“I know. He doesn’t want your brothers on his land.”
“That is true. But that is not why you must keep silent. If he knows Cruz touched you…”
“I know. He doesn’t want your brothers touching any of his property,” Genieva sighed as she turned toward the house. “Why didn’t you tell me, Lita,” she asked then, “that you knew who fathered Amy’s baby?”
Lita shook her head and smiled nervously. “Would you want to tell the wife of your brother-in-law that your own hermano was…I didn’t want you to think less of me, and anyway…” Lita looked away, obviously ashamed of Cruz’s actions. “No one else knows of it.”
“Brian?” Genieva asked.
Lita shook her head. “Not even Brian, and I feel bad keeping it from him. Yet I do not want to see my husband killed…or yours. It would make great anger in Brian or Brevan. I think you know that.”
Genieva nodded. Whatever it was that kept the two families fighting, knowing that Cruz Archuleta had been the cause of a girl’s ruination would indeed provoke Brevan and Brian further.
“We’ll tell him I fell,” Genieva reminded Lita once more before they parted at the pond.
“What’s the matter, lass?” Brevan asked Genieva later that night as they sat at the table eating dinner. “Ya’re pickin’ at yar food, and it tells me somethin’ is taxin’ yar mind, it does. Does yar face pain ya? It looks like it must. Ya must not be so clumsy near the woodpile, Genieva.”
Genieva had lied to Brevan—just as she had told Lita that she would. She had told him nothing of Cruz and Joaquin in the orchard but rather had told him she had stumbled and fallen into the woodpile. He had accepted the excuse easily enough, but now her conscience bothered her. She shook her head and smiled nonchalantly.
“Nothing is bothering me, Brevan. I suppose I’m only just tired this evening.”
“We’re both tired every evening, Genieva. Ya’re hidin’ somethin’ from me. I can see it in yar eyes.” Brevan’s eyes narrowed. He rose from the table and went to stand over Genieva. “Tell me what it is. It’s plain as if ya wore a sailor’s tattoo across yar face, it is.”
Genieva rose from her own chair and walked away from him. She couldn’t stop her hands from wringing her apron, and she knew her face was turning crimson with guilt. “It’s nothing, Brevan. And anyway, I told Lita that I wouldn’t…”
She felt herself whirl around as Brevan took hold of her arm and turned her to face him. “Ya tell me, Genieva. Is somethin’ wrong with Lita? Has she fallen ill?”
The concern on his face was astonishing. Genieva knew he was truly and deeply concerned for the woman. “No, no. She’s fine. It’s just that…in the orchard today…I was…” she paused, afraid to tell him anything. To tell him the entire truth was unthinkable.
“Go on,” he commanded. Still she paused until he said, “I saw the shoe prints in the orchard today, Genieva. Has Lita been meetin’ with her brother Joaquin there?”
“Yes,” Genieva sighed with relief. He had given her the opportunity to squirm out of her lie—at least a little.
“Joaquin.” Brevan’s chest began to rise and fall with fury. His jaw clenched tightly shut—his fists opened and closed violently.
Genieva panicked and knew she must keep him from finding out about Cruz’s being there as well—and about what else had happened. She didn’t know why her husband should be so furious at his sister-in-law’s meeting with a member of her own family, but she sensed he was preparing to confront the woman about it.
“Brevan,” she pleaded. “Please. I told her I wouldn’t tell you. She knew how angry you would be. But he’s her brother! I don’t understand…” Brevan turned and stomped across the room toward the door. “No!” Genieva called out, following him and taking hold of his arm to stall him. “No, Brevan! Leave her alone. It only makes sense that she should want to see him.”
“It only makes sense?” Brevan shouted. “There is not one good quality in any of her brothers, Genieva! I will talk to her about this. She knows the conditions. She’ll hear me out, she will!”
“No! Brevan, please,” Genieva cried, taking his face in her own small hands. She feared for him. She feared that if he approached Lita about it and Lita’s conscience was as guilt-stricken as her own, she might falter and tell Brevan the whole truth of it. “Please, stop and think before you charge off to reprimand her.” Brevan paused, glaring down at her. “Relax that ever-present pucker on your brow and think.” Genieva smoothed the frown on his forehead with her thumbs and spoke quickly and plainly. “He is her brother, Brevan. It is obvious they care deeply for each other. It is natural she would want to visit with him.”
“It’s not their visitin’ that worries me, Genieva. It’s the reason for which they visit,” he grumbled. Removing Genieva’s hands from his face, he squeezed them slightly and held them at her sides as he continued, “Ya’re ignorant in this situation, Genieva. Don’t make to involve yarself in it while that ignorance persists.”
Yanking her hands free of his grasp, Genieva glared at him resentfully. “The only reason I remain ignorant is because no one will educate me in the matter. Furthermore…I’m not so ignorant that I don’t see the true reason you are either forever protecting Lita or scolding her.”
“And what might that reason be, Genieva? Do you fancy I have some sort of strange attachment to me sister-in-law? That’s it, isn’t it? Yar wee brain has concocted some perverse idea that I favor Lita somehow, it has.”
“I-I…” Genieva stammered, looking away unsettled. She had done it once more. Fear and desperation this time were what caused her mouth to utter what her unconscious mind suspected.
“Let me clear things up for ya, lass. Lita is me sister-in-law—Brian’s wife—and he loves her completely. I’ve no feelin’ for her other than that of a brother-in-law who worries about his own brother’s happiness. If I had felt anythin’ else I would’ve…” Brevan interrupted himself. He straightened his shoulders and continued to glare angrily at Genieva. “There’re things here that ya don’t know, Genieva. Things ya don’t need to know. But I’ll tell ya this—if I ever catch Joaquin Archuleta on me property again…” He was silenced instantly as Genieva’s hand covered his mouth tightly.
“Don’t even speak such threats, Brevan. Don’t even speak it,” she repeated.
Taking her wrist in his hand, Brevan removed her palm from his lips. “Don’t push me too far, lass. I admire yar ability to work hard. And I admire that ya have wisdom and wit in yar mind. But I warn ya, don’t push me too far. I’m responsible for this family. I’m the head of it still. And I’ll do what has to be done to protect and further it. ’Tis Brian’s baby that Lita carries. The McLean bloodline. ’Tis also the McLean blood helpin’ to give life to Brenna’s baby, and I’ll not see either harmed.”
Genieva’s mouth dropped open in surprise. “Brenna’s baby?” she asked.
“She hasn’t told ya? Yes, Brenna’s baby…and Travis’s. Due to arrive in the late winter, it is.”
Genieva looked away from Brevan—an odd and uncomfortable ache throbbing in her chest at learning the news of Brenna.
“If you’re so worried about the babies, Brevan…then you’ll not upset Lita any more than necessary,” she said.
“I admit…ya are wise to remind me of that,” Brevan mumbled, his voice softening. “Perhaps ya should retire for the day, Genieva. Ya look a bit green, ya do.”
Later that night, Genieva was still unable to sleep. She’d decided a walk near the pond might help her to relax. As she stepped from the porch and into the night air, however, her attention was caught by a flicker of light in the barn. Carefully she approached. What she saw within caused her physical illness. There in the barn stood Brevan. He was dressed only in his trousers and boots. Before him—sobbing quietly—stood Lita. He seemed to say something soothing to her and reached out, tenderly stroking her hair. His powerful hands took her shoulders, pulling her toward him, and he kissed her
soundly on the forehead. He smiled and put a finger under her chin to tilt her face upward. She smiled back and embraced him quickly.
Turning from the sight, Genieva fled back into the house. She sat trembling on her bed—until she heard Brevan’s heavy footsteps in the kitchen some time later. Why were they meeting—her husband and her sister-in-law? What matters could they be discussing so intimately at such an odd hour? Genieva’s mind was plagued all through the night with possibilities. So plagued that by morning she was terribly ill. Sick enough that her stomach was wrenching and she was unable to rise from bed until near the supper hour when Brenna arrived for a visit, having heard she was feeling badly.
“Brenna,” Genieva began timidly. “Brenna, it is Brian’s baby that Lita carries, isn’t it?”
Brenna’s mouth gaped open in astonishment. She dropped the potato she’d been peeling.
“Genieva McLean! What a thing to say! How could ya even…” But Brenna stopped her scolding when Genieva turned toward her, tears streaming down her freckled cheeks. “Why would ya even think to ask a question like that, Genieva?”
“There’s some sort of…some sort of unspoken agreement between Brevan and Lita, Brenna. And don’t tell me you don’t sense it! I’ll know you’re lying. They harbor a secret that I’m ignorant of. I saw them last night…” she whispered, heartbroken at the remembrance, “in the barn…together. It was not the usual conversation or affections exchanged between in-laws, Brenna. I think…I suspect…”
“Don’t speak it, Genieva. It’s not true, and ya know it!” Brenna interrupted.
“But they were there…in the barn, Brenna. He held her to him so tenderly and kissed her forehead…the actions of two people who are…who are…” She couldn’t finish her thought, and the tears flooded her cheeks more heavily.
“Of two people who are tortured by a secret, Genieva,” Brenna finished guiltily. “And ya’re right. There is somethin’ they hide from ya…but only you. Brian and I know of it already.”
“It’s a bit clearer now, you know,” Genieva sobbed. “The reason he hasn’t a shred of interest in me…other than as his farmhand. And she is very beautiful.”
“Oh, no, no, no! Ya’re thinkin’ completely wrong, Genieva,” Brenna exclaimed, gathering her sobbing friend into her embrace. “Lita and Brian love only each other, Genieva…completely and only each other. But Brevan and Lita do share a bond, a knowledge that the rest of us cannot pretend to understand. For ya see, it was Brevan Lita came here to marry.”
Chapter Eight
Genieva could only stare at Brenna. Lita had wanted to marry Brevan? Is that what Brenna meant? If so, then Genieva’s worst fears had been amply realized. Had it been arranged—had Lita been the first woman who was supposed to have been his bride?
“Genieva, the pink is completely lost from yar face, it is!” Brenna noted aloud. Carefully she put a consoling hand over Genieva’s. “It’s not at all what ya must be thinkin’,” she assured her. “Not at all. Lita only came last night to confess to Brevan about meeting Joaquin in the orchard yesterday. I guess you had already told him of it, and he pitied her, for it is sad that her family…” Sighing heavily, she began again, “I must tell ya the whole of it, Genieva…if ya’re to understand everythin’. Ya see…Lita’s family owned part of the orchards Brian and Lita own now. In fact, the Archuletas owned nearly all of that land. Her father raises cattle as well to sell for beef. Lita’s mother was a dear soul…simply an angel. But her father…well, let me begin with our own father’s death two years back.”
Brenna led Genieva to the table where they sat down, and Genieva listened as Brenna began her tale.
“Dad was out in one of the fields plowin’ one evenin’. I remember a storm was rollin’ in from the mountains, but he wanted to finish the field. He was such a hard worker. Just like Brevan, he was. Anyway, mother went out toward the field as Brevan, Brian, and I watched her from the porch. Halfway between the house and the field where Dad was, she stopped and turned. We had all heard it, but it was unfamiliar to us, ya see. We thought it was just the thunder from the storm that was comin’ our way. But then we saw them…an enormous, angry herd of cattle runnin’ right toward our place. Somethin’ about the storm had scared them when Mr. Archuleta and his sons were bringin’ them in, and the stampede was fearful and headed right for us. Dad must’ve seen it from the field, for before Brevan was even close to mother, Dad reached her and pushed her out of the way, he did. The cattle were headed for the new orchards where Dad had just planted some young trees. He thought he could beat the herd to the orchards and close the gates so that the cattle would turn. But the cattle were fast, and the ground shook with the mad poundin’ of their hooves. And Dad…Dad was in the way. They trampled him to death while Brian and I held Brevan from jumping into their midst as well.”
Brenna paused and brushed the tears from her cheeks with her apron. Genieva shook her head, astonished and horrified. “How terrible! How absolutely unbearable,” she whispered.
Brenna sniffled and continued, “Mother fainted and was feverish for several days. Even when we buried our Dad, I’m not sure her mind was with us entirely. Mr. Archuleta and his family, includin’ Lita, attended the small service we held, and Mr. Archuleta apologized. Lita’s mother was a sympathetic and very proud woman, and she insisted that Mr. Archuleta give our family his best orchards as compensation for the new trees the cattle trampled and as an offering of their sorrow for Dad’s death. Mother was too ill to deny the gift, and Brevan—ya see, he was the head of the family now—Brevan was too angry and hurt to refuse it. He accepted the offer, though it was so obvious to all of us that Mr. Archuleta did not want to give us the land and orchards. The look on his face frightened me. I remember it, I do. But Lita’s mother insisted on it, and the land became part of our property.
“Mother never did get well, Genieva. She blamed herself for Dad’s death, and she fell very ill with a terrible cough and fever. She died only four months after Dad. Some time passed, and we learned from the people in town that Mrs. Archuleta had died as well. Consumption, it was. Mr. Archuleta knew he couldn’t demand his lands back. Legally they were ours. Brian and Travis even went to the land offices awhile back to make sure. And they are ours still. But Juan Miguel wanted them back, he did. He coveted them. And he sent his only daughter to get them back for him.”
“Brenna,” Genieva began, “I’m so sorry.”
Brenna nodded. “It’s all right.” She swallowed and seemed to force the tears in her eyes to keep from escaping as she continued, “I’ll explain the rest now. Juan Miguel rode over to the house one day, and he brought Lita with him. She’s very beautiful, I’m sure ya’ve noticed, and he intended to use her beauty to his own advantage. We all went out onto the porch to meet them, and Brevan greeted him pleasantly enough. ‘I’m here to give you mí hija, McLean…my daughter. She will be your esposa,’ he told Brevan. I remember Brevan laughed out loud and asked Lita’s father what he meant. Mr. Archuleta explained that he felt responsible for the loss of our parents. He was lyin’, he was, and well Brevan knew it. Brevan told him he could have his lands and orchards back, but Mr. Archuleta had gotten greedy. He wanted Lita to marry Brevan, the head of our family, so that he could gain power over all our lands. Brevan knew what he meant to do, he did, and he refused. Mr. Archuleta made Lita get down from her horse, and he told Brevan that he must accept his gesture of friendship or there would be dangerous consequences. Then he simply rode away, leavin’ his daughter like an abandoned pup on the doorstep. And poor Lita…I felt so sorry for her. I remember she walked up to Brevan and said, ‘Mí papá has given me to you, señor. I am yours.’ She reached up and kissed him right on the mouth, she did. Such a kiss I had never seen meself. ’Twas long and very intimate in nature.”
Genieva was suddenly uncomfortably hot and irritable. She squirmed uneasily in her chair as Brenna continued. “Brevan was kind to her, of course. He did not scold her or push her away, but when she had finish
ed…when she had finished…”
“Offering herself to him,” Genieva spat out, completing Brenna’s sentence.
“Yes, that’s it. When she had finished offerin’ herself to him, he simply said, ‘Yar father is wantin’ me lands, he is. And he’ll not have them. I’ve offered to give him his own back, but he’s a greedy man, Miss Archuleta. I’ll not marry ya and fall into a trap that will take everythin’ me father worked for away from his children.’“
“So Brevan didn’t marry her simply because he didn’t want her father to order him around and gain control over the farm and the rest of you,” Genieva surmised.
“Brevan didn’t marry her because he had not the desire to do so, Genieva,” Brenna corrected. “Lita told us, then, that her father had threatened to beat her if she returned to his home without securin’ Brevan as her husband. We all felt sorry for her. Brevan told her she was welcome to stay with us until somethin’ could be worked out.” Brenna dropped her gaze to the floor and lowered her voice as she spoke next. “I won’t be lyin’ to ya, Genieva. Lita did not give up on Brevan. After all, it was her father’s wish that she marry him, and she is a loyal sort. But all the time, Brevan and I could see the spark in Brian’s eyes when he looked at her, and the twinkle in hers when she looked at him. And one day, Lita went into the barn where Brevan was milkin’ the cows. I walked in the moment she bent over him, her arms wrapped snugly about his chest as he sat milkin’. She began kissin’ his cheeks and neck, but he stood and pushed her away. ‘If ya be wishin’ to marry me brother, Lita,’ he told her, ‘then ya best be forgettin’ what yar father wants and start workin’ on what you want of it, lass!’”
Genieva closed her eyes tightly against the vision forming before her—the vision of Lita and Brevan involved in an intimate moment. But the darkness only helped make the picture more vivid and hurtful.
The Heavenly Surrender Page 13