To Dream Anew (20 page)

“Yes, maybe you can,” Takes Many Horses said firmly. “But not by running around the countryside with a renegade. You could stay here, study and become a lawyer or an advocate for the Real People.”

Jamie frowned. “I don’t like school. Reading is hard, and I hate arithmetic. I’d rather come with you.”

“You are not being given a choice,” Koko said in a commanding voice. “Now go inside and do your schoolwork. I will be in shortly to check your figures.”

“But I want—”

“You dishonor your mother,” Takes Many Horses interrupted. “Go.”

Jamie looked as though he might say more, but with one look at his uncle’s stern countenance, he fled without a word.

Dianne pulled off her leather gloves and slapped them against her leg. “You’re welcome to stay as long as you like. I have guest rooms free, as well as a couple of the old cabins. Supper will be at six.”

“I’ll stay for a few days. Maybe in that time I can convince Jamie of the powerful things he can do as a white man helping the Blackfoot.”

Koko smiled. “Thank you. I would be glad for that help. Just don’t fill his head with all sorts of stories about your days of glory and bravery. There will be time enough for those things when he’s old enough to know his place in this world.”

She walked away, leaving Takes Many Horses and Dianne alone once again. “Come on inside,” Dianne urged.

As they walked to the house in silence, Dianne couldn’t help but wonder where Takes Many Horses had been and what all he’d seen and done. The things he mentioned about the reservation were enough to keep her from seeking details, but she couldn’t help but be concerned for his welfare. Maybe they would yet convince him that his place was on the Diamond V.

“This house seems to grow all the time,” he said as they entered.

“We did add some more rooms to the back,” Dianne admitted. “My sister Ardith …” Her words trailed off. “Oh, dear. She doesn’t know about your being here. She knows about you, but seeing you might well send her into a fit of terror.”

Takes Many Horses looked at her oddly. “Why?”

“She was brought to us after the Sioux battle at Little Big Horn. She’s the sister who fell in the river on my family’s trip out here. We thought she drowned, but the Pawnee found her. They had her a time, then the Sioux raided the village and took her hostage. She was treated poorly and eventually given over to a warrior. She hated the man and he was very unkind. She has a little daughter from him.”

“I understand,” Takes Many Horses responded. “Show me where you would like me to stay. I’ll wait there until you have time to talk to her. Then you can come for me.”

Dianne nodded. “That would be best.”

They moved toward the stairs, but charcoal drawings on the wall caught the man’s attention. “Are these your children?”

“Yes. A wonderful young man by the name of Charlie Russell came through these parts earlier. He had a marvelous talent for drawing and did these two pictures for me. It was his way of paying for our hospitality.”

Takes Many Horses studied the drawings for several minutes. “They are very fine.”

“Yes. I was impressed with his work.”

“No, I mean your boys. They are better sons than I could have given you.”

Dianne felt her cheeks grow hot. “I … uh … you know that kind of talk makes me uncomfortable.” She started up the stairs.

He chuckled and followed after her. “I didn’t think anything could make Stands Tall Woman uncomfortable—especially the truth.”

Dianne paused and looked back at the man who made no secret of his love for her. “The truth often makes me very uncomfortable,” she admitted. “But I do prefer it to lies. Even so, some things are better left unsaid.”

He met her gaze, and for a moment the passion in his expression was almost more than she could bear. How could he care so deeply for her when he knew she belonged to another?

He sighed. “I’m sorry. You’re right. Some things should be left unsaid.”

There was a deep regret in his tone that put a sorrowful damper on Dianne’s otherwise jubilant heart. She wanted to say something to encourage him not to despair over something that never had been. But even as she thought of what she might say, she knew her previous advice was best—leave it unsaid. With no other word, she once again began to climb the stairs.

Portia Langford slowly did up the buttons of her blouse, all the while watching Chester Lawrence finish pulling on his boots. He straightened and put on his jacket.

“I like the way these range shacks afford us a little afternoon privacy,” she said coyly. “I just wish they were a little more hospitable.”

Chester laughed. “They weren’t created for hospitality, but rather shelter. Although I don’t suppose they offer much of that either.”

“I’m glad my father agreed to settle in Madison now that he’s finished with the army.” She came to where Chester stood and walked her fingers up his rock-hard chest. For an older man, he was remarkably well muscled.

Chester looked at her for a moment. “You’re enough to exhaust a man, but I’m sure I’ll bear it well enough. Have you gotten me any new information?”

Portia shrugged. “Not much to tell. The Diamond V added over a hundred new calves this spring. The army is buying at least that much in steers, but the real news seems to be the horses. Apparently they are breeding something called steeldust horses. At least that’s what my father called them. He and Trenton Chadwick get together nearly every week.” She looked at Chester for a moment, then added, “Have you heard of these steeldust horses?”

“Incredible stock. Those beauties have the durability of the Spanish barb and the speed of the Thoroughbred.”

Portia rolled her eyes at the excitement in Chester’s voice. It seemed pure insanity for a man to get that worked up over a horse. She turned and walked back to the rough-hewn bed and sat down. Pulling on her stocking, Portia decided the time had come to let Chester in on a little of the Selby-Chadwick family history.

“I know you fancy the idea of pushing the Selbys out of this territory. I heard something interesting while staying with them. Something I think you might be able to work to your advantage.”

“What is it?”

Portia looked over her shoulder even as she afixed her stockings. “What benefit will it have for me?”

“If the information is as valuable as you suggest, I’ll give you whatever price you name. I intend to take this valley over for my own. Selby’s in my way. If you have a means by which I can eliminate the man and his family, I’ll give you whatever you ask.”

Portia grinned and finished securing her second stocking.

“The ranch originally belonged to Bram Vandyke, Mrs. Selby’s uncle. The man was married to an Indian squaw, and he knew she could never inherit the land.” Portia got up and pulled on her skirt, talking all the time. “Apparently, Vandyke learned that the only way he could keep the ranch in the family was to bring Dianne in on the deed and make her a partner. Her brother Trenton was not in the area at the time and her other brothers had no interest in ranching.”

“I fail to see how this is to my benefit,” Chester said, giving her a frown.

Portia shook her head. “What if the papers making her a partner were not legal? What if they were never properly filed or properly designed? What if, in fact, there are no records of them existing at all?”

“Do you have reason to believe this is true?”

“I have reason to believe that you have enough money to make it true,” she said with a sly grin.

Chester looked at her dumbfounded for a moment, then began to smile. “I think you just might be right. Maybe it’s time for me to do a little digging at the courthouse in Virginia City.”

“Maybe so,” Portia said, already thinking of what she would demand of him when he made his dream a reality.

CHAPTER
14

T
RENTON WAS IN NO MOOD TO DEAL WITH
A
NGELINA
Turnquist, but the woman was persistent. She was pretty too. Pretty and smart and not afraid of anything. He couldn’t help but admire her, but his past didn’t allow for falling in love. For reasons he didn’t understand, Portia Langford had kept silent about the details of his life before coming to the Diamond V. He was constantly waiting for the moment when someone would show up to confront him about the deeds he’d done, but so far, nothing had happened. No doubt she was waiting until the most advantageous moment before she pounced to destroy him. Just as she had no doubt done with her now dead husbands.

“Are you busy?” Angelina asked as she came into the study.

“Yes.” Trenton looked up from the ledgers. “I’m recording information for Cole. What do you need?” He tried not to sound affected by the way she looked. He’d thought her the most handsome woman in the world when he’d first met her nearly three years earlier.

“I thought we might talk. My father plans to leave here tomorrow. He’s anxious to get some of his findings back to his investors in the East. He insists I go with him, but I thought perhaps you would help me change his mind.”

Trenton shook his head. “Change his mind about going east?”

“No …” she said, moving closer to the desk, “change it about taking me.”

Trenton leaned back in the chair and said nothing for a moment. He simply studied Angelina’s face—the delicate arch of her blond brows, the upturned nose and full lips. She was dressed in a serviceable blue gown with some black braided trim. She almost looked prim and proper, but he knew better. The woman was anything but that.

“You should go see your family. How long has it been since you’ve seen your mother and sister?”

Angelina frowned. “I don’t want to be with them. I want to be with you.”

Her boldness left Trenton speechless. He knew he looked as shocked as he felt but did nothing to hide his reaction.

“I know. You don’t think we have anything in common. You think I’m too young to know my own mind. You think me better suited to Morgan.”

“I’m mighty glad
you
know what I’m thinking, because I’m feeling rather stumped right now, myself,” Trenton finally said.

Angelina stomped her foot and put her hands on her hips. “You know exactly what I mean. I’ve had feelings for you since we first met. I know you feel the same way. I can tell.”

“What if I do? What of it?” he questioned. “Your father wants to go back East, and you have family there. Your place is at his side.”

“My place could be at your side.”

Trenton got to his feet. Walking slowly around the desk, he stopped directly in front of Angelina and took hold of her by the upper arms. She closed her eyes and offered him her lips, as if fully expecting him to kiss her. For a moment, he was sorely tempted.

He swallowed hard. “Open your eyes, Angelina.”

She did so, a puzzled look spreading across her face. “What’s wrong?”

“This is wrong. We’re wrong.”

“No. We’re very right. Don’t you see?”

Trenton sighed. “You know nothing about my past. You only know me as Morgan’s brother. I haven’t always led a respectable life. I’ve done things I’m very ashamed of, and I’ve been wrongly blamed for even worse. You don’t want to end up with someone like me.”

“But that’s all in the past, right?”

“What of it?”

She smiled. “The Lord forgets your past and remembers it no more. The Bible says that. God can forgive you of your wrongdoings and wipe it all clean.”

“God very well may, but I doubt the law will feel the same way.”

Angelina shook her head. “Trenton, don’t send me away. I love you.”

He stepped back as if she’d slapped him. “You don’t know what you’re saying. You hardly even know me.”

“I know you well enough. We spent that entire winter together back in ’77 and ’78. Then every year since we’ve come here for at least a short visit. I’ve gotten to know you better each time, and I’ve grown to care for you deeply. If we were to marry, I could stay here permanently and not have to return to Chicago with my father.”

“So now you’re proposing to me?” Trenton shook his head and walked back behind the desk. He felt the need to keep some sort of barrier between them.

“You won’t do it, so I figured I might as well. Is it such a bad suggestion? Am I such a poor catch?”

He looked at her as if she’d spoken Greek. “How could you even say such a thing? I think any man would be very fortunate to have you as his wife.”

“Any man but you, is that it?”

Trenton sat down hard on the leather chair. “Angelina, you need to go. This isn’t a conversation we should be having.”

“I think it’s a good conversation for us to be having. I think you feel the same way I do.”

Trenton couldn’t deny the truth in her statement. He did care for her, and if he were a different man, he might very well have taken her up on her proposal of marriage. Trenton picked up his pen and dipped it in the ink. “Leave, Angelina. Go with your father and forget about me. I can’t be the man you want me to be.”

He focused on the ledger, hoping she would take this as his final word. He didn’t want to hurt her and prayed she wouldn’t start crying. That would surely be his undoing.

“If that’s the way you want it,” Angelina said, moving to the door, “then so be it. For now.”