“I’ll get it.” Still showing signs of concern, he kissed the back of her hand with much ceremony and propriety. The slight show of affection was all she had ever allowed, not that he’d ever dared attempt anything more. They had been friends since childhood, both of them raised according to a strict moral code. A true lady did not allow a man to take liberties before marriage, nor did a true gentleman press himself upon a lady.
As soon as he walked out of the room, Josie closed the door and leaned against it, hard-pressed to hide a smile as an unexpected rush of delight surged through her. At last she had the exotically handsome, dark-eyed, soft-spoken and incredibly massive William Ipo all to herself.
CHAPTER THREE
WILL FELT HIMSELF becoming mired deeper and deeper into quicksand of his own making. Josie smiled down the length of the table from him, prettily presiding as hostess across a sea of crocheted ecru lace, shimmering water goblets, sparkling cutlery and china bowls heaped with steaming mashed potatoes, a boatful of gravy and a platter of Heartbreak Ranch’s prime sliced beef.
He had been captivated since the moment he laid eyes on her, and now that he had complicated the situation by not telling her outright that his name translated to William Heart, he couldn’t find a way to tell her the truth. She was flirting so openly and smiling at him so trustingly as she hung on every word he said that Will couldn’t bear to see her shining eyes fill with embarrassment when he confessed that he was not merely a close friend of Sam Heart’s, but his first son by Sam’s Hawaiian wife, Nani.
He felt things had passed the point where he could tell her that he was her half uncle. If he did, she would not only feel that she’d made a fool of herself, but at the very least, she would become suspicious of him, certain he had come to take over the ranch. After admitting the truth, he doubted he could convince her that he intended nothing of the sort.
So Will sat there and listened as she chatted on about what she had read of his islands and felt himself sink into shame at both his deception and his disturbing and forbidden attraction to her.
“Will? Mr. Ipo?”
He started, nearly dropping the heavy, hollow-handled
knife against the rim of the floral china. “What?”
“I was asking if it’s true the ancient Hawaiians practiced human sacrifice? I once read an article written by a former missionary who had spent years in the Sandwich Islands, and he reported many such practices had once existed.”
Will couldn’t help but notice the slight shiver that swept her when she broached such an unsavory subject. He watched, mesmerized, as she carefully blotted the tempting corners of her lips with a linen napkin. It wasn’t until she’d returned the napkin to her lap that he could answer.
“Before the coming of the haoles, the white strangers, the Hawaiians did practice human sacrifice. Kanaka kapu, the tabooed men, were sacrificed as part of our original religious customs—before the island’s gods were replaced by the missionaries.” Will pulled the bowl of mashed potatoes over to his plate and began dishing up another generous helping.
When he looked down the dining table again, Josie was studying him closely. “Did you make the voyage here just to bring word of Sam Heart’s death?”
He paused with a forkful of potatoes halfway to his lips and lowered it to his plate. “I was in the Pacific Northwest visiting some transplanted cousins before I came to California to buy several stallions. I’ve already shipped all of them, except for the roan I rode in on, back to Hawaii. I plan to breed them with Hawaiian stock.”
“So, you have a ranch, too? Is that how you came to know the Hearts?”
Will dropped his gaze to his plate. “Yes. I have a ranch.” He met her eyes again, cursing fate, cursing Sam Heart and cursing himself for having to suffer the knowledge that he had fallen head over heels in love for the first time and the object of his affection was his own niece.
“I have to admit that I love Heartbreak Ranch more than anything else, but at times the responsibilities are overwhelming,” Josie admitted with a sigh.
“You have some help, don’t you? What about Julian?”
“Julian?” Josie laughed and Will’s hand clenched around his napkin.
She had not once mentioned her fiancé during the meal, but after the way she had been staring at Will as if he were a ripe mango hanging on a low branch, he had all but forgotten Julian Fairchild himself.
“Julian hardly knows one end of a horse from the other—”
“That might not bode well for you on your wedding night,” he said without thinking and watched the color in her already rosy cheeks deepen considerably.
“Mr. Ipo,” she said, trying to sound offended but failing when she could not hide her smile, “I don’t think what Julian knows about horses will matter in the least when...when...oh, never mind.”
“I’m sorry if I offended you. I’ve noticed I have a bawdier sense of humor than mainlanders. Not to mention, I may be a bit out of practice with my manners. I don’t often have an opportunity to share dinner with a lovely lady like yourself.”
He drank her in with his eyes, knowing it was time he took his leave, but it gave him heartache to know he would never have the chance to see her again, to hear her sweet voice or look into the depths of her bewitching eyes.
“Dinner was wonderful,” he said, laying his napkin alongside his plate. “I have to go now if I’m to arrive at the Golden Gate Hotel in Havilah at a decent hour.”
“Havilah?”
He nodded. “I was told there’s a Doc Jamison there who is an expert on horse breeding and care. I want to talk to him before I head back to Los Angeles. I’m sailing home next week.”
Josie felt a swift jolt of panic hit her harder than a mule’s kick when she realized William Ipo was planning to leave. She tried to ignore that he had set his napkin aside and was waiting for her to acknowledge what he had just said. Frantically she searched for any excuse to keep him there. She felt like a shameless hussy, but she couldn’t help herself.
Everything had been planned. Before William Ipo rode into her life, everything had been in perfect order. She was engaged to Julian, her dear, dear lifelong friend, so there was really no excuse for what she was feeling for the man seated opposite her. There was no excuse for the way he made her blush with just a look. There was certainly no excuse for the warm, melting sensation she experienced in an unmentionable part of her body. All she knew was that Julian had never dared to look at her the way Will Ipo was looking at her right now, nor had she ever before felt so very sensual, feminine or alive.
And not since her parents died had she experienced such a sinking sense of loss.
With a heavy heart she stood, ever the perfect hostess, to signal that he could take his leave. “Be careful on the trail,” she warned, knowing full well she could not invite him to stay the night, at least not in the house. Quickly she added, “If you’d like to sleep in the bunkhouse with the men—”
“Thank you, but I must go.”
They stood, sharing an awkward, lingering silence while the tall clock in one corner of the dining room chimed the quarter hour. Josie bowed her head wondering what he might do if she showed up in Havilah before he left. At least then she could accompany him on his ride through the basin and down the road to Caliente. Surely there could be no harm in that, nothing for anyone to gossip about, just a few friendly hours passed with a close friend of her grandfather’s—
“Mahalo, Josie. Thank you. I’ll see myself out.”
To her dismay, when she looked up she realized that he was already standing in the doorway. If she didn’t pull herself together, Will would be gone before she even had a chance to walk him to the door.
“Wait!”
Just as she shoved back her chair with such force it nearly toppled over behind her, the door behind Will burst open and Clay Henderson, ranch foreman, burst into the room. Past fifty, he had a head of gray hair and lines around his eyes that the sun had carved there over the years. Clay
gave Will a cursory glance and turned his attention to Josie.
“Damian’s got the colic,” he said. Before Josie could respond, Clay stared up at Will. “You the Hawaiian that rode in today?”
“I am. Damian is a horse?”
“Best damn piece of horseflesh we’ve had on this ranch for a while. He’s got the colic bad.” Clay turned to Josie. “Been walkin’ him for two hours and I didn’t want to disturb you, but I thought you’d want to know, seein’ as how he means so much to you.”
Josie fought back tears as she listened to Clay talk about the stallion, one of her father’s last major stock purchases. The horse was a coal-black Arabian that they hadn’t really been able to afford at the time, but Walker Heart couldn’t pass up the opportunity to add it to his extensive string of horses. She looked down at her perfect white gown and made a decision.
“I’ll go up and change and meet you out at the barn.” Then she turned to Will. “Is there an old Hawaiian remedy you know of that might help?”
Will shook his head. “We tried one once with turpentine, laudanum and warm water, but I hate to tell you what happened. Now we just keep ’em walking and hope for the best.”
Josie turned to Clay. “You look exhausted. I’ll change and take over for you since you have to be up before dawn.”
“I’ll go out until you are ready,” Will said.
“Oh, would you?” She sounded more than pleased.
There was no way Will could refuse with Josie staring up at him with such admiration in her eyes. Feeling part coward, part thief, he looked away. Since he had gained her trust and admiration under false circumstances, the very least he could do was stay a little longer and try to help out.
* * *
THEY WERE ALONE, just the two of them, she and Will. It was everything Josie had longed for during dinner as she came to know him better. Now they shared soft lamplight from the lantern hung beside the barn door, the sweet scent of wildflowers perfuming the night air and a counterpane of stars hanging above the basin. The Tehachapi Mountains stood like silent chaperones, waiting and watching.
For the past three hours, side by side, they had trudged through mud and manure as they walked Damian around the corral. Will had never once complained. Instead, he had kept her mind off worrying about the stallion by telling her tales of Sam Heart’s home in Hawaii. She knew all about Nani, her grandfather’s Hawaiian wife, a woman Will described as tall and robustly plump, and about the children Sam had fathered before he died.
She learned about Will’s ohana, his extended family of cousins and second cousins, aunts and uncles, the luau feasts held to celebrate weddings and birthdays, anniversaries and homecomings. His descriptions of the azure sea and the pounding surf, the trade winds and the tropical flowers were so clear she could almost feel the sea mist and smell the fragrant plumeria on the air.
“What are you thinking?” His voice came to her through the semidarkness. She glanced up at him, a silhouette against the darker mountain shadows.
“I was just thinking of how much you must love your home,” she said with a sigh. “I can hear it in your voice, hear it when you speak in Hawaiian.” She decided he would probably never leave the islands, not even for love.
“I do love it,” Will said softly. “As much as you love your Heartbreak Ranch.”
“Sometimes I wonder what will become of this place.”
“Surely your own keiki will stay on here. You’ll teach them to love the land as you do.”
Her step faltered. He reached for her elbow, and when his hand cupped her arm, Josie felt an electrifying jolt of longing sear through her. She had never, ever reacted to Julian this way, never waited breathlessly for his touch. Something mysterious was happening to her, something she couldn’t fathom. She wished her mother were alive so that she could pour her heart out to her. Perhaps then the secret of what William Ipo did to her might be explained.
“Julian doesn’t want children,” she said softly.
“What?” Will stopped in midstride.
Between them, Damian tossed his head and tried to bite himself in the side. They quickly started walking again.
Josie sighed. “Julian is a writer, a very gifted and talented writer, who is highly sensitive. He thrives in a tranquil setting and feels that children would only intrude upon his work.”
“Hawaiians love children,” Will said, staring off at the outline of the mountains.
Josie remained silent and continued to prod Damian along.
Will found it hard to believe there was a man alive who would not want a houseful of children by her. He knew the disturbing thoughts that followed that line of thinking should not have been entertained by one so closely related to Josephina Heart.
Finally, Damian began to settle down as the colic passed. The danger over, they led the Arabian to his stall in the barn. When they both reached for the latch at once, Will’s hand touched Josie’s wrist and lingered too long. His fingers slipped up to hers and he enveloped her hand in a firm but gentle hold. Near enough to catch an elusive scent of roses as he leaned closer, he could feel her warmth. She was staring up at him expectantly, too expectantly.
She was tempting, forbidden fruit. She was his niece. His own half brother’s child.
And he wanted her more than he’d ever wanted anything in his life.
With a shudder, he let go and stepped away, but the tension continued to throb between them, lingering on the air like the alluring scent of roses that wafted around her.
He had to leave. Had to get away from Josie and the unfulfilled longing in her eyes. Will watched her step back. She was uneasy with his silent rejection. Her eyes quickly became shadowed with self-doubt and apology. He cursed himself as the source of her embarrassment.
“It looks like the horse will be all right. I’d best be heading to Havilah.” Fighting to ignore the shadowed questions in her eyes, Will turned his attention to Damian.
“It’s very late. You don’t know the trail,” she said softly. “There’s a small settlement of Kawaiisu Indians over the hill who are very peaceful. If you run into any trouble, ask for James Panau.” She paused momentarily and blushed. “He may be drunk, but he’d not be that far gone yet and might still be able to help you. He is raising his son, Ben, alone.”
“I’ll be all right.” Will moved quickly, afraid the caress in her tone might persuade him to stay. He didn’t pause until he was at the open barn door. Finally, he turned and then, feeling he’d put safe enough distance between them, looked back.
She was standing where he left her, blinking furiously, the color of her wide eyes reflected indigo in the lamplight.
“You’ll have to pass by here on your way to Caliente to catch the train—”
“I really don’t have much time.”
“Perhaps you can just stop and say goodbye.” She was holding her fingers locked together at her waist. Her gaze dropped to her hands, then shot back up to him.
There was no way he could deny her, or himself.
“I’ll try.” He nodded in her direction, feeling a complete coward as he said, “Aloha.”
CHAPTER FOUR
TWO SECONDS after Will stepped outside and was swallowed up by the darkness, Josie dropped to her knees in the straw that littered the barn floor. She covered her burning cheeks with her palms. How could she have been so brazen? Where had she gotten the courage to be so bold as to throw herself at Will Ipo like that? Was it any wonder the poor man had wanted to get away from her so badly that he practically ran out of the barn?
When he had held her hand she’d gone weak in the knees. She had even been on the verge of asking him to kiss her. She prayed the longing had not shown on her face, but something in the way he had reacted told her differently. His expression had gone beyond shock. He had been downright appalled.
“You’ll have to pass by here on your way to Caliente to catch the train...”
Josie groaned aloud and leaned against the door to Damian’s stal
l. When the horse started to nibble on her hair, she stood away from the door, ran her hands down the front of her split skirt and then reached up to smooth her hair into place. Taking a deep breath, she was determined to put the disturbing thoughts of Will Ipo out of her mind. What she had done had been unthinkable. She had nearly kissed a man who had no intention of returning her unwarranted, unsolicited affection.
Her mother had taught her far better than this. Josie prayed Amy Duprey Heart had better things to do in heaven tonight than to look down upon her wayward daughter. Mama had attended one of the best Eastern girls’ schools and had done her best to pass along all the rules of propriety. Josie had learned a woman was never to take a man’s arm unless he offered it, just as she knew she should never have been so forward and begged Will to visit Heartbreak Ranch again before he left for Los Angeles.
In two months she and Julian were to be married. As she crossed the dark stable yard, Josie decided that she’d best forget Will Ipo and set her mind on the wedding plans. The bawling of the yearling calves newly separated from their mothers and penned in the nearby stockyard was such a familiar racket that she barely acknowledged it as she hurried toward the house.
Without taking great care to be quiet, she let herself in the back door. Magdalena snored like a steam engine and slept like the dead in her small room off the kitchen. Josie hurried through the darkened house and then up the stairs to the room that had been her parents’. The housekeeper had left a light burning for her on the bedside table. Exhausted but still too keyed up to sleep, Josie pulled off her blouse and skirt and then, standing in the shadows in her chemise, poured water into the large basin on the washstand and began to wash her hands and face.
An hour and a half later she was bored with the sound of her bare feet hitting the floorboards as she paced the room in her long, white cotton nightgown. She was a fool, a fickle female, practically a fallen woman. Even more appalling was the notion that she didn’t really care if she ever laid eyes on Julian again. She had convinced herself that if she didn’t see Will Ipo once more before he left that she would certainly perish of a withered heart.
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