“And I told you that you didn’t own me.” She shook her head. “I don’t want to fight with you, Ferg. Maybe we aren’t ready to be engaged. Maybe we should call it off and give ourselves more time.”
“Is that what you want? What about your father?”
“He’ll be disappointed. But he’ll understand. He wants me to be happy. And I can hardly be happy with a fiancé who’s sneaking out at night to sleep with another woman.”
His jaw tightened, hardening his expression. “This is Bull Tyler’s doing, isn’t it? You were fine until you started getting cozy with that bastard!”
“This isn’t about Bull.” She rose to her feet. “It’s about us and what you’re doing.”
“What I’m doing?” He pushed to his feet and stood glaring down at her. “Fine. Let me tell you what I told my father. I’m a man with a man’s needs. Once we’re married, you can take care of those needs at home, in our bed. Until then, you can’t expect me to live like a monk!”
“And what about me?” Susan demanded. “Why am I expected to be totally faithful when you won’t do the same?”
“Because you’re a woman—my woman. And if you want to keep me at home nights, you know what you can do. Should I spell it out for you, sweetheart?”
Susan felt the blood drain from her face. Trembling, she slipped the diamond ring off her finger and laid it on the coffee table. “Good night, Ferg,” she said, and turned to walk away.
He seized her arm, whipping her around to face him. “Fine!” he snarled. “Go if you want to. You’ll change your mind once you’ve come to your senses. But remember one thing—if I ever catch you with Bull Tyler, or find out he’s so much as laid a hand on you, so help me, I’ll kill him!”
* * *
The next morning, Susan wandered downstairs to find her father alone on the front porch, enjoying a cup of coffee. It was early yet, the sun just edging above the eastern hills. Beyond the barn, the cowhands were busy with early chores. But here, with birds singing in the tall cottonwoods and roses blooming below the porch, the morning was as peaceful as the first day in Eden.
But as she leaned over to kiss her father’s cheek, Susan had a feeling it wouldn’t remain that way.
“Good morning, sunshine.” He reached up to pat her hand. “What are you doing up so early?”
“I might ask you the same question.” She sat down in the swing beside him, taking care not to tip his coffee.
“I just like the peace and quiet,” he said. “That tends to go away once everybody’s up and stirring.”
“I know what you mean. Did you sleep all right?”
“Like a log. Better than in Savannah.” He sipped his coffee. “I was just watching the light creep over the ranchland and thinking how happy I am that one day all this will belong to you.”
Susan’s heart was a leaden weight in her chest. She had to tell him. “Dad,” she began, taking his hand. “Last night I gave Ferg’s ring back. We aren’t engaged anymore.”
His hand jerked, spilling coffee on his immaculate khaki trousers. “What are you saying?” he demanded. “It was all arranged. Your future—”
“Listen to me. Ferg’s got a woman in town. He goes to see her at night, when her husband’s away.”
“Yes, I know. But I wouldn’t worry. Ferg will straighten up once he’s married to you.”
“You know?” She stared at him, dumbfounded.
“Ham told me. Naturally I wasn’t pleased. But boys will be boys, and they do grow up. Heaven knows, I was no saint before I married your mother. But her daddy owned a cotton plantation, and I di
d my duty. Can’t say I’ve ever regretted it, especially since I got you in the bargain.” His eyes narrowed. “I’ve a pretty good idea where this is coming from, Susan. You were seen riding back from the Rimrock yesterday.”
“So now I’m being spied on?”
“A young woman like you has a reputation to protect. And Virgil Tyler isn’t the sort of a man you’d want anything to do with. His father was a drunk, and young Tyler made his living as a rodeo cowboy before he came back to that run-down ranch. He’s nothing but white trash. You’re not to see him again.”
Susan rose, fighting tears as she turned to face him. “I thought that you, of all people, would understand. I thought you’d be on my side.”
“I am on your side,” he said. “I know what’s best for you, and as long as you’re under twenty-one, you’ll do what I say. Years from now, when you’re well-off and surrounded by your family, you’ll look back and thank me.”
His expression froze. The china cup dropped from his hand to shatter on the porch. He clutched at his chest. “My pills!” he gasped. “Get them! And get some help!”