Stacy’s sinister grin reappeared. “Oh no, Mr. Kelly. I advise you not to go down that path with me.”
“If Ellie were in here, she would throw you out of her house for the insult. Seeing as how she’s not, I will do the honors. Remove yourself at once before I toss your rich, arrogant ass out into the street.”
Stacy leisurely came to his feet. His round belly shook as he laughed. He stopped at the door, standing face-to-face with Val.
“That woman whose shop you spent the night in last night…” Stacy said suggestively as he studied a fingernail. “She certainly is beautiful, isn’t she? It would be a pity to see something happen to her.”
Icy, cold tingles rushed through every inch of Val’s body, but he forced himself to laugh. “If Collette Barbier was your trump card, then you have seriously overestimated its value. I can assure you, most heartily, there is absolutely nothing between that woman and me but for good old-fashioned dislike. Hell, I almost throttled her this morning and saved you the trouble.”
Stacy studied Val’s face for a long moment. “Then you won’t have any objection to my paying her a visit, will you?”
“Be my guest. Just don’t tell her I sent you or you’ll feel the sting in her bite.” He opened the door and gestured for Stacy to walk through. “Now, if you don’t mind, I think this room needs some airing out. It’s gone stale.”
“’Til we meet again, Mr. Kelly,” Stacy said with a nod. “And we will meet again.”
Ellie and Sadie were polishing the dining table and stood when Stacy walked past without a word and showed himself out of the house. Ellie’s eyes were fearful when they met Val’s, and he smiled reassuringly, adding a wink for good measure.
“Don’t worry yourself, old girl. Everything is fine.” He slid his hand through his hair only to realize his scalp was full of sweat. “Now, let’s hope I’ve endured enough trials for one day.”
“Hellooooo,” came the tell-tale shriek of Collette’s call as she whisked through the door.
Val groaned into his palm as it covered his face. “I’m in hell.”
“Vell, good afternoon to you, too, Monsieur Kelly,” she said as she sidled up beside him. “I see you still haven’t found your manners.”
“Good God, woman. Your voice is almost intolerable. How can someone with the face of an angel have a voice like an untuned violin?”
“Za same way an intelligent man can be an imbecile.”
He rolled his eyes and shook his head. “Is it your sole purpose in life to make me miserable?”
“Not today.” She smirked before nodding toward Ellie. “Today is about za bride-to-be.”
“Good,” Val said. “However, as much as I wish to avoid any more contact with you, I need to speak with you about Leonard Stacy.”
“I just spoke vith him outside.”
Val felt his features fall and a spark of concern flickered inside of him. “What did he say?”
“He vants to commission me to design a new wardrobe for heez daughter, Emily. He’s invited me out to heez home zees weekend.”
“Tell him no,” Val barked.
She scrunched her forehead and raised a brow. “Excuse me?”
“I said to tell him no.”
“Why vood I do such a theeng?”
“The man is dangerous.”
“Za man is rich.”
“Collette, please trust me. You need to stay as far away from him as possible.”
“Why?”
He glanced from her to Ellie, deciding against admitting Stacy knew he’d spent the night at her place. Collette would not appreciate that bit of knowledge shared in front of Ellie. Of that, he was sure.
“You just need to trust me, all right?”
She rolled her eyes and waved him away. “Vut I need is to get Ellie into zees dress. Come, Ellie!”
They left, and Val cursed under his breath, jamming the cane into the floorboards. He took a deep breath and stared down at the walking stick. Leonard Stacy’s cane was a symbol of his status and strength. Val’s was an advertisement of his weakness. He couldn’t afford to be weak anymore, especially if Collette needed his protection.
Dammit. He didn’t even like the woman and now he had to look after her. In one swift movement, he broke the cane over his thigh and tossed the pieces in the fireplace.
Chapter 8
Collette grinned as she stuck another pin into the fabric along the waistline of Ellie’s wedding gown. The woman was transforming before her eyes. When she’d arrived in town, Ellie looked far older than her thirty-five years. Her face was lined from a constant glower and she carried a bit of extra weight around the hips and backside. Now, she was glowing as her nuptials approached. She smiled more often, her waist was shrinking and there was an overwhelming calm about her.
“You’d better stop losing weight, Ellie,” she admonished sweetly. “I don’t have time to take in zees dress again and again.”
“I’m not tryin’ to lose weight, darlin.’ It seems to keep melting off me these days.”
“’Tis happiness. You vill be a beautiful bride.”
“I don’t know about the beautiful part. I’m just happy about the bride part.” She took a deep breath and shook her head slowly. “Lord’a’mercy I thought that man would never ask me.”
Collette laughed. “He is lucky zat you waited for him. I can’t say I vood wait for a man who didn’t have za good sense to claim me.”
“Ah, darlin,’ it wasn’t like that. I wasn’t sitting around waiting for Sandy. I just knew I was never going to love anybody else. He’s it for me. I was happy to be alone and love him for the rest of my life. But him loving me back and actually doing something about it? Now, that’s gravy.”
Collette fought back a frown and kept her smile in place as she struggled to name the flow of emotion moving through her. “I’m so happy for you, Ellie. You deserve zees happiness.”
“Thank you.” Ellie’s soft palm lifted Collette’s chin until their eyes met. “Don’t look so sad. You’re young yet. You’ve got plenty of time to fall in love.”
She laughed with a snort. “I don’t vant to fall in love, Ellie. Loving someone is giving zem power over you, and I vill not give zat power to anyone.” She took a step back and grinned. “We are finished. Now, go change so zat I can get back to zee shop and get to work on zees alterations.”
When Ellie emerged in her day dress she had an envelope in her hand. “I’m meant to give this to you, Collette. Morgan left it when he dropped Val off. It’s to you from Lila.”
Collette smiled as she took the envelope and began tearing through it. She stopped to look at Ellie. “Do you mind if I read it now?”
“Of course not. I’ll go wrap the dress and give you some privacy.”
Collette unfolded the paper and read Lila’s words.
Dearest Collette,
I hope you weathered the cold winter as we have and are thriving along with the city. Normally, I wouldn’t write about something so personal, but after our shared trauma last summer I value your friendship immeasurably. Morgan and I are expecting our first child in four months. My experience has been healthy and blissful, but I am now at a point where I require your assistance. My clothes seem to be shrinking. At least that’s what Morgan tells me.
I haven’t the slightest bit of skill when it comes to sewing. Embroidery and knitting, I can do, but nothing beyond. I know what a sacrifice and effort it would take on your behalf to pay me a visit, but I would consider it the ultimate act of love if you would come stay with us for a few days, long enough to outfit me for the remainder of this blessed phase of life.
Morgan and I will be in Virginia City for the rodeo. We’d love for you and Helene to ride back with us afterwards. If you are unable to oblige, know I understand, and still count you the dearest of friends.
Take great care,
Lila Kelly
Collette chuckled at the thought of seeing Lila again, and pregnant. Their acquaintance was brief,
but powerful, and Lila had proved her mettle ten times over when it mattered. She genuinely liked the woman, and was thrilled to learn of her condition. Visiting the Diamond Spur Ranch would be a pleasant diversion.
When she descended the stairs, Ellie and Val were talking in the dining room, and Collette’s brow furrowed at what she overheard.
“I am worried about you, Val. Leonard Stacy is not the kind of man you say no to. He’s already approached Sandy about it and we’ve agreed to sell if you sell.”
“Having money doesn’t give him the right to tell another man how to live,” Val countered. “I won’t be forced into anything. Not by anyone.”
Ellie glanced up and locked eyes with Collette. She smiled brightly and changed the subject. “Everything all right, darlin’?”
“Yes, it’s fine,” Collette answered. “Lila has invited me down to za ranch after za rodeo. She needs a new wardrobe.”
Val’s eyebrow rose. “Are you going?”
“Since you insist on commanding who I can and cannot service, why don’t you tell me?”
“I don’t care one whit who you service, so long as it’s not Leonard Stacy.”
Collette shook her head and rolled her eyes. “As much as I love being dictated to, I’m afraid I must go. As we say in Versailles, Bon debarras!”
The door slammed when she left the house.
When she arrived at the mansion of Leonard Stacy in the late afternoon two days later, Val’s words still rang in her head. He called the man dangerous, and Collette couldn’t help but wonder what game was afoot. She’d overheard enough of Val and Ellie’s conversation to put her on guard, even if the man’s only requirement of her was sewing. She patted the pistol in her pocket and nodded at Helene before knocking on the door.
They were greeted by a stiff old butler who showed them into the foyer and ordered them to stay put. Shafts of sunlight drew Collette’s gaze to the high domed ceiling of the entryway. Its glass panes were stained in various shades of periwinkle and mauve, throwing soft beams of colored sunlight across the deep mahogany floors and walls. She traced the sunlight along the crown molding back down to the flared bottom of the staircase. Helene’s mouth hung open as she studied the black and white marble steps glistening in contrast to the freshly oiled wood around them. They shared a wide-eyed look before Collette whistled in appreciation.
Soon, they heard the soft approach of footsteps from the second floor before a young lady appeared, greeting them with a wide smile. Her dark hair hung over her shoulders in long ringlets, and the light blue of her dress complimented eyes of the same color.
“You must be Collette,” the girl said. “I’m Emily Stacy. My father said you’d be coming to fit me for a new wardrobe.”
“Yes, I am and zees is my sister, Helene.” Collette shook the woman’s hand and Helene bobbed her head shyly. “Where vood you like us to set up?”
“Please follow me up to my room. There is plenty of space in there.”
No doubt of that, Collette thought as she trailed Emily to the second floor and to the far end of the east wing. The room was not only spacious but full of light. Carpets strewn across the floor were woven with bright floral patterns, and the drapes and bed clothes were done in white lace. The far wall of glass windows revealed the sprawl of Virginia City in the hillsides below, drawing Collette like a magnet to gaze down on the town.
“Zees is a beautiful room, mademoiselle. Absolutely breathtaking.”
“Thank you,” she chirped, standing beside Collette. “I begged my father to make me a wall of glass. He always designs our homes so dark with all of that wood. I wanted to have a spot where light gathers and faces east. I crave the hello-sun.”
“Za hello-sun?”
She giggled as her cheeks filled with red. “You know, the morning sun as opposed to the evening sun. My mom always said the hello-sun is bright and full of zest for a new day, a new beginning. The goodbye-sun is dull and tired.”
Collette grinned. “Zat is lovely. Shall we begin?”
They unpacked Collette’s supplies and went to work, stripping down Emily and taking her measurements. They talked at-length about the sort of clothing Emily favored, and Collette spent the afternoon drawing sketches to capture the woman’s tastes. They remained in the room long after the goodbye-sun went to bed and they chatted by lamplight.
Emily was an amiable young lady with a sweet heart and a lonely smile. There had been maids who swept in and out of the room throughout the session bringing tea and refreshments, but there appeared to be no other female companionship in the house. It didn’t take long to learn her mother had been dead for quite some time, and with a father constantly at work, Emily spent her days in solitude. The loneliness cast a pale, careworn varnish to a face that should have been bright with youth. She was only seventeen.
When Helene’s shoulders began to droop beneath the weight of exhaustion, Collette packed her things. Emily escorted them down the hall toward the stairs, but when voices rang out from below, she pulled them back behind the wall, where they couldn’t be seen. Emily sucked in a breath. A finger to her lips warned them to be silent. Collette strained to hear the voices of the men below. She recognized Leonard Stacy as he dismissed his butler.
“Mason, Kant, Brandenburg,” he said. “Thank you for accepting my dinner invitation.”
“What’s this about, Stacy?” a man asked, his voice stiff and suspicious. “We aren’t exactly the best of friends.”
Stacy laughed. “Yet, my good man. I’ve a proposition for you all that will change the nature of our association, and the weight of our purses. If you care to join me in the dining room, I’ve had a dish prepared you won’t want to refuse.”
The men strode down the hall and disappeared into the dining room. Collette watched Emily sag against the wall and sigh with relief. She reached out and patted the woman’s shoulder.
“What’s wrong?” she asked.
“That was close.” Emily wiped at the sweat on her forehead. “I completely forgot about my father’s business dinner this evening. If we would have been seen…” she shook her head, but did not finish.
“Do you not dine with him?”
She shook her head. “Not usually, but especially not when he has business dinners.”
Collette frowned. “Will you come to our shop and dine vith us tonight, Emily? It von’t be the fare you’re accustomed to, but we can put out quite a spread when we’ve a mind to.”
Emily’s face brightened, but fell just as quickly. “Thank you for the invitation, but I’m afraid I can’t. Father would be furious if I left the house without his permission or knowledge. Perhaps some other time.”
Something in the woman’s tone told Collette that Emily would never be allowed to dine out. She smiled mischievously as an idea came to her. “I think zat perhaps your next fitting vill have to be at my shop some late afternoon, yes? And vut would happen if we should run late? You’d have to dine vith us.”
Emily smirked as she nodded. “I’d love that.”
Collette and Helene left the home and strode past three shiny black carriages to climb into their rented buckboard. As she steered the team down the road toward the town, she contemplated the meeting taking place within. She knew of those men, had seen their names plastered on signs, mills, mines, and many other establishments. They were the masters of this tiny place, and as far as she knew, mortal enemies in constant competition.
There was an uneasy ache in the pit of her stomach as she tried to discern what would make four rabid dogs come together around a dining table.
Chapter 9
The flare in his shoulder smarted. He rotated his arm back and forth, massaging the spot. While he should be grateful the pain wasn't worse, it was still damn inconvenient. Without his cane for four days, he felt young again, which was good. He would need every scrap of energy he could muster to deal with Collette.
Val took a deep breath, smelling the dust and horse hair from the busy road at his b
ack, and peered through the windows of the dress shop. Through his reflection, he saw bolts of fabric folded on tabletops and her shadowy figure hurrying to and fro behind the counter. He hoped the store was empty of customers because he wanted privacy for this confrontation.
He’d rehearsed the conversation over the past two days, and decided bluntness was the best approach. She needed to hear the truth about Leonard Stacy, but more than that, he was tired of dancing around the obvious lie she was living. She would be visiting his family soon. And he wasn’t taking any chances of letting a serpent sleep among them. He would get the truth out of her no matter what it took. But she was full of spit and fire. He braced himself, removed his hat and strode through the door.
"Monsieur Kelly," she greeted, from behind the counter, her voice filled with disappointment. "To what do I owe zee honor?"
He leaned his elbow on the counter as he faced her. "We have a few things to discuss. Foremost, is you who you really are."
Her smile faltered for the briefest moment, and she blinked rapidly. "Perdon?"
He tilted his head to level his eyes at her. "Collette. I have spoken French fluently for ten years, and I've got to tell you yours is the worst I've ever heard, not to mention the God-awful impersonation of French-accented English you do.” He shuddered. “You were obviously raised in the desert around cattle, and when you get really, really angry with me, you seem to lose your accent. Clearly, you're not a Frenchwoman. That begs two questions. Who are you, and why are you pretending to be someone else?"
Her features remained unchanged and unreadable. After a long pause, during which he prepared himself for her ire, she rounded the counter to stand before him and squared her shoulders.
"Monsieur Kelly," her chin raised another inch. "I am not zee kind of voman to allow a man to insult me. You are no longer velcome in my shop. Please leave. Ven you can remember 'ow to be a gentleman, you may return, but not a moment sooner."
Desert Sunrise (Love in the Sierras Book 2) Page 6