Tracie Peterson - Dawns Prelude

Gadston's expression darkened. "My family would never stand for it. Divorce would cause a scandal, and I would he cut off from inheriting. There is far too much money at risk to merely walk away from my marriage. I will let the child have her interests, and I will have mine."

"And you've told her this?" Trayton asked in surprise. Most men would never tolerate their wives taking lovers, while Gadston seemed to encourage it.

Gadston laughed. "Certainly not. Half the fun will he watching her sneak around and try to avoid giving me any reason to believe she's having an affair. Her guilt will be amusing-especially if you should happen to get her with child."

"Excuse me?"

The shock of such a statement had Trayton doubting he had heard accurately. He watched Gadston for any sign of teasing, but there was none. Instead, the man crossed to his desk and took a scat. "We can discuss it at another time. Right now, I have work that needs my attention. You do, as well. Here are the figures that you need to take to Mr. McCarthy regarding the planned railroad."

Trayton took up the ledger being offered and held it for a moment. He felt confused by Gadston's comment and wanted to clarify the matter. Instead, the older man seemed unconcerned.

"Do what you can to keep her happy," Gadston said, as if reading the younger man's mind. "Do so, and I will increase your salary substantially."

Trayton Payne left the Gadston mansion and barely felt the pelting ice as he made his way to the enclosed carriage. He gave the driver the address and sat hack to think on all that had just happened. He had always considered himself rather phlegmatic when it came to the eccentric ways of the rich. Rarely did any request or situation shock him. Still, he'd not witnessed any man being so nonchalant when it came to giving his wife over to another.

Still, it was a means to an end. Trayton intended to be one of those eccentric rich in his own right. He had long ago vowed that he would do whatever he needed to in order to earn the money that would allow him to rise to the top of society Power and money were the most important things to him, and he intended to surround himself with plenty of both. If that meant he fathered a few children along the way in order to make a rich old man happy, then so he it.

He grinned and folded his gloved hands behind his head. "And Evie Gadston is definitely not hard on the eyes."

Evie had watched from her bedroom window as Trayton Payne left her house. She felt consumed with guilt. She had allowed him to take her from the parry-to take her away from everyone else.

You allowed him to do more than that," she admonished as she sat down to her vanity mirror. Picking up a brush, she stroked hard through the mass of golden curls. She could still remember allowing him to hold her. He had kissed her, too. Not just the quick, obligatory pecks that she'd had from Thomas. When Trayton's mouth had touched hers, she had forgotten everything except the man in her arms.

She met her reflection and frown. It was wrong, and it cannot happen again."

But why not? Society certainly didn't look down on men taking lovers, so why should they he so hard on wives wanting the same benefit? Who was to know, as long as she was discreet?

If only Thomas would show her the slightest hit of love, it would change everything. Evie hadn't wanted to marry the man, but she had gone into the arrangement determined to be a good and faithful wife. Especially a faithful wife. But after nearly a year of not-so-wedded bliss, Evie was desperate to feel something other than lethargy. She had gone to Europe, hoping to stimulate her mind and heart. There had been museums and galleries to visit and wonderful parties where the latest fashions and foods had been presented to titillate the eye and tongue. She had spent copious amounts of money doing whatever pleased her, but nothing satisfied. What was missing?

Last night, Trayton Payne had given her insight into that question. Better yet, he'd given her an understanding of the answer. She couldn't replace her heart's longing for love by purchasing baubles. Trayton had awakened a hunger in her that she had managed to stave off until now.

"What am I to do?" she asked her reflection.

The last thing she wanted was to bring disgrace to her name or to her family. They had done a good enough job of that on their own, and she had no desire to add to it. Thomas was respected by his peers and society. If she were to cause him harm in such a way as to make him a laughingstock among that haughty group, it would certainly not bode well.

She put down the brush and continued to stare at her reflection. For a moment, she could see herself growing old and wrinkled. An image of her mother came to mind. Charlotte Cray hadn't been an old woman when she'd died, but the years had marked her face.

Even though Evie had been quite young, she'd sensed her mother's unhappiness. Then that awful day had come when her mother had fallen to her death. Evie wanted to tell everyone what had really happened, but she had been too afraid. Afraid that her father would throw her from the same rooftop. Afraid no one would believe her anyway. Maybe her memories were wrong.

"My life has been lived in fear," she said, shaking her head. She had even married in fear. Had she done anything to disturb the arrangement her father had made, Evie knew she would have suffered greatly for it. Her father had ways of making people suffer. Hadn't she learned that lesson from her mother and from Lydia '

Her anger resurfaced. "Why should I let them do this to me? Why should I care what anyone else says or does?"

She thought again of Trayton, and her guilt faded a bit. She had only kissed him. Nothing else had happened. He had been sweet to her. He had made her feel beautiful alive. What was wrong with that? What damage could possibly come from a few kisses?

If she believes Dalton is lost to her forever," Kjell told Zerelda, "she may never come back to us." He had given the matter much thought and knew he needed to do whatever was necessary to find the baby

"I don't want to leave her, but I don't know what else to do. If I scour the island and still come up empty, I'll have to go to Kansas City and confront Marston Gray."

"That family is pure wickedness," Zerelda said. "If they are responsible… well… I hope you can see them jailed for this."

Kjell hoped so, too, though he had his doubts. Liddie had always said the Grays were powerful people who were used to getting their own way He took up his coat and cast one more glance at his unconscious wife. She looked so tiny and frail.

"I won't be too long. I'll scout out the grounds around the house and see if I can spot any tracks. I know the army has men looking, as well."

"I hope they can handle the job." Zerelda sounded unsure. "They've never managed to find the killers of those two Tlingit boys."

"I know, but this is a crime against whites. I hate to say it, but perhaps it will merit more attention-especially given that a child has been taken."

Kjell made his way downstairs and was surprised to find a gathering of army officers at the door. Dr. Ensign was also there.

"We were just coming to see you."

Kjell recognized the captain in charge. "Captain Briar, have you found anything? Have you found my son?"

"We haven't found the boy," Briar began, "hut we do have news. We were able to find some tracks that lead down to the water's edge. We believe the attackers departed by boat." He motioned to one of the men.