Brazos Bride (23 page)

“
Why would anyone? Many hours I have wondered, but I cannot think of a reason for someone to act so horribly. I have never harmed anyone, have I?”

“
No, of course not.” Ramona appeared ready to say more when Micah entered.

“
Nice to see you two chatting away.” He bent to kiss Hope’s hair. “I’m sure you’re pleased to have your friend to talk to after only my family.” He sat in the chair nearest Hope.

She protested, “But I enjoy you and your brothers, and you dear aunts.”

Micah’s blue-gray eyes twinkled and his dimples appeared with his smile. “Oh, so my aunts are dear, but my brothers and I are not, eh?”

“
You know very well I meant no such thing.” She tilted her head and sent him a coquettish smile. “Or, perhaps I did mean it.”

His laugh warmed her. She turned to Ramona, “How long has it been since you heard laughter in this room?”

“
How long? Never! Unless you count us giggling in private when we were young girls. Even then, usually our fun was not inside the house where someone would tell us to keep quiet, but wherever we played.”

“
You see how lucky I am that Micah and his family are here now.” As she spoke, she realized how true were her words. When he and his family left, all their stories and laughter would go with them. What about her happiness? Would she be content with only Ramona for companionship?

Lizzie bustled in. “Come on to dinner now. And Eduardo has arrived bearing some fine wine. I hope I haven’t overstepped my boundaries, but I invited Mr. Wooster to join you.”

“
Good, Aunt Lizzie.” Micah held his hand to assist Hope. “Both men have had a hard day on our behalf. Don’t think Wooster likes going to town.”

Lizzie’s laugh set the curls ringing her face bouncing. “Nor dining with us either, I can tell, but I convinced him because Eduardo wants to thank each of you.”

Hope said, “Wonderful. I hardly got to speak to my cousin today.” She turned to Micah as she laid her hand on his arm. “I was angry with you for keeping from me that Eduardo helped you.” She sighed. “But then I decided you were right when you told me you are used to being in charge and I must let you do what you think is best.”

Micah laid his hand over hers and gave her a big grin. “Now you’re catching on, Hope.” He sobered. “You know I’ll do anything within my power to protect you.”

Ramona said, “Exactly what I told her. I seek also to protect her.”

Zach and the other men appeared. Zach offered Ramona his arm to escort her to the dining room.

Micah beamed at Hope and repeated. “I’m proud of you for realizing that I do my best to protect you.”

Zach bumped against Micah. “You two quit mooning at each other and lead the way. We’re missed lunch and I’m starving.”

Laughing, they went into dinner. Hope directed Ramona to sit on Micah’s right while she took the chair on his left. Eduardo sat beside Ramona and then Wooster next to him. Zach took his place at her left and then Joel.

Ramona said, “You do not sit at the end of the table as your mama always did.”

“
I prefer that we sit nearer one another so we can more easily converse. Do you not agree?”

“
Oh, yes, of course. It is much...cozier, is it not?” Ramona leaned near Eduardo and placed her hand on his arm. “What do you think?”

“
Sí
, I agree. This is as a family should eat.”

Ramona asked Micah, “Do your aunts not eat with you?”

“
They prefer to supervise.” He flicked his napkin across his lap without looking up.

Hope said, “Always one of them is with the food, so no one can add poison to what we eat. Their efforts comfort us.”

Maggie brought in a large platter of ham. “Sister’s bringing the rest.”

After Maggie left, Lizzie entered pushing a teacart loaded with wine bottles, water, bowls of vegetables, and a sauceboat. Micah rose and served drinks to everyone.

Hope smiled at her friend. “You see how well everything works. I am very well protected.”

Eduardo stood, wine glass in hand. “And now, my friends, I wish to thank you again for coming to my aid today. Without you, I might be sitting in a cell now, charged with a murder I did not commit.”

Micah raised his glass. “To good friends and family loyalty.”

Everyone sipped the wine.

“
How kind of Tio Jorge to share his favorite wine.” Hope shot her cousin an accusatory look. “Does he know of his generosity?”

Eduardo laughed. “You know Papa well, but yes, this time he is grateful and sent this as a token of his appreciation.”

“
Wonderful.” Hope met Ramona’s gaze. “You see how happy and blessed I am, do you not?”

“
So I see.” Ramona served her plate while Micah held the platter of ham for her. “Your servants do not serve your plate?”

With a wave of dismissal, Hope said, “We prefer this method of dining. It seems friendlier to me.” She looked at Wooster. “Do you agree, Mr. Wooster?”

He blushed. “Mrs. Stone, you used to call me Chip, remember?”

She laughed. “Because I couldn’t pronounce your name. I’m embarrassed at the way I used to butcher Wooster.”

He smiled back at her. “Came out like Wishta as I recollect.”

She sensed a blush steal across her face. “That’s the nicest version.”

Everyone laughed. Hope’s heart swelled with pleasure. She was mistress in her own home, surrounded by family and friends who wished only good things for her. This evening was the happiest time she’d ever known.

Mercy, for a few moments she had forgotten the threat that hung over her head.

After dinner, the men accompanied her and Ramona back to the parlor. Lizzie and Maggie joined them.

Lizzie plopped onto the sofa with a sigh. “Food’s locked up and we’re through for the day.”

Maggie made a shooing motion with her hands. “I know you boys are eager to talk away from delicate ears, so you go on and let us women visit.”

Micah rested his hand on Hope’s shoulder and his fingers’ gentle pressure reassured her. “In that case, ladies, excuse us. We’ll be in the library for a bit.”

After they’d talked for about an hour, Ramona said, “You two ladies must be weary after preparing that wonderful dinner. I confess I also am tired. Excuse me, please, and I will go upstairs to my bed.”

Maggie rose and Hope heard the aunt’s knees cracking. “Of course, you go right ahead. Sister and I will toddle off too. We missed our siesta today.”

Lizzie also stood. “Who would have thought a little nap could become a habit? A siesta sure peps us up, doesn’t it?”

Hope hugged Ramona. “Welcome home. You go ahead and I’ll let Micah know we’re turning in.”

As Ramona climbed the stairs, Hope rapped on the library door and bid the men goodnight. They were calling an end to the evening as well, and Micah asked her to wait for him.

He soon escorted her up the stairs. “I invited Eduardo to spend the night. Don’t like the idea of him riding home in the dark after what happened today. But three of his ranch hands rode with him, so I think he’ll be safe.”

They reached her room and he guided her inside. “Micah, you are very kind to think of Eduardo’s safety. I am worried about this woman’s death and the attempt to accuse my cousin. What can happen next?”

“
Trouble’s not over, that’s for sure. You have to let us protect you, Hope, even though you tire of being confined and watched. At least now you’ll have your friend to help keep you company.” He looked around her room more closely than usual. ”Did you leave the balcony doors open?”

“
Maria probably opened them to cool the room.” She pulled the bell cord to summon her maid.

He checked the room’s corners and shadows. “Looks okay.”

Maria hurried in. “You wish to go to bed now, Señora?”

When Micah had left, Hope let Maria unfastened the intricate buttons of her dress and lay out her nightgown. She slid the gown over her head and donned her wrapper, then went to the washstand to engage in her evening cleansing ritual.

Maria said, “Never have I made your bed with all these rumples. Someone has been here.” She turned down the covers and let out a scream.

Hope whirled. A large rattlesnake slithered to the center of her bed and coiled, ready to strike her maid.

Maria froze.

Micah arrived with revolver drawn, followed by his brothers and Ramona. “Stand still, Maria.” His shot severed the serpent’s head.

Joel glanced around. “Don’t see anything to pick up the damned...’scuse me, dratted thing.”

“
Let’s bundle it up in the sheet.” Zach yanked the top covers from the bed, leaving the snake exposed. “Whew! Thing must be five feet.”

Tomasina and Consuela rushed in, followed by Maggie and Lizzie. They each wore nightclothes and wrappers.

Consuela said, “Señora, we heard a gunshot.”

The women stared en masse at the sight on Hope’s bed.

“
My stars, how did that get in here?” Maggie asked.

“
I’ve known snakes to climb a wall,” Lizzie said, “but I can’t see how it made it this far into the house.

As he and Zach bundled up the rattler, Joel said, “Had to have had help.”

“
That’s right. It was in the bedding.” Micah walked onto the balcony and peered around. He picked up something near the door. “Canvas feed bag and a length of cord. Explains how someone carried the snake upstairs. But who?”

“
Could have been a warning.” Zach said. “Bad news if Maria hadn’t uncovered it and Hope had crawled into that bed.”

Though she also needed comforting, Hope had embraced Maria and now patted her back. “Are you all right?”

Maria shuddered. “I hate snakes, and that one, he looked ready to jump on me. H-He moved so fast.”

“
Go to bed now, Maria, and try to dream of pleasant things.” Hope urged her maid toward the door.

Wiping tears from her face, Maria took a deep breath. “Thanks to Señor Stone, everything is now all right.”

Micah said, “Everyone should go to bed. We’ll discuss this more in the morning.”

Ramona touched Hope’s arm. “Are you certain you can sleep?”

“
Yes, after Eduardo’s fine wine, I will sleep like a baby until morning.” Hope lied. How could she ever sleep in that bed again?

“
Then I will leave you, my friend. My bed beckons to me.” Ramona smiled then left the room.

Micah and his brothers conferred quietly. Hope wished she could hear what they were saying. Did they have an opinion about who would do such a terrible thing?

Joel held up the bedding containing the snake. “I’ll empty this on the rubbish heap and then turn in.”

When everyone else had left the room, Micah took her hands in his. “Hope, I can’t protect you from this sort of thing when you’re a room away. I know you value your privacy, but you understand why you cannot be alone until this is solved. We must sleep in the same room, in the same bed.”

She looked at him, searching for any double meaning. With only a lamp to light the room, his eyes appeared more blue than gray and held only concern, not lust. “I see that you are correct. I will get clothes for tomorrow. I don’t want to return to this room for a while.” When she had gathered what she needed, she handed them to him, then adjusted the belt of her lavender wrapper.

“
That’s pretty. Same color as the dress you wore to our wedding.”

“
Y-You remember?”

He guided her through the dressing area toward his bedroom. “You’d be surprised at the things I remember.”

Chapter Twenty-five

Careful, don’t let her know how important this is
.

Micah closed the door softly and guided her toward the bed.

She clung to his arm. When she gazed at him, her wide sherry brown eyes revealed the remains of her shock. She shivered.

“
Who would wish to kill me? I’ve asked myself over and over, but there is no answer. My aunt and uncle were not here. Everyone in the hacienda was downstairs with us.”

He brushed her hair from her face. “Don’t worry about the problem tonight. You’ll be safe in here with me.” He prayed he didn’t lie and lifted her onto the bed. “I’ll turn my back and check the windows and doors while you climb between the cover.”

Ears attuned to the slightest movement, he strode toward the balcony doors. Locked. He moved on to the dressing room and hall exits. Key in hand, he waited for her signal.

Rustling silk from her robe preceded movement on the mattress.

“
You can turn around now.”

She lay with the sheet pulled across her full breasts and under her arms. Fighting down the cotton lining his mouth, he swallowed hard. He plopped onto a chair and removed his boots. Now what? He usually slept in his drawers, but what should he do tonight?

“
Now I will close my eyes so you can prepare for bed.”

He exhaled a pent up whoosh of breath. “Won’t take me long.” Working his shirt and fly buttons in record time, he shucked out of his clothes. He turned out the lamps and crawled in beside her.