Eight
Even as he greeted the newest arrivals to his fiesta, Royal wondered where Antonie was. It was not like her to be late. Neither did she seem prone to all the primping that had nearly made Patricia too late to help him greet their guests. Nonetheless, with most everyone having arrived, Antonie was still nowhere in sight.
As he went to get a drink, he wondered if she was purposely avoiding the festivities. It suddenly occurred to him that he had never seen her in a dress. It was quite possible that she did not own one. He was just cursing himself for not asking her if she needed a dress, when he caught sight of her standing near where the hands were gathered.
She wore the dress of a Mexican peasant, although Royal could see that the material was of the best quality. The crisp white, lace-trimmed blouse, the black cinch belt, and the red skirt was simplicity itself, but she looked beautiful in it. Her lovely thick hair was loose, hanging in lush waves just past her slim hips, the front sections gently pulled back and braided. Royal felt desire tauten his body as he watched her lithe figure move in a subtle rhythmic response to the music.
Just as he started to move toward her, Marilyn arrived at his side. Royal struggled to banish the thought that her hand on his arm felt like a manacle. Before all their mutual friends and neighbors he had to be pleasant to her. He simply hoped he could detach himself before too long and seek out Antonie, for he discovered that he heartily disliked leaving her with his hands and those from other ranches. Too many of those hands were young and single.
* * *
Antonie watched Marilyn tow Royal away and sighed. She had hoped that the woman would miss the fiesta for some reason, preferably a serious disease. Antonie knew she felt pure, fierce jealousy, but she could not seem to subdue it. She also knew that Marilyn was of Royal’s world, a far too constant visual reminder of just how different that world was from the one Antonie had known. The sensible part of her saw that as a blessing, for it could be used to still her fruitless dreams. But Antonie found that she was getting less sensible with each night she spent in Royal’s arms. Fruitless dreams and foolish hopes were getting more and more plentiful.
It made her angry with herself. She had thought she possessed the strength and good sense to find pleasure and avoid pain. Instead, she seemed to be doing everything that would insure that she ended up being hurt badly. She would not be able to walk away from Royal without scars. Since she doubted he would suffer any, it seemed most unfair.
“Such a long face for a fiesta, chica.”
Looking closely at Oro, Antonie said carefully, “Your mouth is smiling, amigo, but in your eyes I see a face as long as mine.”
Draping an arm around her shoulders, Oro briefly kissed her. “It shows, eh?”
“I am thinking it is not an easy thing to hide.” She spoke in Spanish to ensure privacy.
“No. It cuts too deep. It is too much a part of you, I think, touching you from head to toe as if it flows in the blood.”
“Sí, sí, that is it. She has not stopped coming after you? I had thought she had.”
Oro laughed softly, a sadness in his mirth. “She speaks to me only when she must and yet it seems there are more ‘musts’ than there is a need to be. She watches me, little one. I see it and I feel it and I ache to answer it. I want to shoot the sweaty Anglos who sit on that porch swing with her.”
He looked at Antonie, his eyes narrowing. “Her anger with me is easing. She softens again. This night she has approached me twice, and there was no must about it. The nearer she comes, the harder it is to stay away.”
“You are looking at me as if you have an idea.”
“Yes, I have one, but it could cause you some trouble.”
“More trouble than we would face if you do as you so ache to do?”
“No.”
“I am not afraid of a little trouble, Oro.”
“Maybe she will pull away, very far away, if she thinks that there is one between her and me.”
It only took Antonie a moment to understand what he meant. In less than that time she was able to clearly see what sort of trouble his plan could bring her. Nonetheless, she recognized the merit of his suggestion and the trouble it could bring her was certainly far less than what could descend upon them if Oro answered the invitation Patricia could not seem to stop sending him.
“Yes, she will,” Antonie finally agreed. “She has the Bancroft pride. She is also young and innocent, would not know how to fight the other woman.”
“Darling, it will cause you trouble. You must see that.”
“Oh, I see it, Oro, but it is not the sort of trouble that will get me hanged or shot or beaten.”
“But it could bring you pain and I do not wish to see you hurt.”
“It is not a pain that will kill me. I believe it is not a pain I can avoid anyway.” She looked at Royal, who was dancing with Marilyn. “There is the proof that I am but a passing moment. There is his world and I am no part of that.”
“You think he will still marry that woman?”
“Perhaps not her, but one much like her. An Anglo raised in the Anglo world. I am a Neumann by blood, but Juan raised me and I am his child in all other ways. Royal cannot forget that, I think, not even when he holds me in the night.”
“He is good to you.”
“Oh, yes. He is. He is kind, gentle, a good lover, and, I think, a friend. He does not hide what we share, or try to tuck it into the background as if he is ashamed of me or of wanting one like me. Perhaps he even trusts me enough so that, even though I cannot tell him the whole truth, he will believe me when I tell him you and I are not lovers, that all is not as it looks.”
She wished she could feel as confident of that possibility as she tried to sound. Antonie strongly suspected that Royal was the possessive sort. It was not a character trait she was fond of, but she had even recognized it in herself. His eyes would be telling him that he was sharing her with someone else. She would be asking him to ignore what he saw and, without any explanation, accept her simple statement that she had no lover but him. She was not sure she would be able to believe it if the situations were reversed.
For a brief moment, Antonie allowed herself the luxury of being furious with Patricia. If the girl had just left well enough alone, there would be no need for the subterfuge or the risk of pain. It was inconceivable that the girl could not know the sort of trouble she was courting, what risks she was trying to tempt Oro into taking, especially after Antonie had explained it all to her.
With a sigh, Antonie shook her anger away. Patricia was no practiced seducer, no experienced woman who just sought a unique lover with no regard to his feelings or the danger her lust might inspire. As far as Antonie could tell, the girl really did care for Oro, but was too innocent, too ignorant of the world to understand what Antonie had warned her of, that such a pairing could not be, that no one would let it happen. Even if, by some miracle, Oro and Patricia were allowed to follow their hearts, Antonie doubted that Patricia had any idea of what her life would be like, how hard it would be. Prejudice had to be suffered, tasted by its victim, before it could really be understood, and Patricia had clearly never experienced its poison.
When Jed Thayer asked her to dance, Antonie eagerly accepted. She was tired of her dark thoughts. With a festiveness that was tinted by desperation, Antonie set out to fully enjoy all the entertainment the fiesta had to offer. There was no escaping her worries or troubles, but she was determined to firmly push them aside, if only for a little while.
* * *
“Where is Antonie?” Cole asked Royal as he strolled up to stand by his brother and Marilyn, who still clung firmly to Royal’s arm.
“With the hands.”
“What’s she doing there?”
“Why shouldn’t she be?” Marilyn demanded. “She and the two half-breeds are hired hands, aren’t they?”
“I am paying them, yes,” Royal said in a tight voice, “but they never asked to be paid. They came here, unasked, to warn me and to help me.”
“That was very good of them, I’m sure. However, they didn’t turn down your offer of pay, did they.”
Royal decided there was no point in telling Marilyn about how hard he had had to work to get Antonie and the Degas twins to accept pay. Neither did he think he could get her to understand his feeling that he was getting them very cheaply. They worked as hard as the hands, acted as extra guns and guards and freely offered their experience with and knowledge of the type of men who kept harassing him, all on a hand’s pay. Filled with intractable prejudices learned at her father’s knee, Marilyn would undoubtedly belittle that and Royal did not want to risk losing his temper.
“Antonie looks pretty good in a dress,” Cole observed. “Want me to go get her and bring her over here?”
“Oh, I don’t think you should, Cole,” Marilyn answered.
“Why not, Marilyn?” he demanded.
“Well, I’m sure she would be most uncomfortable. She’s with her own kind, where she wants to be.”
“Fine, then I’ll go join her.”
It was hard for Royal not to follow Cole as he strode away. Unfortunately, he had a lot of guests and it was his duty to circulate, to play the charming host. That also meant that he would continue to be stuck with Marilyn’s company.
He realized that he had lost all liking for Marilyn. The prejudices that he had more or less ignored now infuriated him. Her attitudes were no longer an aberration to be tolerated as something she could not really help, but something he actively loathed. What made it a lot worse was that he could do nothing about it.
Marriage to Marilyn was certainly out of the question. Somehow he was going to have to get that message across to her as gently as possible. Apparently, taking a lover beneath her very nose was not enough to deter the woman. She probably saw it as some final bachelor frolic that had little or nothing to do with their relationship. He knew that a number of women felt that they should stoically tolerate a man’s indiscretions. Marilyn was evidently one of those, but Royal suddenly found that attitude distasteful, even insulting. It implied that he lacked the strength of character to be faithful. It also meant that he might have to get very blunt, even nasty, to shake the woman.
As the night dragged on, Royal found his mood growing darker and darker. It was hard to stand idly by while Antonie laughed and danced with the hands. As far as he could see, the men were enjoying her company far too much. What really troubled him, however, was what appeared to be going on between Oro and Antonie.
Since Antonie had come to his bed, Royal had disregarded Oro. He had accepted that the twins were her family. Now he recalled all too clearly the kiss he had seen Antonie and Oro share. Their actions at the moment appeared far from familial. There was an air of romance between them, of intimacy. Royal found himself wondering what game was being played, but had no opportunity to investigate it. The demands of being the host tied his hands and he began to heartily curse the fiesta.
* * *
Still laughing and trying to catch her breath after a lively dance, Antonie gladly accepted the cool drink Cole handed her. It took a moment to realize that Cole was looking rather stern. She suddenly had the sinking feeling that the performance she and Oro were putting on for Patricia had already been taken in by someone else. Patricia had already noticed, so Antonie decided it had been a little foolish to think or hope that no one else would.
“Why are you not with the guests?” she asked Cole.
“Why aren’t you, Toni?”
“Ah, they are not for me. A fiesta is to enjoy. With them I would only end up being angry.”
“Probably.” Cole looked away for a moment, sighed, then fixed her with a stern gaze. “What game are you playing?”
“Game, señor?”
“Don’t do that Toni. Don’t play dumb. I may not be firmly decided on a lot of things about you, but one thing I do know for sure, and that’s that you ain’t stupid, honey.”
“Thank you.”
“Antonie,” he said with a growing anger.
“Maybe I am just not sure what you mean, eh?”
“I’ll clarify it for you. You belong to Royal.”
“I belong to no man.” Despite her annoyance, Antonie almost smiled at Cole’s look of male exasperation. “I belong to Antonie Neumann Ramirez, and only to her. Maybe I give myself for a while, but I am never owned.”
“Get off your high horse. So, okay, I put that wrong.”
“Sí. You did.”
“You are Royal’s lover. Better?” he asked sarcastically.
“Sí, better.”
“Thank you. So, you are Royal’s lover, yet tonight you’ve been hanging all over Oro.”
“Hanging all over him?” Antonie felt somewhat insulted by his description.
“And he’s been hanging all over you,” Cole continued doggedly, “or near enough. I just want to know what you’re stirring up.”
“I am just enjoying the fiesta.”
“I’m not blind, Toni.”
“No, but maybe you do not see too clearly, eh? I have only one lover. I need no more. I want no more.”
She met his long, studying look calmly. Her words had been the truth. It was easy to face him squarely.
Cole finally nodded. “Okay.”
“Okay what?”
“Okay, I believe you.”
“Gracias. Not that it is your business anyhow.”
“No? We have a long cattle drive starting the day after tomorrow. Besides all the usual trouble we can face, we might also be harassed by Raoul or some other hired guns. A romantic triangle is a fine knot of trouble in itself and we don’t need it. Royal goes and gets too involved in a mess like that and I might end up leading the drive, and I sure as hell don’t want that. Leadership’s something I try real hard to avoid, even if it means sticking my nose into other people’s business.”
“There is no triangle.”
“Well, maybe you ought to stop playing it so close to Oro.”
“I will play it close to Oro if I want to. I will tell Royal what I told you.”
“Yes? That might not be good enough, darling. I can be charitable. You ain’t my lover. Royal might have a few doubts.”
“That is his problem.”
She moved away from Cole, not wanting any more discussions on the matter. It was far too tempting to give him a fuller explanation. Antonie knew how easily she could be seen as the villainess and she dreaded that. The last thing she wanted to be seen as was a fickle lover. She was glad when Cole returned to the guests near Royal, for it meant an end to the matter. Antonie doubted that Cole would raise the subject again once some time had passed.
After a few Irish jigs with the O’Malley brothers and a tiring but sensuous Spanish dance with Oro, Antonie decided she needed to rest her feet. It had been a long time since she had danced. She had forgotten how exhausting it could be.
Sitting beneath a large tree, Antonie removed her shoes. She smiled a little when she saw that the path to the privy reserved for the women ran right by her. It was proving to be a well-traveled path. Antonie gaily returned the greetings some women gave her and coolly ignored those who ignored her. It was as she was tugging her shoes back on that she caught a glimpse of a lavender skirt out of the corner of her eyes. Inwardly she grimaced, for she recognized the fine silk dress. Antonie looked up and met Marilyn’s glare with a cool smile.
“I see you did not heed my words,” Marilyn said.
“Ah, those words were to be heeded, eh?” Antonie slowly stood up.
“Of course they were, but you didn’t listen to a single one.”
“Sí, I did, and I have seen that you spoke the truth. You are certainly not standing idly by.” Antonie found some satisfaction, if small, in the fact that she was so clearly annoying Marilyn.
“Don’t try to be funny. Now, for a while, I thought it would be to my advantage to let Royal get this frolic out of his system. A last bachelor fling is to be expected.”
“Is it now?”
“Men will be men.”
“I have never seen it otherwise, señorita.”
“However,” Marilyn hissed through tightly clenched teeth, “this nonsense has gone on long enough.”
“I am thinking that it is not for you to say what has gone on long enough.”
“Oh, but it is. I am, after all, Royal’s fiancée.”
“Ah, he has proposed, has he?”
Antonie found it nearly impossible to keep her voice light. She felt cold and had a strong urge to scratch out Marilyn’s hazel green eyes. Perhaps even to indulge in pulling out every strand of the auburn hair the woman was so proud of.
“My dear, we have been engaged for months. If he hasn’t told you, well, that rather shows what a fool you’ve been. The man is obviously using you.”
“Is he? Perhaps, señorita, I am using him.”
“Whatever it is, it will stop.”
“Do you threaten me, Señorita Collins?”
“You know full well I do, and you’d be very wise to heed it and heed it well.”
Watching the woman stride away, Antonie murmured, “Sí. At least that much we can agree on.”
Briefly she thought about Marilyn’s claim that she and Royal were engaged. Now that the first, strong heat of anger and jealousy had passed, Antonie could view it with more calm, greater clarity. Either Royal or Marilyn was lying about that relationship, and Antonie felt pretty sure it was Marilyn.
Feeling a little better, Antonie returned to where the hands carried on a celebration almost completely separate from that of Royal and his guests. Only the foreman passed between the two groups with any ease. Even though she would have liked to respond to Marilyn’s threat by neatly cutting the woman away from Royal, Antonie decided to stay with the hands. Just as she reached the group, Justin suddenly appeared at her side.
“Why are you staying over here, Toni?” Justin asked.
“I think for the same reason these men stay over here. It is more comfortable.”
“It’s not because of bigots like Marilyn and her pa?”
“A little, sí.” Antonie grinned. “I think Royal would not like it if I shot one of his guests.”
Justin laughed. “No, reckon not, though I know it can be mighty tempting.”
“Very tempting. Is that why you are over here?”
“Nope. I wanted a dance with you, and I finally figured out that I’d best stroll over here if I’m going to get one.”
Glancing at a pretty little brunette she had noticed Justin paying marked attention to, Antonie teased, “Are you sure? I would not like to, how you say, queer your game.”
“Hush your mouth, woman, and dance,” he grumbled laughingly, his cheeks touched with a blush, as he swung her into a waltz.
Antonie laughed at the look on Justin’s face when he discovered that he had to practically fight to keep her as a partner. They both laughed heartily at the antics of the men who danced with each other, the one in the role of the woman tying a bandana around his arm, overplaying their roles until they became pure farce. By the time the dance was over both she and Justin were breathless from laughing.
“Get out of here, Jed,” Justin ordered with a laugh. “I want to talk to Toni for a while and I think she needs to catch her breath. Find another partner.”
“Tomás,” Jed called as he moved away, “you be the lady this time.”
“Oh, señor,” Tomás caroled in a high voice, “I cannot. We have not been properly introduced. Where is my duenna?”
“Tomás is mighty cheerful,” Justin observed with a grin.
“Tomás is mighty drunk.”
“He’s still standing.”
“Sí, but I have seen him pass out while he is still standing.”
“I didn’t think that punch was all that strong.”
“It gets stronger when you add tequila as Tomás does.”
“Ah, yes, that would stiffen it up a bit.”
“Did you have something you wanted to talk to me about?”
Antonie hoped that she was not in for another uncomfortable discussion or a lecture. The night was only half over and she had already had two confrontations. Since the one with Marilyn was only a few moments old, she felt she deserved a rest before suffering through another.
“Oh, nothing really. I saw Marilyn corner you. Don’t pay her any mind. She’s a bitch.”
“That bitch could become your sister,” she said gently but smiled, finding his concern a pleasant change.
“No. I don’t think so.” He colored slightly and added softly, “Whatever might or might not happen between you and Royal, I think you’ve made him see her clearly, made him really look at the woman she is.”
“Does he know you do not like her?”
“No, not really. I’m not really sure why I don’t like her. She’s never done anything to me or even said much to me. She’s really prejudiced, but so are a lot of others. I didn’t ignore it the way Royal did, but I’m afraid I sort of accepted it. Royal doesn’t do that any longer. He’s really looked at it and he hates it.”
“Are you sure?”
“Oh yes. Tomás wandered over there and was carrying on with Cole like they always do. Well, Marilyn made some remark about the half-breed not knowing his place and Royal,” Justin smiled, “told her not to be such an ass.”
“I’m surprised she still stands by him.”
“She’s determined not to give you any room tonight. He’s working himself into a foul mood because of it, I think.”
Antonie thought so, too. Several times she had caught Royal staring at her, a dark look on his face. She did not really believe it all had to do with Marilyn’s tenacity, however. Some of Royal’s darkest looks had come her way when she had been with Oro. She felt sure she was not going to be allowed any grace period.
“You know, there’s another thing about Marilyn that’s always bothered me some,” Justin said, breaking into Antonie’s thoughts.
“And what is that?” she prompted when he fell silent.
“She never laughs. Not really. Oh, she occasionally gives one of those pretty finishing-school titters, but she never honestly laughs. Foolish reason to dislike someone, I reckon.”
“No, amigo. What a person laughs at is as important as what she does not laugh at. It can tell you a lot about what is or isn’t in her heart. A person who does not laugh?” Antonie shook her head. “It is a thing to notice and worry about.”
“It is unsettling. Well, I’d best get back to Betty. I can see Clem sniffing around her.”
“Ah, that one is all hands and no courage.”
“Did he touch Patricia?”
“Not for long.”
Justin grinned. “I’ll bet.” Growing serious, he said, “Antonie, I hope that, well, whatever happens between you and Royal, we’ll still be friends.”
She smiled and said gently, “Whatever happens between me and Royal is just that—between me and Royal. It will make no difference to us.” She kissed his cheek. “Sí. We will still be friends.”
As she watched him walk away, she smiled. It gave her a good feeling to know that at least one of the Bancrofts could look past her relationship with Royal, consider it a thing apart. She had a feeling that that attitude would be put to the test very soon.