In the Shadow of the Mountains

by Rosanne Bittner

  He looked at her lovingly. “I will do whatever you want me to do.”

  She sighed, kissing little Juan’s dark hair. “She will be another man’s wife. Nothing can be done about that, and I know that you love me, Ramon. It is a great opportunity for you. This one job could help you realize all your dreams. You cannot turn it down.”

  He left the doorway and came around to kneel in front of her. “I suppose not.” He leaned up and kissed her lightly.

  “It will be hard on you, building the home she will share with another man,” Elena told him.

  He reached up and touched her face. “But every night I will have you to come home to.” He leaned up and met her mouth again, this time harder, more demanding. “Come to bed, Elena. Suddenly I need you.” He kissed her throat, kissed at her full breasts, then rose, helping her up. She carried little Juan to a playpen Ramon had built for the boy, a place where they could put him to play without having to worry about him crawling away. She followed Ramon into their bedroom, and he took her into his arms, kissing her hungrily and pulling her dress from her shoulders.

  She knew what was going through his mind—knew this would be one of those times when it was not Elena Vallejo in his arms. He was making love to Irene Kirkland. As long as he could not physically realize that need, she could bear the pain of it, for it was her body he used, her bed he slept in.

  Chapter Twenty

  January 1864

  Chad and Irene took advantage of an unusually warm winter day to drive the Kirkland buggy to the site of their new home, only three hundred yards from the Kirkland mansion. It would be a much more modest house than the mansion was, but elegant in its own right. The two-story structure was already framed up, brick layers finishing the outer walls.

  With great apprehension Irene disembarked the buggy. She did not relish having to face Ramon at all, let alone with Chad on her arm. When Chad had told her that he had hired Ramon to build their house, it had been difficult to hide her shock. It was true Ramon was probably the best man for the job, and she was more than happy to help his business, but a more ironic situation could not possibly exist for her. She felt sorry for Ramon, who must have accepted the offer with painful misgivings.

  There was nothing Irene could say against the plan that would make sense, and she knew it had been the same for poor Ramon. Chad carried on elatedly about how quickly and beautifully their new home was taking shape. “You can decorate any way you want, Irene,” he told her. “I want you to have everything exactly to your own taste. I know you like lots of pretty woodwork. That’s why I hired Ramon.” He led her to the double oak doors, their stained-glass windows adding to the rich, elegant appearance of the house.

  “I have already been talking to Mother about it,” Irene answered. She often wondered why Bea always seemed so nervous when they discussed the new house. Her mother should have been thrilled at Chad’s wedding gift, glad they would have a home of their own to come back to after their honeymoon. But she did not seem very enthusiastic. Irene decided Bea was just disappointed that Irene and Chad would not be living at the Kirkland mansion. She was losing a daughter, and that upset her. Besides that, the woman had no use for Mexicans, especially Ramon.

  They walked inside, admiring the huge central great room, which would be two stories high at its center, with a magnificent chandelier hanging from its peak. All other rooms were off to the sides, with an open, circular staircase leading to the upper bedrooms, which opened outward to a circular balcony that was visible from the great room. The marble flooring of the central room had not yet been laid, but the polished, honey-colored primavera wood banister that graced the entire stairway and balcony was in place. The delicately grooved banister was enhanced at intervals by beautifully carved support posts. After entering the great room, visitors could see a magnificent stair landing that was crowned by a ten-foot-wide stained-glass window.

  Irene thought the stairway was one of the most beautiful features of the house, as well as the Primavera wood that trimmed every room. She had strived for a house that would be warmer and more homey than the castlelike Kirkland mansion. She liked this house much better, and had secretly admired Ramon’s lovely, personal touches. She had not had to bear seeing and talking to Ramon yet, always being sure to visit the house when he was not there. But today Chad had come home early, and he was eager to do some inspecting. Irene knew Ramon would still be here working, and in spite of wearing an engagement ring, she was thrilled at the thought of seeing Ramon.

  They found him bent over one of the railing posts on the landing, sanding a rough edge. He looked down when Chad called out to him, and his smile quickly faded when he saw Irene. She could see him struggle to keep his composure as he nodded to Chad. “So, you bring the señorita with you,” he said, slowly coming down the stairs to shake Chad’s hand.

  Irene caught the look in Ramon’s eyes, knew how he must feel about Chad, the same burning jealousy she felt over Elena. They gripped hands firmly. “Yes,” Chad was saying. “With everything framed up and partly finished, Irene can get a better feel for how she wants to decorate. Irene”—he put a hand to Irene’s waist—“I think you already know Ramon.”

  Their eyes met, and she wanted to cry, hating herself for this instant rekindling of old feelings when she was standing beside the man she was supposed to marry. “Yes,” she answered, putting out her hand. “It’s…been a long time, Ramon.”

  He took her hand hesitantly, squeezing it gently, and she knew in that one touch he wanted to do much more. A rush of desire swept through her that made her lower her eyes. “Sí, señorita.” He released her hand reluctantly. “Congratulations on your coming marriage.”

  The conversation turned to progress on the house. Irene could not help noticing Ramon’s dark, muscular arms as he lifted a piece of wood that would be a fireplace mantel. He had rolled up the sleeves of his shirt, finding the work inside unusually warm today. The recurrent chinook wind had made the January day seem more like a spring one. Was Ramon really so much bigger and stronger, so much more handsome, or did it only seem that way because she had not seen him in so long, and because she still wanted him so?

  He explained how he would design the particular piece of wood he was holding, then set it aside. “I am afraid this is going to cost more than we thought,” he was telling Chad. “You know yourself how high prices are going, and it is hard to get the wood, especially the imported primavera from South America. And now the carpenters and brick layers are forming unions, demanding higher fees.”

  “Don’t worry about it, Ramon. I’ll cover any costs you didn’t plan on. I want you to make good money on this. And like I said when I hired you, we want you to come to our housewarming, don’t we, honey?” He turned to Irene, who had trouble finding her voice.

  Ramon realized her agony, felt sorry for her in this awkward situation.

  “Yes, of course,” she answered. “And you must bring your wife.”

  Ramon smiled softly for her before moving his eyes to Chad. “We will think about it when the time comes. Right now I have to work at finishing, or you will have no reason for a housewarming.”

  Chad laughed, and Ramon wondered if Irene knew how her fiancé flirted with women in town.

  Irene could no longer take the strain. “Chad, I’m going outside to look at the front doors again. They’re so beautiful, prettier than Mother’s, don’t you think?”

  “Much prettier,” he answered. “Come right back. I’m going to have a look at the den.” He turned to Ramon as Irene hurried away. “Beautiful, isn’t she?”

  Ramon watched her a moment, then forced his eyes back to Chad. “Sí, señor,” he answered. “She is most beautiful.” He hoped his deep feelings did not show in his words.

  As she exited the double front doors, Irene saw her mother coming up the steps. She walked down to greet her. “Mother! What are you doing here? I thought you were at the offices this morning.”

  The woman appeared upset. “I came bac
k to the house for something, and Elly told me you and Chad had come up here together.” She glanced around, as though looking for someone. “I—I thought I’d come, too…see how things were going. Is that fellow Ramon Vallejo here?”

  “Yes. He’s doing a magnificent job, Mother. I hope you aren’t going to be nasty about his leaving the work on your house. That was…a long time ago. I’m sure he had good reason. He’s very good at what he does, Mother, and we want to help his business grow.”

  Bea gazed at her oddly. “Yes. I suppose you do.” She sniffed. “Well, I wouldn’t give that Mexican the time of day, but Chad seems to like him well enough.” She studied the fine work on the outside of the house. “He does seem to know his business.” She looked at Irene again. “Have you talked to him?”

  “Of course. Chad is still with him.”

  Bea watched her daughter’s eyes. If she still had feelings for Ramon Vallejo, it was difficult to tell. She was furious with Chad for hiring the carpenter, but she dared not voice her feelings. If Chad knew about Ramon and Irene, he might lose his respect for Irene and not marry her. And, after all, Ramon was married now. Still, he was one of those hot-blooded Mexicans. He could not be trusted. Thank goodness Irene had not come here alone.

  Bea took Irene’s arm. “Come inside with me, and show me around.”

  Irene felt her mother tense when they approached Ramon. Ramon gave her mother a strange, venomous look, and Irene began to wonder if her mother had somehow insulted him at one time. Maybe that was why Ramon had not finished his work at the mansion. “How do you do, Señora Kirkland?” he said, putting out his hand. “We meet again.”

  Bea had no choice but to take his hand. He squeezed hers nearly to the point of pain, but she made no sound. “Yes,” she answered. “I trust you will finish this job and not run out on it before you’re through.”

  He let go of her hand, glancing at Irene, then back at her witch of a mother.

  “I was younger then, señora. And in love.” He watched her eyes, felt Irene’s hurt. He knew Bea Kirkland knew what he meant by being in love. “I decided I did not want to wait any longer to marry my Elena.” He glanced at Irene again, hoping she understood he had to be careful what he said. At the same time he saw the slight relief in Bea’s eyes. “Besides, I was not running my own business then. Now I am,” he reminded her, a note of victory in his voice. “I finish what I start, Señora Kirkland. Already many of Denver’s most prominent people have been asking me to do work for them. I have your future son-in-law to thank for that.”

  He smiled, wanting to laugh at her chagrin. He had won his first small victory over Bea Kirkland, and it felt good.

  “What’s this about not finishing a job?” Chad asked, coming out of the den.

  Ramon met his eyes, thinking that no matter how much he disliked the man, he could never hate Chad Jacobs as vehemently as he hated Bea Kirkland. “I am afraid I left my work at the Kirkland mansion before it was finished. I went back to Hacienda del Sur to get married.”

  Chad laughed. “Well, I can understand that. The want of a woman can make a man do some crazy things.”

  Irene saw Ramon tense. His dark eyes moved to meet her blue ones. “Sí,” he answered. “This is true.” He looked back at Bea and smiled, sure she would never understand such a feeling. “I must get back to my work now. Look around all you want,” he told Chad then. “Just be careful with the señorita. There are a lot of tools and some lumber lying around. I would not want her to get hurt.”

  Chad took Irene’s arm and led her to the den. Bea remained with Ramon, and after a moment, spoke. “If you do anything to hurt Irene, or her marriage, I’ll see you dead,” the woman told him flatly.

  Ramon’s dark eyes blazed with hatred. “You have already hurt her more than I ever could,” he warned. “And she will be hurt more by that womanizer you are allowing her to marry.”

  “Chad Jacobs is a fine man, the perfect husband for Irene.”

  Ramon turned away and began sanding the wood again. “Believe what you want. It is no longer my concern.” He faced Bea. “I love my wife and son, Señora Kirkland. Irene will always be important to me, only in that I wish her to be happy. Do not worry about your precious daughter. I have no evil plans for her. My only goal now is to be a wealthy man, and I am going to make it!” He leaned closer, gritting his teeth, actually frightening her with his powerful frame and fiery eyes. “And you will not stop me, or I will tell Chad Jacobs the truth about me and Irene! Now get out of my sight, bruja!”

  Bea had no idea what bruja meant, but he terrified her with his fierceness. She sucked in her breath, holding her chin high as she marched away, going down the stairs to find Chad and Irene. Ramon turned away, shaking with murderous emotion.

  Spring came, and wedding plans were made. It was not the best time for a wedding, but then Bea decided the people of Denver needed a grand society event to help them forget their mounting woes. The war, as well as months of Indian ravages, had brought dangerous shortages, especially in food, since Coloradans still depended on outside sources for most of their staples. Prices had risen so dramatically that people were starving. Flour went from twelve to twenty dollars for five pounds. Twenty-five cent haircuts now coast a dollar each.

  Even doing business cost more, since a ream of paper jumped from five dollars to twenty. Bea gave strict instructions to those at Kirkland Enterprises that anything that could be handled orally should be, to avoid unnecessary paperwork. After months of fund-raising, with Bea Kirkland at the helm, a Methodist seminary had opened, but closed again due to lack of funds. Early spring rains, unusually heavy, were inundating the plains, ruining spring plantings. Already Coloradans knew this would be another bad year for farming. What the sun had dried up last year, the rain would drown this year.

  There was also unrest at the gold mines, where those miners being paid with paper money were forming unions. It took two dollars and forty cents now to buy one dollar’s worth of gold, and the extreme gap forced even Kirk to begin paying his own men in greenbacks, the last thing he wanted to do.

  Even other kinds of workers were forming unions—bricklayers, tailors, carpenters—forcing prices higher because of demands for higher pay. Men now wanted eight-hour workdays and shorter workweeks. Bea was beside herself with concern over the cost to Kirkland Enterprises. “Those uneducated drifters think they can get away with robbing people like us who have worked hard for everything we have. They might as well come in with guns and steal right out of our safes and jewelry boxes,” she would complain.

  Still, gold stocks continued to soar, and those with money in Kirkland mines enjoyed high dividends. But on April eighteenth, less than a month before Irene and Chad were to wed, everything came crashing down. The price of gold fell, based on the discovery that certain claims were worthless. Bea had made a killing selling shares in just such claims, but now the legitimate gold mines would suffer.

  Times were hard, but investments in warehousing and supplies, hotels, the banks, and an iron mill helped carry the Kirklands through the worst. There came a cry for statehood, led by Bill Byers, Bea, and other prominent citizens who thought it was the only thing that would save Denver and Colorado. They promised better organization, more recognition from the federal government. But there were plenty who opposed statehood, voicing a fear of high taxes—county, city, school, road, license, income, and postage taxes. Their cries were voiced in a rival newspaper, along with those of the Spanish-Mexicans, who feared they would lose considerable rights to land they held in southern Colorado if it became a state.

  Ramon was one of those who led an antistatehood movement, concerned for his grandfather’s land in the south. His actions only made Bea hate him more, and she secretly vowed, now that Irene was marrying someone else and Ramon could no longer try to steal her away, that she would find a way to claim Hacienda del Sur and banish the Vallejos. She surmised that Ramon loved Irene too much to hurt her by going to Chad with the truth. He might have threatened
to do so, but Bea was certain he would not. She needed his grandfather’s land for her new venture in cattle ranching, and she was determined to get it. She’d have the last laugh on Ramon Vallejo.

  Amid all the turmoil of political and financial upheaval, Bea insisted her daughter’s wedding go on as planned. Now that Irene had been exposed to Ramon again, the sooner she was married to Chad, the better. Irene wondered at her mother’s strange urgency over her marriage, as though it meant more to Bea than it did to Chad and Irene. The wedding would be held at the Kirkland mansion on May eighth, and promised to be the society event of the year for Denver.

  Elly would be Irene’s maid of honor, something she didn’t mind doing, now that she secretly knew Chad Jacobs had been hers first. She had shared Chad’s bed twice more since that first night at the Kirkland mansion, wonderful liaisons that had awakened every form of lust in her soul. Chad did terrible, wonderful, naughty things with her that only made her hunger for more. Since she could not have him with her always, she had decided she would find other ways to satisfy her insatiable sexual appetite. She felt beautiful and victorious in her seductions, not only of Chad, but of the boy who cleaned the Kirkland stables, and Tommy Slade, the twenty-year-old son of Robert Slade, one of the Kirkland attorneys. She had seduced Tommy in a back room of the new Kirkland offices, while her own mother worked out front. It was a terribly daring and exciting experience.

  Chad had awakened a great need in Elly Kirkland—a need for male attention, a need to make up for what she considered her father’s neglect. Mostly she needed and wanted Chad Jacobs, but as long as she couldn’t have him permanently, she decided she would take him when she could get him, and satisfy the delicious passion he had aroused in her through other men.

  A friend with whom Irene had shared a room in Chicago came to visit that spring, and stayed on to be one of Irene’s bridesmaids. Charlene Simms came from a wealthy family in St. Louis, and the young woman raved over Chad, envious of Irene for her prize “catch.”