Rapunzelle: an Everland Ever After Tale (5 page)

“I thought you’d met him already?” Mother was glaring at Papa, who just shrugged and focused on his meal. “Didn’t you say he was fighting over her like a…a
dog
or something?”

Zelle chewed the meat, wishing she could swallow and defend herself—defend him—but also glad for the excuse not to. But her father surprised her, saying calmly, “He was fighting in front of her, that’s all I know.” He shrugged. “Zelle shouldn’t have been there, but I don’t think it was his fault.”

It wasn’t
! She was the one who’d tripped and thrown herself at him. She was the one who’d set out to kiss one man, but gladly switched her sights to this one instead. She was the one who’d lain awake for nights, thinking of his taste, his touch. He’d been the adventure she’d wanted.

And talking to him today had been just as magical. He was everything a duke—a prince!—should be; well-dressed, devastatingly handsome, and unfailingly polite. He’d blushed when he thought he’d been too crude, and bowed over her hand like she was a real princess. When he spoke, she could tell that he was used to command, and she thought that she could listen to his unique accent—eastern European, but with a British flair—for-absolute-ever. His perfectly coiffed hair was a beautiful golden color, and she swore that she’d seen the sunlight
ting!
off of his perfect teeth, when he’d smiled after the rain stopped. Oh, yes, he was
quite
the looker, as Max might say.

“So what did Duke Volkov have to say, Zelle?”

She tried to pretend nonchalance when she answered her father’s question. “He’s here because he’s looking for someone who might’ve been here fifteen years ago. I told him that you might remember, since you were here when Everland was just started. He’d like to meet with you.”

Mother had finished the last of her carrots. “I don’t think that’s wise. He’s been hanging around town, and it’s pretty obvious that he’s spoiled and wealthy and looks down on the rest of us.” She began to clean up as Zelle watched incredulously. She’d never known her mother to judge a person so harshly.

“I don’t know, Meri…”

Mother threw her napkin over her plate. “You yourself said that he was arrogant and boastful.”

“I said he
seemed
that way.” Papa calmly took another bite as Zelle’s attention swung between her parents, surprised to see Mother so irritated.

“He doesn’t belong out here, Jack. It’s better if he just went back home where he belongs.” It was like Mother was speaking in some sort of code. “He’s not like us.”

“Oh, I don’t know.” Papa put down his fork and knife and smiled at his wife. “He sure can punch. Jerrell Gruff has two black eyes, and the duke took a hit as well as any man I’ve seen.” He sounded
admiring
. Zelle didn’t know that her father could
admire
a fighter.

Mother was the same way. She scoffed, and narrowed her eyes. “So you’re going to meet with him, to let him ask his questions?”

Papa shrugged, and turned back to Zelle. “Do you know who he’s looking for?”

She bit her lip, trying to remember. Oh, what were their names? “Um… He mentioned two men. One had a funny name…the other was…
Oh
! Witcher. That was one of them.”

The icy silence across the table drew her attention from her memories of her time spent with Dmitri. Her parents were staring at each other, and Mother’s cheeks had paled. “A
duke
is looking for someone named
Witcher
, Jack.”

“I heard her.”

“Then you know who the other man is, don’t you?”

“I said I heard her, Meri.” Zelle flinched, not sure she’d ever heard her father’s voice raised in anger before.

“Jack, you can’t talk to him.”

Zelle swallowed, the roast suddenly sitting heavy in her stomach. “Papa, do you know these men? You know who Dmitri is looking for?”

Her father glanced once more at Mother, and then faced her. Schooling his expression, he stared right at her with those deep blue eyes she’d always loved, and for the first time ever, lied. “No.” She could tell he was lying, just by the way he was trying so hard to appear sincere. It was the same way he lied—“fibbing” he called it—to patients about how much something was going to hurt, or how long it would take to heal. When she was younger, and he’d try to explain the difference between lying and what he did, he’d told her that if it was for the patient’s own good, then God would forgive the lie.

So he was lying to her now, and he thought it was for her own good. But Papa had never lied to her before…

Had he?

Mother was pretending great interest in the painting hanging on the dining room wall, and Zelle wasn’t sure what to believe. For now, though, she forced a small smile and nod. “Oh. Well, he’ll be disappointed, I’m sure.”

“I’d be happy to meet with him and explain that I don’t know these men.”

She just nodded again, and gulped down a big sip of milk, hoping that she’d be able to escape the room soon. Normally she adored lingering with her parents over a dinner, but tonight it was just too awkward, too upsetting. Why would Papa lie like that? Lie about knowing someone named Witcher? And Mother obviously thought he knew who Witcher was; she’d even suggested he knew the other man too. What was going on?

“Well, Jack, what do you have on the agenda for tomorrow?”

Her father seemed ridiculously relieved to have a new topic of conversation—all three of them were—and launched into a discussion about the day’s plans with Mother. Zelle ignored them, instead picking at her carrots and wondering what her father would say to Dmitri, exactly.

But her attention was dragged back to the discussion when she heard her father say, “I thought I might take Zelle with me, as a treat.”

Zelle looked up and caught her mother’s eye. The older woman seemed to sense that her daughter hadn’t been paying attention, and smiled tightly. “Your father’s been wanting to purchase his own horse for the calls and visits he does away from town.” Zelle frowned slightly, knowing Papa didn’t know the first thing about horses, and Mother must’ve understood, because she hid her smile. “He feels that it’s too much trouble to ask Mr. Foote to harness up the wagon at all hours of the day and night, and I agree with him. This way, even if he boards the animal at the livery, he’ll have better access to his patients.”

“And you?”

Mother smiled, and Zelle knew that she, at least, could handle a horse. “I’m sure I’d be pleased to borrow the animal, when necessary. If Mrs. Muffit doesn’t go into labor, I thought I might go along with you two.”

Papa explained further. “Roy DeVille, Jr. has invited me over to the ranch to check over a horse that he’s trying to sell. He says it’s quite fine, but suggested I come look her over. I thought you might like to go with us.” Papa exchanged an unreadable glance with Mother. “Roy, Jr. seems like a nice young man.”

Zelle shrugged, and finished her meal. She’d only met him at church; the services and the weekly Sunday picnic were the
only
time she’d met
any
of Everland’s eligible bachelors, which is how she so grossly misjudged Merrell Gruff. But Roy, Jr. was handsome enough, if a little rude to his younger brother Max.

She knew what that glance had meant, now. Apparently Papa
was
considering her weekly pleas to be allowed out to meet new people—meet eligible men. If only he knew that she’d snuck out on her own and met a perfectly scrumptious, perfectly
in
eligible man, all by herself. “I’d love to go with you, Papa.” Anything to get out of this house. “Do you think that Roy, Jr. might take me riding?” She’d never been allowed to go riding before.

From the corner of her eye, she saw her parents exchange another glance. Mother looked hesitant, but consented. “He seems like a capable young man. I don’t see any reason why you couldn’t take a turn around the corral, or something.”

Zelle grinned brightly, genuinely excited. “Oh, I’m sure we can trust Roy, Jr. to take care of me.” She didn’t give two hoots for the wealthy son of Everland’s wealthiest rancher…but she’d say just about anything to be allowed to go riding. Another adventure! “When are you going, Papa?” When her father narrowed his eyes at her enthusiasm, and she sensed that he was going to questions her motives, she hurried to reassure him. “So that I can ready my dress. I want to look my best for Roy, Jr., after all.”

Oh shoot
, Papa obviously didn’t buy it. He was still staring at her pensively from across the table. Knowing there was nothing else to be done, Zelle just plastered on a smile and hoped that he bought her sincerity. Eventually he nodded. “I think Roy, Jr. would appreciate that, Princess.” He was looking at her like he used to when he thought that she was growing up too fast. “We’ll head out there tomorrow morni—no, the day after.”

The day after tomorrow. Zelle’s heart began to beat fast. The day after tomorrow, Dmitri was going to be out at the DeVille place with Max, visiting the thoroughbred. The day after tomorrow…she might be able to see Dmitri again!

She didn’t bother to keep her excitement from her expression. Let her parents think that she was looking forward to spending time with Roy, Jr. It didn’t matter. She was going riding, and had the chance to see Dmitri again! So she just smiled, and began to gather the dishes to bring into the kitchen.

Mother chuckled. “I think that we should excuse our daughter, Jack. She’s obviously excited to get to work on her wardrobe for her big outing.” Mother knew that Zelle wasn’t at all excited about her dress, but was giving her a perfect opportunity to escape. To stop having to hide her thoughts about Dmitri.

So she blew her mother a kiss on the way through the kitchen door. “I’ll wash, Mother, but then may I be excused?” The kitchen was very modern, and Zelle rolled up her sleeves to fill the sink with water. She remembered the little cabin they’d lived in when she’d been much younger, before Papa and Mother had earned enough to build this lovely two-level home in the heart of Everland…the home that had become her tower, her prison, in so many ways. Zelle sighed, and got to work.

But Papa was smiling when he followed her with a handful of dishes. He placed them by the sink, and then surprised her by taking her by the shoulders and turning her away from the soapy water. He looked at her for a long moment, and then, not having to bend too far because of her unusual height, placed a kiss on her forehead. “I love you, Princess. Very much. I hope that you understand that.”

With a sigh, Zelle agreed. “I know, Papa.” No matter how irritated she got at not being allowed out, to have the adventures that she wanted, to have fun like a normal girl, she knew that Papa—and Mother too—only placed such restrictions on her because they loved her. They wanted to keep her safe and protected, because she was their only child. And as their only child, she’d grown up with parents who spoke to her like equals. She knew that she was lucky to have such intelligent, gentle, caring parents.

Maybe all of that showed in her expression, because he eventually nodded. “I just wanted to make sure that you did.”

“I love you too, Papa.”

He dropped another kiss to her forehead, and then stepped back. Shoving his hands in his pockets, he nodded again, and she hid her smile. Papa only stood like that when he was unsure of himself. She turned back to the sink, hoping that he’d feel more comfortable, and soon enough heard him leave the room.

She sighed, and got to work on the dishes. She
was
lucky…but that didn’t mean that she didn’t long for what she didn’t have. Freedom. Adventure.

Dmitri.

“Enough with the cows, already, Max. I want to see your prize mares!” Dmitri clasped the other man on his back, to let him know that he meant no offense. In truth, it
had
been interesting to visit the DeVille stables and barns, to see how a cattle ranch operated here in America. His family had never kept cattle, obviously—only the serfs handled things like that—but he enjoyed seeing how the DeVilles were transitioning from a ranch that bought their mounts to one that raised their own. Max was doing good work.

And he knew it. Grinning, his host jerked his head towards the largest stable. “They’re out in the corral. I was saving the best for last.” The two men fell into the easy stroll of habitual horsemen, as they crossed the dusty ground in between the outbuildings.

“It looks like you’ve got some visitors.” Dmitri nodded towards the pretty little surrey parked beside one of the fences along the lane leading up to the ranch house.

Max nodded. “Yeah. Father said Roy, Jr. had invited a buyer out today.” He pulled his large-brimmed hat off long enough to wipe his forehead, and Dmitri found himself squinting against the morning sun. Perhaps he should invest in one of those ridiculous hats, himself.

“Are you selling your mustangs, already?”

“Some of them. I’m only in the second year, though, so it surprised me that he’s bringing in buyers.” Max shrugged. “But whatever I can do to make a profit for the ranch, I suppose. I’m already working double-time, in between the training and my duties out on the range.”

“You’re still…” Dmitri had no idea what the English verb was. “Cowboy…ing?”

Max laughed. “Oh yeah. Father isn’t about to let up on
me
, just because I had a profitable idea.” Dmitri heard the bitterness there, but wasn’t sure if he was supposed to, so he changed the subject.

“I’ve never seen so many cows, in one place.”

“Don’t they herd cows, back in Russia?” Max led the way around the largest stable, towards the back.

“
I
don’t.” Dmitri wondered how much to share. “My family has always bred horses, and we are known for our stables. It was the serfs who—“

“Aren’t those like slaves?” There was a flash of something in his companion’s expression that Dmitri couldn’t identify.

Dmitri paused for a few heartbeats, trying to remember what he once knew about the American way of life on the large farms in the south. Then, shrugging, he admitted: “Yes, I believe so. They did not belong to us; they belonged to the land.” Max’s jaw had gone hard as he led the way towards the corral. “About half of our serfs were engaged in caring for and training the Karbardas, and the other half in…” He waved his hand dismissively. “Whatever it is that serfs did. Growing food, I suppose.”

“You don’t know? I thought dukes had to know about that sort of thing.”

I haven’t been Knez for long.
“I left those things to my father, while he was alive, so that I could focus on the horses.” Dmitri took a deep breath. “He passed away early this year. I miss him.”

Max’s steps slowed, and he glanced sidelong at Dmitri. “I’m sorry. Sounds like you two worked well together.”

“We respected one another.” If only the Tsar hadn’t taken everything from them. If only
Otets
had been strong enough to live through the disappointment. If only he hadn’t placed this stupid obligation on Dmitri.

On the other hand, as they rounded the corner of the building to see two gorgeous thoroughbreds prancing in a large corral, he couldn’t be angry at ending up in Everland. He’d had the chance to meet and befriend Max—
Otets
would’ve never believed that he’d become friends with a peasant!—and he’d learned all sorts of things. And he’d kissed Zelle Carpenter.

Maybe his thoughts conjured her, because he had to blink when he saw the figures standing on the other side of the fence, opposite the corral. The middle one had a lavender gown, long pale braid down her back, and a pretty smile under a wide-brimmed hat… Yes, that was Zelle.

“What in the hell?” It had been Max that muttered it, but Dmitri was thinking it.
What was she doing here?
“What’s he doing here?”

Max echoing his thoughts was disconcerting enough to draw Dmitri’s attention to his companion. “What do you mean?”

But Max had already climbed into the corral and was hurrying across the packed dirt. Dmitri vaulted the fence, and hurried to catch up. “What’s Roy, Jr. doing out
here
?”

Dmitri glanced across the way, to where a young blonde man who looked nothing like Max was coaxing one of the mares over to the couple standing beside the fence. “It looks like that’s his buyer.”

“Exactly.” Max picked up speed. “He’s got no right to even think about selling my horses.”

But by the time they’d made it across the corral, Roy, Jr.—assuming that was who the blonde man was—had already led the mare towards the stable. The new friends skidded to a stop by the fence, and Dmitri could sense Max’s frustration.

But instead of going after his brother—and his thoroughbred—Max sighed and pulled his hat off again. As he watched his friend run his fingers through his dark hair, Dmitri wondered if Max knew how frantic he looked. He was about to say something calming, but the older man standing beside Zelle beat him to it.

“You look upset, Max. Everything alright?”

“Sorry, Doc. Not really. Is Roy, Jr. showing you my mares?” The conversation might’ve continued, but Dmitri didn’t hear much beyond the “Doc.” Peering closer at the face under the little black hat, Dmitri’s eyes widened. This was Doctor Carpenter, indeed, the man who’d interrupted his fight with those cowboys in the saloon. The man who’d impressed him with his strength and command. The man who’d seen him protecting Zelle. The man who might be able to answer
Otets
’ questions.

The man who could determine his future.

Papa and Dmitri were staring at each other, and Zelle’s pulse began to race. Did they recognize one another? And why did it feel like she was watching some sort of showdown? Dmitri’s expression revealed nothing as he stared at her father, but Papa’s lips were curled up in a faint grin. Surely he didn’t
like
Dmitri, after what he’d seen?

But to her surprise, Papa interrupted Max. “If the thoroughbred isn’t your brother’s to sell, then there’s no use me looking at her. But there’s something else we could take care of, here.” Sticking his arm through the fence posts, he held out his open hand to Dmitri. “Jack Carpenter, but folks around these parts call me ‘Doc’.”

Zelle glanced at her mother, whose lips were pinched in a slight frown. Did Mother not approve of Papa’s friendliness, or Dmitri specifically? She inched closer to the other woman, trying to tell her that everything would be fine. Dmitri was a good man, she knew it. Whatever Mother was afraid of, Dmitri would never hurt any of them.

She was sure of it.

After too many heartbeats, her handsome duke took Papa’s hand, shaking it firmly. Then Papa introduced him to Mother, and Dmitri inclined his head regally. Zelle caught her breath, to imagine him in the full court wear she’d read about, bowing to a real princess. He certainly was a man with noble bearing, wasn’t he?

“Doctor Carpenter, your daughter and Max have told me about you. They also said that you might be able to help me.” Mother made a little noise of disapproval, but no one else seemed to hear it. Was the older woman reacting to Dmitri’s accent, or to his question, or to his existence? Zelle frowned at her mother; she’d never known either of her parents to judge a man as harshly as Mother was now judging Dmitri.

Luckily, the Russian man seemed unaware of Meri Carpenter’s feelings. “I’m looking for a man—two men—who would have passed through Everland more than fifteen years ago. Winter of 1860, I believe. One might have had a little girl with him, but I’m not sure.”

Papa was already shaking his head when he asked, “And their names?”

“Witcher was one, a vicious gang-leader that ran a rough crowd in New York. The other was John Gothel, a petty crook. They’d kidnapped the girl.”

Zelle could sense her mother’s unease, and moved closer, watching Papa. Her father’s expression gave nothing away, no hint that he was lying when he shook his head again and said, “No, I’m sorry. I don’t recall any men or girl like that. Are you sure they came through Everland? The Oregon Trail ran pretty close by, you know.”

But she remembered the look in his dark blue eyes last night. He’d been lying then, and she was pretty sure he was lying now. In fact, the way Mother stood stiffly, uncomfortably, beside her told Zelle that there was more here than she understood…but did Dmitri? Judging from his sigh, he took her father’s word.

“Thank you, Doctor. No one else seems to remember the men, although I have it on good authority that Witcher was headed here. You were the last person I could find to ask, but if you don’t have any suggestions…?” His hopeful look was almost heartbreaking, and she didn’t know how Papa could just shrug and shake his head apologetically. How was he not moved to help Dmitri? Obviously this was important! “I understand, and thank you.”

He turned to Max, then, who was staring at the stable with his hands in his pockets and look of worry on his face. “I’ve enjoyed the tour of your program, Max, but it sounds like my search has hit a dead-end here.”

The other young man shifted his attention away from whatever his brother might be doing with his horse, and blinked a few times. Finally, he nodded. “You heading back East again soon, then?”

Dmitri shrugged. “Probably. I’ll wire the Pinkertons I have working in New York for any further leads, and then I’ll decide.”

Leads? What kind of leads? But no one had a chance to clarify, because at that moment, Roy Jr. led two horses from the stable. Even she—who knew nothing about horseflesh—could see that one of them was the match to the lovely mare left in the corral. It must be the one Roy Jr. was trying to sell to Papa, the one that Max claimed was rightfully his and couldn’t be sold. The other horse was also brown, but her coat wasn’t nearly as chocolatey. This one had a side-saddle strapped to her back.

Roy Jr. stopped in front of the trio standing outside the fence, and grinned charmingly. At least, what he probably thought was charmingly. Zelle and Briar had each long ago agreed that he might be rich and handsome—with his pomaded blonde hair and his fancy mustache—but he always sort of reminded them of a slimy frog; willing to say anything to impress people. Besides, with Dmitri standing right over there, there was no way
any
man was going to look as handsome.

“Miss Carpenter, I’ve obtained your father’s permission to take you riding, and to show off what this beauty can do.” He slapped the thoroughbred’s side, in what he probably thought was affection, but made the animal shy away. “What do you say we go for a little trot around the meadow?”

Zelle bit her lip, and glanced at her mother, whose expression was suddenly unreadable. Papa had already decided that he wasn’t going to buy the horse, because it wasn’t Roy Jr.’s to sell. But on the other hand, she’d never had a chance to go riding, and here her parents had given their blessing. She’d be foolish to pass up the opportunity.

But the problem was that she had no desire to go riding with Roy Jr. Not when Dmitri was standing right over there, looking so delectable in his nobility and broad shoulders. She wanted to go riding with
him
. She wanted to hear all about his reasons for coming to Everland. She wanted to race breathlessly across the meadow with
him
, and then fall willingly into his arms, laughing and eager for another kiss.