by West, Everly
The man didn't know about Isaac's death, so what was he doing here? And how long did he and the stepladder intend to stay, because already Cora didn't like the woman.
With a shake of her head, Bessie stared at the governor. "Isaac passed away three days ago. His funeral was yesterday.”
"I'm so sorry," Grover said with a frown. "He was a great man."
"Yes, he was," Bessie said. "Can I make you a cup of coffee while you wait for August?"
Hopefully, once he visited with August, the two of them would find a hotel to spend the night in before they traveled back to the capital. What if he was here to convince August to return to Cheyenne?
"That would be wonderful, but I'd really like to speak to Cora alone," he said.
A tingle of unease spiraled up Cora's spine. Just what she didn't want—a few moments by herself with the governor.
"Why don't you come with me to fix coffee, Della, and we'll give these two time to talk."
Glancing at Bessie, Cora tried to send her a signal she didn't want to be left with this powerful man. A man whose wife obviously had taken a dislike to his son's new wife.
As soon as the women walked out of the parlor, the self-important man turned on her. "My attorneys filed for an annulment," he said, letting the information sink in.
Cora didn't want their marriage to end. She loved August and wanted to remain married.
"From what your father told me, you're wanting to go to some fancy fashion school in New York. I'll pay your way and the tuition if you'll sign the paperwork, ending this marriage, giving me my son back."
There it was, her dream, everything she wanted being handed to her and all she had to do was give up August. As long as she signed the papers and walked away from the man she loved, she could go to design school.
Licking her lips, she searched her heart and knew this was not what she wanted. That somehow in the last month, August had changed her, made her fall in love with him and given her a new dream. A dream of them having a life together. That dream superseded the dream of going to fashion school in the big city. But what if August didn't love her and planned to dissolve the marriage?
"No, I'm not signing any papers without speaking to my husband."
No matter what, she couldn't accept the governor’s money.
"Your husband is the one who wanted this marriage ended. Why do you think I'm here? August told me to have the papers prepared."
Like a spear piercing her heart, she gazed at the powerful man, stunned at his words.
Was this right? They had spoken about an annulment, he even wrote to his friend, but did he contact his father and ask him to speak with his attorneys? Especially since he hated his father.
The man stared at her, his voice raising with disgust. "Look, you little tramp, I'm getting my son back, so you sign the annulment and catch the next stage out of here. This is what August wants."
Anger as hot as a fire popping and crackling raced through her and she smiled. "Not until I hear it from August’s lips."
"The boy has been waiting on this paperwork."
Could it be true? Was this what he wanted and he'd had his father prepare the necessary documents? If he wanted the annulment, she would sign the paperwork, but first she needed to talk to August.
Memories of last night seized her chest and she couldn't believe the same man had requested to end their marriage. Turning on her heel, she left the room, leaving the governor alone.
Chapter 10
Cora went to their bedroom; she needed time alone. Was she just refusing to see he wanted her to go? Could he have gotten what he wanted from her and now she was being sent on her way?
That didn't seem like the August she knew. That seemed more like the man who wanted to keep women at arm’s length? The old August. The one who only appeared in newspapers.
A knock sounded on the door and before she said come in, Della swept into the room.
"Well, come in," Cora said, knowing sarcasm crept into her voice.
"Look, missy, we need to have a woman to woman talk. Your momma thought she secured you a place in society when you married my stepson, but she was wrong."
The woman placed her hands on her hips and stood in front of Cora, her rouged cheeks and flashing eyes commanding. "August has been corresponding with his father on the annulment. So take what my husband offered you, pack your bags and catch the next coach to New York," she said in a hostile voice. "August said to give you this."
When did August correspond with his father? The memory of them going to the mercantile and he received a letter from the governor came to her and she wondered had August been corresponding with them?
With shaking hands, she took the paper from Della as a chill spiraled down her spine.
A handwritten note from August. Staring at the handwriting, it appeared to be her husband’s scrawl.
Dearest Cora,
We both wanted an annulment and now my father obtained one for us. Sign the document and you are free to attend the school you've dreamed of. Become a great fashion designer.
August.
Tears welled up in her eyes, as stunned, she read the note again. Could this be from her husband? Especially after last night.
"No. Not until I speak to August," Cora said, needing to hear these words from his mouth, not this woman.
"He's downstairs with his father and they are making plans for us to leave in the morning. There's no room in the wagon, so I suggest you ride a horse into town and catch the next stage to Laramie. Then the train to New York."
Had August come in while she was upstairs? After last night, did he really want her to leave? Sadness overwhelmed Cora. How could her husband leave his grandmother so soon after the death of his grandfather? Nothing felt right.
The man she'd gotten acquainted with, grew to love, would not do this. Yet, here was the evidence in her hands. His handwriting.
"I don't believe you," she said, hoping it wasn't true.
The woman laughed, the sound like an evil witch cackle. "August is reuniting with a girl in Cheyenne. They've known each other for a long time, and he doesn't want to hurt your feelings. Now if you want to talk with him, wait right here and I'll go get him."
What? The lover from last night had another woman? Had everything been a lie? She didn't know what to do. But she couldn't face him after everything they had done last night.
With a sigh, she told Della, "Bring me the annulment and I'll sign the document."
Della hurried out the room and Cora began to pack an overnight bag, taking very little. Nothing mattered anymore. Nothing.
As she looked out the window, part of her wanted to crawl out to avoid going downstairs to face anyone again. Never had she been so humiliated, so used, so lied to as she did at this moment.
Della walked back into the room, a smile on her face as Cora signed the paperwork. "I'll leave soon."
"Good girl. Tell your mother I said better luck next time."
It took all her willpower to keep from scratching the woman's eyes out. And if she hadn't been hurting so badly, she probably would have.
* * *
When August rode into the yard of the house, he saw the wagon and wondered who was visiting. Probably one of his grandmother's friends come to pay their respects. In no hurry, he slid off his horse, removed the saddle, brushed the roan down and gave him a bag of oats.
The poor animal worked hard today carrying him through the snow to the pasture. Helping him pull down bales of hay and bringing him home after a long, tiring day. All August wanted to do was eat a bite of supper, and hopefully, find himself back in his wife's arms.
All day long, he thought of Cora and how much he was falling in love with her.
Last night had been beyond his wildest dreams and showing Cora the ways of love had taken them both to new heights of pleasure. If she still planned to go to New York, the pain would be excruciating to let her go, but because he loved her and wanted her to be happy, he would kiss her go
odbye.
As he entered the house, he heard his stepmother's voice and his nerves curled like someone raked their fingernails down a chalkboard.
"August, is that you?" his father called, walking into the kitchen.
"Father, what brings you all this way?" he asked, surprised to see him after the way they parted. Where was Cora?
"You, son, you," he said, slapping him on the back. "Della and I have wonderful news."
What did the man want this time? August wondered what would bring him all the way out to his grandparents. "What?"
The governor held up some legal documents. "The annulment. Your wife has already signed."
"What?" he said, his heart crushed that Cora signed the paperwork ending their marriage. Especially after last night, he didn't want to dissolve their union.
Why would she do that without talking to him? Why would she sign unless she intended to leave him and go to New York?
"Your marriage is over as soon as you sign this paperwork. Once again, you were right, son, I should have defended your honor. That woman is not who you should wed. One of the top debutantes in the state is who you deserve. Now, you can come back to Cheyenne and I'm sure we'll find something you're interested in doing."
Confused, August stepped farther into the room. "I don't understand. That night, you told me I needed to marry this girl."
And he had. For once, something his father forced on him was the best thing to happen to him. Now his father wanted to end the marriage? Why?
"Well, when I arrived home, Della said I acted foolishly, especially with the two of you leaving town. How I missed an opportunity to connect you with one of the best families in Wyoming." His father laughed. "While I know you don't think much of Della, you need to admit she's a pretty smart woman."
August would admit nothing of the sort. This was why he hated this woman. A conniving, greedy, nasty spirited woman who actually egged his father on to do evil things. "Why didn't you telegram me or mail me a letter with this information. Instead you've driven all this way for nothing."
"What do you mean nothing?"
In some ways, August had sympathy for his father. The man had no clue as to what his son wanted or how to grow closer to him.
"The women are in the parlor. Let's sit down and talk here in the kitchen."
They pulled out chairs and sat across from one another. August knew his father was not going to like what he had to say, but for his own happiness, it was necessary.
"Since Cora and I arrived, things have changed. Grandfather helped me to understand the reason I was so unhappy in Cheyenne, why I hated the work. All you did was push me to go into something I had no desire for. Here, I found what I'm supposed to do. I'm happier than I've been in years."
Already he could see from the man's face, he was not happy with his decision. But for once, August didn't care. No longer could he hold the money over him.
"You're not going to work this ranch. This type of work is beneath you. Just sell the place and move your grandmother into town."
The first spiral of anger radiated through August, but he was determined to show a new maturity and not react to his father's demands. The old August would have become angry and reacted to his commands. Now, they really didn't matter as his mind was made up.
"Grandfather gave me that option when he left me the ranch. This is what I love. This is what I'm meant to do," he said. "No, I'm not selling Riverbend. What I want is to stay here and keep this place going. There are some things I want to try to make the land my own, but this is where I'm destined to be."
The words turned his father's face beet red. "Cora signed the annulment papers, there's no reason for you to remain here. Your wife is going to school in New York."
August’s stomach clenched as all the determination, the happiness, even the sense of pride he felt, diminished. Did last night mean nothing to her? "Well, if that's what she wants," he took a deep breath knowing letting her go would be the hardest thing he'd ever done. "Then I guess the marriage will be annulled, but I'm not going back to Cheyenne."
"A debutante in Cheyenne is waiting to meet you. Della raved about you to her and now she's interested in marrying you. She's a gold heiress and her father is a millionaire. This debutante would be a great match."
Now the visit made perfect sense. The reason his father came to Riverbend was to ensure August ended his marriage and returned to Cheyenne to wed this new woman who had money. And he would just bet that her father donated to his race for governor.
"How much did her father donate to your next campaign?"
"Aargh, you can be such an irritating son," his father said.
"How much?"
"All right, he's contributed several thousand dollars and promised me ten thousand if you marry his daughter."
All the old anger came rushing back, and yet a sense of peace overcame August. Once again, his father proved he only liked to use his son as a pawn. "Until I speak to Cora, I'm not signing the annulment, and even then, I'm not returning with you to Cheyenne."
The old man's eyes narrowed. "Then your trust fund will not be depositing any money in your account."
The man was a master manipulator: if you can't force your son to do your biding one way, try for tactic number two.
August leaned his head back and roared with laughter. Did his father think he was this big a fool? "Father, you haven't put any funds in there in years. Frankly, I think you spent my trust fund and don't want to admit to me it's gone. Keep the money. Obviously, you need it worse than I do. What with your fancy wife who likes balls."
With a sigh, his father's face turned completely red. "Well, Della does like new things. More than your mother ever did. The fund is empty, but with the marriage of you and this girl, we would be back in the money."
"Because of you, I'm married, good luck with that. Now if you'll excuse me, I'd like to talk to my wife and ask her if she does indeed want the annulment."
While he would do his best not to change her mind, he had to hear from her that this was what she wanted.
A strange almost guilty expression came over the governor and a tremor went through August’s body. Suddenly he knew. "What did you do?"
"After we told her you wanted her to leave, Della forced her to sign. I think Cora's already left."
Rage unlike anything August ever experienced before overwhelmed him. "Get out. You and your stepwitch have done enough damage to my life. Get out now."
* * *
August took the stairs two at time, running, hoping his wife had not left. When he got to their bedroom, cold air filtered through the open window and some of her things were gone. Not everything, but enough for him to realize she had already departed without saying goodbye.
Once again, she crawled out the damn window. She could have fallen, she could have killed herself, and he hadn't been here to protect her, to catch her if she fell.
"Cora," he yelled hoping she would hear him, but she was nowhere in sight and the sun was slinking down the western sky. Maybe an hour of daylight left.
Running downstairs, he glanced at his father and stepmother. "Do not be here when I return, or I will throw you out into the snow. Do you understand me?"
"Son, you're overreacting," the governor said, shaking his head.
"I'm overreacting? That's probably the stupidest thing you've said today. My wife, a woman, is out in the cold and snow alone because of you. Get out."
His grandmother came over to him, wringing her hands. "She loves you August. Find her and tell her your feelings."
With a quick kiss on her cheek, he ran out the door. In the barn, he grabbed saddle blankets and a tent and loaded up his horse. Just as he left the barn, the governor and Della walked out the door. Hades might freeze over before he let the two of them anywhere close to him again. This last stunt was more than even he could forgive.
As he galloped toward town, he knew she wouldn't be camping near the road, but rather somewhere safe. Still the chances
of finding her in the dark were slim to none. But he would ride until darkness forced him to make camp.
Just when he was about to give up, a flicker of light drew his attention. Could that be her? Could that be his Cora?
Spurring the roan, he rode toward the fire, hoping and praying he found his woman.
Chapter 11
Cora's heart was breaking. Sure, she had what she desired, the opportunity to go to school in New York, but that was no longer her dream.
Now her dream was being the wife of August and someday having a family with him and raising their children at Riverbend Ranch. The home his grandparents created, that was where she wanted to live with the man she had come to love. But he seemed to have taken a step back.
Now he was pursuing a rich debutante. August had gotten everything he wanted from Cora - her virginity, her innocence, and Cora had given him her heart.
Once again, he would return to Cheyenne and be the ladies’ man she thought died along with his grandfather.
With a sigh, she put another log on the fire and watched as the sparks reached for the sky. Time to let her broken heart heal and go back to pursuing her first love.
No more men. No more taking a chance on a man and letting his charm persuade her that he was the lucky one. No more believing men's lies.
Sitting alone, she felt uneasy, but what could she do. Della wanted her gone and so she left.
Could she be wrong? No, it sounded like the August of old returned and she only knew that this time it was her heart he broke.
The snap of a twig had her reaching for the gun she took with her. Standing, she held the weapon up and glanced into the darkness, holding her breath, her heart beating rapidly as fear rushed through her veins. The inky blackness revealed nothing as her hands shook, she tried to hold the Colt steady.
"Who's there," she called.
"Your husband," August said, stepping into the light. "What the hell are you doing?"
"Get out of my camp. You're not welcome here. How can you show up after you got what you wanted?"
