He shook his head. No. Even meeting her for the first time on her wedding day would not have kept him from loving Saber. It had been meant to be that he should love her, and nothing could change that. He knew that he would never love another woman that his heart would always belong to her.
He walked out of the kitchen, grabbed his coat, and headed for the barn. He was going to Fort Griffin, knowing Matthew would have reported back to duty by now. He couldn't go on wondering what was happening to Saber. And he was determined to keep an eye on her and to make sure Graham Felton didn't get near her. Felton was a desperate man. Saber wasn't safe as long as he was on the loose.
Matthew had been ordered to report back to Fort Griffin, and his parents had accompanied him there. He lay upon his cot, staring into the darkness. Everything was in such confusion. All he'd wanted to do was marry Saber. He loved her, but he also wanted a career in politics he wanted both. He had a sterling reputation as an army officer, and that would go a long way toward helping him when he ran for office.
He hadn't wanted Saber to be examined by a doctor, but his mother had convinced him it was necessary. What if she had been raped? What if one of the men had impregnated her? He certainly didn't want to give his name to one of the Miller brothers' by-blows. He remembered Saber as she'd been in Georgia, a beautiful and innocent young girl who had gotten caught up in a war she didn't understand. He'd fallen in love with her at that time. But that had been over two years ago. He still pictured her as that young girl, and sometimes he had trouble remembering what she looked like.
He shoved the covers aside and went to the window, staring out into the gathering light. He tested his leg and was glad it was no longer painful; the doctor had removed the splint.
He frowned; his mind was in a quandary. He couldn't marry Saber. After all, they really didn't know each other. But how could he offend the sister of one of the most powerful men in Texas? It was quite simple: HE would have to make her reject him. And the means to that end might already have been set into motion. All he had to do was insist that she go through with a doctor's examination.
Noble Vincente had sent word that he would be bringing Saber to Fort Griffin tomorrow. The commanding officer of the base had been so impressed by the Vincente name that his wife had planned a welcoming party and invited all the officers and their ladies. He could feel the trap closing around him.
He pulled his trousers on. Tomorrow night he would be free of Saber. A strange ache touched his heart as he remembered the beautiful young girl he'd pictured as his wife. He had to let her go and then forget about her.
Matthew heard the sound of the bugler playing assembly. It was too early for formation, so something must be wrong. He hurriedly tucked his shirt in and pulled on his boots, then thrust his arms into his coat. Running for the parade ground, he found the returning patrol leading riderless horses.
"Indian attack at several ranches between here and Fort Belknap, Major Halloway, sir," the pockmarked sergeant informed him hurriedly. "Colonel Washburn's ordered us to ride out at once, sir."
Matthew was somehow relieved as he later rode out the gate at the front of his patrol. He'd never been accused of lacking courage, but he would rather face the Indians than Saber and her formidable brother.
Rachel entered Saber's room and spun around in a circle. "It's amazing that a dress from your trousseau would fit me. What do you think?"
Rachel looked beautiful in the green silk creation. "I never thought about it, but we are of the same height."
"I confess I had to let the waist out a bit," Ra chel said, laughing. "You have such a tiny waist."
Saber slipped her white gloves on and met Rachel's eyes. "I am not looking forward to this party. I would sooner have ridden home to Casa del Sol."
"I understand, Saber. But your brother and I will be beside you." She tilted Saber's chin up. "Just remember who you are."
Sadness touched Saber. "I never forget who I am. After tonight I want to go home."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. Very sure. I thought I could marry Matthew, but you were right when you said I would be cheating him since I don't love him."
Rachel slid her arm around Saber's waist, feeling pity for Noble's sweet sister. "Whatever decision you make tonight, your brother and I will stand by it." She frowned and took Saber's hand. "Take that worried look off your face. Noble thinks the party is a good idea. We will sail in and act as if nothing is amiss."
"What if Matthew is still on patrol? I'll have to face his mother and father alone."
Rachel fastened a strand of pearls around Saber's throat. "No, you won't. I told you that Noble and I will be with you. And we Vincente woman are dressed for battle."
Saber smiled and nodded. "Stay near me tonight."
Reese stood across the room, his arms folded over his chest, his eyes on the door that Saber would come through when she arrived. He felt different from everyone else in the room, but he somehow needed to be there. Since he'd scouted for the army and was known to be a friend of Matthew's, he was welcome at these functions. But he had never attended until tonight.
He caught a glimpse of Matthew's mother and father mingling with the officers and their wives. They were apparently enjoying being the center of attention. There was a stir at the door, and Matthew entered, the gold leaves on his dark blue dress uniform signifying he was a major. Reese watched as Matthew greeted everyone and then finally made his way across the room to him.
"I heard you had Indian troubles, Matthew."
"Nothing much. Just a few renegades who got liquored up and caused a disturbance. They are sobering up in the guardhouse, and we'll let them go in the morning." He stared at Reese, who looked uncomfortable in a black suit. "I'm surprised to see you here tonight. I know you were not too happy with me the last time we met in Fort Worth."
"I won't deny that I was angry at the time." Reese glanced around the room, wondering what he was doing there. "But you are still my friend."
"I hope I'll still be your friend after tonight." Matthew's face whitened, and he stiffened, his gaze focused on the doorway. "They're here!" His glance moved from the beautiful redhead to the breathtaking woman with hair the color of summer wheat. She wore a shimmering blue gown that left her shoulders bare. "She has grown even more beautiful," he said in amazement. "I am just reminded how much I love her."
Reese was speechless as he watched Saber standing between Rachel and Noble, looking so proud and yet so frightened. He had never seen anyone more beautiful than she was at that moment. Did anyone but him know how apprehensive she was? He was once more aware of their differences. Saber would never be his, even if she didn't marry Matthew. She was quality, and he was a dirt-poor rancher who could never offer her the kind of life she was accustomed to. "You are a lucky man, Matthew," he said through the thickness in his throat.
Matthew stared at Saber as if he'd never seen her before. She was an angel, a goddess. In that moment he forgot his earlier plan, knew he must have her for his wife.
Reese watched Matthew cross the room to Saber. It was at that point that he overheard a young first lieutenant speaking to his companion. "What a beauty! I'd ride to hell and walk back just to see her smile at me."
"Yeah, me, too. But that smile is for the major; and no one else. You could only reach as high as Saber Vincente's shoelaces."
Reese shoved himself between the two officers and cast them a threatening scowl. "You couldn't even reach her shoelaces," he muttered.
The lieutenant spoke to his friend in a puzzled voice. "Now, what do you suppose got Reese Starrett's dander up?"
"Maybe he wants the lady to smile for him. They did spend a lot of time alone together, remember?"
Both men snapped to attention, and their faces became flushed when Colonel and Mrs. Washburn walked past them. The look the colonel gave them made them fall silent.
Saber's hand was resting on her brother's arm, and he felt it tremble. Noble gave her a soft look of encourageme
nt. "You have been to grander balls than this, Saber."
She nodded, watching as an elderly man and woman approached her; she wondered if they might be Matthew's parents. The woman was wearing a black lace gown, and her gray hair was piled on top of her head. Her skin was unlined, and she looked the part of the perfect matriarch.
Noble greeted the Halloways and presented them to Rachel, and then to Saber.
"My dear," Mrs. Halloway gushed, "you are simply lovely. I now know why my son is so taken by you."
"You are too kind," Saber said politely.
"Not at all." Mrs. Halloway's gaze settled on Noble, and she bestowed her most charming smile on him. "I have learned, Mr. Vincente, just how important you are in this state. Why didn't you tell me your family is descended from Spanish nobility? I had to find it out from Colonel Washburn."
"I don't believe that a useless honor settled on my ancestors is of any importance, Mrs. Halloway. I am an American, and I have no ties to Spain or any of its titles."
"Whyever not?" Mrs. Halloway said with conviction. "An uncle of mine, by marriage on my mother's side, was related to George Washington, and I am proud of it."
"If it makes you feel more important to claim some distant kinship, then by all means, go to it," Noble said coolly. Rachel could feel his anger stirring, and she moved to his side and gripped his arm. She was grateful when Matthew appeared, and everyone's attention turned to him and Saber. After being presented to the major, she gave Saber an encouraging nod.
Matthew bowed before Saber, his eyes never leaving her face. "I thought this day would never come." He held his hand out to her. "Shall we dance?"
She allowed Matthew to lead her across the floor, her eyes on his face as she searched for the young officer who had come to her rescue in Georgia. "I'm glad to see your leg has healed."
"It is as good as ever."
He had changed but little, still handsome and still the gallant gentleman she remembered. "How fortunate it healed so quickly." She was reaching for something to say to him. She hadn't known this first meeting would be so awkward for her.
Matthew's gaze moved across her face, and he felt his heart quicken. "Before you were a lovely young lady; now you are a breathtaking woman."
She could not help smiling at Matthew. He certainly was charming. "You are much the same as I remember you."
Reese stepped out the door, unable to watch Saber in Matthew's arms. It was as if he had been ripped apart and was bleeding inside.
"I wish we could be alone," Matthew said, squeezing her hand. "How unfortunate that our first meeting after all these years should be in a crowded room."
"I would like very much to talk to you alone. Perhaps we can meet after the party."
His eyes gleamed. "Yes, of course." His chest swelled, and he knew he was the envy of every man in the room. "I'll arrange it."
Saber was soon separated from Matthew and found herself dancing with Colonel Washburn and then several other officers. Her mind was not on her dance partners; instead, she was practicing what she would say to Matthew when they were alone. She was glad when her last partner returned her to Noble's side. She didn't want to dance, but she knew she'd be obliged to, if asked.
"Miss Vincente, may I have the next dance?"
Saber turned at the sound of the deep tone. Her eyes met Reese's, and she seemed to float into his arms. Her heart was beating so fast it was keeping time with the music of the lively dance.
"You seem to be the belle of the party."
"Do you think so?"
"You know you are beautiful, and everyone in this room knows it, too."
She could smell whiskey on his breath and knew he'd been drinking. "Pretty words, Reese," she said, trying to make light of the situation.
He scowled at her, pulling her closer, his breath teasing her mouth, and her lips opened as if to receive his kiss.
Hot desire surged through his body, and his lips hungered for hers. "God help me, I have thought of nothing but you since you left me."
Tears gathered in her eyes because she knew she was hurting him. "I thought you would be happy to see the last of me."
His silver eyes narrowed, and his hand gripped her waist tightly. "When I saw you with Matthew, I knew you belonged together."
She wanted to lay her head on his shoulder and tell him that she belonged with him. But she couldn't, not yet.
Reese raised her hand to his cheek and closed his eyes at the satin touch. She sucked in her breath when he turned her hand over and placed a kiss just above her glove, sending a tingling sensation down her spine. She realized that Reese was half-drunk, and everyone was staring at them. She had to make him stop, or he would hate himself tomorrow. "Don't, Reese. Don't do this."
His head snapped up as if he realized what he had been doing. "Yes. You are right. I've had too much to drink. A man can't be held responsible for what he says when he's been drinking."
"It's not like you to drink, Reese."
"It seemed a good idea tonight."
His silver eyes seared her, his touch burned her skin, and she wanted to touch him, to tell him that she was as tormented as he was. She wanted him to touch him, to hold her, to do everything a man did with the woman he loved. But the image of Matthew stood between them like a flaming sword. She was glad when the dance stopped, and she hurried across the floor to Noble.
For the rest of the evening she danced with her brother and Matthew. Reese didn't approach her again, although she could feel his eyes on her.
Around midnight Reese left, and Saber wondered if she would ever see him again.
Seeing Saber's ashen face, Noble turned to Matthew. "I believe my sister is tired. I am going to take her to the hotel."
"May I call on her tonight?" Matthew asked.
Noble pulled her protectively to him, his eyes holding a warning. "It depends on what you have to say to her," he said, lowering his voice. "She's been through enough."
Matthew smiled at Saber. "I believe she and I have a wedding to plan, don't we, Saber?"
"Do you?" Noble asked in a deep tone that would have intimidated most men.
But Matthew seemed to be lost in a pair of blue eyes. "Yes. We most definitely do," Matthew answered. "And my parents have asked if you would all attend a luncheon they are giving tomorrow."
Rachel glanced at Saber. "Are you too weary for visitors tonight?"
Saber nodded her head. "I am weary, Matthew. Perhaps we could talk tomorrow."
"Then we will say good night," Noble said, leading his wife and sister out of the building.
Saber leaned her head on her brother's shoulder. She couldn't think straight. She had realized tonight that if she married Matthew, she would destroy Reese, and she wasn't willing to do that.
Matthew found Reese standing in the shadows of the porch and clapped him on the back. "I am perfectly content that everything will end well for Saber and myself. I owe it all to you."
Reese swirled whiskey around in his glass, his eyes boring into Matthew. "Did you settle the part about having a doctor examine her?"
"That was all my mother's idea, and on thinking about it, I'm not willing to demand such a thing of Saber."
"A wise decision," Reese replied, his hand tightening on the whiskey glass.
Saber was dressed only in her nightgown and robe when someone knocked at her door. She expected it to be either Noble or Rachel, so when she opened the door and found Matthew there, she was shocked. "I thought we agreed to talk tomorrow."
He stepped around her and glanced about the room, looking for Noble or Rachel, and was relieved that they were alone. He smiled, taking her hand and raising it to his lips. "We have a lot to discuss, my sweet."
"You shouldn't be here, Matthew. Noble won't like it when he finds out about it."
"There's nothing wrong with my being here. I'm going to be your husband. And soon that brother of yours will have nothing to say about what we do."
She decided this was as good a time as a
ny to tell him what was on her mind. "I don't think we are suited for each other, Matthew. I'm begging you to leave now."
"We're suited, all right. Any doubts I might have had disappeared the moment I saw you tonight." In a quick motion he drew her into his arms. "I want to sample some of what will soon belong to me."
She smelled the liquor on his breath and froze in fear. This was not the Matthew she had known and trusted. His arms tightened about her, and she tried to wedge her arm between them. "Let me go!" she said, pushing at him. He reminded her of Eugene, and terror curled inside her. His lips were wet when he pressed them against hers. His hands went up to cup her breasts, and she cringed inside.
"I don't know you," she said, turning her face away from his. His eyes were glazed with passion, and his breathing was heavy-she knew why he had come here, and it wasn't to talk.
Saber managed to push him away. "Please don't do this."
"You're mine. You belong to me."
He reached for her, but she managed to dodge out of his way. "You are drunk!" She felt sick inside the back of her throat burned from the bile that rose there. "And I'm not yours. I could never marry a man who treated me the way you have."
He shook his head as if to clear it. "I was sitting at a table drinking straight whiskey, and I knew what I had to do."
She moved a safe distance from him. "What?"
"It's very simple. I'll take you to bed and find out for myself if you've been ruined. If they got to you, Saber, you will lose nothing by letting me make love to you."
Sudden tears stung her eyes, and she clasped her hand over her mouth. "You have a very low opinion of me, Matthew, if you believe I'd let you touch me. Get out and leave me alone!"
"I'll have you now, or I won't marry you at all."
Obviously he was past reasoning. "Noble's just in the next room," she warned him, "and if I call out to him, he'll hear me. If you don't leave now you'll have to face my brother, and believe me, you don't want to have him mad at you."
"You don't understand. It's eating me up inside thinking someone else had you before me. You're not the innocent I wanted to marry."
Ride The Wind (Vincente 3) Page 16