Page 50 of The Enchanted Land

“Seth!” Morgan turned her head to see Jake running toward them. “What the hell took you so long? Frank’s been over twice to see if you were back yet.” He grinned his toothless smile and took Seth’s outstretched hand in both of his.

“Well, I see you got the little girl back.”

Seth pulled her close and said, “I would have been back sooner, but this little wildcat kept me holed up in a canyon for a week. Wouldn’t let me go.”

“Seth!” Morgan hid her reddened face in Seth’s shoulder. Through clenched teeth she issued threats against his life, but he happily continued carrying her and ignored her protests.

When he reached the house, he paused at the threshold and sought her lips. He kissed her as he carried her into the house.

Sensing their need for privacy, Jake and Lupita walked around the house, leaving the newlyweds alone.

Seth enjoyed showing Morgan his house, and she immediately fell in love with it. There were few rooms in the house, but each one was enormous. The kitchen was in the center, with an open porch on one side and a long, narrow room with many windows on the other side. The living area was L-shaped, and she saw that Jake had already set up the furniture Nora had given them.

The only other room was a huge bedroom with big double doors leading onto a little walled-in courtyard. The bed was set against one wall, and was encased in a crudely but ornately carved bedstead. There were several rugs on the floor, of boldly patterned designs in bright colors. Every room except the kitchen had an open fireplace shaped like a beehive.

Morgan sat on the bed. “I love it! It’s a beautiful house—not at all like what you described.”

“Well, I didn’t want you to be disappointed. It’s not exactly like Trahern House.” He looked at Morgan sideways, watching her reaction.

She didn’t turn, but replied nonchalantly, “Trahern House? I don’t believe I’ve heard of that place.” She turned to him and smiled invitingly. She tested the bed with her hands. “Nice bed,” she murmured.

Seth embraced her. “I want this to be your home. I want you to be happy here.”

“I could never be any happier than I am right now. I love you so much.”

Seth tangled his hands in her hair and pulled her back with him on the bed. “You know, I’ve never made love to you on a bed before!” He kissed her lips and her throat as she moved her thigh between his legs.

The following week was blissful. Seth was gone during the day, and she was content to stay in their house and perform the many chores there. At noon she often rode out to Seth and took him a lunch. More often than not, they made love under the piñon trees.

Lupita had loaned Morgan some embroidered blouses and full, bright-colored skirts. These fit her as poorly as the clothes from Kentucky. Lupita had said she should go into Santa Fe and get clothes to fit her, but Morgan didn’t want to leave the ranch even for a day.

But Lena changed things.

She came one morning, riding a beautiful black stallion. Morgan was outside feeding the chickens, dressed in a particularly drab dress, with one of Lupita’s old aprons tied around her waist. She held the apron in front of her, filled with chicken feed.

The sight of Lena astonished Morgan. Never had she seen anyone so beautiful. Lena’s riding suit was entirely black, with a small patch of white lace at the throat. Her legs were encased in tall boots of soft black leather. Lena’s blue-black hair was intricately arranged in soft, lustrous curls on top of her head and gently flowing down her back to her waist. Cocked over one eye was a tiny little hat with a slim red feather curling around the brim.

“Señorita Montoya!” It was Lupita’s happy voice behind her as Morgan stood as still as a statue. “Long time since you come. How have you been? Come and meet Señor Colter’s wife. You will like one another.”

Lena smiled down at Lupita and slowly, gracefully, dismounted. Lena kissed the older woman’s plump cheek, and Morgan saw that Lena was small, like herself.

“Yes, I have heard about this little beauty of Seth’s. Where is she?” At the question, Lena looked around and saw Morgan a few feet from them. She stared for a moment, and then confidently walked to Morgan and around her.

“Oh, yes … I can see what Joaquín meant. Yes. You do hide your beauty very well.” She turned quickly to Lupita. “What do you mean, allowing the lady of the house to work like apéon?”

Lupita threw up her hands. “She does what she wants, and that husband of hers lets her. She cooks, she even scrubs floors, and no matter what I say, she does it. Maybe you can talk to her.”

“Yes, I think I’ll have to.” She turned back to Morgan and possessively put her arm around Morgan’s shoulders. “Now, drop that,” she sneered at the chicken feed Morgan still held in her apron, “and let’s go inside. By the way, I’m Lena.”

Lena had always been spoiled, and she grew up believing she was the center of the world. She had never had any reason to suppose differently.

Morgan was shy around the beautiful woman who seemed so at home, so confident. Lena asked questions about their return trip to the ranch. Morgan briefly told the story of Cat Man.

“I think you were very brave and very smart to keep quiet and wait for Seth. Me—I would have killed the man myself.”

Morgan shivered as she remembered Cat Man’s eyes.

Lena, sensing her reluctance to talk further of the horrible episode, dropped the subject. “Well, Morgan, we have a lot to do to get ready.”

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