Nora Read online

  “I don’t understand.”

  He put a loving arm around her. “I gave him two percent of the well,” he told her. He grinned wickedly. “I expect your father got both barrels, including the news that you’ve married a millionaire.”

  Her eyes widened. “A millionaire?”

  “You knew I was rich, didn’t you?” he asked easily. “Well, I’m richer now. Your father was never in our league, sweetheart, even when I was working as a poor, itinerante cowboy. It was one of the reasons I hated having you look down your nose at me. You see,” he added gently, “from my point of view, you were the one staring poverty in the face.”

  She blushed. “I was silly.”

  “Oh, no,” he said at once. “After all, you had the good sense to fall in love with me!”

  She picked up a broom, and King happened to walk into the room just as she raised it. He turned right on his heel and went out again. Later he told Amelia that she’d better start writing her name on things she intended to throw at him, because Nora was starting her own collection.

  TWO MONTHS LATER, settled in Beaumont in a beautiful home with maids to look after the housework, Cal announced that they were going to visit her people.

  She argued, but it did no good. He was adamant. So she put on her fashionable new suit, one that helped to disguise her blossoming body, and they took the long trip back East.

  Her parents were both at home when they arrived, having been cabled by Cal before he and Nora left Texas. She glanced up at him with quiet pride. He was wearing a three-piece pin-striped suit, with an expensive wide-brimmed Stetson and handmade leather boots. He looked as prosperous as she did.

  Her father opened the door. He was hesitant and a little uncomfortable. He shook hands with Cal and nodded at Nora, although his eyes were apologetic and he looked very different from the blustering man she’d walked away from so many months before.

  Cynthia was less reserved. She cuddled her only child close, with tears in her eyes, and rocked her gently.

  “I have missed you so much,” she said.

  Nora knew that she had, but that she would always defer to Nora’s father, regardless of his right or wrong. She understood that tendency a little better now, knowing that she would stand by Cal if he did murder.

  She drew back, and Cynthia dabbed at her wet eyes, carefully studying her daughter. When she saw the faint bulge at Nora’s waist, she smiled.

  “I am glad,” she said gently. “Very glad. It hurt me deeply that I could not come to you when you were so ill.”

  “Aunt Helen took very good care of me,” Nora said. She knew that she sounded a little stilted, but she couldn’t help it. They had not parted as good friends.

  “You both look well,” her father said. “Well, and prosperous. Chester told us of your good fortune in the oil fields, my boy,” he added to Cal. “I expect you feel different, now that you have some money of your own.”

  Cal lifted an expressive eyebrow. “I have never been without it,” he replied with faint hauteur. “My people own a considerable amount of land in West Texas,” he said, adding deliberately, “including the ranch your brother-in-law manages for us.”

  The looks on her parents’ faces were just short of comical.

  “You are part of the Culhane family?” Mr. Marlowe asked.

  Cal nodded. “The middle son. I used my grandmother’s maiden name while I worked for Chester. We wanted to make sure that he implemented our changes,” he added by way of explanation. “My father liked him enough to ensure that he succeeded by sending me along to help.”

  “I…see,” Mr. Marlowe faltered. “But the clothes, and the gun, and living like a cowboy…”

  “Part of the facade,” Cal explained.

  “Nora, you never told us!” her mother chided gently, flushing.

  “Nora didn’t know,” Cal replied tightly. “Not until our well came in, at least.” He held out his arm and Nora slid under it, smiling at her father from its protection. “We can’t stay,” he said, surprising Nora. “I’m taking her to New York for a brief honeymoon before we go home to Beaumont. We expect to make you grandparents in a few months. By Christmas, perhaps.”

  Cynthia smiled. “I hope it’s a happier Christmas for you this year,” she said sincerely.

  “It will be,” Nora said dreamily.

  Cal continued to stare at Mr. Marlowe, who found those silver eyes dangerously insistent. He cleared his throat. “Eleanor, I am sorry for what happened at our last unfortunate meeting. I want you to know that you are welcome here whenever you, and your husband, like to visit. And I hope that you will feel comfortable enough to bring our grandchild to see us when it is convenient.”

  Nora smiled at him, old wounds healing in the passing of time. “I think we might manage that,” she said.

  “You are sure that you will not stay?” Mr. Marlowe asked. “We have a spare room. A nice one.”

  “Another time, perhaps, thank you,” Cal replied. “We must go.”

  They walked the younger people to the door. As Nora bade them goodbye, she hoped that her relationship with her own children would be warmer and less constrained.

  She mentioned it to Cal when they were back at the depot, waiting for the train that would take them north.

  He held her hand tightly in his. “Nora,” he said softly, “can you imagine our children shaking hands when we tell them goodbye?”

  She thought back to the reception Cal himself had gotten not only from his two brothers, and his mother, but from his father. She thought of the open affection between all of them, and the last doubt left her eyes.

  “I think that we will share enough love with our children that there will be no secrets and no distance between us,” she told him. Her fingers tangled in his. “I am very lucky.”

  He shook his head. “We are very lucky,” he corrected gently.

  It was a statement with which she had no argument whatsoever. Her hand lay gently on the warm mound of their firstborn, and her eyes were bright with excitement as the train pulled noisily into the station, puffing steam around like fluffy clouds in the faint chill of the early autumn air.

  ISBN: 978-1-4592-0774-5

  NORA

  Copyright © 1994 by Susan Kyle

  First Published by Ivy Books

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