“Fine,” he said, his angered breathing barely under control. “Stay in here, and lock the door.”
Fallon held out one trembling hand in which the key lay. He took it swiftly, pushing her aside and unlocking the door.
Returning the key to her, he repeated, “Lock the door behind me,” and he was gone.
She waited. There was no sound from anywhere in the house or outside. Looking around the room for lack of something else to occupy her worried mind, she noticed a lamp burning brightly on a desk standing against one wall. There were pieces of paper strewn everywhere across the desktop. Curiosity led Fallon to them.
Obviously Trader had been writing a letter when Fallon interrupted him, for the first or perhaps second time that evening. As she saw the name included in the salutation, her trembling hands reached out and picked up the sheet of paper that lay on top of the others. There she read:
Julia,
After much soul searching and extreme consideration, I have come to a conclusion regarding your proposal. Feel comforted that I, too, hope we will someday have a posterity of our own. It is for this reason I choose to accept your offer now. Like you, I do not see an advantage to waiting.
Know that Fallon is innocent to this arrangement, and it is my desire that, for the time being, this circumstance remain as it is. Understand I have good reason for not telling her of the specifics of this arrangement. It would not set well with her at this point, to put it mildly.
For now, let us continue as we have planned and
Laying the unfinished letter down once more, Fallon stood, stunned at what she had just read blatantly described before her. As her heart stung with the revelation of the true nature of Trader’s relationship with Julia, Fallon noticed another letter, which had been lying beneath the letter to Julia. This letter was written in barely legible handwriting. Picking it up and praying that it would counteract somehow the previously read letter, she read aloud:
Donavon,
I dont care nothin for yur lawfull wedded wife and my niece Fallon. What a joke your marriage is and well you and I both know it. Its come to me that you, for some twisted perpos of your own, valu her life. Maybe its just cause she has become another one of your many posesions. Or maybe, cause of your despert need for a woman, and sad lackin of looks to win one with, you have just formed some sick affection for the girl. Whatever the reason, it dont matter to me.
You have thrown me from my own house, disgraced my good name, and left me with no way to earn money. Know this, Donavon…you will pay for your deeds. Yur gonna willingly make me a rich man cause I’ve found yur weakness, Donavon, and it comes in the form of that perty little girl you married. I know that if I get to her, I’ve got you beat. My friends that you so nicely disposed of in the store some time back, were really there to test my suspicions in the first place. I think I hit right on the money, so to speak.
Yur gonna give me everything my friend. And I’ll use Fallon to make sure you do.
C. Ashby
“Open up, Fallon,” Trader’s voice demanded suddenly from the other side of the locked door.
“Who is it?” Fallon asked nervously, wiping the tears from her cheeks and replacing the letter she had just read.
“Trader, girl. Open the door,” he shouted, pounding fiercely on the door.
Fallon’s hands shook so violently she had considerable trouble placing the key into the lock and turning it to release it.
Immediately, Trader burst into the room and glanced from the desk to Fallon and back again. “He was gone,” he grumbled as he went to the desk and looked down at the papers there, moving them around as if looking for something. “But we found his footprints out by your window. You stay in after dark from now on, you hear me?” he demanded.
“Yes,” she whispered as she backed out of the room, staring at him in anguish. She never imagined a person’s heart could actually break, but now, as her own heart twisted in agony and pain, she understood it was possible—for hers would.
She had never seen his face. Never pressed her cheek to his endearingly. Never told him she was obsessively attracted to him. But, as she stared at the enormous cloaked and hooded figure standing before her, Fallon knew the faceless man of her dreams had broken her heart beyond repair.
Trader looked back to the papers lying across the desk. Reaching down, he picked up the letter to Julia. Fallon’s heart began to pound frantically. She said, “Thank you for checking outside. I’ll be able to sleep now. Good night.”
“Just a minute,” he mumbled, looking down at the letter. He picked up the one that lay beneath it—the one from Charles Ashby. Fallon was frozen where she stood, knowing his wrath at her reading his personal letters was about to erupt. Laying the letters on the desk once more, he seemed to stare at her curiously for a moment before saying, “You’ll stay in here with me.”
“What?” Fallon asked in a whisper.
“You’ve read this letter from your uncle, haven’t you,” he stated more than asked, coming to stand ominously before her.
“Yes,” she admitted.
“Then you know his intentions toward you.”
“I know his intentions toward you,” she corrected.
“You’ll stay in here with me from now on,” he repeated. “This letter to Julia has been disturbed as well, Fallon.”
“Forgive me. My curiosity got the better of me,” she whispered, angrily wiping the revealing tears from her cheeks with her sleeve. “It isn’t any of my business.”
“You’re wrong. And I was wrong not to tell you,” Trader said with uncharacteristically humble intonation.
Fallon covered her ears and shaking her head sobbed, “Please, please! I can’t bear to hear it from you.”
Trader pulled Fallon’s hands from her ears and held them firmly at her sides. “I’m buying her excess land, Fallon. That’s all. The letter sounds rather…vague. I only tell you that she offered the purchase of her land at a good price. That’s all.”
“You hope to have children,” Fallon reminded him.
“I won’t discuss that now. I’ve told you the true nature of the letter. Let it stand at that. It is a business document, Fallon.”
“It’s been a long and very weary day, Trader. I’m tired,” Fallon whispered, wiping at her tears again.
“Then go to bed,” Trader said, pointing to his large, inviting bed.
“But, I…where will you sleep?” she began.
“There. With you,” he answered, going to sit at the desk. “Now go to sleep. It’s late.” Fallon stood, uncertain as to what action to take. “Fallon,” he began, “walk to my bed, lie down on it, and cover yourself with the quilt. Then go to sleep.”
Fallon took a deep, courageous breath and did as he instructed. As her head relaxed sleepily on the large downy pillow, she couldn’t stop the smile that spread across her lovely face when the sweet fragrance of peppermint met her senses. The bed held other perfumes that were his essence. Leather was a strong scent as well. But peppermint prevailed.
“What are you laughing at?” he asked suddenly. Fallon had been unaware of the tiny giggle that had escaped her.
“Be careful. You’ll choke in your sleep,” she said softly. She closed her eyes and immediately began to drift into unconsciousness.
“What?” he asked firmly.
“Mmmm,” she sighed. “It’s such a sweet smell.”
“Trader! Get up!”
The shouting, combined with the heavy pounding on the door, drew Fallon from her contented sleep. As she opened her eyes, she felt her cheek lay against something solid yet pleasantly soft. Raising her head slightly, she saw her own arms lightly embraced one massive, powerful arm belonging to Trader. She was nestled warmly next to him where he lay at her side on the bed.
“Trader! Do you hear me? Get out here!” It was Ben’s voice.
Trader sat up quickly, forcing Fallon to release her hold on him. Before she could drive the clouds of sleep from
her eyes, he adjusted his hood, stood, and went to the door, opening it quickly.
“What’s wrong, Ben?” he asked.
“It’s a mess out there. They done it durin’ the night, and we didn’t even hear ’em.”
“What?” Trader asked, reaching down and tugging on his boots.
Quickly, Fallon followed the two men. The gruesome sight that met their eyes as they rushed out the front door nearly sent Fallon’s stomach into uncontrollable heaving. There before them on the ground lay two of Trader’s finest bulls and several heifers. All had been decapitated and badly mutilated. Their blood created small puddles in which their corpses lay.
“Red and Goliath,” Ben said. “Them heifers were carryin’ calves.”
“Go in the house, Fallon,” Trader said quietly. “Please.”
Without hesitation, Fallon did as he instructed. Patty met her in the kitchen, where Fallon was splashing cold water from the pump onto her face and neck.
“It’s horrible, isn’t it?” Patty whispered.
Fallon could only nod.
Patty forced a smile and said, “I haven’t seen you with your hair down since you first came here. It’s very becoming.”
Fallon pushed her long hair back from her face. It must have escaped its ribbon during the night, for it hung freely about her face and shoulders and down her back now. She couldn’t thank Patty for the compliment, however, for the image of the slaughtered cattle was still foremost in her mind.
“Get the hands up here, and get that mess cleaned up, Ben. They’ll pay for this,” Trader said as he and Ben entered the house. “Keep her in the house today, Patty,” he said, nodding toward Fallon, “at least until I get back. I’ve got to make sure they’re not still around.”
“Take Ben with you,” Fallon said. Trader paused for a moment, and the hood stared in her direction as he exhaled a heavy sigh.
“Fallon,” he began to scold.
Rushing forward, though she dare not look up into the hood, she laid her hand gently on his arm and said softly, “Just take Ben with you, Trader. Please.”
Placing his hand beneath her chin, he coaxed her to look up. She shivered from the thrill that rushed through her body when his other hand covered her eyes. His hands were warm and comforting on her face, and his mouth was inexplicably tantalizing as he fascinated her with deliciously moist kisses. His hands slipped from her face and encircled her body, pulling her snuggly against his own. Her hands clutched the hem of his hood in an effort to draw him closer. All too soon, he placed his hand over her eyes once more and pushed her gently away from within the shadowy darkness of the hood.
“I promise that I’ll be fine, Fallon,” he said. “I’ll take Ben with me.” Then he left the room, leaving her swaying unsteadily from his enchanting kisses, which had banished her senses to the wind.
“My, my,” Patty cooed. “If I didn’t know better, I’d say my little Trader’s turning all soft and smushy when it comes to you, Fallon.”
Fallon shook her head sadly. As she watched Trader from the kitchen window, he began barking orders to his hired hands regarding the disposal of the mutilated cattle. “He just does that to calm me so I’ll stay out of his way,” she sighed.
“Well, if you believe that, missy, you’re not as smart as you look,” Patty chuckled.
“Trader doesn’t lay a hand on me, Patty—you know that. Not unless he thinks I’m going to fly off into some completely feminine emotional display,” Fallon said, turning to face the woman. Reaching over to a nearby basket of apples, she picked one up and rubbed it briskly on her nightdress before biting into its crisp sweetness.
“Forgive me, if you will, honey, but you haven’t had too much experience when it comes to men, have you?” Patty asked.
Feeling indignant, Fallon denied the woman’s comment. “Why would you say that, Patty?”
When Patty raised a knowing eyebrow, Fallon rolled her eyes and exhaled in defeat. “I’ve known a father who cherished me, an uncle who detested me, and a cute little boy in school who endlessly chased me around the schoolhouse. Other than that, I’ve known Trader Donavon, to whom I mean less than those poor, helpless cattle out there.”
“Now that’s a bold-faced lie, Fallon, and you know it!” Patty scolded angrily.
Fallon shook her head in wonderment and asked, “Why, Patty? Why would he marry me when what he really wants is to marry Julia Salazares?”
“What?” Patty exclaimed in disbelief. “What are you going on about?”
“I-I saw a letter he had written to her, Patty. Only last night. Lying there for all the world to see. A letter to Julia.”
“So? He’s buying up her extra land. He didn’t tell you that?”
Fallon drew in a deep breath to try and control the tears that were in her eyes. “Yes. He explained that to me. But in the letter he wrote, ‘Feel comforted that I, too, hope we will someday have a posterity of our own.’ He wrote it to her as boldly and as clearly as day, Patty.”
“So?” Patty asked. “You should take pleasure in it. Why are you so upset about it? Didn’t you realize someday he would soften toward you and—”
“What?” Fallon exclaimed as her tears spilled profusely from her lovely eyes. “Take pleasure in it?” she cried. “Patty! How can you say that to me? Take pleasure in the knowledge that he wants another woman to bear his children? Do you think I’m an idiot?”
An amused smile spread across Patty’s face as her expression showed clear understanding then. “Yes,” she said.
“You do?” Fallon gasped.
“Fallon Donavon, you do beat all. Yes, I do think you’re an idiot. Blind to boot, child.” Putting a comforting arm about Fallon’s shoulders, she lowered her voice and tenderly said, “You’ve merely, in your innocent nature and humility about yourself, misunderstood what you read, dear.”
“Thank you, Patty. I feel much better now,” Fallon spat sarcastically.
“Honey, what makes you think he was talking about himself and Julia in the letter?”
“It’s obvious, Patty. I think you’re the idiot here. He wrote the letter to her. ‘We,’ he said, Patty. Meaning he and…”
“Meaning he and you, Fallon,” Patty finished for her.
Fallon shook her head. “Patty! How ridiculous. You really do think I’m an idiot, don’t you?”
“It wasn’t a love letter, so to speak, now was it, honey?” Patty asked.
“I think telling a woman you want her to have children with you would definitely constitute a love letter, Patty.” Fallon took another bite of her apple and chewed it violently, trying to release some of her frustration.
“He didn’t tell her that, now did he, girl? You chew on it for a while. It was late when you read that letter, I’ve no doubt. You mull it over again and tell me if you still think it meant what you thought.”
“I suppose we could use the beef, don’t you, Patty?” Trader said, entering the kitchen suddenly. “Bulls might be a bit tough, but the heifers should be all right, I would think. Those men will pay for this, I promise you that.” Then, directing his attention to Fallon, he said, “You better put some clothes on before those hands start coming in and out of here, girl.”
Fallon only at that moment realized she stood there, in the daylight of the kitchen eating an apple, dressed only in her nightgown. Suddenly feeling overwhelmingly self-conscious, she tucked a strand of her long hair behind one ear and looked away from him. In her haste to follow Trader that morning to see what the commotion was, she hadn’t even gone to her room for a cover. He seemed to be staring at her, and Fallon cleared her throat uncomfortably. Timidly, she brushed past him and walked toward her room. The sound of his boots on the floor as he stepped behind her severely unnerved her. Clearing her throat again, she turned to enter her room. It surprised her when he followed her, standing just inside the door.
“Have Patty help you move your things this morning, Fallon,” he ordered.
Fallon turned to see him standing
ominously inside her room, arms folded across his broad chest and feet planted solidly apart.
“But I—” she began.
“Ben and one of the hands can move your wardrobe. You won’t be staying in here again. They know it’s your room,” he explained.
“But the guest room still—”
“I didn’t say anything about the guest room, Fallon. Have them move your things into my room.” Fallon felt her eyes widen and her mouth drop open. “They wouldn’t dare try to get at you with me in there with you, now would they?” he asked. “I won’t stay in here. It would be ridiculous to do so. Therefore, you will share my room.”
“But…there is only the one bed,” Fallon stammered.
“Yes. One is all we need. It’s a very large bed, Fallon.” How she wished she could see his face. See what sort of expression he wore there. “I don’t intend to endure being disturbed every night by Peeping Toms at your window. You’ll adjust.” He chuckled and mumbled, “You adjusted well enough last night.”
Fallon felt the warmth in her face and knew it was no doubt the brightest shade of red imaginable. Trying to salvage a shred of her dignity, she sighed mockingly. “You’re right. I’ve adjusted before to sleeping in odd places.”
Trader chuckled again and, dropping his arms to his sides, said, “Well then, it’s settled. Off to the gruesome job of cleaning up that mess outside.” He turned and crossed the hall to his own room.
Thinking of the slaughtered cattle, Fallon’s heart swelled with the knowledge that Trader did indeed go to great lengths for her sake. Entering his room, she found him rummaging through his own wardrobe, no doubt in search of a shirt.
“Trader,” she ventured.
“Yes?” he asked, still rummaging.
“I thank you for your great compassion and kindness to me,” she muttered.
He paused for a moment in his searching and said, “You’re welcome.”
Divine Deception Page 8
