Chapter 17

Pilar swallowed her nervousness as the hired hack passed beneath the arched iron sign that read RANCHO DESTINO. She was moments away from meeting Noah’s family and she wasn’t sure how she’d be greeted. If they were aware of her stealing his ship, she didn’t expect to be welcomed with open arms. Having to spend the rest of her existence among people who couldn’t abide her was not her idea of a happy life, especially after traveling so far and having left her own family behind. Deep down inside she wanted them to like her but if that didn’t turn out to be the case she supposed she’d manage somehow.

Her nervousness was soon overridden by wonder. The ranch was vast. She knew he was wealthy but the sheer size rivaled some of the large plantations at home. There were acres and acres of land for as far as she could see: cattle, corrals holding horses, orchards, workers. “I had no idea your ranch would be so large.”

“My mother has built quite a legacy here.”

“Your father’s passed on?”

“Yes, when I was very young. She worked herself to the bone to create this. My brothers and I are very proud to be her sons.”

Pilar noted the respect and love in his tone. It was plain that he cared deeply for her and she found that knowledge pleasing.

The sprawling house that came into view was grand as well. Well-kept gardens and wrought-iron verandahs caught her eye. Even the outbuildings were grander than her house at home. What would his mother think of her youngest bringing home a virtual pauper for a bride? Pilar had no answer but drew in a deep breath to try and settle the butterflies in her stomach. “I’m very nervous.”

“You shouldn’t be. She’ll adore you as much as she does my sisters-in-law.”

She hoped he was right even though a part of her found that hard to believe. After all, she’d been responsible for the sinking of the ship bearing her name. How could she be happy knowing her son had married the culprit? Pilar prayed this initial meeting went well.

When the hack stopped, Noah helped her out.

“Noah! You’re back!”

Pilar turned in the direction of the joyful exclamation and saw a woman in a divided skirt and black boots hurrying down the stairs. His face broke into the widest grin Pilar had ever seen and his arms opened wide. Their strong embrace pulled at Pilar’s heart.

“So glad to have you home,” she gushed.

“It’s good to be home. Mother, may I present my wife, Pilar. Pilar, my mother, Alanza Maria Vallejo—Yates—Rudd.

His mother was stunningly beautiful, and from her golden features and accented English, obviously Spanish. “Welcome to your new home, Pilar.”

“Thank you. It’s an honor to meet you.”

“Noah, she’s lovely.”

He smiled. “Yes, she is.”

Pilar inwardly thanked him for that.

“Now, I have three nueras!” Alanza declared in a voice so filled with pride and excitement Pilar couldn’t help but smile.

While Noah stepped away to pay the driver and get their bags, Pilar saw his mother viewing her intently, making her wonder if the woman was taking in how badly dressed her new nuera was. There was nothing but kindness in her dark eyes, however, and Pilar was certain that would change once she learned of her role in the theft and sinking of her son’s ship.

After the coach drove away, the three of them started towards the steps leading to the wide front porch. “Noah, I received your telegram,” his mother said, “but it was confusing. The wording made it seem as if you married the pirate.”

Pilar froze.

“I did.”

Alanza’s took in Pilar with wide eyes. “Pilar is the pirate?”

“Yes.”

“This tiny little thing?”

“This tiny little thing stole my ship, sank it—”

“The Spanish navy sank it,” Pilar interrupted, coming to her own defense.

“I stand corrected, but we wound up dancing La Verdadera Destreza.”

“Swords!”

“She’s very good with a rapier, Mama.”

Pilar groused, “Plainly not good enough, as I was forced to yield.”

His mother looked between the two of them, appeared about to speak, but apparently changed her mind and laughed. “Let’s go inside before I fall down.”

“I’m glad you insisted we take lessons, otherwise she might have bested me.” His eyes teased Pilar.

Alanza exclaimed, “First Mariah, then Billie, and now a swordswoman named Pilar. Dios!”

The interior of the house was as beautifully furnished as one would expect. Fine rugs sat atop gleaming wood floors. Lamps with wrought-iron bases anchored well-polished side tables made of lustrous dark wood. There were sumptuous gold-colored drapes and lovely upholstered chairs and sofas. The vases and small statues of saints reminded her so much of home, her heart ached and before she knew it, there were tears in her eyes.

Alanza asked with concern, “Qué pasa?” What’s the matter?

That Alanza had addressed her in Spanish, a language she thought she’d never hear on a regular basis again, added to her sudden and embarrassing bout of homesickness, so she replied in a rush of Spanish that she was just homesick for Cuba and her family, and missed speaking her native tongue, and how embarrassed she was to be in tears. She dashed away the telling moisture and before she could glance at her husband to gauge his reaction to her uncharacteristic show of weakness, Alanza smiled fondly. “None of my nueras speak Spanish and I’ve secretly longed for one who does. You will be my special joy, Pilar. Has Noah not been speaking Spanish with you?”

“He has but only occasionally. I’m not sure how fluent he is, to be truthful.” So far, she’d only heard him use Spanish when speaking endearments.

“He speaks both English and Spanish. Always has. Why does your wife not know you speak Spanish?”

His reply was tinged with amusement. “Pilar, you’re in the house two minutes and have already gotten me into trouble.”

“My apology, but I didn’t know.”

“I’ll rectify that. I promise.”

The heat in his gaze, potent as a caress, caused her nipples to tighten shamelessly and she quickly looked away.

“Where is everyone, Mama?”

“Billie, Mariah, and the babies are out visiting friends, and your brothers are in town.”

“And Max?”

“At the sawmill looking over some wood. Everyone will be here for dinner as always. Are you two hungry? I can have Bonnie prepare you something to tide you over.”

Pilar knew from Noah that Bonnie was the house cook. She was indeed hungry after the long day.

He spoke for them both: “That would be grand.”

“Okay, take my nuera upstairs and I’ll send Bonnie up shortly. Dinner will be in a few hours.” She paused, gently took Pilar’s hands and said with sincerity, “Welcome.”

Her reply was equally as sincere. “Thank you.”

As they made their departure, Alanza watched them go. She was still taken aback by the news that Pilar was the dreaded pirate. The newlyweds had offered no further information on the circumstances surrounding their marriage other than there’d been swordplay. That Noah seemed genuinely taken with the terribly thin and badly dressed Cuban was surprising as well. Alanza assumed the full story would be revealed in time, so for the moment, she was just happy to have her son home.

Walking down hallways and up staircases and past framed paintings of the blessed Virgin, a few saints, and stern-faced men and women she assumed to be ancestors, Pilar accompanied Noah to his rooms, all the while wondering how long it might take her to learn to navigate the home without getting lost.

“My mother grew up in this house,” he explained at her side. “Her parents inherited it from their parents and each generation has added to the original building. It’s not nearly as much of a maze as it might seem.”

Pilar tended to disagree.

He pushed open a carved wooden door accented with leather and hobnail fittings and to her surprise picked her up.

Laughing, she asked, “What are you doing?”

“Carrying you across the threshold.”

“What on earth for?”

“In some places it’s a tradition for the man to carry his new wife into their home.”

Knowing nothing about such a thing, she rested easily in his arms until he placed her gently on her feet. She looked around. Like the rest of the house, the room was large, so large in fact her entire home back in Cuba could have fit comfortably inside with lots of space to spare. One wall held a grate, and spread around were lamps, comfortable-looking chairs and a large sofa. The space also held a magnificent piano.

“This is the sitting room,” he told her. “Bedroom is this way.”

She followed him, and found it, with its luxurious draperies and massive four-poster, even larger.

“Bathing room with running water is through that door there. The doors behind you lead outside to the verandah.”

“You live well, Noah.”

“We live well, Pilar,” he countered. “This is your home now, too.”

The idea of that would take some getting accustomed to, but for the moment, she just wanted to sit, relax, and not think about boarding another train. She dropped into a chair by the windows. “Feels so good to be done traveling.”

“I agree.” Noah would be the first to admit that having her with him made him feel even better. “Was I right about my mother’s reaction to you?”

“Yes, Noah. You were correct. She’s very gracious. Your brothers are both married to American women?”

“Yes. Logan’s wife, Mariah, is from Philadelphia and Drew’s Billie is from San Francisco. I never thought about Mama wanting a Spanish daughter-in-law, but I suppose it does make sense.”

“It’ll be nice to converse with someone who shares my tongue.”

He walked over and sat on the arm of her chair and said to her in Spanish, “I’d like to share your tongue . . .”

She replied in the same language. “Does your mother know how incredibly shameless you are?”

“No, so don’t tell her.” He traced her lips. “Been wanting to kiss you all day.” Fitting action to words, he leaned down and skimmed his lips over hers, wondering if his desire for his soldier wife would ever diminish. “Over the next few days, I’m going to make love to you in every possible way and in every inch of this room . . .” He coaxed her up and she rose to her knees on the chair cushion so they could devour each other more comfortably. “. . . in our bed, on the rugs before the fire, outside on the verandah under the moon.”

Her trembling response stretched his manhood lustily. “Then I’m going to take you on top of my piano and paint your nipples with honey . . .”

She drew in a shuddering breath and his desire roared. There was a knock on the door. “Mr. Noah. Your food.”

He shot angry eyes towards the interruption. “Be right there, Bonnie.” He left her lips reluctantly. “Don’t move.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it.”

“Welcome home, Mr. Noah.”

“Thank you, Bonnie,” he replied, taking the tray from her hands. “My wife, Pilar’s lying down. I’ll bring the two of you later.”

“That would be fine. Please tell her welcome.”

“I shall.”

Walking back into the bedroom, he paused upon seeing his wife folded up on the chair fast asleep. Shaking his head a bit disappointedly because he’d planned on making love to her, he set the tray down. Going over, he picked her up gently, placed her on the bed and covered her with a light quilt. She never moved. He stroked a finger down her cheek. They’d come a long way since leaving Florida, and in truth she’d earned some rest. “Welcome home, Pilar. Thank you for your sunlight.”

Leaving her, he picked up the tray and carried it out to the sitting room so she could sleep in peace.