03 - The Wicked Lady Page 14

  "This is Trevor's horse." Hagan ran his hand over the horse's soft nose. "He's fast!"

  " 'Twould take a big mon tae control this one," she murmured her thoughts as she lowered Hagan back to the ground. Trevor definitely fit that description.

  "Ready, Miss?"

  Kristen followed Baxter to the paddock where the horses were tethered. Hagan wasted little time climbing onto his pony; however, Kristen hesitated as she stared at the odd seat.

  "Let me help you, Miss." Baxter cupped his hands so she could put her foot in them.

  Placing her hands on the saddle, she managed, somehow, to land in the right place, but decided she'd much prefer the pony that Hagan was riding than this tall beast.

  Baxter scratched his head, his eyes sharp and assessing. "Are you sure you know how to ride, Miss?"

  "Of course, I'm just a little rusty," Kristen lied, and tried not to look him straight in the face.

  "Well, keep a firm grip on the reins. Like this," he positioned the leather straps between her fingers. "Take it slow at first and then it will come back to you."

  "Thank you." Kristen turned her mount so they could head for the arched doorway. "What's her name?"

  "Paznell."

  "All right, Paznell. We're going tae be good friends." Kristen patted the animal's neck.

  "Come on, Kristen," a merry voice called. Hagan had already left the paddock.

  "Go, Paznell," Kristen commanded, but the horse showed no inclination toward budging.

  "Kick her with your heel," Baxter instructed.

  She did. Thankfully, the horse paid attention this time, and soon Kristen had caught up with Hagan.

  "Murphy," Baxter called to one of his men who was pitching hay. "Run to the house and inform his grace that his little lady is going for a ride." He shook his head. "Just hope she doesn't break her fool neck. I'm not too sure she's ever seen a horse, much less ridden one."

  Kristen and Hagan rode out away from the house. Hagan told her it was the way that he and Trevor always rode, so she followed Hagan's lead.

  Streams of light peeked from behind puffy white clouds scattered across a light blue sky. The sun's rising had warmed the crisp air, and the sunlight soothed her body like a soft caress. The countryside was so beautiful and fresh that Kristen decided this was just what she'd needed. She'd been cooped up for too long. There was a certain feeling of freedom she liked from riding.

  They had ridden for over an hour, and Kristen was feeling very confident that she'd master such a simple task. She knew this would be easy, she thought as she released her death-grip on the saddle and reins.

  That was when Hagan's pony took off, jumping a small stone wall. Evidently, her mount didn't want to be outdone because Paznell took off after Hagan's pony, jerking the leather straps from her fingers. Kristen screamed and clutched the saddle. Surely, the horse would stop when it got to the wall.

  It did not.

  Kristen went one way and the horse the other. The next thing she knew she was no longer on the animal but flying through the air. She heard herself scream again as she landed in a heap on the other side of the wall.

  She lay on the ground, gasping for air. Unable to breathe, it took a few minutes before she finally caught her breath. Sitting up, she straightened her clothing. The world still seemed to be spinning before her eyes.

  Blast, did she ache. The ground was much too hard. Next time she'd ask for a shorter horse. Shoving her hair out of her face, she looked around for Hagan, but didn't see him.

  Kristen decided she wouldn't move for a few minutes until her head stopped this crazy spinning. Looking out on the rolling hills in front of her, she noticed for the first time a large estate in the distance. It was every bit as impressive as Chatsworth, and she wondered who lived there.

  A rider cut across the field and seemed to be coming from the house, but stopped at the second stone wall. This land is very funny, she thought. In the middle of this huge field were two stone walls no more than thirty feet apart.

  Kristen realized the rider was a woman, but she couldn't see the lady's face very well. She had long, black hair and seemed about the same size as Kristen. She only paused a moment as she called out, "Are ye all right?"

  Kristen couldn't help noticing the lady sounded just like herself. "Just a wee bit shaken, but my brother should be along shortly, thanks."

  The lady looked directly at Kristen, smiled for a brief moment, then rode away.

  Kristen sat there, dumbfounded. Maybe she had hit her head harder than she'd thought, because she could have sworn that she'd just seen herself on that horse. Impossible.

  Horse's hooves sounded from behind her. The ground shook. Before she knew what was happening, the hooves came flying over the top of her head. She screamed and ducked.

  "Christ!" Trevor swore as he dismounted and knelt down beside her. "If you wanted to go riding, I would have taken you." His hands moved along her legs, checking for broken bones.

  She slapped his hands away. "Oh, would ye now? That would mean ye'd have tae leave yer desk." She attempted to stand, but her head was still spinning.

  Trevor grabbed her as she swayed. "Are you hurt?"

  "I seem tae have hit my head. I'll be all right, though." However, her words didn't match her actions as she leaned against Trevor for support. "Who lives on that hill?"

  "Johnstone," he spat. "This is the tract of land that's in dispute."

  "Why don't one of ye buy it from the other?"

  "It belongs to my family," Trevor stated firmly. "I'll not buy something I already own."

  Even with her head whirling, Kristen could see one thing clearly. "Ye know something?"

  He gave her a questioning look, but didn't say anything.

  "I dinna think ye really know what the feud is about."

  Trevor gave her a half-laugh. "You are absolutely right."

  "Then why--"

  Trevor held up a hand. "I do not want to discuss the matter."

  All right, she could see this was a touchy subject with him, but this feud seemed ridiculous to her. There had to be more to the story than she'd heard so far. Maybe one day she'd find out.

  Hagan trotted up on his pony with Kristen's horse in tow. "Did you lose something, Kristen?"

  Kristen glared at her brother. "I was doing just fine until that pony of yers took off."

  "I didn't think your horse would follow mine." For just a moment, Hagan did manage to look a little guilty. "You should hang on better next time," he said.

  "Do you think you can ride back?" Trevor asked.

  Kristen straightened. "I think so."

  Trevor escorted her over to the horse and helped her mount. Then he mounted, and they started for home.

  "This is beautiful land. Funny, I feel as if I've been here before."

  "Really?" Trevor said. "I would think that was impossible. I do agree, however, the land is lovely. It's good English soil." He twisted in the saddle to look at her. "We'll have to ride more often. I didn't know you could ride."

  "I dinna know I could ride, either," Kristen admitted with a nervous laugh.

  "Are you serious?" Trevor grinned. "Well, you ride very well for the first time. Maybe you learn everything quickly." His grin grew wicked.

  Kristen liked it when Trevor teased her. He seemed so much younger and carefree when he was in this kind of mood, one she sensed he wasn't in often. And that was a shame, she thought as she fought the desire to reach out and touch him.

  "I would race ye," Kristen challenged, "but I better wait until my second lesson. I remember all tae well how hard that ground felt."

  Trevor nodded in agreement. "I think that is a very good idea."

  Kristen regarded him with a speculative gaze. "I suppose ye need tae get back tae work." Her voice dropped a notch, and she realized she didn't want him to leave her just yet.

  "Well--" His hazel eyes lit up with a golden glow, as if he were toying with his decision. "I don't think it will hurt to take a little t
ime off. Let's ride to the lake." He turned to look for Hagan. "Hagan, come on and stay with us. We're riding back."

  Hagan came galloping up on his pony. "But we haven't been out here that long," he complained.

  "We are going to stop by the lake for a few minutes on the way back. I guess I can spare a little time. Will that make you happy?"

  Kristen laughed at him. "You don't know what do with yerself when you're not working."

  "Of course, I do," he scoffed, then rode off not waiting for her.

  The lake shimmered a gray-blue. Rocks clung to the edge of the shore and sprigs of lavender bobbed in a gentle breeze. The gray rocks sprinkled with lavender led from the edge almost to the middle. She noticed that the black swans she had seen that first day were on the far side of the lake.

  Trevor bent down and picked up a small, flat stone. He threw it across the water, making the stone skim just across the top.

  "Splendid. Teach me," Hagan call out.

  "You have to find a flat rock," Trevor told him.

  "Kristen, you look, too," Hagan instructed.

  Kristen walked along the edge of the pond until she found several good throwing rocks.

  "How about this one?" Hagan asked.

  She looked at Hagan and laughed. He had a rock the size of an egg in his hand."

  " 'Tis a wee bit big."

  "Yes, it is," Trevor agreed. "It will make a big splash, then sink. However, your sister seems to have found a nice supply for us."

  Kristen watched as Trevor patiently showed Hagan how to hold the stone so he could get the greatest distance. She could picture him showing his own children someday. However, she didn't think that she'd be their mother. The agreement hadn't called for wee ones. Besides, Trevor would want children with someone he loved, and that wasn't herself. He would make a good father, she thought regretfully.

  Trevor straightened and shoved his hands back into his pockets while he watched Hagan, and Kristen watched Tevor.

  She liked watching the man far too much. He was so handsome that at times it simply took her breath away. At the moment, he looked the most relaxed she'd ever seen him. She realized he must keep all his emotions bottled up inside him, and that couldn't be good for him.

  "Would you like to toss a couple of stones?" Trevor turned toward her and asked her.

  "I dinna know how," she admitted.

  "Come over here and I'll show you," Trevor motioned for her to join him on the rocks.

  Carefully, Kristen made her way to the end of the protruding rocks. Trevor wrapped his arms around her, taking her throwing arm and positioning the stone between her thumb and forefinger.

  To hell with the rock, Kristen thought as she enjoyed the closeness of her husband. Usually, the only time she was this close to him was at night when they were in bed. This little time felt like a real treat. Reluctantly, she dragged her mind back to the small stone that had brought them together.

  "All right now, give it a try." He said and stepped away from her. She reared back and hurled the stone, watching as it barely hit the water at least ten times before sinking.

  "I'm impressed," Trevor admitted.

  "Beginner's luck," Hagan called from the bank.

  Kristen laughed until she turned to walk back and saw a huge snake. Horror seized her. Immediately, she let out a blood curdling scream.

  "Stand very still," Trevor warned as he eyed the coiled up snake.

  " 'Tis easy for ye to say," Kristen barely choked out.

  Trevor pulled a pistol from inside his jacket and, taking careful aim, he fired at the snake just as it slithered toward Kristen.

  Kristen screamed, stepped back, and caught her heel on the edge of her skirt, sending her tumbling into the water.

  Trevor scrambled over and fished her out of the cold water. She was half-laughing and half-crying as he enfolded her into his arms.

  "It's all right," he murmured. "I took care of the snake. It can't hurt you."

  "I wasn't frightened, just surprised." Kristen clung, trembling, to her pillar of strength.

  Trevor clutched Kristen tightly until she quit shaking. Finally, he bent and brushed his lips on her wet hair, and once again assured her, "You're out of danger now, love. I think we need to get back, so you can remove these wet clothes." He plucked at one of her wet sleeves to illustrate his point.

  "All right," Kristen said. She bent down and picked up her skirt to wring some of the water out of the material. Then she let Trevor lead her toward the shore. His arm still rested around her waist.

  Hagan waited for them. He couldn't, however, hold his giggles back when he saw his half-drowned sister.

  "Drat, Kristen. I guess you've had a pretty rotten day. First, the horse throws you, then you fall into the lake." He shook his head. "I told my friends that somebody had to watch after you."

  "Ye didn't do too good a job then." Kristen frowned at him. Did the child ever worry about her? He seemed to always assume she would land on her feet.

  Hagan held the bridle of her horse while Trevor helped her mount.

  "I think you did a good job for your age," Trevor told Hagan. "Even I couldn't keep your sister out of trouble. It just seems to find her." Amusement played clearly on his face.

  "If ye two are through discussing me, I'd like tae go tae the house." She gathered the reins and left them both staring at her.

  Later that night, Kristen awoke with a sore throat and a stuffy head. She tossed and turned until she finally woke Trevor.

  "What's wrong, love?"

  "I dinna feel good," she whined.

  "Come here." Trevor pulled her body next to his and threw his arm over her. She fitted perfectly with his curves, as if they were made for each other. Soon, his warmth relaxed her, and she drifted off to sleep . . . miserable, yet contented.

  The next morning her head felt three times its normal size, and her eyes ran water every time she tried to open them. She was just plain suffering.

  Trevor insisted that she stay in bed, and she didn't argue since holding her head up seemed to be a real chore. He even brought her some hot tea and toast, then sat with her while she ate. She realized he was trying to take care of her, and she thought that was sweet.

  At midmorning, Hagan climbed up on her bed and started to read her children's stories. She was glad for the company, and she was really pleased at how fast and well Hagan had learned to read.

  Trevor stuck his head through the open door, "How is our patient?"

  Kristen moaned and pulled the covers over her head.

  "She's a bit grumpy," Hagan informed him.

  "Perhaps, she has a right to feel out of sorts." Trevor moved over to the bed, and pulled the covers back to reveal his patient. "Kristen." She didn't bother to answer. "Come on and just peek at me."

  This time she barely opened one eye. "Have you been drinking the warm tea?" he asked, trying to be patient. She nodded her head. Her nose had turned a very prominent red, and she looked absolutely miserable, Trevor thought. He wished she felt better, before he had to go, but it didn't look like that would be the case.

  Trevor sighed. "I know you're sick, but I have to leave."

  "Leave?" she croaked, cracking open both eyes this time.

  "I must go to London. Something unexpected has come up,and Miller is packing my bags as we speak. I shouldn't be gone long."

  "I dinna leave ye when ye were sick," she accused.

  "I was shot. Not sick. And you were one of the ones who put a bullet in me, or should I remind you of that?" He squeezed her hand. "Besides which, I have a whole staff to wait on you hand and foot."

  Her bottom lip poked out. She knew she was being childish, but she didn't feel well, and she didn't want Trevor to go. After all, he was warm to snuggle up to, and he was a dear, sweet mon most of the time. And, unfortunately for her, she loved him. e didn't need to know that yet; it would give him too much power over her. After a few minutes, she said, "Go take care of yer business. I'll just lay here and die." At l
east he could feel guilty while he was gone.

  He chuckled. "I think you'll be fine." He placed a finger under her chin and tilted her head up. "Are you going to give me a hug good bye?" Kristen jerked away.

  "I am." Hagan leapt into his arms and wrapped his small arms around Trevor's neck.

  "Well, I'm glad someone will." Trevor sat Hagan on his feet and patted his bottom. "Run along and see if Miller has my bags packed."

  Trevor turned back to Kristen. "Well . . ."

  She frowned while she pushed back the covers and got to her knees on the bed. Trevor hugged her to him. He held her so tightly that she could forget everything, even how bad she felt. He hugged her as if he loved her. Maybe he really didn't want to go. Finally, he leaned back and kissed her forehead.

  "I won't be gone long." Trevor started for the door, but looked back at her. "You stay in bed and get well. And don't go riding alone." For a moment, he thought she looked a little sad that he was leaving, but her next words shot that thought out of his mind.

  "Yer a bloody nag."

  "You heard what I said." Trevor chuckled, then shut the door.

  Chapter Twelve

  Trevor told himself for at least the twentieth time that he didn't feel guilty about leaving Kristen. However, his mood didn't change as he tried to find a different position in the carriage, so he could stretch out his legs.

  Hadn't he said this was what he wanted? His freedom to come and go? He'd stayed much longer than he'd expected to. So why did he feel so damned guilty?

  Besides, his business was urgent. He'd lost two ships in a bloody storm, and he'd have to commission the ship builders to construct replacements. The only problem was that he needed them immediately.

  If he shut his eyes, he could picture Kristen curled up in bed. For one brief moment, he thought she'd looked a little sad that he was leaving, and he almost turned around and went back for one more kiss. But when he looked again, the look had left her eyes. So he'd gone.

  He was getting soft, he thought as he shut his eyes, took a deep breath, and waited for the sleep he needed to take his mind off the many questions for which he had no answers. His life used to be very uncomplicated before Kristen and, he thought, with a wry grin, dull.