Lady Sundown (#1 of the Danner Quartet)

by Nancy Bush

  Lexie regarded her in horror. Ella’s problems were vastly worse than her own. She felt like a bit of a fraud. But then she remembered Jenny McBride stretched out across Tremaine and she tightened her resolve. She couldn’t bear to be around him anymore.

  “You said you needed money,” Ella reminded her. “How much?”

  But Lexie could have no more asked Ella to buy Tantrum that she could have sprouted wings and flown. “Do you know anyone in need of a horse? I brought my gelding, Tantrum. I thought if I could sell him I could earn enough money for the trip to Denver and the entry fee for Dr. Breverman’s classes. Then I could get a job to pay for the rest.”

  “Why don’t you try Silas Monteith?” Ella suggested bitterly. “He’s got a ransom in horseflesh at his stables. He might buy your horse. It’s either that, or sell him on the open market.”

  Lexie couldn’t bear the thought of haggling over Tantrum’s worth to some unknown buyer who might, or might not, treat the gelding right. “Why do you say Silas Monteith cheated your father?”

  “Because he only paid half the price for my father’s shipbuilding company. When my father complained, Monteith’s toughs beat up two of my younger brothers. Curt’s broken arm never did set right.”

  Lexie was horrified. “I can’t sell Tantrum to him!”

  “Oh, he’ll take good care of your horse. Probably give him to Celeste as a present.”

  Lexie fought back a shudder. “There must be another way.”

  “There isn’t,” Ella sighed fatalistically. “When you finish your bath I’ll go with you to the Monteiths’…”

  ¤ ¤ ¤

  Lexie’s secret hope was that Ella would be proved wrong and that Silas Monteith wouldn’t want Tantrum. But when the blustery cheat spied the spirited gelding, he offered Lexie a sum that staggered her. Still, she would have refused, had Ella not jabbed her in the ribs.

  “Please don’t sell him to anyone else,” Lexie blurted out when the transaction had been completed and Monteith’s stable hand was leading the recalcitrant Tantrum away. “At least for a while. I’d — like a chance to buy him back.”

  Monteith’s cool gaze made Lexie shiver, but then his lips drew back in a humorless smile. “I doubt I’ll be selling him for a few months.”

  On the way back to Ella’s, Lexie was consumed with remorse and grief. She dropped her head upon the leather cushions and closed her eyes. Her throat was hot. Her eyes burned.

  Ella’s hand dropped comfortingly over hers. “Don’t leave for Denver yet, Lexie. Stay with me for a few days and think things over. I could use a friend right now, too.”

  Silently, Lexie nodded, unable to trust her voice.

  ¤ ¤ ¤

  Tremaine pushed open the gate to the Burnham property and wondered at the signs of neglect. He was bone tired and frustrated, not to mention sick with worry about what was happening at home. But Cullen had agreed to keep a watch on the house, and Tremaine had notified the sheriff about Gainsborough’s visit, though there was nothing else to be done. Cullen had promised to send a wire to the Portland Western Union office if there was any more fighting, or if the situation deteriorated, so Tremaine was free to pursue Lexie.

  Lexie. Tremaine’s jaw tightened as he walked up the flagstone path to the front porch. Where the hell was she? He’d tried the railway station first but no one remembered a winsome blond riding a black gelding. The stationmaster had assured Tremaine that if she’d gotten on the train, he would have noticed. And Lexie wasn’t hiding at Miss Everly’s School; the place was closed for the season and Tremaine had convinced the caretaker to let him search.

  Lexie had to be in Portland. Tremaine hoped to hell she was staying with friends.

  Tremaine rapped on the door, sweating in the mid-morning June heat. Thank God Ramsey Gainsborough had sanctioned Tremaine’s suggestion to search for Lexie. What he didn’t know was that Tremaine had no intention of bringing Lexie back to the farm. When — and if — he found her, he was going to do his damnedest to keep her away. Gainsborough’s interest in his daughter was even stronger than his interest Eliza. And it made Tremaine’s skin crawl.

  He rapped again, more loudly, and the Burnhams’ front door swung inward. A middle-aged maid sporting a sour look on her face eyed Tremaine’s dust-grimed appearance with disgust. “Well?” she demanded.

  “Is Miss Ella Burnham at home?”

  “Who may I say is calling?” she sniffed.

  He almost smiled. “Tell her Tremaine Danner wants to see her.”

  The woman flounced off, but a few minutes later Ella appeared. “Dr. Danner,” she said, greeting him with unusual circumspection, inviting him inside.

  “Have you seen Lexie?” he asked without preamble.

  “You mean recently?”

  “I mean in the last few days,” he clarified sardonically.

  “Is she missing?”

  “Miss Burnham, have you seen her or not? I don’t have time to waste. I need to find her.”

  “I’m sorry, Dr. Danner. I can’t help you.”

  Her voice held such real regret that Tremaine gave her a long look. Did she know about him and Lexie? It was possible. He was on the verge of asking her when a very pregnant, tired-faced woman entered the room. “Ella, could you give me some tea?” she asked in abject weariness. Spying Tremaine, she said, “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t know you had a guest.”

  “Dr. Danner was just leaving,” Ella said to her mother. Her heart was beating fast. For just a second, she’d wanted to go against Lexie’s wishes and tell him the truth — that Lexie was right upstairs! She felt in her heart that Lexie’s place was with Tremaine, yet Lexie refused to discuss him.

  She walked Tremaine to the door, struggling with her conscience. Watching him climb into the saddle and ride away, she had an irresistible urge to call him back. She’d never believed much in romance, but she knew Lexie loved this man. Why was it so impossible for them to get back together?

  Lexie was waiting on the stairs, pale-faced. “I saw Tremaine leave,” she said. “Do you think he suspected I was here?”

  Ella shook her head. “You should have told him, Lexie.”

  “No.”

  She sighed at her friend’s sharp tone. “God sakes, Lexie, did something happen between you and Tremaine? I mean, besides the fact that you found out you’re so right for each other.”

  “Nothing happened between him and me. Nothing that matters,” Lexie choked out.

  “Oh…” Ella said, comprehension dawning.

  “It’s not what you think,” Lexie said quickly, then covered her mouth before she could reveal the truth.

  “Can’t you tell me?” Ella asked, but Lexie shook her head violently and fled upstairs to Ella’s room. Ella followed after her thoughtfully, entering the room to find Lexie throwing her close and personal items back inside her reticule.

  Closing the door, Ella leaned back against the panels and asked, “Well, how was it? Worth it?”

  Lexie froze, looked at her friend, drew a deep breath and said, “No.” Then after a moment, with tears in her eyes, “Yes.”

  “Tell me.”

  Haltingly, with more lengthy pauses than actual words, Lexie finally confessed the events of her Christmas Eve with Tremaine and everything that had happened since.

  Ella came and put her arms around her. “You need to talk to him.”

  “No.” On that Lexie was positive. If Tremaine was this close to finding her, she had to leave town now.

  “He loves you.”

  “No. He doesn’t. That’s the problem.” She ran back down the stairs with Ella on her heels. They argued on the porch for a good fifteen minutes. “You don’t have to drive me,” Lexie said stubbornly. “I can walk. But I’ve got to leave. Right now.” She threw her arms around her friend and whispered, “I’m sorry.”

  “Oh, for crying in the night,” Ella muttered with a return of her old spunk. “I’ll take you to the train station myself. But I think you’re making a big
mistake.”

  “I’ve made bigger ones,” Lexie retorted grimly.

  ¤ ¤ ¤

  The Monteiths’ palatial manse was a far cry from the now tattered elegance of the Burnhams’ home. Though Tremaine was certain Lexie wouldn’t willingly seek help from Celeste, there was a small chance she’d been forced to. Celeste might be spoiled and selfish, but she was wealthy. It was clear Ella’s family couldn’t help finance Lexie’s trip to Denver — and Tremaine was certain Denver was where Lexie was headed — without digging into their own bare coffers. Celeste had invited Lexie to her spring party and so Tremaine, without conceit, recognized Lexie had been the lure to get him to come, it wasn’t impossible that Lexie had chosen to seek the Monteiths’ help.

  A wail of rage and pain sounded from somewhere to Tremaine’s left as he walked up the pathway toward the Monteiths’ front door. He stopped short, scanning the area. On the small verdant rise beyond the stables, Celeste was standing on the ground, her riding cap hanging by strings down her back, her blond hair swinging wildly as she held onto her mount’s bridle reins with one hand, whipping the poor beast for all he was worth with the other. The riding crop whined through the air twice, snapping against hide. The horse reared up and slammed a hoof into Celeste’s shoulder before tearing off across the fields, dust kicking up behind its heels.

  “By God — Tantrum!” Tremaine exclaimed, stunned. He sprinted towards Celeste, who was just picking herself off the ground, impotent tears of rage and pain running down her face.

  “I’ll kill you — you — bastard!” she screamed after the running horse. Seeing Tremaine, her face turned beet red and her cries became feminine whimpers. “Oh, Dr. Danner, thank the Lord you’re here. That beast attacked me! I think my shoulder’s — broken.” She crumpled into his arms in a dead faint.

  “Stand up, Celeste,” Tremaine bit out sarcastically, standing her on her feet. “You’re not hurt.”

  “My shoulder!” she cried.

  “You’re goddamn lucky Tantrum didn’t take a mind to crush you for beating him like that! He’s not known for his even temperament. Let me see your shoulder.”

  Huge, fat tears filled her blue eyes. Chin trembling, she unbuttoned the top three buttons of her dress and demurely pulled the gown over her left shoulder. A bruise was just beginning to purple.

  “You’ll live,” Tremaine pronounced tersely, running his fingers over her collarbone and scapula. “In fact, I’d say you got off luckier than Tantrum did.”

  “That brute tried to bite me!” she declared, incensed.

  For the first time in days Tremaine felt like laughing. “He tries to bite everyone but Lexie. Where is Lexie, anyway? I need to speak with her.”

  Celeste instantly reverted to her normal wiles, lowering her lashes for a moment. It occurred to her how advantageous the situation was. For months she’d been trying to get the handsome devil to look her way. But he only had eyes for Lexie. Celeste had had to settle for second best — and Peter Caldwell wasn’t half the man Tremaine was.

  The problem was, she was desperately in need of a husband. Peter hadn’t offered marriage yet. And she was two month’s pregnant already.

  She felt the strong warmth of his hands on her shoulders, and a plan uncoiled in her scheming, fertile mind. If she ripped her dress and rubbed some dust on her lawn gown, then ran screaming to the house, maybe her father would think Tremaine had stolen her honor. Silas Monteith might force him to marry her! What sweet revenge that would be on Lexie, who Celeste had begun to hate with a passion since her humiliation at her father’s party. And though Tremaine had also been a source of her pain, dropping her like a waterfront whore the instant he saw his sister, she was willing to forgive and forget.

  “Celeste?” Tremaine blue eyes were watching her closely and she felt a moment of fear for a plan that might backfire. But Celeste was desperate.

  She jerked away from him, ripping at her bodice until the sound of tearing cloth rent the air. She ran as fast as her short legs could carry her, as fast as her layers of petticoats allowed, only to feel Tremaine’s strong arms encircle her waist and yank her off her feet.

  “What the hell are you doing?” he bit out.

  She opened her mouth and screamed, long and hard. Tremaine set her on the ground and stared at her as if she’d lost her mind. In a few moments gardeners and servants surrounded them and Celeste burst into a flood of tears.

  “He — he — he tried — to — to —” she blubbered, her face in her hands.

  “Oh, for God’s sake,” Tremaine muttered, pushing through the growing crowd. He didn’t have time for this. Silas Monteith himself stormed from the house to join their scene.

  “What’s all this about?” he roared.

  “He tried to rape me!” Celeste screeched, pointing at Tremaine.

  Monteith turned on Tremaine in a rush of rage. Tremaine eyed the older man coldly.

  “Look! Look what he did to me!” Celeste displayed the darkening bruise, which was now a livid purple-red against her white skin.

  The glance of pure loathing Tremaine sent her nearly froze her blood. Even her father seemed to hesitate, which infuriated Celeste. What would he do when he learned she was pregnant? She shuddered to think. Riding that monster horse had been a fool’s way to lose the baby, she realized now. It would be much better to marry right away.

  “Come into my office!” Silas snapped fiercely, and Celeste’s heart gladdened to see Tremaine, whose shoulders had stiffened antagonistically, do as he was bidden. In her own shallow way she truly cared about Tremaine — certainly more than the rutting young buck she’d let take her to bed, only to find he already had a wife and four children! She’d been so hurt and wounded that she’d almost thrown away the diamond and ruby necklace he’d given her. Almost. Common sense had come to her rescue at the last moment, and it was now safely upstairs in her jewel box. But that was nothing to the prize she was sure to have now!

  ¤ ¤ ¤

  “Have a seat,” Monteith ordered gruffly.

  “I would rather stand.” Tremaine’s feet were apart, his hands folded behind his back. If he had to, he would fight his way out of Monteith’s house. Each moment that ticked by kept him that much further from finding Lexie. His temper was seething.

  “My daughter has accused you of assaulting her person, Dr. Danner,” Monteith declared. “I hope you have an explanation.”

  “I didn’t assault her.”

  “That’s it? ‘I didn’t assault her’?” His beefy hand doubled into a fist and he slammed the desk with amazing force. “Then how the hell did she get that bruise!”

  “From Tantrum,” Tremaine answered shortly. “How did she come by that horse? Tantrum belongs to my sister, Lexington.”

  “I’ll ask the questions!” Monteith roared.

  “I did not assault your daughter. I’ve already given you more of my time than was necessary. Good day, Mr. Monteith.”

  Tremaine turned to leave, but Monteith lunged at him from behind the desk, grabbing his arm. It was a fool’s move and when Tremaine glared down at him, Monteith slowly unhanded him. “You’ve humiliated my daughter in front of the servants, and, by God, you’ll marry her now or give me one damn reason why I shouldn’t force you!”

  “You want a reason?” Tremaine snarled in a low, ominous voice. “Try murder, Mr. Monteith. I saw that union man you shot. Five bullet holes in the chest doesn’t look like self-defense to me. You shot him over and over again while he just stood there, taking it.”

  Monteith was so shocked that his eyes were dark pits in a pale, round face. “Prove it!”

  “I will.” His smile was chilling. “As soon as I marry your daughter, so we can enjoy the fruits of your labor while you rot in jail.”

  Tremaine’s idle threat was even more effective than he suspected it would be. Monteith was like a stone pillar. He couldn’t seem to function. “Where is Lexie?” Tremaine asked in a quiet, dangerous voice.

  “I —” The burly m
an inhaled a deep breath. “I don’t know. She sold me the horse and left with her friend, Miss Burnham.”

  “Ella Burnham?”

  Monteith nodded, his color returning as he weighed the strength of Tremaine’s threat. “Now, listen here,” he blustered. “I was found innocent of all charges…” But Tremaine was already out of the room and striding to the front door.

  He nearly ran over Celeste who was hovering in the hallway. She rushed to her father’s office. “You let him leave!” she wailed accusingly. “You let him leave!”

  “Shut up!” Silas Monteith bellowed. “The man’s no rapist.”

  With a cry of thwarted anguish, she whirled around and tried to catch Tremaine. But he was already astride his mount, a rolling cloud of dust swirling in his wake.

  ¤ ¤ ¤

  “She’s gone,” Ella said half an hour later, so sincerely repentant that Tremaine curbed the desire to shake her until her teeth rattled. “I dropped her at the train station.”

  “She’s on her way to Denver?” Tremaine didn’t try to mask his rage.

  “Yes. I think so. Dr. Danner, I’m sorry, but Lexie didn’t want you to know where she was going. She doesn’t—” Ella broke off and sighed.

  “She doesn’t…” Tremaine prompted.

  “She doesn’t trust you.” With the finesse of a steamroller, Ella sent up a silent prayer to the powers that be, stating bluntly, “Ever since you two shared a bed she’s been a wreck! She’s in love with you, you fool! But she thinks you don’t give a damn about her. She thinks you feel an obligation to her. You’ve never given her any indication of how you feel, and she already thinks she’s only half a woman from the way that bastard Garrett treated her. And then to actually see you in bed with your mistress, why, it’s—”

  “Hold on,” Tremaine interrupted curtly, stunned by her volley of recriminations. “I don’t have any mistress.”

  Ella placed a firm fist on her plump hip. “The hell you don’t, man. What about that McBride woman? Lexie saw you and her together, if you know what I mean. No wonder she’s run off!”