Destiny's Embrace

by Beverly Jenkins

  Drew shot him a hard look on the heels of the too-hard pounding. “Does the reverend know you’re coming?”

  Logan remained silent. The last thing he needed was more ribbing.

  “You never go to church. I, at least, go on Easter Sunday.”

  Eli added, “Reverend Dennis offered to escort her, but Logan said he’d take her instead.”

  Logan turned to his partner and best friend. “So are you the town crier now?”

  “Just giving Drew the lay of the land.”

  “Well, stop it.”

  Drew asked Eli, “How long has she been here?”

  “Three, four days.”

  Drew stood and started walking back to his mount.

  “Where are you going?” Logan yelled, getting to his feet.

  “Any woman who has you turned inside out in less than a week is one I want to meet. And I’m betting she won’t throw rocks at me!” He swung up into the saddle and galloped away.

  “Dammit!” Logan slammed his hat to the ground. Shooting an evil eye at the smiling Eli, he snatched up the Stetson and rode out after his brother. He had no idea what Drew intended, but he’d seen his brother dazzle more than a few women with his courtly Spanish manners and distinguished law degree. Mariah hadn’t been moved by his own legendary charms and he doubted she’d be by Drew’s either, but he’d be damned if she’d pick his brother over him.

  With her mare reined to a walk, Alanza started toward home. Mariah’s story was still on her mind. She found the mother’s treatment unconscionable and could only imagine how heartbreaking it must have been growing up unloved and not understanding why. Alanza had grown up adored by her parents, especially her mother. Not until her willful ways broke their hearts had she ever been punished. Yet Mariah had been browbeaten and switched over circumstances she’d had no hand in. No wonder she’d fled. And to move all the way to California to start a new life in a place she’d never seen amongst total strangers spoke to her determination and her dreams. In spite of her age, Alanza found nothing wrong with her wanting to be a wife and a mother, and no doubt any child she bore would be loved immeasurably. In Alanza’s perfect world, Logan would eschew his unmarried ways and choose Mariah as his bride. And if not, she’d find her new amiga someone worthy and be content with that.

  Thoughts of worthy men brought back to mind her morning encounter with Max Rudd. Whatever was she going to do with him? Pretending to be ignorant of his intentions hadn’t fooled him, and admittedly, she did have feelings for him but she was afraid. She could break horses, brand cattle, and do everything else on the rancho needing to be done, but when it came to affairs of her heart, she knew no more than she’d known at the age of fifteen.

  She’d almost reached home when she saw a rider galloping hard in the direction of Logan’s place. Andrew? Right on the heels of his mount was an equally hard-riding Logan. Whatever are they doing, and how long had Drew been home? Were the two men still adolescents, she’d guess that her middle son had done something to raise the ire of her eldest, and that Logan was set on wringing his brother’s neck, but they were past that age, or were they? Shaking her head, she turned her mare around and galloped back toward Logan’s house.

  Mariah stepped out on the back porch to dump the bucket holding the water she’d used to scrub the hallway floors, but was brought up short by the sight of Logan and a man unknown to her wrestling in the muddy grass. Curses filled the air, fists were flying, and they were rolling back and forth apparently intent upon beating the tar out of one another. She was momentarily distracted by the arrival of Alanza, who began calling their names and yelling angrily at them in rapid Spanish. From that, Mariah discerned that the unknown man was Logan’s brother Andrew. What or who started the fight was yet to be explained, and neither of them were paying their mother one bit of attention. As the battle continued, and the two combatants rolled closer to where Mariah stood, she was again momentarily distracted, this time by the arrival of the mounted Eli, who looked on, chuckling. When the brothers crashed into the wooden walkway only a few feet away from where Mariah was standing and broke off a section of the dilapidated wood, she’d had enough. Hoisting the bucket, she threw the dirty water at them with as much force as she could muster. The fisticuffs immediately ceased. As they stared up at her, stunned and dripping wet, she tossed the bucket at them for good measure, turned on her heel and went back inside, which made her miss Eli almost tumble out of his saddle with laughter.

  Logan glanced over at the shock frozen on his brother’s face and began laughing. With his long black hair plastered to his face and head, Drew resembled a drowned rat. Drew apparently didn’t think Logan looked any better and began laughing as well. Soon, they were both howling and Logan admitted it felt good. He’d been needing to work off his temper since being told to take his kisses elsewhere. He had a split lip, a bloody nose, and Lord knew what else, but he didn’t care. It had been years since he and Drew had gone full tilt, and their fight was the perfect way to welcome him home.

  Alanza was still raging in her native Spanish. Calling them an embarrassment and comparing them to lunatics in an asylum, she was so worked up, they tried to take the upbraiding like straight-faced, chastised children, but failed miserably and burst into laughter again, which made her so furious, she mounted, dragged her mare’s head around and rode off.

  As they watched her disappear, Drew said, “We owe Mama an apology.”

  “I know.”

  “Your rock thrower is quite a beauty.”

  “That she is.”

  “Not as docile as I like, so I’ll cede her to you.”

  “As if she’d’ve preferred you.”

  “She may have.”

  “And there’s a diamond mine in the middle of the Pacific.”

  They shared a smile reflecting a lifetime of brotherly affection.

  “So,” Drew asked pushing his wet hair out of his eyes. “Are you coming down to Mama’s for dinner?”

  “You sure she’ll feed us?”

  They both turned to Eli, and Logan asked, “You staying for dinner?”

  “No. Think I’m going to go home and see if I can’t figure out how to sell tickets to all this madness. I might get rich.”

  More laughter.

  “Okay, you do that and we’ll see you tomorrow.”

  “First thing. Welcome home, Drew.”

  “Thanks, Eli.”

  Logan and Drew shook hands and shared a brotherly embrace. “I’ll see you later.”

  Drew rode off. Logan was unsure of what type of reception he was in for, but went inside.

  Chapter 15

  Mariah decided she’d have to do laundry soon because she was down to the last of her clean garments. As she changed out of the clothes she’d worn to do the scrubbing, she shook her head at the row between Logan and his brother. She’d never seen anything like it before in her life and wondered if the fighting was something they did routinely. She had no answer but decided it was a very odd way to welcome someone home.

  “Mariah?”

  It was Logan at her door.

  She stepped over and opened it. “Yes.” He was a mess. His clothes were muddied, his lip split and puffy, and a black eye was forming.

  “I’m going to get cleaned up so we can ride down to Alanza’s for dinner.”

  “Are you sure she’ll feed you after that performance?”

  He grinned. “Drew and I were wondering the same thing. We’re hoping she’ll have calmed down by the time we arrive.”

  “Do you two fight like that often?”

  “We did growing up, but rarely now that we’re grown.”

  Mariah wanted to ask why they were fighting, but in truth, didn’t really want to know. “It was an interesting way to be introduced.”

  “I figured it was. Alanza used to break up our fights with her buggy whip, so your scrub water was novel if nothing else.”

  “And your youngest brother, does he participate in these free-for-alls, too?�
��

  “Sometimes, but most times not. Being the baby, picking on him really got us whipped. Hope we didn’t scare you.”

  “No.”

  “Good. Brothers can be volatile sometimes but we do care deeply for each other, even if our actions appear otherwise.”

  “I did wonder.” She’d always wanted a brother or sister and hoped the Yates men were aware of how blessed they were to have both the companionship and love.

  “Once I’m done cleaning up, there should be enough water left for you to take a bath, too.” After the wild and woolly day, a bath sounded heavenly. “Thank you but I want to take a long soak, so I’ll take it after dinner.”

  Neither seemed to know what to say next and as the silence lengthened, the familiar inability to control the cadence of her heartbeat stole over her again. Why this man? an inner voice asked. Why was she so attuned to a man she knew to be wrong for her, no matter where she turned? Yet, as their gazes held, all she could think about was that morning’s kiss, their time together on the riverbank and what he’d made her feel. Not even his facial injuries dampened the responses of her senses.

  “Looking at me that way makes me want to kiss you again.”

  She dropped her eyes and took a small step backward. “Go get cleaned up. Let me know when you’re ready to leave for your mother’s.”

  “But I’m not going to kiss you again until you ask.”

  “Since I won’t be asking, I hope you aren’t holding your breath.”

  “Sounding amused, he replied, “We’ll see,” and exited her room, leaving her alone with thoughts of a man she had no business thinking about.

  She had a wonderful time at dinner. The meal was conducted outside in the flower-filled courtyard, and in honor of Andrew’s homecoming, there were thick steaks done on the grill, ash-baked yams, and to drink, a fruit-infused wine called sangria. Her experience with spirits was as limited as it was with men, so she only allowed herself one small glass.

  But initially, being at the family’s table and being waited upon by Alanza’s servants left her feeling very awkward.

  The ever intuitive Alanza must have sensed something because she looked down the beautifully set table and said to her, “You’ve been invited to share this meal with us, Mariah. Everyone who has ever worked for us has been invited to do the same more times than I can count, so enjoy yourself.”

  So she did.

  Although she’d convinced herself no man could be more handsome than Logan, Andrew was. He had his mother’s straight black hair and dark eyes. His skin tone was somewhere between her ivory and Logan’s brown. She’d likened Logan’s features to having been hewn by a mountain god, but Andrew Antonio’s, even with his busted lip, bruised jaw, and black eye, bore the hands of the gods of Mexico and Spain. If a man could be called beautiful, he was that and the playful mischief in his eyes probably brought women to their knees wherever he went.

  The talk at the table was of his work as a lawyer, his travels throughout the state, and the relatives he’d recently visited in Los Angeles and Mexico City. At first, the conversation was conducted in Spanish, which she knew to be a normal occurrence for their family, so she did her best not to look or feel left out. Logan noticed, however, and apologized. “Sorry, Mariah. We forget you don’t speak Spanish.”

  Alanza apologized as well, but added, “Logan and I will teach you. English is the second language here.”

  After that she was able to follow the conversation, although Alanza tended to slip back and forth between the two languages. Mariah wasn’t offended, though. It was her home after all.

  The talk then moved to the upcoming annual celebration of Alanza’s birthday, and from the descriptions of all it would entail, she got the sense that it was a pretty big to-do.

  “I just hope Noah gets here in time,” Alanza said.

  Logan reassured her. “You worry every year, and every year he comes. He’ll be here.”

  Andrew added, “And if not, we’ll find him, and sink his ship so he’ll never miss the day again. Simple.”

  His mother raised her glass to him in toast. Afterward, she asked, “Andrew, when you saw the aunts, in Los Angeles, did they say whether they were coming?”

  “Yes, they did.”

  “Good.”

  After the dinner, Bonnie served them a delicious fruit flan. Mariah’d never had the dish before. It was akin to a custard, only fancier. Alanza explained that it was a traditional Spanish dessert and Mariah looked forward to having more in the future.

  Soon, it was time for her and Logan to say their good-byes.

  Andrew bowed gallantly over her hand and kissed it gently. “Welcome to Destiny, lovely lady. Any woman who pelts my brother with rocks holds a special place in my heart.”

  Beside her she saw Logan roll his eyes. “Thank you.”

  Alanza wished them a good evening and Mariah and Logan drove back to his house. On the way, she said with a smile, “I feel like I’m glowing inside.”

  Logan chuckled. “It’s the sangria.”

  “Can’t be. I only had a small portion.”

  “Alanza’s wines are pretty potent.”

  “Well, I feel wonderful.” She was silent for a moment, then said, “Your brother’s very handsome.”

  Logan’s lips thinned. “You think so.”

  “I do, not as handsome as you, but he’s very good-looking. Charming, too.”

  That made him feel better.

  She asked, “Do you really think I’m tipsy?”

  “I do.”

  “Have you ever kissed a tipsy woman?”

  “On occasion.”

  “Well, don’t kiss me, because I probably won’t want to stop.”

  “I’ll keep that in mind.” He wished he had a way to preserve the conversation so he could show it to her in the morning and watch her scandalized reaction. Instead, he planned to just enjoy the moment. Taking advantage of her was out of the question. When the time came for them to make love, he wanted her to be in her right mind, because in spite of her protestations to the contrary, the time would come.

  They reached the house. He set the brake. “Stay put until I come around and help you down. Don’t want you to fall and hurt yourself.”

  “Your mother and I have decided to be friends.”

  “That’s a scary bit of news.”

  “You think so?”

  “Yes.”

  He went around to her side, swept her up into his arms and carried her toward the house.

  “Why are you carrying me?”

  “Felt like it.”

  “The last time you carried me I was asleep.”

  “I remember.” He sat down on the porch and kept her on his lap. He was surprised when she didn’t fuss. He thought maybe prescribing a wee bit of sangria for her on a daily basis might be just what the doctor ordered. With her head lying on his chest, she seemed so content he ached from the sweetness. Clearing his throat of the emotion he said, “So, you and Alanza are going to be friends?”

  “We both need one. She’s terribly lonely.”

  He never thought about his stepmother needing companionship. She ran the ranch and the people connected to it with such efficiency, it hadn’t occurred to him that she might not be content. “Then I thank you for wanting to be her friend.”

  “She’s very nice, Logan.”

  He loved hearing his name on her lips.

  “I told her all about why I came to California and she listened and didn’t judge. She even agreed that all the beatings and whippings I received from my mother had nothing to do with me.”

  Before he could respond, she revealed to him everything she’d told Alanza about her life in Philadelphia but hadn’t revealed to him on the riverbank. For Logan, a motherless child who’d been loved by Alanza from the moment they’d met, her story both angered him and broke his heart. No wonder she was so tough. Having to endure what she had must have been hard for her, especially when she was young.

  She gl
anced up. “Do you believe in destiny?”

  “It depends.”

  “Alanza thinks I’ll find my destiny here.”

  “She could be right.”

  “I think I’d like that destiny to be with you, but you won’t marry me, so I’ll have to look for someone else.”

  He went still. On one hand, the sangria-fueled confession confirmed that she was attracted to him and that made him feel good, but the idea of her being curled up contentedly on another man’s lap didn’t sit well at all.

  He glanced down and saw that her eyes were closed. “Mariah?”

  She was asleep. He took a moment to savor the softness in her face and the perfectness of her positioned against him. It came to him that he could sit with her in just this way forever, but he’d have to marry her in order to do so, his inner voice reminded him sagely. He wasn’t sure what to do about that, but not wanting to let her go, he sat with her sleeping against him until darkness fell, the moon rose, and the owls called across the distance. Only then did he carry her to her room and gently place her atop her bed. While the moonlight streamed through the window and bathed her with its glow, he gazed down on her while she slept unaware. Her words echoed: I think I’d like that destiny to be with you, but you won’t marry me, so I’ll have to look for someone else . . .

  Moved, he bent and kissed her softly on the cheek. “Rest well, querida.” He exited and left her sleeping in the moonlight.

  After climbing into his own bed, Logan thought about Mariah and what he’d learned about her: one, it only took a thimble full of sangria to make her tipsy, and two, she’d endured years of beatings at the hand of her mother for something that hadn’t been her fault. The anger from that revelation continued to resonate. Who would treat a child so harshly in order to gain revenge? He applauded her decision to strike out on her own because it freed her from her mother’s clutches and brought her to Destiny, and to him. Hearing that she and Alanza were pledging to be friends was pleasing. In spite of their disparate societal stations, he was certain they’d get along because they seemed to be cut from the same cloth. Separately they were trouble enough; united they’d likely give him fits.