"I hate to leave you here Sara, but it is a good idea for me to be up at the house just in case Martha gets worse.You are safe here and Olivia and my mother are just overwhelmed to have you. I'm afraid they'll spoil you."
"I'll be fine Wes. You are needed up there. I hope Martha gets well soon.....or we won't have any staff left...I know her."
"I'll be back for you as soon as I can." He kissed her softly before he mounted his horse.
Wes rode back to his ranch. On the way he stopped a few times talking to his workers that were putting up the new fences. He avoided going home, and instead stayed with his crew helping them. It was better than going back to the house, but the work day got over, and he couldn't postpone it any longer.
When he opened the door it was all quiet. He was tired and irritable and planned to go straight to his room. Eva showed up from the kitchen ," Mr. Jade could I talk to you?"
"Yes Eva, if it can wait for a little bit. I'll be back down as soon as I wash up."
Eva didn't want to look too eager. "Yes, Mr. Jade that would be fine."
Impeccable timing that she had Rowena came out of Martha's room. "There you are Eva. I've been calling you for the last half an hour. I need some soup for Martha, but this is not the first time you ignored me."
Then, as she was surprised to see him she turned to Wes, "Oh Wes, you are home. It's good to see you, because your staff might listen to you. I have never seen such a slack attitude towards work."
Wes who wasn't up to resolving any issues at the moment looked at Eva ," Would you be so kind as to bring some soup for our houseguest. Thanks Eva." His tone of voice had sarcasm in it aimed at Rowena's attitude.
Eva got his silent message, and before she answered Rowena's insult just clasp her mouth.
"Yes Mr. Jade, I'll get to it right away. Can I get you something as well?"
"No thanks. That would be all."
Wes wasn't happy the way Rowena treated his staff but he just hopped Martha gets well soon and he can have them both out of the house. Sooner the better. He wanted his wife back. Every time Sara was finally home something prevented her from staying.
He was tired and dusty, and the only thing he looked forward to was his bed.
After Eva disappeared into the kitchen Rowena looked at him. " You look tired! Let me make you a cup of tea and I'll bring you supper. Your staff is just way too lazy."
Too tired to start arguing he chose not to say anything, and went into his bedroom to change. He just pulled his shirt over his head when the door opened up and Rowena came in with the tray in her hands, the hot tea steaming from the teapot.
"You didn't have to bring it all the way up. I was on my way downstairs."
"It is not a problem. I don't mind." She poured him a cup of tea. Wes was irritated to have her around, and snapped at her.
"It isn't proper for you to be here. It would be a good idea for you to leave, and don't come back here."
"Nobody will ever know."
"I know and I don't want you up here."
He took the cup of the tray.
"On your way out you can take the rest back. It will spare Eva an extra trip."
"You worry too much, relax and rest."
She gave him a smile and that was the lost thing he remembered before waking up in his bed naked beside Rowena.
"Good morning!" She stretched beside him, and she was as naked as he was.
Wes jumped out of the bed in a haste. The cold sweat appeared on his forehead.
"What are you doing here?"
"What kind of question is that? You wanted me to stay last night, and promised me the moon and the stars."
"I did not do such a thing. Get out Rowena!"
She just smiled at him, " You don't mean that, come back to bed. Don't you remember how much fun we had?"
"I said, get out!"
"Don't be like that." She tried one more time to placate him, but she reluctantly slipped out of the bed wrapped up in the sheets. The soft knock interrupted Wes from saying anything else to her. Wes's head was still pounding, and before he could stop her, Rowena opened up the door.
"Good morning Eva." She said with a fake sweetness.
Eva looked at the scene in the bedroom, and her eyes grew wider. She was obviously lost for words.
"Why are you standing there? Don't you have any work to do? I want a good breakfast." The sweetness was gone as fast as it appeared.
Eva was still speechless, turned around and left. Wes, who tried to grasp what had happened swore aloud, but Rowena left the room before he had a chance to say anything else. Wes couldn't remember anything from last night, but knew in the instant when he found Rowena beside him, it was a complication he could do without. He dressed and stormed out of the house.
He rode for a while trying to clear his head, but his stomach didn't agree with him, and he ended up dismounting his horse thinking that a little walk will help him. He only felt worse. After a few moments bile rose in his through and he ended up emptying the content of his stomach.
After that he felt a little better. The whole thing was very suspicious, and then he remembered the last nights tea he had. It was Rowena that brought it up. He turned his horse around and rode back to the ranch.
Martha was miraculously better, and Rowena was ready to leave. The smile on her face told him this wasn't the last he had seen of her. She meant trouble.
"You better not cause trouble Rowena. I could complicate things for you. I know you drugged me last night, and I don't take kindly to that kind of betrayal."
"Don't waste your breath. I think I have the upper hand here Wes. It is not nice of you to treat me this way after last night, and you can't prove anything. Can you?"
"Get out!" It was said with any room left for argument.
Rowena closed the door behind her in a haste. Wes turned to Martha.
"I don't know how much you have to do with this, but sooner you are out of this house, it will be better. I see you are feeling well, so there is no reason you can't get ready to leave. I'll take you to Big J."
