Shades of Honor (15 page)

“Did you find the sermon that bad?” Amelia asked.

Evelyn pressed a hand to her chest and whispered to her friend. “I had to get out of there. I couldn’t breathe.”

Amelia’s eyes twinkled. “Pastor Ainslie does go on, doesn’t he?” she asked conspiratorially.

Evelyn laughed and nodded her agreement, keeping one eye on her father while he approached with a limping gait.

He stopped beside them, hooked his arm around Evelyn’s waist, and winked at Amelia. “You two are lovely this morning.”

Knowing she looked frazzled, Evelyn glanced at Amelia’s warm smile and prim but attractive dress, and agreed with her father. Amelia always looked lovely. Suddenly, Evelyn felt as if she had returned to her school days when she used to hide in her baggy dresses like a turtle in its shell, shying away from attention, watching how the boys responded to Amelia’s beauty.

“I didn’t see your pa this morning,” Kyle said to Amelia as he and Radford joined their group. “Is he out of town again?”

“He’s right over there with Mama and Agatha Brown,” Amelia said, gesturing across the yard to where Tom Drake stood talking in the middle of a small cluster of people. “He’d love to see all of you,” she said, issuing a warm invitation for them to join her family.

“Thanks, Amelia, but I have to go to the mill with Duke. Give your pa my regards, though,” Kyle said, then turned to Evelyn. “I’ve got to go. I’ll see you at supper.”

Radford caught Evelyn’s eye. “It looks like Tom and Martha are leaving, too. We’d better go get Helen.”

William offered Amelia his arm. “That means I get you all to myself for a few minutes.”

“We’ll try to come rescue you before Papa proposes,” Evelyn said, sharing a smile with Amelia, then she turned and crossed the yard with Radford and Rebecca.

 
 
o0o

Throughout the morning, Evelyn watched the girls while she cut vegetables for stew. Rebecca studied Helen with a mixture of curiosity and wonder, but she didn’t shy away.

Knowing the girls wouldn’t take time for more than a bite of lunch, Evelyn sliced bread and spread it with jam, but before she could set their plates on the table, Rebecca followed Helen outside. Curious, Evelyn moved to the window and saw them spread Rebecca's blanket in the backyard. It was obviously Helen's suggestion by the way Rebecca kept to her small corner, but it gave Evelyn an idea.

She placed their sandwiches on a small tray and carried it out to them. “How about a picnic today?” She bent over and set the tray between them.

Evelyn would have left them alone then, but she saw Rebecca move so far back that only her knees remained on the blanket. That small, voiceless gesture changed her mind.

Evelyn knelt on one corner. “Mind if I have a taste?”

Helen picked up a slice of the strawberry-covered bread. She tore a piece and handed it to Evelyn, then did the same for Rebecca. Helen gobbled the rest of her sandwich in one bite, looking like a little frog while she chomped away. When she finished, she stuck jelly-covered fingers in her mouth and sucked them, flopping her head from side to side. Her braids flew wildly around her head and made Rebecca giggle. “It's good!”

Rebecca smiled, then dropped her chin and rounded her shoulders as if to draw away from the attention.

Evelyn reached over with two fingers and tickled Rebecca’s side. “What's a matter. Don't you like my jelly?”

Rebecca squeaked and squirmed away.

“I do,” Helen piped in with her mouth full.

“I can see that.” Evelyn swiped a blob of jelly off Helen's cheek. “You're a mess, Missy Fisk.”

The silly name made Rebecca giggle and she clapped her hands over her mouth, completely forgetting the jellied bread she held. The entire hunk stuck to her lips and nose, sending Helen into peals of laughter. After the initial surprise Rebecca began to giggle. Suddenly, it seemed she couldn't contain the laughter that burbled from her throat. To Evelyn's surprise, Rebecca mimicked Helen, flopping her head and sending a riot of curls springing wildly around her shoulders.

 
 
o0o

And that is how Radford found them. A beautiful young woman sharing a torn blanket with two silly, noisy little girls on a warm Sunday afternoon. His own daughter was almost unrecognizable in her unreserved playfulness. Evelyn with her long hair shining in the sun, her laughter floating joyfully across the lawn, wiped the jelly off Rebecca's smiling face.

This is how it should be, he thought. Sunday picnics in the backyard, his daughter playing with other children, himself eagerly awaiting the evening when he could relax with people he cared about instead of bunking with grumbling coworkers.

“We’re having a picnic,” Rebecca yelled when she spotted him. She ran across the yard and grabbed his hand, dragging him toward the blanket while he followed along in astonishment.

Rebecca never ran!

They reached the others and she pulled on his hand, begging him to sit. Radford dutifully knelt on the blanket, his arm resting on his bent knee. His gaze collided with Evelyn's pleasure-filled eyes. She was amazing. She had given Rebecca something that he thought forever impossible.

“We have jelly sandwiches if you don't mind small pieces,” Evelyn offered with a grin.

Though his stomach was still averse to the thought of food, Rebecca was already handing him a sorry-looking slice that he didn't have the heart to refuse. He captured her hand. “Maybe I'll have a nibble.” He dipped his head and nipped the tip of her finger. Her eyes widened and she squeaked, yanking her hand to her belly. Radford laughed at her reaction. “Do you think I'm a monster who's going to gobble you up?”

“Are you a monster?” Helen asked in awe.

He fought back a laugh and made his scariest monster face. “Maybe I am,” he said in a horribly scratchy voice.

Helen screamed and scrambled from the blanket. Rebecca giggled and raced after her friend. They hid behind the nearest tree, taking turns peeking around the trunk, Rebecca’s laughing face appearing every few seconds.

Radford stared after her, realizing he was seeing the real essence of his daughter for the first time. Rebecca was not the fragile child he’d believed her to be. She was a curious, healthy little girl. Evelyn had seen that from the beginning.

Something in the way Evelyn sat there, her face bathed in sunshine, so charming in her laughter, so naturally generous, made him achingly aware of her as a woman. One glance at her slender body clothed in a blue cotton dress reminded him of where he’d had his hands last night and Radford wished she would change back into her baggy britches. He was infinitely more comfortable with the Evelyn who shoveled stalls and ended up as dirty as he at day's end.

Getting to his feet, he watched the girls wander off toward the swing and decided it would be a good idea to see if Kyle wanted to work on his house. “I guess monsters aren’t welcome at picnics. Sorry if I ruined it.”

A soft smile crept across her lips and the green in her eyes seemed to darken. “You didn’t, Radford,” she said quietly, “The girls loved your teasing, and I like having you around.” The softness of her voice seduced Radford to silence.

An indescribable warmth radiated from Evelyn. He saw it in the way she treated Rebecca and tended her horses, and in her eyes when she smiled, her voice when she laughed. It drew Radford like cold hands are drawn to an open flame.

Evelyn shook the crumbs from Rebecca's blanket, then stood and gathered everything in her arms. “I need to check my stew.”

Radford watched her walk to the house, back straight, striding confidently, no excessive swaying of her skirts. She was as individual in her walk as she was in her manner. No posturing, no overt displays of womanly charms, no aversion to dirt and hard work. There was nothing fancy about her, yet she was utterly attractive. And Radford wished she wasn't promised to his brother.

Evelyn rushed through dinner then pulled a chair beside the sink so Rebecca could rinse the dishes. It would slow her down, but she didn’t have the heart to ignore Rebecca’s hope-filled eyes. It was as if Rebecca saw each little chore that Evelyn let her help with as a special privilege.

But Evelyn wanted to get Kyle outside so she could kiss him! She’d been building her courage for two days and was finally ready to test her kissing skills. Excitement mixed with apprehension when she looked at Kyle, but he was oblivious to the upheaval inside her mind as he talked with her father.

“Look at you, sprite,” Radford said, joining Evelyn and Rebecca at the sink. “Your belly's all wet. You look like you've been swimming in that tub instead of rinsing dishes.” He leaned over her and swished his hand through the water. “Any fish in here?”

Rebecca laughed and grabbed his arm. He shook it around as though he'd caught one. “Look out. Here he comes!” He raised his hand and flicked his fingers at her, sprinkling her cheeks with fat droplets of water that made her squeal. He put a hand to her back to steady her. “Careful. You'll fall on your head.”

Evelyn couldn't help but watch. Their horseplay reminded her of times with her own father and she looked to the table where he sat wearing a contented smile on his face. Her gaze drifted to Kyle and her breath caught. His eyes held such a wistful, pained look, Evelyn would have given her new stallion to know what he was thinking.

When Radford picked up the dishtowel and dried a bowl, Evelyn gaped in surprise. “What are you doing?”

“Helping. It's been a long day for all of us.”

It had, but never would she expect his help in the kitchen and it shocked her that he would do it in front of Kyle and her father. She glanced at them, but they seemed amused and not about to comment. Radford dried and Rebecca babbled, splashing in the water and piling plates right side up so Radford had to dump the water off before he could towel them dry.

“Hey, sprite, where'd you hide all the forks?” Radford asked. He went to the table and peeked beneath it as if he’d find them there.

Rebecca laughed and pointed to the stove. “Over there.”

He went to the stove and checked in the oven. “Can't see any forks in here.”

“Right there,” she said, again pointing at the stove, but Radford pointed toward the door and widened his eyes in mock horror.

“Don’t tell me you took them out to the horses!”

Rebecca burst into a fit of giggles and teetered on the chair. Evelyn grabbed her as Radford shot across the kitchen. He scooped Rebecca into his arms and trapped Evelyn's hand between Rebecca and his chest. The unexpected contact jolted Evelyn and their gazes collided.

“Good catch,” he said, his smile fading.

 
The fierce pounding of his chest warned her to pull her arm free and she stepped away from him.

Kyle shoved his chair back from the table and stood. “I've got to get over to the house. You coming, Radford?”

“Of course,” he said, setting Rebecca on her feet.

“Good, because I’d like to hear if you have a plan to increase the livery business.”

Evelyn caught Radford’s startled expression before he followed Kyle outside. Of course Radford had a plan. Where did Kyle think their new business was coming from?

Annoyed by Kyle’s arrogance and his need to rush off before she could test her new kissing abilities, Evelyn finished the dishes in an agitated state of mind. Afterward, she tried to help her father to the porch, but he argued and fussed at her until she let him manage it himself. He’d even snapped at her before dinner, claiming he could make his own damned way to the table. With a sigh of resignation, Evelyn sat on the porch with him, letting her eyes drift closed while her father spent the evening spinning silly tales that made Rebecca giggle.

As night settled in, Evelyn’s disappointment mounted. Despite the late hour, she still hoped Kyle would stop on his way home, but she waited on the porch long after her father and Rebecca were in bed, and he still didn’t come. Depressed, she sat in the dark wondering if this is what marriage to Kyle would be like, the constant waiting, the nagging feeling that they were missing something important between them, the worry that a freely given promise might grow into a sentence of imprisonment and regret.

Evelyn was so lost in thought and alone in her solitude, that the sudden flaring of a match startled her. Radford's eyes glowed momentarily in the firelight as he touched the flame to the end of his cigar. He took the chair opposite her, but minutes passed in silence while they listened to crickets and drifted in the mellow-sweet aroma of his cheroot. The breeze moved a strand of hair against her neck and she brushed it away.

He started to say something, then stopped and blew out a breath.

“What?” she asked.

He shook his head as if it was nothing important.

“You were going to say something.”

He took the cheroot out of his mouth and stared at the tip until it turned dark, then he met her eyes. “You need to stop coddling your father.”

“What?” she asked, dumbfounded.

“He’s used to being in control of himself and it hurts his pride when you won’t let him manage on his own. Trust me, when a man loses his physical strength, he feels he’s lost everything.”