How Miss West Was Won (12 page)

Cordelia knew that this time, while they were having this little heart to heart, was the perfect time for her to come clean with what she knew about Constance, that she was an actress hired to play the part. But she caught herself right before she let the words slip out. She would not know the truth until she got a telegram from Mr. Tuttle, and that could take a few days.

What would he think, though, when he found out she had not told him about what she knew? If the shoe were on the other foot, so to speak, she would be angry with him. “Eli, there is something I need to tell you.”

“Yes.” He looked up at her. In the moonlight, she could see a wicked gleam in his eye. “You want to tell me how much you enjoyed our lovemaking tonight, and you want to do it again. I assure you, I feel the same way.”

The darkness covered the blush that crept up her face. “That is true, but there is something else.”

“You and Constance are working together to get the land away from me,” he said, and she was happy to hear the joking manner in his voice.

“No,” she said. “But it does raise a question as to why someone would want to get the land, does it not? Why do you think that is?”

“I have no clue,” he said. “We make money, but it is nothing like a few of the cattle farms that are around here. If I were looking to make money off land, I would choose one of the other spreads. The only thing we have going for us is the water that runs through here.”

Cordelia thought about it for a few moments. “Do you sell water to your neighbors?”

“No,” Eli said. “The water that comes through here is not mine to sell. It comes from a spring up in the mountains, and we all use it.”

“I see,” she said.

“It’s just that some of the ranchers have further to go to get the water to where they need it.”

“I see,” she repeated. She thought some ranchers might try a scheme to get the land so that they would be closer to the water, but she was not sure that was a good enough reason.

“Do you know the ranchers well?” she asked.

“Sure,” he said with a shrug. “Most of them will be at the party. I can’t imagine any of them trying to sucker me out of my ranch.”

It was time for her to ask a question that would lead into her telling him what Melody had told her.

“Are they all married?”

“Yes,” he said. “They are all married, and have families.”

Cordelia thought about it for a few minutes. “Are any of them from England?” Perhaps Constance was a cousin to one of them, or an aunt.

“What are you getting at?” Eli asked. He was not happy with her, she could tell.

“I do not know exactly how to—”

Eli slapped his hand against his thigh. “For God’s sake, Cordelia, just come out with it.” The anger in his voice surprised her. “I’m tired of you beating around the bush.”

“Fine,” she said, letting her voice drop a little. “Melody, the girl who is making my dress, she says that Constance is an actress, one that she saw on the stage in London.”

Once again, she was happy for the darkness, because she could not tell how angry he was with her when she could not see his face.

“How long have you known this?” His tone told her how angry he was – very angry.

“I sent a telegram to Mr. Tuttle to see if he could confirm the information. I was not going to tell you until I was sure but, after what happened here tonight, I felt as if I had to tell you.”

He stood and crossed the room. “You mean you have to tell me after we’d had sex. You weren’t going to tell me until you knew for sure, because that information would be perfect for your story. Isn’t that right?”

It felt as if he had slapped her, and not in the good way that he’d slapped her ass just hours before.

“How could you say that?”

“It’s true, isn’t it? What made you decide to tell me now?”

“Eli.” She stood and gathered her arms around her. “What are you talking about?”

For a moment, she thought he would yell at her again. Instead, he said calmly. “Why did you wait to tell me until now?”

“I am not sure,” she said. “I did think of waiting to tell you until I heard from Mr. Tuttle, but I decided that you needed to know before then.”

He started to pace, and she watched him as he crossed in and out of the moonlight that filtered into the room through the window. “If this is true, then someone hired her. We need to find out who.”

“Yes, we do.” She sat back down. “Which means we need to figure out who was here tonight.”

Eli chuckled, an almost evil laugh. “I don’t think that’s going to happen.”

“You are right, it will not be easy,” she said. “What we should do is leave a few papers on your desk during the party, and see who goes in to look things over. That will tell us who is looking for something.”

The room was silent for a few moments. Finally, Eli said, “How are we supposed to find out who is going through the desk? We will be outside, with the rest of our guests.”

Cordelia laughed. “We hire someone, like Melody, to sit in the office, hidden so that no one sees her. She can tell us who comes into the office and goes through the paperwork.”

Silence filled the room once more, and then Eli said, “You have an evil mind, Cordelia. I like it. Do you think she’ll do it?”

“I do.”

“Good. We’re not going to have much time to hire her. I say we go and wake Stuart now and tell him the plan. He can go into town.”

“You might want to get dressed first,” she said. “I think I will stay here and go back to sleep. You wore me out.”

“I’ll be back,” he said as he went into his room. Cordelia watched him as he left. She wondered if he had really given up on the idea that she was part of the plot to take away his land. He had not said that he did not believe she was innocent of being a part of the plot.

They needed to have a talk tomorrow, a long one that would bring them closer together. Closer together emotionally, she thought, since they were already close physically.

Cordelia worked through scenarios in her mind, wondering how she would start the conversation. She had just settled on one point, where she would sit him down after breakfast, when a ruckus from downstairs made her stand up.

She cursed herself for not having lit a lamp earlier. She hurried through the steps of doing so now, then grabbed the light and headed out the door. The noise downstairs grew. It sounded like something heavy was rolling around on the floor.

“Eli!” she yelled as she hurried down to the first floor. “Where are you?”

There was no answer, except for another heavy thunk followed by a cry of pain.

By the time she got to the kitchen, where the noise had come from, she found Eli lying on the floor.

Cordelia called his name again. He answered with a grunt. The back door was open, but she ignored it and knelt by Eli’s side. She could hear him panting, the sound part pain and part anger, or so she thought.

“What happened?” she asked. She stroked his head. She did not feel any blood, which was a good sign. But if he had a bump on his head, it could prove to be a very bad thing.

“A man,” he said as he put his hand to his head. “He was in the hallway, coming from the office. I have no idea how he got in here without us hearing him.”

“Um, we were fairly noisy there for a while,’ she said. “Perhaps he came in while we were in bed.”

“You’re probably right.” Eli sat up. She watched as he dragged himself up onto a chair. He put his hands back on his head. “Hurts. Close the door, Cordelia, and then get me a glass of water.”

She did as he asked. As she put her hand on the door, she looked outside. She could see a figure running toward the trees. It was obvious to her that it was the same person who had come into the house that afternoon. That meant there was something in this house that was very, very important.

Something someone wanted very badly.

He had a knot on his head the size of a walnut, and a lump on his ego the size of a peach. On top of that, Eli felt like hay that had been eaten and spit back out for what he’d said to Cordelia after she’d told him about Constance being a hired actress. He wasn’t sure what had gotten into him at the time. Maybe it was the stress of the situation, or just the shock of her words, but he’d attacked her when there was no reason for him to do so.

He needed to apologize, but he wasn’t sure how to go about it. She had been cold to him since then, and in about two hours, his neighbors and people from Boulder would start arriving for the party. Should he talk to her now? Or should he wait? How would Cordelia respond to him if he went to her and tried to let her know how sorry he was, that he really didn’t believe what he’d said, that it had been a spur of the moment thing that he’d blurted out without thinking it through?

It was at times like these that he wished for his mother’s advice. She would know what to do. She had always been the person he’d gone to for advice when he needed to know which road to take. But she wasn’t here to guide him. He had to figure this one out for himself. Right now, he was sitting in the library, staring out the window at the preparations for the gathering that was set for the afternoon.

Cordelia was out there, instructing the women they’d hired on about where to set up tables of food, or set out blankets where people could sit with their families and enjoy the food. There would also be a dance after the food, with local musicians coming out to provide the music. All in all, it would be a perfect afternoon, at least for the guests.

“Must be nice to hide away from the work,” Stuart said from the doorway. “We could use some help setting things up. Some of the hands have brought tables that can be used for dining.”

Without saying a word, Eli turned to him.

“Or are you using the ‘I got conked on the head by an intruder’ excuse?” Stuart continued.

“It’s not an excuse,” Eli said. “I was told not to do anything too physical. The doctor said I needed to wait until the knot on my head goes down.” Eli put his hand to his head.

“Sorry, cousin,” Stuart said. “I wish we could figure out what happened, or rather who it was that made it happen.”

“I just wish I knew what they wanted,” Eli said. “It’s not like I have money, or anything of value in the house. What were they looking for?”

“Good question,” Stuart said. “I wish I knew, too. What I do know is that things are going well outside. The party is going to be great and your wife is a force to be reckoned with. She has taken over and organized things to perfection.”

Eli laughed, the movement making his headache. He pressed against the bump. “Don’t forget, Stuart, she’s not my wife.”

“To all the people outside she is, and they love her,” Stuart said. “I’ve heard more than one person say that you were lucky your mail order bride turned out to be such a wonderful woman.”

“That’s good,” Eli said, wondering how those same people would react when they found out that he and Cordelia were not really married, and she went back to New York City. Then they would hate him.

Of course, there was also Constance to consider. Cordelia had hoped to receive a response from Mr. Tuttle this morning concerning Constance’s past, but so far nothing had arrived from the telegram office.

He wished things didn’t have to be so complicated. He was close enough to Cordelia now that he wanted her to stay. After losing his parents and all his brothers, he had vowed that he would never marry and have another family. It would be easier to be alone than to go through the pain he had when he had lost the ones he loved. But he had a feeling that letting go of Cordelia was going to be hard.

“You’re like an old man with the weight of the world on his shoulders,” Stuart said. “Do I have to slap you upside the other side of your head? Maybe it will knock some sense into you.”

“What are you talking about?” Eli asked his cousin.

“I can read your mind like you’re spitting paper out your ear with the words on it.” Stuart made a movement with his hand as if he were pulling paper from his head. “You’ve had sex with her, and now you don’t want her to leave.”

“I have not,” Eli said, a little too forcefully.

Stuart laughed. “I wouldn’t want to let go of her either.”

“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” Eli said.

Stuart continued to laugh. “Whatever you say, Eli. But in the end, I foresee you trying to talk her into really becoming your wife. I hope it works.”

Eli opened his mouth to say something else, but Stuart changed the subject before he could. “Miss Melody, whom I might add is a very comely lass, will be staying with me in the house so we can watch the library,” Stuart said.

That was one thing Eli remembered talking over this morning. They didn’t want to leave Melody in the house by herself, not after Eli had been beaned by their unknown visitor. Stuart had readily agreed to sit with the woman at the top of the stairs, sitting in the doorway to the bedroom, so that they could watch and see if anyone tried to enter the room.

“Don’t try and take advantage of her while she’s in your care,” Eli warned Stuart.

“Me?” Stuart put his hand to his chest. He didn’t say anything more, however, but moved aside. Cordelia came into the room. She hadn’t changed into the dress she would wear for the party, but Eli still thought she looked beautiful.

“You should be sitting down, or you should be lying down on the couch,” she said to Eli. “The doctor said you should be taking things easy.”

“I am,” Eli responded. “I haven’t moved from this room while everyone else on the ranch has been getting ready. I should be helping.”

“You should be resting so you can see to your guests when they arrive,” Cordelia said. She pointed to the couch. “Lie down.”

“I’m going back outside,” Stuart said. Eli noticed he moved like a jackrabbit as he left the room.

“I’m fine,” Eli said.

“Then do it for me,” she said as she once again pointed to the sofa. “I am going upstairs to change my dress. It should be about an hour before people start arriving. That will give you time to nap.”

She left before he could respond, and Eli could hear the swish of her skirts and petticoats as she walked toward the stairs. Hearing that movement reminded him of the body under those clothes, the one that provided him with so much pleasure.

The last time they made love had been particularly erotic, and it still rocked his mind, and his body. It reminded him that he wouldn’t be able to let go of her so easily.

Eli’s prick stirred. Obviously the bump on his head didn’t interfere with the blood flowing to his manhood. He couldn’t stay down here while he knew she was upstairs dressing.

Now was the perfect time for him to go upstairs and apologize to her. He took the stairs slowly because, truthfully, his head throbbed more than a little as he moved. When he was at the top, he took a deep breath to try and abate the buzzing inside his brain. When it was gone, he knocked gently on Cordelia’s door and opened it without waiting for her to answer.

She had already taken off her dress and was down to her underthings. Eli’s already stiff cock felt as if it might burst.

“I told you to lie down and—”

He interrupted her before she had a chance to finish the sentence. “There is a bed in here where I can lie down, and I want to take the chance to speak with you.” Eli crossed to the bed and stretched out on it putting two pillows under his head. He thought for a moment that he should take off his boots. He hoped he didn’t track dirt onto the quilt. He waited for her to tell him to get up, but she did not.

Instead, she said, “Eli, there is nothing for us to talk about.”

“I’m sorry,” he said. Her face had been passive, as if she didn’t care what he said. But as he spoke, her expression broke, and he could tell by her sad look that she had been deeply affected by his accusation. It made him feel like a heel, a giant one. If his mother had been here, she would have scolded him and told him to act like a man and not a child.

“I don’t think you’re working with Constance, or with whoever hired her if she turns out to be a paid performer.” He stretched his arms out then locked his fingers behind his head. “I don’t know why I said it.”

Cordelia hadn’t made a move while he was talking. She continued to stare at him, as if she couldn’t figure out what to say. The silence between them was unnerving, and for a moment he thought she would not respond. If she didn’t accept his words, what would happen? Would she go back to New York? Would he have to face the situation alone?

“I mean what I said,” he continued. “I am truly sorry.”

There was a pause, and then she said, “I accept your apology.”

Relief rushed through him. “Thank you.” He patted the edge of the bed. “Please come and sit with me.”

For a minute, he thought she would say no, but then she crossed the room and sat down. Eli put his hand on her thigh. She didn’t push it away. He caressed her gently, and he loved the look of pure lust that crossed her face. She wanted him as much as he wanted her, but she probably had more discipline than he did, and would resist the urge to make love. Eli gathered the petticoat in his hand and started to inch it up Cordelia’s thigh.

“Eli,” she said. “No.”

“Cordelia,” he said. “We have time.”

“Eli,” she responded, a smile on her face. “You are not up to the challenge.”

His eyes widened at her words. He took her hand and put it on his prick. “Aren’t I?”

“A hard manhood does not mean you could withstand the… exercise. You need to rest and let your head heal. In a few days, if you are up to it. I might consider coming to your bed again.”

“Consider?” Her words hurt him. “Why would you just consider it?”

He watched her carefully, and he could see that, despite his apology, she was not sure of things between them.

“Do you truly think I am innocent of your charges?” she asked.

“I do.” He squeezed her thigh gently. Even through the material, the touch was almost more than he could stand. “Lock the door and—”

“No, Eli.” She stood suddenly. “You are in no shape for lovemaking, and we do not have the time.” She crossed to where her dress hung from the wardrobe door. “What we need to do, Eli, is figure out what our unknown opponent wants.” She started to dress, and Eli wanted to ask her not to cover up her beauty. “Tomorrow, after the party, we need to sit down and make a list of who we might think is responsible. You need to think if there has ever been anyone who expressed an interest in your land, for I believe that is the only thing that could be the cause of this situation.”

Eli sat up quickly, and then lay down when the room began to move. “Oh,” he groaned as he put his hands on his head.

Cordelia crossed the room quickly, her half-fastened dress falling down as she moved. “Stay still,” she said as she reached him. She grabbed a glass of water that had been on the table next to the bed and offered it to him. It had a slightly stale taste to it, but he gulped it down

When the room finally grew still, he said, “You think someone is after the Four Fours?”

“Yes,” she said. “It is the only explanation, unless you think your parents had something hidden in the house of value.” She started to dress again and Eli watched her as she started to do up the buttons, wishing they were undoing them and he was feeling better. As much as he wanted to think otherwise, he knew he would not be up to physical activity tonight.

“Why did they wait so long?” he asked. “If they are after something they think is hidden in the house, why did they wait so long after my parents’ deaths to try and find it?”

“I do not know,” she said as she fastened the last button. “But I am sure we can figure it out if we put our minds together.”

Eli chuckled. “I’d rather put something else together.”

A wicked gleam crossed her face, and then she cleared her throat. “You need to dress, or do you wish me to tell our guests that you are unable to attend the party?”

Eli sat up. “I will be able to attend for a while, but I will have to come back in to rest for a bit from time to time. I hate to put it all onto your shoulders.”

This time her smile was sincere. “I will be able to take care of our guests like a good wife; and you won’t have to pay extra for the service.”

* * *

Cordelia knew she should not have made the crack about paying for her services, but she was still smarting from the remarks Eli made about her being in league with Constance and her employer. Did he forget, she wondered, that he was the one who had sent for her? She had been tempted to bring up that fact while they were in her bedroom, but she had been sidetracked by Eli’s condition.

She looked across the way at him now. He stood with Stuart and several men she did not know. Cordelia had met so many people during the first part of the party that she did not remember half the names. If she were staying in these parts, she might make a more concerted effort to remember people. But knowing she would be leaving in the future did not make her want to connect names and faces and keep them in her memory.

Of course any one of these party guests could be behind all the events taking place. Cordelia looked over the crowd. They all seemed so normal, not at all the type of people who would try to steal someone’s land.