Love and Glory: The Coltrane Saga, Book 3 (33 page)

She led the horse through the others, moving slowly, cautiously, not wanting to cause any stamping of feet.

Once deeply into the woods, she groped her way along the path. A quarter mile, she surmised, was how far she had gone on foot before daring to move to the road and mount and be on her way. A quarter mile more of walking the horse slowly, and she could spring to a gallop. Should the Klansmen break up and be on their way before she was far enough along on her own, she would merely dash into the woods on either side of the road and hide until they went by. So far, she had been lucky. Since they were prone to emotional discussions of their crusade against the Negroes, it was usually quite late before they dispersed.

Finally, she was able to urge the horse to ride as fast as she would go, giving thanks for being an expert rider. No sidesaddle feminine style for her, thank goodness. Let Alaina be the graceful flower. Marilee was grateful that Donald had taught her to ride and shoot. His theory had been that one day she might need to take care of herself. Well, she reflected pensively as she held on tightly for the fleeting ride, he had been right.

Reaching the springhouse, she swung down from the horse and called out in a hoarse whisper, “Who’s there? Is anyone there? I have news!”

A voice whispered back, “I’s here, Miz Marilee. It’s me—Caleb.”

“Caleb!” She gasped with relief, for he was a good rider. Turning in the direction of his voice, she cried, “Do you know Tom Stanley? Do you know where he lives? Is it far?”

“Yes’m,” he was immediately frightened. “Is they after him, Miz Marilee? I been afraid they would be. He’s been doin’ a lot of talkin’.”

“Does he live far from here?” she repeated urgently.

“A ways. I can get there, though. I got a horse waitin’. You want me to tell him to hide out for the night?”

“No! Tell him to leave the county. Get as far away as he can. Take his family with him right away. They aren’t out just to beat him. They mean to kill him.”

“Oh, Lawdy!” She could hear the man’s terror. “I gotta go right now. If’n they get there a’fore I do…” his voice trailed off as he crashed through the brush.

In seconds, Marilee heard the sound of Caleb charging his horse away.

Wearily, she sank to the ground. He probably would arrive in time, and, for the time being, her efforts were not in vain. For the time being…

Suddenly she sat bolt upright. It was here, she realized with a warm flush. Right about here was where Travis had taken Alaina. They had lain here, and now she was here alone, aching.

Rolling on her stomach, she burrowed her face in her hands. Damn Travis Coltrane. Damn him for being the man he was. Until tonight, until she had heard the glorious raging fire between man and woman, the hunger had not rumbled so intensely within her.

It was terrible. Damn him! Why did desire, sleeping until now, have to awaken? In that moment, she knew that as much as she despised Travis she also envied her sister. Marilee was not the beauty her sister was. Marilee lacked not only the looks but also the feminine coquetry that seemed to drive men wild. Plain, ordinary, quiet, settled, Marilee would probably always have to be content with no more than she had already known in a man’s arms.

Now, after hearing Travis cause her sister to scream, she knew what she had been missing, what she would probably always be missing.

And it hurt.

Chapter Seventeen

I’m not dull and drab!
Marilee stared at her reflection in the mirror above the dresser, saw the glimmer of unshed tears in her coffee-colored eyes. Donald didn’t find me drab. He said I was beautiful, beautiful and wonderful.

She turned slightly at the sound of the bedroom door opening. It was Alaina.

“Wear that olive green,” Alaina said, pointing to the, open wardrobe. She sat down on the side of the large canopied bed. “It’s the brightest dress in your wardrobe. Really, Marilee, why do you keep wearing widow’s weeds? Donald has been dead six years now. You can’t stay in mourning forever.”

Marilee looked at the strawberry pink chiffon gown Alaina was wearing, the skirt billowing with rows and rows of tiny ruffles, caught here and there with net rosettes of a darker pink shade. Her light brown hair was piled in ringlets, winsome curls provocatively dancing about her lovely pale face. How, Marilee wondered, could we be sisters when we look so different?

She pulled the olive green dress from the closet. The neck was high, edged with fine lace. The sleeves were long and tapered. The skirt was full, but not terribly so.
 

“You could be pretty if you tried,” Alaina offered quietly.

Marilee turned to stare at her, stunned.

“You could,” she rushed on. “You don’t try, Marilee. I mean, you wear your hair pulled back in that awful bun, and it’s not fashionable
or
flattering. You never use rouge or paint your lips, and the clothes you wear—” She wrinkled her nose. “It’s almost as though you try to be unattractive.”

Marilee sighed. “I don’t work at it, Alaina. It just turns out that way.”

“You didn’t dress that way when Donald was courting you. I remember. You wore bright colors, and you washed your hair every day and brushed it till it gleamed. Even after you married him, you still tried to be pretty. You
were
pretty. You could be again, if you tried.”

“Maybe I don’t have any reason to try.”

“If you don’t start taking care of yourself, no man will ever give you a reason, Marilee.” Alaina was becoming exasperated.

Marilee raised an eyebrow. “I can live without a man, Alaina, believe it or not.”

“You’re going to have to, the way you’re going,” came the snapping reply. “Look, I’m only trying to help. There are going to be lots of eligible men at Daddy’s party tonight. Why don’t you let me fix your hair and do your face. You can borrow one of my dresses.”

“No!” Marilee shouted, then lowered her voice. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to be sharp with you. It’s just that I don’t need your help. I don’t need anyone’s help.”

Alaina shrugged. “Suit yourself.” She got up and walked to the double glass veranda doors, swinging them open to look out and allow the cool evening air to rush in. Without turning around, she murmured, “You know, Sam Bucher is eligible.”

“Sam Bucher?” Marilee echoed. “You mean, Marshal Bucher? Why, he’s almost old enough to be my father! Look, Alaina, you just take care of your own affairs. From what I hear—” She trailed off, ashamed. Alaina was, in her reckless way, trying to help.

Alaina whirled on her, cheeks coloring. “What do you hear? That I’m having a mad, wild love affair with Travis Coltrane?” Her eyes flashed with rebellious anger. “Well, you heard almost correctly. I say ‘almost,’ because I’m sure you heard that we have been meeting secretly. We have, but only because of Stewart. Neither of us wanted a confrontation. Now our love has reached a point where we no longer want to hide our feelings. We want the whole world to know.”

Marilee turned back to continue dressing. She didn’t want to think about Travis Coltrane. Too, she had things on her mind. Only a few hours earlier, she had hidden in the secret passageway and listened to Stewart and her father talk about there being a Negro sympathizer within Klan ranks.

“Travis is coming to the party tonight, and it’s going to be our way of letting everyone know he is courting me.”

Alaina’s declaration brought Marilee out of her reverie. “Are you serious? Marshal Coltrane is going to court you, Alaina? But what about Stewart? Do you think Father would actually allow—”

“Father won’t have any choice,” Alaina cut her off. “When he sees how much we love each other, he won’t want to stand in our way. As for Stewart”—she made a face—“if he knows what’s good for him, he’ll stay out of Travis’ way. Travis is a hundred times the man Stewart could ever be, and I pity anyone who crosses him.”

Marilee sank down upon the dressing table bench and looked her sister over, considering. She took a deep breath. “Do you truly love Marshal Coltrane, Alaina? Enough to marry him? He’s older than you, and I hear he’s a widower, with a child. Are you prepared to raise another woman’s child as your own?”

Alaina shrugged. “Travis owns a silver mine in Nevada. He’s rich. So am I. We’ll be able to well afford a governess to take care of his son, just as we’ll have someone to look after any children I might have. You know I’m not going to spend my life with babies tugging at my skirts. Why, Travis and I will be the toast of all Nevada. We’ll build our own empire there. It’s going to be heaven!” She stood and wrapped her arms about herself and whirled around and around the room, dancing.

Marilee shook her head. The match was not a good one. Alaina was far too immature and self-centered to be a mother, or to be obligated to just one man.

As for Travis, she thought that he would have a hard time tying himself to just one woman. Did he share Alaina’s opinion of the seriousness of their relationship, or was she, as usual, seeing things the way she wanted to see them?

She watched as Alaina continued swirling around the room, eyes closed, an ecstatic expression on her lovely face. What could she say to her sister that she would understand? Headstrong, spoiled, she had never listened to anyone.

A sudden knock stopped Alaina in midtwirl.

“Marilee?” Jordan Barbeau called out jovially. “Is Alaina in there with you? I’d like to see both my lovely daughters for a moment before the guests start arriving.”

Marilee tied her dressing robe around her and called to him to enter.

“Ahh, you are here, my darling.” He kissed Alaina’s cheek, then crossed the room to greet Marilee the same way. “And what are you two in here gossiping about? My, you look so serious, Marilee.”

“Girl talk, Father,” she responded, turning away so he could not see the worry in her face.

He smiled. “I see. Well, I won’t interfere. I just came to tell you, Alaina,” he turned to her, “that a very special young man will be here tonight. He was quite distressed earlier this afternoon when he found out there was a party going on and you had not invited him.”

Alaina spoke up bitterly, “If you’re talking about Stewart, Daddy, I wish you hadn’t invited him. I have already invited someone as my guest. Stewart being here will only make things awkward.” Seeing the quick flash of anger in his eyes, she lifted a hand and inspected her manicure.

“You…you invited someone,” Jordan sputtered. “I had heard that you were seeing that rowdy marshal, but I told myself that wasn’t possible, that the gossips were merely wagging over your disgusting manners at your birthday party I told myself a daughter of mine would never lower herself to be in the company of a…a commoner.”

“Commoner?” Alaina echoed, stunned. “Daddy, the man owns a silver mine! He’s rich! He was also highly decorated during the war, publicly praised by General Sherman himself. He’s a gentleman.”

“A gentleman! He’s a damn Yankee! And Sherman was a bloody marauder! Sherman, indeed!”

Waving her arms, Marilee pleaded, “Daddy! Alaina! Please. This is not the time to discuss the situation. The guests will be arriving at any moment. The marshal has obviously already been invited and will be here soon. Let’s all make the best of this and not give the gossips any more reason to talk about our family.”

Jordan glared at Alaina, who met his gaze defiantly. “You keep that man away from me tonight,” he said between clenching teeth. “He’s a troublemaker. It’s men like him who would have the nigras running roughshod over the whites. You make sure he keeps his distance from me. And after tonight, I had better not hear of you seeing him again. Is that clear?”

Alaina stared straight at him, tight-lipped.

“Did you hear me?” he yelled, grabbing her shoulders. “Watch yourself around him tonight. Do not let me see any ridiculous behavior, or I’ll say to hell with manners and gossip and throw him out the goddamn door myself. And so help me, if I hear of you seeing him again, I don’t care how old you are, I’ll give you the worst thrashing of your life.”

Alaina broke into sobs as she backed toward the door. “I hate you for this,” she cried. “I love Travis and he loves me, and you aren’t going to come between us. Not now! Not ever! I’ll run away first!”

She ran through the doorway, slamming the door behind her, the sound of her crying echoing in the hall.

“God, God, why?” Jordan ran nervous fingers through his tight gray curls. “Why would Alaina be attracted to such a…a barbarian? Whatever does she see in him?”

He shook his head from side to side, then looked at Marilee thoughtfully. “Lord, why couldn’t I have been blessed with
two
sensible daughters? The only time you disappointed me was when you married a Union sympathizer and even then it was wartime, and emotions were running high. You had a right to make one foolish mistake.”

Marilee snapped, “Father, stop it! I won’t listen to you insinuate that my marrying Donald was a mistake. He had a right to his views and he believed in them so strongly that he gave his life for them. I knew what I was doing then, just as I know now. Don’t call it a mistake.”

“Of course, I’m sorry. Forgive me, dear. Donald was a fine young man. I always liked him. You know that. But it did upset me when he turned to the Union. All that is past now, and you are a lovely, sensible young woman who will one day fall in love and be a wonderful wife for some fortunate man. But Alaina…” he sighed and shook his head once more. “I fear her beauty and lack of judgment are going to cause all of us grief. I must stop this relationship between her and Coltrane before it gets out of hand.”