Texas rich (25 page)

She had sailed into her duties with a capability that had stunned Seth. At first she'd merely been efficient, making the household revolve around him and his activities. She could tell he liked the way she did things and she anticipated his every need. Often, she wondered how close she'd come to spending the rest of her life wasting away in Philadelphia, becoming older and dowdier caring for a small house and boarders. The thought made her shiver with revulsion.

Seth found Agnes amenable and smart and often invited her along to luncheons at the Cattlemen's Club. The day he'd leaned across the table and asked her opinion on a matter, in full view and hearing of his friends and their wives, she'd enjoyed their astonishment. Seth Coleman had never been known to ask a woman the time of day, much less her opinion! That day had marked Agnes's total acceptance into Austin society. All she had to do now was sit back and reap the rewards. But no matter how efficient she was or how dependent Seth had become upon her, she accepted reality. She was dispensable. At least until Billie produced a male heir. And what better place to get the ball rolling than the paradise of Hawaii? Romance and baby making went hand in hand. Moss would be more than agreeable, especially once he saw this new, ripe Billie, more than a girl, just a shade less than a woman. How appealing! The urge to smack her lips was overwhelming.

A rolling tumble weed danced across the front lawn. Agnes frowned. Now where had that come from? She pressed her face against the window to see where the offensive weed had landed and made a mental note to remind the gardener to search it out in the morning. Her eyes strayed heavenward to the early

{167}

spring sky. Even the first stars of evening seemed bigger and brighter, the moon more silvery and round. Perhaps it was true that everything in Texas was bigger than hfe and better than anywhere else. She, for one, certainly believed it.

A muted cry filtered dov/n the hall and was instantly hushed. The baby. Agnes's lips thinned to a hard line. Maggie Coleman. Thank the Lord for nurses and nannies. Billie would be able to go off to Hawaii and not have a care in the world. Money was such a marvelous thing.

A second, more piercing yowl shuddered down the hall. Agnes gave her head a little shake and left her room. Seth would be waiting for her in his study, and she'd be willing to bet that the man hadn't poured his own bourbon but v/as waiting for her to do the honors. It was now a ritual she rather enjoyed, feeling a certain little warm spurt of power in being the one to please him..

A smirk played around Seth's mouth as he watched Agnes walk toward him with his evening drink. The woman amazed him. Bourbon and branch water. He'd been dumbfounded the first time he'd seen her pour and swallow the beverage as if it were Coca-Cola. And she was probably the only woman in Texas who didn't mind his cigar smoke. Liked it, she'd said when he caught himself apologizing. A thick Havana cigar found its way to his miouth. He clipped the end and lit up. Old Aggie never gasped or sputtered or dabbed at her eyes. Once he'd tested her and had blown smoke directly at her. She'd sniffed and smjled and passed his test. And she knew it.

Right now, he sensed there was a bee buzzing around in Aggie's bonnet. He could almost hear the droning. He thought he knew what was on her mind, but so far, except for the day Maggie was bom, it had remained unspoken. He decided to play her little game, hear her out, see how she'd handle him. He always enjoyed how Aggie went about things. Every day she learned something new, some new kind of maneuver, some devious little trick to get what she wanted. It pleased him that he was making her work for what he would have given her anyway. She was going to be rocked back on her hind end when she found out he had Billie's ticket to Hawaii in his desk drawer.

Seth downed his drink in one gulp and held out his glass for a refill. Agnes stared at it a moment and then shook her head. "That was a double I gave you. You know the doctor said one drink and one drink only. If you want another, you'll

{168}

have to get it for yourself. I refuse to be a party to your destroying your health." Seth knew she meant it. He clamped his teeth down on his cigar and almost bit off the end. Women!

"There's tumbleweed in the front yard again."

"For Christ's sake, Aggie, this is Texas. Tumbleweeds are all over the place. If it bothers you that much, I'll speak to the gardener in the morning."

"I've already mentioned it to him," Agnes lied. She was in charge of the house and that included the front lawn as well.

"Did your daughter get a letter from my son today? Tita said she did. I waited all through lunch for Billie to mention it and when she didn't I thought maybe Tita was mistaken."

"i really don't know if Billie received a letter, Seth. I'll check with her when I go upstairs." Damn Billie. And damn that Tita, too. If she ever got the opportunity to fire her, she would. The woman knew too much about family business.

"Billie looks well," Agnes began, "don't you think? Dr. Ward has given her a clean bill of health and the go-ahead to resume all her activities." Agnes met Seth's speculative stare unblinkingly. "I was a little concerned for her during her pregnancy." She led into the question and let it lie there.

"Well?" Seth demanded impatiently. "Just how concerned are you for her now?" Damn woman, she liked to play games as much as he did.

"Oh, I'm not concerned at all. Why should I be? Nature takes care of itself, I always say. Why, just look how she's bloomed. She's not the young girl who first came to Sunbridge. There's something different. Perhaps it's maturity. She's more of a woman, if you know what I mean."

"Damn right I do," Seth said dryly. "I was thinking the same thing myself. 'Course, I never knew Billie when she wasn't feeling sick, but right now I'd say I could almost see why my son married her."

Agnes ignored the left-handed compliment. "The baby is gaining rapidly, especially for a premature birth. Now that she's on a rigid schedule she's eating and sleeping better. Nurse is very pleased. It's so nice to know that BiUie doesn't have to tax her strength with middle-of-the-night feedings and all that goes with a new baby. And little Maggie is just remarkable."

"She's a Coleman, isn't she?" Seth said gruffly.

"Moss is going to be so pleased when he sees what motherhood has done for Billie. It would be so nice if they could get together. Christmas was almost a farce, you know. I'd hate to

{169}

think that Moss could only remember what Billie looked like then. A pity he can't see her." Agnes drained the last of her bourbon. She might need another before this conversation was over.

"C'mon, Aggie, pour me another drink. What can it hurt? You're going to have another. How can you sit there and drink it in front of me?"

Aggie. It was said with affection. She could hear the tone, feel it. "All right, but if you tell that fool doctor, I'll deny it."

Seth winked conspiratorially and maneuvered the cigar from one side of his mouth to the other. He liked it when he had her on the run. So much for her worrying about destroying his health.

When she handed him the refill, Seth removed the soggy cigar from his lips. He swirled the amber liquid in his glass, staring at it as if mesmerized. Agnes watched him, hardly daring to breathe. She had his habits down pat, knew what he was going to say before he said it. In the end she always let him think it was his idea.

"Aggie, do you think the girl is up to a trip to Hawaii? It's barely three months, you know. Jessica never mended this quickly."

"Billie comes from hearty peasant stock. On her father's side," she added hastily. "I'm sure she's well enough. We can check with the doctor and Billie herself. Seth, how marvelous of you to think of this. Billie will be forever in your debt if you can arrange it. You can, can't you?" she asked anxiously.

"For my boy, anything. Billie, too," he added hastily. Agnes understood. She held up her glass and Seth did likewise.

"What shall we drink to?" Seth asked.

Agnes pretended to ponder the question. "What else but lover'

Seth almost choked on an inch of wet tobacco. 'To love."

"To love," Agnes said, swallowing the remainder of her drink. For one wild, crazy moment she wondered if Seth were going to throw his glass into the fireplace and smash it to smithereens. She wished he would, so she could do the same. Instead she set her glass firmly on the little coaster on the table.

"How long do you think it will take you to make the arrangements?"

Seth thought about the airline ticket in his desk drawer. "Five days. Take the girl shopping. Get her the best. Get something spiffy, Aggie. Moss always liked spiffy things."

{170}

Agnes hated to ask but she forced the words from her mouth. "How much should we spend?"

"As much as it takes." Agnes nodded. Silk and satin. Sheer gossamer nighties, silk underwear. Frilly, lacy, frothy unmentionables. A daring low-cut gown for dancing. Surely the Officers' Club would have dancing on the weekend. Officers always had the best. Some French perfume for wickedness. Moss was a sniffer. Scent was important if worn discreetly. Billie was going to be ecstatic. "Don't stint, and I suggest you start out first thing in the morning. In case you need alterations."

"Right after breakfast," Agnes said briskly. "I think it's time for me to go up and say good night to Jessica and check on Maggie. I'll stop by Billie's room and tell her, unless you want to tell her yourself"

"You do it. You're the gal's mother. I think I'm going to turn in myself. I plan to ride the range tomorrow. Old Nessie's been missing me. Five days, Agnes. Make sure the gal is ready."

"She'll be ready," Agnes said firmly. "And Seth, no more liquor. We bent the rules a little tonight, but this is the last time. You really have to start taking care of yourself."

Seth mumbled something unintelligible as Agnes left the room.- Later, when she thought about it, she thought he'd said, "Until you want something else." She snorted.

Agnes's idea of saying good night to Jessica was a light wave in her direction as she walked past her lighted room. When she passed the nursery she put her fmger to her lips to show she understood little Maggie was sleeping. Seth didn't need to know everything. She rapped quietly on Billie's door and opened it at the same time. Her daughter was sitting at her little cherry wood desk, writing beneath a gooseneck lamp. "Billie, can I talk to you?"

"Of course, Mother. Is anything wrong?"

"On the contrary, everything is wonderful. I have a wonderful surprise for you. Seth just told me this very evening. Minutes ago, in fact, and I came right up to tell you. You're going to Hawaii to see Moss. Isn't that wonderful? Don't ask me how Seth did it, but he's arranging the entire thing. Five days, Billie, and you'll see Moss. Tomorrow we're going shopping!"

Billie leaped up from the desk. 'Truly, Mother? I can't believe it. Does Moss kiiow? How? When? Five days. Good

{171}

Lord, Mother, what about Maggie? I don't think I can be ready in five days. Oh, Mother, I'm so glad the doctor said I was fit. It will be all right, won't it?"

Agnes preened. "Darling child, it's all been taken care of. When Seth says he has friends in high places, he means high places. We just have to be thankful that he's able to do all this for you. Moss is going to be so surprised. DarUng, you are not to worry about Maggie. She has a nurse. Remember, now, you're a Coleman. You can go off and not worry. I'll be here to look after things. Be sure, though, to take some pictures of little Maggie to show Moss. Start thinking of all the gorgeous things you can buy to dazzle your husband. We really have to buy some wickedly expensive perfume to drive him out of his mind. Men have to be driven to the brink every so often to keep them in line." Agnes was almost babbling. All she could think of was the shopping trip and what she could buy for herself—and the ultimate outcome of the Hawaiian visit.

"Mother, does Moss know I'm coming?" Billie asked excitedly.

"I'm not sure. I'm sure Seth will get word to him within the next day or so. He has to know you're coming so he can arrange his schedule. Seth and I want both of you to have a marvelous time to make up for the Christmas visit. Seth will take care of things. Finish your letter and then get ready for bed. I think we should leave right after breakfast. Ask Jessica if there's anything we can bring her. Good night, Billie." Agnes leaned over to plant a dry kiss on Billie's forehead.

When the door closed behind Agnes, Billie threw herself on the bed and curled into a ball with the pillow clutched against her chest. Tears of sheer happiness burned her eyes. How generous of Seth. How wonderful of Seth. For the first time in her young hfe she was beginning to understand what power and money could do. It was going to be so wonderful. A second honeymoon. In Hawaii. The excitement was almost more than she could bear. She hugged the pillow tighter. New clothes. If she had anything to say about it, she wouldn't be wearing much more than a towel while she was with Moss. How long? Her mother hadn't said how long her visit was to be. It didn't matter. She would make the most of the time. Wicked perfume and a towel. She smiled as she dabbed at her eyes with the comer of the pillowcase. She was going to see her husband. She had never been happier in her hfe.

{172}

When Billie tripped down the hall to the nursery she felt light-headed. She rapped softly and peeked in the door. The nurse in her starched white uniform put her finger to her lips. Billie nodded and advanced on tiptoe into the room. The tiny pink bundle lay peacefully in the cradle that had belonged first to Moss and then to Amelia. One tiny, plump fist was being sucked on. Billie smiled.

The desire to hold her daughter was so strong that Billie leaned over the cradle. "Now, Mrs. Coleman, you know the rules," the nurse said in a harsh whisper. "When baby is sleeping we do not disturb her. Gas, colic, diarrhea, any of those things can result. Sleeping babies need their sleep." The nurse's voice was stem yet not unkind. Secretly she often felt sorry for the young, wealthy mothers who missed so much when they had nurses take care of their babies.