“I couldn’t say something like that to him,” Stephanie gasped. “You saw how angry he was. It wouldn’t have mattered.”
Sharisse shouted in exasperation. “Of course it would have mattered. If you’ve been with Joel as man and wife, your marriage can’t be annulled. Don’t you know anything?”
“Oh, dear. I believe Joel said that. But I was so upset today, I just didn’t think.”
“You never think anymore,” Sharisse replied angrily. “You don’t think of consequences, you don’t think of—”
“I don’t see what you’re displeased about, Rissy. It worked out fine, didn’t it?”
“For you, yes. But I had to give Father a reason why I couldn’t marry Joel, and it was something I wanted to keep to myself. Oh, I don’t know why I’m even speaking to you after everything you’ve done!”
“Oh, Rissy, don’t be like that,” Stephanie pleaded. “I can explain everything.”
“Can you?” Sharisse demanded. “Then begin by telling me where my jewels are. Because I didn’t have them, I was forced to go all the way to Arizona. Why did you take my jewels?”
“You know how impetuous you are, Rissy. I was afraid you would change your mind and come right back. And I was right, wasn’t I? You wrote immediately that you didn’t want to stay in Arizona.”
“There is. A monumental difference. Between staying alone. In some quiet town. And stayingwhere I was.” Sharisse ground out the words. “Do you have any idea what it was like? Indians still raid. Men wear guns on their hips and think nothing of shooting each other. And the sun does this to your skin, Stephanie.” She pointed to her face. “This is not theatrical makeup I’m wearing. It will take months for it to wear off.”
“Well, goodness, Rissy, why didn’t you mention any of this in your letter?”
“Because I was thinking of your feelings! I thought that if you knew my true plight, you would be so upset about me that you wouldn’t be able to work rationally on our situations. But I can see now that it wouldn’t have made any difference. You’re not at all sorry.”
“That’s not true. If there were any other way—”
“Oh, shut up, Stephanie! I have heard enough.”
Sharisse crossed to her vanity, dismissing her sister. But Stephanie was reluctant to leave. She stared at Sharisse’s stiff back and said peevishly, “You said you gave Father a reason why you couldn’t marry Joel. Why didn’t you just use that excuse before? Then you wouldn’t have had to go away in the first place.”
Sharisse glared at Stephanie in her mirror. “Obviously my reason is a fairly new one, or I would have. I can’t marry Joel because I already have a husband—thanks to my stay in Arizona.”
“What?” Stephanie felt sick. “You married him? But you couldn’t have!”
Sharisse turned slowly in her chair. “Couldn’t?”
“You weren’t supposed to. Why did you?”
“You don’t just live in the same house with a man and then refuse to marry him when the preacher comes around,” Sharisse said dryly. “I had no choice.”
“Oh, this is just terrible, Rissy. I didn’t want anything like this to happen to you.”
“I know,” Sharisse sighed.
“What did Father say?”
“He wasn’t exactly pleased.”
“But you’re not going to stay married to Mr. Holt, are you?”
“No.”
“Can you get out of it?”
Sharisse nodded. “He didn’t want a wife.”
Stephanie gasped. “Yes, he did. He—”
“—was as deceitful as I was. He never had any intention of marrying me or anyone else.”
