Savage Conquest (23 page)

Weber waited until the train had left the station,
making certain Lucas Reardon didn't change his
mind. He breathed a sigh of relief then tensed. He
made several inquiries with the ticket agent and
station manager, then headed for the Lawrence
townhouse to check out this disastrous mystery.

From her bedroom window, Amanda mastered her
irritation when she saw Weber arrive out front as
expected. Alice Reed had been given orders to admit
no one, even friends. First, Weber asked to speak with
Amanda, then Miranda. Alice convincingly gave the
false story she had been told-Amanda was still
recovering from illness and Miranda had left on an
extended holiday. When pressed for Miranda's
location, Alice told him she only knew her final
destination was somewhere in Charleston. As Weber
scoffed at her ignorance, she indignantly vowed she
was telling the truth.

When Weber demanded to see Amanda, Alice
politely and firmly refused. She explained that
Amanda could not be disturbed. When Weber
persisted and even threatened to go upstairs, Alice
told him Amanda had taken a sleeping medicine to
calm her distraught nerves because Miranda had left
suddenly without revealing her plans. She tried to
appease him by confiding. "She's terribly worried
about Miss Randy. It just isn't like her to do such a
rash thing. She did promise to write Miss Mandy as soon as she's settled."

"Did they quarrel, Mrs. Reed?" he inquired,
softening his tone, observing her for the slightest
hint of deception.

In spite of the unspoken betrothal between her
lovely mistress and this imposing man, Alice
demurred with, "I don't tell about the goings on
here, Mr. Richardson. All I can say is she packed and
left yesterday. You'll have to ask Miss Mandy when
she's feeling better."

Weber scowled at her then suggested, "If you wish
to continue working here after our marriage, Mrs.
Reed, you'd best hide your dislike of me a little better
else I'll hire Mandy another housekeeper. In fact, I
might hire someone to take your husband's place at
work. I'm sure it will be hard to survive with both of
you out of work. If she's distressed over something
that happened between her and Randy, I have the
right to know. They will be my family and my
responsibilities soon. Now, I'll ask again. Did they
quarrel before Randy left?"

Alice grew pale as she realized the power this man
had over her. If Weber had her husband fired, he
would be devastated. Good jobs at his age were
difficult to find. She loved the twins. She had been
loyal to the Lawrences for years and would never hurt
them. Still, she was forced to yield to the demands of
her future employer. "I suppose it's all right to tell
you what happened this morning."

When she frowned and faltered, Weber pressed eagerly, "What happened this morning? I thought
Randy left yesterday. Get on with it, woman. I have
to return to work."

"When I came in this morning, Miss Mandy told
me her sister had gone to Charleston for a holiday
with friends. Miss Mandy said she tried to get her to
go to Morning Star, but Miss Randy refused. Miss
Mandy said her sister didn't want anyone to know
where she was. But when I was cleaning her room, I
made a terrible find. She-Miss Randy-left a note
saying she had moved to Charleston and wasn't
coming back." Alice's eyes lowered in sadness as she
repeated her discovery. She had no way of knowing it
was all a pre-arranged charade.

"Moved? What are you babbling about, woman?"
he shouted. "You're daffy! She wouldn't dare leave
here. What did the note say?"

Panicked by his fury, Alice said, "Miss Randy said
she wanted to move far away from here to start a new
life. Since you and her sister are marrying soon, she
said she didn't belong here any more. She wanted to
go somewhere and forget the past. She said it was best
for all if she left and never came back. Miss Mandy's
upset because she thinks her sister might be angry
with her about something. She's hurt because she
thinks she forced Miss Randy out of her home ... by
marrying you," she stated carefully, unsure of his
reaction to that statement.

"Why would our marriage force her to leave home?
We wouldn't live here. That's silly, Mrs. Reed. Where's the note? Show it to me, or I'll have to get
Mandy out of bed to question her."

Alice eyed him curiously, then boldly asked, "Why
are you so mad about Miss Randy moving? She's a
grown woman with no boss."

From her tone, Weber realized he was acting too
possessive. "I thought the note might give a clue as to
why she left mysteriously. If so, I can find her for
Mandy. I can try to get her to come home so we can
help her if she's in some kind of trouble."

Alice's heart thudded with uncertainty. Suddenly
she was afraid for Miranda; why, she didn't know. "I
told you all the note said. Miss Mandy read it to me,
then crumpled it and burned it in the kitchen stove. If
you rush upstairs and prod her with questions, she'll
be more upset. You know she isn't well. She didn't
know Miss Randy wasn't coming home. And she
doesn't know why Miss Randy left."

Weber couldn't force answers from an ailing
Amanda without arousing suspicion. He smiled at
Alice and turned on his charm. "Randy's a special
lady. She loves Mandy; I'm sure she'll come home."

"I don't think so, Mr. Richardson. She took most
all her clothes and belongings. That's why Miss
Mandy knows she's gone for good."

"What did Lucas have to say this morning?" he
probed warily. "Did he help Randy run away? Didn't
he know this would hurt Mandy? Surely he didn't
leave without revealing Randy's location?"

"He didn't come over this morning. He said good by yesterday. When I found the note, I asked Miss
Mandy to let me go fetch him, but she said no. Miss
Mandy knows how much this trip means to him, so
she kept mum. She didn't want him running off to
Charleston. Now Mr. Luke is gone and that poor
child is alone. It isn't right for them to leave her when
she's bedridden and still suffering about her parents.
Now don't you go adding to her troubles today. You
let that child sleep and get stronger."

"I won't disturb her this morning. You tell Mandy
I came by to see her. If she needs anything, you send
for me, understand?" he told her sternly.

"I'll take care of her. When she wakes, I'll give her
your message," she agreed reluctantly, watching him
hurry out the door.

Outside the gate, Weber motioned for his furtive
cohort to join him, unaware of the piercing blue eyes
which were observing him through the translucent
material of the lacy drapes. Amanda couldn't hear
their words, but she could see Weber's fury. From
where she stood, it appeared Weber was calling off
the spy and giving him new orders. Why not?
Everyone was gone but her.

Weber was indeed issuing new orders. He had
wanted to make sure Lucas didn't get off the train
outside town and sneak back to Amanda's, and he
had wisely put a man on Lucas's tail early this
morning. When the man reported to him later, he
would know all Lucas had done before leaving town.
He would hire a man to pursue Miranda, and bring
her to his home as quickly and secretively as possible. He was determined Miranda wouldn't escape him.
Weber was positive Miranda hadn't confided in her
sister or cousin, and he concluded she was merely
running from her emotions. Just to be on the safe
side, he wouldn't deal with Amanda until her sister
was locked in a room at his home ...

In Baltimore Friday afternoon, Miranda was
bewildered when a telegram was delivered to her
hotel room under the phony name only she and
Lucas knew: Marie Starr. She nervously read its
contents which stated, "Not to worry. Have brief tail.
Use Cin ticket. Meet in Louis. Coming via Chicago.
No contact home."

Miranda comprehended the message between the
lines. Obviously Weber was having Lucas followed
which wasn't unexpected. As prearranged, she would
take one train through Cincinnati to St. Louis and
wait there. Lucas would take a decoy train to
Chicago, then travel down to meet her when he lost
his shadow. From St. Louis, they would journey to
Omaha on the Missouri River where a steamboat
would be the next step in their trip. If Amanda were
in danger, Lucas would have come directly to her
here. Both knew it was folly to send word home from her secret location. She wondered if Weber or his men
were seeking her in Charleston. She wasn't afraid to
travel alone; she would have a private compartment
all the way. Still, she couldn't help but wonder what
was taking place at home. She could hardly wait for
Lucas to join her and to relate the news. She was glad
that Lucas had a friend in Charleston who was going
to mail letters from there to Amanda.

While Weber awaited his men's reports, he
continued with his plot to take control of the twin's
properties and to locate Miranda. He sent flowers
and notes to Amanda, who shredded the papers and
tossed out the flowers. When Alice questioned
Amanda's curious actions, she told the woman she
was annoyed with Weber and herself for inspiring
her sister's departure. She went so far as to hint that
Weber might have driven Miranda away and that she
might reconsider her relationship with him. She
pretended to get stronger and better each day.

Weber canceled the ordered accident for Thomas
Reed, as it would be unnecessary until he had
Miranda under his roof. When Weber hadn't called
on Amanda by Monday, she fretted at his inexplicable absence. Since Miranda was lost to him,
shouldn't he be wooing her again? The notes and
flowers were nothing but wily deceptions. Tuesday, a
message arrived telling Amanda he had left on a
business trip and would see her when he returned
Thursday. Amanda prayed he was heading south, not west.

The weekend had passed without trouble but now
odd things were happening. Weber had left town. On
Tuesday a telegram arrived from Lucas, from St.
Louis. Thomas Reed broke his leg in an accident on
Wednesday, and Alice had to stay home with him for
a while. A letter arrived from Miranda on Thursday,
posted in Charleston. No message, coded or otherwise, came from Reis.

For two nights, Amanda slept restlessly, worrying
about Weber's strange actions and praying for Reis's
safety. But at least she knew Lucas and Miranda were
safe. She had destroyed Miranda's lengthy letter but
kept the false one to use on Weber when and if he ever
came around. She also kept Lucas's telegram lying
on the parlor table. She wished Reis would write or
return. She needed to know he was all right. She
needed to see him, to touch him, to love him.

Friday afternoon, Amanda paid the Reeds a brief
visit. Upon returning home, she found Weber
waiting for her on the porch. As she approached him,
he stared at her oddly.

"I thought you were too ill to be up and around,"
he stated sullenly. "I come home to find you
traipsing all over town. Would you mind explaining
yourself, Miss Lawrence?"

Amanda stiffened with outrage and resentment,
then reminded herself to proceed with caution. "I beg
your pardon, Mr. Richardson," she retorted in a
similar tone of peevishness. "How would you know
my state of health, seeing as you haven't called since last Friday-a week past? How long does it require
for one to get well? To get jittery lying abed or
confined to one's home? And since when must I
explain myself to you or anyone? But to answer your
insulting and nosy question, I went to visit the
Reeds. I take it you're unaware of his terrible
accident?"

"What accident?" he queried in confusion, wondering if his man had misinterpreted his order. He
had seen Amanda Lawrence in many moods, but
never one laced with such anger and rudeness.

Amanda briefly informed him of Thomas Reed's
situation. "If that's all, sir, good day to you," she
added snippily, unlocking her door. At that moment,
she was too mad to be afraid of him.

"That isn't all, Mandy," he hastily informed her,
seizing her arm and turning her around. "I came over
to check on you as soon as I returned. Why are you
being so hateful? Have you heard from Miranda?" he
inquired, trying to sound casual.

He didn't fool Amanda in the least. Apparently he
hadn't found a trace of Miranda and was seeking
clues from her. "As you can see, I'm doing fine now.
As to my behavior, I give as I receive. It would have
been more pleasant if you had merely sent another
note or bouquet of flowers. As you can also see, I'm
not in the proper mood for company, thanks to you."

"I'm not company, Mandy," he playfully corrected
her. "What inspired this disagreeable mood? Surely I
can help change it?" he offered, his tone a mellow
and husky sound.

"I doubt anyone possesses such magic, Weber. You
can't change what ails me. Everything seems to be
going awry these days," she murmured sadly.