Wings of a Dove (27 page)

    he never will." Margaret lowered her voice to cushion the blow of her next words. "I think you should prepare yourself for the possibility that Delaney may soon choose of his own free will to leave us."

    An unidentifiable emotion flickered momentarily in Allie's eyes, puzzling Margaret. She smiled reassuringly. "Allie, surely you realized that?"

    Allie did not respond, but her pale face grew even whiter, and Margaret was touched by concern.

    "What's wrong, dear?"

    Allie shook her head, but Margaret sensed there was more to her silence than Allie was prepared to admit.

    "Allie."

    But Allie was no longer listening. She had looked up toward the rider who was approaching the house. She saw Allie's anxiety as she recognized Delaney's familiar broad-shouldered form. So that was it. Something was wrong between Allie and Delaney.

    Remaining silent as Delaney continued his approach, Margaret concealed her disturbed feelings. She could not allow herself to become upset or to interfere. If she was patient, if she allowed them the opportunity, they would settle their differences. Delaney and Allie were too close to allow a misunderstanding to mar their friendship for any length of time. She only wished the situation between Sarah and Delaney could be as easily handled.

    Watching Delaney as he approached, Margaret felt an almost maternal pride warm her heart. Delaney had grown since coming to them, both in height and breadth of stature. He was no longer a boy. He was a man. And he was handsome, probably the most handsome man she had ever seen. His features were perfectly proportioned, but that perfection did not diminish his manliness or his strength. There was a latent power and sexuality in those light, almost hypnotic eyes.

    Margaret's pity for her own beautiful but besotted daughter deepened as she sensed for the first time the true depth of Sarah's despair.

    Margaret had realized long before that despite the consideration and concern with which Delaney treated her, only Allie had been successful in penetrating the wall of ice with which the boy surrounded his emotions. Even now, as he approached, Delaney's glance was only cursory as it flicked over her to rest on

    Allie's averted face. His jaw was hard with tension as he drew his horse to a halt in front of them.

    "Hello, Mrs. Case… Allie."

    Delaney had never called her Mother Case, as did Allie, despite her request. She had no doubt that his reasons were diverse and deep, and she was not offended by his formal manner of address because it usually was accompanied by a spark of true warmth in his light eyes. But there was no warmth there today. Those incredible eyes were emotionless, intent on Allie as she returned his greeting without directly meeting his gaze.

    "You're back early, Delaney. We're not accustomed to seeing you return before dark these days."

    "Max let me off early today."

    Delaney was dismounting, and Margaret noticed he had responded almost absentmindedly, his eyes still intent on Allie. His words were clipped as he gripped his horse's reins.

    "I'm going to rub Jack down now that I have a chance. He could use some attention."

    Allie made no comment at all as Margaret spoke into the awkward silence.

    "That's probably a good idea. Jacob and James are cutting down some trees. They'll be back in about an hour. That should give you time to do a really good job on him."

    Delaney nodded and turned away, but Allie made no move to follow. Margaret's lips twitched as she controlled her urge to interfere. It pained her to see these two at odds when just a few words could probably end any misunderstanding between them. Delaney was just slipping out of sight in the barn when Margaret could stand it no longer.

    "Why don't you go and help Delaney, dear? I'll be fine here by myself."

    Allie's response was hesitant. "I… Delaney doesn't really need my help, and I'd rather stay with you."

    Margaret shrugged her frail shoulders. "Whatever you like, dear."

    It pained her deeply to see these two estranged, but there was nothing she could do about it.

    Barely controlling his irritation, Delaney walked Jack into the barn. His chest heaving against the agitation growing stronger
 
every minute, he allowed the animal to lower his head for a mouthful of feed as he removed the saddle and blanket.

    Dammit, Allie was still avoiding him! She'd been avoiding him for a week, and he feared that her unusual behaviour coincided too closely with Sarah's night-time visit to be a coincidence.

    He had been confused at first. Allie had not actually ignored or been cold to him. She had merely managed to avoid any personal contact with him. It had been annoyingly easy for her to do so, considering his tight schedule, and he had originally intended just to ignore the whole thing. He had not expected that, as the days passed, his annoyance would turn to anger and then to a sense of loss so keen that he could no longer deny it.

    Delaney took a deep breath and straightened his shoulders with determination. The girl had wormed herself into his emotional life, damn her, and now she would have to suffer the consequences. Sarah appeared to be nowhere around, and he supposed he would never have a better opportunity than the present to speak to Allie without being interrupted.

    Quickly settling Jack with his feed, Delaney walked back to the door of the barn. He paused, only too aware that any other time Allie would have welcomed him home enthusiastically and followed him inside. But not this time. She was still sitting on the porch with Mrs. Case.

    Delaney stepped into full view.

    "You might want to come in here and look at Mischief, Allie. She's acting peculiar. She doesn't seem to be able to stand up."

    Delaney sent a quick glance back into the barn. It occurred to him belatedly that Mischief might come running out at the sound of her name, but the patient cat was too engrossed in stalking invisible prey near the rear stall to respond. Relieved, he turned back to see Allie and Mrs. Case exchanging words. Allie drew herself to her feet, her reluctance obvious, despite the worried frown that marred her brow. She started toward him, and unwilling to watch her lagging step a moment longer, Delaney turned and walked back inside.

    Anxiety gradually added haste to Allie's step. Mischief had been fine just a few hours ago. She couldn't imagine what could have happened to her.

    It had been a terrible week. She had not been able to look at Delaney since that night when Sarah had come back to their room near dawn and told her she had been with him.

    Allie attempted to swallow against the familiar ache in her throat. It had been bad enough the next morning, seeing the covert glances Sarah had sent in Delaney's direction. Delaney had not returned them, but Allie knew Sarah well enough to realize that the adoration in her gaze was not feigned. Delaney had left at noon to report for work in town, and she had not seen him again that day.

    She had tried to convince herself that Sarah had lied about her visit to Delaney, but Sarah had sneaked out of their room again the following night and had not returned until nearly dawn. Unable to face Sarah on her return, Allie had pretended sleep. In truth, Allie had not slept a wink from that point on.

    Sarah had sneaked out of their room in the middle of the night twice more in the time since, and Allie no longer had even the slightest doubt that everything Sarah said was true.

    Allie blinked back the heavy warmth of tears. Her sense of betrayal was so keen that it was almost physical pain. She didn't want to look at Delaney. She didn't want to talk to Delaney. She wanted to stop thinking of Delaney, to pretend he did not even exist until that pain subsided. She had prayed to the Lady for help, but her prayers had gone unanswered.

    Without the Lady, without Delaney, she was alone in her heart. So very alone.

    Allie stepped through the doorway of the barn and into the shadows. Squinting into the darkened corner where Mischief usually lay, she was about to call her when a firm grip on her arm spun her abruptly to Delaney's tight, angry face. She attempted to pull free, but his hand tightened almost to the point of pain.

    "Let me go."

    Delaney gave a short laugh, but his clear, almost transparent eyes remained cold. "Well, you're speaking to me at last."

    "You're hurting me. Let me go."

    "No, I don't think I will. I'm waiting for you to tell me what's wrong."

    Allie turned from his penetrating eyes. "Nothing's wrong. You said Mischief was sick."

    "She's fine."

    "But"

    "Allie, look at me."

    Allie did not want to obey Delaney's command, spoken softly in a voice suddenly familiar and devoid of harshness. She did not want to turn back to face the searching gaze of those eyes that seemed to see right into her soul. She did not want him to know that she could not be happy for him if he really wanted Sarah.

    Delaney's gentle, familiar hand was touching her chin, cupping it, turning her head to meet his eyes. She saw concern in those crystal depths and, startlingly, a pain that closely mirrored her own.

    "Why won't you talk to me, Allie? I thought we were friends. Friends talk to each other about things that bother them. You used to like to talk to me." Delaney's gaze flickered, and he gave a short laugh. "I suppose James"

    "Oh, no." Allie shook her head in denial. "You know I would never listen to anything James said against you."

    "Then what is it?"

    Allie closed her eyes briefly, the only escape possible.

    "Allie."

    Allie's voice was a ragged whisper. "Sarah said"

    "I knew it!" Delaney's eyes turned to blue ice, and his lips tightened into a straight, hard line. A revealing tic in his cheek signaled his mounting anger. "What did she say?"

    When Allie remained silent, Delaney sat on a storage box and drew her to him, frowning as he tilted up her chin and forced her to meet his eyes. "I asked you what she said."

    "I… I can't repeat it."

    Delaney's breath escaped in a low hiss. "That bitch!"

    Allie's eyes widened at the epithet.

    "Whatever she told you is a lie."

    Allie took a short breath. "Sarah sneaked out of the room in the middle of the night. She was gone a long time, and when she came back she said she had been with you, in your room."

    Delaney nodded with a low snort. "She came to my room, all right. That part was true. She was waiting for me when I came back from town, but I threw her out, Allie."

    Fear thickened Allie's throat. She had never seen Delaney so furious. He was twitching with the restraint he was exercising, and his eyes, so cold only minutes before, were suddenly blazing.

    "I threw her out, and I have to admit it was damned hard at the time to do it. But I'm glad I did. Sarah is a bitch."

    "She sneaked out the next night, too, Delaney, and two more times since. She"

    "She might have sneaked out, Allie, but she didn't come to my room, not after that first night a week ago."

    Allie was silent, and Delaney waited a few seconds before raising his hand to her white cheek and adding in a softer voice, "If I had been with Sarah the way she said I was, I'd admit it, Allie. I've always been honest with you. I wouldn't lie now and give Sarah an advantage over you. When I think how close I came." Halting, Delaney shook his head. "I've made a lot of mistakes, but that would've been one of the biggest mistakes of my life, in more ways than one."

    Delaney paused again at Allie's silence. He slid his fingers into the fine silky hair at her temple and massaged her warm scalp unconsciously.

    "You do believe me, don't you, Allie?"

    Finally nodding, Allie sat down on Delaney's knee. His relief was obvious, and a small smile flickered across her lips.

    As Allie slid her arm around his broad shoulders, her hand brushed the chain around his neck, affording her a moment of additional comfort in that bond they shared. Allie rested her forehead against his and closed her eyes briefly as Delaney's arm tightened around her waist.

    "I'm sorry, Delaney."

    Delaney's hand slipped up to tangle in the long, pale hair lying against her narrow back as she said, "I was silly for believing her. I should've known Sarah was lying. You told me you didn't even like her." Allie bit her lower lip, as she struggled to explain. "But Sarah was so…"

    "Convincing?" Delaney's low laugh was devoid of mirth. "You don't know how convincing."

    "And she's beautiful."

    "Yes, she's beautiful." A small smile picked up the corners of Delaney's mouth. "But I prefer pale little girls with big eyes who weigh little more than a feather when they sit on my knee."

    Slipping both arms around Delaney, Allie hugged him tight. Burying her face against his neck, she breathed deeply of his warm, familiar scent. Years had passed, but it was the same    comforting scent she had breathed when she had lain on the floor of a rail car beside a somewhat frightening boy of fifteen and held his religious medal in her hand until she fell asleep. The solace it had given her then was magnified a thousand fold at this moment, and she was grateful to have Delaney with her, even if it was only for a little while longer.