The Enchanted Land Read online

  Adam turned to Seth. He liked conversations with his favorite word. He handed Seth his prized chicken wing and beamed at him. “Eat.”

  “It seems you’ve passed the test, if Adam is willing to share his food with you.”

  Seth smiled, a delighted smile that Morgan often saw on Adam. “I’m glad to pass his test.” There was a slight emphasis on “his.”

  She looked away. It was still too painful to be so near him. She would be glad of the time when he was just another man to her, when she could look at him and not remember how it was to kiss his neck, his eyes. “I guess you’ll have to stay for lunch. Adam seems to want you, and he tends to be rather spoiled. He makes a fuss when he doesn’t get what he wants.”

  Seth’s eyes grew sad. Adam sometimes used the same trick on her to get what he wanted. She always melted when he looked like that.

  “I’m glad Adam wants me.”

  She wanted to scream at him. Why did he play this politeness game? Why didn’t he tell her what he wanted from her and then leave her in peace?

  Seth opened the picnic basket and Adam made a grab for the tin flask held by his father.

  “Say what you want, Adam.”

  Adam’s eyes gleamed. “Milk.”

  Morgan had to laugh. “It’s just as I thought. He probably knows the English language better than I do. He’s just too lazy to say the words. I’m glad someone else forces him to talk.”

  Seth’s eyes were proud. “I have a special interest in this boy.”

  Morgan remained quiet through the meal, listening to Seth as he taught his son new words.

  Abruptly, Seth stood up. “I have to go back to work now. I thank you for lunch.” He turned toward his horse, then looked back at Adam, who was watching him avidly. Seth dropped to his knees and put his arms out to the boy. “Give Dada a hug?” Adam ran to his arms and Seth kissed the boy’s cheek. “You take care of your mama and I’ll see you later.”

  Seth tipped his hat slightly to her, and his eyes raked her body. Again, she felt naked under his gaze. Her hands flew to cover herself, but she caught them mid-way. Seth seemed to read her thoughts and laughed quietly. She and Adam watched as he walked up the hill and mounted his horse. The way Seth walked only added to her frustration. It seemed everything reminded her of days past.

  She looked down at Adam, still watching Seth on his horse. He waved again. Her anger rose. Seth was trying to win Adam’s affections in order to get to her. He thought that when he had the boy in the palm of his hand, he’d get Morgan again. Well, he was wrong.

  Adam was content to stay with his mother after lunch. He stretched out on the quilt beside her and she read to him from Jane Eyre. He fell asleep quickly.

  When Adam awoke, Morgan returned with him to the house. Adam decided he wanted to go back outside on a horse, and Morgan had her hands full persuading him that he was going to be given a bath. Later, when her son stood before her, clean and shining, he grinned at her. He seemed to know when he had given her an especially difficult time and just when to charm her. She tickled him until his squeals of delight were heard all over the house.

  Roselle had dinner waiting for him and asked to be allowed to put the child to bed. By that time, Morgan was glad to let someone else take over the care of her active son.

  At dinner, Gordon was full of talk about Dave. It seemed she was bombarded all the time with praise about Seth. She longed to scream out the truth about Seth Colter.

  She was glad Seth wasn’t sharing their dinner, but she kept looking across the table to where he had sat the night before. As Morgan took a bit of Roselle’s boeuf bourguignon, she wondered if Seth was eating properly. The cook for the hired hands was a little man who reminded her of Jake. He generally liked pinto beans and fried cornbread. What did she care? Seth could starve to death. It would only serve him right.

  She went to bed early and fell asleep quickly. She remembered Seth as he was on his knees with his arms outstretched.

  Morgan did not see Seth for three days. She told herself that she was not getting enough rest, that that was why she jumped at the sound of a door opening. Her face fell when she saw only Martin, or Roselle, or even Adam at the door, but she thought it was just because she hoped to see Gordon. Yes—that was it. She was falling in love with him. She ignored the fact that she felt just as disappointed whenever Gordon appeared.

  She tried not to allow herself to think about Seth. But there were times when she caught herself staring into space, remembering the way he looked astride a horse. Then she would curse him and fervently wish he had never returned to interrupt her life.

  At night she slept poorly, often reading far into the night. The strain was beginning to tell on her.

  Early one morning, she was baking madeleines for Gordon and Adam. She had slept very little the night before, and there were bluish shadows under her eyes. It was hot in the kitchen with both ovens going, and Morgan’s hair escaped from the soft arrangement into damp curls on her neck and forehead.

  “Why don’t you go outside for a while? Take your horse and go to the stream.”

  “I really can’t, Roselle. There’s too much to do, and I need to watch Adam.”

  “Adam is no problem. I’ve had five children of my own. I can certainly handle one little boy. Now you go outside. You don’t look so good.”

  “A ride would feel good. I’ll go and change.”

  Roselle laughed and put her hands on Morgan’s shoulders, pushing her toward the door. “You don’t need a fancy riding habit. Go get on your horse and ride. This is New Mexico, not Kentucky. Women here do not own even two dresses, much less riding habits.”

  Morgan smiled in gratitude. “You’re right. Thank you.”

  Donaciano was asleep in a stall when she got to the barn. Quietly, so as not to disturb him, she led her mare outside, taking a bridle from the wall. She stood on top of a barrel to mount the horse. She looked around carefully to make sure no one saw her and then tucked her skirt up into the waistband. It was good to be free, unhindered by long skirts. On impulse, she removed the pins from her hair and let it fall free.

  She guided her horse to the place by the river. She had not been there since Seth had brought Adam to her, four days before. She wanted to return. She wouldn’t let Seth keep her from doing what she wanted.

  She slid from her horse, and quickly removed her shoes and stockings. She splashed icy water on her legs and thighs, face and arms, and unfastened her blouse to the top of her breasts. She had a sudden impulse to remove all her clothes and stretch out in the water. Instead, she leaned back on the bank, her hands clasped behind her head.

  Roselle had been right to make her get out of the house. This was her favorite spot. She smiled up at the sunlight filtering through the cottonwoods.

  “You really should tie your horse.”

  Morgan jumped to her feet. A few feet away, Seth was tying her mare’s reins to a branch.

  “If something scared her and she ran, you’d have a long walk back to the house.”

  “What are you doing here?”

  “I come here often in the mornings. I liked it when I was here before, so now I come whenever I have the chance.” His eyes went to her unbuttoned blouse. “I find the scenery especially beautiful.”

  She felt the blood rush to her face. “What do you want here? What do you want from me?” The anger she had been holding back for so long threatened to erupt.

  Seth’s voice was quiet. “I want nothing from you that you are not prepared to give.”

  “Give? I gave you everything I had and you—”

  Seth’s eyes were sad. “I’m sorry. I’ll leave. I didn’t mean to disturb you.” With a few quick strides, he was gone.

  Morgan sat down heavily. Somehow, she felt defeated. Why couldn’t he rage at her, or drag her into his arms? Anything but this constant politeness, this self-effacing manner of his. She angrily wiped away her tears. What was wrong with her? She had planned to ignore him, but she was the one