Intimate Strangers (Eclipse Heat Book 2) (16 page)

Before she could refuse, Ambrose handed her the napkin and urged her back into her seat, dismissing the bouncer’s offer. “We’ll pay for our own food. Tell the waiter to bring the menu. I’m hungry enough to eat a bear.”

Ambrose nodded over at Brody and Alex and said, “Get what you want for supper. Then Uncle Hamilton will see you up to the room. Mama and I are going to visit here for a spell after we eat.”

Lucy looked rebellious but sat back down and Ambrose joined her, smiling at her across the table. “A smart woman once told me I was very naïve if I thought hiding would stop gossip. I should have listened back then.”

“Who said a dumb thing like that?” Lucy muttered, not looking at him.

Ambrose tipped her chin up and gave her a crooked smile. “Will you promise not to shoot me if I admit it was you?”

He didn’t ask her what Slocum had said. Whatever it was had upset her enough to ruin the evening. Ambrose made it a point to order a big meal and filled her wineglass, urging her to eat the scrap of food she’d requested.

The kids finished and came to the table to say good night before Hamilton escorted them up to their suite of rooms. “I’ll make sure the babies get tucked into bed and be back down in a spell.”

Brody giggled and Alex trumpeted disapproval at Hamilton’s description, but the kids went to bed leaving Ambrose and Lucy alone.

Lucy remained quiet and aloof, her earlier easy conversation a thing of the past. When Hamilton came back down, she shook her head and rose, ready to retire. “I really don’t want the children upstairs alone in this place. It doesn’t seem safe. You two enjoy your after-dinner drinks and celebrations. I’m ready to retire.”

He couldn’t talk her out of it, so he walked her to the room. When he tried to kiss her good night she refused him and he gave up, returning to where Hamilton waited below.

“If you didn’t have bad luck you’d have none. I swear Pete Slocum blew your chances with Lucy by being stupid. What the hell was that all about?”

Hamilton picked up the already filled glass and swallowed the contents in one gulp as Ambrose answered dryly, “He was graveled because we beat the Circle Five to market and claimed the government contract. Guess he thought he’d stir up trouble for spite.”

Instead of sitting down, Hamilton said, “Well, he sure as hell ruined the party. I’m for the Honey-B-Bar across the street. I’ll be ready to leave first thing in the morning, Quincy. Right now, I’m lookin’ forward to a two-legged ride. ”

In three years during Lucy’s absence, Ambrose had not once been unfaithful in thought or deed. And the only thing that tempted him right now was the woman upstairs who was his wife. He’d been primed and ready all night long, gazing at her in that yellow dress, and he wanted to forget that look she’d given him when she’d turned away from his kiss—as if she’d just stepped in a pile of horse manure.

“Nah, I’m good. I’ll sit here awhile and then go on up.” Ambrose had already filled his glass again.

“Suit yourself, brother. Were I you, I’d be careful when I go upstairs. In case you haven’t noticed, Luce can shoot the eye out of a bird in flight. And Luce ain’t real happy with you right now.”

Ambrose soaked his brain in whiskey a while longer and then dragged his sorry ass up the stairs. No way to get around it, he’d handled earlier dead wrong.

When he let himself into the rooms, he found Brody and Lucy asleep in the bedroom he’d figured on sharing with his wife that night. Defeated, he left the uncomfortable couch in the sitting room for Hamilton, who was probably already taking his pleasure in the arms of one of the Honey-B’s girls.

Ambrose entered the second bedroom and found Alex lying awake, hands behind his head. His son watched him unstrap his gunbelt and take off his boots.

“That was a pretty mean thing that happened, Pa.”

Hell, now even his young’un was chastising him. He pretended deafness.

Alex tried again. “She was insulted and after all the work she did on the drive…” The boy, almost a man now, burst out, “Dammit, she saved my life, Pa.”

He could tell his son was set to lecture him the rest of the night, so Ambrose picked up his boots and his gunbelt and went back to the middle room and the too-short couch that was bound to give him a backache. He deserved it and laid himself down to suffer his punishment. But when he remembered the gun aimed at Slocum’s crotch, his lip twitched just a little.

Ambrose reflected the next day on how plans had a way of changing since Luce had come home. Hamilton never did return to the hotel suite, leaving Ambrose to face Lucy and the young’uns over a silent breakfast.

They were about halfway finished, Lucy looking with interest this morning at the food, the cutlery, and even the menu, when Hamilton ambled through the door.

Lucy laid down her napkin across her chair as she had the night before and excused herself from the table, heading toward the kitchen instead of back up to the rooms.

“Somethin’ wrong with breakfast, Luce?” Ambrose asked as she passed him. In spite of his head dancing on his shoulders from too much whiskey and a cricked neck that hurt like hell, Ambrose had found the food to be tasty.

Lucy hadn’t yet spoken more than monosyllables to his questions this morning, and he figured he got those because the children were listening.

When Hamilton slid into a chair and set his hat down, ready to commence feeding his second appetite, Ambrose followed Lucy, who was dressed in her old trail cotton dress for the day.

When he got to the kitchen, he stood back in the shadows and listened, intent on hearing her business. She spoke to the cook, a man dressed in a white apron with a fancy hat on his head.

“Madam.” The cook’s voice was filled with self-importance. “I am a chef. My training was taken in Boston.” Breakfast was in full swing by now, and Ambrose could see that the man didn’t want to take time to talk to Lucy.

“I’ll stay out of your way. I’d just like to take a look at your kitchen. I’ve got a place, the Robin’s Nest. Not near as fancy as this, mind you, but it’s a restaurant too. I’d appreciate your letting me check out your equipment.”

She stepped around the harried man, who looked irritated but didn’t say no when she looked her fill before starting back to the dining room.

Ambrose felt like a knife had pierced his heart. So she planned on going back to cooking for saddle tramps and sodbusters. Well, he’d set her straight on that idea.

She walked past his hiding place and he joined her on her way back to where Alex and Brody ate their breakfast with Hamilton. “I’ll be goddamned if you’re leavin’ me and the kids again.”

Lucy stopped in the middle of the floor and landed her second punch of the morning. “I’ll be returning to Buffalo Creek once we get home from Wichita.”

“Like hell you will.” Ambrose didn’t bother to lower his voice.

She gave him a scornful look and remarked, “You’re so determined to believe I’m a loose woman there will never be an end to this nonsense. My children can visit me. I won’t be returning to Eclipse and your continued suspicions.”

Ambrose felt raw pain sear through him. “Jesus, Luce, what are you saying?” He was talking to air when she brushed past him to rejoin the others at the breakfast table.

Ambrose was too stunned to move. He was preparing for a fight, children present or not, but at that moment a trilling voice interrupted the diners and a slim, exuberant woman skipped happily across the dining room floor.

Lucy was on her feet, smiling back at her and the two came together, embracing like long-lost friends. He reached the table in time to hear Lucy making introductions.

“Roberta Harris, please meet my newfound family.” She turned to Hamilton. “You’ve met Hamilton Quince, brother to…” She hesitated for a moment, as though it hurt her to say it. “My husband, Ambrose.”

Then she beamed a full smile on Brody and Alex. “My children, Ambrosia Cordelia Quince and Alexander McKenna Quince. Children, please say hello to Roberta, my friend and partner in the Robin’s Nest restaurant.”

The smile soured on her face when she took him in with her glance. “Ambrose Quince, meet Roberta Harris.” With that the two women turned from him and set to talking like he hadn’t heard Lucy speak since she’d come home.

He heard the woman named Roberta say, “Hiram’s over making the acquaintance of the Wichita sheriff. Professional courtesy, he called it. I called it nosiness, but you know how men are.”

They ignored the men as they chattered away, sweeping Brody along in their conversation as if she was part of the sisterhood. Alex cocked an eyebrow at him, questioning whether he’d managed to make his amends. He didn’t respond. Any fool could see that Lucy had washed her hands of him.

Plans to leave that morning changed abruptly when Lucy declared her intentions of staying behind with Brody to shop and catch up news with Roberta.

“I’ll be staying put too, then,” was all Ambrose said, but it was in a no-nonsense voice that all others recognized and Lucy disdained.

“Suit yourself,” she commented. “But Roberta will be moving into our suite with me and the children. You and Hamilton can find other places to stay in town.”

Ambrose was reminded of the day she’d returned and handed him his clothes. There was no give in her decision, so he nodded acceptance, delaying arguments ’til they were alone.

In light of Lucy’s earlier declaration of intent, he wasn’t letting her and his children out of sight. He’d move his gear into the second bedroom but not an inch farther away.

Later that night, it cost them a dollar each to bed down in the stable with the other drovers who’d stayed on to take in the pleasure opportunities in Wichita.

Hamilton looked at him wryly and commented, “You surely made her see who was boss, brother. I’d admire to see what happens when you give her a little rein.”

* * * * *

Lucy’s heart ached. She’d begun to believe Ambrose was a second victim in the crime against her life. Plus, she admitted to herself that she lusted for him. His power to arouse her with just a look continued to amaze her.
If that’s what our marriage was based on before, it isn’t enough.
Trust was the element missing.

The night before, in the restaurant, he’d been ready to brawl over her reputation. Besides his rage, she’d witnessed his expression of resigned disgust when the drunken cowboy lurched over to talk to her.

She hadn’t needed an introduction to know the man wasn’t anyone she’d ever willingly associate with. Ambrose clearly couldn’t see that for his jealousy. The drunk had said, “Welcome back, Lucy. I’m looking forward to seeing more of you real soon.” His leer had brought out her gun and she’d been ready to use it.

Lucy had dispensed with that fool quickly but had no more use for the bigger fool who still believed she’d been unfaithful. She couldn’t stop the trembling inside that had overcome her ever since.

Horrified, she realized it was easier for him to accept the idea she’d run off with another man than understand she’d been kidnapped and abused by unknown assailants. But incredible or not, she’d come to accept that as the only answer to her disappearance.

“I’m done trying to get through his thick skull.” Lucy wouldn’t be leaving Brody behind when she returned to Buffalo Creek. Alex could visit when he chose, or live with her full time. But she’d made up her mind at last—share space with Ambrose Quince as his wife—that she would not do.

Lucy ignored Ambrose altogether, focusing on Roberta’s chatter. It salved the hurt some, but upon hearing how Smiley had taken over the kitchen and business had kept right on without her, Lucy worried. It was good she was returning before she lost all of her customers to a new cook.

Ambrose shadowed her every move, doggedly intent on having a word with her. She was just as determined to avoid his conversation so she imparted information to Roberta since he unashamedly listened to everything they said.

The children were with Hamilton again. He’d fled Roberta’s company as soon as she’d made it clear she favored his. Ambrose tagged along when Lucy and Roberta returned to the hotel suite and sat listening as they caught up on news.

She half listened to Roberta and planned her return to Buffalo Creek. But being a mother changed her perspective, making her figure ways to provide safety for her children too. Someone had tried to kill her once. It seemed quite possible another attempt would be made.

“I have to clear up this nonsense about my identity,” she said to Roberta, interrupting a discussion about the new men who had started dropping by the Robin’s Nest. “We will need to increase our security when I return with Brody to the café. That will cost money we haven’t had.”

Roberta’s glance was perplexed when she looked from Ambrose to Lucy. “So you two aren’t staying married?”

Lucy’s swift answer, “No, we’re not,” came in unison with Quincy’s drawled, “Sure we are.”

Roberta snorted delicately and said, “You two need some privacy.”

Before Lucy could protest, Roberta retired to the bedroom, leaving her to face Ambrose alone.

Lucy’s nails cut into her palms, steadying her. She knew it was wasted breath but she tried to explain anyway. But instead of conciliatory her words were harsh. “I give up trying to prove my innocence to a hardheaded fool who would rather believe ill of me.”

“I’ve had a lot of time to think about us, Lucy. Neither of us was blameless, but you’re right, I was a fool. I’ve stumbled over your money ever since we got married. Afraid to touch a penny of it for fear it would make me weak in your eyes.”

She regarded him, speechless and surprised at his honesty. When she said nothing, he rubbed his jaw and admitted, “I never doubted your faithfulness. But I never doubted you wished you’d married some Boston man who would have made your life a hell of a lot easier.”

“So why didn’t I leave if I was so unhappy?”

“We were good together in bed.”

Lucy said wryly, “So I enjoyed wanton pleasure in your arms each night and then sulked in sorrow every day. I had no friends, things to occupy my time, or reason to stay on the Double-Q but our frequent sexual encounters.”

She was pleased to see red creep up his neck until even the tips of his ears flamed. “I didn’t say that,” he disagreed, his voice gruff.

“Yes you did—and that, Ambrose Quince, is why it is useless to try to live with you. Have I ever asked you if you were unfaithful to me during my absence?”

“No. It didn’t seem like it mattered to you one way or the other.”

“Of course it would matter. Were you?” she demanded sharply.

“Hell yes, I was faithful and figured to be ’til the day I died.”

She sighed. “I knew that. I didn’t need to ask. My point is, Mr. Quince, although I’ve lost memories of before, I know your character as well as I know my own. You haven’t forgotten your memories and you don’t know me at all—apparently, you never did.”

On that note, she retired to the bedroom and when she came back out, she and Roberta planned a trip with the children to visit the Wichita Public Library. Lucy wanted to fill every moment she could with memories of this time with Alex and Brody and keep the trip unmarred by quarrels and discord. She resumed polite conversation with Ambrose when it was necessary and avoided him when she could the rest of the day.

The morning of the third day, Roberta, Brody and Lucy, accompanied by Hiram Potter, began a tour of the sights in Wichita, while Hamilton, Alex and Ambrose were settling accounts with the last of the drovers.

Sheriff Potter seemed pleased to show the women around, introducing them to the Wichita sheriff, Hank Jackson, who in turn made them known to Miss Penelope Woodrow when they visited her ladies’ clothing emporium. Roberta was in ecstasy looking at the latest fashions and studying pattern books for future ideas.

Lucy tried to remain cheerful but could feel her despondency blanketing the trip in gloom. When they returned to the hotel that afternoon, Lucy pulled Roberta and Brody back into the kitchen of the hotel where she began pointing out the possibilities to her partner.

“Well, Quincy, I can see that this is a fancy place, but do you think we would have the same need in Buffalo Creek?” Roberta, of course, was right. Lucy had let her sad and desperate feelings get in front of common sense.

Hiram accompanied them to their suite of rooms but when Roberta insisted that they plan an evening on the town, requiring male escorts, he remained mute. The Quince men returned from their visit to the stockyards and joined them in the sitting room. Roberta immediately targeted Hamilton and, in her usual flirtatious way, coaxed him into accompanying them on an evening visit to the ice-cream parlor that sat next to the ladies’ emporium.

Lucy let Ambrose stand, ignoring his obvious desire for an invitation. Brody, of course, took care of that, while Lucy asked Alex to be her companion for the evening.

Lucy was surprised at Roberta’s actions. Hiram had accompanied her from Buffalo Creek when she’d ridden the stage here. It seemed downright cruel to replace him with another as soon as she hit town. But when Roberta spoke her plans, Hiram only nodded and agreed, saying he had business elsewhere.

“I’ll just stop by before you take your evening stroll, ladies, and make sure you’re all set with your escorts.” Hiram left them at the hotel suite and went on his way, telling the women to have fun primping for their evening.

Lucy had only two dresses with her, her trail cotton, which had mud on the hem from their tour that day, and the new yellow, which pinched at her heart when she looked at it.

They donned their finery and Roberta worked some magic on Lucy’s usually flyaway hair. Then Brody, wearing her new blue dress, Lucy in her yellow, and Roberta in a blue that almost matched Brody’s, were ready to go.