Cowboy to the Rescue (18 page)

Queasiness swept through Susanna. “What do you plan to do?”

His expression grew wily. “We don’t have your mama’s necklace, but we have this silver service, and it belongs to you. Go ahead and shine it with pride. When we leave, we’ll take it with us.”

“But that’s stealing, Daddy. It would make us no better than the Colonel.”

“That so?” Daddy gripped her shoulders. “Do you remember your grandmama’s death? No, of course not. Your mama would have shielded you.
My
mama died of apoplexy right after that raid. Right out in the field as she watched the Yankees ride off and a fire destroy the home where she’d spent her entire married life and widowhood.” His eyes shining with some undefinable emotion, he picked up a cloth and began to reverently rub away the tarnish from the silver platter.

While they worked in silence, Susanna considered all he’d said. Her conclusions came down to one question. How could she take these valuable items from this house when she and Daddy were beholden to Nate for their very lives and to Mrs. Northam for her extraordinary hospitality? Lying about their name and social standing was one thing; stealing, another.

On the other hand, all her life she’d heard friends and neighbors railing against the North for their invasion. Every person she knew considered it his or her duty to despise any and every Yankee. Had she betrayed her Southern heritage by falling in love with this family, with Nate? For indeed she did love him. There was no way she could deny it.

As Susanna was growing up, Mama hadn’t talked much about the day when blue-coated soldiers invaded their home, had never discussed the way Grandmama died, preferring to help her family move on with their lives. But Susanna had heard frightening stories from other people. How far would Daddy go to take his revenge? Would he kill the Colonel and be hanged for it?

Voices sounded from the kitchen, meaning Angela and Mrs. Northam would soon need her help with supper. Before anyone else entered the room, she had to get the matter settled.

“Promise me one thing,” she whispered.

He gave her a long look. “Depends on what it is.”

She let out a long sigh. “Promise me you won’t try to kill the Colonel, and I’ll help you take the silver.”

He didn’t answer right away, then at last gave her a brief nod. But the hatred she saw in his eyes generated more than a little concern. Until this moment, her always-truthful father hadn’t told her the real reason for their journey west. What made her think he wasn’t still withholding the truth?

Chapter Twenty

N
ate had one last strategy to try to recapture the friendship he and Susanna had forged before she knew about the Colonel and Sherman. Surely, by saving her father’s life up on La Veta Pass, he’d won her trust, but he wouldn’t try to manipulate her by bringing it up.

Instead, after breakfast the morning of the party, he asked her to take a look at the columbines to be sure they were presentable for their guests. With noticeable reluctance, she accompanied him out the back door, but refused his hand when descending the steps. Nor did she offer even a hint of a smile as they walked toward the flower bed.

“They’ll look nicer if you trim off the wilted parts.” She gave a dismissive wave of her hand and turned back to the house.

Disappointed that she hadn’t teased him about such an obvious solution, he gently gripped her upper arm. “Wait. That’s not all.” The angry set of her jaw threatened to defeat him, but he wouldn’t give up so easily. “Bess’s pups are weaned. Do you still want that cute little runt?”

Surprise and a hint of joy spread over her face, reminding him of how beautiful she was. “W-well...” She stared down at the ground and bit her lip, as if thinking the matter over. At last she looked up at him with determination in those bright blue eyes. “Yes, but I plan to pay you for her.”

He laughed. “Nobody pays for a dog. Not out here.”

Her eyes narrowed, changing the brightness to ice. “I’ll pay or not take her at all.”

Take her? Did that mean she planned to leave? “Well, let’s go give her the good news.”

She glanced toward the barn, then back at the house. “I promised Mrs. Northam I would help in the kitchen.”

“It’ll just take a minute.” He remembered the day they unpacked the china and addressed an obvious concern. “Wes is out there mucking out stalls, so we won’t be alone.”

Her eyes softened a bit. “All right.”

Instead of the leisurely stroll he’d hoped for, she strode across the barnyard as if she was on a forced march. Once inside the barn, however, she stopped outside the stall where the puppies were sleeping one on top of another. All except the runt, who was curled up with one of the barn kittens, a tiny gray one just about the same age.

“Oh, how adorable.” She sank down onto her knees beside them and began to stroke their fur. Awakened, both climbed into her lap and returned some of that affection. Susanna giggled like a child. “Oh, you silly things.”

While she babbled cute little nonsense words to the animals, Nate felt a bittersweet pang in his chest. He hadn’t heard her laugh in so many days, he couldn’t count them. “Well, looks like you’ll be adopting two critters instead of one.”

She held up the kitten, its nose to her nose, and shushed its tiny mewing. “There, there, sweet thing. Don’t cry. I’ll take care of you.”

Another pang struck deep in Nate’s chest. How he longed to say
I’ll take care of you
to Susanna. Yet until he made peace between the Colonel and Susanna, it was a promise he couldn’t make. If he could never bring them together, even in an uneasy truce, would he have to choose his father over the woman he loved? He did love her, no doubt about it, and he believed she loved him. Why must a long-over war have to keep them from declaring what was in their hearts?

* * *

Susanna choked back tears, disguising her emotions by talking gibberish to the darling little animals she could soon call her own. With Nate so close beside her, she longed,
ached
to throw away all she’d ever known and tell him how deeply she cared for him. But to what end? They could never marry, for she refused to be a part of Colonel Northam’s family. Imagine having children who would adore such an evil man and call him Grandpapa! She would never permit it.

Setting the puppy and kitten down with one last caress, she couldn’t keep from looking straight into Nate’s green eyes. She’d avoided his longing gazes for days, but now good manners obliged her to speak.

“Thank you. As you can see, I’ve fallen completely in love.” She gasped. “With them, I mean.”

“You can tell they return the sentiment.” His eyes twinkled, and one side of his lips lifted in that heart-stopping grin.

“See you, boss.” Pushing the filled wheelbarrow through the open barn door, Wes disappeared. How good of Nate to arrange for him to chaperone them for these few moments.

“I’d better go.” Susanna couldn’t stop staring into Nate’s eyes.

“Right.” He didn’t seem in any hurry to leave, either. After an endless, agonizing moment, his gaze drifted to her lips, and he leaned toward her.

Longing welled up inside her to accept his kiss, her very first ever. But a memory flashed into her mind’s eye. The scene of a raging fire her nurse had not been able to completely shield her from. Her family home deliberately destroyed by Nate’s father. The fiery image consumed her tender yearning. She spun away from him and dashed from the barn back to the house. Finding Daddy resting in Nate’s room, she flung herself into his arms, at last giving vent to her tears of hopelessness.

“Shh, daughter.” He caressed her hair and placed a kiss on her forehead. “Everything will work out.”

“How?” She moved back, pulled a handkerchief from her pocket and brushed away her foolish tears.

“The Lord hasn’t brought us this far to leave us.” His gaze hardened. “He’ll show us what to do.”

Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
The verse from Romans sprang to the tip of her tongue, but Daddy shushed her.

“You get all dressed up fancy and enjoy the party tonight. I’ll be there sitting in a corner. I’m not in any hurry to make my plans.”

Susanna dutifully obeyed, completing the chores she’d promised to do for Mrs. Northam and then going to Rosamond’s room to prepare for the evening. With all the enthusiasm she could muster, she helped the dear girl dress and arrange her hair, and accepted the same help in return. Flowers in their hair and fans at their wrists, they were ready to go.

“We’re quite the picture, aren’t we?” Rosamond looped her arm in Susanna’s and directed her gaze into the dressing-table mirror. “You’re so beautiful. You should always wear pink.”

Susanna nodded. “Permit me to return the compliment.” She could not despise this generous girl, who’d shared everything with her, even her clothes, since she’d arrived. This was the sister she’d always longed for.

Rosamond gripped Susanna’s shoulders and stared into her eyes. “Listen, I don’t know what happened between you and Nate, but I want you to fix it.”

Susanna choked out a soft laugh. Like Maisie, Rosamond had no idea about subtlety. She shook her head. “Some things can’t be fixed.”

“Humph. Is my brother being stubborn about something? He can be pretty pigheaded, you know.”

Susanna grasped her friend’s hands. “I believe the Lord has it all under control.”

“Oh.” Rosamond blinked. “Of course. Well, then, let’s go down to the party.”

Pleased to be free of her questioning, Susanna lifted a silent prayer for the day when this precious girl fell in love, entreating the Lord that no complications would threaten her happiness.

Arm in arm, they descended the front staircase. They waved to Pedro, a relative of Angela’s hired to serve at the party, whose job was to greet guests at the front door and direct them to the parlor. There, dressed in their Sunday best, Nate and Tolley stood as sentinels outside the ballroom’s closed double doors.

The look in Nate’s eyes and his enthusiastic “Wow” confirmed Rosamond’s compliment about Susanna’s appearance. Yet what good did it do? She had no plans to dance with him or even to accept a glass of punch from him. If her feet betrayed her and insisted upon dancing, she would ask Tolley to be her partner.

But that wasn’t likely to happen. Ever since Daddy told her about the day their valuables had been stolen, dark memories had emerged from the distant past, things her nurse and Mama had tried to shield her from, tried to make her forget. But she’d been six years of age, old enough to comprehend the terrifying events. And she would never let herself forget them again.

“Ladies, please step this way.” The brothers slid open the double doors and waved them inside.

“Allow me.” Nate offered his arm to Susanna, but she pulled up her fan and waved it before her face.

“Thank you. I can manage.” She slid past him and stepped through the doorway, taking hold of the mahogany banister as she descended the five steps into the ballroom. As he’d promised, Daddy sat in the corner on a settee, and he waved her over. “I don’t think I can do this,” she whispered.

He squeezed her hand. “Yes, you can. Just sit here with me. The evening will pass quickly enough.”

Rita entered, along with the three musicians who had played at the barn raising, and they formed an orchestra beside the piano. As the others played, Rita joined in softly so their instruments would cover the sound. Across the room, a photographer had set up his camera in front of one window, closing the drapes for a background for the pictures he would take.

Despite her reservations, Susanna found the fully decorated ballroom enchanting. The scent of roses wafted down from floral garlands hung from the scalloped molding some eight inches from the ceiling. The oak flooring had been polished to a sheen, then lightly dusted with chalk to keep dancers from slipping. Rosamond had stationed herself beside the silver tea service, which sat on a table. Susanna didn’t see the china anywhere in the room. If she’d planned the party, she would have it all set out so Mrs. Northam would see it right away. Maybe the Colonel was afraid some of it would break during the dancing. But why on earth did she bother to think about his concerns?

The room filled with neighbors Susanna had met at the barn raising and church, and each one came to meet Daddy and welcome him to the community. When he didn’t correct them and say he was a prospector, Susanna experienced no little relief. Reverend Thomas and Dr. Henshaw paid their respects to him and Susanna, with the doctor asking her to save him a dance. Pedro’s two brothers passed among the guests offering refreshments from wooden trays.

“Good evening and welcome, everyone.” The Colonel’s voice boomed throughout the room as he and Mrs. Northam made a grand entrance and stood at the top of the staircase. The entire assembly applauded, and numerous whistles sounded above the noise. The sight of the Colonel, handsome to a fault in his blue army uniform, medals gleaming on his chest, caused Susanna to gasp in horror. Even Daddy jolted beside her, and a deep growl emanated from his throat. But Susanna’s eyes quickly moved to Mrs. Northam, resplendent in a blue satin gown, with Mama’s brilliant sapphire necklace sparkling around her neck. In an instant, every good or kind or admiring thought Susanna had toward Mrs. Northam vanished.

If Daddy hadn’t held Susanna’s hand in a vise grip, she would have dashed across the room and snatched the heirloom jewels right off the woman. How could she not know they belonged to another lady? How could she boldly wear the spoils of war? Susanna’s gaze darted to the silver set, and a terrible truth dawned in her mind. With the monogram clearly etched on that silver tray, Mrs. Northam had to know these were stolen vessels. How could she serve beverages to these other church friends, knowing another lady was bereft of her valuable heirlooms? Did this Yankee woman have no shame?

Apparently not, for she stood gazing about the room, laughing and exclaiming over every beautiful adornment, especially the piano. The crowd laughed with her, as did her pompous husband. How clever he must feel, Susanna thought. Giving his wife gifts that cost another woman so dearly.

“Mrs. Northam, may I have this dance?” The Colonel sketched an elaborate bow before his wife.

Rita launched into a Strauss waltz, and the anniversary couple took to the floor. After they made a few turns, others joined in. Seated beside Daddy, Susanna declined each gentleman who invited her to dance. When Nate approached, she focused on her father and refused to look at him.

“I couldn’t bear to be in his arms, Daddy,” she whispered after he indicated Nate had gone.

Daddy nodded his understanding. His own gaze hadn’t left Mrs. Northam since she entered the room. Was he thinking about the last time Mama wore that lovely necklace so many years ago?

Across the room, Nate spoke to Tolley and pointed his chin in her direction. Tolley questioned him, then shrugged. He fetched two glasses of punch and, with his usual puppy-dog eyes, ambled their way. “Thought you might be thirsty.” He set the cups in their hands, then moved away before they could object.

“Thank you,” Susanna said too late for him to hear her. Her eyes stung, both over his kindness and her own bad manners, which would shame Mama.

“Nate keeps looking out for us, doesn’t he?” Daddy’s eyes were a bit moist, too.

The party went on and on, yet even the lively accordion music did not tempt Susanna to stand up with any of the gentlemen who continued to approach her. She did take some pleasure in watching Maisie and Dr. Henshaw dance together. If she wasn’t mistaken, they already had a romance under way. In church last Sunday, they had sat together and shared a hymnal, along with many warm smiles. Apparently, he found her tomboy ways a part of her charm.

At last a buffet supper was announced, and Reverend Thomas offered grace. Guests took turns wandering into the dining room to retrieve plates of beef, chicken and pork, with countless side dishes and fixings. Susanna managed to sneak full plates for herself and Daddy without any unpleasant encounters, but her lack of appetite caused her to leave half of hers uneaten.

When everyone reassembled in the ballroom, the Colonel took his wife’s elbow and gave Nate a nod. Nate in turn signaled to his brothers, who stood just inside the door. Like a line of marching soldiers, they and their cowhands carried in wooden boxes and set them on a table hastily moved to the center of the room. The few children not outside playing were warned to stay with their parents, then a hush came over the assembly.

“Charlotte,” the Colonel said, “in honor of the best twenty-five years of my life, a life that just keeps getting better and better because you are my wife, I’d like to present you with a small token of my affection.”