Wildest Dreams

chapter 38

Luke and Lettie entered the cool and quiet stone mansion of Essex Manor, led into a library by a butler. They had not seen Nial in years. He had socialized very little since his brief run for the territorial legislature. The butler showed them where to sit, on a velvet setee near a huge mahogany desk. "May I take your wraps?" the man asked.

Luke handed the man a leather coat lined with wolf's fur. Lettie removed her heavy velvet cape and hood and handed them and her muff to the butler. "Thank you," she said.

"It is a long ride here from the Double L," the man told them. "Perhaps you would like some coffee? Some other drink?

"I would like hot tea," Lettie told him.

"I'll take coffee," Luke said. "And I wouldn't mind one shot of good bourbon. There's still quite a chill in the spring air."

"Yes, sir." The old butler, who himself had an English accent, bowed slightly. "They say with all the snow this past winter, the ground will take longer to thaw, and all the moisture in the ground adds to the chill."

Luke nodded, and the old man left. Luke looked around the grand room, its walls lined with hundreds of books, many of them looking very old.

Lettie quietly watched him. She knew he felt uncomfortable and irritated at having been summoned by Nial.

"This had better be worth my losing time," he grumbled.

"Luke, it must be important or—"

Just then Nial came into the library, dressed in his usual dapper manner, but his face looking haggard and much older than his age. At fifty-three, Lettie thought, Luke looked younger than Nial, who greeted both of them somberly, shaking Luke's hand, his eyes moving over Lettie in the same familiar, loving way he always had of looking at her.

She was still as beautiful as ever, Nial thought. She wore a burgundy taffeta and velvet dress, and her auburn hair was swept up in a pile of fancy curls. Little diamond earrings dangled from her earlobes. He thought how out of place she had always seemed out there, such elegance in such a wild land. Luke was his usual rugged self, wearing denim pants and a simple red flannel shirt. "Thank you for coming, Luke," he said, moving to sit behind his desk. "l know this is a bad time for all ranchers. You must really have your hands full."

"I have plenty of help. Ty and Nathan can pretty well manage things on their own."

Nial leaned forward, resting his elbows on his desk. "Yes. I have always thought you the luckiest man in the world, with all those children. How many grandchildren are there now? Seven? Eight?"

"Nine," Lettie answered proudly.

Nial smiled. "I have always thought you a most remarkable woman, Lettie." He leaned back in his chair. "But then that is no news to either one of you."

"We're sorry about the loss of your wife, Nial," Luke put in, reminding the man he should be thinking of poor Chloris, not Lettie.

Nial did not miss the hint. "I loved her, Luke. I didn't marry Chloris just for children, although I am disappointed that we never could have any. Life takes strange twists, doesn't it? Some men are meant to have everything, some never quite realize their dreams."

Lettie could already feel the tension growing. "Nial, is anything the matter?"

The butler came in with a tray before Nial could answer. He set it on Nial's desk and poured a cup of hot tea for Lettie, setting a pitcher of cream and a bowl of sugar on a table in front of her. He poured a shot of bourbon for Luke. "I'll take some of that myself, Henry," Nial told the man.

"Yes, sir." The old man handed each man a shot glass, then poured Luke a cup of coffee and left. Nial rose, holding up his shot glass.

"To Lettie, and the Double L, and to Montana," he said.

Luke frowned in curiosity. Why a toast to Lettie? He stood up and held out his glass. He drank down the bourbon and sat down again. "What's this all about, Nial?"

Nial smiled bitterly. "It's about a man who has swallowed his pride and has come begging, I'm afraid. It's about a man who knows he can never have what he wants, so he's giving up. It's about poor bookkeeping, and one man giving in to the better man. You are the better man, Luke. You always have been. I just never wanted to have to admit it." He reached out and opened a crystal container on his desk. "Would you like a smoke?" He glanced at Lettie. "Do you mind?"

She watched him curiously. "No."

Luke picked up his coffee cup. "I don't care for one right now," he told Nial.

Nial took out a thin cigar and lit it, puffing on it for a moment. "I'm going back to England, for good," he told them. "But I don't care to go back in disgrace. That is why I asked you to come here."

Luke scowled. "What do I have to do with you going back to England?"

Nial twirled the cigar in his fingers. "I want you to buy Essex Manor, Luke, for seventy thousand dollars, house, land, cattle, all of it."

"Seventy thousand! It's worth a lot more than that."

"It is. And I have to tell you I would not see one dime of the seventy thousand. It would all go to the company in England that owns the cattle. If I don't come up with that much, they will brand me as a thief and maybe even throw me in prison." His eyes saddened. "I want to go home, but I don't intend to spend the rest of my days incarcerated."

Luke frowned. "Why would they send you to prison?"

Nial puffed on the cigar again and watched the smoke curl up toward the high ceiling. "Let me explain it through a little arithmetic. Over the last five years I bought and/or bred ninety thousand head of cattle. Of those ninety thousand, I sold fifty thousand, which means I should have a net of forty thousand head, or thereabouts. However, my books show that I sold only thirty thousand. At seven dollars a head, I pocketed a tidy hundred and forty thousand dollars for the twenty thousand head not shown in the books. Are you beginning to understand where this is leading?"

Luke was astounded at what the man was admitting. Not only was he a potential wife-stealer and all-round bastard, but he was a crook to boot. "I understand that you bilked your cattle company out of a hundred and forty thousand dollars," he answered.

Lettie felt sick inside at realizing the kind of man Nial truly was.

"Exactly," he admitted. "It's a poor excuse, but I did it to keep Chloris satisfied. She was quite a demanding young lady. We toured Europe and she had very expensive taste in clothes. After the fires in '81 I suffered monetary losses like everyone else. I had to find a way to make up for them and keep Chloris happy. She had lost the only baby she ever carried and was quite depressed. I am afraid I gave her the impression I was swimming in money, but in reality, the family money ran out quite some time ago. Oh, we'll all live comfortably enough on what is left, but the point is that I want to go home and live in peace, and with honor. I don't want to disgrace the Bentley name."

"And how do I fit into this little scheme of yours?" Luke asked.

Nial leaned forward. "As I said, you get all my land, my home, the other buildings, all my equipment and whatever cattle and horses survived the winter—all for far less than they are really worth. I own the land and buildings outright, Luke. The company that backs the ranch owns only the cattle. It was my job to manage the ranch in a profit-making manner. When an actual count is taken by the company's accountant, they will discover I have, or had, if you count the dead beef, twenty thousand fewer than the books say. I want to say that I sold them to you for half price because of the terrible winter and heavy losses. In essense, you will be buying this entire ranch for the seventy thousand dollars, but they won't know that. I will get nothing out of the deal, except that I will have the money to hand over to them and will keep my reputation. I have a free and clear deed to the property. I'll sign it over to you as soon as I get the money. What do you say?"

Luke glanced at Lettie, dumbfounded. She moved her own gaze to Nial and said, "I don't want this house, Nial. I much prefer the home we live in now. It isn't as big or ostentatious, but it's home."

A terrible sadness came into his eyes. "So, even if I had won you over, my stone castle would not have made you happy, would it?"

She stiffened, feeling a flush come to her cheeks. "I am not a woman impressed by such things."

"Oh, yes, how well I know." He set the cigar in an ashtray. "You have always talked about a museum in the area, Lettie. Why not use this house as one? Someday people will walk through here and learn about the wealthy English investors who got into the cattle industry in Montana. And there is plenty of room to bring in other historical mementos. Put some of Will and Henny's things in here. Set some old plows outside, whatever you want to do. Use this library to store the records of early settlers that your daughter started in Billings a few years ago. I am sure you will find good use for such a home." He looked at Luke. "As far as the land, it can be sold off in sections to farmers if you don't want to enlarge the Double L. Or maybe you can give it to that white Indian son of yours—Nathan. Maybe he's ready for a place of his own."

Luke shook his head. "Nathan would never want all of this; but it's true I could sell it off in sections. Actually, I'm trying to whittle down the Double L some. This past winter showed me that we've gotten too big to run the ranch economically."

Nial held his eyes. "Is it a deal then?"

Luke rubbed at his chin. "Give me a couple of days to think about it, talk about it with Ty and the rest of the family."

"I don't want anyone else to know why I'm doing this. It's bad enough having to admit to an old enemy my past mistakes. Tell them whatever you want, as long as it's not the truth. Leave me some honor, Luke."

Luke finished his coffee. "You don't deserve the courtesy, but I'll do it—only because I'm sorry about Chloris. I wouldn't want her family to be disgraced. And I'm sorry about you never getting the children you wanted. I mean that. Children mean everything."

"Yes. It's your own children that have held you two together through the worst of times." He looked at Lettie, and pain filled his eyes. "This has never been a happy home, even after I married Chloris. I did love her, but never the way that I loved you, Lettie." He glanced at Luke, saw the rage building in the man's eyes. "Please don't take offense, Luke. I need to say this. Surely you know I am not the only man who ever loved your wife from afar. I don't doubt that many of your own men have dreamed about her."

Lettie felt her face growing hot. "Please, Nial—"

"I am not trying to embarrass you, Lettie. I am just stating simple facts. Part of the reason I am making this deal with Luke is because of you. If anyone deserves to get in on such a good thing, it's the two of you. There are other men I could have turned to, but I can't think of anyone else I can trust to take care of Essex Manor properly, or trust to keep my secret." He looked at Luke. "I have not been the most honorable man, Luke, but when it came to Lettie, I always had trouble thinking straight. A few years ago I saw my one chance to have her, but her love for you was simply too powerful. She could never belong with any man but you, and with Chloris gone, I would rather go home than ever have to see Lettie again. I will never again interfere in your lives, and although you may not believe me, I wish you the best of luck in your run for governor."

Luke rose. "I don't know whether to thank you or hit you," he answered. "I never have known quite how to feel about you, Nial."

Nial also stood up, and Lettie quickly finished her tea and moved to stand beside Luke. "I hope you will take me up on my offer, Luke," Nial said. "It's a hell of a buy, for a hell of a man." He put out his hand again, and Luke took it hesitantly. They squeezed hands firmly.

"I'll be back in a couple of days," Luke told him. "It will take at least a week to get the money. Most of my funds are in banks in Cheyenne and in Denver because of the mines."

Nial nodded. "I am a patient man." He glanced at Let-tie. "Perhaps too patient." He moved from behind the desk, coming around to stand closer to Lettie. "I am sure when Luke comes back, he won't be bringing you with him, so let me take this moment to say God bless you, Lettie Fontaine." He took hold of one of her hands. "You will be in my heart forever, to my dying day."

Lettie was astounded to see his eyes well up with tears. He leaned down and kissed her cheek. "Good-bye, Lettie."

When he had left, Lettie looked up at Luke in complete surprise. "I don't believe any of this," she said softly. "Luke, you'll be the biggest landowner in Montana!"

Luke's blue eyes showed his irritation at Nial daring to take hold of her hand and kiss her. "Let's get out of here," was his only reply.

The butler appeared at the doorway then. "Mr. Bentley said to tell you you are welcome to stay here the night and go back in the morning, if you wish. You will never get back home before nightfall."

"No, thanks," Luke answered, anxious to get out of the house. "We'll stay at the south line shack of the Double L if we can't make it back in time." He put a hand to Lettie's waist. "Let's go," he muttered.

"But, Mr. Fontaine, you've only been here a short time. Perhaps a meal—"

"We'll be fine, Henry, thank you," Lettie told the old man.

He nodded. "I will get your wraps." He left them, and Lettie watched Luke, who still looked amazed at the offer he had just received.

"He only picked me because of you," he told her.

"What is the difference, Luke? It's a wonderful offer."

Henry returned with their things. They both left quickly, climbing into the family carriage. Luke whipped the horse into motion and the carriage clattered over the brick drive that led away from the house.

From an upstairs window Nial watched them leave. "Good-bye, my Lettie, my love," he whispered. "Good-bye, my beautiful Montana. I could have been so happy here." A tear slipped down his cheek, and he turned away. He could have told Luke and Lettie that he was dying, but Lettie had suffered enough in her lifetime. Why burden her with his own impending death? He had not brought them there to gain their sympathy. He had only wanted to do something for Lettie.

He noticed a picture of Chloris on the stand beside his bed. He walked over and laid it face down. In spite of their ten years together, it was not Chloris for whom he grieved.

It was growing dark by the time Luke and Lettie reached the south line shack. "We'd better hole up here until morning," he suggested. He helped her climb down and she carried her overnight bag and a basket of food into the cabin while Luke unhitched and bedded down the horse in a nearby shed. Because all the dead cattle had attracted wolves, he made sure the horse was closed in tightly for the night. He took his rifle from the buggy and walked to the cabin, going inside and bolting the door. Lettie had built a fire in the potbellied stove and had removed her hat and cape. She opened the picnic basket. "I made sandwiches in case we had to stay the night here."

He set his rifle aside and walked to stand behind her, Nial's words awakening all his fierce jealousy and possessiveness. "Quite an interesting day, wasn't it?" he said, moving his arms around her from behind.

"I'm just glad Nial gave you first chance to buy Essex Manor." She leaned her head against his chest. "The house will make a wonderful museum, Luke."

He let go of her and began taking some of the combs from her hair. "He didn't do any of that for me, and you know it."

She turned to face him. "It doesn't matter why he did it, Luke. The fact remains that everything has come full circle. Everything is right with Tyler now, and I have Nathan back. This summer Pearl will come to visit, and your brother might even come. By next year Robbie will be home. We'll make it through this latest tragedy, and a man who came here with nothing will end up owning a good share of Montana and maybe even be its first governor." She moved her arms around him as he pulled out the last comb, letting her hair fall to her waist. "Oh, Luke, just think how far we have come since we first got here. Remember that first awful winter, how we had to dig a tunnel to the horse shed? Remember when you brought me outside to climb up on the top of the snow to see the sun? Remember how the wind and the wolves nearly drove us insane? Look how far we have come—how far Montana has come."

He wrapped a hand into her hair. "It's women like you who did it, Lettie. Myself and others like me, we couldn't have done it without the women. Will couldn't have done it without Henny, or Billy without Anne. Ty wouldn't have come through without Alice. And look at Katie. She stood up for a sheep man when she knew the troubles that could bring her. She started that library, and you want to create a museum. The women brought in the preacher, church, schools, and teachers. You insisted on buying that piano for

Pearl, and look where she is now; and you made me see that Robbie had to fulfill his dream of becoming a doctor."

He brushed his lips over her forehead. "You've been my strength. You helped me get through that nervous collapse after the fires, made me see I had never let go of my feelings for Paul. You gave me six beautiful children. I could only enjoy one of them for six years, but I'll always have the memory. And, of course, we lost Nathan for a long time. I always blamed myself for that—"

"Luke, don't—"

"It's true." He grasped her hair and bent her head back more. "When I see how Nial Bentley looks at you, I remember what a treasure I have. When you're eighty, to me you'll still be the beautiful young girl I brought here twenty-five years ago."

Outside the wind began to rise. It made groaning sounds around the little cabin, much like the sounds that first winter they had spent in the drafty little outlaw shack. Already wolves were beginning their howling in the distant hills.

Lettie looked into her husband's handsome blue eyes, and she saw a young Luke Fontaine, who had defended her against those wolves, who had loved her all those years, had risked his life so many times to hang on to his dream. She loved him for that dream, that bravery, as much as she loved him for just being her Luke, for taking her as his own in spite of her rape, for loving Nathan as if he were his own son.

"I won't tell you anymore that you don't see so well," she teased. "If you want to see me as eighteen, I guess I should let you. I see you the same way, Luke."

He grinned. "Being in this shack reminds me of the early days."

She smiled in return. "What about your supper?"

"The sandwiches can wait," he answered. He picked her up and carried her to the small, homemade bed in one corner of the cabin. "This is at least better than a bed of robes."

More wolves howled, their cries echoing across the vast plains, valleys, and mountains that encompassed the Double L... through Pine Creek, where Will Doolan lay buried, along with several men who had been shot and hanged by vigilantes... around the elegant Fontaine home, where Tyler and Alice lay in each other's arms, where Nathan played in his cabin with his three children, one of them clutching a tattered old stuffed horse. The howling carried over the grave of a small child behind the house, and the graves of two men who had helped build the Double L, one of whom had died for it... the grave of a young Sioux woman named Ramona... and farther up the hill, over the hardly distinguishable graves of the outlaws who had once tried to call this land their own... until Luke Fontaine came along to claim it for himself.