Love and Honor: The Coltrane Saga, Book 7 (29 page)

Kit walked the short distance up the hill, whistling happily in the warm spring sunshine. It was the middle of May, and the hills were covered with a riotous profusion of wildflowers. Birds were singing, and in the distance she could see the river flowing sleepily. She was supremely happy, and wished only that Kitty had lived to share this with her.

Suddenly Kit heard a strange sound coming from inside the barn. Then she heard a soft whinny, and she began to run. She rushed into the barn to find Pegasus prancing around inside. He was wearing a beautiful leather saddle trimmed in silver, and his harness was pure sterling. There was a piece of paper tied to one of the reins, and Kit read with misty eyes:

My housewarming gift to you,
princesa
.

With a sob of sheer joy, Kit swung into the saddle. She’d never ridden to Kurt’s ranch, but somehow she knew that Pegasus would find the way.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Jade slept until noon, when finally the sounds of traffic on Fifth Avenue nudged her awake. She climbed out of bed wearily and padded to the window, looking down on the activity below with bored detachment.

For the past few months, life had been terribly dull. She had loved Kitty Wright Coltrane to a fault, but she was tired of the reclusive life led since her death nearly four months ago.

Jade’s misery was magnified by Kit’s running away. Jade knew that she’d returned to Spain. Colt had wanted desperately to go after her and drag her back, but Jade had managed to persuade him that that wasn’t the answer. Kit would, she predicted, find out soon enough that being independent was not as easy as she’d thought, and she’d return on her own. If they forced her to come back, she’d only run away again the first chance she got.

They had buried Kitty in Nice, beside her husband. Then, because of the unrest in Russia, they had gone directly to Switzerland to get Marilee settled. It had been an extremely tense time—Marilee did not want to be left in Switzerland, and Travis just withdrew further within himself, speaking to no one.

And during the whole trip, Jade had to endure her secret pain. She told herself repeatedly that it didn’t matter that Bryan was alive—he was married to someone else and he had a family, but she could not forget his obsession with her, and she worried he might try to find her. He had been truly mad then…and perhaps he still was! What if it occurred to him that he might be the father of her children? Jade shuddered at the very thought.

They had arrived back in New York with no plans beyond seeing Travis enrolled in West Point. He had left yesterday, and Jade suddenly realized that her life seemed to have skidded to a halt. They had no plans, because Colt had become as withdrawn as Travis. They just didn’t talk to each other anymore. He was still distraught about Kit, she knew, and only time was going to resolve his bitter feeling of betrayal.

Jade looked at the new gown Carasia had laid out for her with a sigh. She was sick to death of wearing nothing but black crepe, black stockings, and black veils!

She rang for Carasia to bring some tea and was surprised to see Colt carrying the tray, dressed in a blue serge business suit, instead of black, his black armband conspicuously absent.

Setting the tray down on the bed, he said simply, “It’s time we got on with our own lives, Jade.”

She nodded and smiled, reaching out to caress his cheek.

Colt then poured them each a cup of tea while he recounted the morning’s business. “Our attorney said that Kitty’s assets are being liquidated, and the proceeds transferred to our bank here. The land in North Carolina is going to be left to Travis and…” He hesitated, his face darkening. “…Kit.”

Jade squeezed his hand. “She’ll be back one day, Colt. We know that Kitty withdrew a large amount of cash from the bank before we left for Washington. Since it wasn’t found, we can be sure she gave it to Kit.”

Colt held her hand tightly. “There’s more,” he said slowly. “She bought Kit a ranch in Spain before we left.”

Jade sat up straight, staring at him. “I don’t believe it!”

Colt began to pace restlessly around the room. “The lawyer said he has a copy of all the papers. She bought the ranch for Kit, putting it in her name. I think they had planned to go back and live there together. That’s probably where Kit is now.”

“Are you going to try to talk her into coming back?” Jade asked.

“No. But I’ll tell you what I am going to do.” His gray eyes were cold with angry determination. “The management of Dad’s trust fund for Kit and Travis is under my control. I’m having her share deposited in the bank in Valencia. She’s entitled to it. No matter how badly she’s hurt me, I still love her, and I want to know that she’s safe. But I’m giving her a time limit to get this foolishness out of her system and come home, where she belongs.”

An icy finger of dread suddenly ran down Jade’s spine. “And if she doesn’t?” she asked slowly.

“Then,” Colt said bitterly, “I have no daughter.” Jade fought back her tears. She could only pray that Kit would come to her senses.

Watching her intently, Colt then said, “How soon can you be ready to go around the world?”

Jade tried to decide if he was serious.

The gleam in his eyes and the smile on his lips convinced her that he was, and she threw her arms around him.

“Make the arrangements!” she cried. “I can be ready as soon as you want me to be!”

“There’s nothing to keep us here now,” Colt declared. “We’ll take a year, maybe two, and travel all over. Maybe we’ll find our paradise, a place to build a home, far away from here. Oh Jade, I love you so much!” He kissed her until she was breathless. Then, glowing with enthusiasm, Colt hurried out to start making arrangements.

Jade lay in bed for a few moments, basking in happiness. She felt peace and contentment for the first time since the horror of discovering that Bryan was alive. Then she dared to reach beneath the mattress to withdraw the report from the Pinkerton Agency. It was so ironic! Nearly twenty years ago Bryan had hired the detectives to find Colt. Now she had hired them to find him.

She read once more that Bryan Stevens owned two mansions, one in the city and one in the Catskills. His business was “shipping investments” and he was quite wealthy. He and his wife, Lita, had a daughter named Valerie, and they were presently living on Mr. Stevens’s private island near Bermuda. Other than that, there was not much information. The agency reported that Mr. Stevens was a very private person, leading an almost reclusive life.

Jade folded the papers and returned them to their hiding place, to be destroyed later. For the time being, everything seemed to be under control.

For that much, she was grateful.

He came to her in the still of the night, as quiet as a stalking panther. Only when she felt his warm body cover hers was she aware of his presence. She did not cry out in fear, instead she opened her mouth eagerly to receive his kiss.

He came most nights—sometimes early, sometimes very late. This time it was near dawn when he wrapped his arms about her. It had been almost a week since she’d seen him, and she delighted in his warm caress.

His hands moved over her body slowly, his fingertips gently teasing and touching her as if her body were a delicate piece of china. She thrilled beneath him, trembling with anticipation. In the moonlight she could see the smiling play on his full, sensuous lips as he gazed down at her, delighting in her pleasure. His dark hair tumbled onto his forehead, and she reached out lovingly to brush back the tendrils trailing one finger to the tiny scar she found so intriguing. His dark eyes were hooded, moist with longing. Only when he knew he had aroused her to a fever pitch did he take her, and she arched against him, moaning deep in her throat, succumbing once more to an ecstasy unlike anything she had ever dreamed possible.

Afterward she lay with her head on his shoulder, and asked him about his week in Madrid. He was tired, and spoke vaguely of business and boredom. Once more she teased him for not taking her with him, only to be reminded that she had a ranch to run. There was a familiar hint of bitterness in his voice, which she allowed to pass. Only once had they quarreled since returning to Valencia, and that had been over her insistence to run the ranch—and her life—her way. He had tried to send one of his foremen over to hire her some wranglers, and had offered to advance her prime stock. She had adamantly refused, and he had said angrily that with her attitude she would wind up a sun-wrinkled old maid. She had retorted that that was better than being subservient to a man. Later they’d laughed about their argument, and he never offered to help again, although his resentment was revealed sometimes in his voice.

Kit lay there watching the silver fingers of moonlight play about the room as the soft summer breeze rustled the leaves of the sycamore outside. She could tell by Kurt’s even breathing that he had fallen asleep. The last thing she remembered was turning to lay her head on his broad shoulder, slipping her arm across his strong chest…and feeling blissfully happy, if only for a little while.

Kit awoke to bright sunshine and the sound of bluebirds singing. It was a glorious day, and she was disappointed to find that Kurt had left, although usually he rode away before dawn to avoid gossip.

She dressed quickly and saddled Pegasus for her ride to Valencia. Arriving there, she went first to the general store for supplies, then walked down the street to the post office. Domingo, the clerk, grinned when he saw her. “It came,
señorita
. The package you have been waiting for.”

Kit snatched up the large box he held out to her, tears of happiness springing to her eyes. “I can’t believe it,” she breathed in wonder. “All the way from North Carolina.”

Domingo asked curiously, “What’s in it?”

“A grapevine!” Kit explained how she had written to the people leasing the Wright land, asking for a grafting of one of the scuppernong grape vines Kitty had planted long ago. “And this is it!” she exclaimed triumphantly. “I’m going to start my own vineyard, and one day I’ll produce the best wine in the region. You’ll see.”

“Ah,
señorita
.” Domingo shook his head doubtfully. “Do not be too excited. The plants, they are probably dead by now. It is a long way to ship them. You can see by the mark on the box that it took nearly two months to get here.”

“Well, we’ll see. I’m going home right now to set them out. It takes three years for a vine to produce, so I’d better get started!” As she turned to leave, she smacked right into Anaya Esteban.

Anaya drew back as if she’d been scalded. “Watch where you’re going, you piece of trash!” she hissed furiously.

Kit ground her teeth together, gripping the box tightly as she fought to hold her temper in check. She had managed thus far to avoid an encounter with the insufferable Esteban girl. Now she wanted only to leave, but Anaya stood in the doorway, blocking her way.

“Did you hear me?” Anaya screeched, waving her parasol menacingly. “Back away so I may pass. Do not come near me with your horse fleas and stench of manure. I have heard how you are living on that wretched little farm, and it is disgraceful! Even a
puta
does not dress like a man, live like a man! You are a disgrace to our community, and should be made to leave!”

Kit drew in her breath and let it out slowly. She closed her eyes momentarily before flashing a venomous glare of warning. “You’re in my way, Anaya.”

Anaya did not move. “I pay no heed to trash.” She jabbed the package Kit was holding with the tip of her parasol. “Back out of my way, and keep your distance.”

That did it. Kit swung the box and shoved Anaya to one side, taking her by surprise. Anaya stumbled and hit the floor, landing soundly on her bottom. Domingo burst into laughter, delighted to see the spoiled Anaya get what was coming to her.

Kit stepped over her and continued on her way.

Behind her, she could hear Anaya railing, “You will pay for this,
puta
! I will see that you are run out of this town. We do not want trash here!
Puta
trash!’’

Kit was aware that people were stopping to listen, several coming out of stores to see what the commotion was about. She crossed the street and was putting the box into her saddlebag when Kurt walked out of the cantina at the same moment that Anaya charged hysterically out of the post office.

“She assaulted me!” Anaya screamed. “I want the sheriff to arrest her for assaulting me!”

Kurt looked from Kit to Anaya, bewildered. Anaya hurried to his side as though seeking his protection. Glaring hatefully at Kit, she continued her tirade. “She hit me and knocked me down. I’m going to be bruised, I know it! I may even have permanent injuries.” She rubbed her hip. “She must be arrested and punished!”

Kurt just stood there, looking baffled. Anaya finally stamped her foot in frustration. “Well, are you just going to stand there and do nothing?”

Kit looked at him warily. He winked at her, then, with exaggerated patience, said to Anaya, “I think we’d better have the doctor check you over first. You seem all right to me though!”

“I tell you she assaulted me,” Anaya cried, indignant. “I need the sheriff, not the doctor!”

Kurt sighed. “Do you mind telling me what happened?”

Kit shrugged. “She wouldn’t move, so I moved her.”

Kurt couldn’t help laughing, and that made Anaya even more furious.