by Jeanne Allan
“You are one mean woman, Red.”
Elizabeth just laughed and put her hat back on.
They’d circled around and were approaching the house from a different direction. A riot of colorful wildflowers caught her eye. A rusted wrought-iron fence enclosed a small garden. She hadn’t seen it before. “What is that?”
Worth followed her gaze. “Sort of a memorial garden. The house is through those cottonwoods. If you want to look around, you can walk from here. I’ll take care of Rosie.”
Elizabeth wouldn’t win any prizes for horsemanship, but Russ had taught her the rudiments of riding. Cautiously she climbed down from the mare, hoping Rosie wouldn’t bolt for the barn. The mare yawned.
Worth smiled. “Congratulations. You survived.”
“Yes.” She handed him Rosie’s reins.
“I thought you might come down to the corral, give me a piece of your mind for pushing you to ride, and then walk away. Why didn’t you, Red? Tell me the truth this time. I didn’t force you to walk up to Rosie, to blow in her nostrils.”
“You threw me on her.”
“You just proved you can get off all by yourself. But you didn’t at the corral? Going to tell me why?”
“No. I’m not sure I can explain it.” She stared at the stitching on his jean-clad thigh. “I used to fear nothing. Except horses. But since Lawrence died…It’s insidious, fear. Before you know it, it rules your life. Becomes a prison. I was doing that to myself. Locking myself in a prison of fear. What you said about Jamie…”
A bee buzzed past. Demonstrating what she’d lacked for the past year. A purpose. “I can’t raise him to be afraid of every little shadow. But I didn’t ride Rosie just for Jamie’s sake. I rode her for me.”
Elizabeth stuck her hands in her back pockets. “If a person runs away from fear, fear wins. I haven’t been fighting fear; I’ve been conceding. Letting what happened beat me.” She looked up into Worth’s shadowed face. “When I came here I felt sorry for myself. I told myself you all were lucky because you’d never known what it was to suffer. I was wrong. Everyone has rough spots in their lives. You all fight back. It’s time I started fighting back, too.”
Without waiting for a response, Elizabeth made a wide berth around the horses and headed for the gate in the fence.
A path of flat concrete stones wound through a cottage garden of wild blooms. Leaning over, she made out words scratched in the concrete. Names and dates. Taking care not to step on pale pink wild roses or bright blue harebells, Elizabeth followed the path, reading the inscriptions as she went. Teddy. Black Bart. Meow Meow. The names must belong to family pets. Older stones suggested the garden had served many generations.
The gate clanked as Worth joined her.
“You’ve had so many pets,” she said.
“I think Allie started bringing home unwanted and abused animals before she could walk. Most of them we never knew when they were born, so we recorded the day they came to the Double Nickel. Some of them were so bad off, they weren’t with us long, but hopefully, their last days were better than what went before. We usually took in the ones no one else wanted.”
Elizabeth peered more closely at the dates on the stones. She knew his sister had gone away to school and worked in Denver before she married. There was no cessation of animals during that time. Allie obviously knew one person she could count on to never turn away an animal, no matter how old or sick or ugly.
A gray-striped female cat was currently in residence. Hannah had explained to Elizabeth that she and Allie had given the abandoned kitten to Mary. Elizabeth noticed the cat spent most of her time in Worth’s office and that Worth never failed to pet or speak to the animal in passing.
Worth leaned down and brushed off a stone inscribed with the name Shadow. “He was a good ol’ dog. Deaf, blind, lame, but I kind of got used to having him around. He had a lot of heart.”
A lot of heart. Like Rosie. Like Worth.
She concentrated on a clump of columbine.
“Allie’s been after me to take another dog, but so far I’ve managed to put her off.”
Movement caught Elizabeth’s eye. A bluebird with a large insect in his mouth flew past and landed on an old birdhouse at the other side of the garden. A second bird, gray with tinges of blue, landed beside him, and the male fed the bug to the female.
She’d read male bluebirds helped raise their families.
Easy to guess why Worth didn’t want another dog. “I suppose it might be a little difficult to walk a dog on the Great Wall of China.”
He gave her a slight smile.
He didn’t deny it.
Elizabeth thought about him at age eleven preparing to take care of his sisters in case of an emergency. An eleven-year-old shouldn’t have to worry about becoming the head of a family. If ever there was a person who deserved a time to be footloose and fancy-free, to explore new horizons, that person was Worth Lassiter.
“All right,” she said abruptly. “I’ll do it.”
If he wasn’t behind the wheel as they drove to the jazz festival, Worth would be watching Elizabeth. And trying to figure out what Allie’s hairdresser had done to Elizabeth’s hair. He hadn’t been happy about her going to the beauty shop with his mother, but nobody asked his opinion. He’d half expected Elizabeth to return with short, chopped-off hair like Allie’s.
Her red hair didn’t look any shorter, except maybe around her face, but it was definitely different. Her eyes looked greener, her face fuller, more expressive. Sexier.
Living with three sisters and a mother, all with totally different personalities, he’d thought he knew all there was to know about women. In his family, each woman could be counted on to react predictably to a given situation. Elizabeth reacted in ten different ways in as many minutes.
Worth wondered how Lawrence Randall had managed to live for a year with such a mercurial, contradictory woman. Being married to her must have been like riding a roller coaster. Steady ascents, breathless heights and moments of sheer panic when you wondered where she’d take you next.
Worth wasn’t about to push his luck and ask Elizabeth why she’d agreed to his arrangement. If she couldn’t come up with solid reasons, she was as likely as not to change her mind.
“Nobody’s going to believe you’re seriously interested in me when you could have your pick of starlets and socialites.”
“Is that supposed to be a compliment?”
She didn’t crack a smile. “I’m widowed, have a child and I don’t like horses.”
“Nobody knows that part.” He added smoothly, “That’s the crux of our arrangement. We pretend we have a growing attachment to each other, and I not only keep secret your dislike of horses, I provide you with excuses for not riding.”
Not that the arrangement mattered any more. Even Cheyenne couldn’t entangle him with a woman in the few days left before the wedding. The time he’d spent with Elizabeth convinced him she hadn’t come to sabotage the wedding, so he no longer needed to keep her occupied and away from Russ.
The truth was, he’d kept after her about it more for the challenge than anything else. And to annoy her. Sparring with him gave her something to think about besides her bereavement.
Plus, he didn’t mind an opportunity to give Cheyenne a strong message that she should mind her own business.
“Your sisters will immediately guess you’re pretending to like me because you don’t want them matchmaking. I’ll look like a fool.”
“They’ll assume they know my motives. What will have them guessing is yours. I told you, make me the villain. They’ll have no problem believing I’m forcing you to fake an interest in me.” He smiled encouragingly across the width of the pickup. “You don’t look like a fool. You look good.”
“Good,” Elizabeth echoed in disgust. “Is that like, hey, that steak looks good?”
Worth gave her solemn look. “To a rancher, there’s nothing better-looking than a steak.”
She made a face, b
ut said nothing more, content to watch the passing scenery.
She’d made fun of the word, but she did look good. The sun had replaced her wan pallor with a faint pink, and her eyes were no longer sunk in dark pockets. She was eating and sleeping better.
She laughed easier.
Being here agreed with Jamie, too. He’d quit shrinking from Russ’s gruff voice, and grew in boldness as he explored the ranch house. After catching him eying the stairs, Worth had installed child safety gates at the top and the bottom.
Elizabeth’s voice broke into his thoughts. “How do you know Jake Norton and his wife so well?”
“Some years ago Jake filmed a Western movie in the area and he stayed with us to learn about ranching and get in character. You and he have a lot in common. He hates horses, too.”
“Jake Norton hates horses? He’s one of the biggest Western heroes around. I thought he was born and raised on a ranch.”
“Hollywood hype. He comes from a small town in Iowa. Don’t tell him I gave away his big secret.”
“Why did you? I could sell it to the tabloids and make a bundle.”
“It’s one of the worst-kept secrets in Hollywood. Besides,” he leered outrageously at her, “we’re supposed to be a couple, remember? We trust each other with secrets. That’s what couples do.”
Her face totally froze.
Worth mentally cursed himself for reminding her she was no longer part of a couple. Hoping to divert her thoughts, he launched into a history lesson about the beginnings of Aspen.
Elizabeth barely listened as Worth discoursed about mining and Ute Indians and skiing and cultural centers. He might know tons of things about Aspen, but he knew nothing about marriage. Couples didn’t always trust each other. At least, not both halves of a couple. She’d blindly trusted Lawrence. He’d abused that trust so vilely it sickened her to think about it. But she couldn’t put it from her mind. It was as if certain words were engraved deep down in the center of her brain. Lawrence hates Elizabeth. Lawrence hates Elizabeth. The refrain echoed over and over again like a mean, childish, playground taunt.
“You need a little practice.”
“What?” Worth’s words jerked her from black memories.
“You’re supposed to be hanging on my every word,” he said patiently, “not having your mind somewhere out in the ozone.”
“I was. Listening, I mean. Somebody named Meeker killed Indians on Independence Day during a snowstorm.”
“Meeker was killed by Indians a hundred miles from here, nowhere near Independence Pass, which was the route miners took to reach Aspen from Leadville. Some of the first came through more than five feet of snow.” He abruptly switched subjects. “I’m telling you, you don’t have a thing to worry about tonight.”
Elizabeth shut down thoughts of Lawrence’s treachery before Worth guessed her preoccupation had nothing to do with this evening. She ought to be terrified about going to a jazz concert with a group which included one of Hollywood’s brightest stars and the head of an exclusive hotel chain she’d give her eyeteeth to work for. Not to mention she’d agreed to participate in a farce which no one would believe. She’d look like an idiot.
She fought an impulse to giggle, probably from rising hysteria. “I can’t believe I agreed to do this. Riding Rosie must have scrambled my brain.”
“That’s what happens when you ride a bucking bronco,” Worth said solemnly. Warm laughter danced in his eyes.
No one ever told her you could drown in blue eyes.
For one crazy second the world tilted crazily on its axis.
Elizabeth wanted him to kiss her. It was absolutely insane, but she wanted him to stop the truck, take her in his arms, and cover her face with kisses.
“This is Snowmass. We’ll have to walk from here.”
Blinking out of her trance, Elizabeth looked around. Worth had parked the pickup and was getting out. In front of them a small stream of people headed up a slight incline. Worth opened her door and she stepped down.
Most of the people carried heavy coats and blankets. One woman wore what looked like a silk trouser suit and another wore a skimpy knit camisole with a long skirt almost completely unbuttoned in front. Elizabeth shivered just looking at the scantily clad woman.
“Cold already?”
She shook her head. “Your mother insisted I wear her silk long underwear under my jeans. I feel guilty dumping Jamie on her again. I could have stayed home or brought him.”
“Mom’s happy to have the excuse not to come. She says she’s too old for outdoor concerts and Russ doesn’t like jazz. My baby nieces won’t be here either.” He handed her their coats and grabbed the blankets behind his seat and two low folding chairs from the back of the truck.
Towering mountains were beginning to shadow this end of the alpine valley. The Nortons, Steeles, Peters and Damians had already staked out a spot in front of a huge white tent in the large field. Hannah saw Elizabeth and Worth and jumped up, waving her arms and yelling at them. Elizabeth was too loaded down to wave back, but she smiled and nodded. Hannah and Davy raced toward them.
Worth bent to speak in her ear. “You’ll notice where they chose to sit.”
A half-dozen young women sprawled near the Lassiter family group. Elizabeth saw absolutely no sign either group knew the other. She laughed up into Worth’s face. “Talk about paranoia. I’ll bet your sisters haven’t even noticed who’s beside them.”
Worth kissed her on the mouth.
Elizabeth forgot everything but the feel of his lips against hers.
He raised his head, satisfaction gleaming in his eyes. “I’m going to enjoy this.” He slanted his eyes toward his family.
Elizabeth followed his gaze and swallowed hard. The expressions on the faces of the group waiting for them ran the gamut from interest through surprise to shock. Except for Thomas Steele who looked amused.
Davy, reaching them, took the chairs from Worth, so Hannah insisted on carrying Elizabeth’s coat. Nerves jangled in Elizabeth’s stomach, but everyone greeted them with a friendly welcome. By the time she’d returned greetings and arranged their blankets and chairs, Elizabeth had managed to bring her racing pulse under control.
Worth had taken her by surprise. If he’d warned her, she wouldn’t have…Wouldn’t have what? Kissed him back so enthusiastically? Been tempted to burrow into his body?
Or forgotten they played a game of pretend?
Cheyenne brought it up first. Davy and the men had wandered off to collect dinner from the various booths decorating the perimeter of the field. Kristy and Greeley went with Hannah to where portable toilets had been set up. “About Worth kissing you…” Cheyenne began.
Elizabeth felt the blush heating her face and busied herself refolding the coat she’d borrowed from Mary. “Well, you know how, uh, he is.”
Cheyenne sighed. “I know exactly how he is. I’m not sure how to say this…” She looked at Allie.
“You started it,” her sister said.
“Don’t take me wrong, Elizabeth. That is, I don’t want you to, I mean…” She gestured aimlessly.
“I know he’s using me as a shield against other women,” Elizabeth said before Cheyenne could warn her away from Worth.
“I suppose he could be, partly,” Allie said. “Mostly he’s using you to teach Cheyenne a lesson. No reason you should let him.”
This was the tricky part. “We’re sort of scratching each other’s backs, if you know what I mean?”
A dead silence greeted her question, then Cheyenne gave her an arrested look. “He’s blackmailing you?” she asked in an outraged voice.
“I didn’t say that.”
“You don’t have to. I know Worth and his tricks. I can’t believe he’d pull that on you. How in the world did he learn something you didn’t…Never mind. Do you enjoy jazz? I adore these concerts as much for the ambiance as the music. You can buy tickets for inside the tent or out here. It gets colder out here, but it’s more fun, especially with the
kids. We can watch the concert on the big TVs they’ve set up.” She pointed to one. “The sound out here is just as great.”
Later, Allie walked with Elizabeth to the toilets. “When it comes to your deep, dark secrets, you can trust Worth absolutely. He’s safer than a bank vault.” Allie hesitated. “And if it’s something you need help with, you can count on Worth.”
Elizabeth had no intention of trusting anyone, including Worth, with her deepest, darkest secret.
Worth shifted a sleeping Hannah to a more comfortable spot on his lap. Even in the dark he saw the quick smile Elizabeth flashed him as she rearranged Hannah’s legs. Hannah had insisted on sitting on both their laps so they’d put their armless chairs as close together as they could, and shared the blankets, one behind them and one draped over Hannah and their laps. With the exception of Allie and Zane cuddled together in a cluster of blankets, the other couples were paired off in chairs. Davy’s nose peeked out of a sleeping bag near Thomas’s chair.
The Nortons, Worth’s sisters and their spouses, exemplified the best kinds of married couples. They worked hard at keeping their marriages strong.
And enjoyed the rewards.
Envy surged out of nowhere, surprising Worth. How could he envy them? Zane, Quint, Thomas, even Jake—they were all tied down, tied to each other, tied to their children.
Heartstrings, his mother called them. Love tied you to people. That was fine if a man wanted to be tied down.
A man couldn’t pat a wife and child on their heads and take off for weeks at a time to indulge his own selfish interests. A husband, a father, had to be there for his family.
Beau had never been there for them. Worth didn’t want his kids feeling about him the way Worth felt about his father.
Someday he wanted marriage, a wife, children. Heartstrings. Someday. Not now. Not yet. There was a whole world out there waiting to be explored. He didn’t want to be tied down until he’d seen at least some of it.
Elizabeth’s thigh bumped rhythmically against him as she tapped her foot to the beat. He was conscious of her breathing, heard her little sounds of pleasure in the musical performance.