Tracie Peterson - [New Mexico Sunset 03] Page 8

  Willa sensed his game and encouraged Angeline to accept. “Douglas is right. Go on with him and afterwards, if you are still feeling poorly, Douglas will escort you to your room.”

  Angeline looked into the warm glow of Douglas’s green eyes.

  She forgot for a moment about the threat of war and her brothers, but no matter how hard she tried, Angeline couldn’t forget Gavin.

  “I suppose I could. . . ,” she began, but Douglas wouldn’t allow her to finish.

  “Come,” he whispered in her ear.

  ❧

  The atmosphere of the dining room was warm and inviting. Candles graced each table, giving off a romantic glow to the room, and from the upstairs alcove, chamber music floated down upon the patrons like a soft satin coverlet.

  Angeline tried to enjoy Douglas’s praise for her work with the suffrage cause. She tried also to relish his admiration for her physical attributes, appreciative that he worked hard to keep from becoming too personal in his assessment of her.

  Douglas spoke on, or droned on as Angeline heard it, while in her mind were images of that warm night when Gavin had rescued her from the angry crowd. She could feel Gavin’s arms around her and smell his spicy cologne. Why hadn’t he come to see her? Had he taken seriously her words of dismissal?

  Unable to concentrate on Douglas, Angeline ate and tried to nod from time to time as though she were paying him the strictest attention.

  “What will you do when suffrage is won?” Douglas questioned, and Angeline snapped her head up as though she’d just been accused of taking the silver.

  “What?” her voice betrayed her surprise.

  “What will you do when suffrage is won? Will you return home to New Mexico or will you go on to fight another cause?”

  Angeline stared at Douglas for a moment and thought of Gavin’s harsh words for her causes. Yet, without giving it much thought at all, Angeline answered Douglas in a way that surprised him almost more than she surprised herself. “I suppose I’ll go home and marry.”

  “Is there someone waiting for you?” Douglas asked, trying to make the question sound as though it were unimportant.

  “Yes,” Angeline replied, realizing for the first time that there really was someone waiting for her and that she was glad he was. But was he? She’d told Gavin to leave her alone. She’d insisted to him that she wanted nothing to do with marriage.

  Just then, Douglas spotted an old friend and excused himself to corner the powerful land baron. While Angeline watched, Douglas laughed and pounded the equally pleased man on the back. They seemed completely engrossed with each other. When Douglas took an offered seat at the man’s table, Angeline felt rather put out and summoned the waiter.

  “Please tell Mr. Baker, when he returns,” she said, refraining from using the words “if he returns,” “that I have acquired a headache and have retired to my room.” The man promised to deliver the message and helped Angeline from the table.

  She hated to lie. She didn’t have a headache, but in truth, Angeline knew she soon would, if she had to listen to Douglas any longer. Making her way to her room, Angeline grew deeply troubled by her thoughts of Gavin. In a sense, she was planning to marry him, and the thought shocked her. She’d known Gavin all of her life. He was probably her best friend in all the world. Could she jeopardize that with marriage?

  Angeline wearily entered her hotel room, thankful for the electric lights that snapped on at her touch. She closed the door behind her and turned to lock it.

  “Evening, Angel. I wondered if you’d ever make it back.”

  Angeline turned around and gasped Gavin’s name before she even saw him. “What are you. . .” Her words fell into silence at the sight of Gavin’s battered face. “Oh Gavin!” she rushed to where he sat and lost her footing.

  Gavin reached out and caught her, pulling her to his lap. The effort caused him much pain, which was quickly reflected in his expression.

  “What happened to you!? How did you get hurt?” Angeline seemed unconcerned that she was sitting on his lap. She tenderly reached up to touch his face. “Who did this?”

  Chapter 11

  Gavin eyed Angeline suspiciously for a moment, then sighed. “I wondered if you knew about it,” he muttered. “Knew about what?” Angeline questioned, her eyes roaming his face, itemizing his injuries.

  “About the men who attacked me.” Gavin’s voice was very grave, and Angeline suddenly realized that he thought she had a part in his injuries.

  “Gavin Lucas!” she exclaimed and tried to get up from his lap. “How could you ever believe me capable of hurting you. I could never hurt you. I. . .” Her mouth snapped shut when she realized that she’d very nearly told Gavin that she loved him.

  Seeming to sense what she nearly said, Gavin gave her a lopsided grin. “No, I never really thought you were in on it, Angel. But it’s good to know how you feel.”

  “Let me up,” Angel demanded, feeling herself blushing from head to toe.

  “You sure?” Gavin asked, his smile broadening. “I kind of like it like this.”

  Angeline pushed away and got to her feet. “You would. Now tell me what happened to you. Who did this?”

  Gavin winced as he shifted his weight. “I don’t know the names, but I’d be able to pick out the faces, or what’s left of them.”

  Angeline grimaced. “How many?”

  “Three,” Gavin said rather proudly. “But they were puny ones.” His words sounded more like an accounting of a poor fishing day than an assault on his life.

  Angeline ran a glance the full length of Gavin’s body before she spoke again. “Are you hurt anywhere else?”

  Gavin laughed weakly. “You could say that. I’ve got some pretty tender ribs and about fourteen stitches where the knife went through my shoulder.”

  “Knife!” Angeline exclaimed and not caring how it looked, she went to Gavin’s side and fell on her knees. Taking his hand she said, “I’m so sorry, Gavin. Oh, if you hadn’t followed me you would never have gotten hurt.”

  Gavin was rather taken aback by her reaction.

  Gavin tightened his fingers around her hand. “It’s okay, Angel.”

  “No, it’s not. I knew the crowds could get violent. It is, after all, my cause. But you had no way of knowing that people could be so set against the suffrage movement. If you hadn’t come to try and talk me into going home, you wouldn’t have had to deal with those crazy people.”

  “Angel, those folks who nearly trampled you to death had nothing to do with this.”

  Angeline looked up at Gavin, her lavender eyes melting his heart in a single glance. “What do you mean?”

  “I mean, the men who attacked me were paid to do so. They were given all the information they needed as to where they could find me, and they were well paid to see to it that I couldn’t interfere with you.”

  “With me? But who would care whether you talked to me or not? Who even knew that you were there?” Angeline questioned, her voice raising slightly.

  Gavin smiled. “Yes, who knew I was there besides you?”

  Angeline thought back to that night. “I told Willa. She saw me after you brought me back to the hotel. She wondered how I’d managed to escape unharmed, and I told her about you.” Angeline paused and shook her head. “Willa would never hire someone to harm you. She’d have no reason.”

  “Why not, Angel?”

  “Like I said, she’d have no reason.”

  “What did you tell her about me? Think hard,” Gavin said softly.

  Angeline’s brows knitted together as she tried to remember. “I told her you were a friend of the family. She asked me if you were in support of the cause.”

  “What did you tell her?” Gavin’s eyes were intent.

  “I told her. . .” Angeline paused, remembering her words with some embarrassment.

  “Tell me.”

  “I told her that your cause was getting me to marry you.”

  “So she’d have no reason to feel
threatened. No reason to suspect that I might take you away from her cause?”

  Angeline jumped to her feet, mindless of the way she pulled at Gavin’s arm and shoulder as she did. She released his hand indignantly. “I can’t believe that Willa would hire hoodlums to come beat you.”

  “Calm down, Angel. As far as I could learn, your friend Douglas Baker is the one who did the hiring.” Gavin got to his feet slowly, and Angeline took a step back.

  “I don’t believe you. You’re just jealous, that’s all.”

  “Jealous of Baker? Is there something there that merits my jealousy?” Gavin questioned seriously.

  “Douglas is a wonderful man, and he isn’t at all the type that needs to resort to illegal activities. He has powerful friends and plenty of money. I don’t think you would threaten him in the least. As for whether he merits your jealousy, well that simply isn’t for me to say.” Angeline moved away, unable to look Gavin in the eye. She knew full well that Douglas was more than a little interested in her as a woman.

  “Angel, I overheard one of the men say that Baker expected to get his money’s worth. The others agreed, and that’s when the man behind me stuck his knife into me.”

  Angeline turned, a look of shock on her face. Her hand went to her head. “I can’t believe Douglas would be capable of such a thing. It’s monstrous.”

  “If I can give you proof it was Baker, will you realize just how much danger you’re in and come home with me?” Gavin questioned, moving forward to take hold of her shoulders. The effort caused him to grimace, and Angeline stood very still to keep from further irritating his wounds.

  “What kind of proof can you give?” Angeline asked softly.

  “What if he admits it himself?” Gavin’s fingers played with the wisps of hair at her neck.

  “Well of course, that would prove. . . But how in the world are you ever going to get him to just come out and say. . .” Angeline refused to finish. She shook her head. “He couldn’t have been a part of it.”

  Gavin’s finger traveled up Angeline’s neck to her jaw. “Angel, you are such a good-hearted woman. So good-hearted, in fact, that it’s difficult for you to believe anyone capable of the kind of evil that lurks in the world.”

  Angeline relished his warm touch against her skin. She felt her breathing quicken and wondered if Gavin knew how he affected her. How could he? She was only learning about it herself.

  “Angel, I’ll get the proof, but you didn’t answer me. Will you come home with me when I do?”

  Angeline was so confident of Douglas’s innocence that she saw no reason to withhold her agreement. “If you can show me, beyond any doubt, that Douglas was responsible for your injuries, I’ll go home with you.” She was lost in his touch and the look in his eyes, but somehow she found the strength to add, “But, if you can’t get your proof, will you agree to go home without me?”

  Gavin grinned, his eyes twinkling as though he’d already won. “Of course. If I can’t prove what I said is true, then I’ll leave you to traipse all over the world, and I’ll even explain to your parents why you didn’t return.”

  “Deal,” Angeline said softly.

  “Deal.”

  The clock chimed the hour, breaking the spell. Angeline looked away from Gavin and, for the first time, realized how very alone they were. “You shouldn’t even be here,” she said and pulled back. “If anyone finds you here, you’ll compromise my reputation.”

  “That would be a pity,” Gavin chuckled. “I might have to marry you then.”

  Angeline wanted to slug him, but she was too painfully aware of his injuries. “Gavin Lucas, you would try the patience of Job himself.”

  “So my mother has told me.”

  “Mine says the same thing about me,” Angeline couldn’t help but add with a grin. “But even my mother wouldn’t approve of you being here with me, like this.”

  Gavin nodded. “Sorry. I had to see you alone, and I didn’t want to risk having Baker see me. Since you two were having such a pleasant dinner, I thought your room would be the safest place to wait.”

  “But what if he’d accompanied me back here?”

  Gavin frown. “Then I would have had to accompany him back downstairs. He’d better never try anything with you, Angel. You belong to me.”

  Angeline felt both hemmed in and pleased at Gavin’s declaration. “I only meant that being a gentleman, he would have seen to my safety and escorted me at least to this floor. Douglas has never tried to impose his will on me. I can’t say the same thing for you.” Gavin took a step towards her, but Angeline outmanuevered him.

  “I make no apologies for my actions, Angel. Your folks like the idea of adding me to the family, and my folks adore you. Frankly, I’d appreciate it if you’d give all this up and come home now. I’ve got a great deal of work waiting for me at the ranch, and I’ve already endured more than I bargained for.”

  “So go home!” Angeline declared. “You’re the only one stopping you. I have no intention of pretending that I want you to stay.”

  Gavin moved faster than Angeline expected. He swept her into his arms and planted a passionate kiss upon her lips. “Tell me again how you don’t want me to stay.”

  “I don’t want you to stay,” Angeline said without conviction.

  Gavin kissed her again, only longer.

  “Tell me.”

  Angeline’s lavender eyes met Gavin’s smoky blue ones. “I, uh,” she began and saw the amusement on his face at her confusion. “Go home, Gavin.”

  Gavin lowered his lips to hers once more and, this time, Angeline kissed him back. “All right!” she declared and forced herself to step away from him, breathless and flushed. “I don’t want you to go, but I don’t want you to cause trouble, either.”

  Gavin laughed, picked up his hat from a nearby chair, and cautiously opened the door. “Good seeing you, Angel. Be careful.” He started to leave, then pulled back into the room and shut the door. Reaching into his pocket he pulled out a piece of paper. “This is my room number. I’m just one floor down, so if Willa or your precious Douglas try to move you out of town, I’d appreciate it if you’d get word to me.”

  Angeline took the paper and nodded. “Now, go. Please.” She was more disturbed by his kisses than she cared to admit.

  “You’ll be in my prayers, Angel.”

  “Thank you,” she whispered. “And you’ll be in mine.”

  When Gavin had gone, Angeline sighed and leaned heavily against the door. Her mind raced with thoughts. Could Douglas really have paid to have Gavin beaten? She’d never known Gavin to lie, and he’d have no real knowledge of Douglas Baker, otherwise.

  “Oh, Lord,” she whispered the prayer, “what am I to do? Who can I trust?” Her mind quickly referenced a verse she’d memorized from childhood. Proverbs three, verse five. “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart,” she recited, “and lean not unto thine own understanding.”

  “Everyone is running my life, Father,” she said, going to stare out the window. “Gavin comes here with his plans and dreams. He insists I marry him and won’t take no for an answer. Willa tells me what to do and say. She makes me read horrible things and tells me what I should feel. She plans my days out in complete detail without ever considering my needs.” Angeline smiled to herself when she thought of Gavin’s surprise arrival. “Of course, Willa didn’t plan on Gavin.” Then a thought crossed her mind. She mustn’t say anything to give away Gavin’s presence. If she told Willa, and Douglas had been responsible for Gavin’s attack, she’d end up being the cause of him being hurt further.

  With a heavy sigh, she let go of the drapes. “Oh, God, please keep him safe. Please don’t let them hurt Gavin again.”

  Chapter 12

  The dry, warm days of mountain summer caused Angeline to think of home. She remembered her father and mother with such fondness that she ached at the thought of the distance between them. Despite their differences, they had always shared a closeness that Angeline cherished. It
was that obvious void in her life that began to make her rethink her devotion to the cause of suffrage.

  Twice she’d made her way to the lobby telephone, but both times she’d stopped herself. If Gavin found the proof he was seeking, then she’d be headed home in a few days anyway. If he didn’t find something substantial to prove Douglas’s involvement in his attack, then Angeline would give her folks a call and let them know about her trip to Washington D.C.

  But Gavin remained mysteriously absent. Angeline had assumed he would spend some time with her now that he was here in Denver. She’d even imagined romantic evenings at the theater or opera with Gavin on her arm. But he never called on her or even so much as sent a message. After nearly a week of this, Angeline began to wonder if he’d admitted defeat and gone home.

  “Maybe he couldn’t find his proof,” she said aloud to herself one day. “At least he could have said good-bye.”

  The hotel room was more confining as the days passed and Angeline decided an outing was in order. Pulling on her well-worn blue serge skirt, she gave serious thought to her wardrobe. If she stayed on with Willa, she’d have to send for more of her things. Trying to look the part of a smart, young suffragette was most difficult when you had to alternate between three or four changes of clothes.

  A knock came at her door, and Angeline found that her heart skipped a beat. Maybe Gavin had come to talk to her again. If so, she’d ask him to accompany her across the street to the lovely park she’d watched for days from her window.

  “Who is it?” she called, unlocking the door.

  “It’s Willa, open up. I have a surprise for you.”

  Angeline opened the door and greeted her friend. “You certainly seem excited about something. Come on in and tell me all about it.”

  Willa entered the room with little flair or grace. Instead, she more or less took over a room as a general would claim a piece of ground. “We leave for Washington in two days. The march is already scheduled, and the president has agreed to receive us in the White House.”

  “Two days?” Angeline questioned, uncertain that she could manage on such short notice.