“It never hurts to have wealthy friends if you’re the least politically motivated, I always say. I’ll have to have a talk with that brother-in-law of yours. He carries a lot of weight in this territory. Very influential man. Well-respected. If he were to have the money of the O’Donnells behind him as well as his own, there’d be no stopping him in the politics of the territory. I can see why he sent you here to represent him.” She didn’t much care for the man’s insinuations.
“Tucker doesn’t know the O’Donnells, Senator Brewer,” Rachel replied, trying to keep the irritation out of her voice.
“I’m working as a governess for the Blake family. They own the Lucky Strike Ranch south of here.”
“A governess? Out here?” Bushy gray eyebrows jumped up on his wrinkled forehead.
“Well, I… that is ..” She could almost read his thoughts. Was Judge Branigan in financial trouble? Was Rachel in some sort of disgrace, sent away where few people would see her? Was there a scandal brewing? Something which might even be politically convenient to know? It made her blood boil. And if she didn’t want to say anything that would embarrass Tucker later, she knew she’d better withdraw before her temper got the better of her.
“Excuse me, Senator. I’d better make sure my young charges aren’t up to any mischief. You know how children can be.”
“Of course. of course.”
“Pompous ass.” she muttered beneath her breath as she turned away from the older man, not even caring particularly if he overheard her. She moved off through the throng of people crowded into the great room. She wasn’t really concerned about Sabrina and Petula. Dru had told her earlier that the little ones were being entertained by the older children in a far corner of the house. What she wanted most of all at this moment was just a few minutes of peace and quiet while she tried to cool her anger. It took her a while, but finally she reached the hallway leading to the east wing and escaped into its blessed quiet. Seeing an open door near the end of the hall, she walked in that direction. As she stepped into what turned out to be a sunny solarium, she stopped abruptly. Gavin was standing near the window. His expression was pensive as he stared outside. Feeling like an intruder, she started to back out of the room. As if he’d heard some infinitesimal sound, his head turned and their eyes met.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to…” She swallowed.
“I was looking for the children.”
“They’re upstairs. Except for Sabrina.” He jerked his head toward the window. Curious, Rachel moved forward and glanced outside. Seated on the veranda steps was Sabrina, her face a portrait of abject misery. Rachel followed the girl’s woeful gaze toward the opposite end of the wide porch where Trevor O’Donnell leaned against the banister, his boot heel hooked over the bottom rail. He was smiling down at a pretty girl in a frilly pink dress. As they watched, Trevor removed his suit coat and draped it around the girl’s shoulders.
“I’d like to break his jaw,” Gavin murmured. Rachel’s eyes returned to Gavin. It was clear from the look on his face that he was suffering nearly as much as Sabrina.
“Brina would never forgive you if you did,” she said softly. He sighed as he turned his back toward the window, his gaze meeting hers.
“I don’t know much about being a father, I guess.”
“I think you’re feeling what any father would feel.” She smiled up at him.
“Think so?” She nodded. Her throat felt tight.
“The girls are very lucky to have you.” She tried to swallow but couldn’t.
“So is Dru.” His gray eyes seemed to darken.
“Are you having a good time?” She nodded again.
“You must be used to this sort of shindig.”
“Weddings are always fun.”
“I won’t ever be able to give Sabrina a wedding this fancy.” He sounded angry again.
“It won’t matter as long as she’s in love with the groom,” she whispered. As he glared down at her, standing so close she could smell the faint odor of whiskey on his breath, she had the strange feeling they were locked in some sort of battle and that every word she said was important. She wanted desperately to say the right things but wasn’t even sure she knew what they were discussing any longer.
She might have discovered what it was if Patrick hadn’t appeared in the solarium doorway at just that moment.
“Ah, so here it is you’re hiding. I thought I’d lost you, Miss Harris.” Gavin held her gaze a heartbeat longer before turning toward their host.
“I was just keeping Rachel company until you were free again, Patrick. Now I’d better go find my wife.” A moment later, he had disappeared into the dim hallway.
Chapter Sixteen
“I’ll be payin’ you a visit soon,” Patrick said as he leaned against Patch’s hip and looked up at Gavin and the two women on the wagon seat. Gavin knew good and well it wouldn’t be him Patrick O’Donnell was coming to visit. He mumbled something as he picked up the reins and slapped them against the teams’ broad rumps, causing Patrick to jump quickly backward.
“See you soon, mate,” the Irishman called after him, laughter filling his voice.
“Gavin, what’s wrong with you?” Dru asked gently.
“Nothing.”
“Gavin?” He looked at her. Her face was drawn with weariness. Despite protests to the contrary, the day had drained what little energy she possessed. He should be ashamed of himself for causing her any extra worry. But then his eyes shifted to Rachel, and he felt his mood grow even more foul. Damn the woman! She even had him snapping at Dru. He swore silently once again as he returned his attention to the road ahead. But he couldn’t stop the flood of anger that washed through him. He’d give almost anything to be able to go back in time, to be able to refuse to go to Boise in search of a woman to teach Dru’s daughters. Nothing had gone right for him from the first moment he’d met Rachel. She was a selfish, spoiled, rich girl with nothing bigger to worry about than what to wear to the next party. She wasn’t even the proper sort to have around, influencing the children. Yet, even as he worked so hard to convince himself he still believed those things about Miss Rachel Harris, he couldn’t rid himself of the memory of her blue eyes looking up at him, bathed in the sunlight pouring through the solarium window, her pale golden hair capturing the warming rays and reflecting back the light. He remembered the rapid rise and fall of her breasts, so clearly outlined beneath the bodice of her indigo gown. He thought of the soft curve of her mouth, her lips moist and rosy. Her honeysuckle cologne lingered yet in his nostrils, stirring something basic in his vitals. He remembered her laughter, her gentle encouragement of Sabrina and Petula, the thoughtfulness she continually showed toward Dru. Even now, her voice seemed to echo in his ears, soft, melodic, soothing. Soothing? Hellfire and damnation! There was nothing soothing about Rachel Harris. He raked his fingers through his hair as he leaned forward, resting his forearms on his thighs, trying hard to ignore his keen awareness of her. Dear God, what a base creature he was! His wife was right there beside him, her head resting on Rachel’s shoulder, and he was thinking … It was like a fire raging in his belly. The wanting, once he acknowledged it, flared white-hot and undeniable. He wanted to hold Rachel, touch her, possess her as he’d never wanted another woman in his life. And the thought of any other man—Patrick O’Donnell in particular—having the right to do any of those things nearly drove him mad. Is this what had happened to his mother? Was it lust rather than greed that had made her forget she had a husband and son, that made her turn her back on everything right and honorable? With a slap of the reins, the team broke into a trot as twilight fell over the valley. Rachel felt the tension drawing her as tight as a bow string. Gavin never said a word, never even took his eyes off the road before them throughout the long drive home. His mood was dark and strange, and somehow he transmitted it to her and she grew afraid. The first stars were already visible by the time they arrived at the Lucky Strike. Dru stirred and lifted her head from Rachel’s shoulder as the wagon rolled to a stop in front of the ranch house. Wordlessly, Gavin jumped from his perch, then lifted Dru down after him.