Rio Page 14

  “Good. I’m glad you like it.” He beamed at her. “I can almost imagine you standing at the door in some gorgeous dress just the color of your splendid eyes, greeting guests at one of my many parties. We have a lot of parties and balls here.”

  “I love parties and balls.” She smiled at him and dipped her ornate silver spoon into the creamy dessert.

  “Somehow I just knew that. We seem so much alike.” He gave her a warm, intimate look that was almost like a kiss.

  “My uncle would have a fit if he knew I were here,” she said.

  Edwin frowned. “You know, this silly feud has gone on far too long. I think we need to sit down together and talk. Surely we could find some common ground and live in peace.”

  “Oh, Edwin, that sounds so good. I don’t even know how this trouble all started.”

  He frowned. “I know a little of it that best be forgotten. Some of it dates back to my grandfather and the original Durango—business dealings, I think. And my father and Trace Durango’s father …” He paused, frowning. “But I’d be willing to call a truce. I’m not sure about Mama.”

  Turquoise glanced at formidable Mama. She decided it would be easier to fight a cougar. “If only the two families could live in harmony.”

  He grinned at her. “That gives me some hope. I’ll work on it.”

  They finished lunch with Turquoise in a daze. Marry Edwin? He hadn’t asked her yet, but he had certainly been hinting. What would Uncle Trace say? She wished Cimar-ron would get home so she could give Turquoise some advice. After all, Cimarron was the only one who could deal with Trace Durango’s temper because he adored her so, but she wouldn’t be home for weeks.

  Now Edwin smiled at her and took the wilting yellow rose from his buttonhole. “This rallied the senators this morning and put them in the mind to vote my way this afternoon, but now I think my favorite flower will always be pink roses.”

  He reached up and broke off a pink rosebud from the bush that shaded their table and put it in his buttonhole. “Pink roses will always remind me of you, my dear.”

  She smiled at him, genuinely flattered. “That’s sweet.”

  “Not as sweet as you, dear Turquoise.” He pulled out his big gold pocket watch. “My, how times flies when you’re with a charming lady. I must be getting back to the capitol.”

  Just then, Mrs. Forester clapped her hands and stood up. “It’s been wonderful, entertaining Edwin’s guests, but I know he has important business to attend to.” She led everyone out onto the front drive. “I do so enjoy meeting some of Edwin’s constituents,” she said and smiled, but her cold eyes didn’t smile. “Edwin, you will be home for dinner, won’t you, dear?”

  He kissed her on the cheek. “Of course, Mama, but now I must get back to the Senate and push through that vote. The people’s business, you know.”

  The carriage that had brought Fern and the children was waiting out front.

  “Miss Turquoise,” Edwin said, bowing low, “I would return you myself, but I must get back.”

  “Oh, don’t trouble yourself,” Turquoise said quickly. “I’ll ride with the others.”

  Mrs. Forester said her good-byes and started back into the house.

  Edwin caught Turquoise’s hand. “Could we meet for lunch tomorrow?” he whispered.

  “Well, I guess,” she said. “The children would like it.”

  “No, I meant just the two of us,” he whispered. “I have to be at the farmers’ market to make a late morning speech to a bunch of cattlemen. There’s an outdoor café that is quite good. Could you be there at noon?”

  This was all moving too fast. “I—I suppose I could,” she said as she turned toward the carriage. “But Edwin, I don’t think your mother liked—”

  “Oh, she loved you. That’s just her manner. When you get to know her, you’ll see.”

  Mrs. Forester had paused at the front door and was looking back, glaring at her.

  Turquoise had a feeling the old lady saw her as a threat and would never like her.

  “Noon at the farmers’ market, the little café,” Edwin said hurriedly and helped her into the carriage.

  She nodded, looking down at him, thinking he was afraid of his mother. “All right, I’ll be there.” Then she instantly regretted it.

  The carriage pulled away and Fern leaned toward her, whispering, “My word! This is so exciting! I think the senator is very interested in you.”

  “Oh, I don’t know. Maybe.” Turquoise shook her head, confused about her own feelings.

  “Why, half the girls in the social set have set their caps for him, but none of them have had any luck,” said Fern.

  “But he’s almost thirty-seven,” Turquoise said, “and I’m barely twenty.”

  “So? My father is fifteen years older than my mother,” Fern reminded her. “You know older men often marry younger girls. Just think what it would be like to be the governor’s wife or even go to Washington, D.C. Have you ever been to Washington?”

  Turquoise shook her head. “No, but I’ve always wanted to. Just imagine the parties and balls and fine homes, getting your name in the newspapers every time you gave a tea.”

  She settled back against the cushions and looked around at the children. Most of them were full of food and nodding off. At the end of the week, she had to return to the ranch. A lot might happen before then. She wondered if the senator’s kisses would be as hot and passionate as Rio’s. Then she chided herself. No, of course the senator was an educated, civilized Anglo, not some wild, hot-blooded vaquero who seemed eager to take her down on the nearest grass and rip her blouse away, kissing her breasts with a hot, wet, greedy mouth and then his lips would move lower still….

  She blushed at the thought and shrugged it off. All Rio could offer was fierce, wild mating like two untamed mustangs, while with the senator, she would have satin sheets, power, and prestige. But most important, no one would ever question or ridicule her background again.

  That evening, Edwin came home from the Senate to find his mother waiting for him in the library. He sighed and poured himself a whiskey. This time, he would stand up to the Iron Lady; it meant that much to him.

  “Well, Edwin, did the bill pass?”

  He nodded and sat down behind his desk. “Of course. My speech this morning was very persuasive.”

  “I knew it!” Her eyes glowed with triumph. “You are just like your father and grandfather and you will be governor next election. My other children may have disappointed me, but not you, Edwin.”

  He sipped his whiskey and sighed. “Yes, of course. And after that, the U.S. Senate. I know it’s important to you.”

  “It should be important to you, too,” she scolded and paced the floor in her gray silk dress. “Now all you need is a wife. Voters feel more confidence in a married man. Now, you met all those girls at the debutante ball, and that lovely Turner girl. Surely one of them—”

  “Mama, I have chosen my wife already.” He glared back at her, determined to stand his ground. “You met her at lunch today, the beauty with the pretty eyes and black hair. She is the most enchanting thing I have ever met and somehow, it just seems we are meant to be together.” He took the pink rosebud from his lapel and sniffed its fragrance, remembering that luncheon and the girl.

  “That one? Surely you jest, son.” His mother threw back her head and laughed but there was no humor in it. “Who is she, anyway? I’ve heard what a fool she made of herself at the debutante ball. My social circle is still laughing about it.”

  “That wasn’t her fault.” He frowned as he thought about Mrs. Whittle. He had paid her back by having her dress shop torched. “If you must know”—he took a deep breath—“she’s the ward of one of the most powerful, richest families in Texas—besides ours, of course.”

  She blinked. “Who? I know all the best families—”

  “The Durangos.” He closed his eyes and waited for the explosion.

  For a moment, he heard her choke and gasp, then she strode o
ver to the crystal decanter and poured herself a drink, gulped it, coughing before she took a deep breath and turned on him. “You wouldn’t dare!You wouldn’t dare marry into our most bitter—”

  “Mama”—it was like facing a fire-breathing dragon— “maybe after all these years, it’s time to make peace with them. Do you realize what an asset it would be to unite the two most powerful families in Texas? Why, we could control everything.”

  She put down her drink and wrung her hands, still pacing. “Now I know how Jesus must have felt when he was betrayed by Judas. We have been enemies for three generations and you know how your father died—”

  “My father was a fool and a woman-chaser, but he shouldn’t have tried to seduce that one,” he said without thinking. “Everyone knew—”

  “You ingrate!You whelp! You dare say that to me?” Her voice rose to the screaming point. “Never! I say never! And I’m sure the Durangos feel the same way.” She turned on him. “Does the present don even know you are seeing his ward?”

  She had struck home. He tucked the wilting rosebud into his pocket for safekeeping and poured himself another drink. “I don’t think so, but I’m planning on talking to him.”

  “I will have a heart attack and be in my grave before I will allow this wedding.”

  “Mama,” he said, taking a deep breath, “I have always been a dutiful son and done whatever you wanted, but on this one thing, I will not be moved. I will marry this beauty and you will swallow it and be all smiles at the wedding so there will be no gossip in our social circle.”

  “I will die first!” she wailed. “Edwin, come to your senses! Pick a girl from your own crowd, one with a good background, social prestige, and wealth of her own.”

  “Like my father did?” He glared at her.

  She nodded. “All right, like your father did. It might not have been a love match, but we were well suited for each other. Your father knew what was important and my father was rich. Together, we built a very successful empire.”

  “Mama, you don’t understand. I don’t want a business merger, with affairs on the side. I want a marriage, love, and children—”

  “Oh, sonny, spare me the flowery poetry. Haven’t you tupped half the women in Texas, besides most of our housemaids? I’ve lost count of those I’ve fired without references or had sent back over the border.”

  “They say the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.” He shrugged and got up from his desk, walking over to pour another drink. “Yes.” He nodded. “I’ll admit it. Since I was hardly more than a boy, I’ve been a rake. I felt it was my right, like helping myself to candy because it was there and my family was privileged, but I’ve changed. I’ve found the girl I want to marry and I intend to ask her.”

  “Edwin, your father would turn over in his grave.” She took a deep breath. “All right, so you’re hot for her. Keep her a few weeks and sleep with her until you get your fill, but promise me you will not marry that Mexican tart—”

  “Don’t call her that.” He seethed. “She’s a special lady and I will have her by my side as I climb the political ladder. I will marry her or I will die trying, and damned be anyone who gets in my way.”

  His mother’s stern face went white. “I do believe you mean it.”

  “I do. Turquoise Sanchez will be Mrs. Edwin Forester.”

  His mother clutched her chest. “I can’t believe you would buck me this way, Edwin. There’s dozens of society girls, rich, beautiful girls throughout Texas who would be thrilled to marry you.”

  He shook his head. “I will have no one but her and I will stomp or step over anyone who tries to stop me.”

  Harriet took a deep breath. “All right then. Perhaps she won’t have you.”

  “Are you joking?” He chortled. “She is young, naive, intoxicated with my power and success. There is one small problem.”

  He walked over and stood staring out the window at the elegant house down the street.

  “What could be worse than a Mexican nobody marrying into this blue-blooded family?” She was weeping now.

  “Dry those crocodile tears, Mama. I’m not going to listen this time. This beauty, this ward of our family’s worst enemies, will carry my name and give you grandchildren.”

  “Mexican grandchildren?” Her voice seethed with sarcasm.

  “May I remind you she doesn’t look Mexican and anyway, I don’t care about her background. You will respect her because I am determined to make her mine, whatever it takes.” He was damned if he would back down, no matter how much his mother cried and protested. It was time he took control of this household, as was his right.

  She was sobbing now. “Your father wouldn’t have approved of this girl either.”

  “I don’t give a damn,” Edwin snapped. “The old man is in his grave and I’m alive. Alive, do you hear me? You are going to act pleased if it chokes you and help with the biggest wedding Austin ever saw. We’ll invite the whole city, maybe have the reception in the city park, and all those people will be so flattered, they’ll vote for me in the next election.”

  “But what if the Durangos object and won’t allow it?”

  Edina thought a minute. He wanted Turquoise with a passion that passed all common sense and reason and he would have her in his bed or die trying. “I might seduce her. You know I’m good with women and she’s very naive and impressionable. If she were with child, the Durangos would consent to the marriage rather than be humiliated.”

  He smiled, imagining making love to the beauty. He had lured many women into his bed, maybe even forced a few, but he looked forward to taking Turquoise’s virginity as he had never lusted after another woman. He would do anything, anything to possess her, even if he had to lock up his mother in a nursing home and assassinate Trace Durango. “I am meeting her for lunch again tomorrow.”

  “So soon?” His mother sobbed. “Edwin, I beg you to think about this—”

  “Mama, damn it! I have been thinking about marriage for more than ten years while I played the stud and waited for you to pick out a suitable wife for me. Well, this time, I’m doing the picking. Now you will shut up and act pleased or you will find yourself confined to your room with a maid to look after you because I will tell everyone you are losing your mind like poor Emily.”

  “You wouldn’t dare!” Again her face turned pale.

  “Don’t try me, Mama. Now this is the end of the discussion.” He slammed the library door as he exited and from upstairs, he heard the haunting laughter of his crazy sister.

  Nothing was going to spoil his happiness with his future bride—nothing. Before the wedding, he would have Emily carted off to the asylum and if need be, imprison Mama in her room. As governor, he could do almost anything and no one would question it.

  Turquoise, Fern, and the children had returned to Fern’s ranch and while the children went outside to play, Fern was still breathless with excitement. “My word! Did you ever see such a mansion, and to think we all had lunch with the senator.”

  Turquoise smiled dreamily. “Yes, it was rather grand, wasn’t it? And the way he introduced us on the Senate floor. I felt so important.”

  “And the way he looked at you.” Fern was still babbling with her memories. “I believe that man might ask to court you.”

  Turquoise frowned. “Well, you know what my guardian would think of that. Maybe we shouldn’t mention this to anyone.”

  Fern whirled around the room. “It’s like Romeo and Juliet: two families who are enemies. And he’s so handsome and rich.”

  “Uh-huh.” Turquoise felt troubled. Yes, she had been excited and thrilled to be singled out in the Senate gallery and invited to Edwin’s mansion, but his mother had glared at her, evidently not pleased at all. The Iron Lady would be a formidable, maybe an impossible mother-in-law. Worse than that, Turquoise’s mind kept returning to a certain va-quero and the way Rio’s kisses had tasted.

  Don’t be a fool, she scolded herself. You have always hungered for respectability. As Se
nator Forester’s bride, you would have that. And yet …

  She spent a sleepless night, now not looking forward to joining Edwin for lunch. Would he ask permission to court her? Did she want him to? Of course she did, she chided herself as she put on an especially charming dress, daffodil yellow and springlike. She added a large white lace hat with yellow ribbons.

  “That looks good with your dark hair,” Fern exclaimed. “When you get back, you must tell me everything that happened.”

  “Of course.” Turquoise looked at herself in the mirror and smiled. Yes, she did look fetching. “You’ll take the children to Barton Springs for a swim?”

  “Yes, Luke will go along.” Fern nodded. “We’ll have a good time.”

  “You know, Fern, you are a dear friend.” Turquoise hugged her. “Maybe we should keep all this just between us.”

  “Of course.” Fern’s freckled nose wrinkled as she smiled and lowered her voice to a whisper. “I’m sure my father or even Luke might not approve of all this. If the senator asks you to be his bride, it will be big news across all of Texas.”

  “And I’ll need time to bring my guardian around,” Turquoise said. “You know what the Durangos think of the Foresters.”

  “But love will conquer all,” Fern squealed and whirled again. “I wish my romance were half so exciting!”

  Turquoise didn’t answer. She had a feeling she was getting into something too big for her to handle. She had a heavy weight in her stomach as she borrowed a buggy and set off for the farmers’ market to meet with Forester.

  Chapter 10

  Edwin was waiting as she drew up in her buggy. He hurried to meet her and tied up her horse, then brought her down from the seat. He wore a light summer suit with a pink rosebud as a boutonniere. When he saw that she noticed it, he smiled and said, “I told you pink rosebuds would always be my favorite from now on.”

  “I thought you would forget,” she answered.

  “Never! And yes, you are as beautiful as I remember. You look like a summer day in all that yellow.”