The Debutantes of Durango Box Set Books 1-3

by Peggy McKenzie

  John raised one eyebrow in question to the sheriff. He nodded and turned to Regina’s parents. "Let's go, Beckett. It's obvious that your daughter is not in distress and this was all a big mistake." The sheriff tried to escort them out, but Henry refused to go.

  "I will not! He's holding her against her will. Can't you see that you imbecile." Regina's father's face was mottled in anger. This was nothing unusual for the man, but John could see Regina's mother was genuinely distressed and he felt he needed to put her worries to rest.

  "Mrs. Beckett, I offer you my sincere apology for cheating you out of seeing your daughter wed. The truth of the matter is that Regina and I have been in love for quite some time and she feared she was being used as a pawn for your husband's financial dealings."

  Neither of Regina's parents denied his words, so he continued, "I assured her that, although her father was misguided in his intentions, her devoted mother would not want her to be married to a man she didn't love. She wasn't convinced, so I asked her to marry me and she said yes."

  "Regina? Is this true? Do you love this man?" her mother asked.

  "What difference does that make, Lila? The child is obviously delusional and incapable of making her own decisions. I told you to stop coddling her long ago, but you insisted as her mother you knew what you were doing. Apparently, you did not."

  Regina spoke, again from behind John’s back, “I would very much like to grab a robe. I’m covered in coffee and I’m beginning to catch a chill.” She pulled the silk duvet off the bed and wrapped it around her body to hide her nakedness underneath the coffee-soaked gown before she stepped from behind John’s protection and faced her parents along with a very embarrassed lawman.

  “To answer your question Mother, I do love John. Why else would I agree to marry him?" Regina turned to her father, but she did not leave John's side. "And my dear loving father," John could not miss the sarcasm in Regina's words, "I am certain this show of affection is most sincere, but I am a grown woman capable of making my own decisions. And choosing a mate is my decision, not yours. As you have reminded me many times, I’m way past my prime and would be lucky if anyone looked my way.

  "I'm happy to report that I am very lucky indeed to have such a handsome, well-respected man look my way. I am married now, Father. To John Kingston. And, we have a marriage certificate and witnesses to prove it. I am here because I choose to be. So if you will excuse me, I'd like to get dressed."

  Regina left the room in the bulky whirl of a silk duvet and disappeared into the bathroom. John turned to his uninvited guests. "I think that should be proof enough that my wife is neither distressed nor being held against her will."

  "Yes, I think I've seen all I need to,” the sheriff said. “Mr. and Mrs. Beckett, would you please follow me? It's clear your daughter is where she wants to be, and I don't appreciate being led here under false pretenses. This is a family matter and any dispute should be settled between you in private. Now let's go before I decide to lock you both up for trespassing."

  "Now you see here, Sheriff—" Henry turned on the sheriff "I'm not leaving until I get my daughter out of this den of iniquity."

  "Henry. Please stop,” her mother begged. “You are making a fool of yourself. Regina has made it clear this is where she wishes to be. Now, let's go home. This is all very upsetting for me. I had no idea she had such strong feelings for Mr. Kingston."

  John watched Regina's mother dab at her eyes with her handkerchief, then turn on her heels and lead the way out the door. The sheriff stood aside and waited for Henry to follow. Henry stabbed John with a glare of pure hatred.

  "I swear, you flea-bitten street mongrel, you have not gotten the best of Henry Beckett. Just because you've managed to somehow fool the citizens of Durango, and my addled-brained daughter, doesn't mean I don't see you for what you are—a lying, low-class con artist.

  "I have no idea how you convinced my daughter to go along with this plan of yours, but I can assure you she will come to her senses at some point and I'll be there to watch your downfall with great satisfaction."

  He didn't like that the man was getting a bit too close to the truth. Though not precisely as her father thought, John had, in fact, tricked Regina. And he had no doubt her father would be overjoyed to enlighten her to that fact should the opportunity present itself.

  "Let's go Mr. Beckett. You've worn out your welcome here." The sheriff gave Regina's father a look that would brook no argument.

  John watched the man struggle with his decision. He was an arrogant man, but he wasn't a stupid man. At least, not enough to go up against the experienced lawman and risk a trip to the jailhouse.

  Henry gave him one last “go to hell” look and then he spun on his feet and walked down the hallway, his footsteps hard and angry. John heard his front door slam and he let out a sigh of relief.

  "Are they gone?" Regina's voice called to him from the private bathing room.

  "Yes. They’re gone. You can come out now. There's nothing to be afraid of," he assured her.

  "I wasn't afraid, at least not for myself. I feared if my father's ire grew any worse, he might shoot you dead."

  John laughed. "He's not stupid enough to shoot an unarmed man in front of the sheriff, now is he?"

  Regina didn't answer right away. He looked at her in surprise. "You don't think too highly of your father, do you? What has he done to you over the years to make you fear him so?" John wanted to know, but then again, he didn't for fear his anger would force him to do something to the man they would both regret.

  "I know my father, John. Would he shoot you in front of the lawman? Probably not. He wouldn't sully his hands. Would he hire someone to shoot you in the back? I wouldn't put it past him."

  "Then I will just have to watch my back." He smiled hoping to ease her fears.

  Regina nodded in agreement. "Yes. You will. And I suppose we’ll eventually have to produce that marriage certificate. If I know my father, he will accept nothing less as proof. Not my word, or yours, obviously. It’s a good thing your friend took such care to make our marriage look real.

  "Though I think we should hold out until the last possible moment to produce the document. That will give Mr. Scott time to announce your new position and give me time to make my plans for my escape."

  "Escape? Don't say that in front of your father. He'll have me hanged for kidnapping," John joked. But Regina's words emphasized her determination to leave. What would he do then? What could he do other than tell her the truth. And he hoped to put that off for as long as possible.

  Chapter Nine

  Regina bathed and dressed for her first day as a married woman. She couldn’t wait for today’s meeting of The Ladies Club of Durango. Her friends would be astonished when she told them the news. And they would absolutely swoon when they heard it was John she had married.

  She smiled at herself in the vanity mirror as she put the finishing touches to her hair. How many times had John been the topic of conversation among the ladies of the club?

  Her friends often gushed over John's rakish good looks and the air of rebellion he carried about him.

  Regina had to admit that she had often been impressed by his looks and charm. He might have had a rough start, but he has made his own mark in the world and quite a mark it is.

  Money, charm, and looks made John a very sought-after bachelor. Until now. She should feel bad for taking him off the market—or rather pretending to take him off the market—but a part of her was quite looking forward to impressing her friends with the fact that she managed to capture the town’s most elusive bachelor.

  A twinge of jealousy took her by surprise as she thought of all the ladies who would be clamoring to take her place when their pretend marriage was over. She didn’t particularly like the feeling, but she couldn’t seem to help it. And it wouldn’t just be her friends, their mothers had also been known to make inappropriate comments about John. As soon as the word circulated around town, any number of them would be
lined up around his hotel looking to fill Regina’s shoes before her toes had a chance to get cold.

  Her swirling thoughts took her back to John’s comment about last night being the first time he shared his bed with his clothes on. What exactly did he mean by that? Surely, if there was a special someone in his life, he would have told Regina about it…wouldn’t he? They were friends after all. If she were seeing someone special, she would have told him, right? Yes, of course, she would have. He was her very best friend and she shared her secrets with him. She wondered if he did the same.

  She shook the thoughts away. What business was it of hers what John did or who he did it with. She would be far away pursuing her own life; it would not be her concern. And yet, she could admit—if only to herself—she wished things could be different between her and John Kingston. But he had made it painfully clear more than once that there was no chance—

  "Mrs. Kingston...Regina? I'm here to gather the breakfast dishes,” Mary called to her from the hallway.

  Thankful for the welcomed distraction, Regina gave herself a slight shake and scattered her thoughts. "Mary, please come in. I'm almost ready to go downstairs and face the music—so to speak—but I need some help with my necklace. Would you be so kind as to help me fasten it?"

  "Of course. I'd be happy to."

  Mary stepped inside the bedroom and stood behind Regina. Handing her the two ends of her necklace, Regina sat straight and bent her head slightly to give Mary access to her neck.

  "Thank you for your help, Mary. I never could have done this without—" Regina heard Mary sniffle. She looked at the woman's face in the mirror. Her eyes were red and swollen as if she had been crying for quite some time.

  "Mary? Is there something wrong?"

  "Please don't worry yourself about me, ma’am. I'm just a fool who has made a terrible mistake." Mary burst into tears.

  Regina turned and pulled the young woman down next to her on the vanity bench. "Mary? What is it? Tell me, please. Perhaps I can help," Regina offered.

  Mary hid her face behind her hands. "No one can help me now," she murmured through her tears.

  "Oh, nonsense. What can be so bad? Tell me and we will put our heads together and figure something out. Everything will be alright, I swear it," Regina promised, even though she had no idea what was the matter.

  Mary shook her head in denial. "I fear it will never be alright again, for you see…”

  She hesitated and then crumbled into a fresh round of sobs and hiccups.

  Regina was at a loss. Until she knew the problem, she could do nothing to help the poor woman. "Now, now.” She rubbed Mary’s back in slow circular motions in hopes of calming her and comforting her enough so that she would feel she could share her troubles with Regina. “It can't be that bad. Just tell me. Tell me what has you so upset. Please, Mary. I want to help. Truly.”

  Mary uttered another hiccup and a snuffle, then she wiped her nose and eyes with her apron. Regina remained quiet giving her time to gather her courage. Finally, Mary looked up at her, eyes swimming in tears. "I fear my beau is not the man I thought him to be. He and I…we…I thought he loved me. I let him…you know, do things that only married people should do. And now…Mary's words drifted off as if she couldn't bear to say more.

  "Well, that isn't a reason to be so upset. Perhaps he will propose to you soon and everything will be right as rain," Regina offered.

  Mary shook her head. "You don't understand. He told me he couldn’t afford to get married."

  Regina nodded. "I see. And you think he has changed his mind altogether?"

  "I'm sure of it." Mary sniffed.

  "How can you be so certain, Mary? Perhaps he just needs a little more time to—"

  Mary jumped up off the vanity bench and frantically paced in front of Regina. "But that's just it, Regina. I don't have more time. I'm…I’m going to…I’m going to have a baby. So we must get married now."

  “Ah. I see.” Now Regina understood the situation. The poor woman had given the man not just her heart but her body as well, and he had betrayed her trust.

  "What does your father say? Have you told him?" Regina stood and held Mary in place by her shoulders.

  "I don't have a father. Or a brother. Or anyone who cares about me. There is no one to champion me. No one at all."

  Regina knew that wasn’t true. "That isn't so, Mary. I know of someone who will champion you. Someone who is decent and caring and will not allow anyone to mistreat you."

  Mary studied her face, her brows wrinkled in confusion. "Who? I don't know anyone who would go out of their way to help me."

  "I do. Follow me." Regina grabbed her silk shawl and her reticule. She pulled Mary by the hand down the hall to the front door.

  "But ma’am…Regina, please. Wait—" Mary protested.

  "Don't you worry yourself one bit, Mary. It isn't good for the baby and it isn't necessary." Regina pulled a somewhat reluctant and very confused Mary down the stairs to the first floor. She stopped the first employee she could find. "Excuse me. Can you tell me where I can find Mr. Kingston?" she asked.

  Mary pulled her hand out of Regina's. "Oh no, Regina. You can't tell Mr. Kingston about this. He'll fire me for sure."

  "Nonsense, Mary. Mr. Kingston will not fire you. Now come along."

  "But Regina, you don't understand…”

  The employee looked between Regina and Mary, then shrugged his shoulders as if he wanted no part of it.

  "He was in the poker parlor last I saw him, ma'am," he answered then hurried off.

  "Regina, please. I'll manage somehow. Please don't tell Mr. Kingston—"

  "Don't tell Mr. Kingston what?"

  Regina whirled to see John standing behind her and Mary.

  "Oh, John. I'm so glad to have found you. It seems we have a problem, or rather Mary has a problem, and we need your help."

  "Of course. You have my undivided attention." He looked back and forth between her and Mary as if trying to gauge the seriousness of the problem at hand.

  "Is there some place we can speak? In private,” Regina asked. She knew Mary would not appreciate her problem openly discussed where any of the guests or staff might eavesdrop on their conversation.

  John frowned. "We can meet in my office if you wish."

  "That would be perfect." Relief flooded Regina's body and she felt herself relax. It wasn't that she doubted John would help, but now she was certain everything would be alright.

  John guided her and Mary down the hall in front of him, stopping at his office door. He unlocked it with a key he pulled from his pocket and ushered them inside.

  "Please take a seat and tell me what has you both so upset. Has someone done something to you, Regina?"

  Regina took one of the chairs in front of John's massive desk and pulled Mary down in the chair next to her.

  "No. It isn’t me. It’s Mary. You see, John, Mary—" Regina started to speak.

  "Please, Regina. Please don’t say anything more," Mary pleaded.

  John looked at them both but remained quiet.

  "John, Mary has had some news that is quite upsetting and since she doesn't have a father or a brother to champion her, I told her you would."

  John's frown creased his brow. "I would what?"

  "Champion her, of course." Regina smiled encouragingly at Mary who seemed to shrink before her eyes.

  "Champion her?" John cut his eyes to Mary. "Mary, what has happened that you need a champion? Has someone been disrespectful to you in some way?"

  "No, sir. Regina is mistaken—"

  "Nonsense. Enough of that, Mary. John is here to help you. Tell him what has happened."

  But when Mary refused to answer, Regina answered for her. "John, Mary had a special beau who has jilted her."

  John sat still looking between the two women. When he didn't answer, she supposed she would have to spell out the situation more clearly.

  "Mary is with child, and when she informed the man, she believed to be in
love with her, he ran for the hills. I explained to her that there is no need to worry because, although she has no family to speak up for her, you would be happy to do so."

  Relieved to have the situation out in the open, she sat back and breathed a sigh of relief, certain that Mary could now relax as well.

  She watched John turn to Mary. "Is this true, Mary? Are you with child?"

  "Yes, Mr. Kingston." Mary snuffled against her apron and refused to look at either of them.

  "I see. And was this ‘union’ against your will?"

  “No, Mr. Kingston. Me and Charley have been sweet on each other for quite some time now. Our relationship is a mutual agreement.”

  John nodded and walked to a big safe in the corner. Regina watched him work the combination and open the iron door that must have been a foot thick. She was shocked to see stacks and stacks of cash lined up in neat rows on the shelves. She had never seen so much money in one place.

  John took out a stack of bills at least an inch thick, counted them, and then closed the safe door turning the handle and spinning the combination to lock it into place. After testing the handle to make certain it was locked, he turned and came around to the front of the desk. He leaned against it and studied Mary for a moment before he spoke.

  "Mary, I want you to take this money. You will need it in the coming months to make a place for you and your child."

  Mary burst out into a new round of heartfelt sobs. Regina didn't understand what was happening.

  Regina patted Mary’s shoulder, trying to calm her. "Don't cry, Mary. This money will help you take care of your child. In the meantime, John will hunt down the man who did this to you and make him—"

  "I will not." John's words were quiet and matter-of-fact.

  "What do you mean, you will not? Of course you will. You will find this ne'er do well and hold him accountable for what he has done to our poor Mary."

  "Regina. Mary knew the consequences of her actions. She knows the rules and she broke them."