In the Land of the Long White Cloud

Sideblossom had joined them and told them heaven only knew what. Gerald had been waiting for Gwyneira, to make more or less the same threats and accusations to her. He was not interested in the other side of the story or in witnesses. He was insistent that Fleur and John would be engaged in the morning.
    “And the…the worst thing is, he’s right,” Fleur stammered. “No one will…will even believe me now. They…they’ll tell the whole area. If I say no now, in front of the…the pastor, they’ll laugh at me.”
    “Then let them laugh,” Gwyneira said firmly. “You won’t marry this Sideblossom, as sure as I’m standing here.”
    “But…but Grandfather is my guardian. He’ll force me.” Fleurette sobbed.
    Gwyneira made a decision. Fleur had to leave this place. And she would only go if Gwyneira told her the truth.
    “Listen, Fleur, Gerald Warden cannot force you to do anything. He is, strictly speaking, not even your guardian.”
    “But…”
    “He’s considered your guardian because he’s taken for your grandfather. But he isn’t. Lucas Warden was not your father.”
    There. She’d said it. Gwyneira bit her lip.
    Fleurette’s sobs caught in her throat.
    “But…”
    Gwyneira sat beside her and took her in her arms. “Listen, Fleur. Lucas was a good man. But he…well, he could not produce children. We tried, but it never worked. And your grandfath…and Gerald Warden made life a living hell for us because he did not have an heir for Kiward Station. And so I…so I…”
    “You cheated on my fa…your husband, I should say?” There was incomprehension in Fleurette’s voice.
    Gwyneira shook her head. “Not with my heart, if you see what I mean. Just to have a baby. I was always true to him after that.”
    Fleurette frowned. Gwyneira could see right away what was going through her head.
    “And where does Paul come from?” she finally asked.
    Gwyneira shut her eyes. Not that too…
    “Paul is a Warden,” she said. “But let’s not talk about Paul. Fleurette, I think it’s time you left here.”
    Fleur did not seem to hear her.
    “Who’s my father?” she asked quietly.
    Gwyneira thought about it for a moment. But then she resolved to tell the truth.
    “Our foreman at the time. James McKenzie.”
    Fleurette looked at her with big eyes.
    “
The
McKenzie?”
    Gwyneira nodded. “None other. I’m sorry, Fleur.”
    At first Fleurette was speechless. But then she smiled.
    “That’s exciting. Truly romantic. Do you remember how Ruben and I always played Robin Hood as children? Now you could say I’m…the daughter of a bandit!”
    Gwyneira rolled her eyes. “Fleurette, grow up! Life in the highlands is not romantic; it’s hard and dangerous. You know what Sideblossom will do to James if he catches him.”
    “Did you love him?” Fleurette asked with shining eyes. “James, I mean. Did you truly love him? Were you sad when he left? Why did he leave anyway? Because of me? No, that can’t be. I remember him. A tall man with brown hair, right? He let me ride with him on his horse and was always laughing.”
    Gwyneira nodded painfully. But she could not support Fleurette’s romanticizing.
    “I didn’t love him. It was only a deal, a sort of…transaction between us. It was over when you were born. And his leaving had nothing to do with me.”
    Strictly speaking, it wasn’t even a lie. It had to with Gerald, and with Paul. Gwyneira still felt the pain of his departure. But Fleurette must not know that. She couldn’t know that.
    “Now let’s stop, Fleur, or the night will slip away. You have to leave here before they have a big engagement celebration tomorrow and make everything worse. Pack a few things. I’ll get you money from my office. You can have everything that’s there, but there isn’t much since most of our earnings go straight to the bank. Andy will still be awake; he can fetch Niniane. And then ride like the devil so that you’re far away when the boys have slept off their hangovers.”
    “You’re not opposed to me riding to Ruben?” Fleurette asked, out of breath.
    Gwyneira sighed. “I’d feel much better about it if I were sure you’d find him, but it’s our only option, at least while the Greenwoods are still in England. Curses, I should have sent you with them! But now it’s too late. Find Ruben, marry him, and be happy.”
    Fleur embraced her. “And you?” she asked quietly.
    “I’ll stay here,” Gwyneira said. “Someone has to take care of