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Maybe Rafael was disappointed. Actually, Rafael was probably damn sorry he’d picked a spitfire, but Daniel wasn’t disappointed. No, he was rather bemused and thankful she wasn’t going to be his. But he’d be glad to see Rafe have to dance to her tune. And maybe she would be the cure his brother needed. Until Rafe was well, he’d have to step lively to keep ahead of her.
* * *
Anna stared at the ceiling, then at the interior wall, then the other wall. The minute she closed her eyes, she’d see the man she shot and the shock in his eyes and any hope of sleep died.
Well, there was no point in lying about staring into the darkness. She might as well get up and see if she could locate the kitchen and a washtub. The green silk had to be salvaged. It was the best dress she owned and really the only one that supported her exaggerations about her family’s prosperity.
She found the tin lamp with star-shaped holes and lit the candle inside. With a shawl over her nightgown, she opened her door. Light showed from the main room. She looked for another room that perhaps contained the banked glow from a stove, but she found nothing. Perhaps Mrs. Werner was still awake, although it was long past time most people were abed. Carrying the lamp, she crossed the courtyard and opened the door.
Daniel stood on the far side of the room, and his gaze jerked to her. A shiver chased down her back.
She tightened the shawl around her shoulders, firmly holding the ends in front of her chest.
“Is there something I can get for you, Miss O’Malley?”
“I thought your mother might be in here.”
“Just me.”
He took a step toward her, and her heart skittered. Had to be her anger at him. She hadn’t any choice. Unless she wanted to open every door and look in, she had to ask him for help. He was the only one around.
She drew in a deep breath of air that seemed thinner than it ought to be and said, “I’m looking for the kitchen.”
“Are you hungry? Madre made plenty of tamales. I can warm them for you.” He took another step toward her.
She shook her head. “I was hoping to find a washtub, water and soap.”
His eyebrows drew together. “It is after midnight.”
“Yes, I know, but I can’t sleep. My only two clean dresses were dirtied today, and I would feel better if I could launder them, so that I have something to wear tomorrow.” She had been traveling for months and had little that was clean. Yesterday morning she and Selina had managed to get into their trunks so they would arrive wearing their best dresses and clean underthings. Then she remembered she was supposed to have come from a rich family and should act accordingly. A spoiled girl would expect new dresses to replace her soiled ones. “Even the best dressmaker wouldn’t be able to finish a dress tomorrow.”
“I can send for the wash—”
“If you would point me to the kitchen, I’m sure I can manage.”
“Are you in the habit of doing your own washing?”
“If necessary.” A warning bell rang in her head. She drew herself up as haughtily as she could. “It is not as if I brought a maid with me on this adventure.”
He sighed as if greatly put out.
She took a step toward him. “I am sorry to bother you, Mr. Werner, but I am not in great charity with you, either.”
His gaze dropped down to her bare toes. His lips twitched as if he was restraining a laugh.
Curling her toes, she tried to hide her barefoot state. Really, she should have dressed, but she had nothing to wear and putting on shoes when one had on a nightgown and a shawl seemed rather silly. “I shall have to purchase new house shoes. Mine seem to have been misplaced on the trip.”
“Of course,” he said with just the faintest mocking tone to his words.
She deserved it, because she’d never owned a pair of house shoes in her life. As she narrowed her eyes, she realized Daniel was fully clothed, as if he’d just come in or intended to go out. “Shouldn’t you be asleep if you are going back to town at dawn, or was that a lie, too?”
She flushed thinking she was the pot calling the kettle black. Because of her little pretense about coming from a wealthy family, she had to keep twisting the truth.
His face sobered. “I wish I were abed, but I needed to take care of a few things.”
“I cannot settle my thoughts, and a labor like laundry does seem to tire a body.”
He held out his hand. “This way, then.”
She tried to move as if she were dressed like a queen, but she felt as though he could see straight through her.
He went right on the walkway around the interior open area. She followed. The unusual layout of the house would probably make more sense to her in the light of day. Or perhaps it just served the milder weather here. A house where one had to pass through the open air would be the height of absurdity in an eastern winter. “Does it ever snow here?”
“Only high in the mountains,” he answered as he opened a door and held it for her.
Tiles were cool under her feet although the room was warm.
There were pans and bowls—clearly it was a kitchen, but where was she to heat water? “Is there no stove?”
Daniel lit a lamp and then moved to the outside wall, where there was a large pale brick fireplace complete with decorative metal doors and a flat shelf on top that likely served as a stovetop. “This brick oven works well enough,” Daniel said tightly as if she’d insulted him.
Perhaps she had. Anna couldn’t honestly remember Olivia sniffing or turning up her nose at humble things. “I’m just used to stoves is all.”
“I’m sure Rafael will be happy to buy you one if you want. Although the cost to ship one out here would raise the price threefold.” He placed a couple of logs in the burn chamber, then cast her a wry look. “I hope you do not intend to spend all my brother’s money.”
She blinked. “Not all of it.”
He turned toward the wall, but not before she’d seen the edge of his mouth curl.
For heaven’s sake, her standard of living would be much improved over the boardinghouse she’d lived in for the past six years, and certainly far better than the New York tenement she’d lived in the five years before. “I’m sure I will get used to the manner of living here. In time. I am not disappointed in the house or its furnishings.”
“Just the people, then.” He pulled a wooden tub from a hook on the wall. He set it on a large table, then moved to a spigot and started filling a bucket.
“No, that isn’t what I meant. You have been kind, and I’ve barely met Rafael or your mother. I find I am unable to stop thinking about shooting that man today. I know he deserved it, but I am not accustomed to shooting men. I hope I didn’t kill him.”
“I’m fairly certain you didn’t, or the posse would have found his body,” Daniel said. He watched her carefully.
Suddenly, she felt all weepy and in need of a hug. He was the wrong brother. She couldn’t throw herself into his arms again. No, she needed to seek comfort in Rafael’s arms.
She whirled away. “I will go get my dresses. I’m certain I can manage from here.”
But Daniel was still there, watching her, when she returned with an armful of undergarments and the two dresses. She flushed. Now he’d not only seen her in her nightgown; he would get an eyeful of her petticoats and drawers. “Really, Mr. Werner, you can go on about your business.”
“I put the tamales in the oven. Thought I might eat some, even if you don’t want any.” He leaned back against the wall and shaved slivers from a bar of soap.
She stared at him, wondering if she should volunteer to serve the food to him in the main room. While she was pondering her next move, his gaze shifted over her, leaving shivers in its wake.
“You should know that Rafael plans to track with me in the morning.”
Her muscles tensed. “But he could barely stand. Surely he will feel too poorly in the morning.”
Daniel’s dark gaze slid away from hers. “I’m sure he’ll manage.”
Her stomach fell. Why didn’t her future husband want to spend time with her to get to know her?
Chapter Six
You say you have a large herd of cattle. My father tells me I should inquire as to the numbers and how many acres you own. As for what I do with my time: I attend a great many social gatherings. At least once a week we attend a ball and waltz until dawn.
Daniel’s gut twisted as Anna hugged her clothes tightly to her. Her eyes went dewy, and she paled as if he’d kicked her with no warning when he told her Rafael intended to go out tracking in the morning. Stifling the urge to soothe her, he forced himself to stay on the far side of the kitchen table.
He opened his mouth to defend Rafael, then shut it. It was Rafe’s fault he was in this predicament, and she’d very nearly caught him leaving the house with the remnants of the two ponchos and the hats they’d worn.
