Heiress (56 page)

"My, but that sounds remarkably like sour grapes," Rachel taunted. "I wonder why I have the feeling you wouldn't call it that if your stallion had won."

Vaguely Abbie was aware of MacCrea looking on, as well as Lane Canfield and Ross Tibbs, but she was too intent on this confrontation with Rachel to take much notice of them. "You're wrong. I've always regarded the halter class as a beauty contest. It judges a horse's looks, not his athletic ability. Win or lose, I had every intention of racing Windstorm this year. And that's precisely what I'm going to do. But I'm curious what your plans for Sirocco are now."

"I'm taking him home, to River Bend"—she stressed that deliberately—"so he can rest before the National Finals this fall. That's all he has left to win."

"Except a race. It doesn't matter though. I think you've made the right decision." Abbie smiled complacently at the look of surprise that flashed across Rachel's face. "You and I both know your stallion couldn't stand up under the rigors of racing. If I were you, I'd be afraid of him breaking down, too."

"You don't know what you're talking about," she retorted stiffly.

"Don't I? My father had a breeding program very similar to yours. He believed in breeding beautiful horses." Abbie paused, smiling. "I believe in breeding Arabians. Like you, he never did understand the difference."

"That's a lie!" Her voice lifted angrily.

"My mommy doesn't lie," Eden protested.

"Be quiet," Rachel snapped at her.

"You have no right to talk to my daughter that way."

"Then why don't you teach her some manners?" she shouted.

"Don't you yell at my mommy!" Eden tore loose from Abbie's hand and flung herself at Rachel, her arms swinging like a windmill. Before Abbie could grab her and pull her away, MacCrea lifted Eden into his arms. "That's enough." Shifting Eden onto his hip, he took Abbie by the elbow and propelled her ahead of him through the crowd.

"Let go of me!" Abbie struggled to pull free, but his fingers dug deeper, numbing the nerves in her arm and making it tingle painfully.

"Not until I'm damned good and ready," he growled, leaving her in no doubt that he meant exactly what he said. As long as he held Eden, Abbie realized, she didn't have any choice but to go wherever he was taking her. He didn't stop until they were nearly to the parking lot and well clear of the crowd.

The instant MacCrea released her, Abbie whirled around. "I want my daughter. Give her to me."

Staring at her, his eyes cold and angry he continued to hold Eden. "You're two of a kind," he muttered. "I oughta drag both of you over my knee and give you the paddling you deserve."

"I wouldn't try it," Abbie warned.

"Why are you so mad at my mommy?" Eden looked confused and a little frightened.

MacCrea paused and briefly eyed Abbie, then glanced over his shoulder as Ben hurried toward them, puffing slightly. "We'll meet you at the motel, Ben. These two are riding back with me."

"I'm not going anywhere with you, MacCrea, until you give me my daughter," Abbie asserted.

He just smiled. "I'm no fool, Abbie. She's my guarantee that you come with me. I've got a few things to say to you and you're going to listen."

"That's kidnapping."

"Kidnapping, blackmail, call it any damned thing you like. But that's the way it's going to be." He started walking toward the parking lot. Abbie hesitated, then hurried after him.

"All right, you win," she said as she drew level with him.

"I never doubted that for a minute. The tan car in the second row is mine."

When they reached the car, MacCrea set Eden in the backseat. "Can't I sit up front with you and Mommy?"

"Nope. Little girls ride in the backseat." He started the engine.

"Where are we going, Mommy?"

"Back to the motel." At least, she hoped MacCrea would take them straight back. She didn't really trust him.

"What about my sundae? You said I could have one with hot fudge and cherries and everything."

"If you'll sit down and be quiet, short stuff, I'll buy you a giant-sized sundae with nuts on it, too," MacCrea promised.

"You shouldn't bribe her like that," Abbie said angrily as Eden quickly sat back in the seat.

"It can't be any worse than what you're doing." He followed the arrows to the parking-lot exit and accelerated onto the street.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Knowing you, you're probably damned proud of yourself." Anger thickened his low voice. Abbie glanced briefly at him, noticing the ridged muscles in his jaw. "You weren't content until you dragged your daughter into your stupid, jealous feud with Rachel, were you? Teach them to hate while they are young. Isn't that the way it's done?"

"I didn't start it. Rachel was the one who wouldn't leave Eden out of it."

"None of it would have happened if you hadn't been looking for a fight. And don't deny that you goaded Rachel deliberately. I was there."

"That's right. Defend poor little Rachel," Abbie retorted sarcastically, fighting to suppress the sobs of frustration that caught in her throat.

"I'm not defending her."

"What do you call it then?" But she didn't care to hear his explanation. "I don't even know why I'm talking to you. How I raise my daughter is none of your business."

"Maybe it isn't, but every time I look at her, Abbie, I see you—the way you must have been before you were warped by this jealousy and your heart got all twisted with hate. Do you honestly want your daughter to grow up with the bitterness and hatred you feel?"

"No!" She was stunned that he would even think that.

"Then you'd better wake up and look at what you're doing to her," he warned. "Your jealousy is going to destroy her the same way it destroyed us."

Abbie started to remind MacCrea that he had been the one who betrayed her, but what was the point? It was over. He hadn't understood then, and he certainly wouldn't understand now. If anything, the years in between had proved she couldn't trust him.

At the same time, she couldn't argue with him about Eden. Someday she would have to tell her daughter who Rachel was. If she didn't, Eden would hear the whole sordid story from someone else. But MacCrea was right; she shouldn't let her bitterness and hurt color it.

Eden leaned over the middle of the seat back. "Are you talking about that lady that yelled at you? I didn't like her. She wasn't very nice."

Abbie caught the I-told-you-so look MacCrea threw at her. "You shouldn't say things like that, Eden," she insisted tautly.

"Why? You didn't like her either, did you, Mommy?" She frowned.

"Get out of that one if you can, Abbie," MacCrea challenged. She couldn't—and he knew it.

"Look! There's our motel." Eden pointed at the sign ahead of them.

Abbie nearly sighed with relief as MacCrea slowed the car and turned into the driveway. No longer did she have to wonder whether he truly intended to bring them straight here. The instant he stopped the car, parking it in an empty space near the lobby entrance, Abbie climbed out of the front seat and opened the rear door to claim Eden. She resisted the urge to gather Eden into her arms and run away from him into the motel. Instead, she walked Eden to the sidewalk that ran alongside the building, holding her firmly by the hand. There, she paused to wait for MacCrea.

"Tell Mr. Wilder good night and thank him for the ride." She tried to act normal even though every nerve in her body was screaming for her to get Eden out of his sight.

"But what about my sundae?" It was all Abbie could do to keep from shaking her.

"That's right. I promised I'd buy you the biggest sundae in town if you were good, didn't I?" MacCrea said.

"I wouldn't worry about it. The coffee shop is still open. I can buy her one there. After all, you do have a party to attend, and we don't want to keep you from it."

"What gave you that idea?"

"You were with her. You know she expects you." Her voice vibrated with the anger she tried to contain.

"Maybe so, but believe me, I won't be missed," he replied, then smiled at Eden. "Besides, I'd much rather buy a little girl some ice cream than drink champagne toasts to some horse."

"And I'd rather you didn't."

"Anyone would get the impression you're trying to get rid of me."

"I am." She tightened her hold on Eden's hand.

"Do you want me to leave, Eden?"

"Don't bring her into this," she protested angrily.

"Why not? She's the one I invited."

"I don't care!"

Eden pulled on her hand, demanding Abbie's attention. "Mommy, why don't you like him?"

"Yes, 'Mommy,' tell her why you don't like me. I'd be interested to hear how you'd answer that," he said dryly.

Frustrated by his stubborn persistence, Abbie couldn't even begin to try. The reasons were all too tangled. "Why are you doing this? Why can't you just leave us alone?"

MacCrea paused, as if her question had suddenly made him examine his motives. "I don't know." He shrugged faintly. "Maybe because you want it so badly."

Was she too anxious? Had she aroused his suspicion? Did he wonder if it was something more on her part than just a desire not to have anything more to do with a former lover? She couldn't risk learning the answers.

"Join us if you want. But don't expect me to make you feel welcome." She pivoted sharply and started toward the motel door, dragging Eden with her.

"Look, Mommy. Here comes Ben." Eden waved gaily at the driver of the car pulling into the lot.

Chapter 38

Except for two men sitting at a counter drinking coffee and four more people at a table on the other side of the room, they had the restaurant to themselves. Abbie sipped at her coffee and glanced toward the kitchen, wondering how long it could possibly take the waitress to bring Ben's banana cream pie and Eden's hot-fudge sundae. . . and how long it would take her daughter to eat it. It couldn't be soon enough to suit her. Maybe she should have ordered something to eat just to have something to do to make the time pass more quickly, but the way her stomach was churning, she doubted she could keep it down.

It was difficult enough sitting next to MacCrea, aware that he had maneuvered her into accepting this situation. Why hadn't she been smart enough to see it coming? Why had she allowed it to happen? Why hadn't she recognized that he was up to his old tricks? He knew that where Eden was concerned, she was vulnerable. As yet, he just didn't know why. And she couldn't let him find out.

"Are you staying at this motel, too?" Eden asked MacCrea, the two of them carrying on the only conversation at the table.

"I sure am."

"So are we. When are you going? We're leaving tomorrow. We've been gone a long time. Daddy is really going to be happy to see us when we get back. Isn't he, Mommy?"

"He certainly will." Unconsciously she twisted the wedding band on her ring finger. The instant she noticed MacCrea's glance shift to her hand, she realized what she was doing and reached again for her coffee cup. "And we'll be glad to see him, too, won't we?" She smiled at Eden, forcing an enthusiasm into her voice that she was far from feeling.

"You bet!"

When the waitress came out of the kitchen, balanced on her tray was a large goblet filled with vanilla ice cream covered by a layer of chocolate fudge and crowned with a tall swirl of whipped cream, sprinkled with nuts and topped by a red cherry.

"Look at the size of that sundae. Are you sure you can eat it all?" Abbie asked skeptically as she scooted Eden's chair closer to the table.

"Uh huh, I'm a big girl."

"It looks bigger than you," MacCrea remarked when the waitress set the sundae down on the table in front of her, but Eden corrected that problem by kneeling on her chair.

"Can I eat the cherry first, Mommy?" She picked up the long spoon, its length ungainly in her small hand.

"Yes. Just pay attention and don't get that sundae all over your good clothes," Abbie cautioned, knowing she was probably wasting her breath.

"I think I'll save it for later." She plucked the cherry from the whipped cream by its stem and laid it on the table, then proceeded to wipe her sticky fingers on her dress.

"Use your napkin." Abbie pushed it closer to the goblet, conscious of MacCrea's low chortle.

When Eden plunged her spoon into the sundae to dig out her first biteful, an avalanche of melted ice cream, thick chocolate, and whipped topping spilled over the rim of the goblet on the opposite side. Eden caught it with her fingers and pushed most of it back inside the glass, then licked the mixture off her fingers.

"Mmm, it's good."

"It looks good," MacCrea agreed.

"Want a bite?" Eden offered him the huge glob of ice cream and fudge on her spoon, then somehow managed to get it to her own mouth without dropping it when he politely refused.

Within minutes, Eden had almost as much of the sundae all over her face and hands and the table as she did in her stomach. Abbie desperately wished that her daughter was still young enough to be spoon-fed. Watching her eat by herself was an exercise in patience, and Abbie's was already sorely tested. She looked over at Ben, seeking a diversion.

"How was the pie?"

"It was good but not as good as your momma's."

"How is your mother?" MacCrea asked.

"She's fine." Abbie held out her cup as the waitress brought the coffee pot to the table.

"Do you know my grandma?" Eden spooned another partially melted mouthful of ice cream from the goblet, half of it dripping across the table as she tried to aim it at her mouth.

"Yes."

"I don't get to see her very much." Eden released a very adultlike sigh and absently stirred the melting remains of her sundae. As she scooped out another dripping spoonful, she glanced over at MacCrea and paused, with the spoon in midair. "Look, Mommy." Wonder was in her voice as she used the dripping spoon to point at him. "MacCrea has a crooked finger just like me."

For a split second Abbie was paralyzed by Eden's pronouncement as she stared at the little finger curling away from the handle of the coffee cup MacCrea was holding. Then she noticed the puzzled blankness in his expression and realized the significance of the comparison hadn't registered yet. There was still a chance it wouldn't if she acted fast.