“A barn dance,” Aunt Hortense said, looking shocked. “People here dance in barns. Isn’t there a ballroom in town?”
Blake laughed. “No, we hold dances in barns and have get-togethers at the church after Sunday services. There’s a potluck coming up at church. You and Constance can meet more people.”
“No, that won’t do. Who do you know of importance in town to invite to supper?”
“The mayor, the judge,” Blake answered. “We don’t have any political figures unless you include the sheriff.”
“I’ve never been to a barn dance,” Eliza offered. “It does sound different from the dances back in St. Louis.”
“They are, but I’m sure you would enjoy them,” Blake answered.
Aunt Hortense stood. “Constance and I will retire for the night. I will think of who to invite to supper. It will be a formal supper, of course.”
Blake nodded, “As formal as we get in these parts.”
“Good night then,” Aunt Hortense said, and Constance followed mumbling something neither Blake nor Eliza could understand.
Blake whispered to Eliza, “They left without having dessert. After we enjoy ours, I have a few things to take care of outside. That’ll give you time to settle in our room, and then I’ll come in and sleep on the floor.”
“That still doesn’t seem fair,” Eliza said.
“There’s a lock on the door, and it’ll be our secret. No one will know,” Blake said, winking at her before leaving Eliza sitting alone at the dining table.
Chapter 10
The following morning, Aunt Hortense seemed to be in a worse mood than the previous evening. She huffed and lifted her teacup to her lips. When she set it back on the small table beside the chair, she glared at Eliza. “How can you possibly claim to love my nephew and be his wife when you can’t tell me anything about his family?”
Eliza’s hands twisted nervously and answered, “We haven’t’ shared every moment of our lives. We haven’t been married that long.”
“The more I hear about this marriage, the more I don’t believe it’s real. I think you must work in town, possibly in the saloon, and Blake paid you to pretend you are his wife.”
“What?” Eliza spluttered. “How can you say that. I have never set foot in a saloon, let alone work in one.”
Aunt Hortense stared directly into Eliza’s eyes and said, “You are a fake. How much money did Blake give you? Whatever he paid you, I will double it if you leave this house today.”
Shocked by Aunt Hortense’s words, Eliza stood and hurried into her room. A few moments later, she returned and held out her marriage license for Aunt Hortense to see.
Aunt Hortense looked at the document and smiled. “These can be forged. I’m sure Blake has enough money to arrange that, too.”
Flustered and having no words to tell Blake’s aunt what she thought, at least not politely, Eliza left the room again to return her license to her room.
Aunt Hortense smiled. She accomplished what she set out to do. A quick glance at the certificate told her all she needed to know. Eliza’s maiden name was Woodward, and the marriage took place in St. Louis. Now, she could find out the truth about the woman married to her nephew and put an end to the marriage quickly.
Aunt Hortense sat and finished her tea. She didn’t want to give the impression that she wanted to go to town immediately after seeing the marriage license. When she set the teacup on the small side table, she rose with a grin on her face that would make anyone suspect she had wicked intensions.
Turning to Constance, she said, “I need to go into town. Would you like to accompany me?”
Constance bit her lip and then sighed. “I suppose it’s better than sitting here in the house all day. You should have told me it was so boring here. No parties or balls. Blake doesn’t care about me, and there are no other gentlemen worth my time.”
“I think that will change, my dear. That woman is not a proper wife for Blake, and I am going to do something to convince him he made a terrible mistake. When he realizes his mistake, he’ll see what a treasure you are,” Aunt Hortense asserted. “I will make certain of that.”
Aunt Hortense walked into the kitchen and addressed Sarah as if she were a commanding general. “See to it that the buggy is ready to leave in ten minutes, and whoever drives us, make sure he is clean and doesn’t carry the odor of horses or any of the other animals you have here.” She spun on her heels and left the room.
Sarah looked at Eliza and said, “Who does she think she is? This is not a hotel, and I am not her maid.”
Eliza shook her head. “I don’t understand her at all, but you’re busy. I’ll go out to the barn and see if I can find a clean ranch hand to take her wherever she wants to go.”
Sarah laughed. “Good luck with that. The men on this ranch work hard, and I doubt any of them would pass her inspection.”
“Then she can walk,” Eliza said, and both women laughed.
When the carriage pulled up in front of the house ten minutes later, Sarah and Eliza watched Aunt Hortense and Constance climb into the carriage, wondering what words Aunt Hortense was spewing. From the look on her face, they couldn’t be complimentary.
“I feel sorry for Ray. I’m not sure what that cranky woman was saying, but I’m sure it wasn’t kind. I doubt we’ll see much of Ray in the next few days. He’ll ask Blake to have him ride the back range to keep away from her,” Sarah said.
“He
