Page 120 of The Enchanted Land

When Morgan entered the dining room some time later, the first thing she saw was Seth’s broad back. He was impeccably dressed in the suit he had worn the night of the party. Morgan felt her anger rise again. She would have to tell Gordon to stop inviting him to dinner so often.

“Oh, Morgan, I hope you don’t mind my inviting Dave to dinner tonight. I’m finding I can learn a lot about ranching from him.”

She had no time to construct an answer before Martin entered, holding Adam’s hand. Adam immediately ran to Seth, his arms outstretched.

“How are you, Adam? I haven’t seen you in hours. Did you have a good nap?”

Adam smiled at his father and pointed to the table. “Eat.”

“This boy certainly knows what he wants.” Seth put Adam on a stool, next to what was fast becoming his own chair. The two sat directly across from Morgan.

“Might I say, Mrs. Colter, that you look especially lovely tonight? Red becomes you.”

“Thank you,” she said tonelessly. She just wouldn’t look at him. She had a brief vision of the beautiful red dress she wore—wore for Seth—at Joaquín’s party. It had disappeared on that horrible night, along with all her dreams.

Morgan stared at her plate as Seth and Gordon talked about the ranch. It seemed even Adam had deserted her. Of course, a mere mother always took second place to food. It infuriated her that Seth cared for the boy so easily. Adam’s plate was never empty, and Seth saw to his needs as if he’d been doing this for years. Adam’s placid acceptance of his father also made her angry. She was being betrayed by the person she loved most in the world.

Morgan was startled when Seth pushed his chair back. “If you’ll excuse me, I think I’ll put my … partner to bed.” His smile was innocent, but she knew what he had wanted to say.

When they were gone, Gordon turned to her. “I’m glad he’s gone, because I want to talk to you about something.”

She opened her mouth to say that she was glad he was gone for any reason, but she closed it again.

“I know there’ll be no problem, but I did want to discuss it with you first. For the good of the ranch, I’d like Dave to move into the house.”

“What?”

“You know that trip I’ve been planning to New York will be soon. I don’t like to leave you and Adam here alone. I’d like to have a man here in the house to protect you.”

“Protect me! Has it ever occurred to you that maybe I need protectionfromMr. Blake?”

Gordon was instantly concerned. “Has he ever mistreated you?”

“No, he hasn’t…”

“Good. I thought I knew Dave better than that. Adam, of course, adores him. I just can’t get over the way the child has taken to him, as if…”

“I’ve heard this before. Why do you think it is necessary for Mr. Blake to move into the house?”

“Morgan, I don’t like to bear the entire responsibility for running this ranch. I’m afraid to leave, even to go to Albuquerque. Just when I think I can relax, something happens, like Boyd and the other men quitting to go to the gold fields.”

“What makes you think Mr. Blake won’t run off somewhere, too?”

“For one thing, he’s older, more settled than the other men. And if I pay him more and offer him a room in the house, those would be incentives to stay. Dave’s different. He shouldn’t be treated like just another hired hand.”

“So you plan to allow him into the house.”

“He deserves it. Look at the way he cares for Adam. I wouldn’t trust Adam with any of the other men. They’re likely to put him down somewhere and forget him. Not Dave.”

“Must I be plagued day and night with sermons on this man’s virtues? I’m sure if we knew all there is to know about Mr. Blake, we’d know things of which he isn’t proud.”

“I’m sure there are. But no one’s perfect. Then you really have no specific objection to Dave moving to the house? The good really does seem to outweigh the bad.”

Seth returned. “Dave, I’ve just talked to Morgan about your moving into the house, and she would be happy to have you.”

They had already discussed it! Her opinion meant nothing. Gordon ignored the look she shot him.

“I thank you very much for the invitation, Mrs. Colter. I hope I prove to be of assistance to you and your son.”

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