by Jeanne Rose
Striding back to the house to get his Colt and holster, he was waylaid by Iphigenia.
"Monte?"
He liked the sound of his name on her lips, but he wasn't in the mood to be held up. Still, he halted.
"Are you certain that Mr. O'Brian means well by you?" she asked. "Perhaps he is working against you, spreading rumors about the curse."
As if Monte wasn't already worried about that. But he told himself she was only trying to be helpful. "Jake hasn't been the same since we came back from Mexico. Don't know what happened to him. Maybe he lost a piece of his soul." If not the whole shebang. Before that doomed trip, the man had never been mean on purpose.
"Maybe you should fire him."
Monte held his temper. "Don't worry about what I should do. It's not exactly your business." He caught a glimpse of Cassie peeking out the window and lowered his voice, "You've got your own problems. Thought you were going to wean my girl away from your skirts. Spending the day sewing a dress for her isn't gonna do that."
Iphigenia raised her chin proudly, though her green eyes darkened. With hurt?
"I don't think a little kindness will harm Cassie," she said coolly. "I intend to talk to her, not push her aside ruthlessly."
"Just see that you keep to your agreement. He turned his back and stalked off.
As if things between her and his family, between her and himself, hadn't already gone far beyond uncomplicated. She seemed too involved, sounded like she cared, as proven by her questions about Jake.
Shrewd as he was at understanding people's motives, Monte sure as hell couldn't figure out Miss Iphigenia Wentworth.
"IT’S SO-O-O BEAUTIFUL!" enthused Cassie as Iphigenia and Carmen slipped a blue silk gown over her head. She wore only her simple muslin camisole and bloomers. "Only I don't have a nice petticoat to wear with it. Do you think anyone will notice?"
"I have an extra petticoat that I can give you, as well."
Cassie wanted to kiss Iphigenia on the cheek in thanks, but she felt too shy. Instead, she merely beamed at her as Carmen went about the fitting and pinning and cutting. Iphigenia had seemed a bit embarrassed when she'd said she wasn't good at sewing, but Cassie figured that was another skill a real lady didn't have to have.
"This will be bonita." Carmen laughed with delight. "My little Cassita will look so pretty." She teased, "You watch out, the boys will be chasing you when they see you in this dress."
"Do you have some young men you favor?" Iphigenia asked.
She spoke so fancy. Cassie only wished she could learn to talk like that. "Young men? Oh, there might be a couple I wouldn't mind dancing with."
Iphigenia seemed interested. "There are dances you can attend?"
Carmen answered, "There are always fiestas, parties. Señora Ryerson -- Cassita's mother -- liked parties. She gave them and went to other people's. If she traveled far, she took blankets so that her family could sleep at the home of the hostess."
"You knew Amanda Ryerson?" asked Iphigenia.
"Si. I have been with the family since before the twins were born." Carmen quickly pinned darts in the silk dress's bodice and took up the shoulders. "The girls were so sweet as babies. You should have seen them." She glanced up at Cassie. "This one is still sweet–"
Then she stopped, probably not wanting to say anything bad about Ginnie. Sometimes Cassie wondered if Ginnie had gone crazy. A while ago, as Iphigenia helped Carmen gather sewing tools, Cassie had glanced out a window to see Ginnie under the tall cottonwood. The girl had been carrying a burlap bag and digging in the rocks with a big stick. Cassie had no inkling as to why.
But she forgot about Ginnie as Carmen worked and visited with Iphigenia. The housekeeper answered questions about Cassie's mother, saying she'd met her husband when she'd come to Texas as a schoolteacher. Amanda Ryerson had been good-natured and happy, the sort of woman who helped her husband be more social and who made him laugh. Iphigenia seemed awfully interested but Cassie wished they'd talk about something else. Thinking about her mother always made her sad. She was about to open her mouth and change the subject herself when Iphigenia and Carmen got into discussing Pa's mother.
"She married a Comanche warrior? Isn't that unusual?"
"Si. Though there are many kinds of people in Texas," said Carmen. "Mexicans, Anglos, and Indians before the army drove them out. Mestizos are people who are a mix of all three."
"But Monte, er, Mr. Ryerson isn't mestizo."
"He is a half-breed." Carmen added, "And he had a difficult time growing up, especially after his grandfather paid Señor Barkley to marry his mother."
"Barkley?" Iphigenia frowned. "Jonah Barkley?"
"Si. Old Señor Ryerson tore his daughter Señorita Sarah away from the Comanches, kidnapped her and --" Glancing at Cassie, Carmen hesitated.
Not that Cassie didn't already know that Barkley had been paid to marry her grandmother.
Carmen sighed. "It was a terrible mistake. Señor Barkley isn't a good man. Señorita Sarah was very unhappy and ran away. She died and no one even knows where she is buried."
"How horrible," said Iphigenia.
Cassie suddenly realized why the blonde was so intrigued by her family's history. As Pa's new wife, she probably wanted to know all about his background and how to make him happy. As her new mother, Iphigenia would probably be asking questions about her childhood when Cassie wasn't around. Despite the tragedy of the subjects being discussed, she smiled.
She only hoped Iphigenia didn't care about her family's Comanche blood. Hoping to find out, she asked, "Do you think Pa is handsome?" since he looked more Indian than white.
Iphigenia raised a brow. "He is attractive in his own way."
"And what about me?" Bluntly, Cassie asked, "Do you think my skin is too dark?"
"Of course not." Iphigenia's smooth brow nettled, as if she hadn't ever thought about it. "You are quite lovely, Cassie."
"There are good people of all kinds," added Carmen, obviously also concerned with Iphigenia's opinions.
"I know that." Then Iphigenia smiled at Cassie and fussed with the blue dress. "You will need a ribbon to match this gown, though fresh flowers are always appreciated at parties. You will certainly be a sight for young male eyes."
Carmen agreed, "Everyone will want to court you, Cassita."
"Good heavens, yes." Iphigenia nodded enthusiastically. "You're not that far from eighteen, the most eligible age for a young woman."
"Many women are married at eighteen," said Carmen.
Cassie wasn't certain she cared for the way the conversation was going. She liked the idea of male attention but she didn't want to think about marriage. She didn't want to grow up so fast. Especially not when she just got a new mother.
"I need to know a lot more than I do now if I'm going to be a real lady," Cassie said, noting how coarse her hands looked against the beautiful material of the dress. "It'll take more than five years."
"Not so long. Why, you've already learned a great deal," claimed Iphigenia. "And you have charm and a kind heart -- that is what makes the greatest of ladies. You're going to have many friends in the future. And, eventually, a man who is special to you."
Special? As in husband material? Why all this talk about future friendships and about marriage? Cassie felt as if Iphigenia was trying to push her out of the house, when she'd just started making it a home.
"I'm not going to get married until I'm ...how old are you?"
Carmen chuckled, then quickly sobered at Iphigenia's frown.
"I am twenty-seven, a spinster in society's eyes. You don't want a life like mine."
"But you won't be a spinster anymore, not after you marry Pa." Cassie added shyly, "And you'll be my ...uh, our stepmother."
Iphigenia said nothing more and Carmen finished fitting the beautiful blue dress, pinning up the hem. Then Iphigenia suggested she and Cassie go to her room to pick out a petticoat. Cassie whirled around happily as she led the way down the corridor.
"I hav
e so much fun with you," she told Iphigenia. "I love talking to you and learning new things."
"Though I'm not the only person you can learn from."
Again, the pushing away.
The loneliness Cassie had felt ever since her mother had died started creeping back up on her. She thought about what her pa had told her after the fancy dinner, after Iphigenia had gotten upset and the two of them had that talk in his office. He'd questioned that the city woman was really going to stay.
Cassie hadn't wanted to believe it. "You are going to stay here, marry Pa, aren't you?"
Iphigenia glanced at her sideways. "Why are you asking me that?"
"Because I would feel bad if you left." Cassie didn't think she could stand it. Her throat tightening, she babbled on, "Pa feels better with a lady around, too. He likes you."
"He loves you, Cassie. You can make him feel better by talking to him yourself."
Unsatisfied, Cassie was about to continue the discussion when they stopped short before Iphigenia's bedroom. The door was wide open. Cassie gaped at the sight of her twin standing in front of the bureau.
"What are you doing here?" Iphigenia asked.
Ginnie whipped around and her eyes flashed. "It's my house. I can be wherever I want."
Then, holding her vest to her side as if she were hiding something under it, she ran straight toward them, rudely pushing Cassie aside to bolt down the corridor.
Usually even-tempered, Cassie felt angry enough to punch her sister and was upset for Iphigenia. "I'm sorry, Miss Wentworth."
"I'm sorry. You're the one who has to live with her."
Meaning Iphigenia soon wouldn't have to be doing so? No matter what Cassie had been saying?
Heart in her throat, she couldn't speak. And she hated her unruly sister, perhaps the reason Iphigenia had doubts about staying on with them.
But Iphigenia simply couldn't leave. Deep within, for some unknown reason, Cassie felt this woman was necessary to everyone's future.
AS HE’D PROMISED, Stephen brought Iphigenia clumps of bluebonnets, as well as some pink flowers. On horseback, he handed down a whole bucketful to her.
"Lovely." Iphigenia hefted the wooden bucket. It was heavy, full of roots and soil, as well as flowers. "Thank you."
Cassie was equally enthusiastic. "Now we can plant them."
At the moment, Iphigenia wasn't in a hurry, Monte and several wranglers having ridden in with Stephen. The men were dirty and probably uncouth but quite colorful. Monte himself looked handsome despite the grime on his face and the sweat marks on his clothing. His features were generous but not coarse, his body fit and muscular. Not to mention that he sat his horse like he belonged there.
Just looking at him, Iphigenia felt a thrill crawl along her spine and wondered if she had a fever, perhaps was coming down with some mysterious malady. Surely no attraction to a man could make her feel so ...unlike herself.
"Want some lemonade, boys?" Monte asked. "I'll get you a cup before you go back to the bunkhouse." Dismounting, he took off his revolver and holster, hanging them on a nail driven into a porch column.
Then, to Iphigenia's relief, he went inside.
Everyone had some lemonade before Carmen found a trowel. Anxious to get started, Cassie took the digging tool and the bucket to the big cottonwood. Iphigenia stuck around the men, listening to wild talk about rounding up wiley longhorns. Obviously highly aware of her presence, Monte having told them she was his fiancee, the cowboys were very polite. They called her "Ma'am" and refrained from swearing. As soon as they finished their drinks, they tipped their hats and strolled off toward the bunkhouse. Coming back outside, Monte went along with them.
Iphigenia found herself staring after him until she thought about Cassie. The girl was expecting her. Iphigenia hurried to the back of the house. The rocking chair still sat where Stephen had brought it yesterday. Reminded of the good time she'd had with the youngsters, she sighed. She'd tried in the nicest way to promote more independence in Cassie this morning and had failed miserably. The girl stuck like glue to her side. Someone's heart was going to be broken in this situation, no matter what.
Surveying the scene, Cassie glanced up with a smile for Iphigenia. "The best place for the flowers would be the east side of the tree, don't you think? That way, they'll get some morning rays but they won't be fried by the hot afternoon sun."
"Seems to be a good idea. How can I help?"
"I'll dig some holes in there." Cassie motioned to the soil inside the rock border. Most of the rocks were flattish stones two to three feet in length, some of them striated with earth tones. She knelt, trowel in hand. "Why don't you sort out the plants? They're all piled together in the bucket. They need the dirt around their roots but they have to be separated from each other."
Iphigenia picked up the bucket of flowers, admiring the blooms, noting some of them were wilted. She frowned, touched some petals, only to pause when she heard the sudden intake of Cassie's breath.
And was that a soft slithering sound?
She glanced up, stiffening when she saw a graceful, sinuous length of geometric pattern moving from beneath the stones near Cassie.
A serpent with a deadly triangular head.
A poisonous viper!
Before Iphigenia could even react, the snake coiled, affixing Cassie with a pitiless eye. The girl sat frozen, staring back, but the snake wasn't fooled. A dry rattle sounded as it shook its tail, getting ready to strike.
Heart in her throat, Iphigenia realized Cassie couldn't possibly get out of the way. In desperation, she hefted the bucket and threw it as hard as she could at her target. As it crashed into the snake, Iphigenia swooped down and grabbed Cassie. She dragged the girl backward, not pausing for breath until they were halfway to the house.
"My God, are you all right?" Iphigenia's pulse thrummed as she looked for wounds on the girl. "Did the creature strike you?"
"No," said Cassie, breathless herself. "I'm fine."
"Thank God!" Emotion surging, Iphigenia took the girl in her arms and held her for all she was worth. "I thought you were going to die!"
Cassie's voice was muffled. "Most rattlers don't kill you, if you get the venom out on time."
But the girl was shaking. Iphigenia knew she had been scared.
"Poor, sweet Cassie!" Iphigenia stroked her hair. "I don't know what I would have done if something had happened to you." When Cassie snuffled, she tried to be comforting. "There, there. It is all over."
"I can't help it. You actually care about me."
The girl doubted that? Iphigenia felt sharp emotional pain, as if a knife had pierced her heart. Tears pricked her eyes.
"Of course, I care about you."
Though she realized that she herself hadn't known the depth of her own feelings. Cassie was the nicest child she had ever known, truly dear to her. How could she go off and leave her?
But she had to remember her baby. Cassie had a parent. Hope had none, unless Iphigenia retrieved her.
If only there were some way to work this out so everyone had what they wanted.
Torn, shaken to her core, Iphigenia gave Cassie one last squeeze and let the girl go. She turned her interest to the snake, trying to ignore Cassie's soulful gaze. "Has the rattler gone away, do you think?"
"If the bucket didn't hurt it too bad, it's probably still there. Or crawled under a rock again. We can get Pa or Stephen to shoot it."
"No need." Iphigenia remembered the revolver on the porch. "I shall shoot the damnable creature myself."
The least she could do. She could pay something for invading Cassie's life. She ran to the porch and slipped the Colt out of its holster, then headed back for the tree.
Cassie moved closer to watch.
Iphigenia fingered the butt of the gun, placed her finger on the trigger. "For your own safety, you should go into the house."
"I won't get in your way."
Walking carefully, gun in hand, Iphigenia circled the cottonwood, sighting the
rattler only a few feet away from the bucket. She shivered as the serpent flicked its tongue and flexed. It didn't even seem stunned.
"I hate snakes." Iphigenia took careful aim, anchoring the gun with two hands and squeezing the trigger.
Blam!
She thought the serpent's head went flying but she pulled the trigger again and again. Only when she was certain the beast was a twitching carcass, did she relax her posture.
"It's dead." Cassie came up beside her to slip an arm around her waist. "You're wonderful!"
Iphigenia swallowed, turning as shouts and pounding footsteps heralded others approaching, undoubtedly having heard the shots.
Monte reached the two of them first, followed by Stephen. "What the hell's going on back here?"
The boy caught sight of what remained of the snake. "A diamondback, Pa. A big one."
"A rattler?" Taking a look for himself, Monte whistled. "Guess you were telling the truth when you said you could shoot, Miss Iphigenia Wentworth."
"She took the head clean off," said Stephen, grinning. Picking up a long dead branch, he hefted the carcass and flung it as far as he could.
Cassie frowned, letting go of Iphigenia. "That's the same stick I saw Ginnie playing with earlier."
Monte scowled. "Ginnie?"
"She had a burlap bag, too. She was scrabbling around in the rocks," Cassie went on, her face wreathed in anger. "Honest, I saw her."
"I believe you."
"There's hardly ever any snakes around here, Pa," added Stephen. "What with the wranglers having a rattler round-up every few months."
"Right." Monte took a deep breath, appearing pained as he roared, "Ginnie!"
The other twin appeared suddenly, nearly magically, seemingly slipping out of the shadows behind the house. "You don't have to yell, Pa."
"What do you know about this rattlesnake?"
Ginnie shrugged. "I don't know anything."
"Oh, yeah? How did a big diamondback just happen to find its way down here? What did you have in the bag your sister saw you with?"
"Some sweet grass for my horse."