Nightway Page 21

  “I have no objections to your visit,” Katheryn insisted. “Chad explained you need rest. I’m pleased you felt you could find it here.” The statement didn’t ease Lanna’s sense of discomfort despite its welcome sound. A noise outside the room caused Katheryn to turn toward the hall door. Hawk stood within its frame, holding Lanna’s suitcases under his arm. “Bring Miss Marshall’s luggage in, Hawk.” Katheryn spoke to him as if he were a servant. His mouth quirked even as he complied with the order, moving in his silent way past Lanna to the center of the room. “I’ll send someone to unpack for you, Lanna,” Katheryn stated.

  “No. There’s no need,” Lanna refused gently. “I’ll do it myself. Thank you.” She was becoming too accustomed to other people doing things for her.

  “As you wish.” Katheryn’s vaguely haughty acceptance of the decision made Lanna more uncomfortable.

  All of Lanna’s uncertainties returned as Katheryn left the room. She wasn’t given time to dwell on them as Hawk reminded her of his presence by asking, “Where would you like me to put your suitcases?”

  “Anywhere,” she said in a rush of irritation. “By the bed.”

  Hawk set them down near the foot of the bed, then turned to face her. “Don’t be fooled by her.”

  “What?” She frowned at his confusing remark.

  “You aren’t wanted here any more than I am,” he replied.

  Lanna started to deny that, but she, too, felt that despite Chad, she wasn’t really welcome in this house. And she definitely didn’t blame Katheryn for resenting her.

  “I told you once that J. B. was a taker,” Hawk continued. “He was an amateur compared to Chad. J. B. always felt remorse. Chad doesn’t give a damn about anyone. He’ll help himself to everything you’ve got.”

  “That isn’t true,” she denied swiftly.

  “You’ve been warned.” Hawk shrugged to indicate it wasn’t important to him whether she believed him or not. “I just hope you know what you’re signing the next time you affix your signature to a document.”

  “Are you implying that Chad would try to cheat me?” Lanna demanded.

  Her anger seemed to amuse him. “I’m not implying anything. I’m saying he’ll take everything you’ve got if you’re stupid enough to let him.”

  He lifted a hand to touch the point of his hat brim, inclining his head briefly in her direction. The courtesy mocked her. She took an indignant breath, but Hawk was already walking out of the room. Finding nothing to vent her anger on, Lanna spun away from the door and curled her fingernails into the palms of her hands. Hawk had planted a seed of doubt in her mind, and she resented him for doing it.

  Chapter XIV

  “Good morning.” Carol was alone at the table when Lanna entered the sunlight-filled morning room. “I thought I was the only one who overslept this morning. You still don’t look like you’re completely awake.”

  “I’m not sure if I am,” Lanna admitted and poured a glass of fresh-squeezed orange juice from the pitcher on the sideboard. “I was more tired than I realized.”

  “I’m glad I don’t have to eat alone. Chad’s in the study working already, and Katheryn is still writing out thank-you’s to everyone who sent sympathy cards,” Carol explained. “Did you have any trouble finding your way here this morning?”

  “I made a couple of wrong turns. I’m glad Katheryn took me on a tour of the house yesterday, or I would have been totally lost.” Lanna glanced over the array of pastries and muffins.

  “You could have always followed your nose. Roseanne makes an excellent Spanish omelet. Shall I ask her to fix you one?” Carol suggested.

  “No. Coffee and a roll are enough for me. I have to watch my weight.” Lanna was envious of the wand-slim figure of her blonde breakfast companion, and of the omelet, hash browns, and coffee cake on Carol’s plate. Choosing a blueberry muffin, Lanna balanced it on the saucer of her coffee cup and carried it to the rattan breakfast table. “Did Chad say how long he’d be working?” Lanna asked. Then she explained: “I was hoping he might show me around the ranch today.”

  “He didn’t say.” Carol concentrated her attention on her plate of food, suddenly exhibiting a lot of interest in what she was eating. “But I’m sure he’ll show you around if you ask.”

  There was something in Carol’s voice that made Lanna suspect jealousy. It didn’t do any good to silently tell herself she was being overly sensitive.

  “Maybe I shouldn’t ask,” Lanna decided, then sliced the muffin apart with a gesture that hinted at her irritation. “I’ve monopolized his time enough.”

  “Oh, Chad doesn’t mind,” Carol assured her quickly.

  “But you do,” Lanna blurted out, then tried to explain why she had said it. “After all, why wouldn’t you want to spend as much time as you can with your husband when he’s going to be here only a few days? It’s natural.”

  “I admit that I’m not with Chad as often as most wives are with their husbands, but there are reasons. Chad knows I understand,” Carol insisted. “Even in the short time you’ve known him, you must have discovered what a wonderful man he is. He has been a wonderful husband to me, even though—” Carol stopped as her fork fiddled indifferently with a bitesized portion of the fluffy omelet.

  Curiosity made Lanna prompt: “Even though what?”

  When Carol looked up, there was sadness in her eyes. “Even though I can’t give him any more children,” she admitted in a small voice, then made a valiant attempt to smile. “He says it doesn’t matter. We have Johnny. He is a healthy, happy boy, but I know Chad wanted more children. He never liked being an only child. But after three miscarriages, the doctor insisted we shouldn’t try anymore.”

  “You could always adopt a child,” Lanna suggested and wondered if she had discovered the reason the two of them weren’t as close as they could be.

  “It wouldn’t be the same.” Carol rejected the idea with a brief shake of her head, sunlight from the east windows scattering beams of gold through her hair. “Chad has mentioned it, but I don’t want to raise someone else’s child. It probably sounds crazy to you, doesn’t it?”

  “No. I think I can understand what you mean.” However, Lanna also thought they were depriving each other of the happiness they sought.

  “Chad understands, too, which is part of what makes him so wonderful.” Pleasure radiated from Carol’s face, animating features that had been so serious a moment earlier. “So you see why I don’t object if he feels it’s his duty to show you around the ranch? That’s a pretty tall order, though.”

  “I don’t expect him to show me around the whole ranch,” Lanna clarified her suggestion. “I didn’t realize how huge it was until Hawk pointed out the boundaries when we flew in. All I had in mind was a tour of the ranch yard and the immediate vicinity. I could snoop around on my own, but I don’t feel right doing that. But if Chad’s busy, maybe I can ask somebody else.”

  “Dad would take you, but he said something yesterday about going into town today on business of some sort. Hawk could show you around. He knows every inch of this place like the back of his hand,” Carol stated.

  “Yes, well … “—Lanna breathed in deeply, finding that suggestion not at all pleasing—” … I’d rather not go anywhere with him.”

  Her reply sparked Carol’s temper. “I never thought you were the kind who would be prejudiced. Obviously, I was wrong!”

  “Prejudiced? I’m not prejudiced,” Lanna denied. “I just don’t happen to like Hawk. He … he rubs me the wrong way.” Confusion surfaced over the cause of the accusation. “Why should I be prejudiced?”

  “A lot of people look down on him because he’s half-Navaho. I don’t know why I thought you would be different.” Carol continued to eye Lanna with wary doubt.

  “I didn’t know he was half-Indian. I never even suspected it.” She leaned back in her chair, running the information over in her mind to see if it bothered her; instead, it started her wondering about other things. “Is that why Ch
ad doesn’t like him?”

  When she looked up, Carol was staring at her. “You honestly don’t know who Hawk is, do you? Didn’t J. B. ever mention anything about him?”

  “John? No. Why should he?” Lanna was becoming more and more confused.

  “Because Hawk is his son.”

  “Are you serious?” It was Lanna’s turn to search the face of the woman seated across the table. She looked away, realizing it was true and wondering why Hawk—or Chad—hadn’t told her.

  “Yes. Hawk’s mother was a Navaho woman. She was J. B.’s mistress for several years. I was just a small child at the time, so I don’t know the details, only what I’ve heard.” Carol became thoughtful, her attention turning inward. “Hawk’s mother died—in a snowstorm, I think. Anyway, J. B. didn’t want to leave Hawk with her relatives to be raised as an Indian, so he brought him back to the ranch. Naturally, he had too much respect for Katheryn to ask her to raise him.”

  “Didn’t she know about him?” Lanna questioned.

  “Oh, yes.” Carol nodded. “From what I understand, it was common knowledge that J. B. was keeping this Navaho woman. The ranch is like a very small town. Everybody knows everybody else’s business. I doubt that J. B. ever actually told Katheryn himself. I’m certain he tried to be discreet. That’s the kind of man he was, but she knew. No one ever talked about Hawk in front of her that I can remember. They always pretended he was an orphan. So did she.”

  “But who looked after him? Did someone take him into their home?” She steered the conversation back to Carol’s original track.

  “J. B. asked my parents to look after him. J. B. and my father were very close, so naturally he turned to him. Hawk lived with us. We were raised practically as brother and sister.”

  “What happened between Hawk and Chad?” Lanna frowned. “There seems to be so much bad feeling between them.”

  “It’s natural under the circumstances. Look at how much Chad had. He was recognized as J. B.’s son. He never publicly acknowledged Hawk. Granted, J. B. did compensate my parents for what it cost to raise Hawk. And he paid for his college education. But that isn’t much, is it?” Her smile was sadly rueful. “There was the fact that Hawk was not only illegitimate, but a half-breed, as well. Even if J. B. Faulkner was his father, his mother was still a Navaho.”

  “I can understand that there would be rivalry—resentment—but such total mistrust…” From what Carol had told her, there didn’t seem to be sufficient cause, and it puzzled Lanna. “It goes beyond blind hatred. I can’t help thinking there is a reason.”

  “There is,” Carol sighed and pushed aside her plate of half-eaten food. “It’s me.”

  “You?” Lanna wanted more of an explanation than that.

  “Yes. Remember, I told you that Hawk and I were raised together. He was always ’big brother’ and I was ’little sister’—at least that’s the way I thought. Then, the summer when I was eighteen, I found out that Hawk wanted to marry me. He was in love with me.” Carol paused to cup her hands around a cold cup of coffee. “Chad was always my ’knight in shining armor.’ There was never anyone else I wanted to marry.”

  “And you turned Hawk down?”

  “Yes. He didn’t understand. He blamed Chad. There was a terrible fight. Chad beat him up, which only made things worse.” Carol’s bow-shaped lips were set in a straight line, grim with regret. “I tried to tell Hawk how sorry I was, but he wouldn’t listen. I think he believes that I didn’t want to marry him because he was a half-breed—therefore, not good enough.”

  “So he feels he’s been cheated all the way around. Now I’m part of it,” Lanna realized. “I suppose I inherited what rightfully should have been his. Did John leave him anything in his will? Did he acknowledge him at all?” She couldn’t believe that John had left Hawk out.

  “J. B. gave him half of this ranch. As far as I know, J. B. didn’t claim him as his illegitimate son. There was a cash bequest, too, but I don’t know what the amount was.” Carol held her gaze. “Lanna, I have to be honest. I think Hawk had more right to the rest of the inheritance than you did.”

  “Yes.” Lanna was inclined to agree with Carol, but she didn’t know what she could do about it. Was it her fault? Was it her problem to correct? Heaven knew she never wanted John to leave her all this money. Why had he willed it to her instead of his own flesh and blood? If John didn’t want Hawk to receive it, should she go against his wishes and give it to Hawk?

  It was confusing. She simply didn’t know what was right or fair. Too much had happened lately. She was tired, both mentally and physically. Chad had suggested that she come to the ranch to rest and relax. This was only her first full day, and already she felt worse instead of better.

  She took a sip of her coffee. “It’s cold,” she grimaced and rose from her chair to pour a fresh cup. “Would you like yours warmed up, Carol?”

  “No, thanks,” she refused and pushed her chair away from the table. “I started a letter to Johnny yesterday. I want to finish it so I can get it in the mail.” She started toward the door, then paused to half-turn. “Lanna, I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings when I said that.”

  “You didn’t,” Lanna assured her.

  “Good, because I’d like us to be friends.” Carol smiled.

  “So would I,” Lanna agreed.

  “See you later.” She lifted a delicately boned hand in a graceful wave and disappeared through the archway.

  After adding hot coffee to the lukewarm liquid in her cup, Lanna returned to her chair. Halfheartedly, she buttered the muffin, but by now her appetite was gone. A set of footsteps approached the morning room. Lanna recognized Chad’s brisk strides and looked up as he entered.

  “Good morning. I just saw Carol. She told me you were here,” he stated and walked to the sideboard to pour himself a cup of coffee from the silver urn. “I decided to join you for coffee.”

  “Have you finished your paperwork?” she asked.

  “The bulk of it.” He pulled out the chair nearest her and sat down. His tawny eyes assessed her in a glance. “Didn’t you sleep well last night? You look tired. Beautiful, but tired.”

  “Flatterer,” Lanna mocked him. “Actually, I slept like a log. I can’t remember the last time I slept so late.” Yes, she could—that morning after John had died, but she didn’t mention it. If Chad remembered, he didn’t correct her.

  “You obviously needed it.” He sipped at his coffee, then glanced at the muffin Lanna had barely nibbled. “Is that all you’re having for breakfast?”

  “I’m not hungry.” Not any more, at least, she thought. “I should exercise to work up an appetite.”

  “You’re supposed to rest while you’re here,” Chad reminded her.

  “That will become boring,” she insisted with a laugh.

  “After a while it will, but I want you to take it easy for the first few days.”

  “You sound like a doctor,” Lanna reproved. “As a matter of fact, I was going to ask you to take me on a tour of the ranch.”

  “What for?” His wide smile seemed to regard her proposal with amused curiosity.

  “Just to get an idea of what’s going on.” She shrugged. “I thought it would be interesting to see how it operates.”

  “This ranch practically runs by itself. Rawlins has managed it for years. It’s all very routine, very boring. I don’t think it would interest you.” He set his cup down, an air of finality in his action, as well as in his words.

  “I don’t know that I was really interested. Closer to curious, probably,” Lanna replied. “I thought I’d like to poke around the buildings and explore the country around here. I haven’t been horseback riding in a couple of years. It should be fun.”

  “I suppose we could do that,” Chad agreed. “I can have one of the hands saddle us a couple of horses. We can leave right after lunch. How does that sound?”

  “It sounds fine.” She nodded.

  “You aren’t very enthusiastic.” Tipping his he
ad to one side, he eyed her curiously. “Is something bothering you?” he guessed. “Do you want to tell me about it?”

  Hesitating, Lanna gripped the sides of her coffee cup. “I know Hawk is John’s son.”

  “His bastard, you mean,” Chad snapped and immediately looked away, seeking to control his sudden flash of anger. “Sorry, but that’s what he is—by name and disposition.” When he turned to face her, his smile was stiff. “Now that you’ve discovered the Faulkner family’s skeleton in the closet, what difference does it make?”

  “It makes a lot of difference,” Lanna declared in agitation. “He is … was John’s son. I inherited what was rightfully his.”

  “Rightfully? What makes you think it was rightfully his?” he challenged. “What would a half-breed do with all that? John knew what he was doing when he left it to you. Hawk is nothing but a saddle tramp. J. B. threw away his money trying to turn that half-breed into a white man. There isn’t an ounce of ambition in his body. He works a little, goes back ’to the blanket’ for a while, then comes back to work a little more. He’s a worthless no-good who doesn’t deserve what he’s got.”

  It seemed a sweeping condemnation. “He appears to be intelligent—” Lanna began.

  “Intelligent? He’s educated. J. B. paid for that—enrolled him in the finest eastern university, and what happens? Hawk quit before he gets his degree and all that money goes down the drain. Is that intelligent?” Chad arched an eyebrow.

  “I didn’t know.”

  “Don’t feel sorry for him, Lanna. You’d just be wasting your time,” he told her. “J. B. would have set him up in business, but all Hawk wanted to own was the clothes on his back, a good saddle, and a Navaho convertible—more commonly known as a pickup.”

  “I see,” Lanna murmured.

  “I hope you do,” Chad stated. His handsome features softened, charming her with the magic of his smile. “Would you still like to go riding this afternoon? I promise not to give you any more lectures.”