Wings of a Dove (11 page)

    Mr. Case frowned as he responded to his son's offer with a negative shake of the head. "No, James, I'll take care of the horses. This old mare is having problems with her leg again and I think I should attend to her."

    "All right, Pa." Shooting a sharp glance at Delaney, James secured his horse's reins to the back of the wagon. "I'll show this
fella
around."

    Delaney suspected that James intended to do more than show him the farm, but he fell into step behind the older boy anyway. He wasn't worried; he had no doubt he was up to anything Case had in mind.

    James's step quickened and Delaney followed suit. He noted with satisfaction that a few years and an inch or so in height were the only advantages James Case held over him, for in direct contrast to his father's almost corpulent physique, James was thin. In muscle tone and breadth of shoulder, Delaney was superior, and Delaney had no doubt the same held true for his knowledge of self-defense. He seldom lost a fight. He was ready to face James Case with his fists if it came to that, and instinct told him that it would come to that sooner or later.

    But, for the first time in his life, Delaney hoped he would be able to avoid such a confrontation. He recalled Allie's anxious glance before she had followed Mrs. Case into the house. She was depending on him to ease her into this new home. A fight with his new "brother" a few minutes after his arrival would do little toward that end.

    When their rapid pace had taken them a distance from both the house and the barn, James turned unexpectedly. Halting abruptly, Delaney shifted his weight, settling it evenly on his feet as he unconsciously braced himself for an assault. His hands curled slightly as James spoke, his narrowed gaze raking his face. "You're a cunning bastard, aren't you?"

    Anger tightened his waiting fists as Delaney responded in a low voice. "Let's get one thing straight, right from the start." His light eyes cold as ice, he continued with a thread of menace, "I don't like being called names. I'm not a bastard any more than you are, and unless you're looking for trouble, you'd better remember that."

    "I'm not taking orders from you, prison boy! I heard everything the chaperon told my father about you. You're trouble! You came from prison, and you were a problem from the minute you joined that group of orphans he brought here. Smith said he thought you had good things in you, that the right home would make the difference, but you and I know better, don't we, prison boy?"

    "I told you I don't like being called names."

    Ignoring his comment, James continued hotly, "Don't think Pa and I aren't wise to you. You had trouble getting placed, didn't you? So you latched on to that little girl and told her you'd protect her. You figured some soft-hearted lady like my mother would feel sorry for her and take you along as part of the deal. Only you didn't figure on somebody like my Pa and me being in on it. My Pa and I aren't stupid, and if it wasn't for my mother being so sick, and her heart being broken by little Annie's passing, my Pa never would have agreed to take an orphan in the first place.

    "But that doesn't mean you're going to get away with anything here, and I'm telling you right now,
don't even try
. I saw you take my mother's arm. You keep your hands off her! She doesn't need your help. Any help my mother needs, she'll get from Pa or me. And while I'm about it, I'm telling you to keep your hands off my sister, too. Pa and I will be watching you every minute."

    His anger at James's unwarranted attack barely under control, Delaney responded slowly, "Your father agreed to a contract that says I get room and board in exchange for work on this farm until I'm eighteen years old."

    "And that contract also says if you turn out to be trouble, you go back to where you came from. Understand?"

    His control beginning to slip, Delaney unconsciously squared his stance more firmly. His fists tightened. "I'm not going back anywhere."

    "Then you'd better be all my mother is expecting."

    "And while we're talking about what we're expecting, I'll tell you what I expect. I don't expect to listen to any red-faced country boy telling me what to do."

    James Case's face turned a true red, and he took a threatening step forward, only to be halted by a deep voice. "That's enough, James!"

    Jacob Case's sharp admonition alerted both young men to his unexpected appearance.

    "I was just telling this prison boy"

    "I said that's enough!"

    Taking a few long strides closer, Jacob Case waited until his son's thin lips snapped tightly shut before turning toward Delaney. His eyes searched Delaney's unrevealing expression, holding his frigid gaze for long seconds before he spoke again.

    "I haven't said much to you, and I suppose I'm to blame for letting James get to you before I could set the matter straight for both of you. Well, here's the truth of the situation, boy. James was right when he said none of us, including Sarah, was in favor of taking an orphan into our home. It was too close to our losing Annie and we…" His lined face twitching revealingly for a silent second, Mr. Case swallowed and continued with a new firmness, "And we were against taking you along with the girl. We didn't want one orphan, much less two, and a boy with a bad record at that.

    "But I want you to know this, boy, here and now." Turning, Mr. Case directed a brief, meaningful look into his son's tight face. "Now that you're here, we expect to fulfill that contract we signed. We'll treat you like one of the family as far as working and eating and everyday living is concerned. And as far as schooling, well, that's up to you. Nobody can make another
fella
learn, and that's the truth of it." Jacob Case paused for a deep breath. "But you're a member of the family now and we"

    "Pa, you're making a mistake if you get soft with this one!"

    "James, we made a bargain, and we'll keep it. Now that's the  finish! We'll forget the bad blood between you two and we'll go on from there. I don't expect anything like this to happen again, understand?"

    "Pa"

    "Do you understand, James?"

    His fair face flushing, James hesitated only a moment before giving a short, jerking nod in response.

    Turning so that his narrowed gaze touched on Delaney's stiff face, Jacob Case continued. "Just a simple word of warning, boy. Mrs. Case is a good woman, and I'll not stand for you or anybody taking advantage of her. It's also my thought that the girl will follow your lead. She looks at you like you're one step down from God. She trusts you. I'll be expecting you to be worthy of that trust and not lead her astray."

    Delaney's unrevealing facade cracked.

    "How I treat Allie is my business! And while we're setting things straight, I have something else to say: The way you treat Allie is my business, too."

    His eyes narrowing into slits, Mr. Case assessed Delaney's anger, openly revealed for the first time.

    "All right, I suppose you have a right to make yourself clear. I'll answer you by saying I hear you. Now I want to know if you heard me, too."

    His cheek ticking tensely, Delaney nodded.

    "All right. As far as I'm concerned, all's been said that need be said." Jacob Case turned to his son. "I'm thinking you should go back and take care of the horses and the wagon after all, James. I'll take Delaney around the farm. I'll see you back in the house when your ma calls us for supper."

    His expression tight, James strode away without another word. Jacob Case watched his son's stiff figure until he disappeared from sight. He turned back to Delaney with a silently measuring gaze.

    "All right, let's get on with it, then. I don't know how much you know about farming, but I expect you'll learn easy enough. You'll be expected to do your fair share of the work around here, and there's plenty to be done. As for the plowing, we do it with oxen on this farm. We have two horses, old Maggie, and the gelding James was riding, and we take good care of both. Most of the
crops've
been taken in already this year, but that doesn't
 
   mean we lack for things to do. Starting tomorrow, I'll be expecting you to pitch right in."

    Delaney followed Jacob Case back toward the barn in silence. This was not going to be easy.

    Allie looked down at her plate. The meal she had been eagerly anticipating had gone tasteless in her mouth, and her appetite had disappeared. She cast a quick glance around the table. Mrs. Case's attempt to ease the tension that hung over the dinner table had been unsuccessful. Something was dreadfully wrong.

    Mr. Case made an effort to respond enthusiastically to his wife's conversation, but it was obvious that his mind was taken with other things. Perhaps those other things had to do with James's silence and the way he kept his eyes glued to his plate, lifting them only for an occasional glance. Allie felt the weight of James's gaze a time or two. She attempted a smile but received only a glare in return. But most disturbing of all was the anger in James's expression when he looked at Delaney. Tension tightened into a knot in Allie's stomach. She did not understand what was going on.

    Delaney contributed little to the conversation except short, polite responses to direct questions. He caught her eye several times during the meal, and although he did not smile, she was comforted to know that his thoughts were with her.

    As for Sarah… Allie lowered her eyes guiltily. It was not her place either to approve or disapprove of the real daughter in her new home, but Sarah was a disappointment. Having been an only child, Allie had been truly excited at the prospect of having an older sister, but she had learned only too soon that the distance between Sarah and herself was not to be measured in years. It had not taken her long to realize that Sarah was far too interested in herself to have time for anyone else. The small mirror in the corner of the kitchen had gotten more attention from Sarah than any of Mrs. Case's repeated instructions while they prepared supper. The only other person Sarah turned her big green eyes toward with any real interest was Delaney.

    Annoyance tugged again inside Allie. Perhaps that was the reason for Mr. Case's silence and James's unfriendly manner. Sarah was flirting outrageously with Delaney, and Allie supposed the girl's behavior was as much of an embarrassment to her new family as it was to her.

    But Allie knew she could not blame the tension entirely on Sarah. Mother Case's soft reprimand had returned Sarah's eyes to her plate on several occasions, and surely that should have ended the tension. But it hadn't. No, there was something else.

    Allie's throat abruptly closed. Despite all her high hopes, things were not going well in her new home.

    With great determination, Allie raised another forkful of ham to her mouth, slipped it between her lips, chewed, and forced herself to swallow. She had been taught never to waste food, to eat everything on her plate, and to remember that she was fortunate to have had a meal placed before her. In the short time before she had become situated after Mama's death, she had learned her mother's teachings contained true merit. But even that realization could not make her enjoy this food, no matter the love with which it had been prepared.

    ''Allie…"

    Her head snapping up at the sound of her name, Allie met Mrs. Case's smile.

    "I'm sorry if I startled you, dear. I suppose we are all a bit more tired than we realized, and I'm sure neither you nor Delaney slept very well while traveling."

    "Yes,
ma'amMother
Case." Flushing at the unfamiliar name, Allie added, "I didn't sleep well until… until"

    Stammering to a halt, Allie belatedly realized she could not expect any of the people around this table to understand the fears and sense of displacement she had suffered. Neither could she expect them to understand the consolation Delaney had afforded her by bringing her close to the Lady again. She continued roughly, "Until I realized that I wasn't alone anymore."

    Her brief glance toward Delaney was apparently more revealing than she had intended, and Allie was startled by the low snort of impatience that came from Sarah's fine lips the moment before she spoke. "Mama, do we have to stay at the table? I want to go up to my room. Mrs. Preston told me to finish some papers before school starts again."

    "If the papers have waited this long, dear, I'm sure they can wait until we've put the kitchen in order."

    Glancing sideways at Allie, Sarah shrugged. "I thought Allie was going to do the kitchen work."

    "Sarah!"

    Giving her husband a look that effectively halted his reprimand, Mrs. Case responded quietly, "Yes, Allie will be doing the kitchen
workalong
with you and me."

    "If Allie helps you, you won't need me, Mama."

    "Perhaps I won't need you, dear, but I will expect you to do your fair share of the work."

    Heavily fringed lids dropping over brilliant eyes, Sarah looked down at her empty plate, adequately rebuked for her behavior.

    Mr. Case's voice broke gruffly into the silence that followed as he drew himself to his feet.

    "The women will take care of the kitchen, Delaney. James will put the cows out into the back pasture while I settle you into your sleeping arrangements. We didn't expect to bring home two children today. I hope you won't find sleeping in the barn loft uncomfortable until we can make other arrangements."

    Delaney's expression barely changed. "No, sir. That will be fine."

    "All right, girls. Shall we clear the table?"

    Responding immediately, Allie picked up her plate and began collecting the others, turning her back to the men as they left the kitchen. She did not glance toward Sarah's pouting expression or at Mother Case, but busied herself with her task.

    The last of the dishes had been washed and stacked and the table prepared for the morning meal when Allie lifted her hand to her mouth to cover a yawn she could not suppress. She glanced quickly at the window. Twilight had turned to night. She was not certain of the hour, but she knew the evening meal had been delayed because of the unusual events of the day. She was tired.

    "Yes, it definitely is time to put an end to this day, isn't it, Allie?"

    Allie turned at Mrs. Case's soft statement and smiled. She had worked with the greatest pleasure at Mother Case's side, drying the dishes as the older woman washed them. It had been comforting work that had given her a sense of belonging.

    Mrs. Case extended her hand toward Allie.

    "Come. I'll show you the room you'll share with Sarah."

    Allie stopped in her tracks. She shook her head. "But… but Mr. Case said I would be sleeping in the barn loft."

    The thought appeared to amuse Mrs. Case, and she gave a short laugh. "No, dear, not you. Delaney will sleep there for now. You'll sleep with Sarah."

    Her expression sober, Allie gave a short negative shake of her head. "If you don't mind, I would rather sleep with Delaney."

    Sarah laughed aloud, turning Mrs. Case's head sharply toward her. Covering her mouth with her hand, Sarah continued to laugh annoyingly as Mrs. Case turned back to Allie.

    "No, I'm afraid that would not do, Allie."

    "But… but Delaney and I"

    "I'm sorry, dear. I'm certain you'll like Sarah's room. She shared it with Annie, and now she'll share it with you."

    "Yes, ma'am." Nodding, Allie took the hand Mrs. Case held out to her, her troubled mind causing her to continue softly as she took her first step forward, "But why must I sleep in the house if Delaney is sleeping in the barn?"

    "Because there are two beds in the room you'll share with Sarah. James has a much smaller room. Delaney wouldn't be comfortable in there. He'll only be sleeping in the barn temporarily. By the time the winter cold sets in, we'll have made other arrangements for him."

    Nodding again, Allie walked to the staircase. Aware that Sarah was following behind, still snickering audibly, she raised her chin. She didn't care about Sarah. Delaney was her friend, and she would rather be with Delaney than anyone else in this house.

    Looking behind her quickly as she reached the second floor, Allie caught Sarah's superior glance, and her annoyance turned to gloom. She was beginning to believe Sarah would never be the sister she had hoped for, and in that moment it came to her with an instinct deep and true that Sarah would never even be her friend.