Authors: Primrose
“Grandville?”
“Yes?” He turned from the window, brows winging upward and eyes alight with hope.
Zanna swallowed and looked away. She caught sight of the pails of milk Grandy had set on the porch two days ago. “Could you bring that clabbered milk inside to the kitchen? I’m going to churn today.”
The light died in his eyes. “Sure.” He went outside to collect the pails, shoulders slumped and back bent.
“Damn you,” Zanna whispered, whirling away from the pitiful figure he scored in her mind. Little by little, he was softening her up, weaving his way into her heart and mind, plundering her will. She knew it, but was helpless to prevent it.
She’d awakened hours before dawn to review what she knew about him and how she reacted to him. She kept remembering his kiss … his touch … the topaz glow in his eyes. She had to get away from him or there was no telling what she might do!
Zanna flew from the house and flagged down Perkins before he could mount up and ride with the others toward Scyene.
“Need something in town?” Perkins asked, sweeping off his hat in a gentlemanly gesture.
“No, but I
do
need something from you,” Zanna said, dipping her hand into her apron pocket to pull out her dainty handkerchief. “Would it impede your activities in town too much if Grandy joined you? You’d have to keep an eye on him and—”
Perkins held up one hand. “Im—What, ma’am? You’re talking over my head again, I’m afraid.”
“Oh, I’m sorry. Grandy would like to go to town with the rest of you, but I can’t send him unless I know someone will keep an eye on him. You understand that he can’t
drink or gamble or … well, be seen in the company of questionable women.”
Perkins’s mouth twisted and he ducked his head and put his hat back on. “Yes, ma’am. And you want me to take him by the hand and make sure he’s a good boy in town?”
Zanna twisted the handkerchief, feeling like a heel. “It sounds terrible, I know, but I have my pride. I don’t want him making a fool of himself in town, but I believe he needs to get away from here—and from me—for a few hours.”
“ ’Nuf said.” Perkins cleared his throat and blinked when Zanna blinded him with her smile. “I’ll keep him on a short lease, ma’am. Don’t you worry none about your reputation.”
“Thank you, Perkins. I knew I could depend on you. I’ll send him out.” Impulsively, she squeezed his forearm. “You’re a good man, Perkins.”
“Thanks.” His already flushed skin grew crimson. “I’ll saddle up a horse for him.”
“Yes, you do that.” Zanna raced inside to find that Grandy was toting the toolbox toward the back of the house. “Where are you going?”
“I mean to finish that walkway today.”
“Wouldn’t you rather go into town with the other men?”
He set the box down and faced her with rigid wariness. “Is this a trick?”
“I don’t know what you …” She shook her head.
“If I say yes, are you going to say something like, ‘Too bad, buddy’?”
“No!” She jerked her chin indignantly. “I’m not the kind to play tricks like that!”
He crossed his arms over his wide chest. “Okay. I’ll bite. Yes, I’d like to go into town with the other men.”
Zanna resented his blatant mistrust of her intentions. She narrowed her eyes and frowned, then flung out a hand toward the door. “Then go! Perkins is saddling a horse for you.”
His eyes flicked sideways to the door, then back to her. “And for you?”
“I’m not going.”
“You won’t let me herd cattle with them, but you’ll let me go into town with them?” He shook his head. “That doesn’t make one lick of sense.”
She tapped her foot and tied a knot in her handkerchief. “Are you going or not?”
“Just like that? No strings attached? I won’t have to plow another forty when I get home or sleep in the barn or—”
“Just go!” She gritted her teeth, hating him for treating her magnanimous gesture like a trap. “I’m staying home to churn and do some sewing. I don’t want you underfoot.” She looked out at Perkins, who was leading another horse behind him. “Well? Perkins is waiting.”
Grandy uncrossed his arms and examined his clean but plain clothes. “I’m not—”
“You look good enough to ride into town. Remember-no drinking or gambling.”
He gave her one more dubious glance, then sprang forward like a wild animal set loose. He grabbed his hat off the peg by the door before he ran outside and leaped into the saddle. Zanna went to the door to watch the men ride away, leaving her alone.
Alone. She closed the front door and locked it securely. Alone was the one thing she didn’t want to be. That’s why she’d married Grandville Adams in the first place!
“You’re such a fool,” she said, looking at her reflection in the mirror across the room. “Your kindness is liable to land you in another puddle of trouble. You don’t give a man like Grandy his head. Not if you want to keep him under your thumb.”
Zanna stood in the shadows by the front window, rifle in hand, sweat beading on her forehead as she waited for the horse and rider to swing into view. Her finger curled
around the trigger and her lips drew back in a grimace at the shadow that spilled onto the ground. A buff-colored gelding trotted past the window, its rider pumping up and down in the saddle, his tailcoats flying in the breeze.
A sigh whistled through Zanna’s tense lips and she lowered the rifle’s barrel until it pointed at the floor. She gave silent thanks for a few moments before she replaced the rifle in its rack above the fireplace and went to throw open the door to her visitor.
“Theo!” She flung her arms around his slim neck and planted a kiss on his cheek. “I thought you were … I’m all alone here today, you see.”
“Alone!” Theo gripped her shoulders and held her at arm’s length. “Why? Zanna, have you lost your mind? You know better!” He scouted the area with his bespectacled eyes, then shooed her inside. “It’s a good thing I decided to visit. Where is everyone? Where’s that husband you contracted?”
“They all went into town,” she explained as she bolted the front door behind them. “Let me make us some tea. Oh! And Grandy fixed biscuits this morning. They’re so good, Theodore. You’ll love them. Light and delicate, like they made in that restaurant in Dallas. Remember that place you took me right after … well, you remember?”
“Yes, after Fayne’s funeral. I remember.” Theo removed his hat and hung it on the peg near the door before sitting on the camel-backed sofa. “I’d like some tea and biscuits. Your new husband cooks?”
“Lucky for me, huh.” She laughed, so happy to have Theodore there again. “He’s trying to teach me, but I’m afraid I’m hopeless, although Grandville insists I’ll master it before long.” She laughed again, this time because she was suddenly uncomfortable discussing her husband with Theo. “I’ll put on the water for tea. You stay right where you are. I won’t be but a few minutes.” She started from the room, but stopped long enough to send him another
dazzling smile. “Oh, I’m so happy you’ve come to visit me, Theo I’ve missed you so!”
Ten minutes later she returned with a tea tray which Theo helped her set on the low coffee table in front of the sofa. She poured, then settled herself beside Theo.
“I know I shouldn’t have let Grandville go into town and leave me here alone, but I felt he needed time to himself. I most certainly relished time away from him.”
“Why?” Theo set his cup down with a faint tap. “Is he mistreating you in some way?”
“No.” She laid a hand on the sleeve of his tweed jacket. “No, dearest Theo. He is not mistreating me in any way. It’s just … well, surely you can understand how uncomfortable it is for both of us to be cooped up here together. We’re strangers. We have nothing in common.”
“Yes. He’s certainly not your equal.” Theo bit into a biscuit and his brows wiggled. “But he is a fine cook if these biscuits are any indication.”
Zanna set her cup and saucer aside. “Actually, Theo, Grandville is a decent sort.” She sensed Theo’s keen regard, but couldn’t bring herself to meet his eyes. “He’s not nearly the ruffian I pegged him for.”
Theo straightened his bow tie, arching his neck away from his stiff collar. “Zanna, let me remind you that he was jailed and sentenced to die. He’s a horse thief and a card—”
“He says he’s innocent—”
“Well, of course! Any blackhearted criminal will go to his grave swearing that—”
“—and I believe him.”
“—he’s as pure as new fallen snow.” Theo paused when he realized what she’d said. “And you believe him?”
“Yes.” Zanna lifted her eyes to his. “He’s given me no reason not to.”
“No reason?” Theo jumped up and began to pace, running his hands through his thinning hair. “Dear Zanna, he’s not a gentleman. He’s left a trail of trouble behind
him. The courts don’t decide to hang men who are good citizens.”
“But the courts could have been wrong. It wouldn’t be the first time.”
“He’s really blindfolded you, hasn’t he? You aren’t …” He stopped dead in his tracks and stared at her with horror-filled eyes. “Zanna, you haven’t let him take advantage of this situation, have you? You haven’t compromised yourself!”
“No.” She stood up and placed steady hands on his forearms. “Dearest Theo, how could I allow any man to compromise me ever again? I’d rather die first.”
He wilted with relief, then stiffened when he saw her bandaged hand. “And what’s this? Did he do this?”
“No,” she said, laughing to settle his overactive imagination. “I cut my hand on a broken cup. Grandy did a fine job of doctoring it for me. Really, Theo, he’s harmless.”
“No man is harmless,” Theo warned. “Every man-even a mild-mannered pencil pusher like me—can be driven to desperate acts.”
“Oh, Theo.” She put her hands on his shoulders and leaned her cheek against his back. The secrets they shared brought tears to her eyes and she wished Theo didn’t love her so much. “You wouldn’t have done what we talked about. We were just imagining, dreaming. Neither one of us would have carried out our silly plan.”
He hung his head, then turned to face her. “I would do anything for you, dear. Anything.”
“Theo, did you forge Fayne’s will?” she asked, not for the first time. He had always denied it before, but Zanna had never quite believed him. She’d told herself that Fayne had willed her the ranch to make up for all the horror he’d put her through, but she’d never fully convinced herself. She looked Theo straight in the eye and held her breath.
He smiled. “Of course not. Why, I’d be drummed out
of business for a crime like that!” He laughed softly. “Zanna, your imagination astounds me!”
She sighed, still doubtful. “It doesn’t make sense that Fayne would leave Primrose to me.”
“When did Fayne ever make any sense?”
Zanna nodded. At least that much was true, she thought. She went back to the sofa and sat down. “Tell me what’s been happening in your life. Any good gossip in town?”
Theo sat beside her again and picked up his cup. “The gossip is still mainly about you. No one ever thought you’d marry a stranger.”
“They all thought I’d marry you or—”
“Duncan,” Theo finished for her. “Has he been around lately?”
“Yes, but Grandy was with me.” She smiled, remembering. “Grandy scared Pride and off he went! Duncan almost lost his seat.” She covered her mouth with her hand. “Oh, Theo! It was wonderful. Funny! Duncan was so furious he couldn’t speak.” She sobered when Theo didn’t share in the joke. “Theo, what’s wrong?”
“You shouldn’t humiliate Duncan. He’s vindictive.”
“He humiliated me! Many times!” She straightened, lifting her chin. “I’m glad to see him get his comeuppance every so often. Grandy can handle him.”
“So could I.”
“Theo, don’t …” She turned her head, uncomfortable again. “I’ve had a busy day. I’ve made butter and I’ve been sewing.”
“Sew? You?”
“Yes.” She smiled. “Not well, but I did it. Fayne never wanted me to wear homemade things. He insisted on buying ready-made dresses, but it’s too extravagant. I’m starting slowly. I’ve stitched a nightdress. The pattern was easy as pie.” She dimpled. “Of course, pies aren’t so easy for me either.”
“Zanna,” he said, chuckling, “how you delight me. If
only you’d accepted my help. I could have moved out here and taken care of you.”
“Theo, you’re not a rancher. You wouldn’t be happy with me.”
“I could learn ranching.” He leaned forward imploringly. “You can end this sham of a marriage and marry me. That’s what you should have done in the first place.”
“You’re not cut out for ranching. It wouldn’t work.”
“And this does?” he asked, flinging out a hand to indicate her situation. “You’re living with a stranger, a man who has a dark past.” He stood up again, agitated and restless. “I worry about you night and day. I wonder what vile things could be going on between you and him.”
“Nothing’s going on, Theo. I’ve contracted him. He works for me.”
“He’s
married
to you.” Theo turned, extending his hands in a helpless gesture. “Don’t you understand the way of men, Zanna? Sooner or later, he’ll force your hand. No man could live in close proximity to you without … well, without dreaming of you.” He ducked his head. “I dream of you.”
She knew she was blushing and she also knew how much courage it took for Theo to make such a bold admission. Zanna crossed the room to him, taking his trembling, damp hands in hers. His fingers curled around her palms, gently avoiding the bandage on the left one.
“I don’t want another man to hurt you, Zanna,” he whispered.
“Theodore, please, let’s discuss something else.” She closed her eyes, feeling a pounding behind them. “If the time comes when Grandy becomes unruly, I’ll deal with it.”
“But I lo—”
She pressed her fingers to his lips. “No, Theo. You mustn’t. You’re a dear friend, but you’ve done enough for me. I must take responsibility for myself from now on.”
His smile grew behind her fingertips and she dropped’ her hand.
“Let me see your new creation,” he said, then laughed when she appeared confused. “Your nightdress. The one you made today.”
“Oh, that!” She laughed. “Promise you won’t laugh. Some of the stitching is crooked. The lace was hard to attach to the collar. I believe I must have cut it wrong.”