chapter 22
In the weeks following her mother’s departure, Mariah threw herself into her new life. She put up her curtains, positioned her new furniture, and filled her brand-new kitchen cabinets with all the items a kitchen would need. She also mastered driving, worked on Feather’s wardrobe, and she and Alanza journeyed to Sacramento to show and sell four of her sketches to Celestine. In the evenings, she took her baths and made love to Logan.
By mid-July, the rancho geared up for Alanza’s birthday party and her relatives began to arrive. Andrew stopped by one morning and had with him a particularly special one.
Mariah, this is our little brother, Noah.”
There was nothing little about him. He matched Logan in height but was leaner. He also had an ugly scar slicing his left cheek that gave his handsome face a sharp edge. “Welcome, Noah.”
Pleased to meet you, Mariah. I hear you’re going to be a member of the family.”
I am.”
Not sure my big brother deserves someone so lovely, but welcome.”
Andrew said, “We need to get back before Logan and Mama find out we’re missing.”
Noah added, “They have a list of work for us to do that reaches Los Angeles. It’s been a pleasure meeting you, Mariah.”
Same here.”
Drew said, “We’ll see you later.”
The brothers departed.
In a way, Mariah looked forward to meeting Alanza’s family, but she was also very nervous because she had no way of knowing how’d they’d treat her or react to having a so-called servant marry into their illustrious family.
Later that day, Alanza arrived. She was carrying something draped over her arm encased in brown paper. When Mariah held the door open for her to enter, her friend and soon to be mother-in-law placed a kiss on her cheek. “Brought you something for my birthday dinner tonight.”
They moved to the parlor and Alanza handed over the item she’d carried in.
What is this?”
A dress.”
Curious, Mariah eased the paper off and her eyes popped. The dress looked like something from the closet of a queen. Made of beautiful blue silk, it dazzled the eye. “Where’d you get this?”
Celestine. I didn’t know if you’d have anything fancy to wear so I took the liberty of commissioning this. I hope I haven’t offended you by doing so.”
Oh, not at all. This is gorgeous.”
You’re my daughter-in-law, and I want you to stand out tonight like the beautiful woman that you are. You have jewels?”
I do.”
Then make sure you put them on. The women in my family like to show off by dressing like they’re at the court of Queen Isabella. There’ll be lots of beautiful dresses and jewelry.”
Mariah gave her a strong hug. “What would I do without you?”
You’d manage.”
I met Noah.”
Ah. My baby. He’s the most even-tempered of them all. I’m enjoying having the three of them home. I’m glad you like the gown. Now, I must get back. So many things to do. So little time.”
She kissed Mariah’s cheek and hurried away.
Later, at the dinner, Logan eyed his beautiful intended in all her finery and wondered how much trouble he’d be in if he spirited her away so he could take her home and make love to her. The dress she’d been given by Alanza made her look not only elegant but tempting as hell. The way the bodice cut across the tops of her breasts made him want to find a dark corner so he could ease it down and pleasure her to her heart’s delight. The jewels at her throat and in her ears were equally as stunning.
Andrew sidled up next to him. “We may have to get you a hood.”
A hood, why?”
If we don’t get something to put over your eyes you may burn the place down the way you’re looking at Mariah.”
Is it that obvious?”
He sipped his champagne. “Yep.”
You have to admit she is the most gorgeous woman around.”
No argument here.”
Noah joined them. “Logan, Mama said she’ll take a buggy whip to you if you sneak away with Mariah before she announces your wedding and cuts her cake.”
Logan rolled his eyes heavenward and prayed for strength.
The large formal parlor was filled with women in luxurious gowns and men in evening wear. There’d been fifty people at the two dining tables.
Andrew noted, “This gathering seems to get bigger every year.”
Logan silently agreed as he watched Alanza introduce Mariah to one of the late-arriving male cousins. Although he loved Alanza with each beat of his heart, he wanted this to be over so he could take his beauty home.
Alanza then called out, “Everyone, may I have your attention. Logan, will you join me please.”
Finally,” he said under his breath.
Both brothers laughed softly.
He joined Alanza in the center of the room and took Mariah’s hand.
Logan and Mariah will be married in October.”
Applause and cheers filled the parlor.
I will be sending out invitations in a few weeks, so please plan on returning to join them as they start their new lives together.”
The soon-to-be-wed couple was then mobbed. The aunts kissed them, the uncles and cousins shook their hands, and the servants circled the room with more crystal flutes of champagne.
Mariah had tears in her eyes. She’d worried about being accepted, but the outpouring of goodwill she’d experienced from the moment she and Logan arrived set her anxiety to rest. Thanks to Logan she was now a member of the biggest family she’d ever had the pleasure to meet. She looked up at the man she would be marrying in a few months’ time and her heart was full.
Happy?” he asked over the din.
She nodded but had no time to voice her happiness as more people came up to offer best wishes.
Then, Bonnie wheeled in the biggest, most beautiful birthday cake Mariah had ever seen. There were lit sparklers all over the top.
While the cake sputtered and blazed, Alanza yelled in Spanish for silence. The room stilled.
Addressing those gathered, she said, “My nuera didn’t have an opportunity to celebrate her last birthday, so I’m sharing my cake with her.”
Mariah whispered to Logan, “What’s nuera mean?”
He smiled. “Daughter-in-law.”
Her eyes widened. Alanza looked her way and said with deep affection, “Mariah, come.”
Her hands to her mouth and tears in her eyes, Mariah glanced first at Logan, and then at Alanza. Together, and hand in hand, the two amigas stood behind the big beautiful cake while calls of happy birthday, congratulations, and the toasts from the fifty guests filled the air.
Later, after the cake was cut and the slices passed around to the guests, Mariah snuck outside to the courtyard to get some air and reflect on her glorious new life. Answering the ad in the newspaper had been the best decision she’d ever made. Her past might have been filled with sadness and pain, but her future seemed as bright as the sparklers on her birthday cake and not even Queen Calafia could’ve asked for more.
A few moments later, Logan joined her. Mariah stepped to him and circled her arms around his waist. She placed her cheek against his heart. “Do you know how much I love you?”
He held her tightly. “Probably as much as I love you.”
She leaned up and kissed him passionately. As the kiss ended, she asked, “How long does this celebration last?”
A couple of days. Tomorrow there will be jugglers and horse races, tons of food and a dancing bear or two.”
Really?” she asked with a laugh.
I kid you not. By mid-afternoon there will be so many people here, it’ll look like the whole state of California’s been invited.”
Amazing. How about you take me back to the house and make love to me until I can’t walk?”
It was his turn to laugh. “You’re getting to be pretty outrageous, missy.”
But you love me for it.”
Damn right.”
So they snuck away, and Logan filled her request until the sun rose in the sky.