "Please forgive me, Miss Callahan. I know this isn't the time or place to show you how I feel, but you just look so doggone beautiful, I couldn't help myself."
And at least that much was true, even if his other thoughts had been selfish and impulsive. His needs and his desires would have to wait. Sunny had to be nervous about meeting his neighbors, as well as excited about wearing these fine new clothes and having her hair arranged so fashionably. She'd informed him how limited her knowledge was of these things and expressed her curiosity about the fine ladies of Phoenix several times. How could he spoil her debut by showing anything less than respect and enthusiasm for her efforts and new look?
And she was beautiful, he had to admit. Breathtaking, even if she wasn't as he first knew her or what he wanted her to be. She could be very happy for the next couple of days as she stepped into a world that had always been denied to her, might even find it to her liking. Something deep inside told Cole to encourage her foray into the world of socially prominent white women. He owed her that much, even though it might turn her from him and the woman he'd come to love might fade as this new lady emerged.
Love? Cole's breath caught with the realization, and he reached out to the bannister to steady himself. When had that happened, he wondered with a start? Was that the thing, that nebulous feeling clouding his thinking since his return to the ranch? Was love, not his father's prejudice or his own ranching plans, the thing he'd been struggling with all along? Cole looked into Sunny's puzzled eyes and let his breath out in a long sigh. He could hear the rumble of wagons arriving in the yard. He would have to sort these feelings later. Now it was time to present Sunflower to his guests. And dammit, he would present her in grand style and encourage her entrance into Phoenix society. He would support and accept anything she wanted to do over the next few days, as long as she didn't pick up too many flirtatious habits or start batting her eyelashes at him the way Liz Scott always did.
Proud of his insight, of his decision, Cole turned, clicking his boot heels together, and held out his arm. "My dear Miss Callahan, I believe the guests have arrived. Would you care to join me in the yard?"
Sunny's smile was as enthusiastic as it was prim, and she gave him a proper little curtsy. "Thank you, sir. I would be delighted."
Then she accepted his offer wearing her most saucy expression, and batted her eyelashes as if they were on fire.
Daniel Hobbs pulled on the reins as the wagon rounded a curve and the rooftop of the majestic Fremont ranch house came into view. "Whoa, now," he shouted as the wheels slowly rolled to a stop. Swiveling on the narrow wooden seat, he barked an order. "Eileen. Git on up here and squeeze yer worthless behind twixt yer ma and me."
"Yes, Pa." Careful not to catch her only decent wrapper on a splinter, Eileen picked her way past three of her five brothers, then scrambled to the side of the wagon and climbed over. Her legs wobbly from sitting on her knees for the past two hours, she limped to the front of the wagon and made an awkward climb up to the seat.
She was bent over, trying to wedge her slender body between her parents, when Daniel cracked the whip and sent the wagon lurching down the path again. The force snapped her backwards onto the hard seat, and sent a searing bolt of pain up her spine. But Eileen didn't cry out, wouldn't shed her reservoir of tears. She bit her lip until the taste of her own blood seeped into her mouth, but remained silent and uncomplaining.
Daniel turned to Eileen, scrutinizing her out of the corner of a hard, cold eye, and grumbled, "You know there be only one reason I brung you along to this here bar-bee-cue, doncha?"
"Yes, sir, I do." She kept her gaze on the road ahead and folded her hands in her lap.
"Don't get cute with me, gal," Daniel raised his hand, but lowered it when Eileen ducked, covering her head with her arms. "I axed you a question and I 'spect a real answer."
"Yes, sir." Her bottom lip trembling, she recited his instructions. "I'm to flirt with Cole Fremont and try to get his interest."
"Not try, gal. Make damn sure he takes up with you. It's high time you earned yer keep. Ownin' part a that Fremont ranch might ease the agony of raisin' a brat like you considerable. Yessir," he grinned, running his tongue along his thick cracked lips, "I believe I could git real used to havin' a Fremont in the family."
"But, Pa," Eileen cried in a soft whimper, "Cole already has a girl, and even if he hasn't spoken for her just yet, that Elizabeth Scott is lots prettier than me. I don't have a chance."
"Then make one." Daniel's whip cracked, leaving a vicious welt across the back of the roan mare. "Gals like you kin always find a way to snare a man," he spat. "This Fremont boy cain't be any smarter than the rest of us."
He turned, curling his lip into an ugly snarl, and regarded his trembling daughter again. "Could be Fremont takes to sportin' women. He might sit up and take notice if that gaudy hair of yours shows. Could be a good idear this one time to leave off yer bonnet. What'd you think, Ma?"
Martha's tired eyes darted from her husband to Eileen and back to Daniel again. Shrugging her thin shoulders, she said, "I s'pose that'd be all right. We could comb it around our fingers and make a few curls. Would you like that, honey?"
But before Eileen could answer, Daniel snapped, "It don't matter what she likes. It's a done deal." He looked down the trail, gauging the distance. "Git to it. We're almost there."
Without another word, Martha loosened her daughter's bonnet and the two women set about working Eileen's wavy red tresses into a suitable, if not particularly fashionable, style. Lacking extra hairpins or ribbon to match the green checkered gingham of her wrapper, Eileen tucked the sides of her hair behind her ears and left the rest to flow freely down her back. Daniel grunted and gave her a grudging nod of approval as they pulled into the yard of their host.
"Now just remember what I said," he ordered as he slowed the wagon to a halt. "Mind yer manners, but make damn sure that Fremont colt sits up and takes notice."
"Yes, Pa."
Eileen glanced around the grounds searching for Cole, wondering if he even knew her name, what he'd think of her wild red hair hanging loose for all to see. She felt naked, ashamed, certain Cole would grimace when he saw how cheap and wanton she looked. She'd only met him once, and that had been a brief "how'd you do" at Goldwater's in town. Maybe he wouldn't even remember her. And even if he did, handsome and
roguish as he was, the thought of sparking his interest, of actually encouraging his advances, was too farfetched to be real.
"Welcome to the Triple F ranch," a well-groomed man in a fine suit of grey wool greeted. "Nathan Fremont at your service." Always cognizant of his political future, Nathan flashed a toothy grin as he approached the side of the wagon, his hand extended in a warm greeting. "And which of our good neighbors might ya'll be?"
"Daniel Hobbs." He pumped his host's manicured hand, then gestured to his right. "This be my wife Martha and daughter Eileen. Got five of my six boys in the back."
"Six sons? You're a fortunate man, sir, to leave such a legacy. I'm down to the one boy, but a man couldn't ask for a finer son and heir than I got in Cole."
"So I've heard tell." Daniel worked to keep the greed out of his voice as he climbed off the buckboard and helped Martha and Eileen down. "Where might that boy of yourn be?"
"He's in the barn greeting our other guests with lemonade and iced cantaloupe. Why don't you folks join him and refresh yourselves. I'll have one of the hands see to your horse and rig."
"Thank ye kindly." Daniel gestured to his family, and they dutifully followed him into the huge barn. Cleared and carpeted with fresh straw just for this occasion, the newly painted walls were lined with tables filled with food and drink, and the loft played host to a series of ribbons, bows, and several brightly burning lanterns. The smell was fresh, clean, and inviting, a scent of springtime and new beginnings. When his nose caught the enticing aroma of fresh-baked goods as well, Daniel headed for one of the food-laden tables with his wife and children trailing after him like a column of ducks.
"It's Dan Hobbs, isn't it?" Cole asked as the newcomer reached for a slice of toast topped with a crisp quail breast, and stuck it in his mouth.
"Umph," Daniel mumbled with a nod. He turned, his eyes widening as he recognized the very man he sought, and wiped his hand on his trousers before he offered it to Cole. "Good to see you again." Spinning around, he grabbed Eileen's arm and dragged her along side of him. "You recall meetin' my gal, Eileen? She's growed up some since you last saw her, I 'spect."
"Miss Hobbs." Cole tipped his hat, then looked past her to Martha. "Nice to see you again, too, Mrs. Hobbs. Please have some food and drink and refresh yourselves from your long trip."
"Thank ye kindly." Martha beckoned to her boys, then joined them, trying her best to slow their impassioned assault on the cakes and pies. Her husband moved towards a group of neighborhood men, leaving Eileen alone with Cole.
Untutored in the ways of seduction, Eileen braided her fingers together, squeezing them until they turned white as she frantically searched for something clever to say. Chancing a quick glance into Cole's eyes, she tried to speak in a light, carefree voice, but it came out sounding more like a creaky hinge. "Mighty nice place you've got here. Must be something to live in a big house like that."
"Thank you. It's a very comfortable home."
He said the words politely enough, but they were hollow, distracted. Eileen chanced another look into Cole's handsome features and saw the reason why. He was looking past her, gazing intently at someone or something as it came into the barn. She followed his line of vision to a beautiful doe-skinned woman as she made her way towards them. Although Eileen was sure she'd never met or seen the woman before, something about her was familiar. Who was she?
Trying not to mimic the red-haired creature at Cole's side, and stare the way she was being stared at, Sunny glided up to him. "Nellie asked me to tell you your mother will join everyone later this afternoon. She has decided to rest a little longer so she can enjoy the dancing tonight."
"Thanks for the message." Still unaccustomed to her new appearance, Cole's gaze lingered on Sunflower a long moment before he remembered his other guest. "Oh, Eileen. I'd like you to meet a very special friend of mine. This is Sunny Callahan from Yuma."
"Callahan?"
The meek redhead suddenly became animated, nearly pushing Cole out of the way as she approached Sunny. "Are you by any chance Sean's sister? Have you seen him? Did he make it here all right?"
Her curiosity outweighing her suspicions, Sunny regarded the girl carefully before she answered. "Sean Callahan is my brother. Do you know him?"
"Oh, yes," Eileen cried, her ice-blue eyes sparkling with excitement. "He saved my life this past Tuesday. Is he here?"
"Saved your life?”
The thought was vocalized by both Sunny and Cole. Glancing at each other, they burst out laughing, then Sunny caught her breath. "Excuse us, but you are quite a surprise. Sean has not mentioned saving anyone's life. And yes, he is here."
"Oh," she laughed, clapping her hands together. "May I see him?" But as soon as the words were out, Eileen realized her mistake. She'd spoken too quickly, with too much excitement. She was supposed to be attracting Cole's interest, not hinting at her feelings for another. Her expression rigid with panic, Eileen glanced around, looking for her father. He was engaged in conversation several feet away, apparently oblivious to his daughter's blunder. He hadn't seen or heard.
Determined to see Sean again, in spite of Daniel Hobbs or what it might do to her chances with Cole, she bit her lip and spoke in hushed tones. "I'm afraid in the excitement the other day, I didn't, well, I never really thanked Sean proper. Where might I find him?"
Sensing the undercurrents but not their cause, Sunny smiled at the nervous girl. "He's at the far table serving lemonade. Come, I will take you to him."
"Oh, no." Eileen stepped back, ducking as if to hide. "Ah, that's all right." Her mind raced as she tried to think of a way to see him without her pa's knowledge. "I was just going outside for a breath of air. If you'd be kind enough to tell him, I'd like to talk to Sean out by that yonder stand of cottonwood trees."
Sunny's muscles tensed and her eyes dulled as Eileen spoke. The girl obviously didn't want to be seen with a half-breed, was much too good even to thank him for saving her miserable life in front of the other fine white folks. Lifting her chin, Sunny replied as respectfully as good manners dictated, but her tone was flat and dull, her expression cold and aloof.
"Of course. I will be happy to tell him." Then she lifted her skirts and flounced off to the other end of the barn. By the time she reached her brother, her quick temper had chilled to contempt.
"Sean?" Gesturing for him to follow, she turned and stomped out through the double doors. When Sean rounded the corner after her, he was carrying two cups of iced lemonade.
"You look like you could use a little cooling off," he observed, handing her the drink. "What's wrong, little one?"
Sunny choked down a swallow of the tart liquid, then shivered and puckered her lips before she explained. "A woman with hair the color of fire has come to me with a wild tale. She says you saved her life. Is this so?"
"Eileen? Is she here?"
"Then her story is true?"
"Yes, I guess I did save her life. Where is she?"
Sunny uttered a short, bitter laugh. "Hiding in the cottonwood trees so none of the fine folks gathered here can see that she would speak to one such as you."
"Eileen's not like that. She's one of the kindest, most gentle people I've ever met. You've judged her too quickly."
His sudden anger, the force behind his words, took Sunny by surprise. She backed further away from the door, urging him to join her. "What is this?" she whispered, incredulous. "Do you actually think of this woman, look on her as or think of courting her?"
Sean's sigh was long, more of a groan. He pulled off his hat and ran his fingers through his thick black hair. "No, little one, your brother's no fool." He thought of adding, "like you are," but knew that wasn't completely true. While neither he nor his sister could ever hope to be entirely accepted in white society, Sunny at least had a slim chance. Men like his father had paved the way for her. He, on the other hand, could never hope to make Eileen anything but a casual acquaintance. It would be a deadly folly to try.
"I'm sorry if my tem
per spoke before my brain had a chance to think, but I wanted you to know that Eileen is no cruel woman who thinks I am less than she. She has a tender heart and a pure soul."
"She has more than a kind heart," Sunny said with a knowing smile. This brother she knew well enough to be her twin was hiding something, denying himself to her. Willing to accept his wrath if she were wrong, Sunny ventured, "I think she may have your heart as well."
"That is impossible. This is something I know to be unthinkable for either of us, even if you don't."
"Oh, my brother? Is this so?" Sunny fingered the soft leather of Sean's vest, plucked at the sleeves of his checkered shirt, and pulled the short hairs at the back of his head, cut just for the occasion. "If not for your skin, I believe you have disguised yourself almost well enough to hide your Quechan blood. Perhaps you think you have the right to steal the heart of a white woman. Was it your plan to forget who you are?"
"No, Sunny. Was it yours?" Caught by the injustice, the prejudices they both must endure, Sean waved his hand from the top of her head to her toes. "I see nothing of the Sunflower I knew from Yuma here. Who do you pretend to be?"
"I pretend to be no one but myself," she snapped. "And we are speaking of you and this flaming-haired woman, not of me and my need to borrow some clothing from the generous Fremont family."
"I too have borrowed," he countered, referring to his ranch hand look. "But I know who I am and where I belong. Do you still retain that knowledge, little sister?"
Sunny stamped her foot, but held her tongue. She had no answer, for him or for herself, and wasn't even certain she wanted to look for one. Lowering her lashes, she stared at the red earth. Her brother had turned the conversation around, changed its course to point at her. Was she deluding herself to think of a future with Cole? More and more, she'd considered what life would be like as a permanent part of the Fremont family, and wished in her heart it would come true. Was Sean right? Did she belong in Yuma with her own kind, whatever that may be?
