Always (4 page)

“
Excellent!” Marcus jumped up to offer me his arm while Sylvia and David rose more slowly to follow.

“
Now, don’t stay out too long,” Aunt Dora warned. “It is starting to get chilly already. Winter will be here before we know it.”

“
Don’t worry, Mrs. Sinclair,” Sylvia chuckled, “we’ll have Claudia home before the snow starts falling.”

Chapter
Four

Sylvia and David led the way to the path at a fast pace. Marcus and I quickly fell behind so that we were almost alone.

I smiled nervously, tucking a stray curl behind my suddenly warm ears. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”

“
I wanted to meet you.”

My tongue darted out to moisten my dry lips before I caught the bottom one between my teeth. “Can I ask you something?”

He paused in his step. “Of course.”

“
Was last night real, or was I dreaming?”

“
Well that depends.”

“
Depends on what?”

“
On which part you are talking about.”

I dropped my voice to a near whisper. “I found the rose, so it must be true.”

“
Then indeed it must be.” He smiled wide, one eyelid dropping in a playful wink.

I froze in place, my heart thumping wildly in my chest. He walked on a few steps before he turned around to see why I wasn’t following. “Are you coming?”

“
Yeah,” I croaked.

We walked on for a while in a comfortable silence. Sylvia and David were still in sight, but they were far ahead of us by now. The breeze carried Sylvia’s carefree laughter back to us, making me smile.

“
How long have you been living with them?” I asked, pushing my chin in the direction of the happy couple. In the light of day, Marcus towered over me so I had to tilt my head up to see his face, which was absolutely breath taking.

“
A while,” he answered elusively.

“
A while?” I widened my eyes playfully.

“
Tell me about yourself,” he ordered gently.

I loved the smoothness of his voice; the deep tones set my heart at a rapid rhythm. I laughed uncomfortably. “There’s nothing interesting about me.” I hated how airy my voice was.

“
Ah,” he scoffed. “I don’t think that’s true.” I shrugged with a foolish smile plastered on my face. “And I don’t think you believe that either,” he added.

“
I’m just a normal average girl.” I gestured awkwardly to a beautiful bush with pink flowers decorating its full leaves. “This is lovely.”

“
Where did you grow up?” He didn’t even glance at the roses.

“
Here.” The single word sounded too much like a question to be convincing.

“
You don’t have the accent down.” He switched his own accent so fluidly I would have thought he was from the States. “But you do try very well,” he said back in his regular voice.

“
I’m…” My voice came out in a squeak. I cleared my throat as quietly as I could.

“
Where were you born?” His eyes seemed to see all the way through me, and before I even realized what I was saying, I was telling him the truth.

“
I was born in Virginia.”

“
Beautiful place,” he murmured.

My breath was coming out way to heavily but once one truth was out and he didn’t run away, other truths came without his prompting. “My parents are both dead. They got the sickness.”

“
What were their names?”

My eyes stung with unshed tears, it had been so long since I had spoken their names. “Maria and Benjamin.”

“
Very lovely.”

I smiled up at him. “My mother gave me a locket. I still have it.”

“
What was your mother like?”

“
Um,” I swallowed quickly. I hoped that I wouldn’t start crying. “She was quiet.”

He laughed, the sound releasing some of my own tension. “A quiet woman is a rarity.”

“
Indeed.” We both laughed. The sounds joined together, and filled the empty places in my heart.

Marcus felt so familiar to me; I could hardly believe how carefree he made me feel. I was once again the little girl who got in trouble for taking trousers and riding her horse bareback. If I closed my eyes tight enough, I could feel the way the wind played with my unruly curls that day, the way the blood rushed into my face, and the way my heart beat for the thrill of the ride.

But I didn’t close my eyes. I didn’t have to; I felt all those things just by looking at Marcus.

“
Look at that,” I exclaimed over an old apple tree that I had almost forgot existed. “Those apples look amazing.”

“
Pick which one you want.” Marcus took his jacket off and threw it carelessly down.

“
Umm,” I scanned the delicious fruits until I found the largest one, “that one.” I pointed to a spot far up in the branches.

“
Done,” he winked and began climbing up the tall tree. I watched with a small smile tugging at my lips.

“
Are you sure you have to have this one, Claudia?”

I nodded eagerly, my curls bouncing off my forehead. “It’s the biggest on the tree.”

“
It’s also the highest up,” Marcus grumbled with a laugh. “If I should fall and break my neck, will you feel guilty then?”

My eyes widened. “You won’t fall, will you?”

“
I don’t plan on it.” He pushed himself up to a higher branch, and a few leaves fluttered to the ground.

“
I changed my mind,” I called frantically. “Just come down.” I craned my neck so I could watch as he carelessly positioned his feet on two branches, and reached for the prized apple.

One of the branches bent dangerously, and he had to scramble to right himself. “Oph,” I heard his muffled exclamation.

“
Marcus!” I buried my face in my hands, unable to watch anymore.

“
Here you are,” he declared triumphantly.

When I opened my eyes, he was standing in front of me, both feet safely on the ground, holding out the apple. “Are you okay?” I gushed.

“
It doesn’t look as big up close, does it?” He crinkled his nose in disappointment.

“
You could have been hurt,” I flared. I plucked the offered apple from his hands. “Thanks,” I mumbled.

“
I’m fine, Claudia. I used to climb many trees when I was a boy.”

“
You’re not a boy anymore.”

“
I’m hardly an old man either. At least I don’t look like I am.” He twitched his eyebrows playfully.

I rolled my eyes. “I used to climb trees when I was little too, but you don’t see me climbing them now.”

“
I would love to see you climb a tree.” He sank down onto the soft grass beneath the tree.

“
I’m sure that would go over well.” I kneeled down to my knees in front of him.

“
Are you not going to eat it now?”

“
I suppose I should since you went to all the trouble of getting it for me.” In an extremely unladylike gesture, I sank my teeth into the perfect skin of the apple. “Mmm, maybe it was worth it.”

“
I would say so,” he said softly.

I flushed at his words. I watched as an orange and black butterfly danced along the flowers. Marcus plucked a pink flower from the ground and began tearing the petals off.

“
Did you hurt yourself?” he asked suddenly.

“
No,” I quickly examined my hands and arms.

“
You have blood on your dress.”

“
I do?”

He lifted a fold of my skirt to point out the tiny spot of blood from earlier that morning. “What happened?”

I was embarrassed that he had noticed it. “I got in a fight with my needle this morning.” I made a face.

“
The needle won?”

I laughed with him. “I guess you could say that.”

When I looked up at him, my breath caught at the look on his face. “Society has too many rules,” he murmured.

“
I have to wear tight shoes,” I murmured back.

“
Every move we make is watched.”

“
And I have to wear my hair in tight little pins that make my head ache.”

“
And if I kissed you right now, it would be the equivalent of a marriage proposal.”

I lowered my eyes quickly. “Do you want to kiss me?”

“
I have thought about it much more than I should.”

“
I’m already engaged,” I blurted out. I scrambled up to my feet. “We should get back.”

He got up more slowly. “You are right; as usual,” He winked.

Sylvia and David appeared from behind the tree. I blushed to think that they may have overheard our conversation.

“
Claudia has tired of my company,” Marcus said to Sylvia, “Shall we return her to her aunt now?”

“
I never said…” I stammered then blushed.

“
He’s such a naughty boy for teasing you.” Sylvia tapped his shoe and then intertwined her arm with mine so we could walk together back to the house.

David and Marcus fell into step behind us. Sylvia’s husband was a handsome man with light brown hair and kind eyes. I was drawn in by the easy smile that lit up his whole face.

“
I hear your young man is quite a catch around here,” Sylvia noted.

Once again, I flushed and stumbled around for a response. I wondered if Sylvia had that effect on everyone. I had never met anyone with such dark chocolate hair and with those ice blue eyes that almost flashed silver. “Um…he’s not that young,” I blurted. I inwardly groaned at my hasty words.

“
He’s not yet thirty, is he?”

“
He’s thirty one.”

“
That’s not so old,” she smiled.

I chanced a quick look back at Marcus who wasn’t even paying attention to me and Claudia. He and David were talking in excited whispers and grinning wide.

“
Boys,” Sylvia rolled her eyes.

I went up the stairs slowly, not even trying to hide my smile. I had never before met a man like Marcus Letrell. He was more handsome than anyone I knew, but that wasn’t the only reason my heart rate exploded whenever I saw him.

I sighed happily.

Just before he had left that afternoon, he had promised to look out for me tonight, and protect me if need be. A crazy part of my heart hoped that the man with red eyes showed up tonight.

Chapter
Five

I changed carefully into my nightdress, making sure to stay out of view of the window. I wasn’t sure who could be watching. Becky helped to unbraid my hair, but I sent her away so I could brush it out myself.

I sat very still in front of my looking glass. My skin was more pale than usual, making my hair stand out like fire and the green in my eyes so much brighter. I pinched my cheeks, trying to add some color to my complexion.

“
Oh,” I sighed, “this is ridiculous; to be readying myself for a night time visit.” I tightened my lips and began brushing long strokes through my hair.

If he showed up tonight, I wouldn’t hesitate to call for Uncle Philip, I decided. Otherwise I might be sending the message that I welcome him into my room. With a determined set to my jaw I began brushing my hair more forcefully.

A noise outside my window stole all my determination away though. I ducked down to my hands and knees on the floor and cowered there for several long heartbeats. The noise came again–this time slightly louder. It sounded like an animal crying.

I pressed my forehead into the rug I was kneeling on, straining to hear any other sounds. The house was quiet, and except for the few animal cries, so was the outside.

With more bravery than I felt, I crawled to the open window. I puffed my cheeks out with air and let it out slowly. Before I could change my mind, I popped my head up to look out the window. I quickly scanned the area for any sign of a man dressed in black. I let out a ragged breath when I saw no one.

A movement by the large tree caught my eyes. It was Hunter, Uncle Philips old brown hound dog. Why was he just sitting there?

His tail thumped on the ground when he noticed me in the window. I whistled softly and he made a move to come forward, but something stopped him. I realized with a heavy sigh that the dog was tied to the tree with a rope.

Uncle Philip must have tied him up earlier and then forgotten him. I wondered how long the poor creature had been stuck to the tree. Hunter whined up at me. I pulled on my robe with a small groan. I didn’t have any choice but to go out and free him. There was no strange man outside my window tonight–besides Marcus had promised to be watching.

I quickly made my way down the steps and pulled the front door closed behind me. The house was dark already, so I wasn’t conscious of the amount of clothing I had on.

“
It will just be a quick trip,” I told myself, “I’ll just untie Hunter and get back inside.”

The chill in the air surprised me and I pulled my robe tighter to my chest. The thin material didn’t do much for the cold though. I was glad for Uncle Philip’s heavy farm boots that I had slipped on just before I went out the front door. They made it harder to hurry, but at least my feet were warm.