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“I expect he means you should take your time getting to know each other. You know, get used to each other before...” Daniel’s voice trailed off. “He doesn’t want to rush you.”
It took her too long to realize they were talking about her impending marriage to Rafael. Well, and likely the relations that were a part of it.
Daniel’s face darkened, and he looked down at his plate as he muttered, “He wants you to be comfortable with him before he takes you as his wife.”
She turned to Rafael, who added, “Yes.”
And he couldn’t say that for himself? She supposed a lady might be grateful to not have her sensibilities assaulted by having to share the marriage bed with a husband she didn’t know, but Anna wasn’t so missish. “I don’t mind, really.”
“Prefer an eager bride...to one who...doesn’t mind.” Rafael’s nostrils flared. His head rocked back with each breath he took.
Was this supposed to be courting? Although she knew what the brothers were getting at, she couldn’t figure out a way she could acknowledge their point and remain in the framework of genteel discourse. She couldn’t turn it around and say she was eager to learn the mysteries of the marriage bed. Certainly no well-bred woman would ever even acknowledge that such things occurred, let alone she might enjoy them or hoped to enjoy them.
Mrs. Werner ladled a concoction of shredded beef onto their plates.
Heat flooded her face. That they were even dancing around such issues with Rafael’s mother in the room was too much. “If you mean to delay the marriage, I don’t know what I can do to persuade you otherwise.”
Rafael closed his eyes a second and breathed out heavily. Was the cad relieved? Was she so distasteful to him? Heaviness dropped through her stomach.
“Now that that is settled, we should talk of other things,” said Daniel. “What would you like to talk about?”
For one thing, she’d like answers, but she was reeling from the idea that Rafael was hoping to postpone the marriage; perhaps he hoped to postpone it forever. And then where would she be? But she couldn’t press him with everyone around listening. She needed a subject that was safe to talk about.
She stared at her plate. Mundane details clicked off in her head. No one had a fork or a spoon. The dish looked like beef with the peppers Mrs. Werner seemed to favor that made Anna’s mouth burn. Other than the same flat bread she’d been served before, there weren’t any side dishes. She already knew they used the bread in lieu of utensils. She didn’t see any vegetables when this should be the time when gardens were producing string beans and peas by the bushel.
“Do you not have a vegetable patch?”
Mrs. Werner exchanged a look with Rafael.
“Daniel does,” Rafael said.
“It is more than a vegetable garden.” Daniel’s mouth flattened.
“Yes, yes, Daniel is the farmer,” Mrs. Werner said. “He thinks we should grow more plants, but the cattle are more important. The fences to keep them out are nuisance.”
She looked to Rafael because he’d seemed proud of Daniel’s efforts in his letters, but he put a bite of the meat in his mouth.
“Madre has a few peppers, onions and tomatoes off the kitchen,” said Daniel.
Too many peppers if Anna was the judge. She turned to Daniel. “I know you are growing grapes and almonds, but what else do you grow?” She hoped for potatoes and string beans.
“I have an orchard with peaches, oranges and lemons. I’m working on the irrigation to put in other produce.” Daniel turned over a bit of meat on his plate. “With the right water supply, anything would grow in this valley.”
“I tell his father it is a waste of land, but he does not listen,” Mrs. Werner said. “He put in all these estúpido trees. Then the oranges, they rot on the ground.”
Daniel’s expression went flat.
Anna’s shoulders inched toward her ears. Juanita’s dark eyes flitted between the men and then to Mrs. Werner.
“He complain and complain the house is not clean, but he let fruit rot. He was a stupid man.”
Rafael hissed, “Silencio.”
Mrs. Werner pressed her lips together, carried the serving dish to a sideboard and put it down with a bang.
“You should...show her,” said Rafael as if his mother hadn’t just made her displeasure known.
She turned and wondered if looking at the garden or whatever it was might afford an opportunity to speak privately with Rafael. She could ask him if he didn’t want to marry her. She didn’t know what she’d do if he said he didn’t, but not knowing would be worse. “Perhaps you could show me.”
“Can’t.” He put another bite in his mouth.
Daniel leaned forward. “He has to go check the cattle tomorrow. He’ll be gone all day.”
“Yes, yes, he will be gone mucho hours. Perhaps days.” Mrs. Werner returned to the table with her own plate. She sat as if the unpleasantness hadn’t occurred.
Rafael grunted.
Anna felt as though she’d swallowed shards of broken glass. The strange friction between the Werner brothers and their mother left her feeling on the outside looking in. They all seemed to understand the reason she and Rafael weren’t getting married immediately, but they hadn’t told her. And she’d bet money Rafael could have had Daniel go in his place.
“I have to check the vineyards tomorrow. I’ve been away from them too long,” said Daniel as if he’d read her mind.
So neither of them wanted to be with her. Her chest felt ripped open.
How long had Daniel been away from his plants? One day to track the men who’d tried to kill her—or at least had shot several men—she no longer knew what she thought about the stagecoach holdup. But that was neither here nor there. Rafael was doing his best to avoid her. It didn’t even seem he wanted to talk to her if the way his mother and brother kept jumping into the conversation meant anything. Even Juanita seemed to be coming between them as often as possible.
“Rafael,” she said firmly. “Why are you trying to avoid me?”
There was a beat of silence; then it was as if she’d accused him of murder.
“No, no. He wants to be with you in every way.” Mrs. Werner sprang out of her chair.
His mother’s reassurance only made Anna more uncomfortable.
Juanita spun and retrieved the coffeepot.
Daniel looked at Rafael, then leaned toward her. “He’s not trying to avoid you. It’s—it’s just that a lot has happened, and he has to take care of the ranch. He has responsibilities. Minding the cattle is no place for a woman.”
Her stomach burned. They acted as if he couldn’t speak for himself.
“Yes, that.” Rafael nodded toward his brother. He reached out and touched her arm.
She waited for the spike of awareness she experienced whenever Daniel touched her, but it never happened.
“Too tired,” said Rafael, “to be good...company.” He gave her forearm a light caress.
She stared at his hand and fought the urge to yank away from him. Then Juanita shoved between them and poured more coffee into Rafael’s cup. He pulled his hand out of the way and stood.
Daniel jerked out of his chair with a clatter. He watched his brother, then eyed her out of the corner of his vision.
Rafael moved behind her chair. She started to twist to see him, but Mrs. Werner grabbed her arm, and Juanita leaned over to pour more coffee in her cup. Anna feared looking away from the girl’s serving.
“Sorry, my sweet,” Rafael whispered. He leaned down and his breath stirred her hair.
Her skin crawled.
Daniel was practically fighting to get around the table. For a second she thought he would pull Rafael away. It all seemed to be happening fast and slow at the same time. Her gaze kept going to Daniel as if it was pulled there. No, she had to stop that. She was to marry Rafael. Daniel didn’t own his own place, and she needed to be married to a man who owned his own land.
“I’ll make it...up to you...soon,” Rafael said near her ear. He puffed too harshly, almost a gasp, and his breath smelled faintly coppery.
Her head buzzed with the idea that she didn’t want his courtship. They should just get married, now, before she lost her nerve.
He straightened and took a few steps toward the courtyard door, and Daniel was right on his heels. Mrs. Werner and Juanita closed in on her. Anna pushed back her chair, determined to follow, but Juanita dumped the dregs of the coffee on her lap.
* * *
Daniel grabbed Rafael under the arms, ignored his low moan and bore half his weight as he got him out to the courtyard. He only hoped that Juanita and his mother were blocking Anna’s view sufficiently that she couldn’t see Rafe wasn’t bearing his own weight as they left. He kicked the door shut behind him.
Rafe took a step forward unaided toward the grassy center of the courtyard. Concerned his brother would fall before he made it to his bed, Daniel followed. Before he made it off the walkway, Rafael grabbed the nearest post and spun as if he couldn’t control his movements.
