Page 53 of The Enchanted Land

Morgan smiled. She had only been protecting what was hers.

Chapter Ten

THEMontoya ranch was enormous. The main house itself could have housed a small army. In fact, the shape of the house suggested that it had been made to hold off an attack. The house enclosed all four sides of a large garden and courtyard.

Everywhere there were servants. There were always men working in the garden, and every room had one or two women cleaning and polishing. Lena had introduced Morgan to two young girls whose sole job it would be to take care of Morgan. Morgan soon found that she liked being pampered.

The party would start in a short time. Lena had already gone downstairs to stand beside her brother as they greeted their guests. Morgan had not seen Joaquín yet and had, in fact, given him very little thought.

Seth had not come yet.

“Señora Colter, he will be here soon. You are so beautiful that he will be very sorry he took so long.”

“Thank you, Margarita.”

The dress was of shimmering red silk. It was cut low in front and exposed Morgan’s creamy shoulders. She was not used to the tight restrictions of the laced corset, but she liked the way it pushed her breasts above the restraining fabric. Her golden hair was piled on top of her head, with great masses of curls cascading down her back.

There was a knock, and Morgan, expecting Seth, eagerly stepped toward the door as Margarita opened it. Her face fell as she saw it was Joaquín.

“My beautiful little Morgan, is your old friend such an unwelcome sight after all we have shared together?”

She smiled at him and took his extended hands. “No, Joaquín. I am glad to see you. It’s just that I expected Seth.”

“He was always lucky with beautiful women.” Morgan missed the slight edge to his voice and the passing look of hatred that fired his eyes.

“But let me look at you.” Still holding her hands, he appraised her every curve until she felt the blood rising to her face. “I knew you were beautiful, but I did not realize how beautiful.” He dropped her hands and reached into his inside coat pocket. “Lena told me what you were wearing, and she thought I might lend you some of the Montoya jewels.” He opened a small leather case to expose a sparkling chain of sapphires surrounded by tiny diamonds. There were earrings to match.

“Joaquín, they’re beautiful! But I couldn’t wear them.”

“Why not? They are not a gift, only a loan for one night. Surely you would not turn down a loan between friends? If you would like, think of them as coming from my sister. I am merely her messenger.”

Morgan laughed. “Joaquín, I believe you could charm butter into cream with just your words.”

Joaquín smiled, his eyes devouring her. “I wish that were so, because there are some things I would like to have. Seth is a lucky man.”

There was an embarrassed silence until Morgan broke it by asking the maid to help her with the jewels. Joaquín took them from her instead, and as he fastened them around her lovely neck, Morgan had the distinct impression that he was about to kiss her. Somehow the moments she spent with Joaquín always became awkward. She wished Seth would hurry.

“There! They are nearly as lovely as you are.”

“Oh,señora!They are really beautiful on you. Your husband will know you are the most beautiful woman in all ofNuevo Mexico!”

“Do you really think so, Margarita? I hope he likes me.”

“Likes you?” Joaquín smiled. He had heard from Lena how they had clung to one another in parting. He himself had seen only the way they had acted on the trip to New Mexico. As he looked at Morgan, breath-taking in the silken gown, he ached to take her in his arms. “Morgan, little one, no man will be able to resist you at all tonight. If that husband of yours does not fall at your feet, I will shoot him myself.” Joaquín’s roaring laughter at his own comment caused Morgan to look at him curiously.

“Since your husband does not seem to be here yet, may I have the honor of escorting you downstairs?”

She really wanted to wait for Seth, but since Joaquín had been so nice about the jewels, she took his extended arm and they went downstairs to the party.

“Morgan! There are so many people here who want to meet you.” Lena lowered her voice. “There are going to be a lot of women here who will hate you.” She laughed at Morgan’s startled expression. “Seth has been the most eligible bachelor around here for years. He and Joaquín have been pursued by every woman with a marriageable daughter within two hundred miles of Santa Fe.” She touched Morgan’s silk dress. “Isn’t silk nicer than chicken feed?” They laughed together.

Lena had been right in telling Morgan that she would feel hatred from some of the women. Morgan felt that some of the people had come only to see her, to judge Seth Colter’s new wife. As she shook hands with seemingly endless numbers of people, she overheard remarks from all sides.

“No wonder Colter waited so long. He was holding out for the best.”

“Of course, if I had allowed my Katherine to dress like that, she would have had several men around her, but I prefer modesty and a certain respectability.”

Morgan turned at this remark, obviously intended for her hearing. She saw an overweight matron glaring at her. Close behind the woman was a tall, thin girl with protruding teeth and a sharp nose. Morgan smiled at the girl and remembered herself, shy at a ball, less than a year ago. That had been the most fortunate night of her life. She had met Seth that night. She looked again toward the door for the thousandth time.

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