Later, when Hester was certain Her Grace’s temper had calmed, she said sweetly to her husband, “Dearest, Nate knows where Arizona is located.” She looked at Nate. “Perhaps he would be willing to escort us there.”
Ann gasped. How could Hester suggest such a thing? That would be tantamount to posting a public notice declaring Hester as Richard’s mother! “We can discuss it later.”
Hester gave a brief nod before returning her attention to Nate. “She’s…I mean he’s thinking about it.”
Ann looked out the window with unseeing eyes. Perhaps she had initiated the confrontation with her comment, but knowing that still did nothing to calm her anger. And who was he to say she never talked to Hester, when Hester was always talking to him! And who was he to speak of a wrongdoing? One minute he had been passionately kissing the woman he loved at the train depot, then he’d turned right around and flirted with a very expectant Hester!
Ann thought of a ball that she had attended a year ago. She had overheard two widows discussing how some men especially enjoyed sex with pregnant women. At the time, she had found the conversation disgusting and had moved. She looked at Nate and sneered. He was no different than other men when it came to leaving one woman’s arms and immediately seeking the love of another.
Ann closed her eyes. Her marriage had made her callous, but that didn’t change the fact that Nate was in the wrong.
To say she and Edmund made love would be a complete misuse of words. When they were first married, he delighted in hearing her screams as he forced himself on her. It hadn’t taken long to realize silence was her best defense. Finally, ignoring the repercussion of what would happen when he discovered she was lying, she had made up the daring story about being pregnant. For some reason the ploy had worked. Edmund had stayed away from her bed. Until the night before his death.
Ann’s hands curled into fists. As clearly as if it was happening again, she could see him suddenly appearing in her room, devoid of clothes, his face twisted in viciousness. Her throat had filled with bile, and she had wanted to die. There had been no boundaries of degradation that Edmund didn’t try to satisfy his vile lust. That night had been the worst.
Had she really been pregnant, there was little doubt she would have lost the child. Maybe that was what he had wanted. It was likely that he had long since made her incapable of bearing children.
But Matthew was pursuing her. Would it never end?
After an hour of sitting and watching people getting on and off the train, Ann had developed another throbbing headache. As she rubbed her temples, it occurred to her that Hester had fallen asleep. Ann wished she could rest as peacefully.
The porter had said there would be a fifteen-minute delay at the next stop. That would give her plenty of time to take a walk and work out the stiffness in her legs.
When the train finally made its stop, Ann immediately stepped into the aisle. After a quick glance to assure her she hadn’t disturbed Hester, she eagerly hurried to the exit.
As soon as Ann was far enough away from the train, she inhaled deeply. The soft breeze and fresh air immediately lessened the throbbing in her head. She tugged at her fob, then checked her pocket watch to be sure she returned on time.
Ann hadn’t walked far before again finding herself facing a broad chest. She backed away. His closeness made her dizzy: “Are you deliberately blocking my path?” she queried. She was tall for a woman, but next to Nate she felt quite small.
“I guess you could say that. I want to know what your problem is.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Ann said irritably.
“Then let me be more specific. You don’t know a thing about me, yet when you speak, you deliberately cut me down. I want to know why.”
Ann squared her shoulders and stood as tall as her frame would allow. “Very well.” She had taken all she could from the man. “I believe you to be an opportunist. A ne’er-do-well. Something neither I, nor my wife, have need of. I strongly advise you to find another place to sit.”
Nate pulled a cheroot from his vest pocket and bit off the square end. “And just how did you arrive at such a conclusion?”
“I saw you at the train depot with a woman, acting quite despicably in public. Then, the minute you were seated in the Pullman, you started flirting with my wife. You are a womanizer, sir.”
“Flirting?” Nate chuckled. “I thought I was just being friendly.”
Ann considered the possibility that he was telling the truth, then immediately tossed the thought away. She could not afford to patronize anyone who knew Richard’s true birthright. This was a perfect opportunity to be rid of Nate once and for all. “I don’t believe you. I think it advisable that you move to another car.”
Nate cocked an eyebrow. “Had you at any time asked nicely, I would have been more than happy to oblige. Except there is only one sleeping coach, and the only empty seat is the one next to me.”
Ann watched him strike a match with his thumbnail then hold it to the end of his cigar. She started to go around him, but he stepped in front of her, again blocking her route.
“Oh, no,” Nate warned. “You’ve had your say, and if you’re finished, it’s my turn. There is no way in hell that I’m going to move, so you might as well relax and listen.”
Ann looked up into black eyes that were daring her to try something. “Very well. I’ve come to realize that any words we exchange are simply an unnecessary waste of my time. If I must, I can tolerate you until Davers-”
“Denver.”
“Exactly.”
A deep laugh bellowed from Nate’s chest.
“May I ask what you find so funny?”
“You, Albert. I’m laughing at you.” The humor disappeared from Nate’s face. He took several puffs of his expensive cigar then slowly blew out the smoke. “I’ve met a lot of men just like you. Cowards who try to intimidate others with threats.”
“I will not stand here and allow you to speak to me in such a manner!” Ann tried to push by him. Instead, she was shoved backward and had to do some fast footwork to keep from falling.
“I said it was my turn to talk. I’m going to give you some advice, though I doubt you’ll heed what I’m about to say. Don’t try threats out west. I’d hate to see a nice lady like Hester end up in the middle of nowhere, widowed, penniless and having to raise a child. And one other thing. Nice, sweet words don’t cost a thing, and you’d have a lot less trouble with your woman if you used them.”
“Are you married?” Ann was fuming.
“Nope.”
“Then don’t go around trying to act the authoritarian on a subject you know nothing about.”
Nate blew two perfect smoke rings and said, “I am, however, a bit of an authority on women, Mr. Potter. I doubt that you could make the same statement.” He turned and walked away, wanting to kick himself. He had always made it a practice to mind his own business, so why did he continue to ignore his own good advice? It all centered on Albert. He was like a chigger that gets under the skin, itches like hell and is impossible to get rid of.
Ann continued her walk. Oh, how she would have loved to put a fist in his stomach. An authority, indeed. He hadn’t even recognized her as being a woman. Ann suddenly wondered how he would have treated her if he knew she was a female. Would he smile at her the way he smiled at Hester?
By the time Ann was headed back to her car, she had come to accept