by Diana Palmer
“You have to help me find the right sort of dress. I don’t want to embarrass him.”
“Honey, you’re not the kind of woman who’d embarrass any man. You’re very pretty, but it’s what’s inside that makes the difference. You have a kind heart. That’s rare in this world.”
Merrie smiled. “Thanks, Delsey.”
“We’ll find something beautiful but conservative.”
“My thoughts exactly!”
“And a winter coat.”
Merrie grimaced. “It’s going to be such a waste. I won’t need it in Texas.”
“You’re not going back right away, are you?”
That reminded her of the reason she was here, and it made her uneasy. “No. Not right away,” she confessed.
“Then it will get plenty of use,” Delsey said, smiling. “Now help me with the salad. Ren’s going to be starving when he gets in tonight.”
“I thought he’d be furious at me,” Merrie said absently. “I got lost in the woods.” She laughed. “I heard what sounded like a wolf howling, and Ren and the men were nowhere in sight. They’d gone to look at a sick animal. So, like an idiot, I ran away from the sound of the wolf and got lost. But Ren found me. I’ve never been so relieved in my life. And he didn’t even yell at me.”
Delsey was watching her animated face, and drawing conclusions. Ren would have yelled at most any woman who’d done something so foolish. But he hadn’t been angry at Merrie. Ren never showed much emotion. However, Delsey would have bet her egg money that he was feeling something new with their houseguest.
The only thing that worried her was that he thought Merrie was Randall’s girlfriend, and that way of thinking could have consequences if he acted on it. If he thought Merrie was like Randall’s other girlfriends, the ones who usually came on to him, and if he treated her like one of them...
Well, surely he could see how innocent she was. Even Delsey could see it. No, he wouldn’t do anything to upset the girl. He was raised to be a gentleman, however far he’d strayed from his upbringing and the education he’d gotten from that smart college he’d attended. He’d treat Merrie like the lady she was. She was sure of it. Merrie was over the moon. She had a date with the handsomest man she’d ever met, and like Cinderella, she was going to the ball! She’d have an elegant gown and she and Ren would dance and dance.
CHAPTER SIX
MERRIE STARED OUT the window at the snow, which was so white that it lit up the night sky. Ren was out there, somewhere, with his men, checking on the cattle. It was a huge ranch. Delsey had shown her a map of the entire area. There were a lot of purebred cattle, and they had to be watched carefully in the cold and the snow.
She hoped that Ren was warm, and that he didn’t have a relapse from his bronchitis. At least he had Delsey to take care of him.
He was so handsome. Merrie thought that she’d never tire of looking at him. Then she remembered the poem she’d blurted out, and his reaction to it, and she blushed some more. Well, he was gorgeous. That was a fact.
She wondered if he had an ulterior motive for asking her to go to the party with him. That woman, Angie, was going to be there. He wouldn’t want to go alone, especially after the vicious things she’d said about him. His pride wouldn’t have let him.
On the other hand, Merrie would make sure that stupid woman didn’t hurt him again. She was going to protect him, whether or not she had the right.
* * *
SHE’D BEEN CERTAIN that Ren would never want to take her out on the ranch again, not after she’d gotten lost and had everyone in an uproar. But the next morning, he made sure Delsey drove her into town to get a warmer coat and some proper boots. And, of course, the evening gown they’d discussed. Odd, she thought he’d mentioned having Tubbs drive them when he’d spoken of it. But it was just Merrie and Delsey.
“He doesn’t have to buy me things,” Merrie protested when they were in one of the ranch’s big SUVs, headed toward Catelow.
Delsey chuckled. “No, he doesn’t. But it’s his money, isn’t it? Let him spend it, if he wants to.” She glanced at her young companion. “It’s been a long time since Ren was concerned about the well-being of a woman.”
“Did he love that other woman, the one who cheated on him?” she asked quietly.
“He thought he did,” she agreed. “But it wasn’t love. He bought her things because she asked for them, and she’d worked him up until he was crazy to have her. That isn’t the same as what he’s doing now.” She turned her head toward Merrie. “He’s concerned about you, about keeping you warm and safe. Never would have occurred to him to feel protective about that she-cat.”
“Oh.” She felt unsettled. She shifted restlessly in her seat. “He’s a very masculine man,” she said. “I feel safe when I’m with him. But he needs looking after, too,” she added softly. “He doesn’t take care of himself.”
Delsey didn’t say a word. Her expression did, but she was careful not to let Merrie see it. Both of them were nurturing people, with the right partners. Delsey was sure that there were happier times ahead for them both. But she wasn’t going to comment on it, and risk alienating the sweet young woman in the vehicle with her.
“Is it much farther?” Merrie asked as they wound around through the lodgepole pines.
“Just up ahead,” she said.
And there was Catelow, covered in snow, looking like any small town in any northern state in the country. Except there were huge jagged mountains in the distance, their sharp peaks covered with snow. It was a perfect setting. There were houses dotted around in the outskirts, and a beautiful church with a tall spire, looking right at home there.
“The church is beautiful,” Merrie noted.
“Isn’t it?” she agreed. “It’s the Methodist church. I was baptized there when I was just a child. So were both my parents. Mr. Ren’s father and mother went there when he was very small.” She made a face. “That fancy college ruined him,” she muttered. “He came out of it not knowing who he was anymore.”
“Sometimes that happens,” she agreed. “Not my sister, though.” She smiled. “Sari had ideals and beliefs that dynamite couldn’t budge. We went to the Methodist church from the time we were toddlers. When people made fun of Sari in college, she just told them exactly what she thought. Even if they didn’t agree with her, they respected her for standing up for what she believed.”
“Rare courage, in this day and time,” Delsey said sadly.
“Do they have Christmas parades here?” she wondered aloud.
She chuckled. “Catelow hasn’t changed much in the past hundred years, and I don’t think it ever will. Yes, we have parades. We have decorations. We have Christmas trees everywhere, and Santa Claus appears at the local department store to see the children every December.”
“That sounds like home,” Merrie said. “We live in Comanche Wells, which is tiny. But Jacobsville, down the road, is our county seat, and we have beautiful decorations every year for Christmas. Parades and parties and caroling. Some people dress up like they did back in Charles Dickens’s day in the oldest part of town, and tourists come from miles around to see them. We have decorations crisscrossing the street. It’s magic.” She sighed. “We have a nine-foot tree every year at the house,” she added. “Daddy was never home at Christmas, which meant we could celebrate it. Mandy had the cowboys put us up a tree and we decorated it and gave each other little presents. I learned to knit so that I could have things to give.” She grimaced. “Daddy wouldn’t even let us have an allowance, or work part-time to earn money.”
“Your father doesn’t sound very nice.”
“He was terrifying,” Merrie confessed. “I wish we’d had a father like other people do, one who loved us and wanted to do things with us.” She leaned her head back against the seat. “When he died, we were sorry, but it was like
being set free from prison.”
“I’m sorry it was so hard for you.”
She smiled. “You’re the nicest person, Delsey,” she said sincerely.
* * *
JOLPE’S WAS AN odd fit for a small Western town. It would have suited Beverly Hills or Manhattan just as easily. It seemed to cater to the richest patrons, because you could buy anything from diamonds to evening gowns to the latest ski gear.
Merrie, who’d been in only midrange stores in San Antonio, even after their father’s death, was fascinated.
“Coats,” Delsey said. She smiled. “You pick out whatever you want, honey. I’ve got Ren’s black card in my pocket.”
“That’s very kind of you, and him, but I pay my own way,” Merrie said softly.
“Child...”
Merrie patted her on the shoulder. “I’ll get something nice, I promise.”
Delsey just sighed. “He’ll kill me.”
Merrie laughed softly. “He won’t know.”
Delsey looked worried. But she gave in. “All right, then. I’m going next door to the coffee shop.”
“I’ll come find you when I’m through.”
The older woman hesitated again, but the determination in Merrie’s face defeated her. She just smiled and accepted defeat.
* * *
MERRIE FOUND A gorgeous black wool coat with a mink collar. It suited her blond fairness and gave her a sophistication she’d never had. She loved it at first sight. It wasn’t exactly the thing to wear out on the ranch, but it would pair well with an evening gown. Even the saleslady said so. She bought it, and then found a shearling coat similar to Ren’s that she could wear when they went riding.
Then she wandered into the evening wear department, where a kindly older woman asked if she could help.
“Yes,” Merrie said quietly. “I have scars on my back, and I need a couture gown that won’t let them show.”
The older woman looked at her sympathetically. “Let me show you what I have,” she said softly. “It’s an odd sort of gown. We haven’t had anyone interested in it, because it’s not traditional.” She stared at Merrie and smiled. “But I think it might suit you. Let’s see.”
It was an Asian-inspired dress, probably the most expensive gown in the store. It was cherry red, with black frog buttons that led up to a high neckline. The skirt had discreet slits on both sides and fell to her ankles. It was exotic and shouldn’t have suited her. But it did.
Looking in the mirror, Merrie felt like a fairy princess come to life. She almost gasped at the difference the dress made in her appearance.
When she came out of the dressing room, the saleslady was fascinated. “Yes,” she said, nodding. “I thought it might suit you.” She smiled. “My dear, you’ll be the talk of the town in that. It’s the most expensive model we carry, though...” she added worriedly, because she’d seen Merrie wearing clothing that was obviously off-the-rack.
Merrie smiled. “I can assure you that nothing in the store is beyond my pocket. It’s all right.”
“I’m very sorry...”
“Not necessary. I’m still getting used to having money.” She laughed softly, and it brightened her eyes and made her look beautiful. “I’ll take it,” she added.
The saleslady beamed.
* * *
MERRIE PAID FOR her coats and dress with her own gold card. She added a pair of designer boots and some new jeans and sweaters to the pile. She felt more exhilarated than she had in years. She couldn’t wait for Ren to see her in the dress. She wasn’t even going to let Delsey see it until the night of the party. She was going to shock people. It felt great.
They were driving back to the ranch when Merrie had a twinge of fear. She’d used her credit card. What if the man who was stalking her looked at such things? What if he could track her through her credit card or through her Amazon purchases?
She suddenly felt sick. She should have been more careful. Ren knew why she was here, but Delsey didn’t. She glanced at Delsey with concern on her face. The older woman had become family to her in the time she’d been at the ranch. She didn’t want anything to happen to her.
Delsey misinterpreted the look. “You did get something nice, didn’t you? For the party, I mean?” she worried.
“I got something beautiful,” she replied. “Don’t worry. I have some money of my own. I inherited it from my mother. That’s what I used for the gown, and my coats.”
“Coats?”
“I got two,” she confessed sheepishly. “One to wear when Ren takes me out riding and the other to wear with my lovely new dress.”
“All right, then.” Delsey smiled but she was worried. She wondered if their houseguest knew much about high society and the brutal way women who traveled in those circles could act toward women who didn’t have dress sense, or who wore cheap clothing. They’d eat poor Merrie alive if she showed up in an off-the-rack gown, and Ren would blame Delsey for not insisting on going in with her and paying for her things.
On the other hand, Merrie was an artist, so perhaps she’d know how to dress properly for fancy parties. Delsey certainly hoped she did.
* * *
WHEN THEY GOT back home, Delsey helped carry the bags upstairs. There were several of them.
“Thanks,” Merrie said.
“No problem. Now I’ve got to get downstairs and start baking my ham.” She laughed. “Ren loves it. I had Tubbs pick me up one at the store yesterday. I’m making scalloped potatoes and asparagus to go with it. And a chocolate cake for dessert.”
“My stomach is growling already!” Merrie enthused.
“Don’t be late coming down to dinner,” Delsey teased.
“I won’t. I promise!”
Merrie hung up her beautiful gown and the two coats she’d purchased. She was still worried about her stalker.
She picked up one of her throwaway phones and called Sari.
It took three rings before her sister picked up. “Sari, it’s me,” Merrie said.
“Oh, honey, I’ve been so worried!” Sari exclaimed. “You haven’t called, you haven’t written... Is it bad up there?”
“No, no, it’s fine.” Merrie laughed. “I was afraid to use the phone, that’s all. Has anything happened?”
“We don’t have a clue where the killer is,” Sari said sadly. “But Paul’s working overtime trying to track him. So is Eb Scott.”
“I did a stupid thing,” Merrie began.
“What?”
“I used my credit card in Catelow,” she said. “There’s a party that Ren wants me to go to with him, and I didn’t have a dress...”
“He’s taking you to a party?” Sari exclaimed. “Really?”
“It’s not like that,” Merrie said quietly. “Randall didn’t tell him why I was really here, so I did. He said I’d be safer here than anywhere else. He’s abrasive. But he’s sort of nice,” she faltered. “Anyway, I used the credit card. Did I mess up?”
“He doesn’t know where you are. I’m almost certain of it. But I’ll tell Paul, just in case, okay?”
“And I ordered supplies from Amazon,” she added sheepishly. “I had to have paints and canvases and I knew you couldn’t send them to me without giving away my address up here...”
“It will be all right. We have another ally, helping us hunt the contract man.”
“We do? Who?”
She laughed. “You’ll never guess.”
“Tell me!”
“Paul’s cousin Mikey.”
“The mob boss? Really?”
“Really. He’s got a soft heart, apparently, and he’s fond of Paul. He said he’d do some checking on his end and see what he could turn up.”
“Wow. I feel really special now.”
“Appar
ently you are special, if the Wyoming iceman likes you,” Sari teased.
“He’s not bad. He’s just been hurt. Wounded animals strike out.”
“You see deep inside people, baby,” Sari said softly. “You always did. I miss you so much. We’ve hardly ever been apart.”
“I know. I miss you, too, and Mandy and Paul.” She sighed. “I guess I can’t come home anytime soon, huh?”
“Well, you could, you know that. We still have the Avengers around,” she teased, referencing Rogers and Barton. “But you’re safer up in Wyoming for the moment.”
“I suppose so. I’m getting a lot of painting done. I’ve done two canvases already.”
“Oh? What of?”
“A horse that was maltreated by a cowboy. He’ll let me near him, but he attacked some of the men who came around.”
“That’s you,” Sari said gently. “Wild things always came close to you, even birds. What else?”
“I painted Ren.”
“Ah.”
Merrie flushed and was glad her sister couldn’t see. “It’s not like that,” she protested. “I swear. He’s been nice to me, sort of.”
“Ah.”
“Will you stop saying that?”
There was soft laugh. “Okay. Listen, we gave you six throwaway phones. Couldn’t you call more often? We can afford to buy a lot more of them, you know.”
“All right, then, I’ll call once a week. How’s that?”
“Excellent. And I want to hear about the party. When is it?”
“Soon, but I’m not sure exactly when. I got this beautiful gown,” she added. “It’s exotic and expensive, and I look very different in it.”
“Put your hair up, too, when you wear it,” Sari suggested. “It will make you look more sophisticated.”
Merrie laughed. “I’m not sophisticated. But you’re probably right. I’ve got some of those glittery red rhinestone clips in my bags. I’ll use them. They’ll go with the dress.”
“You’ll look lovely. Take pictures.”