“It doesn’t matter, Gavin. We both made a mistake. That’s all. All right. I forgive you. Does that make you feel better? Now you can go back to the ranch with a clear conscience and quit bothering me.” With shoulders erect and head held high, she walked toward the stairway and the sanctuary of her room.
“I’ll be back, Rachel,” Gavin called after her.
“I promise you, I’ll be back.”
“Tucker, we’ve got to do something!”
“What is it exactly you think we can do, Maggie? Rachel isn’t a child. She’s got to make up her own mind.” Maggie stood at the window and stared up at the starry sky.
“But she’s so in love with him. He’s been out here every day for the past week, and she refuses to see or talk to him. Then she cries herself to sleep. She’s determined to make him pay for hurting her, and she’s only hurting herself. He loves her, too. He loves her very much. I know. I can feel it. I can see it.” Tucker slipped his arms around her and pulled her back against his chest.
“You should be an expert on knowing when a man is in love,” he whispered.
“You’ve lived with one long enough.” His lips nuzzled her earlobe.
Maggie closed her eyes, a smile flitting across her mouth. She did know about how wonderful it was to be in love and loved. That’s why it was so important to her that Rachel didn’t throw it all away out of pride and stubbornness, and she said as much to Tucker.
“Okay. I understand that,” he replied.
“But that still doesn’t tell me what we can do to help. If she won’t see him, she won’t see him. I think we should just let the two of them work it out.” Maggie’s eyes widened and she twisted in his arms.
“Tucker, what if she’s pregnant?”
“Wait a minute.” He stepped back from her, his hands gripping her arms.
“You mean to tell me .. .” His face darkened with anger. She hadn’t meant to reveal all of Rachel’s secrets. Some things were better kept just between sisters. But when the thought occurred to her, it had just slipped out.
“I’ll see him in jail,” Tucker muttered.
“No, Tuck, you mustn’t.” She moved back into his embrace.
“Jail would keep them apart. I want them together. They should be married.” And that’s when the ideal plan occurred to Maggie Branigan.
Chapter Thirty-Four
“I won’t take no for an answer, Rachel. You’re going with me. We’ll have lunch with Tucker. He’s expecting us.”
“Oh, Maggie. I’m too tired to go into town.” Rachel wasn’t about to admit the real reason she wanted to stay home. She was afraid she might run into Gavin. She didn’t want to see him. With each passing day, it had become more and more difficult to refuse him when he came to call.
“Well, you’re going,” Maggie said firmly.
“I’ll not have you sitting and moping your life away. It’s time you got out and socialized. After lunch, we’ll stop and see Fiona. Now put on something pretty. I’ll meet you downstairs in half an hour.” Rachel could tell from the tone of Maggie’s voice that it wouldn’t do
any good to argue.
When her sister made her mind up, it was nearly impossible to change it. Besides, she thought as the bedroom door closed behind Maggie, maybe it would do her good to get out. The weather had been unseasonably warm this week, and a buggy ride in the fresh air might be just what she needed to pick up her spirits. Yes, it might be just exactly what the doctor ordered.
“I’m Mr. Blake,” Gavin told the clerk.
“Judge Branigan sent for me.”
“I’ll tell him you’re here, sir.” The young man rose from his desk and disappeared into the adjoining office. Gavin remained standing as his eyes perused the waiting area. The leather upholstered furniture was large and impressive. Dark wood paneling rose to a high, ornate ceiling. The room smelled faintly of cigar smoke. He wasn’t sure exactly why he’d been summoned here, but he had a few suspicions. There was a strong likelihood that the judge meant to order him to quit pestering Rachel. He had no intention of following such orders and could very well land in jail for his refusal. Of course, there was the remote possibility that Judge Branigan might be willing to help him. Gavin sensed that Maggie understood that he loved her sister. Perhaps the judge believed it too.
“You may go right in, sir,” the clerk said as he reappeared. He stepped back, holding the door open for Gavin to pass through.
“Thank you.”
The judge’s chambers were even more vast and impressive than the outer office. The walls were lined with books from ceiling to floor. Burning wood crackled in a wide-mouthed fireplace, throwing dancing fingers of light across the ornate rug spread before the hearth. A massive oak desk stood before tall windows cloaked in heavy brocade draperies. Judge Tucker Branigan sat in a high-backed chair behind the desk.
“Come in, Mr. Blake. You may close the door, Sedgewick. See that we’re not disturbed.”
“Yes, sir.” The door closed behind Gavin. Tucker motioned toward a chair opposite him.
“Have a seat, Mr. Blake.” Gavin strode across the room and sat down in the indicated chair. He rested his hat on his knee as he leveled a curious gaze on the judge. He would guess that Tucker wasn’t more than five or six years his senior, yet he had a great air of confidence and authority about him. What’s more, he commanded a sense of trust. Gavin began to relax. Tucker drew a cheroot from a redwood box on his desk. He motioned with his hand, offering the same to Gavin, but Gavin declined with a shake of his head. As Tucker ran his fingers over the cheroot, his gaze narrowed, never wavering from Gavin’s face. Then he struck a match and lit the thin cigar. Exhaling a cloud of bluish smoke, Tucker said, “I suppose you know my wife’s taken an interest in you, Mr. Blake.”
“She’s been very kind to me, under the circumstances.”
“Maggie loves her sister a great deal and wants to see her happy. She seems to think you could make her happy, given a chance.”
“I’d like to think I could.”
“My sister-in-law has the same stubborn streak as my Maggie, I’m afraid. Sometimes they don’t see what’s best for them, even when it’s as clear as the nose on your face. Sometimes they have to be forced to see it. Do you understand what I’m saying, Mr. Blake?”
“I suppose so,” Gavin answered, although he wasn’t sure that he did. A light rapping on the door interrupted them. The door eased open just enough for the clerk to show his head.
“I’m sorry, sir, but Mrs. Branigan insisted I let you know she was here.” Tucker stood.
“Of course, Sedgewick. Show my wife in.” He walked around the desk and headed for the door.
“Oh! I’m sorry, Tucker. Mr. Sedgewick didn’t tell me you had someone with you. We’ll just wait in ..”
“It’s all right, Maggie. Come in. Gavin rose and turned in time to see Rachel entering the room. She was wearing something dark blue and shimmery and a bonnet with matching blue feathers over ringlets of blond curls. She stopped the moment their eyes met. The color drained from her cheeks. He tried to speak, but his voice caught in his throat.
Rachel took a step or two backward, as if to retreat, but Tucker caught her arm and drew her into the office.
“I’m glad you’re here,” the judge said.
“My talk with Mr. Blake concerns you. Sit down, Rachel.” He guided her to one of the chairs near the fire. Gavin remained standing, continuing to watch her, only vaguely aware of Maggie sitting in a chair near her sister.
“Sit down, Mr. Blake.” Tucker’s voice had changed. It had deepened, harshened. As soon as Gavin had retaken his seat, the judge continued, “I don’t think there’s any point in beating around the bush. It’s come to my attention that you took liberties with my sister-in-law while she was living with you and your family up north.” Rachel gasped, but Gavin kept his gaze locked on Tucker’s implacable face.