To Love and to Cherish (11 page)

“I'm glad to see the buildings have been painted a variety of colors. A town of weathered buildings is a dreary sight.”

Colby had insisted on that, too. He'd said a desert landscape needed color.

“Where is the mercantile?”

Noah had refused to pay for a sign. He'd said everyone already knew where the building was.

“It's the large, red building.” Even though Noah hadn't wanted a sign, he'd wanted the store to stand out from all the other buildings.

Jared chuckled. “You can't miss it. You'd have to go in out of curiosity if nothing else. I should have been shopping here instead of Fort Verde.”

The moment they entered the main street, Laurie felt as if the eyes of the whole town were on her. Few people had seen her during the last week because she'd been at the ranch all day each day. Now she was reappearing with Jared. Since no one other than Naomi and Sibyl knew she was working for Jared, her sudden appearance in the company of a handsome man would start the gossip mill running at high speed. As much as she hated knowing everything she did would be whispered about and misinterpreted, people would learn the truth sooner or later.

“After we finish at the mercantile, I have business at the bank and the lawyer's office,” Jared told Laurie. “Why don't you use that time to catch up with your friends?”

Naomi had been as good as her word and had been at the house every evening. Sibyl had been with her two of those times. There was no one else Laurie wanted to talk to. “I think I'll catch up on my housework. By the time I get home at night, I'm too tired to do much more than crawl into bed.”

“Traveling back and forth each day is too much.”

She didn't let him continue. “There's no other solution, so there's no point in talking about it. You can stop in front of the store, but if you've got a lot of business to do, it'll be easier to collect everything and load the wagon from the back.”

“I keep forgetting you used to work here.”

She hadn't forgotten it, but she was trying. Even in the store, Noah's judgmental gaze had never left her.

Jared helped her down from the wagon. She stepped up on the boardwalk only to be confronted by Mae Oliver. Mae looked Laurie up and down before favoring Jared with an equally thorough inspection.

“I haven't seen you all week,” she said to Laurie. “Have you been sick?”

There wasn't any help for it. It was time everybody knew, and Mae would make sure they did. “I've been working for Mr. Smith at his ranch. I haven't been here much.”

“What kind of work? All you've ever done is work in the store.”

“I cook and clean. I've done that, too.”

“I don't think we've met,” Jared said to Mae. “I'm Jared Smith. I own the Green River Ranch.”

“Everybody knows who
you
are. I'm Mae Oliver. I'm Laurie's mother's second cousin.”

“How would everybody know me?” Jared asked. “I just bought the ranch a few weeks ago.”

“Several people in town do business with Fort Verde. They know your ranch provides beef for the fort. They also know Norman wouldn't give you the money to buy Herefords. Nobody can figure out why. I think it would have been a good idea.”

Jared didn't look pleased that his business appeared to be widely known, but he forced himself to smile. “You wouldn't happen to have a few thousand dollars you could lend, would you?”

Mae laughed. It was hard to remain unbending with Jared when he made up his mind to be friendly. “Not even a few hundred. Now I'm sure you have more important business than gossiping with an old woman, so I'll let you get on with it.”

“You're not old, and we're just getting to know each other.”

Mae turned to Laurie. “You'd better watch this man. I don't think he can be trusted.”

Thinking of her father and late husband, Laurie said, “What man can?”

“Ladies, ladies,” Jared said in mock horror, “don't judge me before you get to know me.”

Mae simpered—actually
simpered
—before saying, “I'm not sure that would be safe. I'd better get along before my husband begins to wonder if I've been kidnapped.”

“With a woman like you, that must be a constant worry,” Jared said.

Mae tried unsuccessfully to hide a pleased smiled. “Now I know you can't be trusted. Beware of him, Laurie. Drop in when you're done. We need to catch up.”

Laurie nodded without promising anything and Mae went on her way. “Let's go inside before we get waylaid again. Everybody in this town wants to know everything about everybody else.”

Laurie started toward the store, then turned when she realized Jared wasn't following her.

“Who is that man?” he asked.

“What man?”

“The man driving that wagon?”

“He's Colby Blaine. Why?”

“I was too young to remember my father all that well, but Colby looks exactly like I remember him.”

After spending nearly six months in Santa Fe without finding a single clue as to the whereabouts of his siblings, Jared had almost given up on finding his family, so it was a shock to see a man he was certain was one of his lost brothers. “What does he do?”

“He is a trader who transports goods and brings timber for building. If you want anything moved from one place to another, Colby will do it for you.”

“Do you think he looks like me?” He was annoyed when Laurie didn't appear to see the resemblance at once.

“I'd never thought about it.”

“Well, think about it now.”

Laurie gazed at Colby. “Maybe I can see a slight resemblance. Why is that important?”

“I think he might be my brother. We were adopted by different families when my parents were killed on the Santa Fe Trail.”

Laurie's attention intensified. “Colby was adopted after
his
parents were killed on the Santa Fe Trail.”

“There couldn't have been that many couples killed on the trail who had boys who needed to be adopted. What was the year?”

“I don't know. I'm not sure I ever knew.”

“I've got to know.”

“Why don't you ask him?”

“I will.” Jared knew there was no way he could prove that Colby looked like his father. Some would even doubt that a three-year-old child could remember anyone except possibly his mother, but Jared had carried that picture of his father in his memory his whole life. He did remember, and that memory was so vivid he couldn't ignore it. Combined with the fact that Colby had also been orphaned on the Santa Fe Trail, well, the similarities seemed too much of a coincidence. “Will you introduce me?”

“Sure. You need to meet Colby anyway. If this town could be said to have a mayor, it would be Colby. If you want to know how to do anything except farm or run a bank, Colby is the man to see. He even chose the location for the town and laid out the streets.”

Laurie waved to Colby. He pulled the wagon to the side of the road and stopped. “Are you doing okay? Do you need me to do anything?”

“I'm fine. It just takes a little while to adjust. I want you to meet Jared Smith. He recently bought a ranch between here and Fort Verde.”

“So you're the man who bought the Green River Ranch.” Colby leaned over and extended his hand. “Glad to meet you. If you need anything hauled out to your place, let me know. I not only give the best deal, I'm the only deal.”

Colby shook hands, showing no indication that Jared was any different from any other man he'd met.

“Laurie tells me you lost your parents on the Santa Fe Trail some years ago. Do you mind telling me what year that was?”

“It was '39. Why do you want to know?”

“I also lost my parents on the Santa Fe Trail in '39. I had two brothers, one older and one younger, who were adopted by other families. I think you're one of them. Do you mind telling me how old you are?”

“I'm thirty, but I can't be your brother. We don't look a thing alike.”

“I think we do. Do you know your real name?”

“Colby Blaine.”

“Are you sure it's not Kevin Holstock?”

“Positive. Look, I'm sorry you couldn't find your brothers, but it wouldn't do any good if we were related. I don't know anything about you, and you don't know anything about me. We're absolute strangers. We don't even resemble each other.”

“I think we do.”

“What do you think?” Colby asked Laurie.

Laurie looked uncomfortable being put on the spot. “Your mouths and chins might be similar, but everything else is different.”

“Okay, we might have similar mouths and chins, but the same could be said for dozens of men. Look, I hope you find your brothers, but I'm sure I'm not one of them. Now I'd better make this delivery, or my customers will start looking for someone else to do their hauling.”

“You said you were the only one.”

“And I don't want to give anybody a reason to want that to change that. Good to see you, Laurie.” He winked and grinned broadly. “I always knew there was something worth looking at under those tents Noah made you wear.”

Jared was so tied up with his disappointment he almost missed Laurie's blush. “Why are you blushing? What did he mean? Why would your husband want you to wear a tent?”

Laurie didn't meet his gaze. “My husband disliked my body and preferred that I conceal my shape as much as possible.”

“Was he crazy?” Shock and disbelief were written large on Jared's face. “Most men would do anything to be married to a woman who looked like you. Hell, I'd sell half my ranch.” Laurie blushed so vividly he was sorry he'd spoken so freely. “I didn't mean to embarrass you. It's just that I can't imagine how any man could find you unattractive.”

“We'd better do our shopping. If I blush like this again, people are going to think you're making very improper suggestions.”

Jared chuckled. “Do men in Cactus Corner often make improper suggestions in the middle of the street? I think I'd like to get to know this town a lot better.”

Laurie relaxed enough to laugh. “You know they don't. Now stop wasting time. If we don't get our shopping done, we won't get back to the ranch in time for me to fix supper.”

Jared looked to where Colby's wagon was turning the corner onto a side street. “I'm certain that man is my younger brother. It's too much of a coincidence that we both lost parents the same way in the same year. The odds against that happening to two men who're unrelated are phenomenal. I need to know more about him.”

“I can talk to his wife—she's my cousin—but he's told you just about everything anybody knows.”

“There must be something else.”

“Not that I ever heard. Now are we going to shop or stand in the middle of the boardwalk so everybody can gawk at us?”

“We're going to shop until we have every item on your list, but I'm not going to stop trying to find out more about Colby Blaine. I know he's one of my brothers.” Just as he turned to go into the mercantile, a young woman who was so blond her hair looked almost white came out. She smiled and greeted Laurie.

“Good morning, Mrs. Spencer. I hope you haven't been sick. I haven't seen you in at least a week.”

“I have a new job. I'm working as housekeeper for Mr. Smith.” She indicated Jared. “He bought the Green River Ranch.”

The information appeared to catch the young woman by surprise, but she recovered quickly and turned to Jared. “How do you do? My name is Martha Simpson. My father is the preacher and newspaper editor.”

Jared grasped the hand she extended. It was as slim as her boyish figure. “Pleased to meet you. My name is Jared Smith.”

“Pleased to make your acquaintance.” She turned back to Laurie, her perfect brow creased with concern. “I didn't know you had taken a job. Is anything wrong?”

“Nothing at all. I just wanted to be independent, and the best way seemed to be to have a job. I've been keeping house most of my life, so that seemed the most logical thing to do.”

Martha paused as though she wanted to say more. Instead, she smiled and turned to Jared. “You must be very kind to Mrs. Spencer. She's one of my favorite people.”

“I certainly will. She's already become one of mine.”

“I'd better be going. Will I see you in church Sunday?” she asked Laurie.

“Yes, and I'll be bringing a young man with me.”

“How exciting.” She turned to Jared again. “My father will be delighted to see you in church.” She blushed. “So will all the women.”

Laurie laughed. “I don't mean Jared. It's his nephew, Steve. He's very nice, but he's only fifteen.”

Martha's mouth twisted in a wry smile. “Don't tell Mother what I said. She thinks I'm too forward.”

“I'm sure you're a perfect lady,” Jared said.

Another wry smile. “Regrettably so. Now I really must be going. Glad to have met you.”

Jared's gaze followed her as she walked away. “I gather she's single and regrets the scarcity of men,” Jared said to Laurie.

“Every single woman laments over the shortage of men to choose from. Being a preacher's daughter just makes it more difficult.”

“Maybe for her. Any unmarried man would be proud to have her for his wife.” Odd that he didn't feel that way. She was certainly pretty enough. Nice, too, it seemed, but she didn't spark his interest the way Laurie could just by being in the next room.

***

“Colby told me Jared thinks they're brothers,” Naomi told Laurie, “but he says that's impossible.”

Laurie had talked to Naomi as she'd promised Jared, but got the answer she expected. “I wish it were true. Jared said he spent six months in Santa Fe trying to find any trace of his family. He heard that one family went farther west, but nobody remembered the name or knew anything about them. He was told a man whose wife was back East somewhere took the older boy. They expect that's where he still is.”

“Then it couldn't have been Colby. His family went south to Albuquerque.”

“Do you see any resemblance between Jared and Colby?”

“Maybe a little. What about you? You've seen Jared more closely than I have.”

“Not much, but the coincidence of the date when they both lost their parents is enough to make it worth considering.”

Naomi shook her head. “It's not enough for Colby. He said hundreds of people died each year from Indian attacks. He'd love to find his brothers, but it would be cruel to raise his hopes without solid proof.”

“What kind of proof would that be?”

“I don't know. Colby's parents wanted him to forget he was adopted. If there was anything that would have provided a connection with his family, they would probably have destroyed it.”

Laurie sighed. “Jared will be disappointed. He lost his adopted family, and his nephew lost both his parents. Each is all the other has.”

“I'm sorry, but I hope he doesn't bring up being a brother to Colby again. It won't do any good and will just upset him.”

“I'll tell him, but he's convinced Colby is his brother.”

“Then he'd better have some more to go on than a feeling that Colby looks like a man nobody around here has ever seen and that everyone probably doubts a three-year-old boy could remember.” Naomi changed subjects. “Do you really like working for him?”

“I like working for
all
of them,” Laurie assured her. “They appreciate everything I do. After years of being told how far I came from measuring up to Noah's mother, that's a really nice change. I know this makes me sound vain, but I enjoy being looked at with pleasure. No one has done anything improper,” she hastened to add, “but it's nice to have a man look at me with approval.”

“I could kill Noah all over again for the things he did to you,” Naomi said angrily.

Laurie laughed. “And I'd help you, but that's all over now, and it'll never happen again. Now I'd better go. Jared should be finished with his business by now. We have to get to the ranch in time for me to fix supper.”

“Are you sure you want to do this?”

“You ask me that every day, and my answer is always the same.”

“I know, but I don't understand it. It's a long ride two times a day. I'm not entirely comfortable having that young man staying in your house.”

“He's a boy.”

“He's practically a man, and he looks at you with stars in his eyes.”

Laurie's laughter was as bright as the smile in her eyes. “No, he doesn't.”

“Yes, he does. He's got a crush on you. Can't you tell?”

“If he does, he'll get over it as soon as he meets Amber or Garnet Sumner.”

“They're pretty, but you're gorgeous. Besides, they're girls and you're a woman.”

“All the more reason it can't be anything serious. Don't worry. Everything's fine.”

***

Jared threw his pencil down with a grunt of disgust. He'd been trying for the last hour to concentrate on his work, but he couldn't take his mind off Laurie. He knew every part of the house she'd been in during the morning and how long she had stayed in each room. From the sounds he heard, he could even make a good guess as to what she'd been doing. He didn't care about dusted furniture, made beds, or swept floors. He didn't care whether the windows had curtains, though he
did
want them to be plain rather than a floral design. He wasn't thinking about his house at all.

He was thinking of Laurie.

He'd always been a man who enjoyed women. He'd managed to survive the deprivation of his years as a soldier without undue stress, but he'd never had a beautiful, desirable woman within twenty feet for hours every day. He could hear her, see her, smell her, and it was driving him crazy.

There was nothing immodest about her dress, but it would have been impossible for anything but a tent to disguise the glories of her body. Most men he knew said they judged a woman primarily by her face. Jared wasn't one to underestimate the value of a beautiful face, but women were more than just a face to him. He loved their hair, eyes, skin, and lips. Just visualizing the nape of Laurie's neck caused his body to harden. He could imagine kissing it, caressing it, inhaling her scent.

But it was her body that kept him awake at night. If she had chosen to stay at the ranch rather than drive back to town each night, he probably wouldn't have gotten any sleep at all.

He should have stayed out on the range with the men, but he couldn't leave all of his work for the hours after Laurie had gone home. Besides, he had to study. Ranching in Arizona wasn't the same as in Texas, even though both were dry and hot. The previous owner of the ranch had failed because he hadn't appreciated the peculiarities of Arizona's climate and had overestimated the productivity of longhorns.