Spirit of the Revolution (23 page)

Chuckling over his response, or lack of it, Sam rose to his feet. “Well, it’s almost time for our movie to start. So, I’ll head downstairs while you think on what I said. By the way, you just might want to find out for yourself how Jolena feels about all of this. The knowledge might surprise you.”

Mathias understood what he meant. They didn’t find it at all difficult to enter into the dreams of the sleeping and have conversations that reflected that person’s personal desires and feelings. They acquired the ability early on after their deaths. Each of them, at various times, used the gift to visit their family members. In this way, they helped ease the grief of their passing. But, did he really want to know the extent of Jolena’s feelings for him in return? Did he want to risk knowing she considered him naught but a friend?

Stepping out onto the veranda, Mathias looked out over the hill. He hoped to see the headlights of her car coming over the crest and through the falling snow. They expected her home much earlier. He worried over the delay and not just because of the weather. Surely, Paul Sanders had not given up his quest. A man like that wouldn’t. He wouldn’t find it surprising to discover he followed her at times, watching for another opportunity to seize Jacob’s letter by any means imaginable. In fact, he almost expected it.

Despite his numerous offers, she refused the notion of an escort whenever she had to leave the premises. She said the idea of a “bodyguard” set her teeth on edge. When he tried to force the issue, he learned she had fine-tuned the ability to feel their presence, even when they hid themselves from her eyes. As she entered the car on that day of discovery, she turned around, looked directly into his eyes, and simply said, “Nice try, McGregor—”

Mathias shook his head in exasperation and muttered, “Saucy wench.”

At that same moment, her car crested the hill and made its way toward the house. He vacated the library and appeared in the driveway to await her arrival. He had done so, ever since the night of Sanders’s attack, despite all protests.

As expected, Mathias stood by the side of her car the minute she turned off the ignition. He looked relieved to see her. She looked down at her watch and noted the lateness of the hour. She should’ve called.

“You’re late,” he said as held the door while she exited the car with a shopping bag in the crook of her arm and her violin slung over her shoulder.

“I know. I’m so sorry. I should’ve let you know. But I just got caught up doing some Christmas shopping and then halfway home it started snowing again, so I slowed down a bit, for safety’s sake.” She walked to the rear of her car and opened her trunk. She didn’t intend to leave her precious painting in the back of it.

She struggled with the large crate. The thing took up the entire space of her trunk and protruded into the dropped seat in the back of her car.

Mathias shook his head and waved her aside. “Allow me—”

“All right, thank you.” She stood back while he extracted her parcel with an ease that still astonished her.

“What exactly do you have here, anyway?” he asked as they entered the house. “The thing has to measure at least four by five feet in height and width.”

“That’s none of your business, Mathias McGregor, and I’ll thank you to stay out of my personal affairs,” she said. Despite the bantered words, she was near to bursting with the desire to give the boys her gift the minute she walked through the door. Hopefully she would attain the patience and self-control to wait until Christmas.

“Well, go on and keep your secrets then,” Mathias stated with mock indifference as they ascended the stairs. “I really don’t care.”

“I intend to keep all of my Christmas secrets and of course you care,” she said before she turned the knob and opened her bedroom door. She pointed to the wall opposite her closet. “You can just slide it against the wall over there.” After he completed the task, Jo put her shopping bag on the floor. She tucked her violin in the corner, then took off her coat and tossed it on the bed.

“Thank you again for your help,” she said. Just as she turned, their eyes met and held. The intensity of his gaze said he considered something. Something important. “What is it?”

He shook his head, gave her
that
smile, and simply said, “Nothing, at all.”

“Are you sure?”

“I’m sure,” he replied. “Are you coming downstairs?”

“Yes.” She nodded as she spared a final glance at the painting. “I’d like to talk to you all for just a minute, if I dare interrupt the movie, that is.”

“We’ve seen the movie twice. I don’t think anyone will mind. Is there something you need?”

“The Christmas concerts.” She paused then and scrunched her shoulders. “We’re doing several as you know, and I wondered if maybe you’d all like to attend one of the performances. As it so happens, one of them coincides with the date of your birth. So, I thought the concert could be my gift to you.”

Chapter 18

A terrible case of the jitters took hold of Jolena the moment she finished fine-tuning her instrument. In fact, she couldn’t remember being this nervous over having to perform in front of an audience since the tender age of thirteen. In all likelihood, she could lay the blame at Mathias McGregor’s feet. She didn’t realize having him in attendance at this concert would prove so unnerving. He’d listened to her play countless times before, but somehow in this setting, it seemed so much different from being at home.

Perhaps he made her feel this way because for the very first time in her presence, he changed the look of his clothes. He did it the instant they approached the entrance. The fact he would or even could change the appearance of his attire never once entered her mind. Yet, as the male patrons filtered in wearing suits, Mathias suddenly appeared in like manner. He didn’t want to distract her while she played, he said. Yeah, whatever. He looked very handsome in his black, vested suit—
very
handsome. She found it difficult
not
to become distracted.

As the lights dimmed and the conductor stood ready with his baton, Mathias made his way to the front of the concert hall and stood off to the side. He couldn’t have chosen a better position from which to observe the concert. However, his close proximity unnerved her even more.

Get a grip, Jo.
She took a small breath and turned her attention toward the conductor. With a stroke of his baton, the joyous songs of Christmas filled the hall.

Yet, as the concert progressed, she found it difficult to keep her eyes off Mathias. The rest of the boys insisted he attend this concert alone and that decision now filled her with gratitude. Sam said by going alone, Mathias could enjoy his birthday gift without the interruptions and conversations they would surely have if they were all together. The rest of them, he said, would attend the following evening.

Finally, the time arrived for her solo performance. Jo vacated her seat and took her position at the forefront. She smoothed the non-existent wrinkles in her shimmering black gown and waited for her cue. Mathias winked and the small gesture left her feeling a bit weak in the knees. Once again, she refocused her attention. She would begin the set with “Away in a Manger,” followed by her unique arrangement of “O Holy Night,” the highly requested favorite of last year’s audiences. For her grand finale, she chose to play a charming rendition of Mathias’s favorite song as a special birthday gift to him. Those who filled the auditorium would hear “What Child is This,” but Mathias would hear “Greensleeves.” She took a deep breath and stepped forward.

****

Mathias retained possession of Jolena’s gaze all throughout her flawless performance. She finished the first two pieces and then shifted her position in order to face him more directly. Although the program noted the title differently, she played his favorite song. The fact she remembered touched him, for he only mentioned it once during their first meeting. Her penetrating gaze and the literal connection of their souls, said she played the song just for him.

At the end of her selections, the audience rose to their feet and applauded for several minutes in appreciation of her matchless talent. Yet, her gaze never once wandered away from his during the standing ovation. The wink he gave in response caused a pretty blush. She turned to her side and then swept her hand toward the entire membership of the orchestra. She looked out over the audience and gave them a smile. Another round of applause followed.

Much sooner than he anticipated or desired, the first concert he ever attended concluded. While Jolena packed away her violin and music, he scanned the crowd as the audience began leaving the hall. Quite by happenstance, his eyes fell upon Paul Sanders. The man rose from his seat, and for several long seconds, he stared in Jolena’s direction. Did he come here by coincidence or did he come on purpose? A girl hung on his arm. That probably indicated he didn’t aim to accost or follow Jolena tonight. But then again, his reasons for attending the concert didn’t matter.

In a mere instant, he appeared beside the exit door Sanders now approached. The night Paul made his attack, Mathias made sure he caught a glimpse of him just before he and Sam rendered him unconscious. He had no way of knowing if the man remembered the encounter or not, but he would find out soon enough.

Mathias fixed his gaze on his target as Paul took one final look at Jolena before turning to leave. The man wore a contemplative expression and Mathias would give just about anything to know where his thoughts had taken him.

“Just what are you planning, Paul Sanders?
”
whispered Mathias. The smile Paul gave his woman held no affection. Therefore, he could only conclude his smug grin concerned Jolena in some way. Suddenly he wished Sam had accompanied him to this concert, for Sam could have followed him home. If they discovered where he lived, they could easily shadow his every step. For now, the opportunity escaped them.

Just then, Sanders met his gaze. His eyes widened in response and he drew in a sharp, audible breath. Ah, so he did remember his brief encounter with Jolena’s enraged “neighbor.” Mathias grinned when Paul grabbed hold of the woman and changed sides, creating a barrier between them as he and his lady exited.

After Paul rushed through the doorway, Mathias raised the man’s anxiety a notch or two, simply by following him outside. He wondered then how quickly he could get Sanders to break a sweat on this cold December evening.

Mathias maintained just enough distance from the couple to keep Paul agitated. The fact that Sanders continued peering over his shoulder while he dogged his steps amused him. From all appearances, the man didn’t know whether to grab his girlfriend and run for cover, or scream for help. Sanders settled on holding the girl close to his body, using her for whatever protection she might offer. Mathias shook his head in disgust as he disappeared from the coward’s view once Paul faced forward. Then, as Sanders turned around once more, his annoyed girlfriend glanced over his shoulder in the direction of his gaze.

“What do you keep looking at?” she snapped, her irritation obvious in tone.

“I’m just checking the flow of traffic leaving the parking lot, sweetheart, that’s all,” Paul said as he mopped the sweat from off his brow.

Satisfied he accomplished his purpose, Mathias left Paul Sanders cowering behind his woman’s skirts. He returned to the concert hall in search of Jolena. She stood in the center aisle with her back facing him. Directly in front of her, a multitude of people swarmed who craved her attention. Among them, stood the Parkers and Andersons along with their guests they sought to impress. In less than a heartbeat, he stood at her side.

“Once again, my dear, you had me in tears,” Ellen gushed at that very moment. “You know, I’ve attended a lot of concerts in my time and enjoyed the talents of many master violinists, but you outshine them all.”

“Yes, indeed,” Gloria said. “You’ve given so much to this community, what with all your charity concerts and humanitarian efforts. I just wished we had a way to give something back to you.”

“Well,” Ellen cut in. “If Jo wants something we can give, she
knows
she has only to ask.”

Mathias chuckled as he leaned close to Jolena’s ear. “Do you think their guests are suitably impressed by their ‘intimate friendship’ with you?”

“Oh, I don’t know about that,” she said, answering him without really thinking.

“Oh, but it’s true,” Gloria replied. “You know we would love to do something for you, anytime and in any way we can.”

“Except enter the domain of the gruesome ghosts,” he teased.

Jolena bit down on her lip as she glanced down at the carpet. “Oh, well I—”

“Try it out,” Mathias prodded. “Why don’t you ask them if you can ride one of their horses? You have next week off. Go on, you know you’ve been dying to ride—if you’ll pardon the expression.”

“Hmm. Well, actually—” Jolena met Gloria’s questioning gaze. “I do have rather a selfish request.”

Gloria looked pleased as punch when she directed the comment her way. “Like I said—”

“You know, it feels like forever since I last had the opportunity to ride a horse, and a while back I happened across your pasture and saw all of your beautiful—”

“Anytime,” Gloria and Douglas sang out in unison.

“I have several mounts you can choose from and they’ve all been itching for some exercise. I’m getting much too old to help them out these days.” Douglas sighed and shrugged his shoulders. “So, it would make me happy to saddle one of them up for you, anytime you have the desire.”

“I don’t use a saddle,” Jolena replied.

Douglas seemed surprised. “You don’t?”

She shook her head as she clasped her hands together. “Never have. I just use a bridle and bareback pad, which I happen to own, so you needn’t worry about tack.”

“Brave girl,” Gloria quipped.

“No, not really. It’s just the way I prefer to ride,” she said.