The Enchanted Land Read online

  It seemed they had traveled for hours when Joaquín stopped at a little house Morgan had never seen before. Joaquín began to dismount in front of the house.

  “Joaquín, what are you doing? Seth isn’t here.”

  “We must rest the horses, and I, for one, am very thirsty.”

  It was very dark now, but she could see the look of determination on Joaquín’s handsome face.

  The interior of the house was unexpected. There were mirrors everywhere, and the walls were covered with crimson silk. In front was a tiny living room and then an enormous bedroom. The furniture was gold and white, while the bed was draped in a sheer version of the crimson silk.

  “What is this place, Joaquín?”

  “Can’t you guess?” She turned quickly at the peculiar tone in his voice. His eyes were hard. He stared openly at her body. Involuntarily, her hand went to cover her breasts.

  “Joaquín, why are you looking at me like that?”

  He moved closer to her and took her hand, kissing it. “I have wanted you from the first moment I saw you. That husband of yours did not even see your beauty. I was glad when I saw how the two of you fought constantly and glad when he did not spend the night with you in the wagon.”

  She backed away from him, beginning to be very frightened. “But, Joaquín, I love Seth.”

  “Seth, Seth, Seth! That is what I hear from too many women—my own sister, and that cow of a woman, Marilyn Wilson. Do you think that one must be as big as Colter to be a man? I assure you, it is not so. Come, little Morgan, and I will show you tenderness. I will show you the fine art of lovemaking, not the crudeness of these Americans.”

  “Joaquín, I’d like to go now.” She started firmly for the door.

  “Oh, no.” He grabbed her arm, pulling her to him, clasping her body close to his. “I’ve waited a long time for this.” His lips on hers made her shudder. They were too soft, too moist. They didn’t make her feel as Seth’s lips did.

  She twisted in his arms, pulling her mouth from his. “No, Joaquín.” His lips moved down her throat leaving a damp trail, like a snail.

  “No!” She fairly screamed the word and pushed against him with all her might, catching him off guard. He nearly fell. She looked into his eyes, and the hatred she saw there made her realize the danger she was in.

  “So, you refuse me. You teased me on the wagon train, yet you meant nothing. You do not use a Montoya and get away with it. Now you will be punished.”

  She screamed when he came to her and tied the gag around her mouth. She fought him, but he was surprisingly strong and held her easily.

  “Remember this, little one—you have chosen your fate. We could have been such lovers, but now—” He finished tying her hands and then her ankles and tossed her on the bed. “Now that husband of yours will die because of your teasing.” He laughed as he saw Morgan’s eyes widen in horror.

  He walked to the doorway. “I will be back in a few hours, and then I have some plans for you.”

  After one last searching look at her, he turned abruptly and was gone.

  Chapter Eleven

  WHEN Seth left the Montoya party, he rode hard for an hour until he realized what he was doing to his horse. He stopped and rested. The first blind rage was gone, and the cool night air helped to clear his head of fury and liquor.

  Gradually, he began to remember the way Morgan’s face had lit up when she saw him, the way she had run to him. Damn that Montoya! Seth had played right into his hands, and Joaquín had enjoyed every moment of it.

  Morgan, sweet little Morgan. She was so innocent that she probably didn’t even realize what Montoya was like. He had been a fool to leave her there alone. He mounted his horse and started back to the Montoya ranch. He was so lost in his thoughts that he didn’t hear the approaching rider. A shot rang out and the bullet slammed into his shoulder.

  Before he could get to his own gun, the rider took it, then grabbed the reins of his horse. Silently, he led Seth back toward the Montoya ranch, blood dripping from his wound, each step increasing his pain.

  When Joaquín returned to Morgan a few hours later and removed her gag, she tried to reason with him. He smiled at her, and she wondered why she had never understood the coldness of his smile before.

  “It would do no good now to try to save yourself or your husband.”

  “What have you done with Seth? Where is he?”

  “Ah, sweet little noble Morgan, would you like to save the life of your husband? If you could save his life, what would you do for me?”

  Her eyes looked straight into his. “Anything,” she whispered.

  “Yes, I believe you would. Too bad Colter had such a woman as you and never realized it. But you can save his life, and very easily, too. All you have to do is write a letter.”

  “A letter?” A new fear was growing in her stomach.

  “Yes. You see, I have been trying for a long time to get Colter to sell his ranch to me. I thought I had succeeded, but then he brought back a wife. A wife makes a man settle down.”

  “Why would you want Seth’s small ranch when yours is so large?”

  “A good question, my little pretty one, but your husband’s ranch has the source of water for my ranch. At any time, he could cut off all the water to my home and my cattle.”

  “But Seth wouldn’t do that.”

  “Who can say? I do not like to trust my fortune to someone else.”

  “So, you think Seth will sell the ranch to you if I am gone?”

  “Yes. Exactly. But first I plan to make him never want to see the place again. That is important, and that is where your letter comes in.”

  The fear inside her increased.

  “I want you to write a short note saying that you and I are going away together, that we had planned it for some time, ever since we were on the wagon train together.”

  Morgan’s eyes widened in horror. “No,” she whispered. She could not do this. If she ever did find Seth again, he would hate her. Even if she escaped, he wouldn’t want her again. He’d believe the note. Joaquín must know that.

  “No? A moment ago you said you’d do anything to save his life. I guess I’ll tell the men to kill him.” He turned toward the door.

  “No! I’ll do what you ask. Don’t hurt him. Please.”

  “That’s much better. Now I will get a pen and paper.”

  Morgan wrote the note with trembling hands. She knew she was writing the end to her marriage. Seth would never want her again.

  Quickly, Joaquín took the note from her, retied her hands, and replaced the gag. As he removed the sapphire necklace and earrings, he kissed her neck and she flinched. His eyes hardened, and he raised a hand to strike her.

  “No. I will not mar your lovely skin. I have plans for you. I am sure there will be many men who will do more to that lovely body than just strike your cheek.”

  Her eyes had gone dead. She didn’t look at him, but held her eyes on the note he carried in his hand.

  He left. Morgan felt that her life went with him.

  Joaquín’s two men led Seth west, away from the Montoya ranch. The pain in his shoulder had intensified, and the loss of blood was making him weak. Eventually they came to the walls of a crumbling adobe hut. Here the two men dismounted, and painfully Seth did also. It was close to dawn, and the sky was beginning to lighten. He stuffed a handkerchief against the wound to try to stop the blood.

  The two men said nothing. They just watched him, pointing a revolver at him continually.

  When he saw Montoya riding up in the faint morning light, he used his rapidly draining strength to rush at him.

  “Where is she? What have you done with her?”

  Roughly, the guards pulled Seth to the ground. One of them kicked him in the ribs. He raised his foot to strike again but Joaquín halted him.

  Seth regained his breath and pulled himself into a sitting position, leaning against the mud wall.

  “Such concern for your little wife. Too bad she