Dark Rider (3 page)

“I know I have a horse finer than your stallion.”

She felt another flare of annoyance at his confidence. “Only a fool would make such a claim after one glance at a horse.”

“I took more than a glance. I’ve never been able to resist good horseflesh, and I had a chance to examine him very closely while you and your friends were playing on the beach.” He smiled. “It was only when the conversation became so interesting that I was distracted.”

She stiffened. “How close to him?”

“Enough to note the usual things—hooves, teeth …”

“You lie,” she said curtly. “Kapu would never let anyone that close. I would have heard him.”

“But you didn’t.”

“And you would not be here now. The last time anyone tried to check Kapu’s teeth, he lost a finger.”

“Perhaps he likes me. Horses have been known to find me trustworthy.”

“You lie,” she repeated. It could not be true. Kapu belonged only to her.

His smile disappeared. “I don’t lie. I may be guilty of many sins, but that’s not one of them.”

“Prove it. Go bring him to me.”

“I don’t take orders from children.”

“I thought as much,” she said, relieved. “You’re afraid of Kapu, like everyone else.”

“You’re beginning to irritate me.” His tone had taken on a steely edge. “I do not lie, and I’m not afraid of your horse.”

She glared at him. “Prove it.”

Studying her intently, he asked, “Why is it so important to you?”

“I don’t like liars.”

“No, I don’t think that’s the reason.” He shrugged. “But you shouldn’t issue challenges unless you expect them to be accepted.” He turned and moved toward the thicket. A moment later he disappeared into the shadows of the palm trees.

He wouldn’t be able to do it, she told herself desperately. In the entire world Kapu was the one thing that was fully her own. He would never betray her by yielding to a stranger.

She heard the Englishman’s soft murmurings, his voice gentle, tender, almost loving, as different from the silken sharpness with which he had spoken to her as dawn from sunset. Then he emerged from the thicket and came toward her … leading Kapu.

Astonishment and then pain tore through Cassie. Kapu was moving as meekly and contentedly as if she held his reins.

Jared continued murmuring until he stopped before
her and extended the reins. “Your horse, I believe.”

She could not believe it. She
would
not believe it. She swallowed to ease the tightness from her throat. How stupid to want to weep because someone else had managed to gain Kapu’s confidence enough to perform such a simple act. Even Lani was able to lead Kapu on occasion. He was still Cassie’s horse. “An easy task.”

“You didn’t seem to think it easy when you sent me to fetch him.”

Dear God, Kapu was pushing affectionately at Jared’s back with his nose.

“Ride him.”

He shook his head. “I fear I’m not dressed for riding.”

“Ride him!” she said hoarsely, blinking back the stinging tears.

He stared down at her and said slowly, “I don’t think you want me to do that.”

“You can’t do it. I know you can’t.”

“But you want me to try.”

She didn’t want him to try, but she had to be sure. She had to know Kapu was not completely swayed from his allegiance to her. “Ride him.”

He hesitated. Then he stepped to the side, removed his coat, and dropped it onto the sand. He jerked off his cravat and tossed it on top of his coat. “As you like.” He stood before the horse, motionless.

“What are you waiting for?”

“Be quiet,” he said impatiently. “It’s not right. I need—” He broke off as he saw her expression. “Damnation!”

He leaped onto the back of the horse!

For an instant Kapu was perfectly still.

Cassie’s heart sank, and her hands closed into fists at her sides.

Kapu exploded! The stallion reared upright, came down hard, and went into a frenzy of bucking. By some miracle the Englishman stayed on his back.

She heard him curse as his legs gripped Kapu’s heaving sides. His dark hair came loose from the queue and flew wildly about his face and shoulders. His lips set in a grim line, and his eyes narrowed with fierce intensity. He was everything savage and primitive; no particle remained of the elegant man who had strolled out of the thicket such a short time before.

Kapu gave up the violent gyrations and bolted toward the palm trees!

Cassie’s heart stopped. “Watch out. The tree!”

The Englishman had already divined the horse’s intention and swung his leg across Kapu’s back as the stallion careened by the trunk, missing it by inches. Then, before Danemount could recover his seat, Kapu began bucking again.

Danemount was tossed over Kapu’s head and landed a few yards away in the sand. Kapu neighed triumphantly and stopped in his tracks.

Cassie had a terrible idea she knew what was coming. “Don’t,” she whispered. “Oh, no …” She ran toward the palms.

Kapu turned and thundered toward the fallen man.

“No, Kapu!” Cassie stopped before Jared, thrusting herself between him and the horse. “No!”

“Get the hell out of the way!” Danemount said as he rolled over and tried to get to his feet. “He’ll trample—”

Kapu skidded to a stop in front of her and reared again.

“Shh,” she crooned. “Easy, Kapu. He’s not the
same. He won’t hurt you. I won’t let anyone hurt you.”

Kapu reared again.

Yet she could see signs she was getting through to him. He backed away from her but did not move again when she followed him and laid her hand on his neck. “It’s all right. Everything is fine.”

It took her a few minutes more of quieting him before she could turn to see if Danemount had come to any harm. “Are you hurt?”

“Only my pride.” He raised himself on one elbow and flinched. “And perhaps a few parts of my body.”

“You’ll recover. The fall couldn’t have done much damage. The sand is soft as a cushion. Get up.”

When he didn’t move, she felt a flicker of concern and walked quickly toward him. Her emotions had been in such a turmoil, she had not thought that he might truly be hurt. “Well, perhaps you’d better lie still for a moment. I’ll see if you have any broken bones.”

He lay back down on the sand. “I admit I like that suggestion better than the others you’ve made recently. Does it amuse you to lure strangers into riding that devil of a horse?”

“Kapu is no devil.” She knelt beside him and began moving her hands over his limbs. His thighs were all lean, iron-hard muscle, she noted absently, a horseman’s thighs. “He’s just very particular.” She glanced at Kapu, and an intense wave of happiness flowed through her. He was still her own. “He doesn’t like anyone on his back but me.”

The Englishman’s gaze was fixed on her face. “So I found out.”

She could afford to be generous now. “You did very well.” Having found no breaks in his legs and
hips, she began running her hands over his arms and shoulders. Sleek, smooth, corded muscle … like Kapu’s. She must be hurting him; he was tensing beneath her touch. “Is there pain?”

“More of an ache,” he muttered.

“A sprain?” She gently probed his shoulder. “Here?”

“No, definitely not there.”

“Where?”

“Never mind. You can’t help.”

“Of course I can. I’m very good with sprains. I take care of all of Kapu’s hurts.”

“I don’t have a sprain and I’m not a horse, dammit.”

She felt a twinge of pain and tried to cover it with tartness. “No, Kapu is more polite when I try to help him.”

“The help can be more troublesome than the cure. I don’t—” He broke off when he saw the determination in her gaze. “Christ, do whatever you want.”

She sat back on her heels. “It’s not as if I want to do anything for you. I feel it my duty since I—” She stopped before she made the admission.

“Since you made me ride the stallion,” he finished.

She didn’t try to deny it. “It was a mistake. I didn’t think.” She pulled a face. “Lani says it’s one of my worst faults and could prove very dangerous.”

“And who is this Lani? Your sister?”

“My friend.”

“Then your friend is very perceptive.” His gaze searched her expression. “Why did you do it? You knew he’d try to throw me.”

“I wasn’t sure he would,” she whispered. “He liked you. He was mine but he liked you.”

“And that’s forbidden? How selfish of you.”

“I love him,” she said simply. “He’s all I have. I was afraid.”

“I know.”

He was smiling faintly, and she realized he had somehow sensed the emotions that had driven her. Had she been that transparent? Probably. She had never been good at hiding her feelings. She quickly averted her gaze and moved her hands from his ribs to his abdomen. “When I first saw you lead him out of the thicket, I thought you must be a Kahuna.”

“Kahuna?” He shook his head. “No, I’m not one of your island priests, and I certainly have no magic.”

“He’s never behaved like that with anyone else. It took seven months for him even to let me in the same stall with him.”

“Then you must have done all the hard work. I had only to follow in your footsteps.”

He was not the sort to follow in anyone’s footsteps. She felt a surge of warmth at the unexpected kindness from a man who said he knew only mockery. “Is it only Kapu?”

“I have a certain gift. I told you, horses have a fondness for me. Perhaps they realize I possess the same animal instincts and feel a kinship.” He smiled crookedly. “Which brings me to the suggestion that you’d be wise to remove your hands from my body.”

“Why? I’m not finished.”

“But I’ve definitely started.” He looked into her eyes and said roughly, “You may be a virgin, but you’re no ignorant miss. You know what arouses a man. I’m beginning to forget how young you are and imagine how tight you’d feel. Get your hands off me.”

She suddenly realized the muscles of his stomach were clenched and locked beneath her palms. Heat
burned in her cheeks as she jerked her hands away. “You’re very rude. I was only trying to help.”

“If I didn’t believe that, you’d be under me, not over me.” He sat up and said wearily, “Run along back to your village and stay there.”

Stung, she jumped to her feet. “I certainly don’t want to remain with you. I’ve spent too much time here already.” She moved toward the stallion. “And Kapu was right to dump you onto the sand. I should have let him pound you into it.”

“But you didn’t.” He rose to his feet. “As I said, you have a soft heart. It’s a very dangerous fault in a woman who wishes to maintain her independence.” He met her gaze. “Not to mention her untouched state.”

She found her anger ebbing as she stared at him. Why was she still standing there? She should leave him as he had ordered her to do. She certainly didn’t want to stay with him.

A warm breeze lifted his dark hair from his forehead and molded the material of his shirt against his body, the same wind that was caressing her naked breasts and causing the hair at her temples to brush across her cheeks. She became acutely aware of the salty scent of the sea, the rhythmic sound of the waves rushing against the shore, the grainy roughness of the sand beneath her bare feet. The air seemed suddenly thick and hard to breathe.

“Go on!” he said sharply.

Her hands shook as she mounted Kapu. She was about to turn away when she noticed how pale his stern face appeared in the moonlight. She hesitated before asking, “You’re sure you’re unhurt?”

He drew a deep breath and said with great precision, “I’m not hurt, Kanoa.” An unexpected smile
banished the grimness from his face; then he inclined his head in a bow. “I won’t say it’s been a complete pleasure, but it’s certainly been interesting making your acquaintance.” He stepped forward and slapped Kapu’s rump. “Run along.”

The startled stallion lunged forward.

“And, dammit, if you won’t cover yourself, stay away from the shore until we’re gone,” he called after her. “Some of my seamen won’t care how old you are.”

She was several yards down the beach before she glanced over her shoulder. He was standing where she had left him, gazing after her.

He smiled faintly and lifted his hand in farewell.

She didn’t return the gesture. Staring ahead once more, she urged Kapu to go faster. The episode that had taken place had been most unsettling, and she wanted to put time and distance between herself and the Englishman. He had no role in her life, and yet for a moment he had seemed to have the power to dominate it.

Most disturbing …

“Well, I see you’ve found something to interest you.”

Jared turned from watching the girl flying down the beach on the back of the black stallion to see Bradford strolling toward him. “I take it you grew bored with waiting.”

“I finished the bottle of brandy,” Bradford said mournfully. “Most distressing. I should have noticed that it was only half-full.”

“Three-quarters full,” Jared corrected. “I wonder you can still walk.”

“No, you don’t. You know that I seldom get that foxed.”

It was true. His uncle had an amazing capacity. He was always a little drunk, but Jared had seen him under the table only a handful of times. “You should have come with me to see King Kamehameha instead of staying on board. They served a heady brew that you would have appreciated.”

He grimaced. “Too primitive. I prefer good French brandy.”

“I enjoyed it.”

Bradford nodded. “But that’s because you also have a primitive side to your nature. I noticed it while we were in Tahiti.” His gaze went to Kanoa, who was now almost out of sight. “Fine horse. Beautiful gait.”

Jared should have known Bradford would notice the horse first.

“I can’t tell much from this distance,” Bradford went on, “but the woman appears equally fine.” He slanted a sly glance at Jared. “I thought you were getting along quite nicely. What did you say to her to make her run away?”

“She isn’t a woman, she’s a child,” Jared said curtly.

“They grow up fast here in the islands.”

“But I have no desire to be the catalyst.”

Bradford’s brows raised. “Good God, you sound positively virtuous.”

“She’s just a child,” he repeated. But one with a strange mixture of qualities—wary and eager, impulsive and caring, bold and yet uncertain.