The Enchanted Land Read online

  Gordon watched her go, astonished by her rudeness. “Dave, I really must apologize for Morgan. I’ve never seen her rude to anyone before. She’s really not like that. Actually, she’s a very warm person.”

  “That’s all right. She just seems to have taken a dislike to me. Maybe I ought to forgo your invitation to supper.”

  “No, please don’t. I owe you something for taking care of Adam. I know it’s not easy to do a full day’s work and keep an eye on a toddler at the same time. By the way, my foreman says you do one hell of a day’s work, and that you know exactly what you’re doing, too.”

  “It seems I get along with animals and children a sight better than I do with women.” They laughed together.

  “Well, I trust Adam. Anyone he likes is all right with me. Now let’s go wash.”

  Morgan began undressing her son. He was dirty and needed a bath, but she didn’t want to wake him to give him one. She washed his face and hands and began to put his nightshirt on him. He frowned once and fluttered his eyelids when she jerked his arm too sharply.

  “I’m sorry, sweetheart.” She kissed his cheek and finished dressing him more gently. Damn him! Why did he have to come back? Now that he’s seen Adam, he’ll probably never give me a divorce. I’ll never be able to lead my own life.

  Maybe he wanted the money, the money she offered him to marry her. But, somehow, she didn’t think that was it.

  She tucked Adam into his bed, brushing the hair from his forehead, and kissed him. She sat a minute, looking at her sleeping son. He was always such a whirlwind of activity that it was pleasant to see him quiet.

  She went to her own room to dress for dinner. She chose a filmy sea-green dress, a gift from Theron. She had chosen it to match the jade treasures in her bedroom. She began to pin up her hair and then, on second thought, left it down, adding a ribbon that matched the dress. Just the way Gordon likes it, she thought, as she studied her reflection. And Seth—No! She wouldn’t think that way.

  Tonight was Gordon’s night. She would be especially nice to Gordon. She would forget Seth, forget his laughing eyes, forget his touch. Yes, tonight would be the beginning of a new relationship with Gordon, and Seth Colter would be out of her life for good.

  She started down the stairs. At least tonight she wouldn’t be troubled by Seth. She could relax, alone with Gordon.

  “I’m sorry I’m late, Gordon. I had to get Adam to bed. He was so tired after being with that awful Mr. Blake.”

  “Morgan!” Gordon’s tone was sharp. “We have a guest.” His eyes sent warning.

  Seth’s large form was visible now, inside the dining room. His eyes were teasing. His smile was slight but his dimples were deep, betraying extreme amusement. Amusement at her embarrassment!

  “I’m sorry, Mrs. Colter, if your son was so disturbed by my presence.”

  “I’m sure Morgan didn’t mean that, Dave.” He looked to Morgan for support. “It’s just that…”

  “Would you mind if we ate now? I am starved.” Morgan’s voice was honey-sweet and she looked at Gordon lovingly.

  Gordon frowned. This wasn’t Morgan at all. What was the matter with her?

  She entered the dining room on Gordon’s arm, turning her back slightly on Seth.

  “I’m sorry we’re still in our work clothes, but we got back too late to change.”

  “Mrs. Colter would put us to shame, no matter what we wore.” Seth smiled at Morgan’s look of fury.

  “Yes, she would. I don’t believe I’ve seen that dress before. Is it new?”

  She looked a challenge at Seth. “No. My former employer, Theron Shaw, gave it to me.”

  Seth offered no response. He sipped his wine and smiled into Morgan’s eyes.

  So that’s how it was: He didn’t care at all. Well, she didn’t care either.

  They sat quietly as Martin served dinner.

  “Tell us about yourself, Dave. You said you’d been in the West for some time.”

  “Yes, Mr. Blake, do tell us about your life. You must have done a great many very interesting things.” Her voice was close to a sneer.

  Gordon was embarrassed. She was really carrying her dislike too far. He would talk to her after dinner. He didn’t like having a guest mistreated.

  Morgan ignored the looks she was getting from Gordon.

  “There’s not much to tell, really. For the last two and a half years, I’ve been working in the gold fields in California.”

  “The gold fields! I’ve lost several men to gold fever. I considered going myself, at one time.”

  “It’s not a pleasant way to live. Dirty, and the work’s almost unbearable at times.”

  “You seemed to have enjoyed it. You stayed for over two years. That’s a long time; a lot of things can happen in two years.” She looked at Gordon affectionately.

  “Yes, whole lives can be created in that amount of time.”

  She knew he meant Adam. He had not taken her meaning. “People can start new lives, if old ones are finished.”

  Seth merely smiled.

  “Well, this conversation is becoming too philosophical for my poor Indian brain.”

  “Indian?”

  “There now, I’ve told the house secret. My mother is a Comanche. But I know little about the Indian way of life. My mother left me when I was a baby and returned to her people.”

  Morgan looked up at Gordon, her eyes gentle. “But there are times when you make a very convincing Indian, Sky Eyes.” Her voice was low, caressing.

  Gordon was puzzled. You would have thought they were sharing a lover’s joke. He laughed, but he was confused.

  Morgan turned to Seth. He was smiling placidly, as if he hadn’t even noticed.

  Seth was now listening to Gordon, and Morgan was able to look at Seth, unobserved. His broad shoulders and thick chest were clothed in rough cottons. He was not clumsy at all, sitting amidst the silver and porcelain. When one large hand carried a fragile crystal glass to his lips, she wondered at the ease with which he controlled his strength so the glass didn’t break. His shirt was open at the throat and showed blond curling hair on his chest. She remembered the color of his skin, a great expanse of dark honey and then lighter below his waist. His thighs were so muscular. She even remembered his toes. She shuddered.

  “Morgan, are you cold?”

  “No, not at all.” She tried to make her voice light. At all costs, she must avoid Seth’s eyes.

  “What is this dessert?” Seth asked.

  Gordon turned to Morgan for the answer. “Babas au rhum,” she murmured.

  “Ah, yes, now I remember.”

  “Are you familiar with French cuisine, Dave?”

  “Yes, somewhat. I had a brief encounter with the food once. I grew quite attached to it.”

  “Morgan plans all the menus and often cooks a lot of the food. You should taste her breakfasts—they are really delicious.”

  “I should love to share Mrs. Colter’s breakfast.” He looked at her across the top of a delicate porcelain cup. His eyes dropped from her face to her breasts.

  Morgan stopped her hand midway before it flew to cover herself. He had no right to look at her like that! It was as if she were completely naked. She looked to Gordon for defense from the animal across from her. But he was busy with his dessert and had seen none of their exchange.

  The meal was finally at an end, and Morgan realized her body ached from tension. She wanted to relax now, to be alone.

  “Would you care for brandy and a cigar, Dave?”

  “Yes, I would.”

  “Morgan, would you like to join us?”

  “No. I think I’ll have some tea in the courtyard. It’s cooler outside. If you would bring it, Martin?”

  “Morgan’s right, it’s a beautiful night.”

  “Then maybe Mrs. Colter would allow us to join her.”

  “Morgan, would you mind?”

  There was no acceptable excuse. So, silently, the three of them entered the courtyard. There wa