The Dancer by Jane Toombs Page B

meaningless smile already in place. "Thank you, but I'd best be getting back."
     
    "Don't climb on your high-horse, miss. I'm too damn old to care what you or anyone else does. Sit down and tell me all about Mexico City. I used to live there a century or so ago."
     
    "Another time I'd love to but--"
     
    Stella's shrewd gaze probed Elena. "Just like Davis to run off without telling you why--I can see that's exactly what he did. Well, I'll give you a rundown. Old Jarvis, the lawyer, called early this morning. It seems some character showed up at the corporation office claiming he owns a third of the ranch, says he's the son of Diarmid's bastard."
     
    Elena blinked. Had Diarmid concealed more than the fact he'd been married twice?
     
    "While I don't put it past Diarmid to have littered the countryside with bastards," Stella went on, "it isn't all that easy for one of them to prove who his father was. Hank Jarvis thought this guy might have proof. You know Davis--he flew off the handle at the mere idea and rushed into Los Angeles to confront the claimant face to face."
     
    Elena took a deep breath. Was Stella making this up out of kindness? No, Stella didn't lie outright. There probably was a claimant but she doubted if that's where Davis had gone. He'd brushed off Lois easily enough last night but it was morning now. Whether he'd brought Lois to Bothwicks by buggy or motorcar, she wasn't sure, but she did know he'd left his fiancee stranded there last night without, as far as she was aware, any explanation.
     
    Wasn't it likely Davis had realized what he'd done and hurried off to present some excuse to Lois and make amends? The more she thought about it, the more certain Elena became that was what had happened. Otherwise, wouldn't he have left her a note? He probably hoped she'd have the sense to leave before he came back.
     
    Elena lifted her chin. "Thanks for inviting me to breakfast, Mrs. White, but I really do have to go."
     
    "You always were proud as hell," Stella said. "Any message for Davis?"
     
    Elena shook her head. What was there to say?
     
    "I've got a message for Meg," Stella said. "You tell her I don't mind not getting invited to her parties but she better get over here to see me pretty soon or there'll be the devil to pay."
     
    As it turned out, Jack hadn't yet gotten around to sending the horses back to the Bothwicks so Elena had Bella to ride. Jack offered to go with her on the gray Davis had borrowed last night, leading a mount to return on, but she refused curtly. Why should she care about Jack's feelings or anyone else's when no one cared about hers?
     
    She urged Bella into a gallop, the wind drying the tears on her face but doing nothing to ease the pain in her heart. Davis hadn't so much as told her he loved her; what had she expected? That he'd break off his engagement and marry her? Marry Elena Gabaldon when Lois Hughes's father owned half of San Diego?
     
    Her lips tightened. She wasn't merely poor little Elena any longer, she was also La Coralilla. Who would soon be dancing in Spain, dancing for a king. Other men admired her, she'd turned down several offers of marriage. To hell with Davis Burwash! She didn't need him.
     
    Meg rushed out to meet her as she was dismounting by the back door of the Bothwicks.
     
    "You surely did surprise me!" Meg cried. "You and Davis. It's been him all along, hasn't it? But I never thought you'd go off like that, right in front of everyone."
     
    Elena shrugged. "I'm not the same person you once knew, Meg, you said yourself I've changed."
     
    “I guess so!" Meg grinned at her as she led the way inside. "I'm all for the new you. Apparently my brother feels the same way. Lois got her comeuppance for that nasty remark she made to you--she had to go home with the Bradons last night."
     
    The old Elena would have apologized for causing embarrassment, La Coralilla didn't. But then, the old Elena wouldn't have ridden into the night with Davis,