Constance smirked. “Last night I couldn’t sleep. I went to the kitchen for a glass of milk, and I heard you and Blake talking. I listened at your bedroom door.”
“You eavesdropped,” Eliza said incredulously.
Constance shrugged. “If you didn’t want anyone to hear you, then you should have been quiet. I found your conversation quite interesting, and so will Miss Hortense when she awakes. I can’t wait to tell her that you’re not really married to Blake.”
“We most certainly are married. I have our marriage license to prove it.”
Constance laughed and said, “You are married in name only to fool Miss Hortense and me. Now that I know the truth Miss Hortense and I can leave this horrible place and take Blake back where he belongs.”
Eliza shot to her feet and fisted her hands at her hips. “I can’t wait for you to leave.”
“Don’t worry, it will be soon, and you and that hired woman can both live in the barn until Blake sells this terrible place and buys us a lovely home in the country and a townhome in the city.”
“You are confused and misinformed,” Eliza lied. “You didn’t eavesdrop long enough to hear Blake, and I laugh at how silly we were to think we could ever just have a marriage of convenience. We love each other, and I hope we started our family last night.”
Constance’s face burned hot with rage, and her eyes turned a shade darker. “You are going to leave one way or the other.”
Eliza laughed, but her laughter turned to horror when she saw Constance holding a small silver gun in her hand.
“Please, put that gun away before you hurt someone,” Eliza pleaded. “You can’t get away with shooting me.”
“I’m Constance Olivia Beatrice Glavens-Bradshaw, and my father is an important man. I can get away with anything I want. I always have,” she said as she pulled the trigger and fired a bullet into the porch wood at Eliza’s feet.
Eliza jumped back and let out a small scream. The back door flew open, and Sarah rushed out. “What on earth is going on?”
Constance turned and pointed the gun at Sarah. Eliza took a chance and rushed at Constance before she could fire at Sarah. They grappled for possession of the gun until it fired. Eliza’s face paled as she crumpled to the ground.
Sarah screamed and ran to Eliza’s prone body. “What have you done?” Sarah screamed at Constance.
Constance shrugged. “It’s a small gun with little bullets, it can’t hurt anyone.”
Sarah lifted her bloody hand and said, “Does this look like she’s not hurt.”
Before Constance could reply, three of the ranch hands ran up to the porch.
Sarah stood and said, “Ray, carry Eliza into her room, Buck, go find Blake and my husband, and Joey, ride into town as fast as you can and send Doc and the Sheriff out here. Go to Doc’s first.”
All three men nodded. Buck and Joey took off running while Ray lifted Eliza and carried her into the house. Sarah grabbed Constance by the arm and the back of her collar, “Get in the house. You’re going to stay right here until the Sheriff comes.”
“Sheriff, what in the world would the Sheriff want here? Eliza and I had a little spat. Blake will understand when he gets here, and he’ll finally send that wretched woman away so we can leave this place,” Constance spat as she struggled against the much stronger Sarah.
Sarah pushed Constance into the house through the kitchen and into the parlor. She met Ray coming from Eliza’s room.
“Here,” Sarah said. “Watch her and don’t let her out of this room. I don’t care if you have to sit on her, tie her to a chair, or hold your gun on her. She shot Eliza, and the Sheriff is on his way, I hope.”
Ray nodded, and Constance backed away from him until the back of her knees collided with the settee, and she sat down, gripping her hands tightly in her lap.
Aunt Hortense chose that moment to enter the room, and Constance stood and moved toward her but stopped when Ray pulled his gun.
“Sit back down,” Ray ordered.
Constance dropped back down on the settee, and Aunt Hortense glared at Ray. “Put that gun away, young man. This is my nephew’s house, and I won’t abide men with guns in the parlor.”
“I don’t care what you will or won’t abide,” Ray answered. “That woman shot Missus Eliza, and I’m going to keep my gun on her until the Sheriff arrives. You best hope Missus Eliza doesn’t die, or she’ll end up in prison or worse. If I were you, I’d spend the time praying.”
“It was an accident,” Constance screamed. “Eliza grabbed my gun. She shouldn’t have tried to take the gun from me.”
Aunt Hortense sat next to Constance and held her hand. When Sarah ran out of Eliza’s room, asking for Aunt Hortense’s help, the old woman said she was doing her best to calm Constance, and that was most important.
Sarah scowled but hurried to gather clean towels and hot water before returning to Eliza’s room.
“Now, now, don’t fret,” Aunt Hortense said to Constance while patting her hand. “This will all work out well. I don’t think it was a good idea to come out here. As soon as Blake gets here, we’ll tell him we're heading home. This is a terrible place to live, and I’m afraid Blake loves this ranch more than he could ever love you.”
Constance nodded and whispered, “Do you think that man is right? Could they send me to prison?”
“He’s trying to scare you. Men out here seem to be mean and nasty. They aren’t like the cultured gentleman you’re used to at home. We’ll find you a wonderful man when we get back,” Aunt Hortense assured.
Constance’s fear grew, and she began to whimper and slumped on the settee.
“Sit up,” Aunt Hortense ordered. “Straighten your backbone and show them that you’re a lady and
