by Francis Ray
“Live with you! I can’t do that. I have a business to run.”
“If you don’t get married in sixteen days, there won’t be a business,” Kane reminded her.
For a moment, Victoria was speechless. How dare he use her deadline on her! The pounding in her temples began anew.
“Look at it from my viewpoint, Tory. People are going to talk anyway when they learn we married so quickly. If you stay in Fort Worth while I stay in Hallsville, people will have a field day. With all that talk, your grandmother is bound to become suspicious.”
“What do you get out of it?”
He smiled wistfully. “A wife. Someone to worry about me if I’m late, have coffee with in the morning, share the day with.”
“I’d be a substitute for the woman you lost?” she asked.
Once again his face became shadowed. “What does it matter as long as you get my signature on a marriage license?” When no answer came, his face strengthened into resolve. “I’ll stick around until noon tomorrow. After that I’m gone and I won’t be back.”
She stood. Her hand clenched the back of her chair. “Twenty thousand dollars.”
He countered. “Six months in my house in your own bedroom.”
Again she ran a distracted hand through her hair. “Why can’t you be sensible and understand that what you’re asking for is impossible?”
“I understand more than you think I do. You’re still locked behind the tower and letting Stephen run your life.”
“That’s crazy. I hadn’t spoken to him in over two years until he called last week. His life is going down the drain and he obviously thought I was foolish enough to care. He was wrong. I can barely stand to be in the same room with him.”
Kane’s eyes darkened. “Or any other man. You’ve let your hatred for him dictate your reactions to everything. Instead of being thankful you wasted only eleven months of your life, you keep it before you like a mirror.”
Her temper flared. “You can’t stand there and judge me. You don’t know what it was like. He made my life hell, then left me with nothing.”
“Tory, stop feeling sorry for yourself. Your marriage to Stephen made you stronger, not weaker.” His gaze bore into her. “Do you think you would have had the courage to go against your grandparents’ wishes and start your stores if living with him hadn’t made you stronger?”
“How do you know—” she started to ask him, then knew the answer. “How much has Bonnie told you about me?”
“It was less than I wanted. She’s your friend first, my cousin second. Cheer up, Tory. Maybe the next man will free you for good.” The door closed softly behind him.
Hands clenched by her side, Victoria headed to her bedroom. The phone rang as she passed the end table.
“Yes,” she snapped, then grimaced at her caustic tone.
There was a long pause before the caller said, “I guess I don’t have to ask if tonight went any better than last night.”
Victoria plopped in a chair. “No, Bonnie, you don’t. Kane wants me to live with him. In separate bedrooms.”
“Seems reasonable to me. After all, you’re asking him to give up other women. The least you can do is keep him company,” Bonnie pointed out.
“I might have known whose side you’d be on.”
Bonnie laughed softly. “I told you, I’m staying out of this. I love you both.”
“Bonnie, why didn’t you ever mention Kane was asking questions about me?” Victoria fretfully twirled the telephone cord around her finger.
“Didn’t seem important, I guess. Kane is easy to talk to, and I admit I worried about you when you and Stephen were married. But you know I’d never betray a confidence,” Bonnie hastened to add.
Victoria did know. She had told Bonnie more about herself than anyone else in the world, but there was one shameful secret Victoria would never tell anyone. “Kane does have a way of slipping past your defenses.”
“But he’d never use it against you.”
“Tell that to someone he isn’t trying to blackmail.”
Laughter floated through the receiver again. “Good night. I want a full report tomorrow.”
“Good night.” Victoria hung up the phone and stared at the front door. He’d be back. No man would give up twenty thousand dollars to live with her for six months.
“Victoria, you’re going to rip the lace décolleté if you aren’t careful. Why don’t you just take off the arm, as you usually do?”
Slender fingers clutched the silk chartreuse camisole briefly, then continued to ease the spaghetti strap up the arm of the mannequin. “Did you need something, Grandmother?” Victoria asked.
Clair’s sigh was loud and eloquent. “I thought you might be a little put out with me. My lawyer called this morning.”
Victoria picked up the matching floral kimono and began slipping it on over the chemise. “Why should I be a ‘little put out’ as you call it just because I received a certified letter this morning giving me fifteen days to repay a loan of two hundred and fifty thousand dollars or turn over the keys to my stores?”
“Dear, you know that won’t happen, because you’re going to be married by then.” Clair thoughtfully fingered the pearls at her throat. “You did take into consideration the length of time it’s going to take to get the marriage license and blood tests, didn’t you?”
Victoria turned, her yellow flared shirt swirling around her legs. Her headache was back with a vengeance. “Grandmother, was there something you needed?”
“No, not really. I called last night and didn’t get an answer. I guess you were out with your cattleman again. All those late hours are putting circles under your eyes.”
The tenuous hold on her patience snapped. “He’s not my cattlema—”
She pivoted as the little gold bell over the stained glass front door jangled. Two young women came in and Victoria’s assistant, Lacy, moved to help them. Victoria’s hands clenched. Her gaze strayed to the wall clock. 10:45.
“What do you mean he’s not your cattleman? Did you have another fight? Is that why you keep looking at the front door every time the bell rings? Is he coming here?” Clair asked in an excited rush.
“No, Grandmother, that’s not what it means.”
“What is it, dear? I haven’t seen you this upset since you discovered Stephen was being unfaithful.” Clair gasped. “He isn’t married, is he?”
“No.”
Clair relaxed. “For a moment you had me worried. Don’t think this entire matter hasn’t disturbed me.” Frail fingers touched Victoria’s cheek. “You’re all I have left of your dear father, all the hopes and dreams of the Chandlers rest with you. For all of us, you have to remarry.”
Feelings of dread climbed up Victoria’s spine. There was no way out of the web of lies she had helped spin. “If I don’t?”
Fear darkened Clair’s eyes and pinched her lips. “Then you will lose Lavender and Lace and I will lose you.” Tears sparkled in the older woman’s brown eyes. “I don’t see how I could stand that.”
Fighting her own tears, Victoria hugged her grandmother’s small frame to hers, smelled her familiar lavender scent, felt her grandmother’s arthritic hands try to squeeze her granddaughter into acceptance. If Victoria lost the shops, there would be no winners.
Choices were gone.
Kane’s counteroffer flashed through her mind. She shied away from the thought of living with him. Not because the thought repulsed her, but because it didn’t. She didn’t want anything in her life she couldn’t control. But she no longer had the luxury of having things her way.
Gently pulling away, Victoria opened her grandmother’s black patent purse, found the lace handkerchief she knew would be there and dried her grandmother’s eyes. “Everything will be all right.”
Clair looked doubtful. “Are you sure?”
“Yes.” Victoria answered with more assurance than she felt. Sealing her fate, she said, “I’m seeing him today.”
“When can
we meet him? Does he come from a big family?”
Victoria answered the only question she knew the answer to. “I’ll see if he can come to the dinner party you’re having tonight.”
“Please assure him he’ll be welcomed.” Clair shook her graying head. “I’ll need a distraction with your grandfather’s side of the family there.”
“He may have other plans,” Victoria pointed out quickly.
Clair gave Victoria one of her stubborn looks. “Then it’s up to you to change them.” She tugged on her white lace gloves. “One question?”
“No, you don’t know him.”
“That wasn’t the question.”
“All right.”
“Has he kissed you senseless yet?”
Victoria’s cheeks flushed. Her hands flew up to palm her face, but it was too late. Her grandmother smiled and began humming the wedding march from A Midsummer Night’s Dream. The boutique’s front door closed softly behind her.
One hour, three phone calls, and two wrong turns later, Victoria pulled her red Jaguar into the back parking lot of the Fort Worth Cowtown Coliseum holding the National Black Rodeo. Trucks and trailers, in every description and size, from chrome-plated and air-conditioned to faded and dented, littered the area.
Stepping out of her car, her nostrils were assaulted with the earthy scent of cattle and horses. Recalling the statue of Bill Pickett, the first black rodeo performer, at the entrance to the coliseum, her uneasiness returned. The inventor of bulldogging was portrayed biting the lips of a steer as he brought it down. Apparently rodeo performers were unique individuals, and so were the men who worked with them. Brushing an unsteady hand over her white suit, she started toward the bold red entrance sign to find Kane.
The white leather heels of her pumps clicked on the hot pavement. Dressing in white to remind Kane of their meeting years ago had been her last-ditch effort to sway him, although Kane didn’t strike her as a man easily influenced.
“It’s about time you came to rescue us.”
Victoria glanced around to see Penny. With her was a man wearing jeans and a blue chambray shirt. The brim of a black Stetson shaded the upper part of his brown-skinned face.
“Hello, Penny,” Victoria greeted. “What are you talking about?”
“Kane. He’s been as grouchy as a bear.” She glanced at the tall man beside her. “Victoria Chandler meet Matt Taggart, Kane’s brother.”
Victoria’s gaze swung back to the silent man. His nut-brown face was unbelievably handsome, yet no warmth shone from his piercing black eyes. He was as still as a shadow and appeared to be as unfeeling. She found nothing but his black eyes and powerful build to indicate any relation to Kane. She couldn’t see what fascinated Penny about him.
“Hello, Matt.”
“So, you’re the one,” Matt said, his voice low and deep, his eyes studying hers intently.
“The one what?” Victoria asked. When Matt didn’t answer, just continued to study her with unblinking black eyes, she dismissed him and asked Penny, “Can you tell me where I can find Kane?”
“I’ll take you to him,” Matt said.
His offer surprised Victoria, since he had yet to show any friendliness toward her. “Penny can show me.”
“She needs to practice and Kane is in a restricted area. If you want to see him, you’ll have to go with me.” Without looking at the other woman, Matt asked, “Penny, don’t you think you should get going?”
After one longing look at Matt, Penny left. Victoria felt sorry for the other woman because Matt seemed to have already dismissed her from his mind.
“To have attracted Kane’s attention, there must be more to you than a beautiful face,” he said bluntly.
“From what I’ve heard about you, I can’t say the same,” Victoria tossed back.
He laughed, a gravely noise that sounded as if he hadn’t laughed in a long time. Victoria’s eyes widened at the change it made in his face. It was wickedly sensual. At last she saw the fire behind the shadow. Women would line up in droves to draw the real man from behind his facade. Yet she wouldn’t try for all the gold in Fort Knox. That kind of man would leave you crying and never even notice there were tears on your cheeks.
“Come on. Penny’s right about Kane. Let’s go put him out of his misery.”
They followed the white fence until they came to the gate of a small arena. As soon as Matt opened the gate, Victoria saw Kane. Her heart rate kicked into overtime. Arms folded, he leaned back against the fence. He didn’t look any happier than she felt.
Matt let out an ear-piercing whistle. “Kane, a lady is here to see you.”
Kane glanced up. He and Victoria’s gaze met, held. His expression softened. Pushing away from the fence, he took several running steps then stopped abruptly. His face became hard and shuttered as he looked from her to Matt, who was holding her arm.
“I think I’d better leave. So long, Victoria.” Tipping his Stetson, Matt walked away.
Uncertainty kept her from moving. Thirty feet separated her from Kane, yet neither moved. Then he started toward her again. Too nervous to smile, she clutched the strands of perfectly matched pearls around her neck.
“What’s your answer?”
“You’re asking too much.”
“Of which one of us? Is it asking too much for a wife to spend six months out of a year with her husband or too much for a husband to give up the pleasure of his wife’s bed?” He glanced at his watch. “Make your decision, Tory. It’s twelve, straight up.”
Chapter 6
“Why do you want a woman interfering in your life, asking you to take out the garbage, pick up your clothes, wash the car?”
“You’re evading the issue and you know it,” Kane responded smoothly.
Knowing that Kane easily saw through her diversion didn’t help. Victoria swallowed. “How about a week?”
“Goodbye, Tory.” Gently he pushed her out of the way and closed the gate. He turned away with her looking through the slats.
Just keep walking, Kane told himself. Put one foot in front of the other.
His body obeyed, but that didn’t help the pain twisting his gut. He hadn’t realized how much he wanted her to say yes until she turned him down. He had gambled and lost the only woman he had ever loved. Before the kiss in his truck he only wanted a woman who had haunted his thoughts. Somewhere between then and now, desire had strengthened into love. When it happened didn’t matter. He loved a woman who was afraid to love.
He knew himself well enough to realize that having Victoria for a wife and not being able to touch her would have slowly killed him inside. But it would have been worth the gamble to get her to love him and share his life.
Maybe it wouldn’t hurt so bad if he didn’t know she was fighting her attraction to him. No matter what she said, she still judged every man by Stephen. And until she took the first step to put her ex-husband behind her, she’d never be free to love Kane or any other man.
It was time he left Fort Worth and went back to his ranch. Victoria wasn’t going to change her mind and he wasn’t going to change his. But the plunging neckline of her suit jacket had almost done him in.
From his height he could detect a bit of white lace against the rounded curve of her honey-colored breasts. If that wasn’t enough of a temptation to Kane, her skirt reached six inches above her beautiful knees. Lord, but he had almost been enticed into swallowing his pride and taking her on any terms.
The chute across the arena opened, and out burst a three-hundred-pound calf. Matt, riding Devil Dancer, was right behind the animal. With a practiced twist of his wrist, Matt widened the rope’s noose as it twirled over his head. At the exact moment he released the twenty-five-foot lariat, the back Angus spun in the opposite direction.
He missed by three feet. Knowing a second loop took precious seconds and usually kept the roper from receiving prize money, Matt didn’t attempt another throw. To the sound of good-natured jibes and instructions, Matt took the slack from
his rope, the animal forgotten. All the men knew the calf would run for the gate expecting to get out as was the customary practice during a real rodeo event.
All except Victoria.
Please, don’t have followed me this time. Even as Kane thought the words, he turned. What he saw made his heart stop. Victoria, standing in the gate, looking at him.
“Get out of the way!” he yelled, and started running, calling out for Matt.
Finally, Victoria saw the black streak running straight toward her. Instead of moving, she screamed one word, “Kane!”
Booted feet pounded the dirt-filled arena. Animals were unpredictable. The calf might veer around Victoria but it could just as likely run over her. Knowing he had one slim chance to keep Victoria from possible injury, Kane kept his eyes on the Angus, praying he’d intercept the animal before it reached Victoria.
His heart hammering, his lungs bursting from want of air, Kane ran. Just a few more feet.
Determined hands grabbed around the animal’s neck. The calf immediately protested by bucking and twisting sideways toward the unwanted obstruction. Kane hung on, digging his heels into the dirt-filled arena and twisting the calf’s head back, its nose up.
Both elbows ripped through Kane’s white shirt sleeves. The animal went down and didn’t move.
Matt jumped off his horse while the chestnut was going full speed. Using “piggin string,” Matt tied three legs of the downed calf in two seconds.
Kane’s midnight eyes blazed as he stood and faced his brother. “What the hell do you mean letting the damn calf get away?”
“He ran for the gate. I didn’t know she was there.”
“You shouldn’t have brought her here!”
“Kane, do you really want to tear a strip off me or see to your woman?” Matt asked calmly.
