Parts I-IV
�I asked for this table away from the others,� Royce said as he sat down across from Victoria. �I hope you don�t mind.�
Victoria busied herself spreading the linen napkin in the lap. �It�s fine.�
There was an uncomfortable moment of silence. �This is a bit awkward for us both, is it not?�
Victoria shrugged. �I suppose this is the first time I�ve ever been invited to dinner by a man.�
�You�re joking, of course!�
�I�m afraid not.�
�Well.�
�I suppose you have a busy social schedule in New Orleans.�
�Actually, my social schedule anywhere is nonexistent.�
�Oh?�
�Yes.� He was grateful that the waitress appeared at that moment with the menus. �Can you recommend something, Mrs. Barkley?�
Her head came up. �Steak is always a good choice. The beef comes from the Barkley Ranch.�
�Then I�ll have steak by all means. And you?�
�I�ll have that also�medium rare.�
Royce closed the menu reluctantly, seeing his escape from serious conversation vanish before his eyes. �Then two steaks, medium rare, with all the trimmings.� As the waitress disappeared, silence returned. Royce took a deep breath. �Are you a native Californian, Mrs. Barkley?�
�No, I was born in New York. My mother�s family�the DeGroots�were among the first Dutch settlers in the Hudson River Valley.�
�I see. So how did you come to be three thousand miles away?�
�My father failed in business several times and came out here to make a fresh start. Mother and I followed him a year later. She was particularly unsuited for life in the mining camps and died of pneumonia within six months. Unfortunately, Father never made that big strike. I nursed him until he died of consumption three years later.�
�You must have been very young.�
�Sixteen.�
�How did you meet your husband?�
Her grey eyes fixed themselves on his face. �In a saloon,� she said distinctly, enjoying his obvious discomfiture.
�In a�I see. Were you an employee or a patron?�
�Neither. I�d managed to get a ride to San Francisco with a family who had made a strike. I wanted to go home to New York�to my grandparents�but the little money I had wasn�t enough to book passage on the boat, so I decided to get a job.�
�In a saloon?�
She shrugged. �There didn�t seem to be any other choice. Anyway, I was turned away from three, and at the fourth, I hardly made it past the front door when a man assumed I did work there and dragged me to his table. When I protested, things got a little nasty, and Tom�who�d been drinking at the bar�stepped in.�
�Your knight in shining armour.�
�Perhaps.� She shook her head, remembering. �He took me outside and lectured me until I cried. Then he took me down the street to a boarding house and introduced me to the woman who ran it. She said I looked pretty skinny but that she�d try me out. I worked in the kitchen and cleaned, saw to getting the laundry back and forth from Mr. Wang on the corner�actually, it wasn�t a bad existence. I had a roof over my head and three meals a day and. . .� She paused. �And Tom came courting regularly.�
�I see.�
Victoria rolled her eyes. �Is that all you can say, Mr. Wardell? I see?�
He chewed his lip. �I�m rather out of my league, Mrs. Barkley. It�s been a long time since I�ve had dinner with a lady.�
She sighed. �Perhaps we could start over. Please call me Victoria.�
�Thank you�and you�ll call me Royce?�
�Of course. Now tell me about yourself�and I�ll say I see.� They laughed together companionably.
�I grew up in Tennessee. Father was an itinerant minister, and my brothers and I�I was the second oldest of four�tried to keep the farm going.�
�What kind of minister?�
�The fire and brimstone kind, I�m afraid.�
�Perhaps he should have been in California. The men in the camps raised hell regularly.�
Royce looked at her appreciatively. There was nothing aristocratic about Victoria Barkley despite her position in the Valley.
�I didn�t like farming. Mother took in sewing to earn enough for me to attend school in a neighbor�s home. That same neighbor pulled strings with her brother to get me an appointment to West Point. The military seemed a good career�though at first I thought I�d only traded looking at the rump of a farm mule for an army one.�
Victoria�s laughter was spontaneous. �I don�t suppose you observed any difference!�
�None at all.� He laughed, too.
�Where were you posted?�
�All over�Missouri, Wyoming, Arizona.�
�And did you marry?�
�Yes. She�died�toward the end of the War.�
Victoria regarded him in silence.
�I�m sorry.�
He nodded. �It was a long time ago.�
�Why did you leave the military?�
�I resigned my commission when the War began. My home was in Tennessee.� He hoped she wouldn�t ask for more information, at least not right away.
�Of course.�
Their steaks arrived, and the conversation dwindled as they concentrated on the food. But finally, over coffee, Royce moved to restore the comfortable feeling that had been creeping in earlier. �You have a fine family.�
Victoria glowed as she always did at the mention of her sons and daughter. �I�m very proud of them. The youngest�Gene�is away at school, of course, but he�s close enough to come home frequently. Jarrod went to school in the East�when he finally came home, it was like welcoming a stranger.� She accepted a refill for her coffee. �And you, Royce? Do you have children?�
�No, I don�t. I have eight nieces and nephews, and they have children.�
�In Tennessee?�
�Yes, so I don�t see them often, unfortunately.�
�That�s too bad.�
�Yes. Are you involved with the running of the ranch? I mean, what do you do with your time?�
�The ranch is Nick�s province�Nick�s and Heath�s. I�m afraid I have a great deal of time on my hands. I�m involved in some charity work�but it doesn�t fill much time, and Silas takes care of the house. Sometimes I think he does a better job than I do.�
�Silas?�
�Our houseman. A member of our family really. Tom met him on his way to California�he�d escaped from a plantation in South Carolina. The two of them threw in together, and when I married Tom, Silas was part of the package. He helped raise the children. We�re all quite attached to him.�
�Slavery was an evil thing. My father preached against it. When I joined the Confederacy, I wasn�t fighting for slavery.�
�I�m not sure that the Union was fighting to end it.�
�No�no, I suspect they weren�t.�
Something flickered in Victoria�s eyes�respect or curiosity�he wasn�t sure. �Last night�s party was quite an event, I take it,� he changed the subject.
�Oh, they happen frequently�though it�s mostly for the young people. I wouldn�t have been there except that it benefited the orphanage.�
�I�m very glad you came.�
She looked at him for a long moment. �I am, too.�
He insisted on renting a rig from the livery to drive her home, and she was glad for the extra time with him. More than that, she savored it. All of his attention was focused on her, and she couldn�t remember a time when she�d had anyone�s undivided attention. Certainly not Tom�s�nor the children�s. No, she�d always been there in the background, doing what had to be done�and while her contributions to the family and the ranch would have no doubt been missed, she never felt they were fully appreciated either.
She settled back against the leather seat of the buggy and sighed�albeit inadvertently�with satisfaction.
�Victoria�is everything all right?�
�Everything is perfect.�
�I enjoyed dinner.�
�As did I.�
�I enjoyed your company.�
�Thank you.� She hesitated. �Do you�that is, when do you have to leave for San Francisco?�
�Actually I didn�t have to come at all�my agent could have handled the contract. But I hadn�t been out of New Orleans�except to visit my family in Tennessee�since I went into business there. I was restless, I suppose.�
�I�sometimes I get restless, too.�
�I see.� He laughed at his own response. �I beg your pardon!�
Victoria was shocked by the sudden tears in her eyes. �No, I think you do, Royce. I think you truly do see.�
�I�thank you.�
�Are you still a church-going man?� She smiled into the darkness as he helped her out of the buggy in front of the house.
�Not like my Papa taught me, but. . .�
�Services are at eleven o�clock�the building at the end of the main street. There�s a church picnic tomorrow. Shall I bring enough for an extra person?�
�Of course. Why not?� He bent over her hand again. �Goodnight, Victoria. Thank you for a wonderful evening.�
�Goodnight, Royce.� She stood in the door and watched him drive away.
Nick rose from the second-to-bottom stair as his mother approached. �You�re home.�
�Where else would I be?�
Nick shrugged.
�Isn�t this a little odd�you waiting up for me?�
�The whole thing�s a little odd if you ask me.�
�What�s odd about it, Nick?�
�You�going out�with a man.�
She blew out her breath tiredly. �Oh, Nicholas, you�re so transparent! You�re jealous!�
�That�s ridiculous!�
�Since your father died, I�ve given you and your brothers and Audra all of my attention�and now when I do something for myself, you don�t like it.�
�I didn�t say that!�
�You didn�t have to.� She paused to kiss his cheek as she swept past him up the stairs.
Nick, looking after her, felt a slight gnawing of guilt, but he pushed it away. Tomorrow he�d have a talk with Mr. Royce Wardell if he was still in town. A long talk. He punched the palm of one hand with his fist and then the newel post as he started up the stairs.
Nick observed that, to his credit, Royce Wardell didn�t attempt to sit in the Barkley pew but rather took a seat in the back. He turned around to get a good look at him. He was nice-looking all right, his clean-shaven face almost unlined, no sagging jowls that might indicate a loose lifestyle, blue eyes clear and unrimmed. His shoulders were broad, his posture reminiscent of military experience.
�Turn around, Nick!� Audra hissed at him, pinching his sleeve. �You�re embarrassing!�
Nick scowled and slouched in the pew.
�Sit up!� Audra said, tightlipped.
He straightened grudgingly. Beyond Audra, Heath stifled a smile, but Nick knew he thought the whole thing was funny. Well, why shouldn�t he? Only three years ago, he�d ridden in here from nowhere, and Mother had accepted him completely, totally ignoring his�Nick�s�feelings. Now there was this Royce Wardell. . . He felt Audra�s elbows in his ribs as the congregation rose to sing.
�Holy, holy, holy!� he boomed, slightly off-key.
This time Heath not only smiled but laughed softly. Victoria frowned. Beside her, Jarrod shook his head almost imperceptibly and reflected that, if his mother had invited Royce Wardell to the picnic afterward�and he expected she had-- it was going to be an interesting afternoon.
***
Audra and Heath spread the red-and-white checked cloth on the grass in the grove of trees back of the church. �Look for ants, Heath,� she instructed.
�Don�t have to look for them. They�ll find us.�
�You�re impossible!�
�Not me. Now, Nick. . .�
�Hush! Here comes Mother with Mr. Wardell.�
Heath put out his hand. �I�m Heath,� he said. �I believe you�ve met my sister Audra.�
Royce Wardell�s handshake was firm. �Hello, Heath. Yes, I had the pleasure of dancing with Miss Audra last night�but only once. She was spoken for the rest of the time.�
�That�s my little sister�the belle of the ball.�
Audra punched his arm lightly. �You�re having lunch with us today, I hope, Mr. Wardell.�
�Your mother most kindly invited me. Is there anything I can do to help?�
�There�re two more baskets in the wagon,� Heath said. �I�m on my way to get them.�
The two men walked off together. �Oh, Mother, he�s such a nice man!� Audra enthused.
�He�s very nice, dear. Where are your brothers?�
�I think Jarrod�s having a talk with Nick.�
�I certainly hope so. If the floor had opened and swallowed me up in church, I wouldn�t have minded. Nick can be so�so tactless!�
Audra giggled. �He�s just Nick.�
Inside the empty church, Jarrod had Nick backed into a corner. �Look, Mother invited him. He�s her guest. You were taught the same manners as the rest of us�not that you use them as often!�
Nick glared at him. �She didn�t get home until almost eleven!�
�What did you expect? It�s an hour�s ride from town!�
�What were they doing so long?�
�What do you do when you take a young lady to dinner?�
�Eat. Talk. And Mother�s not a young lady!�
�I expect that�s what they were doing, too, and I�ll ignore the last part of your statement. Nick, for pity�s sake, be nice or keep quiet!�
Nick kept quiet, but it was obvious to everyone that he wasn�t enjoying himself. The conversation, as it always did, turned to Audra�s work with the orphanage. �The dance last night was to raise money for a new building, you know,� she told Mr. Wardell. �The old one is in bad shape.�
�I spent the whole day making repairs just last week,� Nick growled.
�Yes, and everyone appreciated your volunteering to help, Nick,� his sister said sweetly. �But we have to have a new building sooner or later.�
�How many children do you have?� Royce asked.
�Sixteen at the moment. Most of them are old enough to look after themselves pretty well, but there are three not in school yet.�
�How many employees?�
�Four�Mr. and Mrs. Gordon are missionaries from the East�Rhode Island�then Hattie Proctor does the cooking. Willie Putnam cleans and helps keep things up. Willie�s a little slow, but he�s good-hearted and dependable, and it�s the perfect job for him. The children adore him. And several of the girls in town volunteer as I do.�
�Do the children go to school in town?�
�Yes, but some of the parents don�t like it. I can�t understand their thinking.�
�Well, people are often afraid that tragedy is contagious, you know. I expect the parents look at the children from the orphanage and think how terrible it would be if their own children were left�and since they would rather not think about that, they don�t want the children from the orphanage around to remind them.�
�I never thought of it that way! I believe you may be right, Mr. Wardell!�
�California is prosperous country. People expect to thrive here. Most just want to forget the hard times they left behind.�
�Mother said you were from the South,� Heath said.
�I was born in Tennessee�though not on a plantation and not to wealthy parents. My father was a traveling preacher, so there was never much money. But my mother took in sewing, as well as some laundry, and earned enough to pay for me to attend a school that a neighbor ran in her home, and eventually I won an appointment to West Point. The military was a good career.�
At the mention of the mother taking in laundry, Heath warmed to the man. �So you were in the Union Army.�
Royce Wardell shook his head. �I resigned my commission and fought for the South, Heath. Perhaps it was foolish, but I couldn�t turn my back on my family. I couldn�t risk putting a bullet though one of them.� He shook his head, remembering. �Of course, your next thought is that I didn�t mind putting a bullet though someone else�s brother or son or husband. Of course, I did.�
�War is a dirty business all the way around,� Jarrod said slowly. �Both sides suffered�and perhaps the South most of all since the majority of the fighting was there.�
Royce nodded. �Sherman didn�t leave much behind.�
�I never understood that in principle,� Jarrod said. �I understood the strategy, but to wage war on helpless women and children. . .�
�Their husbands and sons were the enemy, after all, but I know what you�re saying, Jarrod.�
Heath leaned on one elbow and regarded the man thoughtfully. �I spent eight months in Carterson.�
�Oh?� Royce didn�t say that Heath looked too young to have been a combatant and wondered briefly how Victoria had let him go.
�You know Matt Bentell?�
�I�m acquainted with him.�
�I swore I�d kill him if I ever caught up with him again.�
�I expect there are many young men who share your desire to spill his blood. Carterson was a travesty�but Matt Bentell was caught in a situation not of his own making. I�m not excusing what you and thousands of others suffered, Heath. Not at all. Maybe Bentell could�ve done more�then again, maybe he couldn�t. I suppose only he knows the truth.�
Heath looked at the man with growing respect. �I guess you�re right. Anyway, the war�s over.�
�The war�s over, but its effects will be felt in this country for a hundred years or more,� Royce said slowly. �Your great-grandchildren will hate and distrust mine�that is, if I had any�and the question of slavery isn�t really settled.�
�Why do you say that?� Jarrod asked.
�Slavery is outlawed, of course, but there�s a wide gulf between black and white in the United States and its territories. It will enlarge in the years to come�it can�t help it. I foresee more bloodshed�not another all-out war, perhaps, but violence just the same�before it�s settled.�
�Silas was a slave, wasn�t he, Mother?� Audra asked.
�He was born into slavery in South Carolina.�
�He doesn�t hate us.�
�Silas has been part of our family for years�he and your father worked side by side when we first came out here. You don�t hate your family.� Victoria shook out the cuptowel that had protected her skirt from lunch. �Someone needs to rinse the plates at the pump before we put them back in the basket.�
�I�ll do it.� Audra got up. �And Nick will help�won�t you, Nick?�
Later, as Royce assisted Victoria into the buggy, she said, �You still ride, don�t you?�
�Yes, I do.�
�Then perhaps you�d enjoy a tour of the ranch tomorrow.�
�I�d like that very much.�
Heath, overhearing, glanced at Nick, and said, �I can leave Charger for you, Mr. Wardell.�
�Thank you, Heath, but that won�t be necessary. I�ll hire a horse at the livery.�
�Just make sure Ben gives you something that�ll get you to the ranch before sundown!�
Royce laughed. �I�ll make sure.� He realized then that he was still holding Victoria�s hand and let it go reluctantly. �Tomorrow then.�
�Tomorrow,� she murmured.
Heath rode close to the buggy as they left town. �Thank you, Heath,� Victoria said.
�Sure. Anytime.�
Audra dimpled. �He�s such a nice man, Mother.�
Victoria patted her hand. �A very nice man.�
She rose from her bed that night and stood looking out the window, but it was Royce Wardell�s face that she saw. Had she met him only two nights before? Why did she feel as if she knew him intimately? Had she felt like this about Tom Barkley�seen his face, heard his voice even when he wasn�t with her? It had been so long that she couldn�t remember, but she was sure that she wasn�t the same person now.
There was something about Royce�a vulnerability�that she�d never seen in Tom Barkley. When she thought of it, she realized that she�d told Royce much more about herself than he�d shared with her. There was a goodness about him, too, and a certain strength that had nothing to do with the toughness Tom Barkley had said was necessary to survive.
She lifted her hand to her cheek�the hand that Royce had relinquished so reluctantly�and felt the warmth of his fingers�and smiled.
Part II
�He�s coming out here?� Nick�s coffee sloshed over on the cloth.
�Nick, I just changed the tablecloth this morning. Do be more careful. And he has a name.�
�I thought he was just passing through.�
Victoria sighed. �He is.�
Jarrod helped himself to ham and eggs. �I take it you�re enjoying Mr. Wardell�s company, lovely lady?�
�Very much.�
�I think it�s cute,� Audra said.
Victoria�s eyes sought the ceiling. �Audra, cute is hardly the adjective to use.�
�You know what I mean, Mother. I like him.�
Victoria smiled at her gratefully. �Are you going to the orphanage today?�
�Yes�why don�t you bring Mr. Wardell by to show him what we�re doing? Maybe he�ll make a contribution.�
�Audra!�
She laughed. �It was just a suggestion. He looks well-heeled enough.�
�Audra!�
After breakfast, Victoria changed into her riding clothes and went down the back stairs to help Silas with the lunch basket. �I know�this is two in a row,� she said before Silas could speak.
�I ain�t countin�, Miz Barkley.�
�You�re the only one!�
Ciego came to the back door. � Horses saddled and ready to go, Senora.�
�Thank you, Ciego.�
She chided herself for being nervous as a schoolgirl at her first party. But when Royce Wardell rode into view, her heart sped up in spite of her good intentions. She waved. �Good morning!� she called.
�Good morning.� He dismounted, and for a moment she thought he might actually take her hand, but he stood stiffly at a distance.
�Are you tired of riding?�
�I could never be tired of riding with you.�
She felt her face flush. �Then we should get started,� she said, turning to hide her feelings. �Silas packed us another lunch basket.�
He rubbed his lean midsection. �That�s why I came, you know�for more of Silas�s fried chicken.�
�Oh, of course.� She headed toward the barn. �You can leave this horse with Ciego. He saddled you a fresh one.�
Royce�s eyes lit up admiringly as Ciego led the sleek black stallion from the barn. �This is Satan,� Victoria said.
�Satan? Did Nick choose him for me?�
Victoria�s head snapped back. �No�oh�actually, the name is a joke. He�s so gentle that the children from the orphanage ride him when they visit.�
Royce stroked the horse�s nose. �So you can handle an old ex-cavalryman, eh, boy?�
�Oh, si, senor, he�s a good one,� Ciego offered. �He bring you home.�
�Well, that�s a relief!� Royce put his foot in the stirrup.
�And you bring Senora Barkley home,� the stableman murmured.
�What?� Royce asked.
�La senora�you take good care of her.�
Victoria flushed. �That wasn�t necessary, Ciego,� she said almost angrily.
�I�ll take very good care of her�gentleman�s agreement.�
Ciego smiled broadly and handed Royce the reins. �Hasta la vista, senor.�
They rode toward the orange groves. �We have a winery, too. But I�ll save that for another day,� she suggested, hoping that he wouldn�t say that he had to go on to San Francisco. When he didn�t, her heart sped up again. �And Audra wants you to see the orphanage.�
The way home, after a long lunch, led by the family cemetery down the hill.
�We came here in 1845 and lived in a dugout,� Victoria said as she halted the horse. �Jarrod was born the next year. When he was three months old, I tied him in a sling to my chest and helped Tom drive our first herd to market. We made enough profit to double the herd the next year.�
�It must have been a difficult life for a young woman.� Royce glanced at the small, erect figure on the horse within arm�s length of his own, but he didn�t allow his eyes to linger.
�I was eighteen. The world was all before me. I had hope.� Victoria�s eyes followed the river than snaked across the pasture below them. �There were bad times, of course. We lost our second son, Liam, when he was eighteen months old. Diptheria. Nick was born six months later. Then there were two little girls�both stillborn. They�re all buried here�with Tom.�
He watched her eyes scan the row of tombstones and come to rest on the largest.
�Would you like to know how he died?�
�If you want to tell me.� He dismounted and held her horse for her to do the same.
She walked to Tom Barkley�s monument and put her hand on it. Then she told him. Never before had she spoken to anyone of how she�d felt when she first saw her husband�s lifeless body in the back of the wagon that morning. Nor had she ever put into words how she�d mechanically washed him� bullet-ridden and still bleeding�how for weeks she�d washed her hands over and over, unable to rid herself of the feeling of his warm blood between her fingers. How she�d withdrawn into herself for months�missing him, hating him for leaving her, raging not at the railroad that had been responsible for his death, but at Tom Barkley himself. He�d had a choice about confronting them�and he�d made the wrong one.
When she�d finished, she was pale and trembling, and Royce ached to take her in his arms. He had the feeling, though, that she hadn�t told him all this to be comforted but rather to finally rid herself of the horror of the memory. He was a safe repository for the information�her emotion wouldn�t hurt or distress him the way it would her family or friends. So he stood still and waited.
�I�ve never spoken of this before,� she said, confirming his feelings.
�Perhaps you needed to.� He needed to speak of Catherine, too, but this wasn�t the time.
�Yes�yes, I think I did.� She bent over and plucked a weed from the top of the grave. �I don�t come down here much anymore.�
�You�ve done your grieving then.�
�I think so.�
�Well.�
�If life was hard, that was all the more reason for enduring,� she said, returning to the original topic of conversation. I�d made my decision. There was no going back.�
�But it was worth it, of course,� he ventured hesitantly. �Your husband did well for himself.�
�Yes. Yes, Tom did well for himself.�
�You have a fine family. But I�ve told you that.�
Pride shone in the gray eyes that met his. �I�m very proud of them.�
�Your youngest son�I believe you said he was away at school.�
�He comes home frequently. Jarrod went to school back East�sometimes he�d changed so much between visits. . .� She shook her head. �But Gene wanted to stay close to home, and I�m glad.�
�Your baby.�
Victoria laughed. �Be careful that he never hears you say that!�
�Does he look like his older siblings or like Heath and Audra?�
�He resembles Nick in some ways.�
�Heath and Audra look enough alike to be twins despite the age difference.�
The smile faded from her lips, and he knew suddenly that he�d committed a terrible breach.
�Yes, they do, but Heath�Heath isn�t my son.�
The silence was painful.�
�I�m very sorry. I didn�t intend to. . .�
She seemed to recover herself. �It�s no secret. Heath was born to a young woman with whom my husband had a brief affair. He only came to us shortly after Tom�s death.�
�He calls you Mother.�
�Leah�the woman who bore him�died a few years ago. Heath is very much a part of our family now.�
�I see.�
�Are you shocked?� There was a challenge in her voice.
�Hardly,� he answered honestly. �As they say, there�s nothing new under the sun.�
�I think I knew�deep down�that Tom had been unfaithful to me. But there were Jarrod and Nick�and eventually, Audra and Gene. And I loved him.�
�Of course.�
�I hated him, too.�
Royce didn�t reply.
�But now�looking back�I think I understand more.� Her fingers flitted across the top of the stone. �Why am I telling you all this?�
�Perhaps because I�m a stranger It�s often easier to be more open with a stranger.�
She shrugged. �Perhaps.�
�I suppose there are different kinds of infidelity. My father, for example, embraced the church more than his family. Mother was left to run the farm with the help of my three brothers and me. She was, I believe, often resentful of his single-minded pursuit of sinners in preference to his family. And so was I.�
�You were the oldest?�
�No, the second. My older brother Andrew was killed at Gettysburg. Jacob and Edmund are both very successful farmers in Tennessee now.�
�How did you come to settle in New Orleans after the War?�
She didn�t miss the way his eyes left her face as he hesitated before answering. �I�I was rather at loose ends after the War. Jacob and Edmund encouraged me to come home and throw in with them, but�well I had other things in mind. The opportunity in New Orleans attracted me.�
�You�re happy there then.�
�Happiness is a relative thing, isn�t it?�
�Relative to what?�
�I�m not exactly sure. Let�s just say that I�ve come to accept my life without complaining.�
Victoria smiled. �Tell me more about your family.�
�There isn�t much to tell. Father died when I was twelve. Mother died just last year. I told you about my brothers� families.�
�I look forward to being a grandmother.�
�Are there any prospects?�
She shook her head. �Jarrod was married briefly. She was killed by a man he�d sent to prison�he wanted Jarrod, of course.�
�That�s a great tragedy.�
Suddenly she lifted her hand from Tom Barkley�s tombstone as if it had burned her fingers. �We�d better start back now.�
�I don�t think Ciego approved of us going riding unchaperoned. He might send out a search party if we�re too late.�
�A chaperone? At our age?�
Royce shrugged. �I�m quite harmless�unfortunately, he doesn�t know that!�
They were laughing as they rode into the yard and dismounted. Ciego was waiting. �I take the horses,� he said, not missing the lightness of Victoria�s mood.
Nick, too, was waiting. �You were gone long enough,� he growled, ignoring Royce.
Victoria�s eyebrows went up. �I didn�t know I had any reason to be back at a particular time, Nicholas.�
He scowled. �Yeah, well. . .� He turned on his heel and stalked off.
Victoria shook her head and glanced apologetically at Royce. �I apologize for my son�s bad manners.�
�There�s no need. It�s touching that he�s concerned about you.�
Victoria shrugged. �I�ll show you where you can wash up for dinner.�
Despite Nick�s surly silence, which everyone ignored, dinner was pleasant. Afterwards, Ciego brought the livery horse around, and Victoria walked out onto the porch with Royce.
�I really should go on to San Francisco to take care of my business,� he said slowly.
She hoped her disappointment wasn�t apparent. �Of course.�
�I could stop here again�a few days�on my way back.�
�I hope you will.� She was glad for the darkness.
They stood for a few moments without speaking. �Victoria. . .�
�Yes?�
�Would you�would you consider coming with me to San Francisco?�
�Come with you?� she asked, not sure she�d heard him correctly.
�I�m sorry�it was unspeakable of me to ask. It�s just that. . .�
�What time does your train leave tomorrow?�
�Seven-thirty in the morning, but. . .�
�I can be ready by then.�
�You�d really consider going?�
�There�s nothing to consider.�
He stared at her. �But your family. . .�
�Are you rescinding the invitation?�
�I had no right to ask.�
�Why not?�
�We met only three days ago, and you�you have a reputation to uphold here.�
�Do you plan to damage that reputation�in San Francisco, I mean?�
�Victoria. . .�
�Suppose I come on the evening train. Would that make you feel better?�
�It might look better.�
�I don�t care how things look.�
�You don�t�do you?�
�I do as I please.�
�All right then. I�ll meet your train and take you dinner.�
She waited, but he didn�t go on right away. She thought that the stars coming out behind him had never been so bright.
�I�ll be there two or three days, and I�ll be tied up with business for part of the time, but. . .�
�I can always shop.�
�You can show me the sights�I�ve never been in San Francisco before.�
�I know it well.�
�All right.� He clinched his fists to keep from taking her in his arms. �All right.�
They stood looking at each other for a long moment. A barking dog near the barn brought Royce back to the business at hand. �I enjoyed today, Victoria. If you change your mind. . .�
�I won�t change my mind, Royce.�
�Then I�ll meet your train tomorrow evening.�
�Yes.�
He turned and mounted his horse. �Thank you for these past few days.�
�Yes.�
He gazed down at her. �Goodnight.�
�Goodnight, Royce.�
When he�d disappeared through the gate, Victoria went inside, taking the stairs with a speed that surprised Audra who was just coming out of her room. �Mother, why are you in such a hurry?�
�Get my large valise out of the attic, please, Audra. And then tell Jarrod that I�ll want some cash tomorrow�two hundred dollars, I think.�
�Mother what. . .�
Victoria patted her daughter�s face. �Royce is leaving for San Francisco early tomorrow morning, and I�m meeting him there in the evening.�
Audra�s mouth dropped open.
�And, no, Audra darling, you can�t come with me. Now, do hurry with that case! I have to pack!�
Part III
Jarrod saw her off, slightly bemused at her eagerness. �Now, I know you�ll conduct yourself properly,� he�d teased her.
�You know that, do you?�
For the first time, he considered the enormity of what she was doing. �Mother, are you sure this is a good idea?�
�Yes, I am.�
He sighed. �All right then. Enjoy yourself�but not too much!�
She laughed down at him from the step. �Oh, I will!�
Now, as the train crept toward San Francisco, she laughed softly at the memory of her oldest son�s face as he�d waved goodbye. Then she thought of Nick. He�d stormed up the stairs the night before and entered her room without knocking, declaring loudly that she had lost her mind.
She glared at him icily. �I appreciate your concern, Nick, but you�ve overstepped.�
�I�m sorry, Mother, but. . .�
�I am meeting Mr. Wardell in San Francisco tomorrow, and there�s nothing you can say to change my mind.�
�Mother, you have a reputation to think of!�
�Like you do when you carouse at the Desert Rose and similar establishments?�
�I don�t. . .I�m a man!�
Her eyebrows arched. �Oh? That makes a difference?�
�You�re damn right it does!�
�Nicholas!�
�Mother, you don�t even know this man!�
�I know him well enough.�
�Two�three days! He�s�he�s from New Orleans! He was a Rebel!�
�Yes.� She went to her wardrobe and began to select dresses.
�He�s�he�s a fortune hunter!�
�Oh?�
�He sees the Barkley money, and. . .�
Audra came in with a stack of freshly laundered underclothing. �Mrs. Montoya washed today, Mother.�
�Just put them on the bed, Audra.�
Nick turned crimson at the sight of his mother�s intimate apparel�and then choked at the thought of Royce Wardell possibly seeing it. �Mother, you can�t do this!�
�Nick, you�re annoying me. Goodnight.�
Audra took her brother�s arm and propelled him into the hall. �Goodnight, Nick.� Then she closed the door firmly.
It�s was Audra�s support that comforted Victoria now as the train crawled toward the impulsive rendezvous. The girl had stayed with her, helping her pack, discussing what to take as if it were an everyday occurrence for her mother to meet a man in San Francisco. Only that morning, when they�d gone down to breakfast, had Audra expressed any misgivings. �Mother, you won�t do anything�well, anything foolish, will you?�
�What do you think, Audra?�
�I�m sorry.�
�Now you know how I feel when you travel.�
Audra flushed. �I never do anything that would make you ashamed, Mother.�
�Neither will I. I�m not eloping with Mr. Wardell. We are two mature adults who anticipate enjoying each other�s company for a few days.�
They paused at the bottom of the stairs. �I want you to be happy, Mother. Since Father died. . .�
�We�ve all had adjustments to make, Audra. I was seventeen when I married your father. I�m not the same person anymore.�
�I think I understand.�
�I�m not young any longer, but neither am I old.�
Audra nodded.
�And I�m still a woman.�
Their eyes met, and Victoria saw complete understanding in Audra�s. She took her daughter�s arm, squeezing it affectionately as they went in to breakfast.
Victoria�s stomach knotted as her eyes searched the platform in San Francisco, then relaxed�but only a little�when she saw Royce hurrying toward her.
�I was afraid you�d changed your mind!� and �I didn�t see you waiting for me!� they said at the same time, then laughed somewhat nervously.
�Let me have your baggage tickets. I�ll arrange for your things to be sent to the hotel, and then we�ll go to dinner.�
�Where are you�where are we staying?�
�The Algonquin.�
�Good. That�s not where I usually stay.�
�I thought perhaps it might not be. It�s smaller and less lavish but comfortable nonetheless. And it�s near to my business.�
�Audra favors the more opulent style of travel,� Victoria observed as she drew out the claim tickets. �As you might have surmised.�
He hesitated. �Yes�about Audra�and the others�what did they think of this?�
�Audra helped me pack, and Jarrod put me on the train. Heath kissed me goodbye and told me to enjoy myself.� She sighed. �Audra threw Nick out of my room last night, and he didn�t come to breakfast.�
�I�m sorry.�
�He�ll survive.�
They dined at a small Italian restaurant tucked away in an obscure corner of the business district. While Royce uncorked the wine, a young violinist serenaded them mournfully. Afterwards, Royce hailed a cab to take them to the hotel. �I booked a suite for you�on another floor besides mine,� he said quickly.
�Oh?�
�You know people in San Francisco�Jarrod does business here. I don�t want your reputation called into question.�
�Oh, yes, my reputation,� she said ironically. �That�s what Nick was worried about.�
�You can send a wire from the desk�letting your family know that you�ve arrived and where you�re staying.�
She glanced up at him. �Are you sure you haven�t spoken with Nick already?�
He frowned. �No, of course not! Why would you think. . .�
Victoria was tempted to laugh but restrain herself. �You sound as if you�re courting my family.�
When he didn�t reply, she regretted her words. Finally he said, so softly that she strained to hear him, �I suppose I�m courting you. Do you mind?�
The breath went out of her, but she managed to say, �I don�t mind.� He reached for her gloved hand then and folded it in his. She breathed deeply. �I don�t mind at all.�
He saw her to her door where he kissed her hand and told her goodnight, then hurried away down the hall. Later, after unpacking, she paced the room restlessly, wishing she�d invited him in�and wondering if he would have come.
She slept late the next morning. The bellman who brought her breakfast handed her an envelope. �Mr. Wardell left this for you.� She tore it open as soon as the man had gone.
Victoria,
I have several meetings this morning but should be free for a late lunch if that suits your convenience. I understand there are a number of interesting Chinese shops and wonder if you�d enjoy browsing them this afternoon?
Thank you for coming.
Royce
She was dressed and ready long before he knocked shortly after two o�clock. �I�m afraid I�ve made you wait too long for lunch,� he apologized immediately.
She didn�t say that she�d have waited much longer. �I didn�t have breakfast until mid-morning.�
�Have you�would you like to�perhaps you should send a wire to. . .�
�I�m a grown woman, Royce! I don�t need to inform my children of every movement!�
�No, of course not.�
Her hand flew to her cheek. �Oh, Royce, I�m sorry!�
�You shouldn�t be. I was interfering.�
�No, you weren�t. You were being thoughtful of me. I�ll admit that I�ve never acted so impulsively as I have in coming to San Francisco to meet you, but I think I�m overdue. I think we both are.�
He smiled. �I berated myself all night for even suggesting that you accompany me.�
�But you�re glad that I did.�
�I�m very glad that you did.�
�Then take me to lunch, and I�ll show you two of the quaintest little shops you�ve ever visited.�
********
�Lin Ho�s is my favorite,� she said as they paused before a small shop near the open-air market. �He�s a very educated man�speaks almost perfect English. His family has been here for over twenty years, and he stocks only the best quality.�
Royce opened the door and let her precede him. Almost immediately, an older man wearing traditional Chinese garb, stepped out of a back room. �Ah, Mrs. Barkley! How are you?�
�I�m fine, Mr. Ho�and you?�
He bowed slightly. �My family and I are all well.�
�This is Mr. Wardell. He�s visiting from New Orleans.�
Lin Ho bowed again. �You honor my humble place. Please�look around�and tell me how I may assist you.� He turned back to Victoria. �I was also honored with a visit from your son this morning.�
�My son?� Victoria stiffened. �Jarrod isn�t in San Francisco this week.�
�No, no�your number two son�Nicholas.�
Royce actually stepped slightly away from Victoria, steeling himself for what was sure to come.
�Nick? Nick was here? In San Francisco? In your shop?�
�Yes. He asked if I had seen you.�
�Oh, he did?�
�I told him that I was sure that you would come as you always do when you visit the city. I offered to give you a message, but he said there was none.�
�No, I�m sure there wasn�t!�
�Victoria. . .� Royce eyed her warily.
�I might have known! He wasn�t at breakfast yesterday morning!�
�Well, now, Victoria, he was naturally concerned. I am a stranger after all.�
He noticed that Lin Ho had retreated beyond the curtain leading to the back of his shop and thought fleetingly that it might be safer there.
�You didn�t see him on the train?�
�No, of course not. He must have been in another car.�
Victoria stood very still, robbed of all thoughts of anything but confronting Nick with her outrage.
�Please, Victoria�I�m not offended. Don�t let this spoil our time together�or cut it short.�
�Cut it short? Absolutely not! I wouldn�t give him the satisfaction!�
Royce smiled a little. �I hope you�d think more about the satisfaction you�d be giving me by continuing our holiday.�
Her eyes widened. �I�I. . .� Suddenly she threw back her head and laughed, and Royce relaxed visibly. Her laughter was all-encompassing and contagious, and soon he was laughing with her.
�That�s better,� he said finally. �Let�s look around.�
Victoria bought two blue and white porcelain vases and arranged to have them shipped to Stockton. She toyed with the idea of purchasing a silk wrapper in the second shop, but she had the feeling that such a purchase might embarrass Royce�even though she�d seen him looking at it appreciatively.
She�d also seen him looking over his shoulder several times and knew that, despite his casual demeanor, he was thinking of Nick. It was inevitable that, eventually, they would see him. It happened as they were returning to the hotel. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of the familiar leather vest and whirled around in time to see him duck into a doorway. Before Royce knew what was happening, she turned and strode purposefully in that direction.
�Nick Barkley, come out of there!�
He slouched from the doorway reluctantly, not looking at her.
�I�m outraged that you would follow me like this! How dare you!�
Royce, coming up, thought that Nick shrank visibly and that Victoria, tiny as she was, seemed to tower over her son.
�To say that I�m furious with you is an understatement!�
Royce was sure that Nick shriveled even more. Crossing his arms and standing back slightly, he had the decency to feel a little ashamed that he was enjoying Nick�s chastisement so much. After all, they were both men. He owed the poor boy some loyalty just based on that.
�Well?� Victoria demanded. �What do you have to say for yourself?�
Nick backed up. �Uh�see you at the ranch!� he mumbled�and fled.
Royce could contain his laughter no longer. �Poor Nick!�
Victoria turned on him. �What are you laughing about?�
He reached into his pocket for a handkerchief to wipe his eyes. �Victoria�you are magnificent!�
At the hotel, they had tea in the dining room. They didn�t speak of Nick. Victoria wondered about the evening hours ahead and hoped that she wouldn�t spend them alone in her room. On the way upstairs, she said, �Do you have business this evening?�
�No. As a matter of fact, I have only one short meeting tomorrow morning. After I sign some papers, my business will be finished.�
�So you�ll have to get back to New Orleans,� she murmured flatly.
He took her arm. �I�m in no hurry.� He unlocked her door with the key she handed him. �I enjoyed the afternoon.�
�It�s early,� she said. �Would you like to come in?�
�Would you like for me to?�
�Very much.�
�All right.�
Inside the door, she stood with her back to him. �Royce, are you really courting me�seriously?�
He didn�t answer her right away. Then, quietly, �I�ve never been more serious in my life.�
She turned slowly to face him. For a long moment they gazed at each other, and then he took her in his arms.
Lurking just down the hall, Nick Barkley looked at his watch. Five minutes, he said to himself. Five minutes, and I�m goin� in.
Part IV
They were sharing a second soft, tentative kiss when they heard the noise in the hall. Drawing back, they looked at each other. �Nick,� they murmured simultaneously.
�I�am�going�to�kill�him!� Victoria bit off each word with deliberate malice.
Royce put his finger to his lips. �I have a better idea.�
�Open your bedroom door�leave it ajar,� he whispered. �There�s one of those new fire stairs outside your window. When I took your room, I asked especially for that.�
Her mouth twitched. �I think I see.�
�I�m sure you do.�
While she opened the bedroom door, Royce lowered the gas lights until the room was almost dark and quietly unlocked the outer door. Then he raised the window and beckoned to her. �I�ll go first,� he said, boosting himself onto the sill and swinging his legs to the outside. �Now�let me help you.�
When she was standing beside him, she said, �Now what?�
�We wait,� he said. �Nick will do the rest.�
�MOTHER!� Nick burst into the room on cue. �MOTHER!�
Victoria put her hand over her mouth as she crouched beneath the window with Royce�s arms holding her protectively. She could picture Nick striding across the room to the bedroom door. �Maybe we should have gotten into bed,� she whispered.
He startled. �Victoria!�
�Fully clothed, of course.�
�Oh. Oh, well, of course.�
�MOTHER!�
�Audra�Silas�anyone!� Victoria mouthed silently. She straightened slightly until she could see inside the room. Behind her, Royce�s warm breath on her neck was oddly sensual.
Light flooded the room as Nick turned up the gas. He scurried around like a rat in a maze, looking behind the furniture and even under it. For a moment he disappeared into the bedroom, and she could picture him down on his hands and knees inspecting the floor beneath the bed. Then he reappeared, scratching his head. �They were here!� he muttered. �I would�ve seen them come out!�
Victoria clamped her hand over her mouth again. Behind her, Royce chuckled softly, and as Nick whirled toward the window, they ducked down again.
�MOTHER! I KNOW YOU�RE IN HERE!�
�Wait,� Royce whispered. �Let�s see if he notices the window is open.�
Instead, Nick stalked toward the door and slammed it behind him.
�What do you think he�ll do next?� Royce asked, helping Victoria to her feet.
�He�ll go down to the desk and find out where your room is, and then he�ll go there.�
Royce lifted one eyebrow speculatively. �Excellent.�
�What are you thinking of now?�
He crawled back in the window and reached out for her. �We�re going to my room by the back stairs.�
�You are evil,� she murmured appreciatively. �Positively evil.�
�And we�re going to bed�as you suggested.�
�Fully clothed?� she asked saucily.
�Well, of course, Victoria!�
She shrugged. �Too bad.�
He shook his head and held out his hand. �Come on.�
Royce conveniently left the outer door to his room�and the bedroom door�unlocked. They were laughing as they turned down the bed. Then Royce sobered suddenly. �Victoria, maybe we�re carrying this a little too far.�
�Not at all,� she said, slipping off her shoes.
�All right.�
They got into bed and waited. It was an uncomfortable few minutes before they heard the outer door open carefully. �Mother?� Nick�s stage whisper was barely less than a yell. �Mother?�
Victoria rolled across the bed toward Royce. �We may as well make this convincing.�
By the time Nick burst through the bedroom door, Royce and Victoria were holding to each other tightly and shaking with laughter.
�MOTHER! WHAT THE HELL. . .� He advanced further into the room, seized the bedcovers, and jerked them back so that they slithered to the floor.
Royce watched with mixed amazement and admiration as Victoria sprang from the bed like a tigress moving in for the kill�eyes burning with purpose, fangs bared, claws unsheathed. He caught a brief glimpse of petticoat and ankle that made him catch his breath.
�Nick Barkley, you have gone beyond the bounds of common decency and respect this time!�
Nick held his ground. �ME? WHAT ABOUT YOU?�
�By insinuating yourself into my affairs, you have insulted both Mr. Wardell and me!�
Royce, not missing Nick�s hand hovering over the gun on his hip, rose hastily. �Ah�umm�Victoria, perhaps the term affairs isn�t the wisest choice of words at this juncture.�
Victoria stepped forward until she was practically standing on the tips of Nick�s boots. �You will be on the next train out of San Francisco, do you understand me? I don�t care if you go to Stockton or Siam, but I want you gone! I don�t want to catch even a glimpse of that treasured vest�or hear the faintest jingle of your valued spurs! In short, I don�t want to see your. . .� She paused and took a deep breath, then tiptoed to be closer to Nick�s shocked fact. �To see your worthless hide for a long, long time!�
Royce considered Nick�s face�a study in anger, shock, and wounded pride. But it was his mouth, working like a bass flung onto the riverbank, that caused him to understand that Victoria had driven home her point beyond a shadow of a doubt.
�Now, go! Victoria hissed. �I said!�
It was too much for Royce�s kind nature. �Nick,� he said tentatively, but the dark-haired man threw him a look of pure hatred before slinking from the room like a chastised child.
Royce�s eyes followed Victoria as she smoothed her skirts, turned back to the bed and found her shoes, then paused at the bureau to arrange her slightly-tousled hair. The feel of her warm body against his�however briefly�had aroused desire he�d almost forgotten could exist�and now he struggled with it mightily.
He arranged his own clothing and retrieved the bedclothes from the floor. �I seem to have worked up an appetite,� he said mildly. �Shall we go downstairs and see if the dining room is still serving?�
She turned from the mirror as if the situation was an everyday occurrence. �Why, yes, I believe I could eat again,� she said evenly.
Royce offered his arm, marveling at the astounding combination of delicacy, passion, tenacity, and strength packaged so attractively in the petite woman who slipped her hand through his arm and looked calmly up at him.
He was relieved that she didn�t ask him into her suite again after dinner. The invitation would have been difficult�if not impossible�to resist, and he wasn�t sure that his gentlemanly instincts would prevail. Nor was he sure that her ladylike demeanor would have the upper hand with her womanhood.
He kissed her gently�and only once. �Goodnight, Victoria.�
�Goodnight, Royce.�
When the door closed between them, he sighed and went down the hall to the stairs.