Indigo (28 page)

"I agree, but I can't release her until her bond is secured."

Hester said, "I've made arrangements to post a bond in the morning."

Foster asked, "What type of arrangements?"

"I'll use the funds from the land sale and put up some of my land."

"How much is the bond, Sheriff?" Galen asked.

The sheriff named the amount, but unlike Hester's earlier reaction of alarm, Galen didn't appear to be bothered by the steep figure. He turned to Renaud and said, "Andre, take care of this for Miss Wyatt, please."

"My pleasure." Renaud reached into an inside pocket of his tailored coat and extracted a small velvet bag that jingled as if it held many coins. Renaud handed the bag over to the sheriff. Lawson appeared perplexed at first, but when he peered inside, his eyes widened. "Gold?!"

Galen drawled, "It will do, I hope."

The sheriff sputtered, "Why, yes. I—gold?!"

Foster seemed to be transfixed by the sight of the bag in the sheriff's hand. Hester was certain the surprise was plain on her face. As she met Galen's eyes he said to the sheriff, "I believe there is more than enough there to conclude this transaction."

The sheriff still appeared a bit stunned. He stared over at Galen with something akin to amazement, but Galen, standing there as richly dressed as any lord, met the gaze as if he were accustomed to garnering such looks of wonder.

"May we escort her home now?" Galen asked.

The sheriff sputtered again, "Uh—yes, there's some papers to sign—"

"Renaud can see to them. Shall we go, Quint, Miss Wyatt?"

Hester gathered up her things, then after offering the sheriff another sincere apology for the damage to his door, she followed the men out into the night.

Outside, the sky up above was studded with stars. Hester drew in deep breaths of the sweet, clear air as they walked over to Galen's waiting coach.

Foster helped her inside and once Renaud joined them, the coach was under way. Foster said, "Mr. Vachon, I want to thank you for posting Hester's bond. I'm sure she will not do anything to jeopardize your gold."

Hester had had a rough day; she was in no mood for Foster's not-so-subtle reprimand. "I thank you too, Mr. Vachon, but it was not necessary for you to be so generous on my behalf. I'd already made my own arrangements."

"But Hester, your land," Foster said.

"What was I to do? You heard the amount. Bea and the others had planned to come in the morning to post my bond, but they couldn't meet that price. Should I have asked them to put up their land instead?"

Foster replied, "Maybe you should have. Weren't they responsible for you being imprisoned in the first place?"

Hester wanted to smack him. "Foster, you make it sound as if I were duped into helping the Blackburns. The plan to impersonate Fanny was mine and mine alone."

Hester looked over to Galen seated within the shadows. "Am I correct in assuming you are angry with me also?"

Foster answered before Galen could reply. "Your assumption is correct. You placed yourself in danger."

"Yes, I did, but it was my decision. I took Shoe's threats seriously the first time I met him, but I'm not going to stop my work just because he wants to see me on the block."

Galen asked, "He's threatened you before?"

"Yes, last fall when he first came to town."

"Why haven't you said anything about this before?" Foster asked.

"There was no need. You are not a member of the Vigilance Committee, nor are you in my Road circle."

She could feel herself spoiling for a fight so she took a deep breath to calm her temper and said, "I really don't wish to discuss this any further."

Hester folded her arms and looked away. She knew arguing with them would only serve to make her angrier, so she sat in silence for the remainder of the ride.

When the coach pulled up in front of her house. Hester maintained her politeness. "Mr. Vachon, thank you for the bond. Please be assured I will do nothing to jeopardize your gold."

Galen said softly, "We are concerned is all."

"And I appreciate that concern, but I've been on the Road most of my life, I can take care of myself. Goodnight, Foster. Thank you for coming to my aid."

That said, she stepped out of the carriage and headed up the walk.

Later, the more Hester thought about Foster and Galen's attitudes, the angrier she became. She didn't know whether to cry out her frustration or hurl a vase against the wall. She was thankful for her agitated state though, because it kept the memories of Shoe at bay. After she'd washed up and donned her night clothes, she crawled beneath the light quilt. There in the dark, the fear came flooding back. The images of how brutalized she would have been made her shake. She could well imagine the terrible outcome had she not fired the rifle. That one timely shot may have saved her life. She felt a wave of reaction roll over her and she trembled in response.

Across the room, the wall panel opened and she sat up. She knew instinctively it would be Galen. She barely noticed the panel close soundlessly again because her heart had begun to sing. He'd come. She felt like crying, because he alone knew that she needed solace. He'd come to hold her as she needed to be held.

He walked further into the room. Without a word, he opened his arms wide. In silent answer, she slipped from the bed and ran to him, letting him encircle her with his strength, letting him hold her tight, so tightly she hoped he would never let go.

Galen held her for a long time, savoring her, sheltering her. When he could bear to ease her away, he gently lifted her into his arms and carried her over to the rocker. He sat with her atop his lap. Moonlight and the night breeze streamed over them through the open window.

Cradled against his chest, Hester felt safe for the first time in a long while. Since her aunt's death, her life had become so crazy she'd hardly had time to breathe. She'd had to be strong, dedicated, and stoic in response to all she'd experienced in life, but tonight she didn't want to be strong. For just this little while she wanted to be held as if she were precious to someone, and let that someone be her strength.

Galen kissed the top of her head and basked in a contentment he'd never dreamed possible. He'd held many women in his arms, but could not remember finding such inner peace, such total ease of mind. The memory of her angry stance behind the rifle would haunt him for quite some time. He never wanted to see her so frightened by anything ever again. He'd been so eager to get back here and see about her, he'd practically thrown Quint from the coach when the driver stopped in front of his home. "Are you still angry with me?" he quietly asked.

Without lifting her head from the comfort of his chest she answered, "Yes."

He chuckled softly in the moonlight. "Should I apologize for being so concerned?"

"No, but you can apologize for acting as if I need a keeper."

"Now, I never said that. The burgher is the one you want to flay, not me."

"He'll get his chance, rest assured."

"I was terribly concerned about you however. When Quint came to me to ask my assistance in freeing you, I didn't hesitate."

"But the gold was a bit over the top, don't you think?"

He looked down into her black-diamond eyes and shrugged. "Not really."

"Does Renaud always carry around a sack of gold coins?"

"Only when necessary, and tonight it was. I'd no idea who I'd have to bribe to set you free."

She placed her head back against his heart. "Well, you certainly impressed Sheriff Lawson. Me too, if the truth be known."

"Good. I enjoy impressing you."

Hester drew back and looked up at his handsome face. "I'm not going to marry you."

"So you keep saying. Are you trying to convince me or yourself?"

Hester placed her head back on his chest. "We're not discussing this."

"Then what are we discussing?"

Opting to keep the conversation on neutral ground she told him her thoughts on the betrayal of the Blackburns.

Galen heard her out then said, "You could be right. Someone may have given Shoe the information on the Blackburns, but who?"

Hester didn't know. "How far did you and Raymond get with the list of names you showed me on the night of your party?"

"We've investigated nearly everyone so far, but with no results. We've uncovered no one with debts deep enough to make them susceptible to Shoe's possible blackmail, nor have we discovered any names which match the Order's list of known traitors. All we've unearthed is that the people of Whittaker are fine, upstanding people. Not a potential traitor in the county."

"I told you that back in October, so where does that leave us?"

"I've no idea, maybe your committee members will have some clues. When do you meet again?"

"According to my bond conditions I'm not supposed to be meeting with anyone, but the meeting will be held Sunday after church. I'll see if anyone has a new theory. If Shoe could do this to the Blackburns no one is safe."

Galen agreed.

He then asked, "Are you sure you're all right?"

She thought back on Shoe and his leering, evil presence. "He scared me deeply, but I'm better."

Galen hugged her closer. "When I entered the sheriff's office this evening, and saw you standing so angrily behind that gun—then I saw the tears in your eyes—I think I hate it when you cry."

Hester looked up at him with a questioning face.

"I do," he said. "It makes me want to destroy whomever or whatever has caused you pain."

Hester thought he was joking. "Now, Galen, really, that's a bit much, don't you think?"

"That's what I keep telling myself, but after you explained what had happened with Shoe, I wanted to kill him with my bare hands."

His words were plain, his eyes truthful. "We have a problem here,
petite.
It's fairly certain I'm in love with you."

Hester went still. His eyes were intense enough to drown in, and her heart was pounding.

He went on, saying huskily, "You've no idea how you affect me..."

Hester closed her eyes in reaction to his bold declaration. She didn't know how to respond. She did know that she needed to get up from his lap before she gave in to temptation, because she was fairly certain she loved him too. But she doubted their love would ever bear fruit due to their social differences. Their classes rarely mixed, let alone married. She didn't want him to be ostracized from his circle because of her past.

"You—should go back, Galen." She made a move to rise, but his hands gently stayed her hips.

"What's the matter?" he softly enquired. "I tell you of my love and you turn morose. Is the thought so disheartening?"

She smiled a half smile and shook her head. "No, in fact I'm very flattered actually, but you aren't in love— not with me."

"Why can't I be in love with you?"

"Because you can't be. We're from different worlds."

"And that means what exactly?"

"It means people like you and I don't fall in love. We certainly don't marry. Your social circle wouldn't allow it."

"Do you really believe I would care what society thinks about who I love?"

"No, you probably wouldn't, but I do."

He searched her face. "You think I would be ashamed of your past?"

"Maybe not at first—"

"I'm going to pretend you didn't utter such nonsense."

"Galen—"

"We're not going to have this discussion because it is unnecessary. Now kiss me so I don't become any angrier than I already am."

"You are far too arrogant for your own good at times, do you know that?"

"Arrogant, wealthy, and..." He used his finger to slowly trace the outline of her tempting mouth. "...totally captivated by you..."

He kissed her then, a slow sweet kiss filled with passion. Suddenly, she was very glad she and Foster had not been man and wife. She would never experience such sweetness if they had. Foster would never have nibbled her lip so delicately, nor made her lips part so willingly. Only Galen had the power to make her throw caution to the wind and thrill to the slide of his strong hand journeying up and down her arms. Only Galen knew how to kiss her until her lips were swollen with passion. His hands circled her shoulders and the back of her neck. He made her long to feel all he could give and give all in return.

Galen wanted to seduce her into agreeing to be his love. He wanted his kisses on her throat and his hands moving so lazily over her hardening nipples to fog her mind so she'd succumb. He sought to con vice her by slipping his tongue past the opened corners of her mouth. He thrilled to the sound of her breathless response. "Be mine..." he whispered.

Hester was already his. Her body responded as if he had fashioned it for and from his own hands. Her nipples ached from the sensations of his warm mouth closing over them through the thin, rough muslin of her gown. She arched her back as his play became more heated, and her sighs of pleasure rose softly on the night breeze.