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"Does business often take him away for days?"
Prudence shrugged her shoulders. "I really can't say. I haven't been here long enough to know the complete workings of the ranch."
"I was under the impression that the owner of a ranch didn't actually involve himself in the work… that he hired the appropriate men to do that."
"Zac has many ranch hands and there's Josh, the ranch foreman. But Zac keeps his hands in the thick of things to make certain all goes well."
"Then this must have been something terribly important to have taken him away and to leave you on your own to say farewell to your parents."
Prudence was about to agree, when she realized she didn't really know just how important the matter was.
"I know it won't be easy for you to bid them goodbye, even if only for a few months. After all, you haven't seen your mother in years and she's leaving again.
Prudence didn't respond. She sipped at her tea.
"But you're strong and resilient. I guess it's sort of like taking a punch and bouncing back, so to speak. You're made of strong stock, Prudence. A quality trait and one I vastly admire."
Prudence nodded and remained silent.
Granger didn't, continuing on. "I suppose the men out here, in the West, are different. They tend to leave their womenfolk on their own much of the time, feeling them capable of handling all matters. Boston men have a tendency to protect their women, sort of shield them from everyday problems."
"I don't need shielding," Prudence offered more sternly than necessary.
"Of course not, just look at what you've accomplished on your own, without any help from Zac. He was lucky to have found you. I bet any other woman he had brought here would have perished from the isolation. But you were accustomed to being alone, finding pleasure in your own company."
"What are you getting at, Granger?" Prudence snapped, not caring for the direction of this conversation.
Granger appeared startled by her vehement response. "Nothing, my dear, I'm just saying how safe you are tucked away here in the wilderness. There's no need for you to concern yourself with your common looks any longer or hide your fingers. Out here it doesn't matter. There aren't that many people who will take notice or care."
Prudence understood his intent perfectly. He assumed that Zac had married her for his own benefit, as well as for the town's. That Zac didn't actually love her or think her attractive. And that Zac was proving just how much he didn't care by not being there to help her through her parent's departure.
"I think this life will suit you well." Granger stood. "And Zac, I'm certain, will make the perfect husband. I will inform all your friends in Boston how happy and content you are."
Prudence leaned casually back in her chair. "Yes, by all means do tell everyone of my happiness. And what a wonderful husband Zac has made. I just know the women will be green with envy, since so many of them found him attractive."
Granger stiffened his posture. "I will tell them. They will probably find the subject fascinating."
Prudence stifled a laugh. "Yes, I should make for at least a month's worth of juicy gossip."
Granger couldn’t hide his distaste for her brash responses any longer. "Doesn't your husband find your outspoken remarks distasteful?"
Prudence allowed her smile to spread wide. "Actually, he finds me quite tasteful."
Granger turned several shades of red, mumbled and spat something unintelligible, then hastily left the kitchen.
"That wasn't at all proper, Prudence," she scolded herself. "But who gives a hoot. He deserved it."
Granger was purposely trying to place doubt in her mind about Zac's love for her. He couldn't accept the fact that she was happy with what he assumed was much less than he was willing to offer her. He measured attachments by money and possessions. Granger would never love a woman for herself. He would love—if you could call it that —only what she could offer him.
Zac was different. He honestly loved her. There wasn't anything he wouldn't do for her. He'd follow her to the ends of the earth, his love for her was that strong.
But would he follow her to Boston?
The strange thought nagged at her. She was aware that Granger had planted the seed of doubt and that it had taken root. Should she test the Fates and see how strong his love really was? Would that force her to open up to him and declare her love?
Or else! His warning echoed loudly in her ears.
She really wasn't one for taking orders.
She stood. "Now where did I put my traveling cases?"
"Prudence, you can't mean to go through with this," her father said for the third time.
"I most certainly do," she answered firmly, pulling her gloves on with a vicious tug.
James Winthrop shook his head and looked to his wife for help. Lenore shrugged her shoulders.
