by Bobbi Smith
"You don't owe me anything," Hunt said quickly, stiffening as he remembered Glynna's words on the trail. "I didn't go after Glynna for a reward. It's reward enough for me to know she's back."
"Well, no matter what you say, Hunt, we're buying you a new stallion," Glynna said, her tone brooking no argument. "I know how much Warrior meant to you, and I insist."
"There's no need."
"There's every need," she countered, a spark of determination in her eyes as she met his gaze across the table.
Mimi noticed the unspoken tension between the two of them, and smiled to herself.
"We'll want to take a look around in the next day or two for your stallion, Hunt. We're planning to start back home by the end of the week," Charles told him.
Hunt only nodded in response as his thoughts dwelled on the reality to come. Glynna would be leaving soon. He would never see her again.
The meal ended, and Mimi, Paul, Charles and Tom all went into the parlor to relax for a while. Hunt went back to the bunkhouse, and Edmund cornered Glynna.
Glynna had dreaded this moment all day, and she knew there was no way to avoid what was to come. She was going to have to tell Edmund that she didn't want to marry him not now, and maybe not ever.
"Glynna? Would you take a walk with me?" Edmund invited.
"Of course. We need to talk."
"I agree."
Edmund took her arm as he led her from the house. He wanted to have privacy to discuss their future. He even thought it was time to kiss her. Maybe then she'd realize just how serious he was about this marriage.
The moon was out and the stars were bright in the black velvet sky. It was a beautiful night. A heavenly night. A night made for love.
When they were a good distance away from the house, Edmund stopped walking and took Glynna in his arms. He felt a slight resistance in her as he drew her near, and he wondered at it.
"Darling, I have missed you so much," he said in a husky voice as his mouth covered hers in a passionate kiss.
Glynna accepted his embrace, though it felt strange to be in another man's arms. His kiss was hot and demanding as he tried to stir an answering desire in her, but she felt no passion, no ecstasy, only a slight wave of revulsion as her heart told her, He's not Hunt.
Guilt overwhelmed Glynna. For all that her intentions had been good when she'd come outside with Edmund, she was finally facing the truth. She did not love him, and she could not marry him. Her father and Edmund might wish it were otherwise, but she could not change the way she felt. She could not marry Edmund, having known the beauty of Hunt's love.
Glynna pushed against Edmund's chest. When he broke off the kiss, she stepped back from him.
"I'm sorry, Edmund.... I just can't."
"I don't understand," he said, trying to read her expression in the moonlight.
"This isn't fair none of this."
"Fair? What are you talking about? I brought you out here because I love you, Glynna. I want to marry you." Edmund thought he sounded besotted enough to convince her.
"I'm sorry, Edmund, but this just isn't going to work."
"What isn't?"
"I can't marry you."
"Why not? Is there something that I've done?"
"Oh, no, nothing like that. It's not you; it's me. It wouldn't be right for me to marry you feeling the way I feel."
"And how do you feel, Glynna?" There was an edge to his voice.
"I don't love you, Edmund." She had to be honest with him.
"What?" he demanded harshly. "When we were in New York, you said"
"I know, but I was wrong. I thought what I was feeling for you was love, but it was really only friendship. I love someone else."
Her words were like a slap, and his expression turned ugly. "Who is it?" he asked in anger, taking her by the shoulders and giving her a fierce shake. "That damned half-breed? It's McAllister, isn't it?"
"Let me go!" She twisted free of his punishing grip. "You have no right to treat me this way!"
"Oh, that's where you're wrong, you little slut! What did you do? Did you give yourself to the whole tribe and McAllister, too, just to get yourself free?"
Glynna's eyes widened in shock at Edmund's vulgarity. "You're wrong!"
"I knew something terrible had happened to you, after being taken by the filthy Indians and then rescued by one," he said in disgust. "I don't know why I thought I could saye you by marrying you, but you're right; we shouldn't get married. I don't want you to be my wife anymore."
She tried to be conciliatory. "Edmund, I didn't mean to hurt you. You'll find the right woman one day."
He laughed as he glared at her with open hatred. "Oh, yes, my dear, I'm sure I will, and she won't be you. I'd had my doubts when I found out the truth about you, but I thought it was important to stay in your father's good graces. Well, sometimes the price is too high. I don't need Charles's name or his fortune, Glynna. It isn't worth it to me to marry a has tard, just to claim them. The Moore name and money are enough for me."
"What are you talking about?"
His look turned positively savage as he answered, "Go ask your Aunt Mimi! Or should I say, `go ask your mother'? She can tell you what you need to know."
"My mother's dead. She died when I was just a baby." Glynna was staring at him, aghast.
"Or so they told you. You should think again, my dear. Your aunt and your mother are one and the same," Edmund said, wanting to devastate her, wanting to inflict pure, raw pain on her.
"You're lying." All color drained from Glynna's face, and she went cold inside. She could tell Edmund was enjoying saying these things to her, and any warmth she'd felt for him was destroyed.
"It would be better for you if I were lying, but I'm not, Glynna dear. While you were missing, I accidentally overheard a conversation concerning you, between your um adoptive father and your real father. It seems the good reverend got your aunt pregnant all those years ago and then deserted her. Paul is your real father, and Mimi is your mother, not your aunt. So not only has your reputation been destroyed, but you were a bastard to begin with! I'm very fortunate to have found all this out before I married you. The taint and dishonor would have left my ancestors turning over in their graves. Good-bye, Glynna. With any luck, I won't have to see you again."
Glynna was in shock as she stood in the darkness, watching Edmund walk away. She was a bastard? A sense of utter disbelief filled her as she tried to comprehend exactly what Edmund had just revealed to her-Mimi was her mother and Paul, her father.
A sob caught in her throat. Could it be true? Was she illegitimate?
She thought of her father Charles, the man who'd raised her and loved her all her life. There had never been a hint that he was not what he claimed to be. He had always been there for her. And Aunt Aunt Mimi?
Her life suddenly seemed a nightmare of confusion and fear. Had the people she'd loved most in life deceived her so completely?
Tears burned in Glynna's eyes as she drew a ragged breath. There was only one way to find out the truth. She looked up at the ranch house and knew she had to confront them now. She had to know if Edmund was telling the truth. Girding herself, Glynna walked slowly back to the house. She knew the next few minutes were going to affect the rest of her life.
Under other circumstances, the brightly lighted house would have been a welcoming beacon in the night to Glynna, but not now. Her mood was nearly frantic as she entered and sought out her father, Paul and Aunt Mimi in the parlor, where they were still talking to Tom. She went to stand in the parlor doorway, and Mimi noticed her right away.
"Glynna, darling, are you all right? You look a bit pale." She rose to go to her, worried that something was wrong. "Did you have words with Edmund?"
Glynna stiffened visibly as Mimi reached out to take her arm. "Don't."
Mimi stopped, her hand dropping away. She was stunned by the unexpected rejection. "Glynna?"
Charles looked up at them. "What is it?"
"I need t
o talk with you, Papa," she said, the last word strangled from her. "And Aunt Mimi and Paul, too."
Tom could tell that something terrible had happened and that the family needed some time alone. He quickly excused himself. "I think I'll go check on the horses one last time. Good night, everyone."
When he'd gone, Glynna went farther into the room to confront them. She wasn't sure where to start or even how to start. How did she ask the man she'd believed was her father for twenty-three years if he was really her uncle? She supposed there was no better way than to be straightforward.
"Honey, what's bothering you?" Charles asked, approaching her.
Mimi had already returned to sit on the sofa next to Paul. She was tense with anticipation of what was to come. They were both looking up at Glynna, wondering if there was any way she could have learned the truth. They'd been so careful to keep the secret, yet the strained look on her face gave testimony to the power of her emotions.
"I just told Edmund that I didn't want to marry him," she began.
They all breathed a momentary sigh of relief, thinking that was her news and that it had been difficult for her to refuse his suit, but then she went on.
"Edmund was less than pleased with me." Glynna gave a slightly hysterical laugh at her own description of his mood. "He said it was probably for the best, because I was a bastard"
Mimi gasped at her statement.
"And he didn't want the slight on his family's name. He said he'd wanted the Williams fortune, but he realized that marrying me would have been too high a price to pay." She looked straight at Mimi and Paul. Her expression was haunted. "Was Edmund telling the truth? Are you really my mother and father?"
Charles looked devastated, but he remained silent, allowing Mimi to do what she felt was best. He looked on, waiting for his sister to make her decision about all their futures.
Mimi stood up and went to her daughter. She looked Glynna straight in the eye as she answered her. "Yes. I am your mother, and Paul is your father."
"Oh, God." Glynna could hardly believe what had just been confirmed for her. It was true! All of it! "My whole life has been a lie!"
Mimi tried to hug her, but Glynna stepped back. "No. Not yet. I need to think. I have to understand." She looked wildly from Mimi to Paul to Charles.
Charles opened his arms to her and she flew into his embrace. He held her cradled against him as she cried.
"I'm sorry you had to find out this way, sweetheart," Charles said softly. "We never wanted you to be hurt. That's why we did what we did."
"But Papa "Glynna stopped, wondering what she should be calling him.
"I am your father. You are my daughter," he said fiercely, seeing her confusion. "That will never change."
"I love you."
"And we love you," Charles said with unfailing devotion. "When Mimi came to me and Victoria all those years ago and told us of her circumstances, there was no way we were going to abandon her and her child. We're family, Glynna. We're there for each other in the good times and in the hard times." He gently touched her cheek as she gazed up at him.
"How did you manage the deception for all these years? How did you fool everyone?"
"Victoria and I were leaving for Europe on business, and Mimi came with us. We stayed away almost a full year, and when we returned we were proud to show off our new daughter. No one was the wiser, and we couldn't have been happier with the perfect gift God had given us you."
She buried her face against his shoulder for a moment as she fought for control.
"Don't ever think that it was easy for Mimi to give you to Victoria." He glanced to where Mimi sat with Paul, holding his hand tightly, her face ashen, her expression guilt-ridden. "I'm sure it was the most terrible day of her life when she had to hand you over to another woman and forsake her claim to you for what she thought was forever."
"It's true, Glynna," Mimi said in a soft voice. "I thought about staying in Europe and raising you by myself, but I wanted more for you than that. I wanted you to be surrounded by a loving family. I wanted the best for you. That's why I gave you to Charles. That's why I've stayed in the background all this time, loving you and supporting you, but never able to tell you the truth about my love for you."
Glynna turned away from Charles and stood motionless for a moment. Then all doubts were thrown aside as she began to cry in earnest. She went to her mother. Mimi had never known such a flood tide of love as she wrapped her daughter in her arms. If she'd had her way she would never have let her go.
"I'm so sorry if I caused you any pain. That was the last thing I ever wanted to do," Mimi whispered.
Paul had stayed in the background, allowing Mimi and Charles to deal with Glynna's discovery, but he knew it was now time that he stepped forward and told her his part in the deception.
"Glynna, I've already told your mother how sorry I am for all the trouble I've caused, but I want you to know that I never intended to hurt anyone. I didn't know of Mary Catherine's condition when I left her in San Francisco. If I had, I would never have deserted her the way I did. I was a coward and a fool, and I plan to spend the rest of my life making it up to your mother and you if you'll let me."
"Oh, Paul..." Glynna paused, confused, unsure whether to call him her father or not.
"Please, call me Paul. If you ever feel you want to call me your father, I'd be honored, but we both know Charles is the man who's earned that distinction. He's loved you and raised you from the day you were born."
Glynna went to Paul, and he held her close. Paul cherished the feeling of freedom that came from the truth being known.
"What are we going to do?" Glynna asked tearfully.
"We're going to be a family, that's what we're going to do," Charles said.
"But Edmund will tell everyone." Glynna realized that life as she'd always known it was over.
"Let him," Mimi said defiantly. "We have each other."
"We'll deal with Edmund later," Charles said, already planning several different ways to keep him silent. Charles was not without influence, and he knew very well how much the young man loved money. Pressure could be brought to bear whenever he needed it.
Glynna was still troubled. Her whole life her whole existence-had been a lie. Everything about her had been false. All the while her adored "Aunt" Mimi had really been her mother. It was almost too much to take in at one time.
"I think I need to be alone for a little while, if you don't mind."
"Of course not, darling. I know this has been a terrible shock for you. If there's anything you need from us, just let us know," Mimi said, watching her daughter carefully, feeling her confusion and pain and sense of betrayal.
Glynna didn't say any more, but sought the solitude of her bedroom. Her thoughts were deeply troubled as she tried to face what her life had become in the space of a few short minutes.
Paul stood in the middle of the parlor, his fists clenched. "I think I have to have a few words with Edmund."
'I'll do it," Charles said, starting for the door.
"No, Charles. You've been defending Glynna's honor for twenty-three years. Now it's my turn," Paul said.
"Paul, do you think this is a good idea?" Mimi touched his arm to stop him. She recognized the barely controlled fury in him.
"I think it's a very good idea." He kissed her quickly. "I need to have a few words with the man who just insulted our daughter. I'll be back."
Edmund had never been so disgusted in all his life. He stormed into the bunkhouse and all but threw himself on the bed. He lay there, staring up at the bottom of the top bunk, wondering what he was going to do next. With a vile curse, he got back up and dragged out his suitcase. He had had enough. He was getting the hell away from the Rocking M and going into town now, tonight.
Hunt was in the other bedroom and heard him moving around. He walked to the doorway to see him angrily throwing clothes in his suitcase.
"Going somewhere?" he asked. He was curious as to why the other man would b
e leaving so quickly and so late in the evening.
"I'm leaving," Edmund answered curtly.
Wes and Gib came into the bunkhouse just then, and Edmund looked up.
"I'll pay fifty dollars if one of you will take me into town tonight."
They both looked at him as if he were crazy. "Tonight?"
"That's what I said. Are you both deaf?" His tone was condescending.
"No, we were just wondering what your rush is."
"It's time I head home, the sooner the better."
"I'll say." Paul's voice erupted from behind Wes and Gib. "Gentlemen, if you'll excuse me, I need a few moments of privacy with Edmund."
"Sure, Reverend Paul."
Wes and Gib left the bunkhouse, and Hunt disappeared back into his room as Paul faced Edmund.
Paul stalked forward. "You dirty, low-life son of a bitch!" And with that he hauled off and hit Edmund.
The younger man dropped to the floor, felled by his powerful blow. He stared up at Paul and saw pure hatred in his gaze.
"You called my daughter a bastard! I'll tell you who the bastard is around here! It's you, you son of a bitch!"
"At least now Glynna knows who she really is!" Edmund threw back at him, furious.
"It's a good thing I don't have a gun on me right now, Edmund. As angry as I am with you, I just might forget my vows as a man of the cloth and pay you back for some of the pain you' ve caused tonight," he said, seething.
"You might talk big, but basically you' ve always been a coward, haven't you, Chandler?"
His last taunt broke Paul's self-control. In a rage, he threw himself at Edmund. He knocked the younger man to the ground, and they rolled together, pummeling each other. Paul's fury was savage as he finally pinned Edmund to the floor. He dealt him blow after vicious blow, wanting to punish him for his cruelty to Glynna.
Hunt had been trying to mind his own business in the other room, but when the shouting started and then the fighting, he came charging out to see what had happened. He found Paul on top of Edmund, beating him severely. Grabbing Paul by the shoulders, he pulled him off of the battered man.