Tracie Peterson - [New Mexico Sunset 03] (12 page)

Chapter 18

A
ngeline jumped at every sound, most of which seemed to come from her. The black satin swished noisily, and despite the carpeted floors, Angeline felt as though she was clumping instead of tiptoeing. The further they went, the worse it was.

Angeline felt her chest constrict as she tried to keep from gasping for air. Her heart alone pounded so loud that she just knew it would give them away. She followed Gavin closely, afraid that at any given moment, Douglas would jump out with a gun and shoot them both dead. Twice, Gavin had to pull her along but did so with a look of reassurance that made Angeline feel better.

They hadn’t gone all that far when Gavin spotted a bellhop and called to him. “Wait here, Angel,” Gavin said and slipped away to speak in a hushed whisper to the boy.

Angeline had no idea what Gavin was up to and, furthermore, she didn’t believe she really cared.
I’ve had about as much adventure as a body can stand,
she told herself. It was easy to think of going home, and even easier to think of doing it with Gavin at her side. Wringing her hands, Angeline was relieved when the boy nodded enthusiastically and accepted some coins from Gavin. Now if she could only talk Gavin into forgetting this nonsense about her things.

When Gavin rejoined her, Angeline slipped her arm around him coyly and batted her lashes. “We could just leave,” she suggested with a nod at the stairs leading down. “It’d get us home just that much quicker.”

Gavin laughed and shook his head. “No.”

Angeline turned and put both arms around his neck. “I promise I won’t ask for another thing.”

“No, Angel.” Gavin stopped laughing as she raised herself up on tiptoes and pressed her lips to his. “Angeline!”

“Oh, all right,” she said and walked away in complete dejection. Grabbing handfuls of her skirt, she headed up the staircase. “I thought you said I could talk a man into anything.”

Gavin followed her, chuckling at her mutterings. “Just wait until I get you home, Angel. Then you can talk to me all you want.”

Angeline had to laugh in spite of herself, but she quickly grew quiet as they reached the last step. Taking her hand in his free one, Gavin led her down the hallway to her room. There was no need for Angeline to retrieve her key; she could tell by the light under the door that someone was already inside.

Reaching out, Angeline pushed the door open and found Willa standing in the middle of the room.

“It’s about time!” Willa exclaimed. “Douglas and I have been frantic.”

“I’ll bet,” Angeline said softly.

“Where is Baker?” Gavin questioned, putting his case by the door.

“Why, he’s out looking for her, of course,” Willa stated and came to where Angeline stood already unfastening the buttons of the black gown. “Who are you?”

“I have to change,” Angeline said, ignoring Willa’s question and moving to the bedroom. “I’ll pack my things, Gavin, and be right back.”

“Pack your things?” Willa questioned after Angeline’s retreating form. Getting no answer from her, Willa turned to Gavin. “What is she talking about? Who are you?”

“I’m Gavin Lucas, and I’m taking her home,” he replied. “We’re leaving tonight.”

“You’re going to find that kind of hard to do, Lucas.” Douglas Baker stood in the open door, filling it ominously as though he offered himself as some kind of barrier.

“You gonna threaten to kill me again?” Gavin asked, turning to face Douglas.

“I don’t have to threaten. It won’t take all that much to accomplish the matter.”

“Douglas, save it for later,” Willa said irritably. “Angeline’s in there, and she’ll be hard enough to handle without you threatening him.”

“She’ll cooperate plenty if she thinks I’m going to hurt him. See, she’s quite gone over him, and that offers me all of the control I need.”

“Not quite, Douglas,” Angeline said, coming through the door, suitcase in hand. She had dressed in the shirtwaist and blue serge skirt, the only things left which belonged to her.

Douglas sneered in contempt at Gavin. “You think he’s going to stop me?”

Angeline shook her head. “It doesn’t matter what you say or do, Douglas. I’m not going to marry you, and I’m not going to keep your secrets.” She put down the case and turned to Willa. “He’s using you Willa. He plans to destroy the suffrage movement through you. I heard him talking, and he believes giving women the vote is a big mistake. He thinks we’re too stupid or uncontrollable or some other such nonsense. Either way, he plans to see you ruined and put away.”

Willa turned to Douglas, her eyes narrowing suspiciously. “Is that true? Is that your plan, Douglas?”

Baker laughed and left the open doorway. He moved first toward Angeline but found Gavin a formidable wall between him and the girl. Instead of pushing his luck just then, Douglas shrugged and moved across the room to Willa.

“You’re an idiot, Willa Neal. Suffrage is a nightmare that must never be allowed to continue. I will personally put forth every effort possible to see it squelched.” He looked as though he wanted to put an end to Willa then and there, and for the first time ever, Angeline saw Willa back away.

“I must say you were a convincing actor,” Willa said in a fearful, yet determined voice. “Did you tell Angeline about your plans? Did you tell her that you planned to marry her to get close to her political connections? Did you tell her that even murder wasn’t beneath you in order to get what you wanted?”

“I didn’t have to,” Douglas said with smug satisfaction. “She overheard my plans, and I took her and Lucas captive. I threatened them with each other. It was really quite simple.”

“It’s true, Willa. That’s when I learned about Douglas’s plans for you. He threatened to kill Gavin if I refused to marry him and, even afterwards, he said he’d kill Gavin if I revealed to you his plan to put an end to the suffrage movement.”

Willa was enraged. “How dare you!” She moved toward Douglas, no longer afraid, but sufficiently incensed. She tried to slap Douglas, but he easily warded off her blows.

“Don’t sound so persecuted, Willa. You were using Angeline yourself.” He smiled confidently at the way Willa’s face turned ashen. “You wanted Angeline for nothing more than who she knew and whose support she could get you.”

She could tell by the way Willa reacted that it was all true. It hurt Angeline deeply to finally accept what everyone had already told her to be true.

Her reaction was not missed by Douglas. “You know, Willa, you very well might have pulled it off,” he said smugly, “except you weren’t expecting to deal with someone of my caliber. I’ve been operating one step ahead of you, all the way. Learning your routines. Mapping out your routes. Now is the time for me to step out and put you in your place.”

“Just what do you have in mind?” Gavin asked dryly from where he’d gone to lean casually against the open door.

Douglas seemed unconcerned that his back was to Gavin. He didn’t even bother to look away from Willa’s worried expression. “There’s a nice asylum near Chicago. I have some good friends there who will ask no questions. I thought the change of scenery would do you good, old girl.”

“You’ll never get away with it!” Willa declared.

“And who will stop me?”

“I will,” Willa declared. “I’ll tell everyone what a fraud and reprobate you are. I’ll expose every single thing you have planned.” She was nearly yelling at this point. “You haven’t seen anything yet, Douglas Baker. I’ll see you ruined.”

Douglas laughed sinisterly, causing Angeline to pick up her case and back away toward the door.

“No one is going to ruin me,” Douglas said so softly it was nearly a whisper. “No one will believe you, Willa. You have no one but this addle-brained girl to back you up, and she’ll be my wife, so I’ll have no trouble out of her.”

“I’ll never marry you, Douglas!” Angeline exclaimed. “Never!”

“We’ll see about that.” Douglas’s eyes raked over Angeline before turning back to Willa. “Like I said, no one is going to believe your story.”

“I don’t know about that,” the voice came from a stranger outside the door to Angeline’s room. The well-dressed man walked into the room, still writing notes on a pad. He looked up long enough to introduce himself. “I’m a reporter with the
Post
. I’ve stood out there long enough to take down just about every word, Mr. Baker. I think the public will find this story fascinating.”

Willa laughed aloud, and Douglas glared at her hard. “This means nothing. I have friends at the
Post
.”

“Had friends, Baker,” the man said, still writing. “Had friends. No one is going to want to admit to being anything to you after my story runs.”

Angeline glanced past the man to Gavin, who had obviously expected the man’s entry. She loved him all the more for his insightfulness. Beaming a smile at him, Angeline knew he understood her unspoken praise.

“See there, Mr. Baker!” Willa declared, feeling quite vindicated.

“As for you, Miss Neal,” the reporter continued, “I’m sure there will be more than enough interest in you to generate a thorough investigation into your activities.”

“You just hate me because I’m a suffragist.”

“No, Ma’am, I don’t hate you or the suffrage movement. I just want to see manipulative people like you put in their place.”

Douglas made a move for the door, but quickly backed away when two uniformed policemen revealed themselves from the hallway. Angeline took that opportunity to retrieve her suitcase, which Gavin quickly took from her. Then looping her arm through his and nodding with a smile of contentment on her lips, Angeline let Gavin lead her to the door.

“By the way,” the reporter called after her. “You’re Miss Angeline Monroe, are you not?”

Angeline paused and smiled. “That’s right. At least for now.”

The man jotted down the information and motioned. “Who’s the guy with you?”

Angeline didn’t even bat an eye. “He’s just about to become my husband!” Her reply shocked Willa and infuriated Douglas, while the reporter just nodded with a grin and noted the broad smile of amusement on Gavin’s face.

“I’d say the groom looks pretty happy about that prospect,” the reporter said with a chuckle.

“You might say that,” Gavin answered for her, then swept her into the hall. “Ready to go home, Angel?”

Angeline looked up at Gavin with eyes that declared their love for him. “Ready,” she replied.

❧

That night, Angeline fell asleep to the gentle rocking of the train. She felt free and so completely at peace that she no longer questioned what she’d do with herself once they were home, or what cause she’d seek out. Gone were her little girl selfish ambitions and the desire to conquer the world. Gone were the searches for causes of great magnificence to occupy her time and energies with. All she really ever wanted was the man she slept contently against and the stillness that God had put in her heart.

❧

Sighing in her sleep, Angeline missed the look of contentment on her husband-to-be’s face. Gavin relished the feel of his arm around her and the way her blond head seemed to fit naturally against his shoulder. Thoughts of the decision he’d made so very long ago came back in pleasant memories. In his mind he could see Angeline as a twelve year old pulling a wagon filled with half-dead kittens. She’d found them tied in a sack and left to drown in the creek.

“What are you going to do with those mangy things?” Gavin had asked her in his sixteen-year-old bravado.

“I’m going to love them,” Angeline had replied, her lavender eyes wide with surprise that he should even question such a thing.

“Looks like they’ll need a lot of it,” Gavin had laughed.

Angeline was undaunted. “That’s all right,” she’d replied confidently. “I have a lot of love to give.”

It was then that Gavin knew she had his heart. Without even concerning himself that she was just a child, he knew that she was the woman he’d one day marry. Now, with Angeline having come to the same conclusion, Gavin Lucas was truly happy.

“You do have a lot of love to give, Angel,” he whispered against her hair. “And I’m just glad to get a part of it.”

Chapter 19

A
ngeline took herself into the garden, away from the well-wishers and the revelry of her wedding. The sweet rich scent of roses and honeysuckle wafted on the warm afternoon air, and the vivid colors were a startling contrast to the white-gowned woman.

Angeline had wanted to wear an older style wedding gown, but neither her mother nor Gavin’s had married in a traditional manner, and so it was necessary to search for just the right gown. She had finally managed to locate the perfect creation hanging in a dressmaker’s shop in Raton.

The dress was styled after gowns popular at the turn of the century. It was fashioned out of heavy slipper satin with intricate lace pinaforelike flounces at the shoulder and along the bodice. The basque waist was snug and showed off Angeline’s tiny twenty-inch waist to perfection. After arguing with the dressmaker for over an hour, Angeline finally settled on a price and purchased the gown. Now, after having worn it, receiving scores of compliments, and the warm glow of appreciation in her husband’s eyes, Angeline felt the ridiculously high amount she’d paid had been worth it.

Laughter and music rose up as the festival-like atmosphere engulfed Piñon Canyon Ranch. Angeline was glad that Gavin chose his home for their wedding ceremony. It had been a beautiful affair with all of their friends and family present. Even John and James had managed to finagle time away from the army, although when they showed up in uniform flying an army biplane, Angeline wondered just how legitimate their escape had been.

The aeroplane had caused more of a stir than the arrival of Joelle Dawson, but not much more. Angeline had to laugh, to herself of course, at the way her brothers and every other man on the ranch, fell all over themselves to see to Joelle’s needs. She was a beautiful woman, Angeline had to admit, and for once she didn’t feel at all threatened.

Joelle was Nicholas Dawson’s little sister, making her Gavin’s sister-in-law, and it was announced that she would be living for awhile with Daughtry
and Nicholas, who were once again expecting a child. Gavin had good-
naturedly teased Angeline at the announcement of the impending arrival that they would have to work hard to catch up. Angeline had flushed scarlet, but in her heart it was exactly the thing she wanted. A family, a husband, a home. That was the only kind of cause Angeline perceived as lasting.

Looking across the garden beyond the ranch valley to the mountains in the distance, Angeline felt a sensation of contentment wash over her that she couldn’t begin to describe. The ineffable feeling bubbled up inside until Angeline didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

“God,
y
ou have been so very good to me,” she whispered. “Thank You for the bountiful blessings. Thank
y
ou for all that You’ve bestowed upon me. I know now how the prodigal must have felt when his father placed the fine robe upon his shoulders and killed the fatted calf. You’ve given me more than I deserve, and I promise to strive hard to be worthy of it all.”

❧

Gavin stood in the adobe archway and watched his wife with intense interest as she moved about the garden. She was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen, and she was all his. He stood there silently, afraid to go to her, afraid to break the spell that seemed to have woven itself over her. She was radiant and everything about her countenance spoke of her happiness and joy.

“Thank You, God,” he whispered softly.

He studied her for a moment, seeing her lips move as though she was speaking to someone. With a sudden realization, Gavin discerned she was probably praying. It blessed him in a way he couldn’t explain. It was gratifying to be a part of her life and to know that he’d have a long, long time to love her.

❧

Angeline fell silent and closed her eyes for a moment. Drinking in the peace and pleasure of the moment, she didn’t hear her husband come up from behind her. She didn’t even sense him there until he put his arms around her and pulled her back against him.

“I couldn’t find you. I thought maybe you’d run off again.”

“Never!” Angeline declared and hugged his arms closer.

“What are you doing out here?” Gavin questioned softly.

“Just thanking God for everything.” She turned, giving Gavin a beautiful smile that lit up her lavender eyes. “I’m so very grateful.”

“Me too,” he said and kissed her lightly on the lips. “I still can’t believe you’re really mine. I mean, I prayed about it long enough. God knows that I nagged Him often enough, and now, it just seems unreal. Almost like a dream.”

“Umm,” Angeline said, snuggling against his chest, her head fitting perfectly under Gavin’s chin. “Then I don’t want to wake up.”

“I love you, Angel. I think I have loved you forever.”

Angeline giggled. “Since you first saw me as a tiny, squalling baby?”

“Well, maybe not quite forever,” Gavin chuckled. “After all, I was barely in pants when you came along.”

“I know,” she whispered. “Your mother showed me the most precious picture of you holding me. She said, ‘And now Angeline, he’ll be holding you forever.’ It made me cry, because I knew she was right. Somehow, from that one little picture, that one small, seemingly insignificant moment in my life, our love was born and grew to be this.”

Gavin kissed her head. “Brides are supposed to cry on their wedding days, but not grooms. Too many more stories like that and you’ll have me sniffling. Come on, let’s take a little walk, I want to show you something.”

Angeline released her hold and let Gavin direct her down the path that led away from the main house. “I’ve been talking to my dad,” Gavin began, “and I know you said you didn’t care where we lived, so I took it upon myself to plan our home.”

“What?”

Angeline’s surprised tone caused Gavin to frown. “Is that a problem?”

“Not at all, I just presumed from what you said that we’d live here with your folks.”

“We will, for a time,” Gavin said. He kept walking past the outbuildings and fruit trees which his mother had faithfully nurtured into maturity. “But eventually we’ll have our own place. That is, if you want your own house.”

Angeline laughed and tried to keep from tripping over her gown on the rocky path. “What woman doesn’t?”

“Good, then you’ll like my surprise,” Gavin grinned down at her.

Angeline felt her heart skip a beat whenever he looked at her that way. She could only imagine the joy of waking up to see that smile every day.

Gavin slowed his steps to accommodate her more hesitant ones. “See, I figured that we’d live with my folks while we build our own place. We’ll want to be close enough that it isn’t a chore to come over, but far enough away for privacy.”

Angeline grinned up at him. “So we can talk?”

Gavin laughed. “Something like that. Fight too,” he added. “I don’t figure the spunk has left you in place of that wedding gown. I know we’ll have more than our share of misunderstandings and problems.”

“I’m sure you’re right,” Angeline said with a serious nod. “You are after all a very stubborn man, and you can be rather serious.”

“And you are a flighty thing, running from one cause to the next and always thinking you have to be the center of attention.”

Gavin’s words made Angeline stop and eye him cautiously for a moment. “Are we about to have our first fight?”

“What do you mean, first fight?” Gavin asked with a twinkle in his eyes. “I’ve been having fights with you since you were six.”

“Yes, I do seem to recall a rather nasty incident where you tore my red sash and pushed me in the creek,” Angeline said rather sternly.

“And I don’t suppose that you remember what you did to me first,” Gavin replied, hands on hips.

“I believe it had something to do with your lunch pail,” she said with a mischievous look.

“Something like you took it and threw it in the creek,” he answered. “With my lunch in it, I might add.”

Angeline giggled. “Yes, then you said I could just go in after it and pushed me over the bank.”

“Yes, but I had a change of heart and tried to be gallant and rescue you.”

“I remember. You grabbed my sash to pull me up and it ripped off in your hands, and I went backside first into the water.”

“But you got my lunch pail back,” Gavin grinned.

“Yes, I did and a lecture when I got home and no dessert for a week,” Angeline said with a pouting look on her face.

“That’s nothing,” Gavin said with a serious expression replacing the grin. “I couldn’t sit for a week.”

Angeline laughed and threw her arms around her husband’s neck. “You really have loved me forever, haven’t you?”

“Pretty much so. I guess I was just hoping you’d get around to putting me on your list of causes.”

“I’m done with causes,” she said firmly. “Now show me what you plan for us.”

Gavin took her hand in his and they walked a little further down the path. “You see that valley over there?”

Angeline looked out across the open ground to where a small stand of trees grew beside a well fed spring. “There?” she pointed and looked at Gavin.

“Yes.”
h
e sensed her satisfaction with the place. “I thought we’d put a house just beyond the trees. We’ll have seclusion and privacy, yet be close enough for a helping hand if we need it.”

“And you can still work the ranch with your father and not have to be that far from home. I could even fix you lunch every day and make up for the lunch pail incident.” Angeline spoke with a pride and contentment in her voice that warmed Gavin’s heart.

“You made up for the lunch pail long ago, Angel. Just promise me that you won’t go running off again and I’ll be the happiest man alive.” He took her in his arms gently as if he were afraid of breaking her.

Angeline looked up at him. For a moment she just watched him, and when clouds passed over the sun, shadowing the land, she shivered. “I want nothing more than to stay at your side.” She looked away with an awful thought running through her mind.

“What is it, Angel?” Gavin reached out to draw her face back to his.

“There’s so much that could separate us, Gavin. The war in Europe is getting worse. I heard John tell mother we’ll probably go to war before much longer.”

“That’s a very real possibility, but we can’t let it ruin our happiness.”

“Oh, Gavin!” she exclaimed and embraced him tightly. “I don’t want you to go away. I can’t bear the idea of losing you. How could I go on without you?” The shadows from the clouds seemed to make her feel worse.

“Don’t,” he said simply. “Don’t take away what we have now by worrying about what we might not have tomorrow. We don’t know what God has planned for us, Angel. But we do know that He has it figured out, and He knows what’s best. He’s in control just like He was the night we were on the ledge together. Just think of the stories we’ll tell our children.”

“Men never understand,” Angeline said, surprising Gavin with her dismal outlook. “Mother told me men face war with pride and patriotism.” She pushed away, stepping on her wedding dress. She would have fallen if Gavin hadn’t caught her. The move forced her to look at his puzzled expression. Reaching up her hand, she touched his cheek. “I don’t want you to be heroic. I’d rather have you be safe and sound, right here with me.”

“I’d like nothing better,” he said, looking at her as if seeing her and the responsibilities of taking a wife for the first time. “I’ve thought a great deal about the possibilities of having to serve my country in war.” He looked beyond her to the valley. “But in all honesty, that was when I was single.”

“Being married makes everything different,” Angeline replied softly.

“Yes, it certainly does.” He seemed to struggle with something inside himself, more than with her. A look of frustration crossed his face, and he walked away from her, stopping after just a few paces.

Gavin’s silence frightened Angeline, and for a moment she hadn’t any idea what to do. Then without any real thought, Angeline felt the need to be with him. To somehow let him know that she could stand beside him, whatever came their way.

She reached out to him and Gavin turned, surprising her with a hint of moisture in his eyes. “All I’ve ever wanted was to build a home here, marry you, and raise a family. I don’t want to play soldier, and I don’t want to fight a war I know nothing about,” he said honestly.

“You were right earlier,” she whispered. “We needn’t borrow trouble. God is in control just as you said. From now on, Gavin, my only cause will be to serve God faithfully as His child and to love you faithfully as your wife. Whatever else comes, whatever the need, we’ll face it together.”

Gavin smiled. “No more causes, Angel?”

“Positive.” Angeline was glad to see his mood lighten.

“You sure about that? You’ve been so caught up in causes most all of your life, I’m not sure you could function properly without your hand in some problem, somewhere.”

Angeline laughed. “You and God will be cause enough.”

Gavin took her into his arms and lifted her chin. “I love you to pieces, Angel, but I’ll believe that one when I see it.” He silenced her reply with a kiss. Then, testing her reserve, Gavin pulled away and added, “I heard tell there was a committee getting together to raise money to build a bigger school in Bandelero.”

“Not interested,” Angeline replied with a wide grin.

“Then there was that talk about knitting mittens and socks for the soldiers in the trenches.”

“I never could knit,” Angeline said even more confidently.

Gavin glanced upward. “And I guess you wouldn’t be interested in knowing that Elaine Cody is coming to Santa Fe to work with the local politicians on suffrage.”

Angeline’s eyes widened. “Elaine? Coming to New Mexico?” Gavin glanced down at her with an “I told you so” smile, causing Angeline to bite her tongue. “That’s very nice, Gavin. Perhaps she’ll call on us, and we can show her the ranch.”

“Uh huh,” Gavin said with delight in his voice. “Maybe she’ll tell you about the war orphans.”

“What war orphans?” Angeline questioned almost sharply.