Desert Moon Page 23

  “That’s Phillip.” Her voice broke in a sob, pleading for understanding just as that same something that had haunted her during the wedding magnified. “But then, who, what—he called you James. You aren’t, you can’t be—” She couldn’t get another sound past the mountain that seemed to have closed off her throat.

  Her words seemed to release her companion from the trance he had fallen into, almost as if a wicked spell had been called out in that laughing, accusing voice from the other car.

  He turned to her for an instant then shot ahead and around the corner out of sight of the pointing, laughing hecklers. A crooked smile touched his ashen lips, a mocking salute recognized by her stumbling question. “Meet James Travis, Señora. Once again the lovely princess has married the ogre.”

  Chapter 6

  You? It can’t be true.” Honor flexed stiff lips, sliding far away from him, as if he really were an ogre. Flecks of memory darted to her. “Then—” Her laugh was slightly hysterical. “Of course. That’s why you didn’t remember anything from the canyon. Because you never were there with me!”

  His silence was maddening. Honor swallowed hard. It must be a nightmare. Her perfect wedding, and now this? Impossible! The man beside her who had been so gentle, so loving—an impostor. She could feel herself shrinking into nothingness. In self-defense she lashed out. “How could you do such a thing? Telling me you were Phillip? Making me fall in love with you?”

  “But, my dear,” James seemed grimly amused, “you were the one to call me Phillip. If you remember, I never once told you I was Phillip. Why should I? If you will remember a little more, I tried to send you away. I told you the truth. I told you Phillip Travis could never make you happy. I also told you that your childish longing for someone to come along on a white horse did not fit Phillip.”

  Honor moistened her parched lips with the tip of her tongue. In minutes the companionable man she had known since she arrived at the ranch had changed into a stranger. “Then I was right. You were a stranger when I arrived at Casa del Sol. You were nothing like Phillip.”

  “Thank you.” This time he laughed aloud. “That’s the finest compliment you could give me.”

  “But why?” She had to break through his calm. “Why did you marry me?”

  “There was no other choice.” His laughing mask slipped. In its place was a deadly serious man. “I had to protect you from my dear brother. I tried to send you away, and you wouldn’t go. I tried to tell you about him, and you wouldn’t listen. So—”

  “So you passed yourself off as Phillip and hurried up the wedding before he came!” She fumbled for the door handle as they neared another corner. “I’m getting out of here, and now!”

  “You aren’t going anywhere.” The strong arm she knew so well reached across, pinning her against the seat, infuriating her more. “Don’t ever try and run away from me. This world isn’t big enough for you to hide in.”

  “Who are you to tell me what I shall and shall not do?” Honor wrenched free and sat trembling as he picked up speed and headed onto the open road, leaving Flagstaff behind.

  “I just happen to be your husband.”

  “Not for long! As soon as I can get help you won’t be.” Her voice gathered assurance. “Phillip will never stand for this. He will come to Casa del Sol for me.”

  “He will be welcome to so long as he remembers you are my wife.”

  “Your wife? Are you insane? Do you think I’d stay with you after what you have done?”

  “Of course.” Could that really be surprise in his face as he shot a keen glance at her. “You told me you were truthful and steadfast. You told me you never broke a vow. You also promised to love, honor, and cherish me until death parted us. How can you be ready so soon to break those vows?”

  If sheer fury could kill, James Travis would have died on the spot. “You don’t by any stretch of imagination think those vows are valid under these circumstances! I believe you are insane! I was right. You are an ogre!”

  To her amazement, James threw his head back and laughed.

  Didn’t any of this bother him at all? She would show him! She would get away at the first opportunity!

  The slow, mocking voice went on. “Really, Honor, don’t you believe in fate, or God, or something? I would have bet you do. How do you know this wasn’t all planned?”

  “How dare you? Isn’t it enough that you have ruined my life? How can you mock God?” A tiny drum beat in her brain. Isn’t that what you’ve done?

  James whipped the car into a leafy lane out of sight of the main road, killed the motor, and turned to her. His face was as white as her own. The hands he placed on her shoulders dug in. “Ruined your life! Shall I tell you what your life would be like with your precious Phillip?”

  “No! You have no right to malign your brother!”

  The steel fingers bit deeper. It was all Honor could do to keep from crying out.

  “It is not maligning to tell you the truth. You think you know Phillip Travis. You know nothing of him! You know only the front he puts on when he meets a new girl or woman. Do you think you are the first to be invited to Casa del Sol? No, not the first, nor the last. Babs is the only one he might ever be true to. When she is convinced of that, she will marry him. In the meantime, it is a succession of girls and women; summer, winter, fall, spring—season makes no difference. Phillip has the art of loving and leaving perfected to the highest degree.” He gave her a little shake, his eyes burning like freshly stirred embers.

  “Why didn’t he meet you as he promised? Why didn’t he come? I can tell you. Once he left the Grand Canyon you were only a dim memory.” She flinched, and he shook her again. “Wake up, Honor. Do you think a man like Phillip could be true to you? Do you really think a man who loves women and carousing could settle down and make the kind of home you want, the kind of home you will have at Casa del Sol?”

  “He promised to stop drinking! He said he didn’t even want to drink when he was with me.”

  Slowly the fingers loosened. Terrible pity filled James’s eyes as he pulled a newspaper from his pocket. “I hoped you would never have to see this.”

  Wordlessly, Honor took it. Blazoned across the front was a picture, unmistakably Phillip. His hair hung in his eyes, his mouth was slack. Underneath was the caption: LOCAL RANCHER SPENDS NIGHT IN JAIL FOR DISORDERLY CONDUCT.

  The newspaper fell from Honor’s nerveless fingers. “How could you be so cruel?”

  “Is it more cruel to tell you the truth, or to let you marry him and find out for yourself?”

  “But what am I to do?” All the old lack of self-confidence, of being totally alone, rushed over her. “You were joking when you said you expected me to stay, weren’t you?”

  James gripped her again, face chiseled in determination. “I never meant anything so much in my entire life.”

  She wrenched free. “To make the perfect touch, I suppose you’re going to swear by all that’s holy to you—or is anything?—that you fell in love with me at first sight and used this excuse to marry me.”

  Matching color burned in his face. “Why not? Didn’t you do much the same with Phillip?” Speechless with fury, Honor couldn’t reply. But James was not through. “Since you obviously wouldn’t believe it, I won’t swear undying love.”

  She hated him for the laughter underlying his thrust. “I wouldn’t believe anything any Travis told me. You certainly planned it well. Why”—a new wave of indignation shot through her—“even Carlotta, Rosa—how could you get them to agree to such a monstrous plot? I should have known.” Her eyes widened. “Rosa—she called Phillip ‘Felipe.’ She calls you ‘Señor.’ Why didn’t I notice?”

  “You were too busy deluding yourself about Phillip.”

  Honor buried her face in her hands, biting back a sob. She would not show weakness, not now.

  “Cheer up, Honor. Things could be worse.” James suddenly abandoned his lightness. “Don’t hold it against Rosa and Carlotta. They knew you would be
better off married to me, even hating me, than facing the inevitable humiliation you would find as Phillip’s wife.” His laugh sounded strained. “Who knows? We may even learn to love each other in time.”

  When Honor found her voice it came out in hard syllables, like crystal tears bouncing on a glassy surface. “That has to be the most ridiculous remark I have ever heard in my entire life. Love you? Never!”

  “Never is a long time.”

  “You—you—” Her fury increased to the snapping point. In the midst of it a snatch of conversation with Carlotta burned red-hot in her mind. “Which do you love more? The canyon man, or this one?”

  Her own reply now stood to accuse her. “I love the man who owns Casa del Sol—more than anything in the world.”

  “I demand you take me to the ranch so I can pack and go.”

  James laughed outright. “Wives don’t leave their husbands so soon after the ceremony, my dear. Besides, I saw Phillip and his bunch pass the main road. They will be there to meet us. No one forced you to marry me, you know. If you remember, you even insisted!” He laughed again. “What a coup! Even Phillip will enjoy my trick. I’m sure the photographer will put our pictures in the paper. Perhaps there can be some more headlines about the Travis family: ‘Young Beautiful Bride Marries Wrong Twin.’ How exciting! Something you can tell our children and grandchildren.” Before Honor could find her tongue, he added casually, “It’s lucky for me you are such an honorable person. Why, another woman might even do as you threatened and leave me. But not you.” His face was blandly innocent as he put his foot on the gas and shot forward. “You are bound. Honor bound.” She could have strangled him for his laugh. “You will go in looking like the bride you are.”

  Honor turned her back on him.

  Never had miles gone by so slowly. All the glory of the day had gone. Even the red streaks heralding sunset failed to rouse Honor. James’s laughing words had gone deep. In spite of everything he had done, she had promised, given her word. But how could she stay at Casa del Sol hating James as she now did? The love she had felt for Phillip was gone, obliterated by the sight of his drunken face in the newspaper. Deep inside a question formed: What if the love she had thought was for Phillip had really been for James at the ranch? She stepped on it, hard. She would never forgive him. Better to break her word than to remain where she had known so much happiness that had now turned to bitterness.

  James must have read her thoughts. “Until you get over being upset, you needn’t worry about my being around. I have work on the range and won’t be in. You’ll be treated as a special guest, nothing more.”

  Honor could feel color creeping up from the high neck of her wedding dress.

  “I don’t want a wife who still fancies herself in love with my twin brother. Until you get us sorted out in your mind you’ll be just what I said, a special guest, nothing more.”

  Honor sank back against the seat, speechless again. What an unpredictable man! Yet his words had given birth to hope. What if she took him up on it? What if she stayed at Casa del Sol, let time help her decide what to do? She was in no condition to make any decisions right now. Too much had happened. She had been taken from joy to despair to disillusionment.

  “You give your word?”

  “I do.” His warm hand shook her icy fingers in a businesslike grip as he swung into the cutoff toward Casa del Sol, as if a corporation merger had just been signed. “Now, let’s show everyone what the partnership of Travis and Brooks-Travis can do. If they once find out you didn’t know you married the wrong twin, this crowd will never let it be forgotten.”

  Wonder of wonders, Honor laughed. If she could just concentrate on getting through one thing at a time it would provide what she needed—a quiet place to think. But first she had to face that crowd—including Phillip. Phillip! How could such a terrible thing ever have happened? In love with one man, married to his twin brother who expected her to keep her vows. She shoved the thought aside. Now was not the time to think about it. She had to go in that house and face them all with a smile on her lips. With an involuntary shudder, she braced herself as James came to a stop, vaulted over the side of the low car, and before she knew what was happening scooped her up in his arms.

  “Put me down,” she ordered furiously, but he only grinned.

  “It’s what they’ll expect! Hold still.” With a mighty kick he shoved open the door, which had been left standing ajar, and strode into the big hall. To Honor it seemed there were a million people there.

  “Just what are you all doing here on my honeymoon?” There was no welcome in James’s voice, just righteous indignation. He set Honor on her feet but kept a supporting arm around her. Did he know she would have fallen if he had just put her down?

  An indolent figure detached itself from the group. “We came to wish the bride and groom all happiness,” said Phillip, smiling as only he could smile. For one instant Honor fought the pain of what might have been, only to have it replaced with relief when he lifted high the glass he was holding.

  “Get that booze out of here!” Honor wasn’t prepared for James’s roar. “You know I don’t allow it in this house.”

  “What’s all the shouting about, James?” Babs had crossed to them. “It’s just a little drink. We brought our own.” The emerald on her finger winked wickedly.

  “You’re welcome to visit for a little while, but you can’t bring that stuff in here.”

  For one long moment brother faced brother. Honor would never forget it. Seen against the clear and clean-cut features of James, Phillip was a rather smudged carbon copy. Her heart suddenly knew the truth of her words to Carlotta. She had fallen for the strength in Phillip that belonged to his twin. No wonder she had been so relieved to find him different at his ranch than when with the crowd. It was a good thing they paid no attention to her. Would her face give it away?

  I must never let James know. He wouldn’t, couldn’t say he had fallen in love with me. He must never know how right he was. But determination was born. She would make him love her until he was glad he had married her—not to protect her from Phillip, but because he loved her. Hot color spurted into her face, leaving her breathless.

  Honor’s attention returned to the brothers. Phillip’s eyes fell first. “Oh, all right.” He carelessly set his drink down, followed by the others. To create a diversion, Honor deliberately stepped forward. “Hello, Phillip.” Her quiet voice turned all eyes toward her, slim, smiling, more beautiful in her white gown than they had seen her. Desire rose in Phillip’s face, but this time Honor was prepared. She had seen his falseness. Scales had dropped from her vision. “I’m sorry you weren’t able to attend our wedding.” Suddenly she knew it was true. She was free forever of Phillip Travis.

  Phillip couldn’t seem to answer. It was red-haired Babs who mocked, “Some little trick, Miss Honor Brooks. So Phillip wasn’t here when you arrived? He had—other things on his mind.”

  “It didn’t matter. James welcomed me.”

  Babs drew in a sharp breath. “I’ll say he did! You pulled a real trick in getting old James to the altar. I wonder what Lucille’s going to say?” Yet behind her baiting Honor sensed genuine relief in Babs’s face, an almost-approval of what had happened. Did she care for Phillip that much?

  James broke the uncomfortable silence. “Now if you really must go, I believe Mrs. Travis would like to change.”

  “The old ‘here’s your hat, what’s your hurry’ routine,” Babs mocked. “Come on, Phillip. We aren’t wanted—or needed here.” But the glance she threw over her shoulder at Honor was one of gratitude. “You’ll just have to put up with me since your lady love prefers your twin.” Over Phillip’s protests she dragged him away, but not before he called back, “I’ll be home soon.”

  Honor sighed with relief as the heavy door closed behind them. Slowly she turned to find James watching.

  “You did very well, my dear.” He stepped nearer, and her heart pounded. Surely he could hear it! She wouldn’t
have expected his next comment. “How would you like to go for a short ride?”

  Honor stared at him then said, “Why, I’d like that. Let me get changed.” She ran up the stairs thinking to herself, When I get to bed tonight I’ll probably cry or scream. Now all I can do is go riding with a husband who married me to protect me!

  By the time she had changed, James had Sol and Jingles ready. Silently he helped her mount. She laughed a little at her awkwardness. “I’ll be a tenderfoot for some time, I’m afraid.”

  “Then you’ll stay?” Was that restrained eagerness in his voice or her own wishful thinking?

  “For a time. It seems a shame to miss out on a real ranch vacation just because of something so trivial as a mistaken-identity wedding.” Before he could answer she had prodded Jingles with her heels and was racing down the road.

  “Honor, wait!”

  What imp of perversity caused her to dig in her heels more? “Come on, Jingles, let’s go!” Ignoring the pounding of Sol behind them, she urged her pony forward. Faster, faster, until—Jingles stumbled, went down. Honor felt herself sailing through the air, then blackness enveloped her. A sharp pain stabbed her right shoulder. She cried out and knew nothing more until she lifted heavy lids to find herself cradled in James’s arms. She tried to struggle, but the pain in her shoulder was too much.

  “Lie still.” She felt the swing of a horse. James must have taken her on Sol.

  “Jingles threw me. He must have stepped in a hole.” She incoherently tried to explain.

  “That’s why I called. You don’t run horses at night or in half-light.” His voice was cold and hard. “Jingles hurt his leg pretty bad. I may have to shoot him.”

  Honor twisted until she could look in his face. “Oh, no!”

  Pain crossed the features above her, still visible in the ruby sunset. “I’ll call the vet. If it’s only sprained, we can use hot compresses to get the swelling down. If it’s broken—”