Wings of a Dove (37 page)

    Allie's low murmur of protest accompanied their separation, and the well of joy within him that was Allie came to life once more. Covering her parted lips with his own, he drank deeply from that well. Drawing back, his heart again pounding, he realized his thirst for Allie would never truly be quenched. He accepted that now, just as he accepted the years that lay before them, during which he would return to that well time and again, with love.

    Delaney trailed his fingertips lightly against her cheek. He loved Allie's skin. He loved its scent, its taste, the remarkable color, so white, so clear that it glowed with an almost jewel like sheen. He loved the way her light brows arched over those incredibly dark eyes, the way the thick gold-tipped lashes curled so tightly. He loved the short, straight line of her nose, the contours of her cheek. And he loved her mouth. It was a mouth that smiled often, that filled his heart with its laughter, that often spoke wisdom beyond its years. And it was a mouth that accepted his and murmured words of love that touched him in a way no other could.

    He drank again from that font of love, deeply, drawing back as Allie uttered a low sound of discomfort. Frowning, he separated himself from her, his eyes moving to the spot between her breasts where she rubbed a small bruise. The medal suspended from his neck, hanging between them, glittered in the silver light, marking the source of the problem.

    ''So, the Lady is making her presence felt. Do you think she's voicing her disapproval?"

    Too late, Delaney realized his comment was unwise. Regretting his careless words, he watched Allie's brow pull into a frown as she took the medal into her hand. Pausing only a moment, Allie then raised her eyes to his, her frown slipping away.

    "No, I don't think so. The Lady sent you to me and held us together. She"

    "No, Allie." Delaney didn't want to share this moment with the Lady. It was theirs Allie's and his alone. He didn't want Allie to confuse her feelings for him with mixed-up beliefs in which he had no faith. He wanted Allie to believe in
him
.

    "The Lady didn't bring us together.
I
brought us together when I took your hand that morning in the church hall and didn't let it go.
I
kept us together when I decided nothing James or anybody else would do could drive me from the Case farm until I was ready to leave you.
I
brought you with me tonight and made you a part of me, and
I
am the one who's going to keep you with me. I told you, I don't believe in the Lady or anything connected with her."

    Allie was silent for a moment before she whispered, "I believe in her, Delaney."

    His dark brow still tightly furrowed, he held her sober gaze. Making a sudden decision, he sat up and drew her up beside him. Then he slipped off the medal and placed it around Allie's neck, carefully extricating the strands of hair trapped by the chain until it lay unrestricted against her skin.

    "Then you should wear the medal, Allie, not me. It's yours now, a gift from me."

    Allie's hand closed around it as she shook her head. "It's yours. It's always been yours."

    "No, it's always been yours."

    "I can't accept it."

    Recognizing Allie's distress, Delaney attempted a smile.

    "I wore the medal because it was my only tie to the past, and the only thing that belonged to me alone. It was the only thing I really owned. Right now it's the only thing I have to give you. I want you to have it."

    Delaney touched the chain with his fingertip. It was warm from his flesh and he felt a familiar heat suffuse him as Allie released the medal and allowed it to lie against her skin. It lay between her small breasts as he trailed his finger to a swollen pink crest. When his burgeoning desire became more than he could bear, he lowered his head to kiss one tempting bud and then the other, drawing back sharply as his emotions began to rise out of control.

    Drawing himself to his feet, Delaney drew Allie up beside him. She was so small, so slight, to carry all his hopes and dreams.

    "We have to go back now, Allie. You've been gone a long time. I think the family suspects you're with me by now. They'll be waiting for you to return."

    Allie flushed. "I almost forgot. Mother Case will be worried."

    "After tonight, they won't have to worry about you anymore."

    Allie turned and started dressing. Sensing her discomfort, Delaney turned her to face him.

    "What's wrong, Allie?"

    "I'm worried about Mother Case. She… she thinks that you"

    "I know what she thinks, but she's wrong. I love you, Allie. I've loved you since the day you crawled up beside me in that rail car. You're the only reason I've stayed here this long, and now that I'm leaving, I'm going to take you with me. I don't have much to offer you, but I will someday. I'll be able to offer you the world. The only trouble is you'll have to take me along with it."

    "I don't want the world, Delaney. I only want you."

    Allie's whispered response touching him to the heart, Delaney pulled her close against him, belatedly realizing as her arms closed around him that she was making a quick departure extremely difficult to accomplish.

    Delaney separated himself from her with a small groan. "Get dressed, Allie. We have to go. Just remember, whatever Mrs. Case or anyone else says, I'll take care of you. And we're leaving tomorrow."

    Allie's dark eyes perused his face. He could feel their touch just as he could feel her indecision and her fear.

    "I love you, Allie."

    The smile that touched her lips swelled inside him as Allie started to dress.

    Within a few minutes they were moving back along the same path they had traveled a short time before. Allie's small hand in his, Delaney lent her his strength as she lent him her love. They were part of each other.

    Allie stumbled again. Her lurching pitch forward was cushioned by Delaney's steadying arm as he cast her a concerned glance. She offered him an embarrassed smile as they continued along the wooded path.

    Angry with herself for the quaking that made her unnaturally clumsy, Allie heard the sound of music drawing closer. They would soon emerge from the shadows at the rear of the hall. She would have to face everyone, and she despised her trepidation.

    Abruptly, they were there. Pausing before stepping out into the open, Delaney turned to Allie once more. He slid his hands into her hair and drew her up to meet his mouth, his kiss deepening as his arms slipped around her, crushing her tight against the firm wall of his body. Allie's heart sang as she gave herself up to the wonder of him. Oh, Delaney, she thought, I've never loved anyone the way I love you.

    Just as suddenly she was separated from Delaney's warmth. Bereft and alone, she looked up at him in mute appeal.

    "Only for a little while, Allie."

    They emerged from the shadows and Allie was suddenly unable to move, as James turned in their direction. Taking up a protective stance beside her, Delaney waited as James walked forward, the remainder of the family trailing behind him.

    James's gaze raked her disheveled appearance, and Allie's hand sprang to her unbound hair. She had lost the pins, but somehow had not given her hair any thought until now. Her face flushing, Allie dropped her gaze, missing the hatred in James's accusing glance as he looked toward Delaney.

    "There was no protecting her from you, was there?" James said angrily. "You were determined to get what you wanted and you didn't let anything, not even Allie's innocence, stand in the way."

    The malevolence in James's voice brought a protest from Allie's lips. "No, James, you're wrong. I went with Delaney willingly. He… we"

    "You don't have to say anything, Allie. Get away from him over here, by me."

    "Don't move, Allie."

    Delaney stepped in front of her. Casting James a warning look, he turned to Mrs. Case. "I'm sorry to upset you, Mrs. Case, but Allie is leaving tomorrow, with me."

    "No!"

    The single gasping word that escaped Mrs. Case's lips appeared to sap her strength, and she swayed weakly.

    "Margaret, please, let me take you back to the wagon." His face deeply flushed, Jacob flashed an accusing glance toward Allie. "If she wants to leave with him, let her."

    "No, she can't, Jacob. She's too young. She doesn't understand what's in store for her." Turning toward Allie, Margaret appealed softly, "Allie dear, I only want what's best for you. I won't be here much longer and I"

    "Margaret, please…"

    But Margaret continued in a weakening voice, "I want to know you will be safe and cared for when I'm gone, Allie. You must come home with us."

    "Delaney loves me, Mother Case." Finding her voice, Allie resisted the urge to run to Mrs. Case's side, to support her frail limbs with her strong arms, to lend her strength. Instead, she continued quietly, "We're going to Chicago, and we'll be together always."

    "No, Allie. No." Turning to Delaney, Mrs. Case pressed her plea. "Delaney, have you no heart? Don't you realize this child believes in you, is trusting you with her life? You want her now, but when you're in the city and busy with your career, you won't have time for her. You'll be meeting new people, going new places, and she'll be in your way. What will she do then? She'll be neglected and alone. She'll never be alone with us, and she'll never be neglected. You want her now, Delaney, but that will change, because you don't need her. You don't need anyone."

    "You're wrong, Mrs. Case. I love Allie and I'll take care of her."

    "With what? How will you take care of her? If you really love her, you'll leave her behind. If you still feel the same way after a few months, you can come back for her."

    "I'm taking her with me."

    "No, you aren't!" Moving forward, James attempted to grab Allie's wrist, only to have Delaney take another threatening step forward.

    "Leave her alone, Case! You never wanted to believe it, but Allie belongs to me. She always has, and I'm taking her with me."

    Squaring his stance, James shook his head. "No, you aren't."

    "This has gone far enough!" Handicapped by the need to support his wife, Jacob growled, "Get out of here, Marsh. You never belonged here in the first place. Go to the city. It will be home to you like Cass County never was. But leave Allie here. This is her home."

    "Allie's home is with me."

    "No, it isn't." Catching Delaney unawares, James grasped Allie's arm and pulled her behind him. Allie was struggling against his unyielding grip when James suddenly staggered backwards under Delaney's blow. Abruptly released, Allie watched with horror as Delaney and James met, fists swinging, to fall back among the trees bordering the clearing.

    The unexpected violence held Allie immobile until the sound of a rasping breath turned her toward Margaret Case. With a low cry, Allie rushed to her side as the frail woman collapsed in her husband's arms. Her lined face a ghastly white, Margaret struggled for breath as tears streamed freely down Allie's face.

    "Mother Case, please… please don't be frightened. James and Delaney will stop fighting." Looking up to see James at her side, she continued, "See, they've stopped already. They don't want to see you ill, either of them." Allie raised her eyes in a soft plea. "Tell her, James. Tell her you won't fight with Delaney anymore."

    James held his mother's arm encouragingly, but his expression was unyielding as he responded to Allie's impassioned appeal. "I won't let you leave with Marsh while there's a breath left in my body, Allie."

    Allie turned back to Margaret, her fear growing as the shuddering woman strained to breathe. She saw the harsh blue color that lined Mother Case's lips, as she spoke, "Come… come back with us, Allie."

    Mrs. Case's rasping plea grated on the unnatural silence and Allie looked up at Delaney. His demeanor did not soften as he demanded, "Let's go, Allie."

    The ice in Delaney's clear eyes startled her. He was unaffected by Mother Case's pain. Didn't he see she was dying?

    "Allie…"

    "I can't leave her now, Delaney."

    The slow stiffening of Delaney's frame was more revealing than words, but Allie shook her head.

    "Delaney, can't you see Mother Case is ill? I just want to stay a few more days, until she's a little better."

    "No, Allie. You're coming with me now, and we're leaving tomorrow."

    "Delaney, I can't!" Rising to her feet, Allie took a step toward Delaney, only to have Mother Case's low gasp turn her back. "I can't."

    Delaney's face was grim.

    Speaking soft words of encouragement to the prostrate woman, Allie did not notice when James left to get the wagon. Crouched at Mother Case's side, she did not hear it approach, but drew herself to her feet and stepped back automatically as Jacob gently lifted his wife into his arms. Allie walked to the wagon behind him as he laid his wife tenderly on a blanket in the rear. James touched her arm, but she turned back to Delaney with another low plea.

    "Delaney, please understand. I must go with her now."