Read Online Malachite (The Jewels of Texas Historical Romance Series Book 5) by Ruth Ryan Langan - Free Book Online
Authors: Ruth Ryan Langan
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first time I saw it.”
“But it suits Pa.” Diamond drizzled honey over a biscuit and broke it into little pieces for Ony, who was snuggled on her lap. “Pa just loved this land. There’s no place else he’d want to be.”
The others nodded in agreement.
“And I feel him there,” she added.
“ Oui. Each time I visit, I feel his presence.”
Her sisters agreed.
Millie watched the expression on Malachite’s face and knew that he’d felt it, too, though he seemed reluctant to admit it.
“Did you notice Malachite’s amulet?” Pearl asked. Everyone turned to stare at the strip of feather at his throat and the gleaming jewel.
“That’s very similar to the necklace each of us was given by our father on our sixteenth birthday,” Pearl said. “That was Daddy’s way of assuring us he’d be with us always.”
Without thinking, Malachite touched a hand to the green stone. He felt a pulse of heat, as though the stone were a living, breathing thing. His mother’s people believed in the spirits. And though he often tried to deny it, he believed, as well. Right now, he knew that the spirit of Onyx Jewel was present and exerting his influence on this assembly. That realization only added to his anger and resentment.
“Now that you’ve had a chance to visit the grave...” Cal cleared his throat and glanced around before saying, “The reason why the women persuaded you to come back here is because we had a family meeting last night, after you left. Since I’m foreman of the Jewel ranch, and the only nonfamily member to share in Onyx Jewel’s estate, the women asked me to be the spokesman.”
Malachite set down his cup and folded his hands in his lap. He wasn’t surprised. In fact, he’d been expecting this. He’d known they would circle the wagons to protect what was theirs. That would be the reason for the banker’s early morning visit. To advise his clients on the best way to shut out this interloper.
Not that he wanted any part of this. Or of Onyx Jewel’s family. He’d come here to be rid of Onyx Jewel, not to embrace him. But he wouldn’t make it easy for them. Let them all squirm as they picked up their stones to toss at him. He’d take it. As he’d had to take everything else life had handed him. But in so doing, he would finally ride out of here free. Free of the burden of illegitimacy he’d carried for a lifetime. Free of all the Jewels, who wanted him to think of them as his family.
“When Onyx was murdered, Diamond here vowed to keep the ranch going just the way her pa always had. But then, when her sisters started showing up, she realized she might have to change her plans a bit. You see, we weren’t... I mean, she wasn’t... Oh, hell.” Cal shrugged and glanced helplessly at Diamond.
Seeing his discomfort, she got to her feet and touched a hand to his arm. Relieved, he sat down.
“What Cal was trying to say is that we were all sort of caught off guard when we started learning that Pa had more than his share of secrets. I didn’t behave very cordially at first. But as I came to know his other daughters, I realized that we all had a common bond. Pa. And I knew that Pa would want all his children to share the bounty of this land he loved. So I’m sorry for that cool welcome we gave you last night, Malachite. We just weren’t expecting any more of Pa’s surprises. I guess we figured by now all his strays had been rounded up. But if you’re willing, we’d all like you to stay on and have a hand in the running of the ranch.”
Diamond was grinning, proud that she’d said her piece without fumbling. The others were smiling and nodding, as well.
As always, Malachite kept his feelings carefully in check. His eyes were narrowed in thought. His jaw was clenched. But there was no denying the astonishment in his voice. “You’re offering me a piece of your ranch? Without any proof of who I am? Without any questions about where I’ve been and what I’ve done with my
“But it suits Pa.” Diamond drizzled honey over a biscuit and broke it into little pieces for Ony, who was snuggled on her lap. “Pa just loved this land. There’s no place else he’d want to be.”
The others nodded in agreement.
“And I feel him there,” she added.
“ Oui. Each time I visit, I feel his presence.”
Her sisters agreed.
Millie watched the expression on Malachite’s face and knew that he’d felt it, too, though he seemed reluctant to admit it.
“Did you notice Malachite’s amulet?” Pearl asked. Everyone turned to stare at the strip of feather at his throat and the gleaming jewel.
“That’s very similar to the necklace each of us was given by our father on our sixteenth birthday,” Pearl said. “That was Daddy’s way of assuring us he’d be with us always.”
Without thinking, Malachite touched a hand to the green stone. He felt a pulse of heat, as though the stone were a living, breathing thing. His mother’s people believed in the spirits. And though he often tried to deny it, he believed, as well. Right now, he knew that the spirit of Onyx Jewel was present and exerting his influence on this assembly. That realization only added to his anger and resentment.
“Now that you’ve had a chance to visit the grave...” Cal cleared his throat and glanced around before saying, “The reason why the women persuaded you to come back here is because we had a family meeting last night, after you left. Since I’m foreman of the Jewel ranch, and the only nonfamily member to share in Onyx Jewel’s estate, the women asked me to be the spokesman.”
Malachite set down his cup and folded his hands in his lap. He wasn’t surprised. In fact, he’d been expecting this. He’d known they would circle the wagons to protect what was theirs. That would be the reason for the banker’s early morning visit. To advise his clients on the best way to shut out this interloper.
Not that he wanted any part of this. Or of Onyx Jewel’s family. He’d come here to be rid of Onyx Jewel, not to embrace him. But he wouldn’t make it easy for them. Let them all squirm as they picked up their stones to toss at him. He’d take it. As he’d had to take everything else life had handed him. But in so doing, he would finally ride out of here free. Free of the burden of illegitimacy he’d carried for a lifetime. Free of all the Jewels, who wanted him to think of them as his family.
“When Onyx was murdered, Diamond here vowed to keep the ranch going just the way her pa always had. But then, when her sisters started showing up, she realized she might have to change her plans a bit. You see, we weren’t... I mean, she wasn’t... Oh, hell.” Cal shrugged and glanced helplessly at Diamond.
Seeing his discomfort, she got to her feet and touched a hand to his arm. Relieved, he sat down.
“What Cal was trying to say is that we were all sort of caught off guard when we started learning that Pa had more than his share of secrets. I didn’t behave very cordially at first. But as I came to know his other daughters, I realized that we all had a common bond. Pa. And I knew that Pa would want all his children to share the bounty of this land he loved. So I’m sorry for that cool welcome we gave you last night, Malachite. We just weren’t expecting any more of Pa’s surprises. I guess we figured by now all his strays had been rounded up. But if you’re willing, we’d all like you to stay on and have a hand in the running of the ranch.”
Diamond was grinning, proud that she’d said her piece without fumbling. The others were smiling and nodding, as well.
As always, Malachite kept his feelings carefully in check. His eyes were narrowed in thought. His jaw was clenched. But there was no denying the astonishment in his voice. “You’re offering me a piece of your ranch? Without any proof of who I am? Without any questions about where I’ve been and what I’ve done with my
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