Mail-order Bridegroom Part 26

She seemed to melt into him.

"I've always meant it. Haven't you realized that by now?" she whispered.

And, wrapping her arms around his neck, she gave herself to him.

Leah stared at the ceiling, the moon throwing a shadowed pattern of branches across the smooth surface. What had he meant? she wondered uneasily.

She turned her head and studied Hunter as he slept. His pa.s.sion tonight had exceeded anything that had ever gone before. More than once she'd nearly said the words, almost told him how much she loved him. But something had held her back. His conversation with "Kevin', perhaps?

She frowned up at the ceiling again. So what had Hunter meant? What, precisely, did "I'll handle my wife' signify? And why did it fill her with such an overwhelming dread?

CHAPTER TEN.

leah awoke the next morning and for the first time found herself alone inbed. She sat up in a panic, not liking the sensation of having beendeserted. Hunter was right. Waking in his arms made a difference to herentire day and she didn't appreciate the abrupt change.

She got up and went in search of him, only to discover that he'd left a briefnote explaining he'd been unexpectedly called to Houston. The knowledgefilled her with a vague alarm. She'd hoped to talk to him, to be held byhim, to be rea.s.sured that his conversation with this. Kevin had nothing todo with their marriage--or the ranch.

So much for blind trust, she thought with a guilty pang. Let one small incident a little out of the ordinary happen and her trust evaporated likemist before the morning sun.

"I think I'll go into town and do some shopping," she told her grandmother,needing an outlet for her restlessness.

"Stop by the jewelers and see if my watch is fixed," Rose requested.

"They've had it a full week and my wrist feels naked."

"Sure thing," Leah agreed.

Not long after, she climbed into the ranch pick-up and drove the thirtyminutes to the small town of Crossroads. She spent a full hourwindow-shopping and indulging in an eclair at Cindy's Sinful Pastries beforecoming upon a new antiques store. Intrigued, she went in, and after muchdiligent poking around unearthed a small statue that she knew she'd purchaseregardless of the price.

Made of pewter, a dull silver knight rode a rearing charger. In one hand he clasped a lance, holding a fierce, ruby-eyed dragon at bay.

With his other he pulled a veiled damsel to safety. The damsel's flowing gown reminded Leah of her own wedding-dress and she grinned.

Considering the snow crystal story he'd told her, it was perfect.

She'd put it in the study and see how long it took Hunter to notice--and

whether he caught the significance of the gesture. After paying for thestatue she crossed the street to the jewelers."Morning, Leah." Clyde, the owner, greeted her, with a familiar smile."I just finished Rose's repair job last night." He punched the charge into his register and handed her the boxed watch. Eyeing the imprinted shopping bag she carried, he said,

"I see you visited our new antiques store. Find something you liked?""Sure did. Want to see?" At his interested nod she carefully unwrapped herpurchase, and proudly displayed it for the jeweler.

"My, that's a fine piece." He peered at it over his wire- rimmed spectacles.

"A belated wedding-gift?" he asked, with the presumptuousness of a lifelongfriendship. At her shy acknowledgement he beamed."I'm glad. Hunter's a good man."A sudden idea occurred to her and she pulled Hunter's pendant from beneath her blouse.

"Clyde... Can you make a miniature of this?"

"To go around the knight's neck?" he guessed. His mouth puckered in a

thoughtful frown."Shouldn't be too difficult. Actually, I have a stone that would be ideal.""How long would it take?" she asked anxiously. .His eyes twinkled with amus.e.m.e.nt."I think Mrs Whitehaven's ring adjustment can wait. How does an hour sound?"She sighed in relief."It sounds ideal,""And if I can make one small suggestion?" He crossed to a display of pewter charms and removed one of the larger pieces--a cowboy hat. It fit the knight

as though made for him.

"I could snip off the link and smooth it down, fix it to the knight's head so it won't come off.

What do you think? "

It was perfect.

"Do it," she directed.

"I'll be back in an hour. And Clyde?" He glanced up from the statue and she

grinned.

"Thanks."

"Any time, Leah. Any time."

Precisely sixty minutes later she left the jewelers for the second time, her

statue--complete with cowboy hat and pendant--gift-wrapped and safely tuckedaway in her handbag. To her dismay, the first person she ran into was BullJones. Before she could evade him, he blocked her path.

"Why, if it isn't Miz Hampton." He removed his cigar from between his teeth."Oh, excuse me. That's Mrs Pryde, isn't it?""Yes, it is, " she retorted sharply."If you were smart, you'd remember that and stay clear, before Hunter hears you've been bothering me again."

"I'm not worried. Your husband isn't here. And by the time he returns, I'll be long gone."

Her blood ran cold and she glanced around, rea.s.sured to see that their

confrontation had witnesses. She glared at Bull."You have something to say to me? Then say it. Otherwise, move out of my way before I bring the whole town down around your ears."

"You always were a feisty little shrew. Okay. Why beat around the bush?

Your husband's in Houston, isn't he?" He laughed at her expression."What, nothing to say? Aren't you even going to ask how I know?""I couldn't care less." She refused to play into this man's hands.Not that it stopped him."I'll tell you anyway," he offered with mock generosity. "He's there because he's called the Lyon Enterprises' board together."She shrugged indifferently."He knows the board. That's not news to me," she claimed.But Bull shook his head."He doesn't just know the board. He runs the board."She jerked as though slapped."What are you talking about?" she demanded."That got your attention, didn't it?" He laughed, the sound hard-edged and rough.

"Hunter Pryde is Lyon Enterprises. Course I didn't find that out until hehad me fired.""I don't believe you.""Suit yourself. But think about it." His cigar jabbed the air, making small smoky punctuation marks.

"Lyon... Pryde... the Circle P. It all fits. And if you wanted to confirmit, it'd be easy enough to check out.""How?" The question was dragged from her."Call Lyon Enterprises. Ask for Pryde's office. If he has one there, you'll have your answer. You'll know he married you to get his hands on your ranch.""All I'll know is that he has an office," she said scornfully."That doesn't mean he owns Lyon Enterprises. Nor does it mean he married me to get the ranch." She wondered if he heard the edge of desperation in her

voice. Probably.

"He owns it," Bull said with absolute confidence.

"And when he realized he couldn't buy you out or force you out, he married you."

She had to leave. She wouldn't stand here and be poisoned by any more of this man's filth.

"Get away from me, Jones. I'm not listening to you." She attempted to push past him, but he grabbed her arm and jerked her to a stop.

He spoke fast, his words striking with a deadly accuracy. "You were all set to marry some joe so that you wouldn't lose your spread. If you had, Lyon would have been permanently blocked. The second Pryde heard about it, he shows up, and marries you himself. Pretty shrewd move. He gets the girl and the land without paying one red cent."

"I still own the ranch, not Hunter."

"Do you?" He leaned closer and she turned her head away in revulsion.

"Maybe you do now. But for how much longer? Those business types will find a way around that little problem. They always do. And then you and your granny will be out on your collective backsides."

With that he released her and, clamping his cigar between his teeth, walked away. She stood in the middle of the sidewalk for an endless moment. Then she practically ran to the truck. Sitting safely in the cab, she gripped the steering-wheel as though her life depended on it, struggling for a measure of calm.

Putting the conversation into perspective, she knew Bull had an ax to grind and so she needed to weigh his comments accordingly. But what horrified her so was that every word he had uttered made perfect sense, playing on her most intrinsic fears. Hunter had wanted the ranch above all else. And never once had he been willing- to tell her why.

Because he knew she'd never marry him if he did?

She stared blindly out the front windshield for several minutes. She had to think, had to keep a clear head. Either Bull spoke the truth or he lied. It was that simple. All she had to do was figure out which.

Conrad Michaels. The name came to her from nowhere and she seized it withrelief. Of course! He had contacts. He could do some digging. off therecord. Without giving it further consideration, she started the engine andpointed the truck in the direction of home. She'd call Conrad. He'd helpher.

So much for blind trust, she thought in anguish. But how could she be expected to trust when her knight had suddenly turned back into the dragon?

Leah took a deep breath and spoke brightly into the phone, "Conrad?It's Leah. I'm fine, thanks. And you? " She listened for several minuteswhile he told her, then admitted, " Yes, I did call for a reason. I wascurious about something and thought you could help. "

"Of course, Leah," Conrad said agreeably enough.

"What can I do for you?"

She tapped her pencil against the desk blotter.

"It's... it's about our loan. The ranch loan. Did Hunter arrange for it

with your bank? I mean... You had the old one and I thought...""It's not with our bank," Conrad informed her bluntly. "Not any more.Your lawyer insisted that Hunter initially place it with us as part of your prenuptial agreement. But I heard that shortly after your marriage it wasbought out by an independent concern. All perfectly legal, you understand. ""But it was with you originally?"

"Yes."

Now for the hard part. After a brief pause, she asked, "Do you know who bought it out?"

"What's this about, Leah? Why aren't you asking Hunter these questions?"

She heard the tension in his voice and regretted putting him in such an

uncomfortable position. Unfortunately, she had to know.

"I'm asking you, Connie," she said evenly, deliberately used the family nickname.

"I need to make sure the payments are current, that I'm not in arrears."

"I see." He sounded old and tired.