A Woman to Die For

by Erin Wade

  It was an accepted fact that Morgan would one day own Estelline and the vast holdings of the Jouett family. He was Nelson’s first-born son. As stipulated in the will, he would inherit everything. Morgan needed a son to insure ownership of Estelline.

  Nelson made certain his son was well educated to meet the fast-changing world of Texas politics and ranching. Their love and admiration for one another made them close but the secrets they shared bound them tighter than anyone could ever imagine.

  ##

  When Morgan turned eighteen Nelson arranged for him to go to Los Angeles, California to the University of Southern California Gould School of Law. Morgan’s good looks and sharp mind made him a favorite with his instructors and classmates.

  Nelson took the train from Estelline to Los Angeles to see his son graduate. Morgan was all his father had hoped he would be. Nelson had given him everything money could buy and now it was time for him to take over the management of the ranch.

  ##

  “Look at you,” Nelson praised his son. “You’re a handsome man, graduated at the top of your class and such a fine person. Your mother would be so pleased with you. I’m proud to call you my son and know Estelline will be in capable hands.”

  “I’m proud to call you my father.” Morgan smiled. “You have shaped my life and made me what I am today. Without your guidance, Father, my world would be very different. I give you my word that I will take care of my birthright.

  “When will we head back to Estelline? I’m anxious to see my brothers.”

  “We must visit Christina’s sister Louise Wagner,” Nelson informed him. “I promised her I’d bring you to meet her. Christina was quite fond of you and spoke of you often. I also have business to transact with her brother-in-law Jude.”

  Morgan was thrilled at the thought of meeting Christina’s family and his half sibling. He had grown close to Christina. She had taught him about the world outside Estelline. He had been heartbroken when she died.

  “Did she write you?” Morgan asked as they rode in a carriage to the address the woman had sent Nelson.

  “She telegraphed me about a year ago,” Nelson answered. “I wasn’t sure we would have time to visit her, so I didn’t say anything about it to you.”

  The carriage groaned to a stop in front of a two-story mansion on the outskirts of San Francisco. “Please wait for us,” Nelson instructed the driver.

  The family greeted the two men expressing their sadness over Christina’s death.

  “I need to talk to you in private.” Jude Wagner spoke to Nelson

  Morgan expressed his condolences to Christina’s sister as his father and Mr. Wagner visited. “She was an incredible teacher,” he volunteered. “She taught me so much and truly prepared me for the university.”

  Morgan saw a movement on the staircase and slyly glanced at a young girl who was silently slipping down the stairs.

  “Hello,” he smiled as the girl poked her head around the last bannister. “My name is Morgan Jouett. What’s your name?”

  “Kristen,” the child walked toward him. “You’re pretty.”

  Morgan laughed. “As are you Kristen. How old are you?”

  “Eleven.” The girl moved closer to scrutinize Morgan.

  The door to Jude’s study swung open. “I’m glad we see eye-to-eye on this matter,” Wagner beamed at Nelson. “Makes things easier for everyone involved.”

  Nelson shook hands with the man and motioned for Morgan to follow him.

  “Goodbye Morgan,” the girl called after him.

  He turned to face her. “Goodbye Kristen. It was nice to meet you.”

  ##

  “Father that was my sister,” Morgan declared as they entered the coach. “I want to take her home with us. She’s a Jouett.”

  “No,” Nelson grunted. “The Wagner’s are raising her, and they love her. They are the only parents she’s ever known. It would be cruel to take her away from them.”

  Chapter 3

  “Surely there’s a girl in this county that you fancy.” Shanghai scowled at Morgan as they rode toward the ranch house.

  “Not enough to marry,” Morgan retorted. “I’ll know when I find her.”

  “Morgan Jouett you’re twenty-six years old,” Shanghai cajoled. “You need a woman in your bed.”

  “I don’t want just any woman,” Morgan argued. “I certainly don’t want an arranged marriage or a marriage of convenience to increase our holdings. God, we own half the state.”

  “Not quite.” Shanghai laughed. “Estelline is a drop in the bucket compared to the size of Texas. Anyway, you must be nice to Gwen Goodnight while she is visiting. Her father is the circuit judge.”

  “Father had three wives,” Morgan pointed out. “I only want one. He loved them all in his own way but in the end, he died alone except for Reid, Wallace and me.”

  “In the end I believe the three of you were enough,” Shanghai sobered. “He was mighty proud of you boys.”

  They stopped their horses as a rolling cloud of red dust approached. “Looks like Wallace,” Shanghai said.

  “Morgan,” Wallace hailed them, “you have a telegram. It says urgent. I thought I’d better bring it to you.”

  Morgan opened the envelope. “It’s from Kristen our sister in San Francisco.”

  “What does she want?” Wallace asked.

  “She wants me to come for her,” Morgan scowled. He read the telegram out loud. “In grave danger. Please save me.”

  “She must think she’s pretty important,” Wallace scoffed. “To think you’d go all the way to San Fran for her.”

  “She’s our sister, Wallace,” Morgan chided. “Of course, I’ll go get her. I can’t imagine what danger she’s in. I’ll leave in the morning.”

  “Gwen Goodnight is arriving tomorrow,” Shanghai reminded him. “You know she has her cap set for you and Judge Goodnight will be furious if you shun her.”

  “You entertain her,” Morgan grinned.

  ##

  Four-teen year old Kristen Jouett ignored the tapping on her bedroom door. She knew it was her uncle and she knew what he wanted. She wondered how much longer she could escape his advances. She exhaled when she heard the front door slam. Thank God Aunt Louise is home, she thought.

  The knocking on her door stopped as Jude walked downstairs to greet his wife.

  Kristen prayed that her telegram had reached Morgan Jouett. Most of all she prayed that Morgan would respond to it. She had only met him once, but he seemed like an honorable man. She was getting desperate and was entertaining the idea of running away. She’d heard about the things that happened to runaway girls and shuddered as she weighed the pros and cons of the two evils she faced.

  “Kristen,” Louise called up the stairs. “I thought you would have dinner ready.”

  Kristen unlocked her door and ran down the stairs. “I’m so sorry Auntie.” She pecked her aunt on the cheek. “I was doing my studies and lost track of time. I’ll prepare dinner. You go rest.”

  “We’ll both fix the meal.” Louise smiled. “We need to prepare enough to take to Mrs. Benson. Her husband’s funeral is tomorrow, and the neighbors are taking a potluck supper to her home tonight.”

  After the meal Kristen cleared the table and began washing dishes as her aunt packed food to take to Mrs. Benson. She was glad that Aunt Louise had insisted Jude accompany her. If she hurried, she could be in her room with the door locked before they returned.

  ##

  Kristen was halfway up the stairs when she heard the front door open. She looked down at the foyer and locked gazes with Jude. She ran to the top of the stairs and fumbled with the doorknob to open her door.

  Jude’s arms wrapped around her and clutched her against him. She could feel him pushing against her.

  “Let me go,” she screamed.

  “I will when I’m through with you.” Jude pushed her into her bedroom and closed the door locking it behind him.

  “You didn’t think you could l
ive here for free forever, did you?” A diabolical grin creased Jude’s face as he unbuckled his belt.

  ##

  “Please wait for me,” Morgan instructed the coach driver as he turned toward the mansion. Everything seemed quiet in the neighborhood. He wondered again what danger could be stalking Kristen. Shanghai was probably right; it was the drama of a teenager.

  He raised his hand to knock on the door as a blood-curdling scream ripped the night. Without waiting Morgan pushed opened the front door and ran into the house. Another scream came from above.

  Morgan took the stairs two at a time as he raced to the hallway. Muffled sounds came from the room on his left. He tried to open the door and found it locked. He beat on the door, but no one answered.

  A feeble “Help me.” Reached his ears. He kicked open the door.

  Jude was on top of Kristen, pinning her shoulders to the bed. Morgan grabbed the man by his hair and dragged him off his sister. As Jude hit the floor Morgan kicked him in the groin area sending him into the fetal position howling in pain.

  Morgan grabbed Kristen’s hand. “Let’s get out of here.”

  Kristen asked no questions obeying her brother as he led her down the stairs.

  “Take us to the Palace Hotel,” Morgan directed the coach driver.

  They sat in silence for a few minutes as the coach rattled away from the Wagner resident then Kristen burst into tears. Morgan put his arm around her thin shoulders, and she buried her face in his jacket sobbing until her tears dried. Morgan gave her his handkerchief.

  “I was so afraid you wouldn’t come,” Kristen sniffed as she dried her eyes and wiped her nose. “You were almost too late.”

  Morgan breathed a sigh of relief. He’d feared Jude’s attack was a repeat of past actions. “He’s never . . .?”

  “No.” Kristen heaved, “But he would have tonight if you hadn’t saved me.”

  When they arrived at the hotel Kristen was overwhelmed by the grandiose architecture and size of the building. She looked down at her thin, ripped dress. “I can’t go in there looking like this.” She sobbed anew.

  Morgan stepped from the coach and waved down two women wearing long fashionable coats. He held out gold coins. “I need to buy a coat from one of you he said. “You can have both our coats for that,” one of the women gasped.

  “I just need one,” Morgan smiled. “I’ll take yours.”

  After making his exchange Morgan offered his hand to help Kristen from the coach. He held the coat as Kristen slipped into to it and he buttoned it. “Keep it closed no one will know your dress is in shreds.” He assured her.

  Kristen slipped her arm through her brother’s and ducked her head as they made their way to Morgan’s room. “I should have picked you up before I registered here,” Morgan berated himself. “It would have saved you from that ugly scene.”

  “The important thing is you came for me,” Kristen smiled timidly.

  “There’s a lady’s boutique in the lobby of the hotel,” Morgan informed her. “You can use my toiletries to freshen up and fix your hair then we’ll get you some clothes and anything else you need to take back to Estelline.”

  ##

  Kristen was amazed and delighted at her brother’s generosity as he helped her select beautiful dresses and shoes.

  “You must have a corset,” the salesclerk declared.

  “Must I?” Kristen’s eyes pleaded for a no from her brother.

  “Of course not,” Morgan snickered. “That looks beastly. It must be painfully uncomfortable.”

  “It is,” the salesclerk sniped. “But it will give her the perfect figure.”

  Morgan smiled. “I believe she has the perfect figure. A little flat chested but the corset won’t help that.”

  Kristen shot him a “go to hell” look and he was thrilled to see his sister had the same fire he carried within him. “I’ll wait outside while you select your undergarments,” he said.

  Turning to the salesclerk, Morgan instructed her to dress Kristen to travel comfortably. “She needs several changes of clothes, at least one for each day of the week and two for Sunday and maybe a couple for community dances. She’ll also require night wear. Give her whatever she wants. Call me when you’re finished.”

  Morgan wandered around the shops that lined the hallway leading to the hotel lobby. He spotted a gentleman’s club across the lobby. I’d kill for a shot of whiskey, he thought as he wondered how much longer his sister would shop.

  He returned to the boutique and told the salesclerk he was going to have a drink. “I will return in half an hour. Do not let my sister wander around alone.”

  The clerk nodded as she carried a beautiful dress to Kristen’s dressing room.

  A trunk shop caught his eye as he walked toward the club. He knew they’d need something to carry Kristen’s new wardrobe to Estelline. He pushed aside his desire for a drink and purchased a trunk. The store owner’s son helped him carry the trunk to the boutique.

  Morgan held up a ten-dollar gold piece. “I’ll give you this if you’ll meet us here in the morning and help me load it on the coach.”

  The lad eagerly agreed and scampered off to tell his father of the fortune he would earn the next day.

  “I’ll wear this on the train,” Kristen twirled around in a simple but beautiful dress.”

  “It’s lovely,” Morgan said.

  He instructed the clerk to pack all of Kristen’s purchases into the trunk except for a nightgown and the dress Kristen was wearing. “Throw away the things she wore in here.” He added.

  Chapter 4

  On the train ride to Estelline Morgan told Kristen about the ranch. “We have thousands of cows and hundreds of horses.” He chuckled at her wide-eyed innocence.

  “We have two brothers, Wallace and Reid. Wallace is married to Naomi and Reid is married to Jerilyn.”

  He told her their father had passed away and the men and their wives ran the ranch.

  “What is your wife’s name?” Kristen inquired.

  “Oh, I have no wife,” Morgan shrugged. “I haven’t had time for one.”

  “I’m surprised,” Kristen exclaimed. “You’re so handsome. I mean you’re prettier than me.”

  Morgan laughed out loud. “I don’t know if I should be pleased or insulted,” he said.

  “I meant it as a compliment,” Kristen blushed. “I mean I bet you could have your choice of any girl in Texas.”

  “I could. I suppose,” Morgan agreed with her. “I’ve just never met one I wanted.”

  “Why didn’t you take me with you when you came to meet Aunt Louise and Jude?” Kristen asked abruptly.

  “I wanted to,” Morgan said. “I truly did but father said it would make you unhappy. That the Wagner’s had raised you and they were the only parents you’d ever known.”

  “Aunt Louise was wonderful,” Kristen said, “but Jude was an animal. When I was younger, he always wanted to hold me on his lap. Then I realized sitting on his lap affected him strangely, so I stopped letting him pull me onto it. He began touching me inappropriately and I realized it was just a matter of time until he molested me.”

  “Why didn’t you tell your aunt?”

  “She couldn’t do anything,” Kristen frowned. “He had all the money. Where would she go if she confronted him. I feel sorry for her.”

  “Let’s never speak of this again,” Morgan took her hand. “I’ll never let anyone hurt you. I’ll kill anyone that tries.”

  Kristen looked at the Colt revolver strapped to Morgan’s hip. “Are you a good shot?” She asked.

  “The best,” Morgan bragged.

  “My aren’t you the modest one,” Kristen laughed.

  “It’s true,” Morgan frowned. “Don’t you want me to tell you the truth?”

  “Yes, I always want you to tell me the truth,” Kristen smiled. “Always.”

  ##

  Kristen fit into the family as if she’d always been a part of it. Everyone loved her easy laughter a
nd sharp banter. She held her own with her macho brothers and always pitched in to help Naomi and Jerilyn with any chores that needed to be done.

  Morgan taught Kristen how to rope, ride and shoot. He taught her about cattle and shared the ranch’s finances with her, teaching her about banking and how to haggle for a fair price for their cattle. He took her everywhere with him and she loved her brother’s company. He taught her how to dance and field dress a dear. In short Morgan taught his sister everything he knew.

  On her eighteenth birthday a party to rival all parties was held at Estelline ranch. Young men came from miles to celebrate Kristen coming of age.

  “Damn, look at them,” Morgan complained to Reid. “Every one of them looking to marry her. She’s just a kid,” Morgan groused.

  “Jerilyn was younger than Kristen when I married her,” Reid pointed out. “You were thrilled when we married.”

  “That’s different,” Morgan explained. “I knew you’d be good to Jeri. I have no idea how these jake-legs will treat Kristen. I’ve yet to see one that is good enough for her.”

  “Lose the long face,” Reid teased, “here she comes with Judson Enlow.”

  Kristen burst into the room and ran to hug Morgan. “This is the best birthday party ever,” she giggled as she kissed Morgan on the cheek. “Jud and I are going to ride out to Mustang Ridge. I want to see if we can get a glimpse of the black stallion.”

  “Don’t be gone long,” Morgan instructed. “We’ll begin serving dinner in a couple of hours.”

  “Jud is safe.” Reid laughed. “He’s married.”

  “Yeah.” Morgan poured whiskey into glasses and handed one to Reid. “Poor guy. It’s a shame his wife was crippled when that bull gored her. It’s good to see him out.”

  “I’ve heard she isn’t doing well,” Reid informed his brother. “You’ve got to hand it to Jud. He’s been right there for her every step of the way.”

  “He’s a good man,” Morgan agreed.

  “You and Gwen Goodnight,” Reid raised a quizzical brow.

  “What about her?” Morgan huffed.

  “You danced a lot of dances with her last night.” Reid teased his brother. “Do I see a sister-in-law in our future?”

  “Jesus, Reid I danced with her.” Morgan scowled. “I didn’t sleep with her.”