My Savage Heart (The MacQuaid Brothers) (34 page)

“I’m planning to go to Charles Town as soon as I’ve the chance.” She blinked through the smoke curling up from her mouth. “But I ain’t sure you should be going further out on the frontier yet.”

“I explained to you about the smallpox,” Caroline said, lowering her voice so she wouldn’t disturb Mary. She’d gone to bed early in anticipation of the morrow’s journey, and Caroline knew Mary would need all the rest she could get.

“I done had smallpox back in ’35. Almost died, I did.” She puffed again. “But I pulled through.” She twisted her head toward the door. “Now who do you suppose that is at this time of night?”

Caroline hadn’t heard anything before Mistress Quinn spoke, but sure enough there came a pounding on the door. With a nod, the older woman indicated Caroline should answer it.

It was dark outside, but she recognized Wolf’s large frame instantly. He stood in the doorway, his face in shadows, his musket cradled in his arms, and Caroline felt a bittersweet longing that all but carried her forward. If not for the memory of their last encounter and his stance, so tall and rigid, she might have thrown herself into his arms.

How long they stood there staring at each other, Caroline didn’t know. It was Mistress Quinn who broke the silence, with a bellowed shout. “Who in the hell is at the door? It’s cold enough to freeze a witch’s tit.”

“It’s Raff, Mistress Quinn,” he called in. “I have someone here who wants to see Caroline.”

“Well bring ’em in for goodness sakes.”

Stepping back Caroline let Wolf in, only then noticing that there was someone else with him. She smiled tentatively at the young man who was wrapped from head to toe in a greatcoat and muffler. He reached up and unwrapped a layer, laughing at Caroline’s shocked expression.

“So, Caro, is this all the welcome I receive after traveling so far to see you?”

“Ned?” Caroline flew toward the stranger. “Ned, it is you.”

“A
nd that is where Mr. MacQuaid found me.” Edward Simmons, Eighth Earl of Shewbridge finished his story with a flourish. With his elbows planted on the hand-hewn table, he glanced first across the room toward Wolf and then back to his sister. She sat beside him, her hand on his arm. For a moment the only sound was a shifting log in the hearth that took most of one wall in the log cabin.

Then Caroline shook her head. “But I don’t understand. ’Tis not that I don’t love seeing you.” Her fingers tightened on his sleeve. “But what possessed you to come?” She may have thought about sending for him... at first, when she thought she and Raff... that wasn’t even worth remembering. She even considered that someday he might choose to come to the New World. But not now—certainly not now.

“I just thought it would be an adventure,” he said, unaware that Caroline caught the nervous blink of his right eye.

He may have grown a foot since she last saw him, now standing taller than she, but Caroline could still tell when he was lying. And he was doing it now.

“An adventure, you say,” she said, cocking her head to one side. He only nodded before digging into the bread pudding he’d pushed aside moments ago, pleading he would burst if he ate another bite.

“What of school?”

“I quit,” he said around another mouthful of the cinnamon-laced sweet.

“Quit? Ned...” Caroline pushed away from the table and stood. “’Tis impossible to believe you would do such a thing. Especially when I—” Caroline caught herself before mentioning all she’d gone through to provide for him. Folding her arms, she turned her back, trying to regain her calm. And missing the furtive look her brother shot toward Wolf, and the supportive nod he received in return.

“I was asked to leave.”

“What?” Caroline’s skirts swished on the packed-earth floor as she whirled around.

“It wasn’t as bad as that,” Edward said with a forced grin. “They were very nice about it really, considering...”

Caroline was almost afraid to ask. “Considering what?”

“That they’d received no coin for over a year.” Blood drained from Caroline’s face and she had the uncomfortable feeling she might swoon. She clutched the chair back and closed her mouth. “There must be a mistake. Paying your school was part of the—” Her eyes darted to Wolf lounging in the corner, leaning on his long rifle. “There must be a mistake,” she repeated.

“I thought as much also, being as you told me it was a condition of your marrying that colonial. But then Mr. Chipford came around and assured me ’twas true.”

“There was no money transferred?” Caroline didn’t like discussing private affairs in front of Wolf, but he didn’t seem inclined to take his leave, and he’d already heard enough to guess the rest.

“Not a farthing,” Edward said and stood, moving over beside his sister. The arm he put around her was tentative at first. He was used to her comforting him, her taking care of him. “I thought it best I come find you,” he said when she rested her head against his shoulder. “I’m sorry if things didn’t work out as you’d planned.”

Caroline reached up to touch his cheek, surprised that the hint of whiskers deprived it of being baby-soft. But he’d grown more than physically. “I’m glad you came,” she said. “As it was, I’d thought to send for you.”

“Really?”

There was a glimpse of the same old Ned as his blue eyes opened wide.

“Yes, really. Now off to bed with you. I’m sure you’re tired after your
adventure
.”

“I am a bit buggered out. But where do I sleep?” He glanced around the room as if he half expected there to be a secret hallway that led to a separate wing of bedrooms. Caroline almost laughed at the thought and for the adjustment he would have to make.

“’Tis up yon ladder,” she said with a sweeping motion of her hand. You’ll find a reasonably comfortable mattress and a modicum of privacy.”

To Edward’s credit, he simply nodded and swung onto the bottom rung. But halfway up the ladder he paused and looked down at his sister. “I’m glad I came, Caro. It never did please me having an entire ocean separating us.”

“I didn’t like it, either, Ned.”

Caroline stared at the crude ladder as long as she could before turning toward the only other person in the room. She would have thought he’d see her brother’s departure as the perfect opportunity to take his own leave. But he seemed rooted to the spot, watching her from beneath hooded eyelids, his expression unreadable.

Caroline swallowed and began clearing the dishes from in front of Ned’s place. Her brother had eaten two bowls of stew, cornbread and dessert so quickly, Caroline had to wonder when he had his last meal. Raff on the other hand had accepted only hot mulled cider. Caroline decided she wasn’t going to go close to him to retrieve the pewter mug.

“Thank you for delivering Ned,” she said when the silence became unbearable. “Exactly where did you find him?”

“Not far off the trail, near Estatoe. He had built himself quite a campfire. He wasn’t hard to spot.”

Caroline poured steaming water into the dishpan, adding a scoop of soft lye soap and set the pottery dishes to soak. “Well, thank you again. I’m sure Ned was pleased to have your guidance getting to Fort Prince George.”

“I do not know.” Wolf left his gun standing in the corner and came toward the table. Pulling out a chair he turned it, straddling the seat. “He seemed more excited to learn that I knew you.”

After acknowledging his remark with a slight nod of her head, Caroline started scrubbing the few dishes Ned used. She didn’t like the cozy feel of having Wolf so near, nor the way she could feel his stare burn between her shoulder blades. Despite the chill in the air, beads of perspiration dotted her forehead.

The splash of water. The crackle of burning wood. Those sounds seemed to echo through the night-silent cabin. When Caroline could stand it no more, she whirled around, soapy hands akimbo and faced him. He didn’t appear surprised by the sudden movement.

“So now you know.”

He only arched a brow, which caused Caroline to grind out the next words. “Don’t act as if you didn’t hear what Ned was saying. I married your father for one reason and one reason only.”

“I am not exactly shocked.” Wolf leaned forward, resting his chin on his crossed hands. “It never seemed a love match.”

The cool, almost bored way he spoke was infuriating... or perhaps the news her brother brought was finally penetrating her brain. “I was penniless,” she said her spine as stiff as a ramrod. “And your father didn’t even live up to his end of the marriage contract.” Caroline tried to ignore the little voice that reminded her that she hadn’t, either. “He promised to take care of my brother and didn’t.”

Again he said nothing, only stared at her with those dark, intense eyes that seemed to draw her toward him. Stubbornly, Caroline held her ground. “What is it you want?”

She could swear something flashed behind his eyes, but his expression didn’t change. “You would do better not to ask such open questions, Caroline. One of these days I may tell you exactly what I want from you. For now,” he continued. “A simple explanation of just where the hell you think you are going, will suffice.”

Caroline followed his gaze to the stuffed saddlebag. She had bundled it off onto a chest in the corner when she set the table for Ned.

She refused to be cowed by him, no matter how low and threatening his tone. “I’m taking Mary and the baby... and now Ned to Seven Pines.”

“Damnation woman. Don’t you have any sense?”

“I have plenty of sense, and it all tells me we’d be better off there than in this disease-infested fort.” Caroline realized she was doing a poor job of keeping her voice down and whirled back to the dishpan, dismissing him. Or so she hoped.

“I will take you to Charles Town.”

“What?” Of all the arguments she expected... of all the things he might say... this was not it. “I don’t want to go to Charles Town.

“Damnit Caroline, you do not belong here.”

“Then where do I belong?” She turned away, hoping he hadn’t noticed the sheen of tears in her eyes. “You heard Ned. There’s nothing for us in England.” She took a deep breath and faced him again. “Seven Pines is all I have.”

“Is that all you and your child have?”

It was the first he’d mentioned the baby since he showed up on her doorstep, and Caroline had almost forgotten their terrible parting before. Now everything crashed down on her. Wolf’s anger. Robert’s will that left her penniless if she didn’t claim him as the father of her child.

“I think you should leave. Thank you again for bringing— Stop it. What are you doing?” She fought against him when he scrambled out of his chair and grabbed her upper arms.

“It is not your gratitude I want, and you damn well know it.”

His presence was overwhelming... his scent, the feel of his strong hands, but Caroline steeled herself against him. “’Tis all you shall get.”

He didn’t say, “We shall see about that,” but the words were there in his expression with his arched brow and flared nostrils. Then he kissed her and her resolve weakened. It was a hard, quick kiss. Possessive. Demanding. When he pulled away, Wolf stared down at her until her eyes slowly opened.

“I am expected at Estatoe tomorrow, actually today, but I did not think it a good idea to allow your brother to traipse about the countryside on his own. When I return, we will discuss this further.”

And then he was gone.

She had to nudge him twice before he managed to open his eyes and then he moaned about the light. “Come on, Ned,” she urged after placing the candleholder on the loft flooring. “’Tis time to rise.”

“Caro.” The word was a drawn-out plea that reminded her of the boy he used to be. Laughing, she reached down to pull the quilt from where he’d thrown it over his face.

“You’re on the frontier now, Neddy. We rise before the rooster.”

“Mr. MacQuaid doesn’t.” Edward squinted one eye open.

“Well, Mr. MacQuaid isn’t here, is he?”

Caroline didn’t know if it was her tone that had her brother suddenly pushing to his elbows or not. She hadn’t meant to sound so bitter, but there was no help for it now.

“I thought Mr. MacQuaid was your friend.”

“What made you think that?” Caroline scooped up the candle and headed for the ladder.

“He said so,” her brother responded in a way that reminded Caroline of how a clergyman might refer to the Gospel. Her lips thinned as she glanced over her shoulder.

“Hurry and get dressed, Ned. Breakfast is almost ready, and we need to get an early start.”

She pretended not to hear the question he called after her as she hurried down the ladder. Mary was sitting, propped against her pillow, Colleen at her breast when Caroline entered the bedroom. She glanced up, bringing her finger to her lips. With a nod, she indicated Mistress Quinn lying beside her sound asleep. They both watched as the older woman took a breath, the air gurgling in her throat before she exhaled in a loud snore. The smile they shared lightened Caroline’s step as she left the room to turn the bacon frying up in the skillet.

Mary seemed in good spirits. If only she didn’t have those dark circles beneath her eyes that seemed to darken and grow daily. For the hundredth time Caroline prayed she was doing the right thing by taking them all back to Seven Pines.