Enchanted Ecstasy (11 page)

Jonas frowned. "You know, Kane, if you are really serious, I just might know some property that is available. It doesn't have a house on it, but it is a good location." Jonas looked at Kane. "Of course, I do not know if you would consider staying in New Mexico."

Kane was thoughtful for a moment as his eyes rested on Maleaha. "I have not thought that far ahead, Jonas. I never even considered that I might one day realize my dream."

Jonas placed his brandy glass on the table and stood up. "I wonder if you would accompany me to my stables? I have a horse that I would like to show you."

Maleaha stood up and excused herself, saying she would check on dinner.

When Kane and Jonas reached the stables, Kane saw that his own horse had been unsaddled and given water and hay. As Jonas led him down the row of horse stalls, he explained to him about each horse and its ancestry. Kane was enjoying himself. Apparently he and Jonas had something in common, a love for fine horseflesh.

Jonas had saved the best for last. Leading the way to the last stall, he watched Kane's face as he showed him the black stallion.

Kane whistled through his teeth as he reached out to touch the magnificent animal.

"Diablo," Jonas told him. "Which means devil in Spanish—and he lives up to his name, I can assure you."

"He is magnificent," Kane said as he watched the stallion rear up on his hind legs and paw the air.

"It took six months to break him, and I am not yet convinced that he is tame. A horse like this comes along once in a lifetime. He can outrun anything on Deveraux, most probably anything in the territory, and perhaps in the whole world."

Kane ran his hand down the satiny mane. "I have never seen a horse to rival him, Jonas."

"There is not enough money in the territory to buy Diablo, though many have made an offer for him.'' Jonas looked at Kane through half-closed eyelids. "Diablo is yours, Kane. I give him to you for saving my daughter's life."

Kane opened his mouth to speak as he looked at Jonas with a bewildered expression on his face. "I could never accept Diablo from you."

Jonas leaned against the stall gate and crammed his hands in his pockets. "Hell, boy, if you think my daughter is stubborn, you have never come up against her father. I told you the other night, I don't take no for an answer. Diablo belongs to you."

"But, Jonas…"

"No buts. I place a high value on my daughter, and to my way of thinking, she would not be here if it were not for you."

"In the first place, Jonas, I have no place to keep Diablo, and in the second place, perhaps I would not be here if it were not for your daughter."

"You can keep Diablo here until you are ready for him, and I believe the subject is closed." Jonas grinned, "Unless you would like to say thank you."

Kane knew he could no longer let Jonas go on believing he owed him a debt, when in fact he had insulted and humiliated his daughter. He remembered Colonel Johnson's telling him he would rather have Jonas's friendship and high regard than anyone he knew, and Kane had come to feel the same way. He hated to lose Jonas's respect, but he knew he must tell him the truth. He took a deep breath and looked into Jonas's green eyes.

"Jonas, do you remember that day at the fort, you gave me a piece of advice."

The older man looked thoughtful for a moment. "I believe I told you if you had any prejudices to put them aside."

Kane wished he did not have to tell Jonas how badly he had treated Maleaha, knowing how he felt about the people who had shunned his wife.

"Jonas, I did not heed your advice. When I first met your daughter, I was rude to her, thinking she was the most obstinate, pig-headed girl I had ever met. And then as the days began to pass I found myself being drawn to her against my will. But thinking she was an Indian I did not think it would be an insult if I…”

Jonas's eyes narrowed, "If you what, Kane?"

Kane focused his eyes on the black stallion, no longer able to look into Jonas's piercing eyes.

"I offered to make your daughter my . . . mistress."

The inside of the stable had become silent. It seemed even the horses were waiting as Jonas Deveraux shifted his weight and looked at Kane with a piercing glare. Kane met Jonas's eyes and held his breath, waiting for him to speak. He was stunned when he saw Jonas's mouth twitch and then heard the deep laughter that echoed around the stable.

"I wondered what had happened between you and Maleaha to make her so angry with you. I assume we can safely say she refused your offer?"

Kane began to relax, still bemused by Jonas's reaction to his confession. "I have rarely, if ever, received such a tongue lashing. I am still suffering the effects of it."

' 'I can well imagine. I doubt that Maleaha has ever had a gentleman make her such an offer." His laughter boomed out once more and Kane smiled.

"If there is any satisfaction in your knowing, your daughter sought and got her revenge. You might like to know she had me eating a large slice of humble pie. I have felt like hell since last night at the ball when she came in on your arm and I realized what a complete fool I had made of myself."

"I would like to ask you one question, Kane. If Maleaha had turned out to be just what you thought her to be at first, would you be feeling bad at this moment?"

"I have asked myself that same question, and to be honest with you, I believe I would want her even if she were what I originally thought. Your daughter has a way of creeping into a man's thoughts, and there is no way to exorcise her. I cannot tell you how many times the last two weeks I have wanted to ride out here and drag her away with me. Then last night I realized how futile it would be, and what a fool I had been."

Jonas smiled to himself. This man was different from all the others who vied for Maleaha's affection, and he had made her angry, but there was more to her feelings for Kane than she would admit. Jonas decided his daughter had finally met a man she could not wrap around her dainty little finger.

"Don't expect any help from me, Kane. You win or lose on your own, and I will just be an interested observer."

"You would not object if I were to try to gain your daughter's forgiveness?"

"I will be interested to see if you accomplish your objective. I have to warn you that you will not have an easy time of it."

"Your daughter is only being nice to me because of you, am I right?"

"Right on target."

"Jonas, I warn you I am going to try to win your daughter."

Jonas laughed, "I know you will try. I suppose as her father I should ask you what your intentions are?"

"Strictly honorable, Jonas. I would like to ask your daughter to be my wife." Kane frowned at his own words—it had come as a complete surprise to him that he wanted to marry Maleaha; he had not realized it until he had voiced his thoughts to Jonas.

Jonas nodded, "Let's go in. It would not do to make Maleaha angry because we were late for dinner.''

As Kane walked beside Jonas he felt good inside. It was as if a weight had been lifted from his shoulders now that he had told Jonas about the trouble between him and Maleaha. He found himself liking this man more and more. He wished his own father was more like Jonas Deveraux. Here was a man to look up to and pattern one's life after.

9

Dinner was superb. The roast had been basted in wine sauce and was tender and delicious. They dined off delicate china and drank from crystal wine glasses.

Kane would have enjoyed the meal more if it had not been for the cold glances he received from Maleaha. It had been a long time since he had eaten a meal so well prepared.

Coffee was served at the table after the remains of the meal had been removed. Kane folded his napkin and placed it on the lace tablecloth.

"The roast was excellent, Miss Deveraux," Kane complimented her.

She gave him a slight smile. "I believe, if my memory serves me correctly, the first meal you had with me was roast beef. Do you recall asking me what it was?"

He returned her smile. "I have not forgotten."

Maleaha stood up and excused herself, glad to withdraw to the sitting room where she could be alone for a few moments.

Kane stood up politely and watched her as she left the room, while Jonas watched them both. Kanen Benedict was everything he could wish for in a husband for his daughter, and he knew Maleaha had some deep feelings for him, but it would not be an easy victory for Kane to win her. There would be many battles before the end of the undeclared war between the two of them, he thought.

He offered Kane a cigar and then lit it for him. He then lit one for himself and watched as the smoke circled above his head, smiling to himself. Kane would learn a good lesson in humility before Maleaha was finished with him, Jonas thought.

When Kane and Jonas joined Maleaha, she put the book she was reading aside, and Kane picked it up and looked at the title. His dark eyebrows went up as he read out loud: "
The Pitfalls of Becoming a State
, by William Sully. Quite a deep subject for a mere girl is it not, Miss Deveraux?"

"What you mean is it is too advanced for an Indian, major."

He sat down beside her and thumbed through the pages. "No, I meant just what I said. Not many women would be interested in statehood, much less read a book on the subject."

Jonas sat down opposite them and propped his scuffed brown boots on the long low table in front of him.

"You know, the thought of New Mexico's becoming a state scares the hell out of me."

"Why is that, Jonas? There are many advantages to being a state."

"Too many disadvantages, as well. Should we become a state the government will come in and set up schools to educate the Indians, thinking they are doing it for their own good. Then they will decide to move the Indians to make more room for white settlers. Then they will finally be moved to a reservation. Of course the government will say it is for their own good, but in the end the Indian, who is the real owner of all this land, will be the loser."

Kane was listening to Jonas but his eyes were on Maleaha. "What are your views on statehood, Miss Deveraux?"

"I agree with my father in part, but unlike him, I believe the Indians should have an education."

"I have heard that you teach English to the Indian children twice a week."

"Yes, I do."

"Do you feel statehood would be a bad thing for the Indian?"

"Not entirely. Perhaps if we became a state the government would deal harshly with the crooked land speculators who are wreaking havoc across the territory."

Kane looked at her in surprise. He had not thought she would know about the crooked land speculators who had been hounding the army lately. So far they were operating inside the law, and there was nothing the army could do about them, with the exception of giving them a warning.

"I am surprised that you would be interested in such matters, Miss Deveraux."

"Why is that, major?"

"I suppose I have yet to meet the woman who thinks past what gown goes well with which hat," he told her, leaning his dark head back against the sofa.

"How sad for you," Maleaha said in a too sweet tone.

Jonas watched as his daughter's eyes blazed with anger. She was holding her own against Kane and she was not bored. She might be angry, and she might be indignant, but she was not bored!

"I would like to see the time, major, when the white man and the Indian could live together in harmony, a world where a man is respected for what he is like inside instead of what color his skin is, but I doubt that will come about in your time or mine."

Kane was silent for a long while, pondering her words. This Deveraux family was causing him to challenge many of his beliefs. His father would measure a man by the color of his money or his accomplishments, and perhaps by his social standing.

"Major, my mother's people have a saying: The eyes see the beauty of one's face, and the heart sees the beauty of the soul. The beauty of the face fades but the beauty inside never grows old. The eyes can go blind, thus one can no longer see the outer beauty, but inward beauty can be felt without the benefit of one's sight."

Kane stared into Maleaha's green eyes, and at that moment he felt he could see the beauty of her soul. Her eyes mirrored so many things: love, pride, uncertainty, and sadness. He wanted to learn from her, as well as to teach her, and most of all he wanted to see the beauty of life through her eyes. She was as wild and untamed as this beautiful land she came from.

Despite herself, Maleaha was held spellbound by Kane's silver eyes. He was mentally drawing her to him, and she was fighting the weakness in her that reached out to him. No, please! she thought, if I love him, he will destroy me.

Jonas watched the two young people, thinking how they were worlds apart. But their love would span the differences, and even though Maleaha would give Kane a valiant fight, he would win in the end.

At that moment the front door opened, and Kane looked up to see a giant of a man enter. He was obviously a rancher by his manner of dress. His sandy-colored hair was curly, and his eyes were blue and sparkling as he looked at Maleaha.

"What does a man have to do to get fed around here?" he drawled.

Maleaha stood up, and Kane watched as her face lit up.

"Aren't you going to welcome a weary traveler, Maleaha?"

Maleaha raced across the room and threw herself into his open arms, and as he hugged her tightly, she smiled up into his ruggedly handsome face.

"Clay, when did you return?"

"About two minutes ago. As soon as I washed and shaved I rushed over here to see you," he said, smiling down at her affectionately.

She leaned her head over on his broad shoulder. "You are teasing me, Clay."

"All right, it was three hours ago, and I ate before I came over. Did you miss me?"

"You know I did, Clay. Did you miss me?"

"Hell, yeah. Didn't I go all the way to Boston to see you last year?"

"Clay, you should not talk that way. You are beginning to sound like Father," she scolded him mildly.

"You can't reform your father, and you might as well give up on me, too."

Maleaha gave him a bright smile. "That would be to admit defeat."

Clay placed a kiss on her pert little nose. "You would never admit defeat, would you, little Indian princess?"

"Come, Clay," she said, tugging on his hand. "I want to introduce you to my father's guest."

Kane stood up politely, thinking he did not like this man who seemed to be much too familiar with Maleaha.

' 'Major Benedict, I would like you to meet Clay Madason, a friend and neighbor."

The two men looked each other over as they shook hands, sizing each other up.

"Had I known you had a guest, I wouldn't have come," Clay said by way of an apology.

"Nonsense! Major Benedict is my father's guest, and you know you are always welcome," she said pointedly.

Score one for Maleaha, thought Jonas. "Clay here would like to add Deveraux Ranch to his spread, so he courts my daughter, Kane," Jonas said lazily.

Kane looked quickly at the giant sandy-haired man to see if he took exception to Jonas's words, but Clay only laughed.

"Jonas, you old cuss, the major is not blind. He can easily see why I am interested in your daughter, and it ain't Deveraux that attracts me. Anyone can see she is the prettiest little filly in the whole territory. Besides, I got more land now than I know what to do with."

Maleaha placed her hands on her hips and tapped her foot in mock anger. "You had better think twice before you make an offer for me, Clay. Perhaps I have my eye on the Circle M ranch, hoping to add it to Deveraux." "Honey, if I thought that would get you to marry me, I would wrap a big red ribbon around the Circle M, and hand it to you as a wedding present." In two strides he reached Maleaha and lifted her above his head. "You can fight all you want to little princess, but in the end you will marry me. I'm a good catch."

"I am not going fishing, Clay, and put me down this very minute," she demanded.

"I will have you one day, Maleaha, and it won't be because I want to join two ranches together."

Maleaha laughed as he set her on her feet and placed his arm around her shoulder. Clay was the brother she had never had, and she felt a deep affection for him. He always teased her, but she never took anything he said seriously.

"What makes you think I would have you, Clay?" "It scares the hell out of me to think you won't." "I never knew you to be a coward, Clay." "See, you learn something new every day, Princess." "Pretty words will never win my daughter, Clay," Jonas grinned.

Kane frowned as Maleaha linked her arm through Clay's and led him to the settee. Jealousy burned deep inside him. Another new emotion for him to deal with.

Clay sat down beside Maleaha and held her hand in his. It seemed to Kane that he was declaring his ownership of her.

"Tell me about your trip to Texas, Clay. I was disappointed when I returned from Boston and you were not here."

Clay crossed his long legs and smiled at her. "I can sum the trip up in one sentence: The wind never let up, the dirt blew, and it was hot as hell! What else would you like to know?"

"Oh, you enjoyed yourself, did you?" she mocked.

Clay glanced at her sideways. "One day that sassy mouth will get you in trouble," he teased.

"Kane, have you ever been to Texas?" Jonas asked.

"No, I have not had that pleasure."

Clay snorted. "Believe me, it's no pleasure. We have a saying here in New Mexico; 'You can tell if a man is coming from, or going to, Texas' "

"How is that, Mr. Madason?"

"Well, if a man is going to Texas he is eating beans and jerky, and if he is returning from there he is eating jackrabbit. Now, if you never had a jackrabbit, you couldn't possibly know how skinny and stringy it is."

"I suppose a man could eat worse things," Jonas said. "I have."

"What's that, Jonas?" Kane asked, rising to the bait.

Jonas leaned his head back and looked at the ceiling, his expression thoughtful, as though he were remembering.

"One winter I took my wife, Cimeron, to visit her people, the Jojobas. It had been a bad winter. It started snowing in late September and did not let up through March. Cattle had frozen to death by the hundreds, and game was scarce. If the white man was having a hard time, the Indians were starving. Cimeron and myself were snowed in at the Jojoba village and could not return home until the weather let up. One night I was surprised when my wife's mother served meat at the evening meal, since our diet had consisted of nothing but corncakes for the last few weeks. Well, being hungry, I did not ask any questions, and the meat was quite tasty. I did not think too much about it, until my wife came to me later, and whispered in my ear, 'Jonas, do not ask where Sam is, you ate him for dinner.' "

Jonas waited for Kane to speak, and he did not have long to wait.

"Who was Sam, Jonas?"

Maleaha looked at her father expectantly; she had never heard him tell this story before.

"Sam was the best damn hunting dog I ever had."

Maleaha gasped and Kane leaned forward with a serious look on his face.

"There are worse things to eat than dog meat, Jonas."

"What would that be, Kane?"

Kane crossed his long legs and rested his hand on his shiny black boot.

"Once during the war, after a battle outside Gettysburg, my men and I were also snowed in. We were starving, but unlike you, we didn't even have corncakes to eat. Our horses had run away, and I was becoming desperate, not knowing how I would feed my men and keep them alive. Well, as you can imagine, I was pondering how I was going to feed thirty-six hungry cavalrymen. I knew if I did not come up with something fast we would all perish."

Kane waited, letting Jonas ponder his words.

"What did you come up with, Kane?" Jonas asked.

"I decided the only meat we had to eat was human flesh, Jonas."

Kane looked at Maleaha, who was absorbed in his tale and waiting eagerly for him to continue. Clay leaned forward, listening intently.

"I found the idea very distasteful, as you can imagine, but I had no choice. We would have to resort to cannibalism."