Dakota Dreams (Historical Romance) (28 page)

John joined Breanna on deck. "Pipe dreaming, or fanciful wishing?" he queried.

She gave him one of her warmest smiles. "Actually, I was wondering about America. I know you have been there. What's it like?"

He leaned his arm on the top railing and propped a booted foot on the bottom rail. "I didn't see much of it."

"Have you been to the Arapaho land?" she wanted to know.

"No, just New York. I found it damp, humid, and the mosquitoes were intolerable."

Her eyes were shining with excitement. "I cannot wait to go ashore. I'm looking forward to seeing my first Indian."

John's lips curled into a smile. "I hate to be the one to point this out to you, Breanna, but the whole time I spent in New York, Dakota was the only Indian I saw."

She missed the amusement in his voice. "Oh, John, I mean a real Indian. Dakota was only raised by the Arapaho war chief, he's not really one of them."

John glanced into her face, and something akin to pain throbbed in his heart. She was the loveliest creature he had ever seen, and again he reminded himself that she belonged to his cousin. "I have a feeling that when you see Dakota, it will take some of the enthusiasm out of you. To say he is not going to be happy is putting it mildly."

"Dakota may not like it at first, but when I assure him that I will not be a burden to him or slow him down, he will accept it," she said confidently.

"You say you would like to see a real Indian, but have you ever considered that a 'real' Indian might want to slit your pretty throat?"

She only laughed. "Oh, John, you have always been one for dramatics."

"My God," John said, throwing his hands up. "You think you are going on a Sunday picnic."

She smiled at him. "I only know that I am going to be with my husband." There was no longer any doubt in her mind that she loved the man she had married. She no longer fought against the emotions that ruled her heart and dominated her thinking. She longed for the time when she would see him again.

***

It was a bright Wednesday morning, without a cloud in the sky, when the cry came from the watch. "Land ho."

Excitement ran through the passengers who clambered to the railing, straining to catch their first sight of America.

Breanna stood beside John and Baxley, expectancy in her eyes.

"Well sleep on American soil tonight," John said. "Heaven help me when we face Dakota, because he is going to want to rip my head off for allowing you to come."

"I shall tell him you had no choice in the matter. He will be grateful you came along to protect me. Besides," she said, conceding that Dakota might be a little upset, "let him vent his anger on me."

"Oh, I shall, because you have better powers of persuasion with him than I."

Happiness brightened her smile. "Do you think Dakota and Levi will still be in New York?"

"I would think so, Breanna."

She linked her arm through John's, catching sight of a tiny speck of land in the distance. "I can hardly wait, John. I have dreamed of this moment!"

John offered Breanna his spyglass. "Use this for your first glimpse of America," he said, helping her adjust the lens to fit her eyes.

"I see it," she cried happily. "Just think, I am about to set foot on American soil."

"I hope you won't feel disillusioned, Breanna. It isn't much by English standards.

Breanna handed John back his spyglass and gave him an impish smile. "You are such a snob, John. I want to see the mountains and rivers and prairies."

He smiled down at her. "Who has been filling your pretty head with such romantic notions? It sounds like Levi talking."

"Yes, Levi and Dakota. I will even be glad to see Levi. I have missed him"

John stared at the shoreline, knowing he would have to face Dakota's wrath. He glanced down at Breanna and saw the happy glow on her face. It didn't matter what trouble came his way, because he would do anything Breanna asked of him.

27

As the hired carriage raided over the cobblestone streets, Breanna's spirits were dampened, not only by the mist that had rolled in and hung in the air, cloaking her view of New York, but also because now that she had arrived, she feared Dakota would be angry with her.

John and Baxley sat silently across from her, neither of them inclined to talk. Breanna knew that both men were wondering what Dakota's reaction would be when he discovered they had followed him to America.

In the glow of the carriage lamp, she glanced at John. "I see no reason to allow the gloomy weather to keep us from enjoying our first day in America."

"There's nothing to see," John said, pulling his hat low over his forehead.

Glancing up to catch Baxley’s eyes, she saw understanding there. "Begging your pardon, my lady, but this fog could clear within a moment's notice."

"I did so want to see New York" she said wistfully. Glancing out the window, Breanna could see nothing past damp mist, and could hear nothing but the sound of muted horses' hooves.

"You will probably see more of this city than you want to before we leave," John observed with his usual cynicism for anything American. His eyes caught Baxley's. "You are sure that the frigate his lordship sailed on has docked?"

"Yes, sir. I was told they tied up yesterday."

"How long do you think Dakota will remain in New York?" Breanna asked.

"I should think it will take at least three days to gather what supplies and equipment they will need for the journey, my lady. This is Wednesday. . . I would expect his lordship to leave by Friday."

"We should have no trouble finding them if they stay at the same hotel as before," John stated.

"I should think they would, sir."

The rest of the ride was covered in silence. Breanna thought it strange that three people who were about to embark on a great adventure found little to say to one another. Her head was filled with questions she wanted to ask Baxley since he had been to the wilderness, but now was not the time to ask them.

Breanna's heart was thumping against her ribs. Soon she would see Dakota. Let him be angry with her for coming, let him tell her how irresponsible her actions were, but please, she prayed, oh, please, let him be happy to see me.

When they reached the hotel, John steered Breanna inside while Baxley made inquiries at the front desk, his voice carrying to Breanna.

"Have you a Lord Remington registered here, sir?" Baxley asked, with his stiff English accent.

The desk clerk peeped over his glasses, studying his ledger. "No, but I have a Dakota Remington."

"That would be him, sir. Would you please tell me his lordship's room number?"

John glanced at Breanna. "Well, dear girl, the fat's in the fire now. Do you want to take ship home?"

She gave him a half-smile. "Certainly not," she replied, exuding more confidence than she actually felt.

By now Baxley had rejoined them, dangling the key from his fingers. "If your ladyship will allow me, I will see you settled into his lordship's room. After that, I'll have your trunks sent up."

"Is his lordship in?" she asked.

"No, my lady. Not at this time. The man behind the desk informed me that his lordship and Mr. Gunther had gone out early this morning and have not yet returned."

***

Breanna had been waiting for Dakota for over an hour. For the hundredth time, she looked at the green and white furnishings, wondering what could be keeping her husband. She removed her bonnet and draped it over the bedpost, realizing she might have made a mistake in coming here. Suppose Dakota insisted she go right back to England?

Moving over to Dakota's trunk, she picked up a blue shirt that she found there and held it up to her face because it made her feel close to him. She loved him desperately and was so anxious to see him.

Another hour passed and still Dakota had not come. John had knocked on the door earlier to see if Breanna wanted to go to the dining room for dinner, but she sent him away.

The mist was still heavy and she could see nothing as darkness fell over the town.

It had been a long day and Breanna was weary. She thought she would just lie down for a moment and rest, but when her head touched the pillow, she relaxed into the soft mattress and was soon asleep.

***

Dakota stood in his darkened room; his keen hearing picked up the sound of soft breathing. He knew there was another presence in the room. He moved, catlike, across the floor, staying in the shadows. He heard the breathing coming from the bed and unsheathed his knife. Silently he reached out, his hand coming in contact with a woman's soft body!

Breanna felt the touch of a man's hand on her wrist, and she knew it was Dakota. Raising her arms, she slid them around his shoulders. She took advantage of his astonishment to press her lips against his.

He stiffened for a moment, and then the knife clattered to the floor. There could be no mistaking the soft scent of his wife's perfume that now enveloped him. "Breanna! Can it be you?"

"Yes," she whispered, her lips seeking his kiss.

Dakota felt the touch of her soft lips and felt himself surrender to the wonderment of holding the woman he loved. He had ached for her since sailing from England. He had known he would miss her, but nothing had prepared him for the deep void that had engulfed him without her in his life.

A soft moan escaped his throat as he eased himself down on the bed beside her. "Breanna," he murmured, "my Breanna."

It felt so good to be crushed against his hard body. "I was afraid you would be angry with me for coming."

She felt his body tense as reason returned. "You said you would stay with my grandfather."

She sat up, pushing her tumbled hair out of her face. "I stayed with him until he was buried, Dakota. Your grandfather died without ever regaining consciousness. The doctor said he did not suffer. It saddens me to inform you that you are now the Marquess of Weatherford."

There was silence in the room as she reached out to him, feeling his pain. He pushed her away and stood up. Lighting a lamp, he waited until the room was bathed in light before he looked at her.

There was no warmth in his voice when he spoke. "Why are you here, Breanna?"

"I came because . . . I am your wife and I did not want to be separated from you."

His eyes blazed. "It was a foolish thing for you to do. Where I must go, you cannot go—what I must do, I must do alone. I will expect you to take the first ship back to England."

"No, I want to be with you," she pleaded.

"Where is your maid?" His voice was cold. "Have you a woman to attend you?"

"No, I did not bring Etta with me"

His eyes darkened. "Surely you did not come alone, did you?"

She hesitated. "No, but I want you to know it was entirely my idea to come. John tried to talk me out of it, and when he failed to change my mind, he and Baxley accompanied me."

Dakota's jaw tightened. "You traveled with only John and Baxley as your companions?"

"Yes, but I—”

"Had you been an Indian woman, you would not have dared insult your husband in this way."

She came off the bed and stood before him, her eyes wide and innocent. "I am not an Indian, and you cannot ever forgive me for that, can you? If I thought it would make a difference, I would paint my skin and wear my hair in braids. Look at me, Dakota. I am as you see me. If I displease you, then say so.

He had never seen her behave in this manner before, and he had never known she would go to such great lengths to please him. Dare he hope that she had missed him and had come to be with him? Did she not know how beautiful she was with her hair tumbling down about her face and her breasts heaving from her labored breathing.

"I do not want you other than you are, Breanna. But neither am I pleased by your actions. What am I to do with you?"

"Take me with you."

"I cannot."

"Cillia wouldn't have allowed Holden to go anywhere without her; Baxley told me this."

"And you know what happened to them," he reminded her.

"Yes, but they were together."

He took a hesitating step toward her. "Dare I hope that you really want to be with me, or are you merely looking for adventure?"

Now was the time to tell him that she loved him, she thought. Why did she hesitate? Could he not see that she wanted to be with him? "You and Levi have talked so much about America I wanted to see it for myself."

His voice was dull. "You have gone to the extreme."

She moved closer to him and caught his arm. "Take me with you."

His resolve softened. It was not in him to deny her anything she wanted. "You have no notion of the hardships you will face, Breanna."

"I promise that if you will allow me to go with you, I will do exactly as you say. I will not be a burden, Dakota. You have my word on this."

He studied her face. "I remember the first day we met, you assured me that you always kept your word."

"I do, I do," she said eagerly.

He took in a deep breath. "All right, Breanna. But only as far as Murphy's Trading Post, and only if you will follow my orders and do exactly what I say. You will not have preferential treatment just because you are a woman; is that understood?"

She could not hide her joy. "I understand, and I will follow your orders, I promise."

He found her trunk at the foot of the bed and threw open the lid, tossing gowns and petticoats onto the bed. "None of these are suitable for where we are going."

"I did not know what kind of clothing to bring, and we left too quickly to have others made up," she answered, gathering up an armload of gowns and placing them back in the trunk. Happiness shone in her golden eyes. He was going to take her with him!

Dakota stepped back from her, angry with himself for not insisting she return to England. He wanted to strip her clothing off and take her to his bed, but his outrage at her behavior tightened his resolve and made him want to strike out at her, to wound her.

"I hope you will be comfortable here. I will stay with Levi, whose room is just next door. Should you need anything, call out and we will hear you."

"But—”

He turned away and moved out the door, leaving her confused. Dakota had agreed that she could go with him, but he did not want to share a room with her.

***

Dakota pushed the door open to John's room and angrily faced his cousin. "Why did you bring Breanna here?" he demanded.

John was sitting in a chair with his booted feet propped on the bed. "I have been wondering that myself. What in the hell could have possessed me to agree to this foolery?"

"I cannot believe you disregarded her safety in bringing her here. And now I have agreed to take her with me, and where I am going is no place for a woman."

John came to his feet, a smile on his face. "So, she persuaded you to allow her to go with you. If you cannot deny her slightest wish, how do you expect me to?"

Dakota's eyes darkened. "You love her." It was not a question, but a statement of fact.

John became serious. "You have nothing to fear from me, Dakota. Whatever you know of me, you know I place honor and family above all else."

"That is no answer, John. Do you love my wife?"

"Don't we all?"

Dakota's eyes narrowed, and John shivered at the coldness he saw there. "I trusted you, John."

"You still can. If I had not accompanied her, she would have come alone. Think about that, Dakota. And I'll tell you something else. If you allow Breanna to go with you into the wilderness, then I am going, too. I intend to see that she comes to no harm."

"You are not invited."

John shrugged, knowing his and Dakota's friendship hung in the balance. "I will always honor you as head of the family, Dakota." Then he smiled faintly. "Besides, even if I did covet your wife, she would never consider dishonoring you."

Dakota stared at him. He had never admired a man more than John, but now jealousy made Dakota suspect his cousin's motives. "I will not stop you from coming with us, John. I have always wondered what kind of man you are. The wilderness has a way of testing a man and making him face his true self. I wonder if you are up to that?"

John stared long and hard at Dakota. "Do not think because I laugh at life that I cannot be called upon to take it seriously. I have not dishonored you in any way. You are my friend, and I would not betray you. Breanna does not even know that I love her, nor will she ever know unless you tell her."

Dakota turned away, wrenching the door open. "I would hate to have to kill you, John." With that, he softly closed the door behind him.