Karen Michelle Nutt (5 page)

“You will help me by takin’ a nice walk and lets me handle things in de kitchen.” Maeve led Arianna through the house and out the front door.

Once Maeve was convinced Arianna wasn’t going to bulk at the idea, she went back to face Oni and Sophie.

"Whut's dis, you be callin' Miss Annabelle,
Aree…ana
?” Oni asked.

"Dat's who she be. She's not dat devil woman no more," Maeve answered confidently. Oni and Sophie exchanged glances as if Maeve had lost her mind.

****

Arianna stood on the porch and stared at the closed door. “I’ve been tossed out of my own house. What am I suppose to do out here?” She threw up her hands. Of course no one answered and she turned and walked to the edge of the porch. She let her gaze wander over the vast land of gardens, trees and brush. She sighed with a shake of her head. “This is my home.” The words sounded hallow to her ears. She leaned against the railing and closed her eyes and listened to the sounds around her—the rustling of leaves, the murmuring of voices. The warmth of the sun kissed her skin and she could smell fresh baked bread.

Her lips curved. She had no memory of her life, but she still remembered the simple things. She supposed it was a start.

"What are ye doin’?"

Arianna recognized Keldon’s voice, but she refused to have him ruin this moment. "I'm contemplating."

"Weel may be so, but do ye think ye might want to move out of the sun? Skin like yers will burn easily."

"I don't care. The sun knows me and I know it, and somehow that’s reassuring.”

"Reassurin’?"

"Uh huh.” Reluctantly, she opened her eyes and looked at him. His dark eyebrows rose high on his forehead. "It gives me comfort that I'm not losing my mind. Do you know how alarming it is not to know who you are? Nothing seems even vaguely familiar except...” She lowered her gaze and looked away.

"Except what?”

She sighed. "I don't know really. What I remember is more like a dream than reality. It’s like someone told me about you.” She looked at him again.

"And what did this person tell ye?” Again his brows arched.

She searched his handsomely rugged features for something familiar. Inherent strength shone in his sun-bronzed face. His sea green eyes, which were clear and vibrant, missed nothing. He lacked patience at least where she was concerned. And yet the woman’s voice stood out clear in her mind. Trust the Scotsman. The man with the green eyes, he will love you and protect you. Those words rang in her head as if someone had drummed it into her subconscious. She didn’t see love in Keldon’s eyes. It was more like contempt. "It's nothing. Just a dream.”

A shadow of disappointment crossed his face as he turned away.

She shaded her eyes from the sun and looked toward the trees in front of her. "I thought you were going to show me around this place so I can figure out who I am.”

"Ye know who ye are. Ye’re Annabelle Buchanan."

"So you say.” Arianna glanced at him and Keldon had the oddest feeling she didn’t believe him. “But,” she continued confirming his suspicion. “I feel deep down to my soul. I’m not your Annabelle. I am Arianna Ward. I am sure this is my name.”

"Hmm.” He still couldn’t figure out her ploy. Her behavior proved suspicious with her casual attitude and flippant remarks. He could almost believe she was someone else. "Come, we'll go for a ride."

"A ride would be nice. What kind of car do we have?”

Another strange word, like the one she used from last night—the Ferris wheel. "What is this car?"

“You know a car.” She waved her hand in front of her. “A vehicle you ride in. It has four wheels and runs on gasoline..."

Keldon knew his glare had silenced her, but did she really expect him to put up with her tales about fanciful machines?

"Cars haven’t been invented yet," she said more to herself than to him. “Don’t ask me how I know, but I do.”

"I have no idea what ye're talkin' aboot," Keldon answered her as he began to wonder if the bump on the head had caused more damage than anyone could have imagined.

"I don't know why I have this image. I know there are Fords, Hondas and Nissans and— You think I’m mad?" She didn’t wait for him to answer. "Forget it."

"Aye," Keldon answered. "Come along then. Leighton has saddled the horses for us."

They headed toward the stable and Arianna turned to look at him. "Do I know how to ride a horse?"

He glanced her way expecting to see a smirk, not wide-eyed innocence. He cleared his throat. "Aye, ye ride verra well.

****

Arianna found she indeed knew how to ride. That is, after she convinced Keldon she didn’t want to ride sidesaddle. She proved she could be as stubborn as he could be.

Arianna had the impression the plantation went on for miles with its landscaped terraces, shadowy gardens and ponds. Cypress trees lined the forest behind them like a wall of defense.

The plantation was self-sufficient. They made their own tools and pottery. They had a weaver, cooper, carpenter and blacksmith. They harvested cotton and indigo, but the plantation’s main crop was rice. Seeing the men and woman working in the fields, she recalled the conversation she had earlier with Maeve about slaves. Did they own all the workers?

Arianna shielded her eyes, watching the workers in the fields. “Everyone looks hot and tired. Shouldn’t they take a break?” When he didn’t answer her, she turned to meet Keldon’s hard stare. “Why do you look at me that way?”

“Ye speak in riddles.”

“I speak in riddles. You should be sitting where I’m sitting.”

A guttural order drew her attention to a man with light hair and thick sideburns. He sat upon his horse, yelling at the workers.

“Who is that?” Arianna asked.

“The overseer, Rafferty.”

She didn’t like him. Belligerent demands flew from his mouth. She’d had enough when she witnessed Rafferty bringing his riding crop down on a man, knocking him to his knees. She didn’t think as she clicked her tongue and set her mount into motion. She rode over to Rafferty ready to give him a piece of her mind. She jumped down from her horse. With her fists clenched at her sides, she didn’t think of her own safety as she put herself between the overseer and the helpless man on the ground.

"Don’t you dare hit this man again," she spat.

Rafferty turned three shades of red looking like he was on the verge of exploding. "Get out of my way or you’ll be feelin’ the crop on you!” He raised the weapon above his head, the intent made clear as he brought it down.

Arianna yelped and covered her face, but the blow never came. She lowered her arms and found Keldon gripping Rafferty’s arm.

"Ye werena goin' to whip my wife, were ye, Rafferty?"

Rafferty cowered beneath the glaring green eyes. "No of course not, Mr. Buchanan?"

Keldon shoved the man’s hand away.

"You must have seen,” Rafferty stammered and pointed to Arianna. “She was interferin' with my disiplinin'."

"Disciplining!” Arianna glared at Rafferty wagging her finger. "You were beating the man for no apparent reason."

Rafferty pursed his lips together and glowered at her.

"We doonae want to interfere,” Keldon addressed the overseer. “However, ye have been told once before that an undue beatin’ isnae productive and I willnae tolerate them. Is that understood?"

"I understand, but mark my words, if you don't keep these darkies under control, they'll up and kill everyone up at your big, fancy house."

"That is yer opinion. Mine is quite different, and since I am the head of the household, ye will abide by my rules. Do we understand one another?"

"Perfectly.” The man spat on the ground before he turned his horse around and rode away in the opposite direction.

Arianna breathed a sigh of relief and turned toward the man who was still sprawled on the ground. "Are you all right?” She offered her hand to him, but the man cowered, lifting his arm as if he expected her to strike him. She let her hand fall away.

"Yas'm, Miss Annabelle.” He slowly rose to his feet.

Arianna could see he wasn’t all right. His shirtsleeve turned a shade of red where the crop sliced through to his skin. She tried to go to him again, but he quickly backed away. She didn't move, but glanced around her. No one would meet her gaze. Feeling uncomfortable and definitely unwanted, she retreated back to her mount where Keldon waited to help her back into her seat.

They’d ridden a small distance before Arianna spoke. "I only wanted to help, but they were afraid of me.” She looked at Keldon, wanting to see his expression. “Why? I was only concerned.”

"That's what troubled them," Keldon answered.

"I don't understand."

His eyes darkened as he held her gaze. "Ye’ve never cared before. Ye've beaten the slaves for far less reasons than Rafferty has."

Arianna pulled on her horse’s reins, bringing the animal to an abrupt halt. When Keldon realized she’d fallen behind, he stopped and turned around in his seat. "Is somethin’ amiss?"

"Yes,” Arianna calmly replied though she wanted to scream. “Everything’s
amiss.
You've told me things about myself I can't believe. I feel like you’re talking about another a person, a person frankly I wouldn't wish to know.” Arianna mournfully sighed. "I'm a stranger in my own life. I'm scared to learn anymore about who I am. Did I ever do anything nice?” She met his gaze, begging him to say something encouraging about her personality.

“We should head back to the house.”

His response didn’t relieve her fear. Selfish, bitter, cruel … and these were her best qualities. No wonder Keldon looked at her with such malevolence. What horrible deeds had she bestowed upon him?

CHAPTER FIVE

After riding, Keldon deposited her back at the house as if he couldn’t wait to end their time together. Leighton showed up soon after and they both left, heading for the boat. Arianna wondered if Leighton was a business partner or an annoying pest interfering with her marriage.

I sound jealous.
She thought. Well, she was.
I’m married, but Keldon keeps me at arms length.
Weren’t marriages based on love and trust? Obviously, their marriage wasn’t of the conventional nature. They didn’t even share the same bedroom. She may have forgotten many things, but she was certain a married couple slept together.

She tried to imagine Keldon’s strong hands on her, his mouth kissing her…making love to her. Heat burned her cheeks. Love? The man didn't even like her. She shook her head. She had more things to worry about than wondering why her husband didn’t sleep with her, but those damn words kept haunting her:
He will love you
.

She harrumphed. “He’s probably a lousy kisser,” she mumbled wallowing in her misery as she walked down the unfamiliar halls.

Her steps took her to the drawing room and to the harpsichord. She pulled out the bench and sat down. Keldon insisted she never played. “What do I care what he thinks?” She closed her eyes and placed her hands on the keys. The melody came alive before she even thought of it, the slow soothing piece she’d played earlier. The melody meant something to her. She wished she knew why.

When she finished, she opened her eyes with a sigh. “If I don’t know how to play, how did I manage that?” Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted a little girl peering around the corner of the doorframe. “Hello,” she called to her.

The girl came fully into the room, but not too close as if she didn’t want to be far from her exit of escape. Her lashes swooped down hiding her light brown eyes. "I's sorry Miss Annabelle fer disturbin' you. The music wuz so purdy. I never heard you play before."

"Don't be sorry. I'm glad you’re here.” Arianna didn’t want her to leave and hoped she could convince her to stay.

"You are?” The little girl’s mouth nearly dropped to the floor.

Arianna nodded and moved over on the bench. "Come sit by me.”

The little girl hesitated.

Arianna tried a different approach. "I can't remember a lot of things. Can you tell me your name?"

"Yas'm. I be called Sally Mae."

"Well, Sally Mae would you like to learn how to play?” She pointed to the harpsichord.

“Yas’m.” Sally Mae bobbed her head up and down.

Arianna patted the space next to her. "Come sit here and I'll show you.”

Arianna taught her a simple tune she remembered. It was funny how she could remember things like that but nothing of her life.

After a few minutes, Sally Mae had mastered the little ditty. At first, Arianna wasn't sure what the piece was called. Then the name popped into her head. "Chopsticks.” Sally Mae looked up questionably at Arianna. She repeated with a smile, "What you’re playing is called chopsticks. I think there’s another more official name for it, but this one will do. Anyway, you play what you just learned, while I play the other part that goes with it. Sally Mae carefully concentrated to hit each key, while Arianna worked her magic. There were a few mistakes but over all, it didn’t sound half -bad.