The two young women strolled into the house. Adam, trailing behind, found himself agreeing with Pearl’s remark. Diamond really was a remarkable woman. Instead of being concerned with her own safety, she’d been more concerned with retrieving her rifle, in order to return the gunfire. She was truly unique.
Cal and the wranglers wheeled their horses, intent upon backtracking on Diamond’s trail. But as he rode away, Cal turned in the saddle and kept a flinty gaze on Adam. He didn’t trust Winter. And he couldn’t, for the life of him, figure out why he was hanging around.
What he didn’t know was that Adam was asking himself the same question.
“Good. You are back just in time.” Carmelita looked up from the oven, where she was lifting a pan of steaming corn bread.
The wonderful fragrance wafted through the kitchen, along with the sweet, spicy smell of onions and chilis.
“I’ve brought company,” Diamond called. “Carmelita, this is Adam Winter.”
Carmelita eyed him speculatively. So this was the man who had the whole town of Hanging Tree buzzing. What she had heard about him was true. There was a look of danger about him. But he appeared dangerous in more ways than one. True, he wore his guns like a man accustomed to using them. And that gave him an aura of power. But he was devastatingly good-looking, as well. Tall. Dark. Mysterious. Slightly aloof. And that only added to his appeal.
“Señor Winter. Welcome. I have missed cooking for a man. Sit,” she commanded. “You will eat while it is hot.”
“She means it,” Pearl said in an aside. “My eggs were so hot this morning, I thought my mouth was on fire.”
Adam found himself grinning as Pearl cast a wary glance at the platter of thin strips of beef laced with onions and red and green peppers.
“You are new to Texas?” Carmelita asked as she paused beside Adam with a basket of corn bread.
“Yes, ma’am.” He helped himself to some and passed it on to Diamond.
“And where was your home before?”
Adam was aware that Diamond was watching him carefully. “Maryland.”
“Why did you leave this... Mary-land?” Carmelita stumbled over the word as she filled his glass with water.
He drained it, and was rewarded with a second glass almost at once.
“After the war, there wasn’t anything left of my home.”
“The war has been over for several years,” Carmelita said as she pressed the platter of beef into his hands. “Why did it take you so long to settle in Texas?”
“I... had some things to take care of. And then I just drifted for a while. When I found this place, it felt good. It felt right. And I decided to try my hand at ranching.”
“So. Do you think you will stay?”
Adam shrugged. His tone roughened. “Who knows? I’ve learned to take things a day at a time.”
Beside him, Diamond was strangely silent. She bad thought that the size of his herd had meant he’d made a commitment to this land. She should have known better. A man like Adam Winter, a drifter, a loner, was in it only for the money to be made. And then he’d move on, driven by some inner demon. Pa had always had disdain for such men, who took from the land and never stayed around long enough to give anything back.
Her thoughts were interrupted by Pearl’s cool, cultured voice. “Do you have family back in Maryland?”
“No.” He bit the word off before lifting a cup of coffee to his lips.
Something in the way he said it caused Carmelita to turn from the stove. But he merely gave her a fleeting look and said, “This is the best food I’ve eaten in a long time, ma’am.”
“You do not find it too hot?” she asked.
“I spent a little time in Mexico. I guess my mouth got used to spices. I’ve missed them.”
The housekeeper beamed at his words and urged him to take a second helping.
“Maryland seems as foreign to me as Boston,” Diamond remarked. “What’s it like?”
“I guess, if I were to describe it in one word, it would be gentle.” Adam turned toward her, and she noted a softness in his eyes.
Even his voice had softened, and she found herself amazed at the transformation. His eyes, which had always seemed so cold and hard, were the color of the pearl gray ridges of Widow’s Peak she saw each morning through her window when she awoke. Without his usual frown, he was positively handsome.
“My farm was set amid green, rolling hills.”
“Was it large?” Pearl asked.
“I suppose so. By Maryland standards. I farmed a hundred acres of rich soil, and had a herd of several hundred dairy cows. I owned another hundred acres that was given over to tenant farmers. But compared with the Jewel land here in Texas, it would seem small indeed.”
“Did you farm it alone?” Diamond asked.
He shook his head. “My father and two brothers owned neighboring farms, and we all shared the hard work of planting and harvesting.”
That would explain the hard, muscled body, Diamond thought. The press of that body against hers had been exquisite torture.
At that moment he turned toward her, and she felt her cheeks redden. Could he read her mind? Did he know what she’d just been thinking? As if in answer he muttered, “Did you lose your appetite?”
“What? Oh.” She stared down at her plate and realized she hadn’t eaten a thing. Lifting the fork to her mouth, she felt the need to say something. “What is the weather like in Maryland?”
“As a farmer, I’d have to say perfect for growing crops. Like ranchers, farmers are held hostage to the weather. It’s generally warm in summer, cold in winter. But I don’t think it has the extremes that you find here in Texas. Even the weather is gentle.”
Gentle. There was that word again. And Diamond found herself fascinated by this unexpected gentle side of Adam Winter. It was a side she wouldn’t have expected from the hardened loner she’d first met in jail.
“Do you think you will return one day to your Maryland?” Carmelita asked.
At once the softness was gone. “No. I won’t be returning.”
Diamond was instantly intrigued. What had wiped the smile from his lips and his eyes? What had happened in Maryland to send him halfway across the country in search of a new home?
Eager to deflect any further questions, Adam said, “Tell me about your home in Boston, Pearl.”
While Pearl spoke fondly about the city of her birth, Diamond fell silent, studying Adam’s hard, chiseled profile. What was it about this man that set her heart racing, her blood pounding? As if sensing her scrutiny, he turned and pinned her with a look.
“Isn’t that right, Diamond?” Pearl asked.
“I...” Feeling lost and foolish, Diamond flushed clear to her toes.
“You see how modest she is?” Pearl insisted. “I was telling Adam how kind you’ve been since my arrival. This sort of hospitality was more than I ever hoped for.”
Diamond’s flush deepened. “I...wasn’t exactly feeling hospitable when you first introduced yourself.”
“But that’s because you had no warning. And here I’d thought that you’d known all along about me, even though I’d only learned about you from the newspaper account of Daddy’s death.” Pearl gave Diamond her sweetest smile. “I’ve been asking myself how I would have responded in your place. I’m sure I would have reacted exactly as you did, if I’d suddenly learned a burning secret that had been kept from me for a lifetime. And the secret, finally revealed, was that I had a sister.”
Sister. The word grated. Diamond felt her temples begin to throb once more. The tension was returning. She scraped back her chair. “If we’re finished with lunch, I’m sure Adam will want to return to his ranch.”
Adam couldn’t help smiling at Diamond’s reaction. She was as transparent as an artless child. And at the moment, the child in her was rebelling against the many surprises in her life. “You’re right. Zeb will have a few choice words for me about leaving him with all the chores.”
T
he three women walked with him along the cool, darkened hallway. As they passed the large parlor, he noted the sumptuous surroundings, which seemed so out of place in this harsh, primitive land. It was obvious that Diamond Jewel, despite the fact that she could ride and rope and shoot like a man, had been raised like a pampered princess.
They stepped out onto the wide veranda, and Diamond found herself sandwiched between Adam and Carmelita. As always, the nearness of him overwhelmed her.
She turned to him, eager to send him on his way. “We’ve kept you from your chores long enough. Thank you again for seeing us home.” She stuck out her hand awkwardly. When he took hold of it, she felt the sizzle all the way up her arm. It was all she could do to keep from snatching her hand away and backing up. Instead, she stood her ground, and forced herself to meet his eyes.
“You’re welcome.” If he felt anything at their touch, he kept it well hidden. His voice was cool and confident; his words impersonal. “Always happy to help out a fellow rancher.” He released her hand and turned to the housekeeper, who was wiping her hands on her apron. “Thank you for the fine meal, Carmelita. It was the best I’ve had in a long time.”
“Then you must come back again. Only next time, if I know in advance, I will make you something very special. With every spice I can find.”
He chuckled. “I’d like that.”
Diamond couldn’t believe her eyes. Carmelita was actually blushing like a girl.
“Goodbye, Pearl,” Adam said as he shook her hand. “I’m glad you’re getting a chance to see some of Texas. When do you leave?”
She glanced at Diamond, then looked down at the toe of her shoe. “I don’t know. Tomorrow, I suppose.”
“Then I wish you a safe journey,” he said before turning away.
Just then they caught sight of something quite extraordinary. An ornate carriage, all silver and gilt, with a pair of matched white horses, was rolling toward them. It was an amazing sight, rarely seen in Texas. A carriage like that would only be at home in the streets of San Francisco or New York.
The horses, with manes and tails fluttering like flags in the wind, pranced in unison. Dust swirled as they came to a halt at the foot of the veranda.
As the others watched, the driver, an elegant young woman, set aside the reins and prepared to alight. Jet black hair, sleek and straight, fell to below her waist. Almond eyes sparkled in an exquisitely beautiful face. Her gown of shimmering green Chinese silk, with high mandarin collar and frog closings, fell to her ankles. The skirt was slit on either side, revealing a length of shapely leg as she stepped from the carriage.
“I was given directions to this ranch by your marshal,” came a soft, slightly accented voice. “Which of you is Diamond Jewel?”
“I am.” Diamond took a tentative step forward, unable to take her eyes off the lovely, delicate creature who had just arrived in a fairy-tale carriage.
“Ah. Then I am so pleased to meet you. I am Jade.”
“Jade.” Diamond smiled in spite of her curiosity. The name perfectly suited this young Oriental woman. “Why did you ask directions to my ranch, Jade?”
The young woman’s smile faded slightly. “I see. You do not know about me.”
“Know...?” Diamond felt a sudden rush of panic as she recalled a similar conversation.... Was it just a day ago? A string of curses flitted through her mind. Oh, no. This couldn’t be happening again. It couldn’t. The last time she’d heard these words, the outcome had been...
“I left my home in San Francisco as soon as I read about the murder,” the young woman explained in her musical voice. “I am Jade Jewel. And Onyx Jewel is... was,” she corrected herself with a catch in her voice, “...my father.”
Chapter Eleven
Adam stood to one side, watching the scene unfolding before him. Diamond had gone rigid with shock. She stood, hands clenched at her sides, staring at this tiny, delicate stranger. All her feelings were mirrored in her eyes. Shock. Anger. Fear. Rejection. But to her credit, she held back her protest and allowed the young woman to speak.
“Though I saw him only infrequently, my father was the most important person in my life. When I read about his murder, I left San Francisco at once.”
“And you came all this way alone, just to see his grave?” Diamond demanded.
Jade nodded. “It would bring great dishonor to Father’s memory if I did not come here to pay my respects at the place where he is buried. Besides, I could not stay away. He was, after all, my father.”
“I suppose you have some proof of your claim?”
“Proof?” Jade seemed insulted at the thought of anyone questioning her integrity.
In that moment, as she lifted her chin defiantly, Adam could see the resemblance between this young woman and the two who faced her. If they had one thing in common, it was a determined, defiant nature. And apparently, an impulsive one.
Jade returned to the carriage and retrieved a delicately embroidered satin bag. She opened it to reveal several documents.
“As was the custom, my birth was recorded.” She held up a scroll on which were a series of Chinese characters.
“I can’t read that,” Diamond reminded her.
“Ah. Of course. It says that a female child was born to Ahn Lin, the daughter of Hu Nan, and Onyx Jewel, the son of —”
Diamond held up her hand to interrupt. “That isn’t necessary. Since I can’t read your language, I have no way of knowing if what you say is true.”
Jade looked stricken. “But why would I lie? Such a thing would dishonor my father.” She rummaged through the satin bag and removed several letters. “These were missives from my father through the years.” She held one up. “As you can see, he had managed to learn some of my mother’s language.”
Diamond examined a letter. She could make out an occasional Chinese character sprinkled among the words. But despite the presence of foreign words, the handwriting was definitely that of her father.
Pearl, who had remained silent throughout this exchange, studied the letter. “I am forced to believe her,” she announced.
“Thank you.” Jade managed a tentative smile. “And who are you?”
“My name is Pearl. Pearl Jewel. I came here from a place far away, Boston, when I heard about my—” she couldn’t bring herself to say “our” “—father’s death.”
“Another daughter?”
Now it was Pearl’s turn to look stricken. She should be accustomed to such insults. But each time one was hurled, it inflicted pain.
“Forgive me,” Jade said softly. “The newspaper account mentioned only a daughter named Diamond. It made no mention of another. Since you have come all this long distance, you understand why I had to do the same.” Jade glanced at Diamond, whose features were still stiff and unyielding. “What can I say to make you believe me?”
“There’s nothing you can—”
“The necklace,” Pearl blurted.
Diamond shot her a questioning glance.
“Don’t you see? If Jade is truly Onyx’s daughter, he would have given her a necklace like ours.”
“You mean this?” Jade reached inside the high open collar of her gown to remove a gold chain on which resided two stones, side by side. One was jet black, the other jade. “Father presented me with this on my sixteenth birthday,” the young woman said. “He told me that it was to remind me that he would always be beside me.”
Pearl revealed her necklace, then nudged Diamond, until, reluctantly, she did the same.
“I know how shocking this is,” Pearl whispered. “I am more than a little stunned myself. But we must do the right thing and... accept her as Daddy’s daughter.”
We. When, Diamond wondered, had I become we? She bit her lip, wondering how many more surprises she would be forced to endure. But then, prodded by Pearl’s determination, she managed to put aside her worries, at least for the moment. With Pearl nudging her forward, she was forced to step off the veranda and pretend to make this stranger welcome
.
“I guess,” she muttered halfheartedly, “I’d better get used to the idea of having... a few surprises in my life.”
Diamond and Pearl came to a halt in front of Jade and extended their hands. The young woman bowed before accepting their handshakes. It was done quickly. A clasp of hands, and then the three stepped apart and faced one another awkwardly.
Diamond nodded toward the man and woman still on the porch. “This is Carmelita, our housekeeper and cook. And this is our... neighbor, Adam Winter.”
Jade bowed in greeting.
“Well.” Carmelita cleared her throat of the lump that had settled there. Like Adam, she could see the resemblance in these three young women. Though they were very different, she could see Onyx Jewel in each of his daughters. Clearly flustered, she managed to say, “You must eat and refresh yourself after your long journey, Senorita Jade. Come inside. I will fix you a meal.”
“Thank you.” Jade held back. “If you do not mind, I would first like to visit my father’s final resting place.”
“I’ll take you there,” Diamond offered.
“That might not be wise,” Adam said.
She looked up, annoyed at his intrusion. “Why?”
“Cal and the wranglers aren’t back yet. You can’t ride out there alone.”
Diamond’s eyes blazed. “Are you suggesting that it isn’t even safe for me to ride to my father’s grave?”
“Yes, ma’am, I am.”
“Adam Winter, you can go to —”
“Yes, ma’am. My thoughts exactly. And I’m sure I’ll get there soon enough.” Though his face remained impassive, his eyes were warm with laughter. “But if you’re determined to visit your father’s grave right now, I’m afraid I’ll have to ride along.”
“I don’t need someone riding shotgun every time I go for a ride.”
“Until Cal McCabe comes back, that’s just what I intend to do.”
The two faced each other, neither willing to give an inch. But, though Diamond wasn’t accustomed to yielding, she could see that she had met her match in Adam.
She turned on her heel. “I’ll saddle my horse. Pearl, you can ride in the carriage with Jade.”