Last Promise (20 page)

She worked for some time in the shop, covering one of the dress forms with a lovely pale pink silk and satin corset, and another one with a white corset. After she situated the forms where customers were sure to notice, she arranged the matching garters in the display case. Hearing a noise behind her, she turned to see Luke standing there.

“I wanted to tell you that we are leaving so you can lock up.” He'd overheard Victoria and Promise talking about the lovely items Mary Ann had in her shop, so he glanced around the room.

“Thank you.”

Luke walked over to the form displaying the pink corset. He ran his large finger along the top edge of the corset. His thoughts went back to the night when his lips blazed a trail along the low neckline of Mary Ann's dress. It made him angry he couldn't get that night out of his mind. “Is this what you wear for Stafford?”

“Luke . . .” she started, but he didn't give her a chance to finish, he turned to walk out, but Sally walked in.

“I thought I would come in and see the shop. I've heard so much about it,” Sally said. “Oh Luke, look at that white corset, it's so pretty.” Sally put her arm in Luke's and urged him across the room so she could see it up close. “Do you like that?”

“Yes, I do and with your figure it would look wonderful on you,” Luke said loudly. He reached up and ran his hand over the smooth satin. “This would feel even better over your curves.”

Mary Ann watched him touch the corset like a caress.

“I like that a lot,” Luke said. He turned to the counter. “Sally, if you like it, I will buy it for you. Maybe you can model it for me.”

Sally cuddled closer to him. “Why Luke! That is so sweet of you. But we would have to be married before I could model it for you.”

Mary Ann wanted to throw the corset, form, and all at him. She knew he was doing this to hurt her, but that didn't make it hurt less. There was little she could do since he wouldn't allow her to apologize. Well, two could play his game. She would cook his goose. “That is so kind of you, Luke. You need to look at the matching garters in the display case, along with the silky stockings. I'm sure your lady would love these.”

Sally pulled Luke to the display case. “Oh, I must have these, the garters are a perfect match.”

Mary Ann pulled the stockings from the case. “Sally, you must feel these. They are divine.”

Sally ran her hands over the stockings. “Oh, they are so soft. Yes, I do want them.”

“Have you heard about the perfume I'm carrying?” Mary Ann reached on the shelf behind her and pulled down the most expensive bottle. “This just came in from Paris.” She opened the crystal bottle and held it for Sally to sniff.

She glanced at Luke and could have sworn he was turning green. Good, it served him right.

“This is heavenly,” Sally exclaimed.

Mary Ann also handed Sally the most expensive pearl powder. “This makes your skin look lovely.”

“I've never had pearl powder.” Sally looked at Mary Ann's face and thought the powder must be what made her skin look so luminous.

“It is an absolute must. I'm also carrying some jewelry,” Mary Ann continued sweetly. She reached in the display case and pulled out a black velvet case that held a lovely pair of garnet earrings.

“I have never seen anything so lovely,” Sally cooed.

Mary Ann gave Luke a wide smile. “I hope you brought a lot of money with you this evening.” She opened the case again and pulled out a reticule. “And have you seen the reticules that Luke's sister-in-law makes? She usually sends them to shops in France, but she was kind enough to allow me to carry a few.”

Luke glared at her and reached into his pocket. This wasn't going at all like he'd planned. This night was costing him a small fortune. Sally was sure to expect a proposal after this. If Old Man Detrick saw what he'd purchased for his daughter he'd have a shotgun stuck in his rear end before the sun came up.

“Oh, Luke, you are a sweetheart,” Sally said.

Mary Ann took her time carefully wrapping each item individually and placing them into a large box. After she tied a pink ribbon around the box, she handed it to Luke. “I hope you enjoy your purchases.” She noticed Luke wasn't saying much now.

Luke glared at her.

Mary Ann followed them to the front door. “Have a lovely night.” Before she closed the door she heard Sally say, “Luke, honey, if you come to the lake tomorrow I'll model that corset for you and show you how much I appreciate this.”

Luke didn't respond, he turned and saw Mary Ann hadn't shut the door and she was certain to have overheard Sally's comment. He almost told Sally he was looking forward to it, but he thought he'd dug that hole deep enough tonight. Still, Mary Ann was watching and without thinking it through, he grabbed Sally and kissed her.

Mary Ann slammed the door and doused the light.

* * *

Luke dropped Sally and her package off at her ranch and took his time going home. He didn't know what he'd been thinking kissing Sally the way he did in front of Mary Ann. Who was he kidding? In his mind he wasn't kissing Sally. He'd only acted out of sheer frustration. It was inexcusable to use Sally as a substitute and he felt bad about that. He'd lost his temper. When he entered Mary Ann's shop and saw that corset he saw red. All he could think about was Stafford seeing Mary Ann in something like that and it set him off. Before he got control of his temper he came up with the brilliant decision to buy that corset for Sally. He was wrong to try to hurt Mary Ann that way. But his plan backfired and Mary Ann had given him a dose of his own medicine. She'd made a nice penny off of him tonight and he had no one to blame but himself. He didn't know how he was going to get out of this fix with Sally. He'd only invited her to dinner to get back at Mary Ann. When he'd left Sally at the front door, he knew she was disappointed because she wanted more than he wanted to give. This had been an expensive night in more ways than one. He made a promise to himself right then to stay away from that hotel.

Mary Ann started crying as soon as she closed the door behind Sally and Luke. The kiss he'd given Sally was a crushing blow. He'd made his point. He didn't want to hear her explanation and he wouldn't forgive her. Maybe she should be happy for him that he could move on so easily. She was afraid she would never be able to forget him.

Chapter Twenty-One

Luke, Colt, and Jake were coming in off the range when Colt told them his plans for his wife's birthday. “Saturday is Victoria's birthday and I want to take her to town to dinner and we want you to join us.”

“Sounds great,” Luke said.

“You don't have a date?” Colt asked.

“No, I'm free,” Luke answered.

This only confirmed to Colt that something was really bothering Luke, he didn't spend his Saturday nights alone. “I thought we'd go to the hotel.”

“Why don't we go to the boardinghouse?” Luke asked, remembering his vow to stay away from the hotel.

“Victoria likes the hotel better and so does Promise,” Jake chimed in. “So do I.”

Colt wished Luke would open up, but he refused to discuss what was on his mind. “Luke, I'm not going to ask what is going on between you and Mary Ann, but it is Victoria's special day, so maybe you can put it aside for one night. It seems every time we go to the hotel lately there is trouble.”

Luke started to remind him that he didn't start the trouble, but Colt stopped him. “I'm not pointing the finger at you alone; I'm also to blame. Jake's the only one that hasn't been in a brawl there. I just want all of us to keep our tempers in check Saturday night so Victoria will have a nice birthday. Besides it'll give our knuckles a break and I can stop paying for windows.”

Jake had no problem with that. “Agreed.”

Luke wasn't sure he could agree to Colt's request. If Stafford was still in town and looked at him just right he might not be able to keep his promise.

“Luke?” Colt needed his word he wouldn't start trouble.

“I guess one night isn't too much to ask. But you better keep Stafford out of my sights.”

Colt slapped him on the back. “Thanks, we'll have a good night. Mrs. Wellington is going to keep the boys. Luke, feel free to invite a date if you want.” He just hoped if Luke brought a date it wasn't Sally Detrick, but he didn't voice his opinion.

After his last date was so expensive due to his own stubbornness, Luke thought he'd go solo. He still hadn't figured out a way to tell Sally he wasn't interested in marriage. It was his fault if she assumed their relationship was headed in that direction after he purchased those intimate items from Mary Ann. “Can I bring one of the gals from L. B.'s?”

“That would make for an interesting evening,” Colt mused.

“If you did that, Colt and I would be sleeping in the bunkhouse for weeks,” Jake added.

“Well, those are the only women I'm going to be seeing for a long time,” Luke told him.

“Keep it discreet,” Colt warned.

“Discreet is my middle name,” Luke responded.

* * *

“I've never seen two more beautiful women.” Luke was envious of his brothers. Not only were their wives beautiful, but they were loyal and honest.

“Now that is a fact,” Colt said, and Jake agreed. Colt raised his glass of wine that George had poured and made a toast. “Happy birthday to my beautiful wife.”

Everyone at the table raised their glasses, and Colt leaned over and kissed his wife. “I wanted to take you to Denver for a special birthday this year, but we couldn't be away that long.”

“I love this so much more with family here,” Victoria assured him.

“Would you like your present before dinner or after?” Colt asked.

“But you already gave me my presents,” she replied.

“What did you get her?” Jake asked.

“A beautiful bottle of perfume, and . . .” Victoria stopped herself from revealing too much. She wasn't about to tell them about the corset he'd purchased for her.

Colt spoke up. “As I told Mary Ann the other items were really for me.” He winked at his wife and whispered in her ear, “Can I see it again tonight?”

Victoria felt herself blushing. “You behave yourself, husband.” She'd opened his presents while she was dressing to go to dinner and she'd never been so shocked in her life. The corset was the most divine undergarment she'd ever seen, and Colt was not satisfied until she modeled it for him along with the garters. She felt wanton and thrilled at the same time that her husband thought she looked beautiful. She didn't think he was ever going to let her get dressed for dinner.

Jake grinned at them. “Promise has told me about Mary Ann's shop, but I haven't been in there. I thought it was for women.”

“Oh it is. It certainly is,” Colt confirmed, still grinning. “But trust me, the men will get the most enjoyment from the merchandise she carries.”

Luke was the only one not enjoying this conversation. He thought the undergarments looked more suitable for the gals working at L. B.'s.

“Have you been in there, Luke?” Jake asked.

“Yeah.” Every time he thought about those corsets he felt his anger rising. Logic told him if Mary Ann sold those things that meant she wore them. And Edmund Stafford was the man that would be enjoying them, if he wasn't already.

Colt shook his head at Jake, silently telling him to leave the subject alone. He wanted everyone to enjoy the evening. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a beautifully wrapped box and placed it on the table in front of his wife. “This is your present. Your other gifts were really for me.”

“You've done too much, Colt. Save this for my Christmas present.” Victoria didn't want him spending so much money.

Colt reached for her hand and brought it to his lips. “I could never do too much for you.”

Everyone at the table was moved by his loving gesture. It didn't surprise them, it was no secret he was crazy about his wife, but it was an amazing sight to see the intimidating Colt McBride's softer side with his wife.

Victoria opened the present. “Oh my goodness, how lovely!”

“What is it?” Promise asked.

With shaking hands Victoria pulled the turquoise and diamond necklace from the velvet box.

“You told me turquoise was the most beautiful stone you had ever seen,” Colt reminded her.

She couldn't believe her husband had remembered what she said. “Yes, but wherever did you find anything as lovely as this?”

“Several years ago I trained some horses for a man who paid me with these stones. I sent the stones to a jeweler in Denver and told him what I wanted.” Colt took the necklace from her hands and fastened it around her neck.

Earlier tonight when he asked if he could choose the dress she wore this evening she thought it was unusual. He'd never shown that much interest in her wardrobe, unless the dress was lower in the neckline, like the night of the social. But tonight he'd pulled out a white dress with a neckline lower than she thought he preferred.

“That is the most beautiful necklace I have ever seen,” Promise told her.

“Brother, you are making it tough on the rest of us,” Jake told him.

“A man needs to appreciate his wife,” Colt replied.

Victoria ran her fingers over the necklace. “Colt, this is so beautiful.” She leaned over and kissed him. “Thank you.”

“It's not nearly as beautiful as you.” Colt was thrilled he'd pleased his wife. This was going to be a great night.

“It's the color of Luke's eyes,” Promise said.

“Luke wouldn't look as good with it around his neck,” Jake teased.

Luke started to comment, but he saw Mary Ann walk into the dining room.

Spotting Luke at the same time, Mary Ann halted. She hadn't expected to see him again before she left for England. After that episode with Sally in her shop she felt certain she was the last person he wanted to see. The vision of him kissing Sally flooded her mind. That was a scene she would never forget.

“Mary Ann!” Victoria motioned for her to come to the table.

Seeing that Sally Detrick was not at the table, Mary Ann walked over. “Hello, everyone.”

Colt stood and pulled a chair out. “Won't you join us, we were just toasting Victoria's birthday.”

“Ah . . .” She hesitated seeing the unpleasant look on Luke's face.

“Please, we would love to have you join us for dinner too,” Victoria said.

“No, thank you, I can only stay a minute.” She sat in the seat opposite Luke. “Happy birthday, Victoria.”

“Thank you, it's been a lovely day,” Victoria said, glancing from Mary Ann to Luke. Colt had warned her about matchmaking, but she knew these two cared for each other.

“Colt just gave Victoria that beautiful necklace,” Promise said.

Mary Ann looked at the necklace around Victoria's neck. “That is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. Just the color of . . .” She was going to say Luke's eyes, but stopped herself. “The sky.”

“The Indians say turquoise is the fallen sky,” Jake told them.

“What a romantic notion,” Mary Ann said.

“Promise said it is the color of Luke's eyes,” Victoria said.

Mary Ann's gaze flicked to Luke's vivid blue eyes, eyes that were burning a hole through her.

“Maybe Luke fell from the sky,” Jake teased.

“Nope, I was there when he was born. Even then he had the biggest, bluest eyes I've ever seen,” Colt told them. “His eyes are just like our ma's.”

Mary Ann glanced back at Luke but quickly looked away when Colt filled her glass with wine.

Colt held his glass in the air. “To beautiful women and men that are fortunate to find them.”

“Amen to that,” Jake added.

Luke raised his glass and glared at Mary Ann. “And may they be trustworthy.” He gulped down his glassful of wine.

Seeing Mary Ann's crestfallen expression, Promise quickly asked, “Will you be leaving soon?”

Trying to maintain her composure, Mary Ann blinked back her tears. “As soon as Father is recovered. He is doing much better, so I'm sure it will just be a few days.” Mary Ann tried to look anywhere except at Luke.

“I didn't know he was ill,” Victoria said.

“Yes, he had pneumonia, but he has recovered. He's just a bit weak.”

“I'm happy to hear he's better,” Victoria said.

Mary Ann felt like she was putting a pall over their celebration, so she stood and said her good-byes. “Have a lovely evening.”

“I do wish you would have dinner with us,” Victoria told her.

“I'm sure she has to have dinner with her fiancé,” Luke growled.

Mary Ann looked at him then and she knew there was no way this man would forgive her no matter how much she prayed. “I must take dinner to Father.”

Colt made sure the conversation took another direction as soon as Mary Ann walked away. He didn't want anything to ruin Victoria's evening.

* * *

The dinner ended, and Colt couldn't have been more pleased with the whole evening. Everything had been perfect, from the food to the conversation and laughter.

“Thank you all so much for this lovely night,” Victoria said to them as they were leaving the hotel. She stood on her toes and kissed her husband's cheek. “It's been a wonderful evening.”

“I want a better thank-you than that. I want to see that corset again,” he whispered in her ear.

Victoria started blushing. “Shhh, your deep voice carries,” she admonished.

Luke overheard what his brother said, but he didn't say anything. He tried to avoid thinking about women's undergarments.

“Colt, it looks like we might get out of here unscathed,” Jake teased. He held the door open for the women and Promise walked through first.

“Yeah, it's been a perfect . . .”

Before Colt finished his sentence, Promise bounced back into Jake's chest. Clyde Slater and his band of idiot friends burst through the door literally pushing Promise out of the way.

“You son-of-a . . .” Colt started, but stopped mid-sentence when Jake stepped in front of Slater. “Let me.” He drew back his arm and hit Slater in the mouth knocking him back out the door. The three drunken men accompanying Clyde went after Jake, but Colt and Luke reached them first. And the brawl in the middle of the street began and ended just as quickly.

Colt picked his hat up off the ground and turned to his brothers. “I think that went well.”

“Perfect,” Jake agreed.

“At least we didn't break any windows this time,” Luke added.