“I am certain it is the visit to Father’s grave today,” Jade said in her lovely, musical voice. “It affects us all in very strange ways.”
Ruby nodded. “I feel... drained.”
“And I feed tranquil,” Jade said emphatically. “Father is at peace. And Father succeeded, in death, to bring us all together.”
Pearl reached across the table and patted Diamond’s hand in a show of sympathy and support. “It must be especially difficult for you, here in the home you shared with Daddy.”
Diamond nodded, afraid to trust her voice. What a coward she was, she berated herself. She was actually allowing them to believe that Pa’s death was the only reason for her discomfort. When all along it was also... Oh, Adam. What am I to do about you? I miss you so. I can’t stop thinking about you. Could this feeling possibly be...love? The thought hit her with all the force of a thundering herd. Oh, sweet heaven. Not love.
“This will soothe you,” Carmelita said, setting down a platter of tortillas filled with a chicken mixture. The fragrant aroma of rich spices filled the air.
Relieved that it wasn’t another of Pearl’s bland dishes, Diamond heaped her plate before passing the platter to Ruby, who followed suit. Even Jade seemed to enjoy the highly seasoned food. Pearl was the only one who merely picked at her meal while the others dug in.
“It is a shame Senor Winter has not come around to enjoy our fine food,” Carmelita remarked.
At once Diamond’s cheeks warmed. Carmelita took no notice, but the others did.
“I enjoy cooking for him,” Carmelita continued as she moved around the kitchen. “Almost as much as I loved cooking for Senor Jewel.”
“We could invite him for supper,” Pearl said, watching Diamond’s reaction.
Jade, seeing the way Diamond’s color deepened, nodded in agreement. So, she had surmised correctly. Diamond wasn’t as immune to Adam Winter as she pretended. “I quite agree. Adam is most pleasant company, is he not, Diamond?”
“I... hadn’t noticed.” Diamond was beginning to feel smothered by all these women and their attempts at kindness. Ever since their arrival she’d had to listen to their chatter, their laughter, their tales about their lives before arriving here in Texas.
“Would you like to ask Señor Winter to dinner?” Carmelita persisted.
“Not tonight.” Diamond squirmed under the housekeeper’s scrutiny.
“And why not?” Carmelita asked.
“Because...” Diamond’s mind raced. She couldn’t bear to face him so soon after... “Because of Ruby,” she said. “I think she deserves a little of our time.”
Ruby gave a wide smile, pleased at such generosity. “That is sweet, chérie. I have very much enjoyed getting to know all of you. I think we have much more in common than just Papa.”
“There, you see.” Diamond shoved aside her plate. Even Carmelita’s spiced chicken couldn’t hold her interest. It was another reason to resent Adam Winter. He was spoiling her appetite.
Oh, if only it were that simple. But the truth was, she couldn’t find it in her heart to resent him. All she could do was want him. And berate herself for such a silly, feminine weakness. If this was love, she wanted no part of it. She had never felt so miserable in her whole life.
“Oh, Diamond. You startled me. I thought everyone was asleep.”
Pearl, dressed in a prim nightshift and robe, paused at the foot of the stairs.
Diamond was wrapped in a faded army blanket, seated in her father’s favorite chair pulled in front of the fire.
Pearl walked closer, lifting her lantern for a better view. “Can’t sleep?”
“No.”
“Neither can I. Do you mind if I join you?”
Diamond shrugged. “I’m afraid I won’t be very good company.” She looked up. “What brought you downstairs?”
“I thought I’d warm some milk. Mama used to give me warm milk whenever I couldn’t sleep. Would you like some?”
Diamond couldn’t manage to work up much enthusiasm. “I suppose.”
Pearl padded away and returned a few minutes later with two glasses of warm milk. One sip, and Diamond wanted to set it aside. But she couldn’t bear to hurt Pearl’s feelings, so she drank it down in long swallows, before wiping her mouth on her sleeve.
“Thanks, Pearl. That was... that was real nice.”
They both looked up as a delicate figure seemed to glide down the stairs. Jade, wearing a flowing silk robe, hesitated when she caught sight of the two.
“Please forgive,” she whispered, folding her hands together. “I did not mean to intrude.”
“Come and join us,” Pearl called. “Diamond and I had trouble sleeping.”
“As I did,” the young woman said with a smile. “I was going to make myself a cup of tea. Would you have some with me?”
They both nodded, and she left, only to return a short time later with a tray of steaming cups.
The three women sipped in silence.
“Is that not soothing?” Jade asked.
“Umm. Yes,” Pearl replied.
Diamond said nothing, but she drained the cup so that she wouldn’t hurt Jade’s feelings. And all the while, her misery grew. This longing for something she didn’t understand and couldn’t even name was driving her to distraction.
Within minutes a third figure descended the stairs. Ruby, wearing a scarlet velvet dressing gown and matching feather-trimmed slippers, paused when she caught sight of the others.
“Is this a party?” she asked, taking in the empty glasses and cups.
“We couldn’t sleep,” Pearl explained.
“Ah. Nor can I.” She swept closer.
“We’ve tried warm milk and hot tea,” Pearl said. “Have you a home remedy?”
“Oui.” Ruby’s glance swept the room and came to rest on the crystal decanter and glasses on a shelf in a cabinet. “Mama used to say that a glass of sherry was soothing nectar of the gods.”
She filled four tumblers with ruby liquid and passed them around.
“Oh, my,” Pearl said, feeling positively wicked. “The only time we ever drank spirits was when Daddy came to town.”
“At the Golden Dragon, we saved the wine and whiskey for the patrons,” Jade said softly. “The use of spirits was frowned upon by my mother. The women who worked for us were forbidden to indulge. Mother said it weakened the will of a woman and strengthened the resolve of a man.”
“It wouldn’t take much to weaken my resolve,” Ruby said with a laugh as she sank down on the sofa beside Pearl and Jade. She glanced at Diamond. “You look very sad, chérie. Is there something we can do to help you?”
Diamond shook her head and took a sip of the wine. It was as smooth as the milk, cooler than the tea. And soothing. Definitely soothing. Unaccustomed to it, she drained the glass in one long gulp.
“Wine should be sipped,” Ruby admonished as she picked up the decanter and refilled Diamond’s glass.
“I’ll remember.” Diamond drank only half, then turned to stare into the glowing embers of the fire. “Have any of you ever had occasion to... kiss a man?” Now where had those words come from? She had no way of knowing. She only knew that the question had slipped unbidden from her lips.
The three young women glanced at one another, then turned to study her.
“Is that what troubles you, chérie?” Ruby asked. “Kissing a man?”
“Of course not.” Embarrassed, Diamond emptied the glass and set it aside with a clatter. “I just wondered...”
“I once kissed Jeremy Peters,” Pearl admitted shyly. “He was thirteen, and the handsomest boy in Boston.”
“How old were you?” Ruby asked.
“Twelve.”
“That doesn’t count, chérie.” Ruby filled Diamond’s glass a third time. “Diamond is talking about kissing a man, not a boy.”
“I suppose you’d know all about that,” Pearl said with a trace of disapproval.
“As a matter of fact, I would not,” Ruby admi
tted wryly. “I have learned many things. How to steal. How to cheat. How to attract a man’s attention. But Mama warned me that if I were to play with a man’s affections, I could find myself drowning in a bog of quicksand.”
“That’s...that’s how I feel,” Diamond said, suddenly getting to her feet. She felt as if she’d been prodded with a pitchfork. She began to pace while the others stared at her in surprise. “I’m not slow-witted. Pa always said I had a quick mind. That I could do anything I put my mind to. But this time...” She shook her head and continued pacing. “This time I just don’t see a solution.”
“Perhaps if you explained,” Pearl began.
But Diamond wasn’t listening. She had a need to talk. She found the words slipping off her tongue before she even had time to think.
“I certainly don’t need a man. Never had any use for one. And if I were to choose one, it wouldn’t be one who didn’t want to put down roots here in Texas.”
The other three nodded and wisely kept silent, trying to follow her line of reasoning.
“He’s bossy and arrogant and... secretive. Why, I don’t know a thing about him, except that he once owned a farm in Maryland.”
“Maryland? Oh. Adam Winter,” Pearl said as understanding dawned.
Diamond took no notice as she crossed her arms over her chest and paused to stare into the embers. “One minute he’s in the barn, wanting to—” She caught herself in time, and glanced over to see the three women watching her intently. Pearl appeared scandalized. Jade was merely looking smug, as though she’d always known. And Ruby was grinning from ear to ear, eager to hear every juicy detail. ”And then I don’t see him again for days. And I know—” her voice dropped to a whisper, and she suddenly slumped in defeat ”—he’s avoiding me.”
“Oh, dear.” Pearl was on her feet first, clasping Diamond’s hands in hers.
Jade followed, and dropped an arm around Diamond’s shoulders. “Do not despair.”
Ruby pressed her cheek to Diamond’s. “Jade is right, chérie. All is not yet lost.”
They led Diamond to her chair. When she sat down, they gathered around her, kneeling at her feet.
“Do you love Adam Winter?” Jade asked softly.
“Certainly not.” Diamond was indignant at the question.
“If you think you are losing sleep over a man you hate,” Ruby said, “you are only fooling yourself, chérie.”
“Pa raised me to believe that I had to reach for lofty goals,” Diamond said in defense. “And Adam Winter is a loner, a drifter, a...”
“A gentleman,” Pearl said emphatically. “From the first, time I met him, I sensed that he was a true gentleman.”
“He doesn’t kis—he’s no gentleman,” Diamond said firmly.
“Putting that aside for the moment,” Jade persisted, “do you wish to see Adam Winter again?”
Diamond shrugged. “I suppose so. But just to let him know there are no hard feelings about—” she felt her cheeks burning “—what happened in the barn.”
“What exactly did happen in the barn?” Ruby asked boldly.
“He... we... kissed. And then I... told him to stop.”
Pearl gave a sigh of relief. “That’s good.”
“But I’m not sure I meant it,” Diamond admitted.
“That is not so good,” Jade said softly.
The others clucked in agreement.
“This is all so romantic,” Ruby said with a sigh.
Jade nodded. “You must see Adam Winter again.”
“How?” Diamond asked miserably. “Cal won’t let me out of his sight without a dozen wranglers around me. And Adam turns the other way whenever he sees me anywhere near.”
The three fell silent.
“Food,” Jade said firmly. “Mother taught me that good food, fine spirits and lovely women, offered in an exquisite setting, are irresistible to a man.”
The others merely stared at her. Then Pearl nodded. “He likes Carmelita’s cooking. He’d come for supper, I think.”
“But you can’t be alone with him,” Ruby added. When the others glanced at her, she explained, “In the bayou, a young lady and a gentleman are not allowed to be alone until they are wed.”
“Then how did Pa and your mama... ?” Embarrassed, Diamond let her voice trail off.
“By now you must realize that Papa did not live by the rules of other men. Nor, it would seem, did our mothers.”
Diamond rubbed her temples. Her head was spinning, and she found it difficult to follow a simple train of thought.
She yawned loudly. “He won’t come. Even for Carmelita’s cooking. I’ve driven him away. Now I have to learn to live with that and get on with my life. Without Adam.” The very words brought a fresh pain to her heart.
She got to her feet and waited a moment until the dizzyness stilled. Then, surprising herself, she bent a kiss to each girl’s cheek. “I never had... anyone to talk with until now. You’ve all been very kind and sweet, even if you can’t help. Thank you.”
They watched as she made her way slowly up the stairs, her hand firmly gripping the banister to keep from stumbling.
When they heard her door close, the three young women leaned close and engaged in a whispered, highly animated conversation.
Chapter Sixteen
“Señor Winter has accepted your invitation to dinner,” Carmelita announced as Diamond walked into the kitchen.
The sun had been up for hours, and Diamond had just now been able to pull herself together. She couldn’t recall ever having slept this late.
She gripped the edge of the table. “My invi—? I don’t understand. When? How... ?” Stunned, she wasn’t able to gather her wits about her. All she had were questions. Too many questions.
It was the wine, she knew. She would never touch a drop again.
“The three lovely señoritas asked Cal to ride over to Señor Winter’s ranch this morning with the invitation. Senor Winter sent his immediate reply.”
With a little moan Diamond shoved aside the corn bread and coffee, and turned her head away from the sunlight streaming through the window, burning her eyes.
“Where are the—” her tone hardened “—three lovely señoritas?” She couldn’t wait to give them a piece of her mind.
“They rode to town with Cal and several of the wranglers. They should be back any time now.” The housekeeper turned around to see Diamond heading toward the door. “Where are you going?”
“Out to the barn. I need to work off some of my temper. Before I do something I might regret.” Like send three busybodies packing, she thought miserably.
How could they have done such a thing without asking her?
She skidded to a halt. Or had they?
She wasn’t at all certain just what she’d said last night. She remembered talking about Adam and the barn.... Her face flamed. How could she have made such a blunder? In the cold light of day it was inconceivable that she would reveal such an intimate secret. But last night, after several glasses of wine, it had seemed the most natural thing in the world to confide in her three sis—
She clamped a hand to her mouth. What in the world was happening to her? Next she’d start to believe they could all be one big happy family, and that she could talk to them the way she’d always talked to Pa.
She stalked into the barn. Snatching up a pitchfork, she walked to the first stall and set to work with a vengeance.
Pa used to say that there was nothing like being knee-deep in horse manure to clear the mind and sort through all life’s puzzles.
“Diamond. Here you are. Phew.” Pearl held her nose and stepped carefully through the straw. “Come out of that stall and see what we’ve brought you.”
“A noose to hang myself?” Diamond was feeling mean. And the hard, strenuous chores hadn’t helped to work it off.
“Don’t be silly. Come on inside. The others are waiting to show you what we bought in town.”
“I’m not interested.”
“
Carmelita said to tell you she made your favorite lunch. Tortillas and beef. With extra spices.”
Diamond’s mouth watered. She’d managed to work up an appetite. Besides, though she would never admit it, she was a little curious to know why they’d gone to town. “I guess I could manage to eat a little.”
She followed Pearl from the barn and paused outside the kitchen door to pry off her dung-covered boots.
Inside, the others looked up from the table, where they were admiring an assortment of feminine frills.
“Look what we bought for you,” Pearl announced as Jade held up a gown of shimmering white satin shot with silver thread.
“It was the finest gown we could find in a town the size of Hanging Tree,” Jade explained. “Though we are not certain of the size, we will have time to tailor it to fit you by tonight. And we bought you dainty underthings to wear with it.”
Pearl held up a beautifully embroidered camisole threaded with silver ribbons, and a delicate lace petticoat.
“Me? You expect me to wear... those?” Diamond’s eyes widened.
“But of course, chérie.” Ruby’s gaze roamed Diamond from head to toe. “But first, you must bathe.”
“The creek is too cold,” Diamond began. “There’s probably a layer of ice—”
Ruby stopped her with a wave of the hand. “You will bathe here in the kitchen, so that we can see that every trace of manure has been removed before these lovely things touch your skin. Also, we will want to wash and perfume your hair.”
“Perfume my hair? I won’t—”
“Ah, but you must, chérie, ” Ruby said with a laugh.
“And why must I?” Diamond stood with her hands on her hips, her chin jutting like a boxer’s.
“Because, chérie, what we issued was not merely an invitation to Adam Winter to dinner.”
“It wasn’t?” She blinked, confused.
Ruby smiled and shook her head. “What we issued, on your behalf, was a challenge. And Adam Winter, being a man, has acknowledged that challenge. And accepted it.”
A slow, lazy smile touched Diamond’s lips. Nothing pleased her more than the thought of a challenge. Especially one involving Adam.