Once again Mrs. Delano surprised her by not replying for several seconds. She sat very still, watching Felicity, studying the girl's expression as if listening to the words she had not spoken and reading from her face all the tragic details of her story. At last she nodded slowly, as if she had reached some sort of decision about Felicity. "And what's all this about a thunderstorm?"
Felicity opened her mouth to reply, but Josh interrupted her. "It started raining while we were bringing her back to the ranch. That's all there was to it," he said brusquely, effectively blocking any mention of the flash flood or his heroism. Felicity would have liked to tell Mrs. Delano the story. Perhaps she would at some other time.
Mrs. Delano smiled slyly, as if she knew a private joke. "How delightfully romantic," she remarked to no one in particular. "Practically love at first sight. I never would have guessed you could be so impulsive, Joshua." She ignored his scowl. "And is the wedding really going to be on Saturday?"
Felicity sat silent in an agony of embarrassment over Mrs. Delano's mention of the word "love." Mr. Logan had made it perfectly clear he did not love her, and she had the oddest feeling that Mrs. Delano knew it, too, regardless of what she said. After a long, awkward moment, Felicity realized no one had responded to Mrs. Delano's question. "Yes, the wedding is Saturday," she said quickly. "We'd be honored if you and Mr. Delano would attend."
Mrs. Delano's eyebrows rose. "Oh, my Sam would love to come. He always enjoyed a good wedding. Unfortunately, he's dead and gone these three years and more."
"Oh, I'm sorry," Felicity said hastily, suddenly realizing this was the "widow woman" Mr. Logan had spoken of. Now that she thought of it, she even recalled the name, although it had meant nothing to her at the time. For a second she reflected on how differently things might have turned out if Mrs. Delano had been at home last week to take her in.
"I'm sorry, too," Mrs. Delano was saying. "I still miss him. Of course, I hope to be lucky enough to marry again." She east Mr. Logan a meaningful look. "Or at least, I thought I would. But now…"
Felicity easily caught her meaning. The woman had intended to marry Mr. Logan! Felicity hazarded a glance at him. Plainly, he understood her meaning, too. He was furious, although Felicity did not want to guess why he was so angry. Perhaps this was the first he knew of her willingness. Perhaps now that he had seen the two women together, he regretted his choice. Felicity could not imagine why any man would want her if he could have a woman like Mrs. Delano.
Pain clenched at her heart, a pain she recognized as jealousy even though she had never experienced the emotion before. She knew a second urge to flee from this woman, and this time she thought of a legitimate reason to leave. "Would you like some tea?" she asked, recalling that Candace was already making it.
"I'd love some," Mrs. Delano replied cheerfully.
With all the dignity she could muster, Felicity rose and left the room. She was barely out of sight when she heard Mrs. Delano addressing Mr. Logan.
"You know, Joshua, I always wondered why you never tried to bed me."
"Blanche!" Mr. Logan's voice sounded outraged. Felicity froze in stunned surprise, knowing she should not eavesdrop, but unable to resist the temptation to hear the rest of this astounding conversation.
"Don't sound so shocked," Mrs. Delano chided him. "You knew I'd say yes, too, but you never asked. I've always wondered why, and now that I've seen your intended bride, I know. I'm too much woman for you, aren't I?"
Mr. Logan said something Felicity did not catch, and Mrs. Delano laughed delightedly. "Oh, I don't mean physically. That way I think we'd be a perfect match. I mean I'm too independent for you. You've been waiting for a woman you thought you could control, a meek little thing you could keep under your thumb, haven't you? Don't bother to deny it," she added when he started to reply.
Stung by this description of her, Felicity turned instinctively to face her adversary and was startled to find that adversary looking right at her. From where she sat, Mrs. Delano could still see her plainly. The woman had been well aware that Felicity was overhearing this conversation. In fact, Felicity instantly realized, Mrs. Delano had staged it for her benefit. Green eyes twinkled wickedly at her for a second before turning back to Mr. Logan, who was sitting out of Felicity's range of vision.
"Hasn't anybody ever told you to mind your own business?" Mr. Logan inquired sarcastically.
"Yes, but I never paid them any mind," Mrs. Delano countered. "I just think it's funny how you took one look at little Miss Storm and judged her that way. I think you may have a few surprises coming."
Felicity stared at her. Now, how could she know a thing like that about someone she'd met less than five minutes ago?
Felicity wondered. Before she could come up with a satisfactory answer, she heard Mrs. Delano say, "I think I'll go help Miss Storm with the tea."
Not wanting Mr. Logan to get up and see her still standing there, listening, Felicity hurried off toward the kitchen, knowing Mrs. Delano would be right behind her.
Candace glanced up from putting the finishing touches on the tea tray when Felicity came through the kitchen door. Candace's normally placid expression changed quickly to astonishment when she saw the expression on Felicity's face. "What's wrong?" When Felicity did not reply immediately, Candace's eyes narrowed suspiciously. "What's that woman been saying to you?"
Before Felicity could warn her, "that woman" appeared in the doorway.
"Well, Candace, you won," Mrs. Delano said quite blandly, gliding grandly into the kitchen like a clipper ship at full sail.
"Won?" Candace repeated, immediately assuming the attitude of puzzled but respectful servant.
"Yes, you won," Mrs. Delano said, giving her a disapproving look, "and don't give me that 'dumb darky' act." She turned to where Felicity stood watching the exchange. "When my husband died, everybody-including me-thought that Joshua and I would someday get together. It makes sense," she explained with an elegant gesture of her white hand. "We're about the same age, our ranches are close together, I'm a handsome woman, or at least some folks think I am." She shrugged modestly. "But Candace didn't like me. All this time I thought that's why he never came around."
"I couldn't of stopped him if he'd wanted to, Mrs. Delano," Candace said in her normally dignified tone.
Mrs. Delano shrugged again. "I guess I always knew that, but a woman likes to think she's irresistible."
"Mrs. Delano…" Felicity began, not certain what to say but knowing she needed to stop this conversation.
"Call me Blanche, honey," Blanche said with a friendly smile. "And don't be embarrassed. I figured you'd hear a lot of talk about Josh and me, sooner or later. Just wanted you to know that it's only talk." She grinned wickedly. "Unfortunately!"
"He's not the right man for you," Candace said by way of comfort. "You two would've drove each other crazy in a week."
Blanche gave Felicity a conspiratorial wink. "She's probably right," she confided. "But Candace, if you ever find a man who is right for me, let me know."
"Yes, ma'am," Candace replied with mock subservience, making Mrs. Delano laugh again.
"The tea is ready," Felicity pointed out, more than a little overwhelmed by these two strong-willed women and eager to move the conversation back onto a more acceptable topic.
"Let's just sit right down here and drink it, then," Blanche said, pulling out a chair from the kitchen table. "I sent Joshua off so we could have a private little chat. There's a few things you need to know that I doubt even Candace had the nerve to tell you."