My Savage Heart (The MacQuaid Brothers) (15 page)

But now he had to admit, to himself anyway, it was Caroline who concerned him most.

Caroline’s mind reeled. What she told him was true. Since her arrival here, there had been little to indicate any trouble existed between the Cherokee and white settlers. Still, no Indian she’d met held her husband in anything other than contempt. But then neither did she.

But if Wolf was right... if there was fighting... what would happen to him? She had to know. “Where will you stand?”

“If there’s war?” He turned his head to stare out across the creek. “I do not know.” He looked back, his eyes catching hers. “There may still be hope,” he said. “I understand the ways of both nations. I am on my way to the Middle Towns to talk with the Headmen. To persuade them to travel to Charles Town and meet with Governor Lyttelton. In the meantime, I want you and Mary to go to Fort Prince George.”

“And what of your father?”

Wolf’s dark brows lowered. “If it is his wish.”

“He’s my husband.” Caroline’s gaze met his and held.

“I am aware of that.” Sadayi told him of the wedding. And though Wolf knew it would happen, the news was more difficult to accept than he’d expected.

“Has it been...?” Wolf faltered, at a loss for words. “Are you all right?”

“Yes.” She turned out of his grasp, refusing to let him see her unhappiness. Her fingers fisted at her side, and she took a deep breath. “I think you should tell your... Robert and Mary what you told me.”

“The hell you say!” Robert spit the words toward his son as he sat in the parlor.

Wolf paced the length of the room and back, as he’d done since following Caroline into the old man’s presence. At her suggestion, he laid the facts, as he knew them, on the line. He wasn’t surprised when Robert scoffed at the notion of bloodshed.

“There will be no trouble with the Cherokee, and do you want to know why?” Robert didn’t wait for an answer. “Because they’re all a bunch of spineless women.”

Caroline standing near the curtained windows watched as Wolf’s back stiffened. He took a step toward Robert, but stopped.

“Oh, they talk big,” Robert continued. “Tal-tsuska and those who trail along behind him. But not one of them has the nerve to stand and fight. They’d rather complain about not getting enough beads for their hides.”

“Few men of honor stand by quietly when they are cheated.”

The air between the two men seemed to crackle with animosity. Caroline watched a heated flush sweep up over her husband’s usually, pallid features. He gripped the chair arms but made no attempt to rise. Perhaps he knew, even standing, he was dwarfed by his tall, powerful son. “What are you saying, boy? Or are you like the rest of your kind, afraid to say what you really think?”

The only light in the room was a taper burning on the table beside Robert’s chair. Wolf moved forward till he stood near enough to the old man to see him clearly... and to be sure he was seen. “I am talking about using short weights. About trading inferior goods and knowing it.” Wolf’s eyes narrowed. “I am talking about the way you ran your business.”

His words were delivered in a low, emotionless tone, but to Caroline’s way of thinking that made them all the more damning. She never doubted what he said was true. But she did wonder what Robert would do now that the accusation was out in the open. When he threw back his head, his jowls shaking and laughed, she let out her pent-up breath.

“You’re always full of brass... not like the rest of those cowardly heathens.” Robert wiped at his eyes with the back of his hand. “But then I always thought that was because you had my blood running through your veins.”

“It is not something of which I am proud.”

The mirth left Robert’s face. “Well, you should be, boy. How many of your kind have what I gave you? Hell, I sent you to school in England. I spent money trying to make a gentleman of you, willing to overlook the Indian blood that taints you, and look at what you do. You could be wearing silk waistcoats, helping me run Seven Pines, but instead you live in that shack and dress like a savage.”

“I don’t think—” Caroline began.

“You stay out of this, girl.”

The words were Robert’s, but it was the look Wolf sent her that made Caroline step back into the shadows and give up any notion of interceding in their controversy. Besides, she told herself, it was not her problem. Neither man meant anything to her. Still it was Wolf she watched as he resumed pacing the room.

The younger man strode to the window and back, trying to regain control of his anger. Confrontations with Robert were useless. He learned that long ago. The man who’d sired him felt no remorse for the things he did, whether it be cheating people who relied on him, using then discarding a woman who loved him, or degrading a son. Caroline drew his attention and for a heartbeat their gazes met.

Dear God, what had he done, bringing her here?

Wolf turned to face his father. “I have told you what is happening... what is likely to happen. Within the hour I shall be leaving for Fort Prince George. Are you coming with me?”

“Hell boy.” Robert slapped at his leg. “I can’t go anyplace.”

“Then at least send the women to safety.”

“Well now. I just might—”`

Caroline stepped forward to explain that Mary was in no condition to travel, but a sharp look from her husband made her pause.

“But I can’t be deciding that before morning.” His pale green eyes shifted back to Caroline. “Hadn’t you best see about those lazy women getting us something to eat?”

“I will stay the night, but I am not interested in eating with you.”

The insult seemed to fall short of its mark for again Robert laughed. A very evil laugh in Caroline’s opinion. “Nonsense,” he finally said. “You wouldn’t wish to deprive my beautiful wife of your charming company, would you?”

Damn the old man to hell. Wolf sat across the polished mahogany table from Caroline wishing he hadn’t given in to Robert’s taunt. He knew at the time it was a mistake to prolong the meeting, but he couldn’t make himself sacrifice seeing Caroline. And he had the uncomfortable notion the old man knew it.

“Tell me Caroline,” Robert questioned now. “You’ve never said. How did you get on with Raff on your journey here?”

Caroline forced herself to continue slicing a piece of beef, not allowing her eyes to stray toward Wolf. She swallowed. “He was... we got along fine.”

“You didn’t have a problem with him being a savage?”

“No!” Caroline choked out the word, and this time her gaze did flash toward Wolf. He sat, tall and straight, his handsome face a study in contempt. “He was a gentleman,” Caroline said, feeling compelled to defend the man who betrayed her.

“That’s good.” Robert took a hefty swig of Madeira. “I wouldn’t want to think he didn’t treat you with all respect due the daughter of an earl.”

He said the last with his usual contempt. But that wasn’t what bothered Caroline. She’d become immune to his degrading sarcasm. No, it was the way her husband looked at her, then at Wolf... as if he knew.

Caroline took a quick drink, choking on the amber liquid.

“What’s wrong with you, girl?”

“Nothing.” Caroline coughed into her napkin. Robert was watching her, that same grim satisfied expression on his face, and Caroline couldn’t bear it anymore. She wondered briefly if Wolf told him about the night they spent together. Was that the real reason he’d come? But she didn’t believe that. Wolf’s animosity toward his father ran too deep for shared confidences.

No, Robert’s apparent suspicions must be something she’d done. The tone of her voice when she spoke to Wolf... or the way she couldn’t seem to stop looking at him. For as much as she should hate him... did hate him, Caroline found it difficult to fight her attraction to him. And she was worried it was obvious to everyone.

“Would you please excuse me?” Caroline had to get out of his presence. She pushed her chair out and rose before Wolf could help her.

“Where do you think you’re going, girl?” Robert twisted in his seat. His broken leg was propped on the chair beside him.

“I...” The magnetism of Wolf’s eyes drew hers, but she pulled her gaze away quickly, then concentrated on her husband. “I should check on Mary.” Before either man could say a word, she turned and rushed from the room.

“She’s a beauty.” Robert turned his head from the door to meet Wolf’s eye. “Don’t you agree?”

Wolf kept his expression blank. “I suppose so.”

“You suppose so? Are you blind boy? Or are you so used to those dark-skinned savages you can’t appreciate a fine looking white woman?”

Wolf ignored the question, asking one of his own to hopefully change the subject. He didn’t wish to discuss Caroline with her husband. But he also knew better than to rush off after Caroline’s hasty exit. “How is Mary? I was surprised she didn’t join us for dinner.”

Robert brushed the concern aside. “She’s fine. Gets tired easy because of the baby.” He took another drink of wine. “I guess I should thank you for what you did for Caroline.”

Wolf said nothing.

“I appreciate your bringing her to me.” Robert’s smile was lascivious. He made a crude sound with his tongue. “She sure can make me forget about this broken leg.”

Wolf laid his fork across the plate.

“How she learned some of the things she does, I’ll never know. Guess their nursemaids must teach these
ladies
how to please a man.”

Wolf’s jaw tightened, but he said nothing. What had he expected? He brought her here. Hell, he’d taken Caroline’s virginity just so the old man would suspect that his wife was Wolf’s leavings. But the way he was talking, the lack of a maidenhead hadn’t meant a thing to him.

“You ever had yourself one of them
ladies
, boy? Don’t be shy now. You aren’t a bad looking boy when you aren’t dressed like a savage. I’ll bet you had your pick of blue-blooded women when you were in England.”

Robert seemed not to notice Wolf’s lack of response.

“Well, I can’t swear that they’re all like that one.” Robert motioned toward the door Caroline passed through minutes ago. “But she’s a real animal. Tires me out, she does. Wants it every night. Sometimes more.” He groped at the flap of his stained breeches. “She’s keeping this thing busy.” Robert licked his lips as he fondled himself. “Where you going, boy?”

Wolf strode across the dining room, pausing at the door. He almost said nothing, fearing if he opened his mouth, he’d say something he’d regret. Something that Robert might take as proof that he cared about Caroline. And if he knew that... Wolf knew the old man pretty well. Too well. Anything or anybody Wolf cared about was fair game for Robert. He knew what to say or do to cause the most pain. Wolf had seen it with talk about his mother, and about the people he called his own.

These comments about Caroline must be the result of some real or imagined attraction Robert noticed between his wife and son. And if somehow Robert failed to note that his wife had come to him less than an innocent, Wolf wasn’t going to do anything now to bring Robert’s wrath upon Caroline.

And who knew for certain. Perhaps for once, Robert spoke only the truth. Wolf couldn’t argue that Caroline was an extremely beautiful and sensual woman. The texture of her pale skin, the silkiness of her hair were things he could not forget. And her taste, no amount of wine could purge it from his mouth. He dreamed of her nightly and woke hard and aching.

But that agony was nothing compared to thoughts of her doing with Robert the things they’d done together. It made him sick. It made him want to plow his fist into something.

But as he left the room, Wolf couldn’t deny that he deserved to feel as he did. After all, he had used her, then left her here. And he’d known what would happen when he did.

It was a reality he could not change. One he must learn to accept no matter how difficult. Except... one question still lingered.