The Debutante's Secret

by Peggy McKenzie

  Alex was still reeling from the news that Roxanne was Regina Kingston’s cousin. She was a wealthy woman with enough money to put a silver saddle on every horse he owned. No wonder she offered to give him money to solve his problems. She wasn’t a schoolteacher. She was a damned heiress.

  And she was returning to her home in Boston. In September. At least he thought that’s what John said. To get married. She had played him for a fool. First Kate and now Roxanne. He might be a good judge of horseflesh, but he was a piss-poor judge of a woman’s character. He was a damned fool.

  He knew John was beside him as he walked the few blocks from the hotel to John’s home. His friend had tried to talk some sense into him. “Don’t go off half-cocked, Alex. It won’t end well.” It had already not ended well. What else could go wrong?

  He saw the house at the end of the block. Roxanne was inside waiting for him to pick her up and take her back to the ranch. And all because she had talked her father into letting her have some time away from her real life to find adventure before she returned to Boston to marry some shipping millionaire. So, he and his little daughter were nothing more than ‘an adventure’ to a rich heiress who wanted to sew her wild oats before she married. Damn it.

  It was painfully obvious to him now that he knew all the facts. He was her summer adventure. A little summer romance far away from the prying eyes of her parents. And her fiancé. The thought made Alex sick to his stomach. And angry. He was spittin’ mad and he wanted Roxanne Sheffield to admit to his face the ugly truth. That she was a selfish creature having her fun at his expense. And Grace’s. That thought made him even more furious. How dare this woman use his daughter to play her games.

  He threw open the iron gate leading up the walk to John and Regina's front door.

  “Alex. I would appreciate it if you wouldn’t involve Regina in this situation. I’m sure she’s—”

  He whirled on his friend. “Do you think Roxanne and Regina haven’t already discussed this? Come on, John. You can’t be that naïve. They are cousins, remember? First cousins. Like sisters, you said. Yeah, Regina knows all about Roxanne’s escapades. What else do you think they sit and talk about when she comes into town? Me. And how easy it was to make me fall in love with her all the while pretending to be a damned schoolteacher. What a joke.”

  He didn’t wait for John’s response. Instead, he turned and stomped up the stone path leading to the front door. He didn’t bother knocking, instead he burst through the door like a charging bull, which is exactly what he felt like.

  He was halfway into the main parlor before he realized Regina and Roxanne were not alone. Three women stood when he thundered into the room. John rushed in right behind him. “Alex, I really wish you would calm down before...” Then he stopped too when he realized they had company.

  Blood pounded in his ears as his brain tried to make sense of what was happening.

  “Hello, Alex. I’m surprised to see you and I’m certain you are quite surprised to see me here in Durango. I hope it is a happy surprise none the less.” The blond woman spoke with that cocksure attitude of hers.

  “Kate. What the hell are you doing here?”

  “Now is that any way to greet your wife?”

  Alex had intended to march into John and Regina's home with righteous indignation and crucify one Miss Roxanne Sheffield for failing to tell him the truth about who she was. But that was before he realized his supposedly deceased wife was standing right in front of him—and everyone else—looking very much alive.

  The minute he made eye contact with Roxanne, his anger disappeared. His secret was out and the woman he had hoped to marry was mentally half way back to Boston. It no longer mattered that she played him for a fool. It was his deception and dishonesty that was now on display for everyone to see.

  The look in Roxanne’s eyes nearly broke him. She ran up the stairs and slammed the door was such force, the downstairs windows rattled in their frames. John stood beside Regina, still in the dark about what was going on under his roof. But when Regina made the introductions, the look his friend gave him seemed to predict that John could shoot him dead as promised.

  Alex knew there was no point in trying to explain the intricacies of how it all happened in the space of a few minutes. He had a little girl to think about. Now that Kate had returned, he needed to determine what her intentions were regarding their—his daughter. He would not allow the stranger he had once shared his bed with to hurt that little girl. Ever again.

  John’s words pulled him out of his misery, if only for a moment. “Alex, I know your character and I’m certain there is more to this situation than meets the eye, but I think it best you and...your wife leave until we can get this all sorted out. I think it best Grace stay here with Regina…at least for tonight.”

  John escorted them to his front door and the resounding slam behind them made it clear that John was in no mood to hear him out. At least not at present and it saddened him to think that he may have lost his oldest and dearest friend.

  “Well, there’s obviously something going on that I’m not privy to, Alex. What have you done?” Kate’s accusation fed his anger.

  “What have I done?” He could barely get his words out he was so furious. He pulled Kate along the boardwalk toward the hotel by her arm.

  “Alex, what has gotten into you? You’re hurting me and people are watching,” she whined.

  He pulled her along, not bothering to look at her or utter a single word. When he reached the hotel lobby, he dragged Kate straight to a table in the restaurant. After the waitress took their order and left, Alex turned to his wife. “What the hell do you want, Kate? Why are you here and where the hell is my money?”

  “Alex, darling. I would think that obvious. I missed you—”

  “Cut the bullshit, Kate. You haven’t missed me. Or Grace. So, out with it. Why are you really here? What do you want?”

  Kate tried to manipulate him as she always did. First with a pout, then she managed to squeeze out a few tears. But they weren’t real, and he knew it. Finally, she wiped her eyes and pulled out a pocket mirror and studied her reflection. Satisfied she hadn’t done damage to her appearance, she shoved the mirror back into her reticle and the real Kate appeared. Cold. Calculating. Conniving.

  “I’m out of funds, Alex, and as my husband, it is your responsibility to give me more. I haven’t had a new hat in weeks.” She sniffed her indignation at the unthinkable prospect.

  He sneered at the woman sitting across from him. “And what is your responsibility as my wife, Kate? And to our daughter? You seem to have forgotten that marriage is a two-way street.”

  “Alex, we both know our marriage was a mistake from the very beginning. You and I are not alike. We don’t suit one another at all. I have done my duty as your wife and given you a child to the detriment of my body, I might add. What more could you possibly expect from me?”

  “I don’t want anything from you, Kate. That’s the point. Your trip here was a waste of time. I’m buying you a one-way ticket back to New Orleans. You are your parent’s problem now. Not mine.”

  “But I don’t have any money, Alex. Surely, you can’t expect me to return to New Orleans without—”

  “I don’t give a damn, Kate. You had money. My money. A lot of my money. Where is it?” he demanded.

  She shrugged her shoulders. “I have no idea. It just...went. That’s all.”

  “How did you get the money in the first place?”

  “Let’s just say I had a friend that worked in the bank. He and I had an arrangement of sorts. Unfortunately, after the money was all gone, he left me and I haven’t seen him since.”

  He gripped the edge of the chair to keep from choking the life out of the woman seated across from him. Would a judge convict him of murder once he learned what kind of person Kate was and what she was capable of doing? Maybe. Maybe not. Was it worth it to him to find out?

  He shook his head and took a deep breath to calm his poundi
ng heart. “I’ll tell you what I am going to do. I’m going to pay for a room here at the hotel for one night. Then, tomorrow morning, I’m escorting you to the train station. You are going to get on that train with a one-way ticket to New Orleans, and if I ever hear from you again, if you ever try to contact me or Grace, you’ll wish you hadn’t.”

  “Is that a threat, Alex? I’m surprised. I didn’t think you had the nerve.” Kate tried to demean him and make him feel inferior to her. It was another trick she used to keep him in line. It wasn’t going to work this time.

  “Say what you will, Kate, but I’m filing for divorce and you won’t contest it. Grace stays with me and you get no support. Are we clear?”

  “How dare you try to take my daughter—”

  “Oh knock it off, Kate. You don’t care a thing about Grace. You haven’t seen her in months, and you haven’t asked about her since you’ve arrived. You’ll sign the papers, Kate, or I’ll have the law waiting on you and your lover when you get back to New Orleans for embezzlement. You can count on it.”

  Her eyes squinted into cat-like slits. “You wouldn’t dare create such a scandal. I wouldn’t be able to hold up my head in New Orleans.”

  “I don’t give a damn about your social standing. That’s the deal. Sign the divorce papers or go to jail for conspiring to commit fraud. You had no right to that money. It was mine.”

  She refused to answer. Just then, a familiar face entered the dining room. “Stay here. There’s someone I need to talk to.” Alex rose and made his way through the crowded dining room to the table of Judge William E. Baker. “Excuse me, Judge Baker. Could I have a moment of your time?”

  John’s friend looked up and stood. “Of course. Please sit down, Alex. What can I do for you?” Alex took a seat and Judge Baker sat back down. “I know you don’t know me very well, but I have a favor to ask.” Alex’s heart punched his ribs at using his friendship with John to ask a favor of a federal judge, but his back was against the wall.

  “Of course, I’ll do what I can.” Judge Baker studied him from across the table, his face open and friendly.

  “I need a divorce.”

  The man sat back in surprise. “Divorce? I thought your wife was deceased.”

  “It’s a long story and I won’t bore you with the sordid details, but she’s alive and well, and sitting right over there.” He pointed to where Kate was sitting, just as the waitress brought her a crystal flute and a bottle of champagne. Alex grimaced at the woman’s unceasing extravagance.

  “I see. And this situation is known to John and his wife?” Alex could see understanding on the man’s face. One didn’t get to be a federal judge by being stupid, that much was obvious.

  “Yes, they are aware of Kate’s…return from the dead, as is Miss Sheffield.” He didn’t elaborate.

  “I see,” he repeated himself.

  “I want divorce papers drawn up so Kate can sign them before she leaves town. I don’t trust her to keep her promise once she’s out of my sight.”

  “And where were you two married? The divorce would need to be secured there as your residency here has not been long enough to meet the statute.”

  “New Orleans. We were married in New Orleans, Louisiana.”

  “Ah, New Orleans. One of my favorite towns. And, it just so happens that I do have a college friend who is practicing law in New Orleans. He moved there to be closer to a young woman he had taken a fancy to. I’m not sure they are still together, but... never mind, that doesn’t matter. I can make a few inquiries into who would be hearing your case and granting your petition for divorce if that would help.”

  “I’d like this to move along as quickly as possible, Judge Baker. How much will this cost?” Alex mentally tallied how much money he would have left after he paid for the horses coming from Cheyenne and his mercantile bill.

  “I think I can call in a few favors. After all, any friend of John’s is a friend of mine.”

  “I’m not sure John considers me a friend any longer. Not after I misrepresented my situation.”

  “I’d like to hear the whole story before I decide that, if you don’t mind.” John’s voice spoke from behind Alex just before his friend pulled up a chair at the table and sat down next to him.

  Grateful for the chance to explain, he told John and Will the whole sordid story. The surprise note at the train station. Needing someone to care for Grace. The misunderstanding resulting in his hiring Roxanne. The lies to protect them both. And finally about the day he realized he had fallen in love with her.

  After half an hour, John agreed Alex could have handled the situation better, but he understood the difficult position he was in. And he couldn’t guarantee that hearing his explanation would mean Regina would absolve him of his transgressions against her cousin, but he would try to intervene if he could.

  Alex was relieved when Judge Baker agreed to have the divorce petition drawn up that afternoon. He’d get Kate to sign and then send her back to New Orleans. Grace would never know her mother had slithered in or out of town.

  He thanked his friends and walked back over to the table where his soon-to-be ex-wife sat swilling expensive Champaign. Kate was deep into the bottle of champagne by then. “Alex, darling. Why don’t we go up to our room and have a little fun,” she cooed.

  “I’ll be up later with the divorce petition for you to sign. After that, Kate, you and I are done.” He threw down money to pay for the meal and walked out. If he never laid eyes on that woman again, it would be too damn soon. He sent up a special prayer for her parents, Mr. And Mrs. Bishop. Her parents were gonna need all the help they could get dealing with their very unhappy, selfish, and conniving daughter.

  Now, all he had to do was figure out how he was going to rebuild his life without the one woman he was convinced he couldn’t live without...Roxanne Sheffield.

  Chapter 13

  Roxanne had been gone from Durango almost two weeks before her things from the ranch finally arrived in Boston. After the great reunion scene played out in Regina's main parlor between Alex, the man she had convinced herself was her happily ever after, and his supposedly dead wife, she remained at Regina’s refusing to go back to the ranch. It nearly broke her heart to not be able to say goodbye to Grace. She loved that little girl like... no, she wasn’t going to go down that road again. It was over.

  She threw another pillow across the room. Unfortunately, it hit her twin sister square in the face just as she entered Roxanne’s bedroom.

  “Don’t you think you’ve moped long enough over that cowboy of yours?” Her sister threw the pillow back at her and Roxi batted it away.

  “He’s not my cowboy. Remember? He has a wife.” Her bitterness evident in her sarcasm.

  Her sister sat next to her on the settee. Her sympathetic gaze made Roxanne feel bad for being so spiteful to her. It wasn’t Marianne’s fault Alex was a liar…and a cheat.

  “I think you should get out of this room. Get some fresh air. You haven’t even ventured to the garden to read those books of yours since you’ve been home.” Mari cajoled her, but Roxi wasn’t in the mood.

  “Go with me to Ella Bayfield's garden party tomorrow? It isn’t too late to add one more guest to the acceptance list. I know Mrs. Bayfield won’t mind one bit if you come along. Please? Do it for me?”

  Marianne had begged her to come to every social event her sister had attended since Roxi had run home with her heart in shambles. Now fall was here and she and her family were preparing for her…wedding. Not her fairy tale wedding to her Prince Charming because that wasn’t real. No, her fairy tale had turned into a nightmare straight from hell.

  “For the last time, Marianne. I do not wish to go to a garden party. Or a dance. Or any other such gathering where there are men present. I don’t have the strength or the patience to pretend I care about their silly chatter.

  “I’m over my belief in a fairy tale ending. There’s no such thing, as you so often have pointed out. So, there you have it. You wer
e right and I was wrong. End of subject. Now, will you please leave me in peace?”

  Her sister pulled her hand into hers. “Roxanne, I understand you are disappointed in your cowboy, but in all sincerity, did you really think a man like that would play fair with you? He’s a cowboy. They are drifters. And they are always dirty. Why I’ve seen them on the streets of Boston when the rodeo comes to town. They roll around in the street punching at each other. They smell of sweaty horses and they have the most ungodly things stuck to the bottom of their dirty boots. It is all so disgusting. I don’t know how you stood it so long. Now, if you had found someone like Regina's husband—a handsome businessman—then perhaps I would have championed your petition to marry him, but as it is...”

  Roxanne thought about setting her sister straight. She could explain that Alex was no ordinary cowboy. He was an educated man whose father owned a bank in New Orleans. But then her sister would point out that he was still a lying, no-good, heart stealer. And she couldn’t argue against that. Besides, it no longer mattered because Alex was married, and she was about to be—to someone else.

  “Don’t worry about championing my cause, because I don’t have one. I’ve already given father my blessing for this marriage to Mr. Banks and I’ve accepted his proposal of marriage. The date for our wedding has been set for late-September. So everything is settled. And that is another reason why I have no desire to parade around on display at your garden party.” Roxanne didn’t try to hide her sarcasm from her sister.

  “There’s no need to be nasty about it. Just because your misplaced idea of romance has been dashed by an uncouth cowboy, doesn’t mean everyone else’s has. I have always been the practical and it has served me well. I told you one day your willingness to let the wind blow you where it may would bring chaos to your world. And it is quite unfortunate, dear sister, but it seems my prediction has come true. Now, if you will excuse me, I have a garden party to attend.”