Claire

by Margaret Tanner

  Claire

  Women Betrayed Series

  Book 1

  By

  Award Winning, Best Selling Author

  Margaret Tanner

  This is a work of fiction. Similarities to real people, places, or events are entirely coincidental.

  CLAIRE – Women Betrayed Series

  Book 1

  First edition. November 7, 2017.

  Copyright © 2017 Margaret Tanner

  Written by Margaret Tanner

  Cover Art by Susan Horsnell

  Acknowledgement: Thank you Susan Horsnell for your on-going help and support. Couldn’t have done it without you my friend.

  Heat Level: Adult theme, but only mild sexual scenes depicted.

  Acknowledgement: Thank you Susan Horsnell for your on-going help and support. Couldn’t have done it without you my friend.

  Chapter One

  Triple K ranch - Texas - 1880’s

  From as far back as Clair Wainright could remember, Jacob Kirby’s Triple K ranch had been home. Pa had been foreman and she and Ma helped Jacob’s wife, Estelle in the house. They did most of the work, with Estelle always issuing orders, but doing little.

  After Pa died, Jacob visited their small cabin on a regular basis. Randy always accompanied his father, and he would take her for walks when the weather was fine, or they would play checkers in the covered in section of the back porch. She liked Randy, although Aaron Kirby was the one she loved. He never came over with his father and she had often heard the two men arguing.

  She closed her eyes and thought of the elder son, Aaron, the man she hoped to marry. He always said he was waiting for her to grow up. She ran her fingers across her lips where he had kissed her last night. Excitement swirled in the pit of her stomach every time she thought about it. If he hadn’t pulled back, she would have been his in every sense of the word. She was almost eighteen, old enough to wed.

  There was a party for Marylou Sullivan at a neighboring ranch and she was going. Randy, the younger Kirby son had invited her. Ma had altered a blue taffeta gown Estelle had cast off a few months ago. Well, it was Aaron who suggested she might like it after he rescued it before his stepmother burnt it in the stove. Horrible old witch preferred to burn it rather than give it away.

  Stop dithering or you’ll be late for your first ever grown up party. Well, her first ever party, really.

  Claire bathed in the metal hip bath in front of the kitchen fire. Because she was only short, she could almost stretch out fully. Earlier in the day Ma had washed her brown hair in lavender water and she was pleased with how soft it felt, and the way the copper strands were highlighted.

  Once she was dressed, ready and waiting for Randy to collect her in the buckboard, she preened herself in front of the mirror. The pale blue gown fit perfectly and Ma had trimmed the neckline, sleeves and hemline with deeper blue lace.

  “How do I look?”

  “Beautiful. Your Pa would have been so proud of you. Have a good time, but be careful.”

  “I will, Ma. Thank you.” She stepped over and kissed her mother’s cheek. She was pale, with dark rings circling her eyes, and so sad looking sometimes, it broke Claire’s heart.

  “Are you all right, Ma? I won’t go if you’re sick.”

  “I’m not sick, just a little tired.”

  “Will Jacob be coming over this evening?”

  “I’m sure he will.”

  “That’s good, you’ll have company while I’m gone.”

  “Yes.” The strangest expression crossed Ma’s face, only fleeting yet she saw it. Regret? Sadness? Fear? She couldn’t work out which.

  “You ready, Claire?” Randy called out from the porch.

  “Yes, just a moment.” She kissed her mother goodbye and hurried out of the kitchen. Their cabin had a kitchen and parlor combined, and Ma’s bedroom. She slept up in the loft, but it was a comfortable home, the only one she had ever known.

  She stepped out onto the porch and Randy caught her by the hand. “You’ll be the prettiest gal there tonight.”

  “Thank you.” She glanced around.

  “If you’re looking for Aaron.” He scowled. “He’s riding over.”

  He helped her up into the buckboard. “You look very handsome,” she said, trying to lighten the atmosphere. She liked him, he knew that, yet he was jealous of her feelings for his older brother.

  He wore a black Stetson, a black suit with a white shirt and black shoe string tie. Blue eyed and blonde, he obviously took after his mother, because Aaron had dark brown hair and green eyes like his father.

  It was dusk, still warm luckily as she had no cloak to wear. Not even a respectable coat.

  “Giddup.” He flicked the horse’s rump with the reins and they were off. The Sullivan’s lived about two miles away and Marylou, who was turning eighteen, was the youngest of three girls. Mille was married and twenty year old Joybelle was on the hunt for a husband.

  “They’re having the shindig in the barn,” Randy said. “Well, so Aaron says.”

  “How would he know?”

  “Because he goes over there quite a lot, I think him and Joybelle are sparking.”

  “They are not.”

  “Have it your own way. He’s not the saint you make him out to be.”

  “What a horrible thing to say about your own brother.”

  “Come on, wake up, Claire. He’s only toying with you.”

  “Is not.”

  “Well, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

  They entered the Sullivan’s barn, which had been swept clean and decorated with streamers. Lanterns on posts set at intervals, gave out adequate light. It was crowded, with a mixture of young and older people.

  Marylou, resplendent in a pink gown with matching ribbons worn in her dark curls, was fetching and smiled prettily at her guests. Surprised pleasure swept over her face on seeing Claire.

  “Oh, Claire, Randy, I’m so glad you could come.”

  They chatted for a while. The three of them had gone to school together, although Randy was three years older than them.

  “You’ve got a lot of people here,” Claire said. She waved to Millie and her husband and they smiled and nodded. “Where’s Joybelle?”

  “She’s prettying herself up for Aaron.”

  Claire turned a gasp of shock into a cough as Randy mouthed. “I told you so.”

  It wasn’t true, they weren’t sparking. Aaron loved her. He was only waiting for her to be old enough to wed. The way he kissed her the other night proved it.

  He wasn’t talkative like Randy, was a deep thinker, and even as a child she had followed him around. He had always been nice to her. No, he definitely loved her, even if he hadn’t actually said so. She was a woman, and women knew these things.

  “Let’s dance.” Randy grabbed her hands and led her on to the dance floor. He took her in his arms and though she liked him, he didn’t cause excited butterflies to flutter in the pit of her stomach like Aaron did.

  She saw Aaron the moment he sauntered into the barn. Like Randy, he wore black trousers, his shirt was white and covered by a leather waistcoat with shiny gold buttons. She noticed his brown hair was slicked down, but curled up at the ends where it touched his collar. He glanced around and gave her a dazzling smile, which somehow lit up his green eyes. Every other man in the barn paled into insignificance. Her heart almost catapulted out of her chest.

  He walked over to Marylou, picked up her hand and brought it to his lips. This gallant gesture caused jealousy to rise in Claire’s throat. Marylou smiled, then turned to speak with Millie, thank goodness. Aaron strode over to them.

  “You look very fetching tonight, Claire. The gown suits you, matches your eyes.”

  “Thank you, Ma took it in and added lace tri
m,” she gabbled. “My eyes are more grey than blue.” He grinned, as if knowing he made her nervous.

  “Mind if I cut in, brother?”

  “Go ahead.” Randy gave him a sullen look. “You’d do it no matter what I said.” He stalked over to the drinks table.

  Claire melted into Aaron’s arms. He held her firmly, his warm breath caressing her cheek and she never wanted the dance to end.

  Aaron expelled a shocked breath and Claire glanced up as Joybelle sashayed toward them, resplendent in a daringly low cut, yellow gown, which emphasized her dark curls and big brown eyes. Every male head swiveled toward her as she made a beeline to them. Well, to Aaron.

  “Dance with me, handsome,” she purred.

  “I’m with Claire at the moment, darlin’.”

  Joybelle’s eyes sparkled with anger and she swung away and minced off.

  “Oops.” Aaron chuckled. “I don’t think I’m her favorite person at the moment.”

  The evening passed quickly. Claire dance with Randy and a few of the young cowboys she knew from school. This was her first grown up party and she hoped it wouldn’t be her last.

  “It’s been a good night.” A grinning Randy swaggered up to her. He had been drinking freely with a couple of his friends. His cheeks were flushed, his eyes over bright, and as she danced with him his whisky laden breath wafted in her face.

  “I wish you wouldn’t drink so much, Randy.”

  “Why not? It relaxes me. It’s going to give me the courage to ask you something later on.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Later.”

  He often spoke in riddles. “Phew, it’s hot.” Claire fanned herself with a lace handkerchief. “I might step outside for a minute.”

  “All right, I’ll collect supper for us.”

  Claire wandered outside, the black sky was peppered with stars, and as she drew in a few deep breaths, female giggles came from the side of the barn. Curiosity got the best of her and she edged toward the sound. Her heart turned to stone. Aaron held Joybelle in his arms and they were kissing, passionately. She would have run away, except her feet were somehow stuck to the ground.

  After a while, she didn’t know how long, they raised their heads and she stepped behind some tall bushes so they wouldn’t see her.

  “I’m so glad you were able to get rid of your little shadow,” Joybelle said, giving a tinkling laugh.

  “She’s a bit of a nuisance, but doesn’t mean any harm,” he said.

  “Actually, I thought she looked quite pretty in that blue gown, Aaron.”

  “Yes, it did suit her. It was one of Estelle’s cast-offs.”

  Claire cringed.

  “I rescued it from the rubbish and Mrs. Wainright altered it to fit and put lace stuff around it.”

  Claire was glad they didn’t know she was there. She felt humiliated to hear him sneering at her. Broken hearted, she realized Randy was right, Aaron had merely been toying with her. Tears filled her eyes and she had to blink them back so her face wouldn’t become red and blotchy.

  She watched them kissing again, and when Aaron’s hand came up to cup Joybelle’s breast, Claire almost fainted with the shock.

  “Would you like to go somewhere more private,” Joybelle invited in a low sultry voice. This invitation was one no red-blooded man could refuse.

  “I sure would.”

  As they sauntered off, hand in hand, life tingled back into Claire’s frozen limbs. I hope I don’t look as bad as I feel.

  Randy lounged in the doorway of the barn. “Where have you been?”

  “Getting some fresh air.”

  “Yeah, sneaking off with Aaron more likely.”

  “No, he’s with Joybelle, I saw them together.” She shrugged. “Not that I care what he does anymore.” She smiled, vowing to keep it pinned to her mouth even if it killed her.

  “He’s a sonofabitch womanizer like Pa.”

  “Don’t say such awful things.”

  “It’s true. Why do you think Pa comes over to your place so often?”

  “To talk with Ma.”

  “No, Claire, not to talk. Surely you’re not that innocent.”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “He goes to bed with her.”

  She rocked back on her heels, disgust curdled her stomach.

  “Ma wouldn’t, she….”

  “She’s got no choice. Pa would kick you off the ranch if she refused him.”

  Claire could not believe what she was hearing, although it did make sense. The sadness in Ma’s eyes, the anger, how tired and worn out she was sometimes. “I never knew.” This would have to be the worst night of her life except for Pa dying.

  “What about Estelle? Is that why she hates Ma and me?”

  “Estelle hates everyone, even Pa. She only married him for his money and he married her because he thought she was wealthy. They deserve each other.”

  “Does Aaron know?”

  “Yeah, that’s one of the reasons he and Pa are at logger heads with each other all the time. He doesn’t like what Pa is forcing your Ma to do, and says so. I’m not brave enough to say anything, but it isn’t right. I hate it here, I’d like to go somewhere else.”

  “Randy,” her voice wavered. “Would you mind if we left. I can’t go back inside not after….”

  “Yeah, let’s get out of here. I’ll tell them you’re not feeling well and I’m taking you home.” He dashed back and said goodbye to Marylou and some of the others. On his return he lifted her into the buckboard, and they drove off without a backward glance.

  “Thanks for doing this for me. I couldn’t face any of them. Poor Ma. How could I have been so foolish as to not realize what was going on. We should leave the ranch and go into town.”

  “If you went to Houston, you’d probably be able to get work in a hat shop or something, your Ma, too.”

  “I’m going to suggest it.” She was determined, Ma was not going to endure Jacob’s nocturnal visits any longer.

  On arrival at the Triple K, Claire was surprised to find their cabin in darkness. Ma had obviously gone to bed early. Randy saw her to the door, gave her a quick kiss on the cheek, jumped back into the buckboard and drove toward the stables.

  Claire tip-toed into the bedroom. Ma was asleep, her breathing heavy, almost labored. For the last few days she had had a nasty cough, but had brushed off Claire’s concern.

  ****

  Next morning, Claire joined her mother for breakfast, eggs and bacon. They always had plenty of food and a roof over their heads; the price Ma had to pay was far too high.

  “Ma, I know what happens every time Jacob comes over.”

  “What!” Her mother’s features crumpled, her eyes filled with tears.

  “Randy told me.” She clasped her mother’s hand. “I want us to leave here, I’m old enough to get work. Randy says there are plenty of jobs in Houston.”

  “I don’t think I can leave all my memories of your Pa. He loved living here.”

  “Well, he wouldn’t love it if he knew what Jacob expected you to do to pay for it. After all you do in the house for them, it isn’t fair.”

  Claire got up and paced the floor. “It’s killing you, Ma, you know that we have to get out.”

  Suddenly her mother clutched at her throat, her eyes rolled back. ‘He….he hasn’t tried it with you?”

  “No. No.” Claire had a shocking thought. He hadn’t as yet. He would eventually, as sure as God made little green apples. He had accidentally touched her breasts a few times of late and she had accepted his apology at face value. How many times had she caught him staring at her? She shivered, it wasn’t a matter of if, but when.

  “We should leave straight away, Ma. Randy would take us into town. He might even come with us, he really hates his father.” How could she have ever thought Jacob a nice man? He was a low-down skunk, a predator who hid behind the cloak of a respectable rancher.

  “Pack a few things, Ma, I’m go
ing over to the house to see Jacob.”

  “No, don’t. Please Claire.” She wrung her hands in anguish.

  “I’m going to speak to Randy.” Would Aaron help them? He had obviously been disgusted with his father’s behavior and had let the old man know about it.

  She marched up to the ranch house. Not even bothering to knock, she walked straight inside. The family were eating breakfast. Randy scrambled to his feet, Jacob and Estelle glanced up, shock widening their eyes, while Aaron was nowhere to be seen.

  “How dare you barge in here,” Estelle snapped.

  “Well, you tell your husband to stop forcing himself on my mother.”

  Jacob’s fork clattered on to his plate. Estelle’s face turned an ugly puce color.

  “Your mother’s a whore,” Jacob snarled.

  “She is not.”

  “Now, you look here my girl,” Estelle stood glaring at her. “You ungrateful little….”

  “Ungrateful,” Randy yelled. “Claire and her Ma work hard around the house, then Pa forces himself into Mrs. Wainright’s bed. Come on, Claire, let’s get out of here. This place makes me sick.”

  “You leave here, boy and you don’t come back.” Jacob shook his fist.

  “Don’t worry, I’ll never set foot on this place again.” Randy grabbed her hand.

  “I’ll cut you out of my Will,” Jacob snarled.

  “I don’t care, let Aaron have it,” Randy threw over one shoulder.

  Claire was trembling so much her knees started to buckle.

  “Come on, I’ll get the buckboard hitched up then we’ll leave before Pa can stop us.”

  Within twenty minutes they were on their way. Randy had nothing except the clothes he stood up in, Claire only had what Ma was able to pack into two carpet bags.

  As they drove away from the Triple K ranch, her mother sobbed piteously and Claire could do nothing except comfort her as best she could. An hour’s drive had them pulling into the main street of Range End. Randy strode over to the bank to withdraw his money. They left the buckboard at the livery and headed for the stage depot.

  Chapter Two