His eyes narrowed as he stared at her, waiting for her to finish her sentence.
“Because you what?” he asked.
“Because…because somebody needed to, and I’m the only one who knew how,” she finished. She scolded herself harshly for nearly letting the words of confessing love slip from her lips. “I didn’t tell him. I only sent a telegram and told him there was a man named Lake living here. That’s all. I swear it. I would never betray you. You know that.”
“Go easy on the girl, Ransom. She did no more than right by you,” Denver said calmly.
Ransom Lake hung his head in defeat for a moment before turning from Vaden to look at his brother. “There’s so much ya need to know, Denver. Maybe when you’ve heard it all, you’ll wish she hadn’t sent ya that telegram after all.”
“I’ve never been more grateful to receive a simple piece of paper in my life.” Denver approached Vaden then. He brushed at the tears on her cheeks with one of his large, strong hands. “I think you and I should have a reunion of our own one day, miss.” His smile was sympathetic and grateful. Then, turning to Yvonne, he offered his hand. Yvonne took his hand, and he shook hers firmly. “Then you too, Miss…Miss…”
“Yvonne Valmont,” Yvonne told him. Vaden was surprised to hear her sister introduce herself so, for she had never introduced herself as anything other than Miss Yvonne Valmont.
The gray eyes of Ransom Lake narrowed as he looked at Vaden one final time before leaving the mercantile with his brother. Vaden watched them disappear around the corner down the street. She accepted her fate where Ransom Lake was concerned. She had lost him finally now. Had she sensed a finality to his kiss? She was sure she had. Ransom Lake was lost to her, but he had found what he needed most—found his brother and found the beginnings of healing his heart.
“Never! Never in my life have I witnessed such a display, Vaden!” Yvonne scolded as she returned to her place behind the counter. “What do you mean letting the man maul you like that? For pity’s sake, girl! How could you even breathe?”
“I…I couldn’t care less if I ever drew another breath, Yvonne. And I’d appreciate it if you’d hold such jealousy in check.” Vaden was irritated at her sister’s sudden lack of sympathy.
“Jealousy? Jealousy?” Yvonne exclaimed. “What do you mean? I wouldn’t want to be in your shoes for anything in the world, Vaden Valmont!”
“Yes, you would!” Vaden turned to face her sister, who was about to endure the brunt of Vaden’s aching heart and need to scream. “You’ve never been kissed like that, Yvonne. Admit it! You’re jealous!” Vaden spat. The consequence of what she had done—signed the death certificate on any chance she had at having Ransom Lake’s heart—was making itself all the more painfully known.
“Ha! I meant I wouldn’t be in your shoes for the mere fact you’ve just assured yourself of losing Ransom Lake for good! He told you in confidence, didn’t he? He confided in you at some point—no doubt on that interesting night that you’ve kept silent about, that night you spent with him before Thanksgiving. He told you he had a brother. Ransom Lake didn’t want his brother to know he was here, and you told him!”
Yvonne’s tongue could be so sharp when she wanted it to be. Vaden brushed the tears from her face. “I broke no confidence, Yvonne. I told nothing that was Ransom’s secret. I only…I only let Denver Lake know a man in town shared his name. Ransom never made me promise not to contact Denver. And you don’t have to tell me I’ve lost him, Yvonne. I love him too much to let him live without his brother, whom I know he loves desperately. It’s…it’s much more important that he—”
“I am jealous, Vaden,” Yvonne interrupted harshly. “I am jealous. You love him so completely, so unconditionally. You love him so much that nothing frightens you into not helping him, even the knowledge of losing what connection you do have with him. You still love him enough to take the chance to make him happy. I’m afraid to love anyone that way. I…I’m afraid to love someone that way and then have to endure life without them. I’m a coward, Vaden, and I admit it to you now. It’s why I’m so proper and perfect in my manner. It keeps me hardened. It keeps me safe, Vaden.” Yvonne wiped her own tears as she continued. “You’re right. I’ve never been kissed like Ransom Lake kissed you. I know you’re hurting, Vay. I know guilt is eating at you now as well. But the way he kissed you, Vay!” Yvonne paused, shaking her head in wonder at what she had seen pass between her sister and the man. “He…he wasn’t just kissing you, Vay. The man was making love to you.”
Vaden put her hands over her ears, shaking her head violently. “No! Don’t say that, Vonnie! It’s not true! He just…he just…”
“Even if I were to find a man I would desire affections from, I would not allow it because I would be too afraid to give into a love like the one you have for that unsettling Ransom Lake.” Yvonne hugged her sister tightly. “Do you see now? Do you see what a coward I am? How selfish? Do you see how brave and selfless you are, Vay?”
“I’m as much a coward as you, Vonnie,” Vaden sobbed, “for I know that you would at least have the courage to confess your feelings for such a man. But I’ve never…I’ve never been able to tell him what I feel, for I could not endure the rejection in his eyes.”
“I’m sorry I pushed you toward Jerome Clayton so, Vay,” Yvonne whispered as the sisters separated, dabbing at their cheeks with their aprons. “It was wrong. I just didn’t want to see you hurt. But now I know. I know the old saying is true. I know that it is better to have loved and lost—”
“Than never to have loved at all,” Vaden finished as she straightened her back, picked up a feather duster, and began sweeping the shelves behind the counter with it. She did not doubt the truth of it.
It was merely minutes later when Jerome Clayton entered the mercantile. Vaden’s heart, which had been so overly taxed that day already, knew she must tell him, truthfully, finally, and so he would understand. She’d tried feeding him clues, little hints here and there, but he was ever persistent.
“Good mornin’, ladies!” Jerome greeted cheerily. “Can ya get away for a walk today, Vaden?” he asked forthrightly.
Vaden looked to Yvonne, who nodded.
“Yes, Jerome. I…I believe it’s time we had a talk.” Vaden laid the feather duster on the counter once more. After putting on her coat, she left the mercantile with Jerome. She ignored him when he offered his arm to her. She knew he was not as unwitting as he pretended, for there was something in his eyes, the way he looked at her with a hint of suspicion. She shook off her uneasy feeling. It was her own guilt reading the suspicion in him—her own guilt over having let him hope for so long.
“We’re almost a week into December, and ya still haven’t given me any hints as to what you might want for Christmas, Vaden,” Jerome stated. His voice was low and irritated. Vaden looked to him and felt he knew what she wanted to talk about.
“Jerome—”she began.
“He’s poisoned your mind against me, Vaden,” he interrupted. There was anger apparent in his voice. “He’s a violent man, and women are often intrigued by his kind. I understand your infatuation with him, but he won’t have ya, Vaden. He’ll use ya, corrupt ya with his physical dominance, but he won’t have ya, and this infatuation ya have will pass.”
Vaden could only stand in the street next to him, staring up at him in disbelief. “What are you talking about, Jerome?” she asked. She could not believe what he had said—couldn’t believe she had heard him correctly. It was completely uncharacteristic of the man to be so vehement and accusing.
Jerome’s eyes narrowed, and he sneered repulsively for a moment. “Ransom Lake. I know you’re infatuated with him. Do ya think I’m blind? Do ya think his threats to Nathaniel on Halloween kept Nathaniel from tellin’ me, his best friend, what happened to ya at the hand of Ransom Lake that night?”
“Ransom Lake came for me when I was being tormented beyond your understanding, Jerome,” Vaden stated firmly. “Your best friend, as you ref
er to him, was the cause of my torment! How dare you side with him?”
“I can wait. I want ya to know that I am a mature man, an understandin’ man. I can wait. This infatuation with Ransom Lake will pass soon enough, and I’ll be here to pick up the pieces when he breaks your heart.”
Vaden shook her head, frowning at what was being communicated to her. He wouldn’t listen to her if she tried to explain she could never be his. He had created a reason in his mind as to why she hadn’t been his already—and as to why she would eventually belong to him.
“I know he won’t ever have me, Jerome, that he’d never want me. But you must understand it makes no difference. You and I…we’re too dissimilar. It won’t work. You need someone who’ll—”she began.
“I’ll wait, Vaden. I’ll wait until ya grow up enough to see what’s before ya.” Then he simply tipped his hat to her and walked away.
Vaden stood in the snow and mud of the street, simply staring after him in disbelief. He always seemed so secure, so sound, and well balanced. But to completely deny, to be so unwilling to accept what she was trying to tell him, it was not normal, and it worried her.
That day seemed longer than any other of her life. Vaden could not tear her mind and thoughts away from wondering over Ransom Lake and his brother. Would Denver be so angry, so hurt over Ransom not telling him he was still alive, that he would not want to see his brother again? Perhaps it would be worse for Ransom now, especially if Denver did not have compassion for his brother’s reasoning. Vaden shook her head, knowing Denver seemed a good man. He was, after all, Ransom Lake’s brother, and it only stood to reason he would have similar traits of personality, understanding being one.
Vaden’s mind was also greatly taxed over Jerome’s reaction earlier in the day when she tried to confront him with the truth of her lack of feelings for him. It was so oddly calm, his denial. It somehow unsettled her nerves. So she tried to endure that day of wondering.
As night turned into another day, she busied herself with working frantically in the store, dusting and straightening, helping customers, and running errands for Myra and Dan. She found herself very fatigued when evening arrived, and the family retired from dinner to the parlor. They sat before the cozy fire listening to Myra and Dan talking about the townsfolk, their aching bones, and stories of when the girls were young. Vaden knew her aunt and uncle suspected something was bothering her, but she was all the more grateful they didn’t ask her about it—didn’t press her for explanations.
The frantic knock on the front door startled them all, and Dan went to see who could possibly be bothering them on such a cold night. When he returned, he held a small wooden box and smiled broadly.
“It’s for you again, sweet pea,” his deep voice announced as he handed the box to Vaden. “Seems like your secret admirer don’t mind bravin’ the elements.” His eyes twinkled merrily, and Vaden smiled at him, suspicion foremost in her mind.
“Let’s see,” she began, winking at her uncle, “who could possibly know I’ve been having a rough couple of days?”
“It’s a mystery,” Dan chuckled, his eyes brighter than ever with delight.
Carefully, Vaden removed the lid from the small box and looked inside. There was a note, scrawled in somewhat illegible script, and she retrieved it, unfolding it gently and reading aloud, “Remember, the hardened shell protects what’s inside. I’m sorry.” Frowning, for it seemed an odd thing for Dan to write were he playing the part of secret admirer, Vaden then brushed aside the straw lying beneath the note concealing something deeper in the box. She was not surprised this time when she retrieved from the straw padding another rock. This rock was much larger than the one she had received previously. The crystal formations revealed inside when she turned it over were white and clear with tiny bits of something sparkling radiantly when the firelight caught them.
“It’s beautiful!” Yvonne exclaimed. “Do you think Jerome is coming to his senses finally, Vay? Is it perhaps an apology for acting so insanely?”
“Oh, Vonnie!” Vaden exclaimed. “It’s Uncle Dan who’s doing this for me! It’s as plain as the nose on his face.” Vaden stood, went to her uncle, and kissed him sweetly on the cheek.
“I tell ya again, sweet pea…it’s not me that’s done this,” Dan said.
He seemed in earnest. But it took the beauty of the gift away if she were to believe it was Jerome Clayton who left it. And it was completely inconceivable to think Ransom Lake would do such a thing. So Vaden determined it must be her uncle’s way of trying to cheer her.
Still, as Vaden studied the beautiful marvel of nature by candlelight just before she crawled into bed, her mind began to tax itself again wondering what was transpiring in Ransom Lake’s life. She had trouble sleeping. When slumber did finally find her, her dreams were sad and tormenting.
Vaden’s heart leapt in her bosom as Denver and Ransom Lake entered the mercantile very early the next morning. They were dressed in heavy clothing, and Vaden immediately noticed the expression of peace and joy obvious on both their faces. Her eyes brimmed with tears, for she sensed they had made their peace and were happy in each other. Myra and Dan had left at first light to go out to check on Mrs. Tilits. Vaden and Yvonne were tending the store alone.
“Good morning to you, lovely ladies,” Denver Lake greeted.
Vaden looked away at once as Ransom Lake’s intense gaze found her.
“Good morning, Mr. Lake,” Yvonne replied. “What can we do for you this fine winter’s morning?”
Vaden, nervous as she was under Ransom Lake’s gaze, quickly looked to her sister, for her voice was all too pleasant sounding, all too delighted. She found Yvonne’s face was blushing crimson as she looked at Denver.
“Well…I don’t know about Ransom here,” Denver said, lowering his voice and leaning on the counter in front of Yvonne, “but the best thing you could do for me today, Miss Valmont, would be to hop in the wagon and run down to the preacher’s house with me.” Vaden grinned as Yvonne’s eyes widened with delight. Denver sighed heavily, as if a great disappointment were washing over him. “I suppose it’s always the same story. All the girls around here, including the beautiful Miss Valmont, are probably so in love with ol’ Handsome Ransom, as the girls back home used to call him, that you’ll never see past him to my ugly mug. Is that right, Miss Valmont?”
Vaden’s smile broadened, for it was delightful to see her perfectly proper, always-in-control sister completely undone by the man. Yvonne began to fiddle with the brooch at her collar, looking about as if something would need doing to save her discomfort.
“I-I…no, sir…I…” Yvonne stammered.
“Soya don’t think I’m good-lookin’ then, Miss Valmont?” Ransom inquired teasingly, still looking at Vaden. Vaden’s eyes went to him once more, and his gaze mesmerized her. Had her sister and his brother not been standing just next to them, she could not have stopped herself from running to him and throwing herself into the power of his embrace.
“Oh! No! I think you’re very handsome, Mr. Lake,” Yvonne defended herself to the younger Mr. Lake.
“You see, brother. You’ve turned this one’s head, and I’ll never have a chance,” Denver chuckled.
Immediately, Yvonne looked back at him. “Oh, no, Mr. Lake! I didn’t mean that at all. You’ve all the chance in the world!” Vaden and Ransom both looked to Yvonne, shocked beyond speaking at her unwitting confession.
Denver raised an eyebrow and reached out, taking Yvonne’s hand in his gloved one. “Well, that’s very, very encouraging, Miss Valmont. Very encouraging.”
“I mean,” Yvonne stammered, pulling her hand from his grasp. “That is to say, I’m sure that when you find a woman you desire to—”
“Oh, but I’ve found her, Miss Valmont. I’m looking at her,” Denver interrupted, winking at Yvonne.
Vaden was delighted. Yvonne was completely undone! It was obvious her thoughts were muddled and her heart aflutter.
“Leave the poor girl alone, Denver,” Ransom chuckled. “We need to be headin’ out.”
“Heading out?” Vaden finally spoke, for his words frightened her. Was he leaving? Would he be returning to Leadville with his brother?
“We’re…we’re goin’ out to visit our parents’ graves, Miss Vaden,” he explained. “We’ll be gone two or three days, and I was wonderin’ if you’d ask your Uncle Dan to check on my stock for me.”
“You’ll be back?” Vaden’s question sounded more desperate than she meant to reveal.
“Of course we’ll be back!” Denver answered, trying to capture Yvonne’s hand once more. “We live here!”
“We?” Yvonne whispered.
“Yes. Denver’s agreed to move out here with me. He says the silver’s all gone in Leadville anyway.” Ransom took several steps toward Vaden, and her heart began to beat ferociously as he approached. “You and I need to have a few words when I return,” he told her in a lowered voice.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Lake. I’m…I thought it would be best for you, and I only meant to help.” Vaden’s defense of herself caused Ransom Lake to close his eyes for a moment and inhale deeply.
“I know it, Vaden.” He reached out, brushing a strand of hair from her cheek with his gloved hand. His hand grasped her arm firmly, and his strength pulled her against his heavily coated body. “I’m sorry I reacted so bad at first,” he mumbled into her hair.
“Mr. Lake!” Yvonne exclaimed, taking several steps toward them. “I cannot believe your boldness in taking liberties with my—”Her words were silenced, and Vaden heard Denver’s amused chuckle.
“You’ve been a good and true friend to me, Vaden Valmont. I’ll never forget that,” he said.
Vaden pushed herself from his arms and looked up at him indignantly. She meant to lash out at him, to tell him that once again he had hurt her deeply by telling her she was only his friend. But when she glanced over and saw Yvonne held tightly against Denver, her back flush with his chest, one of his powerful arms securing her waist and the other hand covering her mouth, she was so astounded she could not speak.
The Visions of Ransom Lake Page 25