“Lilah, this has got to end.” Loo had kept quiet for weeks, but now, seeing someone she loved so unhappy prompted her to speak up.
“What has to end, Loo?” Only half-hearing what Loo said, Lilah watched the carriage wheels spin to a stop in front of her. Out of automatic politeness she turned to look at her friend.
“Your pining away over that cowboy—”
“Shhhh,” Lilah silenced Loo, her eyes growing big and bright. “That’s Sally Ann Caufield going in that shop.”
Loo looked around quickly. “The girl from Sandy Flats—the one the cowboy is supposed to marry?”
“The same one.” Lilah turned her back on driver and carriage. She supposed the time had come to let bygones be bygones. Sally Ann had won her man, and Lilah ought to have the courage to acknowledge it. “Come on,” she said to Loo, hoping she had masked the hurt in her voice. “I want to congratulate Sally Ann.”
Though her voice was calm, Loo saw the look of pain in Lilah’s eyes. She caught her friend gently by the arm and held her back. “Do you think you should? I don’t imagine the girl likes you even a little.”
“Nonsense,” Lilah said, easing her arm free. “She can’t still be mad at me. She’s got what she wants.”
Reluctantly Loo followed Lilah into the shop. Sally Ann was looking over a display of negligees when Lilah approached her.
“Hello, Sally Ann.” Her voice was artificially light. “Remember me?”
The brown-haired girl whirled around and, surprisingly, wore a big smile. “Why, Lilah Damon. I don’t suppose I’ll ever forget you.”
“I suppose not,” Lilah said, deciding she had made a mistake by speaking to Sally Ann. Seeing so much happiness in her face only made Lilah’s sorrow seem greater. “I saw you come in and wanted to congratulate you on your engagement.”
“That’s nice of you.” Sally Ann sounded genuinely pleased. “To think it might never have happened if we hadn’t had that fight. Oh!” she said. “I’m forgetting myself. I heard what happened when that horrible man kidnapped you. I’m glad he didn’t hurt you.”
“Thank you, Sally Ann. And I really do hope you and Tabor will be happy.”
“Tabor?” Sally Ann gasped. “For goodness’ sake! I’m not marrying him. I’m marrying Horace Glenn!”
“But I thought...” Lilah trailed off, completely befuddled.
Sally Ann laughed. “I can’t imagine why. Tabor Stanton has been just like an irritable old bear ever since you left the ranch, Oh, I admit I chased him around at one time, but I outgrew that girlish crush when I met Horace. I just thought everybody knew about me and Horace, but of course you were gone,” she chattered on.
“Knew what?” Lilah asked.
“When I came in the barn that night with my dress and hair all ruined, Horace wrapped a blanket around me and told me how beautiful I looked even dripping wet. It was the sweetest thing anyone ever said to me. I looked up into those big brown eyes and fell head over heels in love. We were engaged a week later. That’s what I meant when I said it never would have happened if we hadn’t had that fight.”
“But you said you and Tabor...”
“Made love?” Sally Ann whispered. “I just made that up to make you mad. Tabor never even kissed me, and Lord knows I gave him plenty of opportunities.” Her eyes widened as she looked into Lilah’s disbelieving face. “Why, for goodness’ sake! You don’t even know, do you?”
“I don’t even know what?”
“Tabor’s in love with you. That’s what’s made him such an old bear. He went off on a trip and when he came back he was so irritable Sarah told him he could stay in the bunkhouse. When that didn’t help his disposition, she asked why he didn’t go after you.”
“What did he say?” Loo asked, unable to stand the suspense.
“He told Sarah to mind her own business, then felt bad about that and apologized and asked if she thought he ever would have let you go if there had been a chance you could love him. Well, it’s just too bad you don’t,” Sally Ann babbled on. “He told Sarah you were marrying another man. I wish you happiness too.”
A sudden grin spread over Lilah’s face. She had heard all she wanted to hear. “It’s been good to see you, Sally Ann.” With a wave good-bye, Lilah spun on her heel and walked away so fast Sally Ann was left with her mouth gaping open. Loo said a quick good-bye too and rushed off after Lilah.
As Lilah climbed into the carriage without waiting for the driver’s assistance, Loo saw a dangerous Delilah sparkle in her friend’s eyes.
“Lilah, what are you thinking? What are you going to do? Lilah, answer me.”
Lilah sat back in the carriage and smiled, letting Loo’s questions roll off her like rain on an oilskin southwester.
At dinner she wore the same smile and looked so distracted that Clement was convinced the worst had happened and she had gone off her head. Finally he could stand it no more.
“Lilah, child, you have to tell me what’s troubling you. I’ve tried to keep quiet because you didn’t seem to want to talk about it. But now I’m just too worried. You’ve been depressed for weeks, and suddenly tonight even the most mundane thing is amusing.”
Poor Papa, she thought. He’s been terribly worried about me and I’ve been so busy basking in my misery I couldn’t see it. She smiled at him gently. “I was depressed, Papa, but now—”
“Lilah, did something happen with Chapman that you haven’t told anyone about. Did he...?”
Lilah had the good grace to blush, realizing the error of her father’s thoughts.
“Good heavens! No! Nothing happened I haven’t told you about. At least not with Chapman,” she added.
Clement’s cheeks puffed out and his face turned red. Ching had to catch him to prevent his pitching out of his chair. “Stanton! And to think I trusted that scoundrel! I’ll send the sheriff...”
Even Clement’s alarm failed to take the smile from Lilah’s face. “Papa, Papa,” she said softly. “You misunderstand. Tabor never did anything but make me fall in love with him and then let me believe he didn’t love me back.”
Clement refused to be pacified. “Ching!” he shouted. “Get ready to leave for the Cooke ranch! Immediately!”
“No, Papa,” Lilah said calmly. “Ching can help me later, but in another way. Right now I have some things to tell you that I’m sure you’ll find shocking. I hope that once I’ve told you my story, my motives will be evident.”
Before she started, Lilah insisted on moving to the library, where she knew her father would be most comfortable. Telling her story would take hours. But a change had come over Lilah since afternoon. She knew the time had come to untangle her web of lies. It had suddenly become clear to her that she wasn’t protecting her father by keeping her secrets from him. He could see the strain of them in her face, and not knowing the cause of her anxiety was as hard on him as would be knowing the truth.
She started her tale by recalling her feelings when she had seen him trampled by the horses. Later she told him how she had practiced the card tricks old Sulley had taught as a way of remembering the happy times in the Damon camp. She told him how she had carried her burden of hatred for the six men who killed their friends and maimed him, how the desire for revenge had guided her every move since childhood.
Astonishingly, once Clement got past the shock, he was more amazed than disgusted to learn his daughter was the infamous Delilah. Lilah noted with some small satisfaction that even Ching’s expressionless face yielded up a look of surprise at that revelation. Clement took much less well learning his daughter had carried out a program of revenge on his enemies. Lilah suffered through a lengthy and wordy reproach.
“Lilah, I refuse to believe you took such risks or allowed Dinah to.”
“Papa, I was quite careful to keep Dinah away from those men. I assure you she never saw any of them or even knew their names.” The calm she felt in her heart and soul surprised her. How good it was to have the truth flow from her lips instead of swal
lowing the bitter bile of her lies.
His eyes scanned her face. “I had no idea you remembered the names spoken that night.”
“I could never forget them, Papa. As soon as I returned to California I engaged a detective to investigate each of them for me. I was very careful there too. I planned everything to the last detail.”
“Except where Tabor was concerned.”
She sighed heavily. “He was my only mistake.”
Clement was thoughtful a moment before he spoke again. “So I wasn’t imagining that I saw sparks flying between the two of you?”
“No, Papa. Sparks did fly.” And flames enough to leap and burn and consume her.
She told him everything, leaving out only the more intimate details of her time with Tabor. A woman, after all, was entitled to a few secrets.
Clement folded his hands in his lap and stared at his daughter a long time. He had admitted to Lilah that he had read about the misfortunes of his old enemies and been heartened by them. That didn’t mean, as he explained to her, that he approved of what she had done. He might admire her daring and courage. But he didn’t approve.
“I’m not sorry, Papa,” she told him. “Not about bringing those men to justice. They deserved it. I am sorry about all the trouble and grief I caused you. But it’s all over now. Tabor has dealt with the Penn brothers. He sent me notice of their arrest. Now all six have come to justice.”
“And one innocent man.”
“Tabor?” Lilah queried. “I wouldn’t exactly brand him innocent.”
“You said you loved him. What are you going to do about it? I hope no daughter of mine is going to give up the man she loves without a fight. Your mother didn’t and neither did your sister.”
Clement astonished her. She had expected resistance. Tabor wasn’t, after all, in the least like Barrett.
Happily and boldly she met his eyes. “I have a plan, Papa. With your permission, I’d like to carry it out.”
“My permission!” Clement guffawed. “When have you needed my permission for anything?”
* * *
The handbill arrived at the Cooke ranch by messenger. Tabor read it and turned white with rage. She had been in his thoughts too much that day. That happened when he was out riding fences or herding cattle. Hard as he had tried, he hadn’t been able to put her out of his mind. Nor could he forget the despicable way he had treated her. Undoubtedly the ordeal had been less painful for her than he thought or she would not have dared to do this.
Tabor read the handbill a second time, still disbelieving what it said.
Delilah, Flame of the West, in a special performance at the Paradise Saloon in Sandy Flats.
What the hell was the meaning of it? He had warned her never to become Delilah again. He’d kept his part of that final bargain. The Penn brothers were behind bars for a long time. Lilah Damon had no reason to assume the guise of Delilah. Except one. She really did enjoy playing the seductress.
Tabor tore up the handbill and decided it was no concern of his if she wanted to become Joan of Arc. But as the day lengthened and the time of her performance drew near, his mood grew darker. By dusk his temper had reached a danger point and all the cowhands were steering clear of him.
His eyes blazed and he dented the bottom of the coffeepot slamming it back on the stove after finding it empty and cold. Where the hell was Sarah? She had left the ranch before noon without a word about where she was going. Did she already know about this? Was that why she had cleared out? Hell! She was probably in town to see the performance. He wouldn’t put it past her.
Only there wasn’t going to be a performance. By God! He was a man of his word. And he had warned her. A deal was a deal, and it was time Delilah and/or Lilah Damon learned that.
What had happened to that soft-soled fiancé of hers? A scowl that would scatter cattle set on his face. Couldn’t Fenton do anything about controlling his intended? Temper worsening, Tabor stormed around the house like the irritable bear Sally Ann had labeled him. An hour later, washed and with his clothes changed, he rode into town still wearing the same black look. He had warned her.
The Paradise Saloon had gone all-out for Delilah. A huge banner proclaiming the dubious event hung above the front doors. The streets were filled with more horse and buggies than he recalled ever seeing in Sandy Flats. Inside the Paradise, red bunting draped the paneled walls. Baskets of fragrant flowers lined the makeshift stage. The floor had been swept and sprinkled with fresh sawdust. The room was packed with men sitting shoulder to shoulder. The lamps burned low and nothing above a whisper sounded in Sandy Flats’ rowdiest saloon.
Tabor burst through the swinging doors, giving both halves a shove that shook them on their hinges. Hardly a head turned to see the cause of the disturbance. Those that did gave him angry scowls. Tabor could see and hear why. Delilah, all dolled up in pink and silver, strolled the stage and had her audience hypnotized. Her hot, sweet song washed like warm wine over everyone within hearing range. The poignancy in her voice affected him no less than any other man in the room.
Hell! He was a lost man, he said to himself, stopping cold in his tracks at the sight of her. Tabor sighed, and instead of tearing through the crowd and dragging Delilah offstage as he had fully intended to do, he found a stool near the back and sat down to listen and watch.
Her hair glowed a fiery red again, her voice sounded more provocative than he remembered, particularly in the strains of her last number.
She’ll tempt you, she’ll tease you, she’ll raise all your hopes.
Then leave you standing with your arms full of smoke.
So listen to me, stranger, whatever you name,
You can get burned in Delilah’s flames.
Delilah’s flames. Tabor felt them scorching his skin. Delilah had him in her spell again. He was weak as a newborn colt and just as powerless to carry out his threat. The wanting built up inside so fast and hard he could scarcely draw a breath. Why the devil did he have to love her? Beads of sweat broke out on his brow as he saw her extract the small silver mirror from her pocket.
If you choose to love her, you’ve no right to complain,
You’ve had your warning, stranger, of Delilah’s flames.
The turmoil of doubt raged within him. He wasn’t sure what he would do if Delilah flashed that mirror on any man other than him. Fortunately he didn’t have to find out. The bright beam of light shone the invitation on his face.
Half an hour later Tabor found himself knocking at the door of Delilah’s hotel room. In the short wait, his temper had turned on him again. He sauntered in feeling like he had a mouthful of briars. “I suppose you’re going to tell me you like being Delilah too much to give it up,” he said, tossing his dusty hat to the seat of a chair and glancing around. “Where are the two tin cowboys? And do you mind leaving off smashing the bottle on my head this time?”
“Good evening to you too, Tabor. It’s been a long time.” Her words poured out like warm honey. “I don’t use Todd and Seth anymore. I’m taking a more direct approach to my work now.” She smiled invitingly at him. She stretched out a finger and rested it on his chin for a second, then trailed it sensuously down his chest, stopping and tapping her nail on his belt buckle. “You are absolutely right. I do enjoy being Delilah. Oh,” she said, raking her finger up his abdomen and chest again and speaking as if an insignificant thought had occurred to her. “I know you warned me not to be Delilah again, but I found,” she went on deliberately, slowly, hooking her finger beneath his chin, “I missed the physical part of it too much.” She eyed him coyly. “You know what I mean.”
“I damned sure don’t!” he growled, twisting his head away. The touch of that one finger had started a crazy hunger inside him. “You were a virgin when we made love out on the trail.” His dark brows rose swiftly. “Of course I don’t know what you’ve been up to since.”
Lilah could have laughed out in joy. So he had known all along she was a virgin. Why hadn’t he said so? Well, he
r curiosity would have to wait to be satisfied. First things first.
“Call me Delilah,” she said, half-lowering her lids. “I haven’t been up to anything yet. But I do have a few things in mind for tonight.”
Her bordello moves tormented him. “Like what?” he asked warily.
“Like another poker game.” She brushed by him, rustling the skirts of her pale pink gown.
Tabor turned and followed her with his eyes, still scowling. The poker table was there, the cards laid out, but he had failed to notice anything in the room but her. “I see,” he said curtly. “Just what’s your game this time, Delilah? Are you after the ranch now?”
“Uh-uh,” she replied as she unpinned a cascade of black feathers from her hair. “Papa has a ranch.”
“So what, then?” He shrugged, hoping she couldn’t tell how every little gesture, every little move drove him closer to the edge. “You still have the stallion.”
Lilah just smiled and poured two glasses of brandy. She sat at the table sipping from one, then motioned for him to join her. “I’m going to give you a chance to win the Admiral back. Sit down,” she said. “And deal.”
He didn’t trust her, but he obliged her and sat down across the table and drank the brandy. It burned a streak down his throat but was no hotter than the fire already burning in his blood. Damn the horse! This wasn’t about a horse. This was about something he wanted a hell of a lot more.
“Let’s up the stakes,” he said as he dealt cards.
“To what?”
“To you.” God! She was having an effect on him. Just being in the same room with her was driving him mad. He burned like he had a fever and his head felt like a spinning wooden top ready to drop over on its side. Lilah poured him another drink and he swallowed it quickly.
“I’m agreeable,” she said coolly. “But this time there will be a matter of a wedding ring.”
Tabor’s vision blurred so he could hardly see the cards in his hand. Damned little wench. She had put something in the brandy. But whatever it was made him feel so good that any stakes she wanted would be fine with him. He told her so. His mind went blank for a few moments. He had no idea what went on in the game. Her voice brought him back a little.
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