"No," all four brothers shouted back.
Their sister wasn't offended. She maintained her smile for her husband's benefit and gave Douglas a hard shove when he put his hands over his wife's ears.
Genevieve was standing in the center of the crowd on the opposite side of the bandstand, watching the Clayborne family-the four brothers side by side, Emily and Isabelle leaning back against their husbands. Their expressions were comical, but she thought Adam's was the most revealing. Like his brothers and his sister, he was smiling, yet every time Harrison tried to hit a high note and missed, Adam would visibly flinch.
They were all such good-hearted people and so very loyal to one another. They were united now in giving Harrison their encouragement and support, and though it was apparent from their forced smiles that they thought the music was terrible, she knew they would cheer him when he was finished and never admit to any outsider that the sound had been less than perfect. And that was what family was all about.
God, how she envied all of them. She longed to walk across the dance floor and stand in front of
Adam and lean back against him. She wanted to belong to his family, but most of all, she wanted to be loved by him.
It was a fool's dream, she told herself. She whispered a good-bye in Mama Rose's direction, and then turned and walked away.
Chapter Four
The party didn't wind down until after midnight. Riders with fiery torches lighted the way back to Blue Belle for those guests who lived in the nearby town and wanted to go home. The guests from Hammond stayed overnight. They slept on cots in the parlor and the dining room, filled the bunkhouse, and spilled out onto the porch. Cole gave up his bed to the Cohens, and Adam let old man Corbett sleep in the bunk bed he'd used all week. The brothers weren't inconvenienced, for they much preferred sleeping outside under the stars, away from the crowd.
Adam left at dawn the following morning with three hired hands to round up the mustangs grazing on sweet grass down in Maple Valley, and he didn't return to Rosehill until late that afternoon.
Cole was waiting for him on the front porch. He handed Adam a beer and sat down on the top step.
He didn't waste time getting to the news. "Genevieve's gone."
Adam didn't show any outward reaction. He took his hat off, tossed it onto a nearby chair, and sat down next to his brother. He took a long swallow of his drink and remarked that it was damned hot today.
"You look tired," Cole remarked.
"I am tired," Adam replied. "Have all the guests gone home?"
"Yes, the last of them left around noon."
"When are you leaving for Texas to bring the cattle up?"
"Tomorrow."
Several minutes passed in silence. Adam stared at the distant mountains and tried to ignore the unease he felt about Genevieve. As soon as Cole had given him the news, his gut and his throat both tightened up on him. Why had she left so abruptly, and why hadn't she told him good-bye? Maybe he shouldn't have hounded her with questions, but damn it, she'd let it slip that she was in trouble, and he had naturally wanted to find out the particulars so that he could help. No, he decided. His few questions wouldn't have made her so skittish that she would pack up and leave.
The telegram had to be the reason she'd taken off. He remembered the fear he'd seen on her face after she'd read the wire. He should have gone to her then and demanded that she confide in him.
He let out a loud sigh. He knew then what he was going to have to do and was already getting angry about it.
"Hell," he muttered.
"What?"
"Nothing. Did Genevieve say good-bye to anyone?"
"No, she didn't tell anyone she was leaving. She just took off. Mama Rose is up in arms about it. She says it isn't like Genevieve to leave without saying her thank-yous. She says she's a well-bred young lady with impeccable manners. I think Genevieve was spooked by that telegram," Cole added. "But Mama Rose thinks you chased her away."
Adam rolled his eyes heavenward. "Genevieve must have left with some of the guests last night. She's too smart to go off on her own."
"Maybe so," Cole allowed. "It's odd though. She was supposed to ride with the Emersons to Salt Lake, and they aren't leaving town until tomorrow."
"Maybe they decided to leave earlier."
"In the dark? They're old, not crazy. Besides, they were here last night."
Adam's unease intensified. Had she gone off on her own? The possibility sent chills down his spine. No, she wouldn't have done that. She was too intelligent to do such a rash, irresponsible thing. She would surely be aware of the danger a woman alone would face in the wild. Women were hard to come by in some of the more remote areas, and pretty women like Genevieve were considered prizes for the taking by some of the less civilized mountain clans.
Cole was watching his brother closely. "You don't seem too broken up over her leaving," he remarked.
Adam shrugged indifference. "It's her life. She can do whatever she wants."
"What if she took off on her own?"
"There isn't anything I can do about that."
Cole smiled. "It isn't working, Adam."
"What isn't working?"
"Your I-don't-give-a-damn attitude. You're trying to act like you aren't worried about her, and we both know you are."
His brother didn't deny it. "I wish I knew what was in that telegram. Whatever it was scared her. Maybe someone close to her got sick. That would scare a woman, wouldn't it?"
"That would scare a man too," Cole said. "You don't think she's in any kind of trouble, do you?"
"It can't be anything serious. I was pretty sure that there was something wrong, but she denied it. She looked me right in the eye and told me she didn't need any help. She said it was just a minor inconvenience."
"You think she was telling you the truth?"
"About her problem being a minor one? Yeah, I do. She's led a real sheltered life, and I can't imagine she has any real serious problems."
"I think Genevieve's real smart, but even smart people do crazy things when they're scared."
"Such as?"
"Riding out at night all alone."
Adam refused to believe that she would take such a chance. "I'm sure she got a ride with someone."
Cole didn't argue with him. "Maybe you ought to go into town and have a little talk with Clarence. You can be real intimidating when you want to, and I'll bet you could get him to tell you what was in that wire."
"If he tells me, he'll lose his job. Wires are supposed to be kept confidential."
"So?"
Adam shook his head. "Clarence is too ethical." He spat the words out as though they were foul. He stood up, grabbed his hat, and headed for the door. "I've wasted enough time."
"Where are you going?"
"Back to work as soon as I change my shirt. I'm going to be up half the night catching up on all the paperwork, and tomorrow I've got to start breaking in the mustangs so we can sell them at the auction next month, and I-"
"You're going after her, aren't you?"
Adam gave his brother a look that suggested he wanted to punch him for asking such a stupid question. "What do you think?"
He didn't stay outside long enough to hear Cole's answer. He went upstairs to his room, stripped out of his shirt, and washed the dirt and grime off. He could have sworn the scent of lilacs was on the towel he used, but that was the only reminder that Genevieve had occupied his room.
Her suitcase was gone from the corner. There was an empty space in the wardrobe where her clothes had hung, and the jewelry and hair clips he'd noticed on the dresser yesterday when he'd come in to get clean clothes were also gone.
She hadn't left anything behind. Yet the memory of her smile lingered in his mind, and he knew it was going to take him a long while to forget her.
He decided to get busy. He went downstairs to grab something to eat before he tackled the paperwork. Mary Rose was sitting at the kitchen table with a pen and paper in her hands.
She smiled when she saw him.
"You're back early. Are you hungry? I made soup, but it isn't as good as Mama Rose's."
"I thought you went home," he said.
"We're leaving in a few minutes. I wanted to copy down this recipe first. Sit down and I'll get you a bowl. You are going to try my soup, aren't you?"
"Sure," he said.
She stood up and reached for the apron she'd draped over the back of her chair. Adam had only just taken his seat when he bounded back to his feet.
"The apron," he announced.
She slipped the garment over her head and then looked down to see if something was wrong with it.
"It looks fine to me."
"Not yours," he said, his impatience evident in his brisk tone. "The apron Genevieve was wearing. Was it hers?" he asked, wondering if women packed such things when they traveled.
"No, I loaned her one of Mama Rose's. I didn't want her to get her dress-"
Adam cut her off. "Did she give it back?"
"For heaven's sake, of course she gave it back. What's the matter with you?"
"Nothing's the matter. Where is it?"
"The apron?"
"Yes, damn it, the apron. Where is it?"
Her eyes widened in reaction to his bizarre behavior. It wasn't like Adam to ever lose his temper, but he appeared to be on the verge of doing just that. He was usually so calm and in control. Nothing ever riled him.
"Why are you getting so upset about an apron?" she demanded.
"I'm not upset. Now answer me. Where is it?"
She gave him a frown to let him know she didn't appreciate his surly attitude.
"I suppose it's hanging with the others on the hooks in the pantry."
Adam was already halfway across the kitchen before his sister had finished explaining. She followed him to the doorway and stood there watching him sort through the clutter of coats and hats and scarves and bibs, tossing them every which way until most of them were on the floor behind him.
"You're picking all those up," she said. "Adam, what's come over you?"
"Where the hell is it?"
"It's the white one on your left with the two lace pockets," she said. "Why do you want it?"
Adam lifted the apron from the hook and quickly searched the pockets. He felt like shouting with victory when he pulled out the crumpled piece of paper. Just as he had hoped, in her haste to leave, Genevieve had forgotten the wire.
He unfolded the paper, moved into the light, and read the message.
Then he exploded. "Son of a bitch."
"Watch your language," Mary Rose demanded. She moved close to her brother's side and tried to see what he was holding.
She wasn't quick enough. He had already refolded the paper before she could see anything.
"What is it?"
"A telegram."
"That's Genevieve's," she said. "I was standing next to her when Clarence gave the wire to her. Shame on you, Adam. You shouldn't have read it. It's confidential."
Cole came up behind his sister in time to hear her protest and offered his opinion.
"Sure he should read it. Who's it from, Adam?"
"A woman named Lottie."
Adam finally looked at him. Cole could tell from the look in his brother's eyes that it was serious. Mary Rose didn't seem to notice, however.
"I know what it says," she announced.
Adam turned to her. "You do?"
"Yes."
"And you didn't tell anyone?"
"Don't yell at me," she snapped. "Genevieve told me her friend was expecting a baby and promised to have her husband send a wire to let her know if she had a boy or a girl."
"Is that so?" Adam asked.
Mary Rose nodded. "She had a girl," she said. "I can't understand why you would get so upset over someone else's personal…"
She stopped talking when Cole put his hands on her shoulders and suggested she take a good look at Adam's expression.
Their brother looked furious. "How bad is it?" Cole asked him.
In answer, Adam handed the wire to him. Cole unfolded the paper and read the message out loud.
"Run for your life. They know where you are. They're coming for you."
"Good Lord," Mary Rose cried out.
Cole whistled at the same time. "Son of a…"
"How could anyone want to harm such a sweet, loving young lady?" Mary Rose asked.
"I thought you told me she wasn't in trouble," Cole said.
"That's what she told me," Adam muttered.
"She lied."
"No kidding. Of course she lied."
Mary Rose shook her head. "She must have had a good reason not to involve us."
"We are involved if trouble is coming here," Cole replied.
"I thought we had become good friends over the past week. She acted as though she didn't have a care in the world. Are you going to go after her, Adam?"
"Hell, yes."
"Mama Rose is going to be beside herself with worry when she hears about this."
Adam gave his sister a hard look. "She isn't going to hear about it. There isn't any reason to worry her."
Mary Rose agreed with a quick nod. "Yes, you're right. I won't tell her."
Adam started for the door, but Mary Rose grabbed hold of his hand to detain him.
"Why are you so angry?"
"It's a hell of an inconvenience to drop everything and go chasing after her, and I don't much like knowing trouble's coming to Rosehill. Cole, you're going to have to put off your trip to Texas for another week or two and stay around here."
"I will," he assured his brother.
"If anyone comes looking for Genevieve-"
"I'll know what to do."
Adam left Rosehill fifteen minutes later. Genevieve Perry was about to find out what real trouble was.
Chapter Five
Genevieve was trying hard not to be afraid and failing miserably. She sat in front of her campfire with her legs tucked underneath her, gripping a gun in one hand and a heavy tree branch in the other. There weren't any stars out tonight, and it was so dark she couldn't see beyond the circle of the fire. She had never been bothered by the dark before, not even as a child, but then she'd always lived inside a nice strong house in the heart of the city with locks on every door and a mother and father to look after her. Now she was all alone and sitting in the middle of the forest, where all sorts of wild animals roamed about looking for food. She couldn't see the predators, but she knew they were there because she could hear them, and that made the dark all the more terrifying.
At night, the forest shrieked with life. Every sound was magnified. A twig snapped nearby and she flinched, her heart pounding frantically. She was certain an animal had made the noise, and she began to fervently pray it wasn't anything bigger or more dangerous than a rabbit. God only knew what she would do if a mountain lion or a bear wandered into her camp. The idea of becoming some animal's next meal didn't sit well with her, and she began to imagine all sorts of horrible ways she would die.
She began to hum one of her favorite hymns to take her mind off her dark thoughts until she realized the hymn was about death and redemption. Then she stopped and sagged against the tree behind her. She slowly stretched her legs out, crossed one ankle over the other, and willed herself to stop having such crazy thoughts. She would get through this night the same way she'd gotten through the past two. She would keep her eyes open and her wits sharp. Sleep was out of the question.
She never heard Adam coming. One second she was all alone, and the next he was sitting beside her and had her gun in his hand.
She was so startled to see him she screamed. She jumped back, struck her head against the tree, and cried put again. Her heart felt as though it had just leapt into her throat. How in heaven's name had he managed to drop down beside her without making any noise? As soon as she could find her voice, she would ask him that very question.
He didn't say a word to her. She watched him drop the gun on th
e ground between them. She stared stupidly at the weapon for several seconds before she turned to look up at him.
She had never been so happy to see anyone in all her life. He didn't look happy to see her though. His anger was more than apparent in the darkening of his eyes and the set of his jaw.
She wanted to hug him. She frowned instead and put her hand over her heart. "Adam, you scared me."
He didn't have anything to say about that. She took another breath and then admitted, "I didn't hear you coming."
"You weren't supposed to hear me."
They stared into each other's eyes for what seemed an eternity without saying another word. He was trying to calm his temper and kept telling himself that he had gotten to her in time, that nothing god-awful had happened to her, and that she was all right-for the moment. Relief intensified his anger, and, honest to God, he wanted to kiss her and shake some sense into her at the same time. He didn't give in to either inclination.
She was so thankful not to be alone any longer, tears welled up in her eyes.
He saw them. "What are you doing out here?"
"I'm camping. What are you doing here?"
"I came to get you."
Her eyes widened. "You did? Why?"
He didn't explain but asked another question instead. "Why did you leave the ranch so abruptly?"
She turned away and stared at the fire. "I felt it was time for me to leave."
"What kind of answer is that?" he demanded.
"Lower your voice," she whispered.
"Why?"
"I don't want to… The animals will…"
"What about the animals?"
"If they hear us, they'll know we're here and they might come into camp."
He tried not to smile. "Animals are also directed by scent."
"I heard a mountain lion a little while ago."
"He won't bother you."
"You're sure?"
"Yes."
She visibly relaxed and leaned into his side. Her arm rubbed against his when she turned to him again. "There aren't any stars out tonight."
"Why did you leave in the middle of the night without telling anyone good-bye? Why were you in such a hurry?"
He already knew the answer, but he was curious to find out if she would tell him the truth. If she did, it would be a novelty, he decided. His frown darkened as he thought about what an adroit liar she was.