Page 21 of The Enchanted Land

Seth moved to the back of Morgan’s chair and began to knead the back of her neck with his fingertips, feeling the silky hair and the warmth of her scalp. Seth and William were talking, but she heard nothing, feeling only the warmth of the brandy and the touch of Seth’s hand. She leaned back and closed her eyes.

She was startled from her reverie by silence, and opened her eyes to find the men looking at her. Seth smiled. “I think you’re tired. Why don’t you go to bed?” His eyes were bright with liquor, and somehow Morgan found him very appealing.

She rose, silently, and went toward the door. She heard William mutter under his breath, “I’d never let my new bride go to bed alone.” He added, “At least you can kiss her.”

Perhaps it was the unaccustomed liquor, but Morgan’s heart began to pound. Her hand was on the door-knob before she felt Seth’s hand on hers. The warmth of him, the size, and the smell of him made her tremble. He turned the knob and followed her out the door. They were in the empty moonlit hallway.

He touched her arm, and she turned. Very gently, his arm went around her waist while his other hand tipped her head up to face him. The moonlight made his hair silver, and the height and width of him made her seem small and delicate. His lips touched hers very gently, very softly. Morgan swayed against him, unthinking, now only feeling, wanting his warmth to touch her. Her arms went out, encircling his neck and drawing him closer to her. Her head was swimming, and she had no idea whether or not she was breathing.

His lips began to move over hers. Her lips parted as he began to be more demanding. They pulled one another closer and Seth leaned forward until Morgan’s back was bent into a bow shape. She heard herself moan as she felt Seth’s hips move slightly.

Seth lifted his head and looked at her with startled eyes—and with another expression Morgan did not recognize. Silently, he lifted her in his arms and carried her up the stairs to their bedroom. Morgan put her face into his neck, feeling the soft, warm flesh. He made her feel so safe, so protected. Nothing existed but Seth. She moved her face deeper into his neck, touching with her lips the tender spot where the neck joined the shoulder. She felt Seth’s breath quicken as he opened the door to their bedroom.

Closing it with his foot, he again turned to Morgan to kiss her. The kiss was searching, and she clung to him as he carefully laid her on the bed and stretched out beside her. His hand caressed her hair, her shoulder, as it found its way to the buttons on her dress. He kissed her throat, and each area of flesh as it was exposed by the unfastened buttons. She felt Seth’s leg across her own.

Seth sat up on an elbow and looked at her in the firelight. His eyes were tender. He slowly unbuttoned his shirt and removed it. The hair on his chest was thick and curly, the skin such a delicate, golden brown. She stretched out a tentative finger and touched his shoulder. God! but he was beautiful. His arms made her think of the muscles on horses.

“Seth…” His kisses, his gentleness, made the idea of stopping him seem cruel.

“Don’t talk, my love, just enjoy,” he murmured.

“Seth, you have to stop … please don’t.” Her voice was barely a whisper. “Please…”

It was several minutes before Seth began to hear her. Her voice was so soft. As the sounds penetrated his senses, he began to feel anger rising in him. He did not know why. Abruptly, he dropped her onto the bed.

His jaw was clenched. “No, madam, I will not force you. I will not have a woman who says no to me.” He stood up and grabbed his shirt, angrily thrusting his arms into it. “There is a name for women like you—women who kiss a man like you kissed me in the hall, who allow a man to get worked up and then refuse him.” His eyes were very angry. “You’ve said no to me several times, but this will be the last time. I’ll not ask you again.”

Now it was Morgan’s turn to get angry. “I made you a business offer, nothing more. I made that clear from the beginning. I’ve not wanted your advances, so what right do you have to be angry with me? I have kept my part in our bargain.”

Seth’s face softened. His eyes, though, were still angry, his voice a harsh whisper. “You are right, you have kept your part.” There was a look of sadness about him now. “As old as I am, I never learn—there are two kinds of women, my silly sisters and the calculating Cynthia. Somehow I thought you were different, but now I know just where you fit.” His voice lowered. “I will see that you get your beloved Trahern House, and I will bother you no more.”

Her hair was loose, her dress unbuttoned, showing the shadow of a breast. Abruptly, he turned and left the room.

Morgan stared at the door, tears gathering strength.

Nora was disturbed the next morning to see the coolness between Seth and Morgan. Jake noticed it too, but neither said anything.

Tearful goodbyes were said, and both Nora and William forced money on the reluctant Morgan.

At last Morgan sat on the wagon beside Jake, while Seth rode ahead on his horse. Jake talked incessantly about New Mexico, about Kansas City, about anything that came to his head. Morgan listened and bounced on the wagon seat, and watched Seth’s broad back. Morgan realized that no matter how big the horse was, Seth would probably make it look like a pony. “It would probably take a draft horse to look big in proportion,” she muttered.

“What was that?” Jake looked toward her.

“I was looking at Seth,” she answered, blushing.

Jake smiled, showing his three teeth, and began to talk about Seth. “Sure glad that boy got married. Tired of running that ranch myself while he keeps going into town for a woman.” Then it was his turn to be embarrassed, “Uh, sorry, Mrs., uh, Morgan.”

Morgan hadn’t thought about the possibility of another Cynthia waiting for him in New Mexico. “Jake, does Seth have a girl in New Mexico?”

“Well, there is one that seems to have set her cap for him. A young lady whose father owns quite a bit of Santa Fe.” Jake looked at Morgan and grinned. “She’d fill out that big dress of yourn and half of another one like it. You sure are a mightylittlething.”

Jake was so natural that Morgan felt no resentment. “I guess Seth likes women like that—big, I mean.”

The smile vanished from his face. “I can’t say as helikesany women. He seems more to use them than anything. Oh, he’s nice to them, and they sure like him, but he never seems to think anything about any of them after he leaves them.” He paused. “Now me,” and his grin returned, “I’ve been in love so many times.” He laughed and slapped his thigh. “I remember a gal in Louisville once, had black hair and eyes. I was so in love with her that I couldn’t eat for three weeks. Thought I’d die without her.” He seemed to enjoy just thinking about the woman.

“What happened?” Morgan asked.

“Oh … she left me for some rich guy, but she’ll never forget me, that much I know.”

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