"Thank you. This was one of my saloon gowns," Sparkle tossed out casually. Jace and Majesta instantly looked stricken. A deep flush began spreading upward from Majesta's throat. Sparkle smiled at Kent, awaiting his reaction.
"Saloon gown?" He sounded as though one of the bones from the roast chicken had become lodged in his throat. "I don't understand. You don't mean to say a schoolteacher would visit a drinking establishment. Ladies don't frequent such places."
"This one has, and worked in a few, too. You couldn't expect me to admit that when we first met, but since we're keeping steady company, it's time you knew the truth."
"Kent, what she means is…" Jace clarified, "temporarily between terms, just to help make ends meet and pay for my medical care, she told fortunes in saloons. A passing amusement for customers." Jace glared at Sparkle now. First Majesta had openly defied him, now Sparkle. She'd confessed the truth regarding her past employment during their trip. Jace had been adamant she not divulge the information to her beau.
"A drinking establishment…?" Kent cleared his throat roughly. "Or a place like Madame Beaumont's across town?"
"Having never set foot there myself," Jace responded defensively, "I can't say. I've heard of the place you mentioned. I overheard some discussion amongst your colleagues at the hospital."
"Perhaps we should clear up any misunderstanding," Kent directed tightly. Sparkle was pleased at the unease between the men. It wasn't what she'd intended, but it would serve her purpose—to make this Dr. Barlow's last visit to the LaFleur house.
"I personally have never gone to a gentlemen's club," Kent stated, "Not that I believe this is appropriate conversation in the presence of ladies."
Sparkle detected the all-too-familiar scent of "Eau de Hypocrite" on Kent Barlow. He'd never been to a gentlemen's club? Then why was he so self-righteously angry? She'd wager the girls of Madame Beaumont's would sing a different tune.
"Perhaps you should visit one some time," she offered, buttering a dinner roll with studied indifference. She noticed Majesta looked ready to throw her napkin to the floor for an excuse to crawl beneath the table..
"Though I don't suppose here in the city gentlemen's clubs offer precisely the same diversions as trailhead saloons," Sparkle continued. "The last place I worked was called the Scarlet Lady. We had gambling: faro, poker, monte, the occasional cockfight out back. Then too, of course, there were rooms upstairs in what they call the monkey hall. That aspect's probably similar to Madame What's-Her-Name's. Although I doubt a man has to worry about ending up in a panel crib there."
"I'm almost afraid to ask what in God's name you're ranting about," Kent said with a sharp edge to his tone.
She feigned a look of surprise. Two could play ignorant. "Why, a room with a hidden panel in the walls. Sort of a profit optimizer for the house. Customers are robbed as well as entertained."
Jace coughed into his napkin. Majesta went bright crimson. Kent stared at Sparkle. "Sometimes the panel cribs are actually lovely rooms." Sparkle was dismayed by the wistful tone in her remark. She was supposed to be acting brazen, not turning maudlin.
Kent suddenly threw back his head and laughed. "You had me going for a moment there, Miss LaFleur. Panel cribs! What did you do, read about such lurid things in one of those dime novels? How delightfully wicked and amusing you can be."
Sparkle only smiled. You have no idea.
Majesta jumped up, muttering about a lemon cake in the kitchen. She all but threw four slices of dessert onto plates, more spilled than poured the accompanying coffee. Halfway through her own dessert, she developed a mysterious headache. Jace suggested Sparkle take his wife upstairs.
"It's probably nothing serious," Kent remarked, "but if you like, I could examine her."
"That's not necessary," Jace ground out, stabbing Sparkle with a warning glare.
"It's probably the pressure from working so hard," she obliged. "I think Majesta's under a strain."
"Oh?"
"Yes, well, we can discuss that and a few other matters after the ladies have retired," Jace pointedly stated, still pinning Sparkle with his angry blue gaze.
"I'm not tired yet."
Kent looked pleased at that and moved to pull out her chair. "Good. I've had a bit of pleasant news."
Sparkle let him lead her into the parlor. "My father has to make a business excursion to Chicago. On their way from Baltimore, my parents have decided to stop here for a few days. I've put in for some time off at the hospital and was thinking of taking them to the opera house one evening. That gown you're wearing would be lovely. Care to join us?"
"She'd love to," Jace snapped. "You're bearing up admirably, Sparkle, but I know you're weary after our trip. I need to discuss a point or two about my personal health with our physician friend. I'll see him out later. You go get a good night's rest."
Jace had dismissed her.
So the hellion from Fire Thorn was back, she thought. She knew what was coming next. Jace would tell Kent the entire saloon discussion had been another prank. She'd explained her sentiments and doubts during their travels. Score one for Jace.
She allowed Kent to press a kiss to the back of her hand, then bade the men good night.
* * *
The following morning Sparkle was up early. She dressed quickly and found her reticule, intent on visiting the banker who handled Jace's trust fund. She met up with Kent on the sidewalk in front of the LaFleur house. "Kent, aren't you due at the hospital or your partner's surgery?"
"I confess I was anxious to speak with you. I couldn't plunge into my day without knowing whether you'd spoken with your br—" He flushed and offered a wry smile. "Sorry, I still tend to think of Jace as your brother."
"He might as well be. But he's still in bed, perhaps overtired from our trip to Texas." Then a frightening though struck and she gripped Kent's forearm. "Is something wrong? I know you two talked last night about his health."
"No, no. It's nothing like that. This is rather embarrassing, here on the common walk." He propelled her back toward the house. She led him around to the rear garden, where they took seats on the graceful metal benches.
"He's doing very well physically," Kent reassured her. "I wondered if you'd spoken with him with regard to…Well, I was frank with Jace last night about intentions. We came to an understanding."
Sparkle abruptly shook her head. "Please, Kent, I think we—"
"Hear me out. I told Jace of my desire that we be married soon. We agree next month, while my parents are in town, seemed a sensible time."
"What?" She'd murder Jace. How could he agree to that, knowing she'd been meaning to discourage this man?
"I realize this may seem a bit rash, but my father's business schedule would make it difficult, if not impossible, for my parents to make another trip in the coming months. I don't want to wait until next spring or summer. There's no point in a delay." He caught her hand between his. "I'm certain this is what I want, sweetheart."
"I surmised you might broach this subject one day, but certainly not so soon, and not to Jace before we'd talked. I'm sorry you spoke to him about this."
"Considering the circumstances, I could hardly do less. You're living in the man's home as his ward. I was obligated to make him aware of my intentions before I spoke to you."
"His ward?" After years of paying for Jace's nurse and expenses, she was being described as some nuisance underfoot? "I'm not his ward, Kent."
He arched a brow. "Well, there's no genuine kinship between you. In essence, as I understand it, you were his mother's ward. She was your guardian. Upon her death, guardianship passed to Jace."
Sparkle opened her mouth to contest that, but Kent plunged on before she could. "It's a moot point, since Jace has agreed, and next month you'll become my bride. We'll have a small ceremony here," he gestured at the house, "with only immediate family. I won't have but a few days free, so we'll have to postpone a wedding tour. But after the ceremony, we'll have a nice supper and go to the opera
with my parents. We'll make a gala evening of it."
A gala evening? Sitting beside middle-aged strangers, listening to some woman on a stage shriek as though someone's standing on her foot? How romantic, Kent! I'd dreamt of a wedding tour to Paris—but what's a month in France compared to an evening at the opera with your parents?
"Kent, I don't know what to say. We—"
He impulsively kissed her, cutting her off. "I know, Sparkle. It's sudden, but wonderful, isn't it?"
That wasn't the adjective she would have used. "But there are arrangements to be made. I don't have a gown or veil, and there's—"
"We're not talking a society nuptial with four hundred guests, Sparkle." His tone sounded for all the world like he was chastising a wayward child.
Sparkle was beginning to realize he truly saw her as one.
"Jace explained you were only partly teasing about the saloons. While I don't hold it against you, realizing you resorted to it out of economic necessity, I—"
"Hold it against me? If I hadn't gone to work after his mother died, Jace would have lost this house. Jace's aunt left the house to her family, but Widow Flowers had been married to a common blacksmith from a small Texas town. She didn't have any money to speak of. The trust fund she left to us isn't sufficient to meet ongoing expenses. What was I supposed to do, Kent? You seem to hatch brilliant schemes in a heartbeat. What would you have done?"
"Ah, perhaps I didn't phrase that as well as I might have."
"Perhaps not."
"I understand why you went out to work. Still, your sketchy employment history precludes me apprising my colleagues of our plans and making a grand affair of the wedding. We'll have a simple, private ceremony, then you'll move into my home and we'll quietly take up life together."
Sparkle was at a loss for words. She'd never had anyone both flatter and insult her at the same time.
Kent took advantage of her momentary silence to pull her up from the bench and start back around the corner of the house toward the street. "I must secretly confess you looked quite…what's that word you used? Inspirational last night in that saloon get-up. The image of you garbed and painted up, telling my fortune in the privacy of our bedroom has a delightfully lurid appeal."
Cross out flattered, Sparkle told herself. Now he's just plain insulting.
"Keep your saloon dresses and tarot cards for the nights when I desire a wanton gypsy."
She was about to suggest where he might go find one when the front door opened. Jace flashed them a broad grin. "I see you're having that little talk. Majesta was thrilled with the news, as I knew she would be."
Sparkle tried to keep her voice level. "Jace, I need to speak to you."
"Surely. But we mustn't keep the doctor from his patients. We'll see you again tomorrow evening, Kent. Come back inside, Sparkle. We'll chat while I have my breakfast. Majesta just put the coffee on and brewed some fresh tea."
Kent doffed his hat and disappeared down the lane, whistling, his stride positively jaunty. For Sparkle, it was the icing on the cake. He was so clearly pleased with himself, it made her instantly furious. Had she worried she'd never love him? She'd never even be able to stomach being around him, now that she knew what he truly thought of her.
Majesta went out the back door to tend her vegetable garden. Sparkle watched her clearing out dead leaves and pruning from the kitchen window, then turned back to accept the steaming cup of tea Jace held out.
"You and Majesta are thrilled," Sparkle began. "Did it occur to you that I wouldn't be? You know I don't want to marry him, Jace. I distinctly recall telling you I had mixed feelings about Kent. I told him about the saloons to stop him from calling on me. I knew what a snob he is. I'm not certain I'd ever agree to marriage, but I'm certainly not going to rashly jump into it next month! You're insane if you thought I would."
"Sparkle, you—"
"I mean it, Jace. When he comes back tomorrow evening, I'll talk sense into him. He'll wait until I'm ready, if indeed the time ever comes. But knowing he thinks I'm some…" Her words trailed off as Jace's demeanor went from pleasant to forbidding.
"You'd better listen closely," he warned, "because I mean what I'm about to say, too. Majesta and I had a long talk yesterday afternoon. About the Texas money and other things. She reminded me of something that had slipped my mind. She has suspicions about your relationship with that fellow Conley. A particular conversation you and I had some weeks ago crystallized in my thoughts."
"Oh, for pity's sake."
"Don't try to deny you and Conley were lovers. You admitted it to me, in very graphic terms."
"I know, Jace, but—"
"That was months ago. Plainly the man has no intention of doing the honorable thing. Therefore, I see nothing wrong—indeed, I can see only every conceivable advantage—in allowing the young doctor to wed you, instead."
"Except for the fact I don't love him, and it's unfair to both of us if I pretend I do."
"You're still like a sister to me, and you always will be. Mother raised us together, took us to Sunday services, read us the scriptures. You know what you allowed to happen was sinful. You may have been swayed in later years by the tainted environment of the cow towns, but you're finished with that now. It's time to take your place in decent society."
"Are you finished lecturing me, Brother Dear?"
"No, I'm not. Kent Barlow can offer you security and a respectable life. He's a professional man. He doesn't know you've been compromised." Jace colored slightly. "I'll leave it to you to decide how you'll handle the situation, come the wedding night."
"Why leave anything to me? You've made all the other decisions."
"Stop this, Sparkle. Any woman would be proud to have Dr. Barlow for a husband. I want you to have a solid future. I owe you that, after all your years of sacrifice. Don't you think I still feel beholden? Dividing the Fire Thorn profits sixty-forty still doesn't balance us out, and you know it."
Sparkle said the first heartfelt, completely honest words she'd uttered to Jace in a long time. "I did it because I loved you, Jace. I'm not sure you ever understood quite how much. I knew you weren't my brother, but I loved you all the same." She fought to control her voice. "Don't repay that by forcing me into—":
"Neither of us could hope to find a better match. I'd willingly throw myself down the steps all over again to regain my memory and give you this chance for happiness. We've finally put our past where it belongs, behind us. You'll be better off with the doctor than some uncouth cattleman."
At her involuntary gasp, he added, "Don't misunderstand. I liked Conley. But even you must see Kent Barlow is by far the better man."
"I see where you would think so."
"Anyone with a lick of sense would!" Jace's voice rose. "I'd forgotten how ridiculously pig-headed you can be. Comparisons between the two are beside the point. You need a husband, and—"
"No, I do not need a husband," Sparkle snapped. "I'm perfectly capable of looking after myself. I'm not pregnant. I don't need Dr. Barlow's income. I'm sorry if my past embarrasses you. If I'm inconveniencing you and Majesta, I can find a room n a boardinghouse."
"Pregnant or not, you've been compromised. I will not stand by and watch you throw away this opportunity. The man can give you everything. He's assured me he will. Majesta's taking you to a dressmaker tomorrow to begin fittings. Despite your qualms, I believe one day you'll thank me."
"Maybe you're right."
Relief flooded his features. "Very wise," he nodded, giving her an affectionate squeeze around her shoulders before he moved stiffly to the back door. "If you'll excuse me, I think I'll see what's keeping my dear wife."
Sparkle waited until he'd gone out, then went upstairs to pack.
CHAPTER 20
The weathered sign suspended over the rutted drive announced Sparkle had reached her destination. Crockhead Rest. Rafe said he spent winters on his brother's ranch. She sensed his presence the moment her carriage left the main road and started up the
fork toward the ranch house. He was here, all right. She took a deep breath to calm her nerves. She'd be face to f ace with him in a manner of moments.
Coming here to see him hadn't seemed insane when she'd made her decision back in Kansas. On the verge of being pushed into a marriage she didn't want, this made perfect sense. She should try to clear the air, find out if she and Rafe still had a chance together. It made perfect sense in Kansas.
Now that she'd actually arrived in Colorado, she wasn't feeling nearly so confident. What would Rafe say? Would he listen and understand why she felt she had to see him? To settle the lingering unanswered questions once and for all? Even if they had no future, she needed to be certain of that, so she wouldn't always wonder what might have been. Rafe would understand. A man still trying to right a wrong from years past would understand.
Jace and Majesta hadn't. There'd been another heated row with Jace. Forced to go slinking off like a thief in the night, Sparkle had left a sealed letter behind for Kent. It explained that upon introspection, she concluded she wasn't of his social status. She'd written a very apologetic missive for the most part, allowing herself a small victory. With a devilish smile, she'd penned the closing line. She hoped his parents wouldn't be too disappointed attending the opera without her.
The rig dipped again, jolting her back to the present. The driver pulled to a halt beside a broad open porch. The wide ranch house sat on a gentle bluff overlooking the drive.
"I'm a friend of Mr. Conley's," she announced as a wizened hand approached from around the side of the residence.
"Ma'am, beg pardon, but I been foreman here since Travis first started this ranch. Ain't never seen you around these parts, not even at the town socials."
"I'm from Kansas, and I don't mean Travis," she clarified. "I've come to see Rafe Conley. He's staying here for the winter, isn't he?"
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