Hart's Desire (Pirates & Petticoats Book 1) (14 page)

Doreen’s jaw clenched through the stiff smile she gave to the captain. “I hope to see you again soon, Captain.” She gave Keelan a stony glance before she twirled, snatched the door open, and went inside the house.

Sham pranced sideways. Keelan spoke to the horse in what hopefully was an authoritative tone to quiet him. He settled down a bit, but still snorted his impatience in response to her tightening the reins. She chanced a quick glance toward Landon. Perhaps her handling of her mount eased his concerns of her ability to control Sham. Or perhaps he had the same question as she… How fast could such a beast run?

They walked toward the mill. A tangy scent of pine and earth wafted from the wood. The lane meandered through the entire plantation, connecting the main homestead to the fields, mill, slave cabins, and farmland. It was wide enough for Twin Pine’s lumber wagons to haul timber from the surrounding forests to the mill, making a ride through the countryside free of strange wagons and riders, as well as peaceful.

Stern gray clouds mottled the bright blue sky, giving them some respite from the hot June sun. Landon glanced up. “It appears we will indeed have some foul weather before the day is done.”

She followed his gaze. “At breakfast, Ruth predicted rain and Uncle Jared concurred. He originally planned to go into Charleston but decided to wait another day or so, to avoid miring the carriage in the mud near the low river crossing again.” She shifted in her seat to balance her weight a bit better. “That’s why he decided to work at the mill office today.”

“Tis my good fortune then,” Landon said.
 

At Keelan’s curious look, he elaborated, “Otherwise I wouldn’t have the opportunity to enjoy such pleasant sights.”
 

He was flirting with her. She was sure of it even though he had a completely bland expression as he looked down the lane lined with Live oaks, Spanish moss dripping off their branches like a tattered veils.
 

No quirking eyebrow, no wink, no ornery grin.
 

What was he up to?

Keelan loosened the reins, and Sham quickly stepped up to a perky trot.
 

“I’m in no hurry,” Landon said, keeping his mount next to hers. “In fact, a slower pace allows me to enjoy your company longer.”

She laughed. “Has it occurred to you I might not wish to extend our time together? It seems to me the more we interact, the more trouble I seem to encounter.”

“You wound me deeply.” Landon’s smile was anything but wounded.

Keelan was still not accustomed to the extreme heat and humidity of the region, even though she had been here for several months. She became increasingly aware of the warmth and restrictiveness of her riding habit. If only she were riding alone, she would have traded comfort for propriety and removed her hat and jacket and tied them to the back of her sidesaddle.
 

Perhaps later.
 

She couldn’t bite back the smile as she imagined how refreshing it would be to have the wind comb her hair. In fact, now that she’d considered it, the more appealing a gallop became. She chanced a sly glance at Captain Hart.
 

“What is your horse’s name, Captain?”

He reached down and gave his mount a firm pat on the side of the neck. “This is Orion.”

“He’s beautiful. Is he very fast?”

Landon gave her a humble shrug. “He’s swift enough. According to your uncle, Orion’s from good stock. I bought him at Mr. Grey's suggestion. He said he was as fine as any he owned.”

“Hmm.” Keelan perused the captain’s stallion. “Let’s see, shall we?” She patted Sham’s neck and crooned, “Now then my handsome steed, lets give the wind a sporting chase.” She glanced sideways at Landon. “On the count of three, Captain?”

But the captain shook his head. “I prefer not.”

“One…” she said.

“Miss Grey, I strongly advise…”

“Two…”

“I will not…”

“Three!”

Keelan relaxed her grip on the reins and twisted her fingers in Sham’s mane for added stability. The stallion needed no further urging. His muscles bunched beneath her as he leapt forward, eager to stretch his legs. She heard a surprised shout behind her. Soon, they were flying with joyful abandon down the lane. She laughed in giddy delight while Sham’s hooves beat a steady rhythm on the turf. It wasn’t long, however, before she heard Orion’s hoof beats getting louder behind her.

Small clods of earth flew up in their wake as they burst out of the woods and raced along the outskirts of one of the fields. A small group of slaves paused in their labors and watched their flight as they thundered past.
 

Although Sham worked up a lather on his neck and flanks, his breathing wasn't labored. In fact, he strained against the bit. How fast would he go if she let him set the pace? Keelan pulled on the reins but the horse did not respond. She pulled back again, harder this time, and tried to ignore the band tightening around her chest.
 

She threw all her weight back in the saddle and added a shouted command, and expelled a breath she didn't realize she was holding when Sham hitched his gait allowing her to eventually slow him to an easy canter as they neared the mill. Thank goodness. She gave a triumphant laugh when she succeeded reining in the animal.

“Come now, Sham. I need to catch my breath, even if you do not!”
 

After a few prancing steps of half-hearted rebellion, the horse heeded her command and slowed to a reluctant walk. Landon Hart reined in beside her, a stern expression upon his face.

“What’s wrong, Captain?” she quipped breathlessly. “Not used to being outrun by a woman?”

“That was very foolish of you, Keelan Grey.” He reached over and grabbed Sham’s bridle. The horse threw up his head, nostrils flaring. The close proximity of Landon’s stallion didn’t help calm the beast in the slightest, but Landon held firmly to the bridle and gave the horse a low, firm command. When Sham settled a bit more, she was once again the recipient of his heated gaze.
 

“You’re upset that you lost,” she countered. Her heart was beating a rhythm betraying her act of bravado; she was grateful the captain couldn’t hear it, or he’d guess how close she’d been to losing control of the stallion.

“Your horse could have hit a rut in the trail and gone down with you on him!” Landon said fiercely. “You could have broken your pretty little neck.”

“Well, he didn’t, as you can well see.” She adjusted her reins to avoid looking at him. She had to admit that while the ride was exhilarating, it had also been a bit frightening.
 

 
“I’m not some helpless little chit,” she added.

“Oh, you have proven that statement to the point of redundancy,” Landon replied, lowering his brows. His eyes practically sparked with blue fire. “It’s the reckless nature of your decisions I find most infuriating.”

Despite lifting her chin and easing back her shoulders, it was hard to avoid shrinking away from him a bit like a chastised child. That reaction scraped her pride as would a gravel path to a knee.
 

“Well, that really should be none of you concern, should it?” she snapped back, annoyed at her cowardice. “I can take care of myself just fine. Go find some weak-minded strumpet from whom to charm kisses. I’ll not be a pretty piece for you to use while your boat is being repaired.”

An odd expression fluttered across Captain Hart’s face and for once, he had no retort.

She nodded toward the mill ahead, her confidence almost refilled. “You’ll find Uncle Jared in the office.”

Landon released her reins. “It would be best if you returned to the stables before the rain starts.”

“I will when I’m ready,” she replied. “But I’d like to follow the trail ahead a bit further, first.” She reined Sham away from Landon’s horse before he could grab the reins again. “Good day, Captain Hart.”

Sham jumped to a quick trot as soon as she loosened the reins. She allowed the horse to progress into a slow canter as they moved on down the lane. Resisting the urge to check the captain’s reaction, she hoped she appeared more confident on her mount than she actually felt.

Landon Hart was dangerous.

The thick air pressed Keelan’s clothing against her skin like a damp blanket. A trickle of sweat followed a pathway down the side of her face and along her jaw, before continuing down her neck. Once she rode beyond the sight of the mill, she didn’t think twice about propriety and removed both her jacket and bonnet and tied them to the back of her saddle. She was thankful Slaney had insisted upon pinning her hair up off her neck this morning.
 

The merchant captain was entirely too flirtatious. It was important she steel herself to be more resistant to his charms. But how?

In the past, when she needed to clear her mind or ponder the solution to a problem, she always took to a horse, dragging along whatever household servant she could persuade to chaperone. When in town she went by carriage, but when they stayed at the country house, she rode.
 

This ride was no different from the ones in the past, except for one thing.
 

A chaperone.

She shook her head in self-chastisement. Again, a rash decision on her part had her teetering on the precipice of trouble. When would she learn? If only she’d paused long enough to think her plan through, she would’ve decided to bring Slaney along. Perhaps she inherited this particular personality flaw from Papa, who was eccentric in his own right. She frowned as her thoughts turned toward her father.

His prognosis was terrible and placed a heavy ache in her heart. As much as she wanted to squeeze her eyes closed and wish the fear away, she could not.
 

She gripped the reins a little more tightly. To stand idly by and avoid preparing for her future would sentence her to years of misery with old man Pratt. It made her shudder with repulsion. It was obvious he overindulged in food and drink by his stature and his bulbous red nose. Since servants and slaves tended to gossip amongst themselves, Slaney had been able to provide Keelan with several lurid stories of strange sounds emanating from the master’s bedroom at night. The possibility of becoming Pratt’s bride churned up a wave of nausea.
 

However, her plan seemed to be working, and she hoped soon she would be free of that possibility, thanks to Dr. Garrison. Keelan had also studied the Twin Pines ledgers. She now had a solid proposal in mind for her father and uncle.
 

She sat straighter. It was crucial she keep her reputation spotless over the next several months. If Papa believed she had been compromised in any way, he would marry her off immediately.
 

Keelan would simply make sure she was well chaperoned at all times.
 

From now on, of course.

Unbidden, Landon Hart’s handsome face intruded into her thoughts
again
. “Stop thinking about him,” she muttered to herself. She had to admit she longed to show Captain Hart she wasn’t some boyish twit intent on playing games in a meadow. She wanted Hart to see her as a woman. Confident, capable… She squared her shoulders.
 

And totally out of reach.

She blew a stray curl from her cheek and gave a resigned sigh. Except it would demand
 
she play the same game with Hart as he played with her. And it was a game, that was certain. It was impossible Hart’s attentions were based on anything other than his desire to seduce her.

Even if his intentions were honorable, she could never find happiness with a sea captain as a husband, because she would hate being left alone for months at a time, never knowing when, or if, he would return, especially one with a vendetta against a pirate.

“Augh!” Swatting the air in front of her as if batting away his memory, she muttered, “Leave me be!”

 
Her stomach grumbled loudly, and she regretted not bringing something to eat. Although the sun remained hidden behind the low gray clouds, she estimated it was past the noon hour. Thomas had kindly strapped a canteen to her saddle, and she retrieved it and took a long drink.

Sham flicked his ears forward and back, taking in the surrounding countryside. The stallion paused, sampled the wind, and spun around to scan the lane behind them.

 
“What do you hear, my fine steed?” she murmured. Absently stroking his glistening neck, she tried to peer into the trees lining the lane. Nothing.

“Are you seeing ghosts, sir?” She saw nothing unusual. “I fear you’d be worthless in a fight, Sham. ‘Tis your good fortune you have such a swift stride. At least you can outrun your foes.”

She reined Sham back around and they continued along the wide lane. Breaking into a clearing, they passed three shanties in various states of dilapidation. One still had most of its roof, but the other two were little more than a pile of clapboards, shingles, and stone. A sudden scurrying within the weeds near one of the structures startled Sham, and he shied away a few steps to the side, while keeping a wary eye on the monster in the grass.

“It’s probably a rabbit, you big coward.” Keelan smiled. “Honestly, for such a large beast, you really should be a bit braver.”

As the soil changed from red clay to moist sand, Sham’s ears perked up, and he sampled the air again then gave her a snort. He stopped and pranced a few obstinate steps to the left.
 

She’d never been this far from the house before. Glancing up at the sky, the bank of clouds was still hunched on the horizon.
 

Curious, she allowed the stallion to follow his nose.

“You’ll probably soon have us both miles away, all because you’ve caught scent of a pretty little filly,” she mumbled dryly. A few moments later, they emerged out of the forest onto the bank of a large lake.

 
“Ohhhh!” she breathed. “How beautiful.” She gaped at the pristine scene before her. So
this
was the largest lake on the plantation. It was much bigger than she’d imagined.