“Well, he does now,” her father said. “He’s staying in one of the most expensive hotels in the city, and he’s bought the old Tindel mansion.”
“He what?”
“There’s something that puzzles me,” Marcus said. “I thought you might be able to explain it.”
“Only one thing?” she asked sarcastically. “Good Lord, I can’t believe we’re even talking about the same man I knew!”
“Maybe we’re not.”
“Father,” she began wearily, but he interrupted.
“The man is registered at the hotel as Slade Holt, not Lucas Holt.”
“Slade! Oh, no!”
Marcus was alarmed by her color. “What is it, Rissy?”
“Slade is Lucas’s brother!”
“But why would Lucas use his brother’s name?”
“It might not be Lucas,” she gasped. “It may be Slade.”
“Nonsense. This man claims to be your husband. You would be able to expose him if he’s not your husband.”
“Would I?” she laughed humorlessly. “They’re twins. I can tell them apart only because Slade dresses like an Indian. If he dresses inconspicuously here, as he would, I wouldn’t know the difference, I swear.”
“Then this might not be your husband?”
She bit her lip, then cried, “Oh, I just don’t know what to think!”
“Well, I’ll have to go and question the man,” her father said resolutely.
“No!” Sharisse came up out of her chair like a shot. “You can’t do that.”
“Why not?”
“If itisSlade, well, he’s…difficult. He’s different from Lucas. Slade grew up alone in the wilderness. He’s a gunfighter. He’s blunt and kind of raw. He’s not civilized. You don’t talk to Slade, Father, not easily.”
“Does he have an interest in you?” her father asked.
“He did, yes,” she admitted reluctantly. “He’s just not the kind of man you can confront, Father, so please don’t do anything.”
“Something has to be done, Rissy. We can’t just keep waiting and wondering.”
“Yes, we can,” she insisted. “You said yourself it probably won’t be too much longer before he calls on me. I’d just as soon delay that meeting if it’s Slade.” She gazed down at the table, then explained, “At least I know how to deal with Lucas. But Slade? My God, if he has it in mind to impersonate Lucas in order to force me—”
“He wouldn’t dare,” Marcus growled.
“Oh, yes, he would, Father. I’ve been trying to tell you. He’s unscrupulous. He would think it amusing to pose as my husband for a while, to have me right where…Well, as I said, he did pursue me before.”
“Perhaps you should stay with your aunt again for a while.”
“Then how will I ever resolve this situation? No, I should continue to live as I normally live. I refuse to hide from him. What I should do is see a lawyer on Monday and get this marriage over with. Then it won’t matter whether it’s Lucas or Slade.”
“It’s too late to end it easily, Sharisse. You need your husband’s cooperation now. You know that,” he reminded her gently.
“Well,” she sighed, ruefully, “there is one thing. His attitude about a divorce will tell me who he is. If he doesn’t want a divorce, I’ll know it’s Slade.”
