The Enchanted Land (30 page)

I
T
was the day of the party when Gordon saw the big man riding toward him. The easy, straight way he sat his horse showed unusual confidence. Gordon watched with interest as the stranger approached. He wasn’t an ordinary drifter, and he was older than he appeared from a distance.

“They tell me you’re the boss.” The stranger’s voice was deep, soft, very pleasant.

“I guess I am. My name’s Gordon Matthews.” Gordon extended his hand and found it engulfed in the man’s larger one. It was hard and calloused from work.

“Dave Blake.” He smiled and Gordon had a sudden flash of recognition. What was familiar about the man?

“I’d like a job.”

“What experience do you have?” Gordon knew he was going to hire the man even before he answered.

“I used to run my father’s plantation in the East, and I’ve worked out here about six years.”

Gordon smiled back at him. “I can always use a good hand. You’re on. That’s Boyd, my foreman, over there. He can put you to work.” He watched the man turn his horse and ride off. The way he moved his hands was naggingly familiar. Yet he couldn’t remember having seen this man before.

The rest of the day, he watched Dave work. He wasn’t like most new hands. He didn’t wait to be told
what to do. It was as if he’d been working on the ranch for years. The other men took to him quickly, liking the quiet way he stepped in. Yet they held him off, too, and did not bombard him with questions.

Gordon noticed one of the younger members of the crew asking Dave what he should do when he’d finished the task Boyd had assigned him. Gordon watched his foreman for signs of hostility. But Boyd, never an ambitious man, was content to let Dave take over where he could. On the ride back to the bunkhouse, Gordon sought out the new man.

“Dave, I watched you work today, and I want to say welcome to the Three Crowns.”

Dave smiled at his employer, and again Gordon tried to remember whom Dave reminded him of.

“We’re having a little party at the house tonight. Everyone’s invited. Plenty of beer and hard stuff and all the food you can eat.”

Dave laughed, his laughter deep. “I’m afraid you might get more than you want. After a day like this, I could eat my horse—even the horseshoes. What’s the occasion?”

“Morgan and Adam have been living with me for six months now, six very happy months.”

“A party because two men have moved in with you.”

Gordon was puzzled for a second, then grinned broadly. “Come tonight and meet my guests. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised.” He left to return to the house. Dave was certainly going to be surprised all right, after thinking of Morgan as a man.

Adam was just running down the stairs when he saw Gordon. Morgan ran close behind Adam. The boy leaped, knowing Gordon would catch him. Gordon held Adam close and looked up at Morgan. She was beautiful. She had just washed her hair and it hung down her back, still slightly damp.

“One of these days, he’s going to jump at someone and miss. How was your day, Gordon?”

“Now that I’m home, it’s a beautiful day.” He kissed Morgan’s cheek, put Adam down, and the three walked to the courtyard to look at the party preparations. “I hired a new man today.”

“Oh?”

“The strangest thing.” Gordon had his mouth full, and Morgan looked up sharply.

“Gordon, stop eating those! I have them arranged in a design and you’ll mess it up. Now, what was strange?”

“This new man I hired. I know I’ve never seen him before, but I feel like I know him. The way he walks, certain ways he moves. It’s like I’ve seen them hundreds of times.”

“Maybe you’re just imagining it.”

“I guess you’re right. I’ll go get ready now. You going to wear that?” He looked at her everyday cotton dress.

“Don’t be silly. I have a dress you’ve never even seen before. The silk is from Italy and it is gorgeous.”

“With you in it, it will be.”

Morgan watched him go, smiling. Gordon was so pleasant. She constantly wondered at herself for not being in love with him.

Dave walked into the bunkhouse and then busied himself while listening to the men talk.

“A real looker, ain’t she?”

“Nearly bust my britches every day when I see her ridin’ by on that horse.”

“Maybe a good fairy’d give me three wishes and I’d give ’em all to be that saddle.”

“I’d rather be the horse. She can ride me bareback.”

As the laughter exploded again, no one noticed the new man leave the room. And no one noticed that he wasn’t with them when they left for the party.

Dave returned to the empty bunkhouse to take his time bathing and dressing. The suit fit his body closely, emphasizing his muscular frame. The silk of the shirt offset the dark, nubby weave of the vest. He took his time, and when he started toward the house, the party had been going on for hours.

When Morgan came down the stairs, Gordon gasped. He had never seen anything quite so lovely. The emerald-green dress reflected in her eyes until they were the same color. Her hair was piled on top of her head in large, fat curls, while more curls cascaded down her back, all the way to her waist. Her delicate little ears were exposed where the hair swept upward, and she wore tiny diamond-and-emerald earrings that sparkled when she moved. The dress hung just off her shoulders and low across her breasts.

“Morgan, you’re more beautiful then I thought possible. I don’t know what to say.”

“Do you like my hair?” She turned around and he touched a soft curl.

“It’s lovely. I’ve never seen so much hair in my life.” He looked at her questioningly. “Is that all yours?”

Morgan giggled. “Sir, it is not at all polite to ask a lady what on her person is real and what is not.”

Gordon eyed her voluptuous figure. “At least I know some things are genuine.”

Morgan laughed at his compliment. “Shall we go?”

Gordon took her arm and leaned close to her. “You smell nice, too.” His lips touched her cheek and moved slowly to her waiting lips. His kiss was gentle, soft, and very pleasant. Morgan smiled up at him. She enjoyed his kisses, and might even grow to love them.

All eyes turned toward them as they entered the courtyard. For the thousandth time, Gordon wished Morgan’s father had written his will to specify that his daughter must marry Gordon. He had hinted broadly,
but Uncle Charley had laughed and said that feudal times were past, that the will he was writing was bad enough. He wanted to insure that Morgan would have her choice of several men.

For Morgan, the party was too much like the party at Joaquín Montoya’s. The couples, all strangers, mumbled polite wishes as Gordon introduced her. He was so proud of her, he fairly strutted. She liked being beside him and felt comfortable on his arm.

Morgan hardly knew any of the ranch hands, having seen them only from a distance. After “good evenings” were exchanged, neither she nor Gordon noticed their conspiratorial looks.

Morgan had been standing for hours. She must have said “thank you” a thousand times. The faces of the people ran together and she had long ago given up trying to remember their names. She was considering going upstairs to check on Adam, but she had already used that excuse to escape twice.

She smiled at a large woman in a purple satin dress. Lord, but I hate that color, she thought. She saw Gordon coming toward her. Maybe she could persuade him to take her upstairs for good. She frowned slightly as she saw him veer off to the right, to the shadows a little behind her.

“Dave! I thought you weren’t coming. I want you to meet the ‘man’ I’m giving the party for. Remember, I told you you’d be surprised.

“Morgan, I’d like you to meet the new hand I hired today, Dave Blake.”

Gordon watched Dave’s face for his reaction. “Dave, this is Morgan Colter.”

He turned sharply at the crash of the punch glass. Morgan’s face was totally without color. She was staring at Dave. “Morgan, what’s wrong?” He looked from her to Dave, who seemed to be the cause of Morgan’s
distress. “Do you know Dave?” There was dread in his voice.

“No, I don’t believe we’ve had the pleasure. Maybe I remind Mrs…. Colter of someone she’s met before.”

“Is that it, Morgan? Does Dave remind you of someone?”

Morgan stood staring, speechless.

“I think I’ll take Morgan upstairs. Something about you has upset her.”

“Please do. I’m very sorry to have upset you, Mrs. Colter. Maybe you’ll forgive me when you find I’m not the same man you think I am. Goodnight.” He watched as Gordon led Morgan away.

Morgan still hadn’t spoken when they reached her bedroom. Gordon picked her up and put her on the bed, her hair spreading around her.

“Morgan, what’s wrong? Do you know that man? Does he remind you of someone?”

“Yes.” Her whisper was hoarse.

“Who?”

“Seth.” He barely heard her. Seth! My God! He had been afraid she was still in love with her husband, but if she reacted this way to a man who only resembled Seth! He stroked the hair on her forehead. “I’ll send Carol up to help you undress. There’s no need for you to come downstairs again. When everyone is gone, I’ll come back.”

Carol had come and gone, and Morgan lay in the bed in her nightgown. It had taken a long time before she could begin to think. Now the first shock of numbness was beginning to wear off.

Seth was here! She hadn’t seen him since the night he had come to Theron’s house. That horrible night when he had accused her of—She stopped. She didn’t want to remember. What did he want here?

The shock of seeing him again had caused her more pain than she had thought possible. She had hoped that
living with Gordon would make her forget Seth. She hadn’t had enough time! She needed time to get to know Gordon, to forget Seth.

He can’t do this to me! The tears collected in her eyes and ran down her cheeks. Adam and I are happy. We have a home now. Why can’t he let us be?

She wiped away the tears as something occurred to her—she didn’t have to let him upset her! No, she didn’t love him anymore. She knew him for what he was. This time he wouldn’t be able to charm her, because she knew now what lay behind his dimpled smile. She knew how to handle this. She would totally ignore him!

She sat up straighter in the bed, and smiled. Mrs. Colter, he called her. Well, Mr. Blake, you will be another hired hand, just as Boyd and the others are. No special favors, and no recognition, either. If he had come in spite, to punish her for crimes he believed she’d committed, he was going to be surprised. She wouldn’t allow him to upset her. He no longer had any control over her.

She answered Gordon’s knock. His concern faded rapidly when he saw Morgan’s smile.

“Feeling better now?”

“Yes, much better.”

“Morgan, I just wanted to tell you that you’ll have to remember that Dave Blake is an entirely different person from Seth. Just because a physical resemblance is there doesn’t mean they’re at all alike.”

“You’re perfectly right. Mr. Blake is another man. It was such a shock, that’s all. I don’t know how I’ll ever make it up to him. The poor man. He must have thought I was insane.”

Gordon patted her hand. He was still shaken by Morgan’s feelings for Seth. “I doubt that. You’re much too beautiful for any man to take offense at anything you do.”

Morgan laughed. “Did you know that at one time I was considered very plain?”

Gordon ignored her question. The idea was too absurd to consider He kissed her forehead, blew out the light, and left her.

Before Morgan fell asleep, she saw Seth’s smiling face. He hadn’t changed at all. He was still very handsome.

Seth sat under the stars for a long time after the party ended. The carriages were gone and the bunkhouse was silent.

He had almost left the party when he first saw her. He had watched her for over an hour, being careful that she didn’t see him. He had known right away that she was bored. Morgan had never liked a lot of people around her. She was happiest when there were just the two of them. He had seen the way Gordon hovered over her, always watching her, protecting her. It was obvious that Gordon was in love. That’s what had made Seth want to leave. But as he watched Morgan’s face, he knew she didn’t return Gordon’s love. He didn’t know if he’d been joyous or sad when he saw that she was not in love with Gordon. Part of him wanted her to be happy, at whatever cost to himself, but the other part was selfish and wanted her to be his alone.

Where was this Adam that Gordon had mentioned? He’d said the party was for Morgan and Adam. Maybe she loved Adam. Adam! What was he like?

Seth rubbed his hands on his thighs. He felt he’d won one round in the battle for Morgan, but it had taken a lot of his strength. He dreaded the outcome of the next round. This was a fight for his life.

It was still very early when Morgan heard her son banging on her bedroom door. “Mama, eat. Mama, eat. Horse.”

Drowsily, Morgan left her bed and opened the door for him.

Still mostly asleep, Morgan stumbled back to the bed. Adam ran ahead of her, reaching it before she did, and began bouncing up and down on the mattress. “Horse. Horse,” he shouted. “Gor, horse.”

Morgan smiled at her sturdy son. “Well, my talkative little son, I take that to mean that you are ready for Gordon to take you on his horse?”

Adam smiled at her, pleased she had understood.

“You little imp! You may have everyone else on this ranch hanging on your every monosyllable, but not me.” She lunged at him, catching the tail of his nightshirt. Adam collapsed on the bed, laughing helplessly.

Hearing the commotion, Gordon came to Morgan’s open bedroom door to investigate. The sight of Morgan and Adam wrestling on the big bed made him laugh. Then he grew serious as he watched Morgan. She wore a thin muslin gown and it was wrapped tightly about her body to expose smooth, golden legs. As she pulled Adam to her, the outline of her breasts swelled, full and sensuous. He felt little beads of sweat on his upper lip.

Feeling another presence in the room, Morgan turned. She saw Gordon and followed his eyes to her exposed legs. Hastily, she pulled a sheet over her body.