Anne-Marie opened her mouth to speak and realized it was so dry she could hardly get a word out. “I — hello.” Quickly, she stuck out her hand to the other woman. “I’m Anne-Marie Duveuil. I — just happened to be coming through this area and thought — I’d stop by to see Cordero.”
Shaking her hand, the other woman gave Anne-Marie an easy smile. “Ms. Duveuil, how nice to meet you. You must be Jules’s daughter. I’m Juliet, Matt’s wife. Cordero’s sister-in-law,” she explained.
Releasing a tiny breath of relief, Anne-Marie smiled back at her. “I’m very pleased to meet you. And call me Anne-Marie.”
Juliet stepped to one side and with a warm smile ushered Anne-Marie into the house. “Surely. And you must call me Juliet. Please come in. This is a delightful surprise.”
“Thank you,” Anne-Marie told her, “But let me apologize for not calling before I showed up. I wanted to surprise Cordero.”
Actually, Anne-Marie had not called with her plans to visit, because Cordero would have questioned her reasons for coming and she’d not wanted to get into anything over the phone. Now she wondered if that had been a good idea. For all she knew Cordero was out of town and wouldn’t be returning before she had to catch her flight back to New Orleans.
“I’m sure he’s going to be thrilled,” Juliet said as the two of them stepped into a large foyer filled with potted plants. “Unfortunately, he’s not here right now.”
Her wound nerves snapped with such sudden release that for a moment she thought her knees were going to collapse. “Oh.”
Juliet glanced at her crestfallen expression and for the first time since she’d opened the door, Anne-Marie could see faint speculation in the woman’s eyes.
“But don’t worry, he’ll be home soon,” Juliet quickly went on. “He’s in Goliad at the vet’s. A horse cut his foot this afternoon and had to be operated on. If you know Cordero, you know he won’t leave until he’s certain the horse will be okay.”
Yes, she did know how much Cordero cared about his animals. It was one of many reasons she admired him.
Anne-Marie said, “I hope the cut wasn’t terribly serious.”
Juliet motioned for Anne-Marie to follow her out of the foyer and into a great room. The long area was filled with comfortable leather furniture, including a couch situated in front of a wide fireplace.
“Have a seat,” Juliet invited. “Anywhere you like. Would you like something to drink? Juan is making supper right now. I’m sure he has iced tea or coffee ready. Or maybe you’d like a soda?”
Trying to get into the habit of reducing her caffeine, she said, “Thank you. Water will be fine.”
“Great. Just make yourself comfortable and I’ll be right back.”
Cordero’s sister-in-law hurried out of the room. Anne-Marie eased slowly down on the edge of the couch and gazed around her. This was Cordero’s home, she thought. This was where he’d laughed and talked and probably even cried with his family.
The furnishings were Western with bright Native American woven rugs on the floor and paintings of ranching scenes hanging on the wall. Footstools and magazine racks sat here and there, inviting a person to put up their feet and relax. On the wall at one end of the room was a large plasma television screen. At the moment it was turned off and the room was quiet.
From somewhere behind her, she caught the scents of cooking beef and something baking with cinnamon. She was surprised the food smells didn’t jolt her stomach. For the past month any odor had left her queasy. But that malady seemed to be passing, for which she was very grateful. It would be terribly embarrassing, not to mention telling, if she had to jump up from the supper table and run to the bathroom to retch up her meal.
Her eyes returned to the fireplace in front of her, then lifted to a large oil painting hanging above the mantel. The portrait was of a young man and woman posed in a loving embrace. Anne-Marie wondered if the couple could be Cordero’s mother and father and she rose to her feet to study it closer.
The woman had long dark hair flowing down her back, creamy café au lait skin with deep rosy cheeks and flashing green eyes. Anne-Marie was staring up at the beautiful face, trying to imagine her alive and mothering her sons and daughter when a footstep sounded behind her.
She turned to see Juliet reentering the room carrying a small tray of refreshments.
“Lovely portrait, isn’t it?” she said as she placed the tray on the nearest end table. “That’s Matt and Cordero’s parents. That was done many years ago when the children were small. Elizabeth passed away a few years ago. But you probably knew that already.”
Nodding, Anne-Marie glanced one last time at the portrait before she returned to her seat on the couch. “Yes. Cordero told me. He talked as though he was very close to her.”
“Very.” Juliet handed her a glass of ice water, then took a seat down the couch from her. “Of course I didn’t know the family back then. Matt and I have only been married for a couple of years. But my husband has told me how attached his brother was to their mother. Not to say that Matt didn’t love her dearly, too. But I think there must have been a special bond between her and Cordero. Matt said that after she died Cordero quit talking. For several months he wouldn’t speak at all. Just nod or shake his head. God, I’m glad I wasn’t around to see that. Cordero is always such a fun-loving guy. Seeing him like that would have been hard to take. Even though, since he’s come back from Louisiana he —” She broke off suddenly as though she’d caught herself before she said something she shouldn’t.
Anne-Marie couldn’t help but press her. “He what?”
The other woman opened her mouth to say something, but the abrupt sound of male voices coming from the foyer interrupted her.
“I don’t know what the hell you expect me to do, Matt. Take the horse all the way to Texas A&M to be treated? I don’t have time for that. It’s not like he’s the only horse on this ranch that I have to deal with.”
Matt shot back at him. “Just because Tadpole isn’t one of your precious cutting horses, you cart him off to that quack of a vet. Why in hell didn’t you just call me about it? I would have at least taken him to Victoria!”
“He’s going to be okay. So just leave it at that, will you?”
As the men’s raised voices grew nearer, Anne-Marie’s head turned toward the sound to see Cordero and a tall dark man that faintly resembled him walk into the room. The brothers were so involved in their somewhat heated exchange that for a moment neither of them noticed the two women sitting on the couch.
Matt was the first to spot them and he stopped in his tracks.
“Juliet!” he exclaimed. “You didn’t tell me we were having company tonight!”
Frowning, the woman rose to her feet and started toward her husband. “Too late. She’s already seen you two behaving like heathens.”
“Oh honey, Cordero and I are just having a lively discussion about vets. That’s all.” He met his wife halfway and leaned down to press a kiss on her cheek.
Beyond the embracing couple, Cordero stood stock-still, his gaze riveted on Anne-Marie. The stunned look on his face matched the incredible leap of her heart.
“Anne-Marie.”
Even though she couldn’t hear him, she could see his lips mouthing her name. Slowly, she rose on shaky legs and tried to smile as though dropping by for a visit was no big deal.
“Hello, Cordero,” she said quietly.
Three long strides had him across the room and before any of them guessed his intentions he swept her into his arms and kissed her. Not just a peck on the cheek, but a full-blown kiss on her lips that rocked her all the way to her toes.
“Uh, Cordero, don’t you think you should let her have some air?” Matt finally spoke up.
In spite of Matt’s amused suggestion, Cordero allowed his lips to linger on Anne-Marie’s before he finally lifted his head and turned a happy grin on his brother. “Matt, this is Anne-Marie. Jules’s daughter.”
Matt’s brows shot up wi
th surprise and then his expression turned shrewd. “Oh. So she’s what it takes to put a smile back on your face.”
Stepping forward, Cordero’s brother offered his hand to Anne-Marie. Smiling shyly, she placed her small hand alongside the ranch manager’s rough palm.
“This is a nice surprise, Ms. Duveuil,” he said in greeting. “Glad you could make it to the Sandbur.”
“Thank you. I’m glad to be here.” She darted an uncertain glance at Cordero, who was holding her close to his side as though he wouldn’t let her go. The hug of his arm warmed her, filled the gnawing emptiness she’d felt these past lonely weeks without him. “I hope my showing up out of the blue like this isn’t a problem.”
Cordero’s face was wreathed in smiles and Anne-Marie could only wonder what his reaction meant. Had he missed her? His kiss had certainly felt as though he had. But even if he had missed her, he’d not even gone so far as to pick up the phone and dial her number.
“Are you crazy?” Cordero exclaimed. “We have plenty of room. Don’t we?” He threw a questioning look at his brother and sister-in-law.
“Oh sure,” Matt answered quickly. “Plenty.”
“Certainly,” Juliet chimed in. “The guest room is right next to Cordero’s. You are planning to stay awhile, aren’t you?”
Finding it safer to turn her gaze on Juliet rather than Cordero, Anne-Marie said in a hesitant voice, “Uh, I, well, I hadn’t really thought about it. I’d planned to get a room in Goliad.”
“Forget it,” Cordero ordered. “You’re not staying anywhere but here on the ranch. Let’s go to your car and I’ll carry in your bags.”
Taking her by the hand, he tugged Anne-Marie out of the room while Matt and Juliet stared curiously after them. But once they were outside the front door and out of his family’s sight, he wordlessly dragged her into his arms and covered her mouth with his.
In the back of her mind, Anne-Marie knew she should stop him, she shouldn’t allow flames to rekindle between them. Not when there were so many important things she needed to discuss with him. Even so, being in his arms again, having his strong rugged body next to hers was too good to end.
Eventually, he tore his mouth from hers and pressed his cheek against the side of her hair. “Anne-Marie, I can’t believe you’re here,” he said hoarsely. “You don’t know how many times I’ve dreamed of this happening, but I didn’t believe you would actually come.”
Easing his head back from hers, he smiled at her as though he was thrilled to see her and Anne-Marie wondered sadly how soon that grin would disappear once she told him about the baby.
“How long are you going to stay? A week? Two?” he asked excitedly. “I hope you made it two. There are so many things I want to show you here on the ranch, so many places to take you and things for us to do.”
“Cordero, I —” She paused, not knowing what to say next. She didn’t want to get to the crux of the matter out here. Especially when she figured it was almost suppertime. No, Cordero would have to learn about the baby later, when they could have total privacy.
“Oh, don’t bother answering that now,” he went on in a dismissive way. “I won’t let you leave, no matter what you say.” Dimples creased his cheeks as his twinkling gaze traveled up and down her slim figure. “Gosh, you look beautiful. So beautiful.”
His enthusiasm at seeing her again was infectious and Anne-Marie told herself to simply relax and enjoy these precious moments before this peaceful time with him ended.
Smiling back at him, she said, “You look pretty good yourself.”
With a mocking laugh, he looked down at his denim Western shirt and faded blue jeans. “Yeah. Dust and horse manure is the new fashion. Not to mention dried blood.” He grabbed her hand again and headed toward the car she’d left parked in the graveled driveway. “Let’s get your bags and get back in. I need a few minutes to clean up for supper.”
He was taking it for granted that she’d simply come to the Sandbur to spend time with him. And he was happy about it. Very happy. The whole idea made her want to weep.
Careful to hide her unease, she followed him to the car.
Back in the house, Cordero quickly excused himself and headed to the shower while Juliet took Anne-Marie upstairs to the guest room.
“No one has stayed in here since Matt and Cordero’s sister, Lucita, came to stay a couple of months ago during their cousin’s wedding. I hope everything has been straightened,” she said as she pushed open the door to the bedroom and flipped on the light.
Anne-Marie followed her inside the spacious room and gazed curiously around her. She could see a flavor of the Sanchez’s Western lifestyle in the iron bedstead, varnished pine armoire and matching dresser. A row of rusty spurs and sweat-stained cowboy hats hung from pegs along one wall. Sepias depicting cattle drives and broncobusters, along with actual family photos, adorned the remaining walls.
A handmade quilt done in a wedding ring pattern covered the bed. Her leather traveling bag was sitting near the pillows where Cordero had left it. The sight of the bag reminded her of when she’d awkwardly shown Cordero to his bedroom at Cane’s Landing. Only nine weeks had passed since then, but the agony she’d gone through had seemed like a lifetime. Would her suffering end now or only deepen?
“This is lovely. I’m sure everything will be fine.” She turned to the other woman. “And I apologize again for showing up so unexpectedly. I realize you’re all very busy and —”
“Don’t think a thing about it,” Juliet interrupted with a wave of her hand, then with a little grin, she stepped closer and lowered her voice to a conspiring tone. “Actually, now that the men aren’t around, I wanted to say — I’m really, really glad you showed up. Cordero has been a growling bear ever since he came back from Louisiana. Tonight when he walked through the door and saw you, it was like seeing a light switched on. I was finally seeing the Cordero I know and love. You’re exactly what he needed.”
Anne-Marie wanted to burst into tears. “Juliet, if you’re thinking that Cordero is in love with me or something like that — you couldn’t be more wrong. He, uh —”
“Don’t try to explain. I understand that Cordero doesn’t believe he’ll ever be bitten by the love bug. But what do men know about it? Matt swore he’d never marry again, but now he has me and a baby on the way. Sometimes we women just have to give them the right sort of nudge to open their eyes.”
Wondering how she could possibly reply to Juliet’s observations, Anne-Marie was faintly relieved when the sound of Matt’s voice suddenly called up to them.
“Juliet, can you come here for a minute?”
Rolling her eyes, Juliet grinned and held up her palms in a helpless gesture. “See, the man can’t do without me.” She started out the door, then tossed over her shoulder, “Hurry down and I’ll show you around the house before we eat.”
The tension of the past few minutes had taken its toll on Anne-Marie and once Juliet had left the room, she closed the door and sank onto the edge of the bed. Her hands were shaking and emotional tears burned her eyes. She’d known that seeing Cordero again and telling him about the baby was going to be a difficult task. But she’d not anticipated how crushing it was going to feel to meet his family and know that she would never be a part of them.
Chapter Fourteen
As usual, supper for the Sanchez family was a lively affair with conversation and laughter flowing around the dining table. With Anne-Marie present, the occasion had even taken on a festive air, but this was one meal Cordero was itching to see end.
He had to get Anne-Marie alone. Making love to her warred with the urge to talk to her, to find out why she’d really shown up here at the Sandbur. She’d told Juliet that she’d just happened to be in the area, but he didn’t believe that for one minute. She’d come to see him. But why? Because she desperately missed him, or was she merely accepting his invitation to visit the ranch?
Cordero was so preoccupied with the questions he didn’t notice when his famil
y finally began to make noises about leaving the table and adjourning to the great room for coffee. When he did, he scraped back his chair and reached for Anne-Marie’s arm.
“Sorry folks, but you’re going to have to drink it without us. I want some time alone withAnne-Marie.”
Cordero’s blunt statement brought a stare of surprise from Matt, while their father smiled knowingly down at his plate. It was Gracia, Matt’s teenage daughter who relieved the awkward silence.
“Gee, Uncle Cordero, I didn’t know you could be romantic. Why don’t you take her out to the gazebo? You can smell the lilac from there.”
Cordero winked at his niece. “Good idea, funny face. Thanks.”
Frowning now, Matt jerked his head toward his daughter. “Since when do you know anything about romance? You’re just a kid.”
Throwing back her shoulders, Gracia wiggled to the tallest posture she could manage. “Have you forgotten, Daddy? I’m fourteen now!”
Matt banged the heel of his hand against his forehead with feigned realization. “Oh, how could I forget? You’re practically in adulthood now.”
Smiling to herself at the father-daughter interplay, Anne-Marie allowed Cordero to lead her out of the dining room and through a long hallway.
“That might go on for hours,” Cordero said with amusement as he ushered her through a back door. “Gracia’s at the age where she wants to be taken seriously. And she is grown-up enough to know what’s on my mind.”
But he had no idea what was on hers, Anne-Marie thought dismally, and that was something she was going to have to change, and quickly. The secret she carried was tormenting her to the point of physical illness.
Her stomach churned, her heart pounded as his arm slid around her shoulders and guided her across grass so thick that her feet felt as though they were sinking into carpet.
Twenty feet away, a gazebo covered with some sort of trailing vine was tucked beneath two pine trees. Footlights circled the lattice board siding and lit the way up the steps. The minute Cordero helped her onto the planked floor of the private shelter, he spun her into the circle of his arms and bent his head toward hers.
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