Lynette Vinet - Emerald Trilogy 02 (26 page)

Pulling the pelt around her, she crawled towards him, frightened by something she saw in his face. As she drew nearer, she realized he wasn’t asleep but wide awake. In a hesitant, comforting gesture she touched his arm.

Slowly he shifted his gaze from the open doorway to her. “Did you see him?” he asked.

“Who?”

“My father.
He stood right there.” He pointed straight ahead to where the door swung wildly.

“I didn’t see anyone. Perhaps you were dreaming.”

He shook his head. “He was here and smiling as I’ve never seen him. Why, he looked right at us—smiled at you, too.” His cold hand grabbed her warm one. “What does it mean?”

She trembled though managed to speak calmly. “You must have dreamt him. Rest now and try to sleep.”

As she started to move away, his grip tightened. “Sleep next to me, please. I won’t do anything but hold you. I need a warm, breathing body next to mine.”

Her first inclination was to refuse, but he appeared so frightened and confused. And suddenly she needed to feel his warmth in the cold dark night.

She got up, shut the door, and without another word, crawled under the covers to be enfolded in his arms.

~ ~ ~

Morning sunshine streamed into the cabin. Paul stirred, feeling a soft leg entwined around his thigh. He opened his eyes, his gaze resting on the gleaming hair of his wife. She lay with her head pressed against his chest and an arm thrown carelessly across his abdomen, her raised nightshirt revealing smooth, round breasts. He felt a stirring sensation in his loins. God, she didn’t know what she did to him!

He felt he should move away before she awakened and saw his aroused state. He remembered asking her to sleep with him after he saw the disturbing vision of his father. Allison’s body felt comforting next to his in the darkness with the rain falling outside and the play of lightning across her face. They hadn’t talked, just laid there together, bodies touching. But now he wanted to kiss her, and knew he shouldn’t.

He knew he had acted beastly, hurling those insults at her. One day maybe she’d forgive him when she understood his motives. But for now, he must continue to pretend to feel nothing for her.

Paul felt her stir. Her breasts rubbed against the side of his chest, and her small hand moved downward. Allison’s eyes flew open, and she withdrew her hand as if it had touched fire. He knew now that she was aware of his arousal. Instead of jumping up and fleeing as he had expected her to do, she moved her head from his chest and looked up at him. There was a slight twinkle in her eyes as if she was pleased with herself.

“Did you sleep well?” she asked, not bothering to disentangle her leg from his.

“Yes,” he answered gruffly to hide his true feelings. “And you?”

“Fine.”
She stretched like a contented kitten and lazily pulled her blouse down, covering her breasts. Paul felt acute disappointment, yet wondered why she seemed so comfortable with him. “I had a lovely dream.”

“What about?” he asked her.

She blushed, unable to tell a stranger that she had dreamed of a man resembling him, making love to her by a river. Perhaps that was the reason she suddenly felt so at ease with him. She was still enveloped by the wonderful sensations of her dream. Sitting up, she shook her long hair about her. “Nothing you’d be interested in.” She flashed him a dazzling smile. “I must fix breakfast.”

As she was about to rise, Paul detained her with a hand on her wrist. “Thank you for last night.”

Allison shook her head. “That must have been an awful nightmare.”

He wanted to tell her it wasn’t a nightmare, that he didn’t dream it. He knew he had seen his father.

~ ~ ~

Later, after Allison dressed, she started frying deer sausage and scrambling quail eggs. Soon the cabin was filled with delicious aromas. When they sat down to breakfast, they didn’t talk much, but Paul felt an affinity between them.

Allison regarded him as she ate. There was no doubt about it. The man was handsome and strong. In fact he could have taken advantage of her as they lay wrapped in each other’s arms during the storm. But he hadn’t.

She blushed, remembering how wantonly she had responded last night, but it was only his nasty comment about Montreal that had stopped the inevitable. In fact she wondered if he had purposely set out to insult her.

Right now, she found herself grudgingly liking him, having seen his vulnerability. The nightmare had frightened him, and he had needed her. This pleased her, and she realized that she had needed him just as much. But if he touched her again in the same way as last night, she was worried she’d respond in the same way.

“That was very tasty,” he praised and pushed his empty plate away. He stood up. “I’ll try to catch fish for supper.”

Allison also got up and started clearing the table. Her back was turned to him, and he spun her around, kissing her so fiercely on the mouth that he took her breath away.

“I still think you’re a hot little one, Angelle. Maybe I’ll visit you one day in Montreal.”

With that remark, he turned and strode from the cabin, leaving her open-mouthed and furious. She felt like a fool.
And just when she was beginning to like him
.

Jacques’ return the next afternoon brought a sigh of relief to Allison, and she pretended to be overly interested in his ceaseless chatter about his grandmother. Her thoughts were a thousand miles away, though in reality the person she dwelt upon was only yards away, sitting in the shade of a maple tree watching the lake flow lazily past him.

Every so often her gaze wandered through the window to Paul’s broad back then back again to Jacques’ handsome, good-natured face. She poured him a cup of tea and gave him fresh biscuits she had just baked.

“Soon we’ll need some supplies, Angelle. When winter comes, the winter snows will be upon us and then the lake will freeze over. We must go to Montreal before then. Would you like to come with me?”

“Yes, I would,” she said, though she was distracted again by Paul who stood up and went to stand by the shoreline.

Jacques slammed his fist down on the tabletop in pleasure.
“
Bien!
You need some clothes. I shall buy you the prettiest dress in Montreal.”

Turning her attention back to him, she smiled. “Thank you, that would be very nice and it is kind of you. But I think once we are there, I shall remain. Maybe I’ll find someone who remembers me.”

His exuberance faded noticeably. “Angelle, you might not have lived in Montreal. Suppose you’re from Quebec?”

She hadn’t thought of that. For some strange reason, she had assumed she was from the nearest city. But most likely, she assumed wrongly. Paul Flannery was proof of that. “Then I shall go there.”

“No!” He jumped from his chair and stood before her, his shoulders shaking with emotion. “I cannot bear if you leave me. You must marry me.”

A nerve twitched at the base of her neck. She hadn’t expected this, even though she guessed Jacques was lonely. In truth, she was fond of him, cared for him a great deal.
But marriage?
She couldn’t marry him—not when Paul inhabited the same house, not when her heart beat like an Indian’s tom-tom every time Paul was near her.

“I’m honored, Jacques, but I can’t accept. I have no idea who I am. In fact I may be married already … and have children.” She remembered again the strange impressions she’d been having lately of babies with soft fuzzy hair and large blue eyes.

He was reluctant to accept that idea and shook his head in denial. Taking her small hands in his, he said, “I love you. Please marry me in Montreal.”

“I … I can’t.” Her voice shook; she knew she’d never be truly happy here in the Canadian wilderness. She belonged somewhere else, somewhere with a man who held her in his arms by a slow-moving river as the smell of wildflowers drifted over them.
But where?
And who?

Jacques seemed to understand her inner turmoil and gently kissed her. “Think first, then decide,” he told her and left the cabin to join Paul.

She wrapped the uneaten biscuits in a towel to keep until supper, her mind on Jacques’ proposal and Paul’s cruelty the previous night. Did Paul really think she was some wanton, only after a man? In that case, he should know that she had turned down Jacques, but what difference would it make if he did? He didn’t respect her and seemed most eager to hurt her. But then she recalled his vulnerability when they
laid
wrapped in each other’s arms. Truly, she didn’t understand him.

As she tossed Jacques’ cup into the wash tub, snatches of a song came to her, and without realizing, she started to sing aloud. “My love is like the mountains, beautiful, brave and true. My love is like the meadows, green and fresh with dew. She has my heart, she’ll have my child. She has my passion, ever wild.”

Her head started up quickly with a jerk. “Where did that come from?” she muttered aloud. Then she knew she was starting to remember. Soon, soon, her past might all come back to her, and she could leave and return home. She’d gladly leave this small cabin with its tiring chores of cleaning and cooking, and most certainly she’d be thrilled to leave Paul Flannery. But if she were married, would her husband be able to ignite that same passion she felt in Paul’s arms?

Paul and Jacques stood by the lake watching a boat drift towards them. It was filled with two men, two women and a child. Allison emerged from the cabin just as the boat reached the shore.

“Hello, I’m Joshua Miller,” the older man said and took Paul’s outstretched hand in greeting after the boat grazed the shoreline. “My family and I are settling near here, and we wondered if we might spend the night. My little granddaughter doesn’t seem too well.”

“Certainly,” was Paul’s
response.

The boat’s inhabitants all lumbered out to sit beneath the trees while Jacques volunteered to bring them warm tea.

Allison noted the pale little girl who seemed to be about a year old, huddled against her mother’s bosom and immediately could see she was unwell. The mother introduced the child as Tilly, herself as Mary, pointed to the younger of the two men as her husband Richard, and said Joshua Miller was her father-in-law. Joshua then stepped forward and took Allison’s hand in greeting, introducing his daughter, a striking auburn-haired girl of about sixteen, as Dorcas. Almost immediately Allison decided she didn’t much care for Dorcas when her green-eyed gaze lingered on Paul for too long.

“And who might you be?” Joshua asked Allison.

Before she could reply, Paul was beside her, his arm possessively around her shoulders. “This is my wife, Angelle,” he said and grinned at her surprised face.

“Isn’t she lovely?” Joshua asked his daughter who disdainfully ignored the question.

“My wife is indeed beautiful.” Paul ignored both Allison’s gaping look and Jacques who had stomped back into the cabin upon hearing the last remark.

When their guests were out of earshot, Allison turned to Paul. “Why did you say such an absurd thing?”

“It really isn’t that absurd. Would you rather have been introduced as a woman who has been living with two men, alone in the woods for the last month? I’ve just saved your reputation.”

Admittedly, she knew he was right and had extricated her from a potentially embarrassing situation. “Thank you,” she managed to mutter through tight lips.

“Is that all the thanks I get for my gallantry? I should think a kiss of thanks would be sufficient payment.”

“Never!”

“Never say never, love.”

Paul swept her into his arms, shocking her with a passionate kiss in front of the Millers. When he was finished, she almost ran from him, the curious gazes of the Millers following her. She didn’t feel safe until she was inside the cabin with the door securely shut.

Mary helped her with the dishes after supper while Tilly, covered by a fur, slept on Allison’s pallet. “She seems much better after getting some nourishment,” commented Allison to Mary.

“I’m so glad she ate the broth. It will do her good. She hasn’t been eating too well lately because I think she’s teething. She’s always chewing on her fingers.”

“I suppose children will do that.”

“You don’t have children yet, do you?”

Allison started to say yes, but stopped herself. She wasn’t certain she did, and it would certainly sound like a strange answer to say she wasn’t certain. “No, I haven’t any.”

“You will soon enough, I gather. Your husband seems to love you very much.”

Allison colored, remembering the kiss she’d received from Paul in front of all of them.

Mary chattered about the new house she and Richard planned to build when they reached their destination. She explained that she and her family were Tories and had never been able to accept the new American government. Governor Simcoe, the British governor of Canada, had offered free land to those loyal to the crown. The Millers eagerly packed what little they owned and headed for what they called the “promised land”. They had always wished to be landowners, but in New York they had always worked the land for others. Now their dream of working their own land was coming true.

Allison smiled at Mary whom she had come to like. Mary sighed at the end of her explanation. “Dorcas wasn’t too happy over the move. She claims there aren’t enough men in the wilderness to whet one’s appetite. She’s so young and pretty that I can’t really blame her. I know she wished to remain in New York.”

Just then high-fluted laughter drifted from outside, and Allison glanced out the open doorway. Not thirty feet away, Dorcas sash-shayed around Paul, practically hanging onto his arm as he spoke to her father and brother. She wore a frilly blue dress, having changed out of the nondescript gray muslin she had worn when they had arrived. She looked pretty and feminine. Mary noticed, too. “Pay no never mind to Dorcas. She’s a flirt.”

Allison knew that without being told. A very pretty flirt, she was, too. Allison looked down at her well-worn breeches and the shirt now stained with droplets of broth. She was a mess!

“Change into one of your pretty dresses, Angelle. I have a feeling Dorcas will be less noticed if you do.”

“I’m afraid that this is all I have.”

Mary smiled mysteriously, but said nothing. She went to the leather bag which Allison had assumed only held Tilly’s things, and watched as Mary withdrew a lovely green silk gown with pink rosebuds along the neckline, cuffs and hem. “This was a dress I used to be able to wear before I had Tilly. But since then I’ve gained weight, and I’ll never be able to fit in it again, I want you to have it. Dorcas has been after me to give it to her, but she’s got plenty of clothes.” She held out the gown. “Here, you put it on.”

Allison started to refuse the offer, but something about Mary’s expression warned her not to. “Oh, thank you ever so much, Mary.” She kissed the woman’s cheek.

“Give Dorcas some competition,” Mary advised.

Allison twirled around the cabin, holding the dress in front of her after Mary had left to join the others. Dare she wear it? The gown was cut low, and she knew her breasts would strain against the thin material, but she was so tired of the horrid pants and shirt. And she wanted to see Paul’s reaction when he saw her in a dress.

Quickly she stripped off her clothes, careful not to wake Tilly. She washed her face and body, with a wet rag, then tied her hair atop her head with a pink ribbon she saw poking out of Mary’s bag. Then she eased her way into the gown. Her bosom nearly burst out of the gown’s confining bodice but she felt so heavenly and beautiful she didn’t care. And she smelled divine, too. Mary, at one time, had pinned a small rose sachet to the bodice.

Glancing at her reflection in the mirror, she realized with a start that not only did she feel beautiful, she was beautiful! Why, she had never thought that until this minute! She tugged gently at the swishing, swirling skirt. “I’ll show you a real lady, Paul Flannery”—but being a lady was far from her mind as she jerked open the cabin door.

When she was outside, her courage faltered when all eyes turned upon her.

Jacques inhaled audibly, and she was aware of the silent, pleased expressions of Joshua, Mary and Richard. However, Dorcas broke the quiet of the evening. “You promised that gown to me, Mary.”

Allison didn’t hear the woman’s reply to her sister-in-law. All she saw was Paul rising to his feet—his broad shoulders covered by the leather vest, his naked powerful arms and slim waist, his strong thighs. His dark eyes seemed to blend with the darkening sky, impaling her to the spot.

This has happened before!
she
thought wildly, trying to remember when a sea of people once parted to bring him to her side. But the image quickly died as he came to her and took her hands in his. “You’re the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen,” he whispered. “I can’t remember ever seeing you this lovely.”

His voice, his lips, his eyes mesmerized her, causing her not to question why he should have ever seen her “this lovely” before. Yet it didn’t matter. Nothing mattered except the fact that she was willingly drowning in his adoration.

The evening air suddenly sounded like a nightingale’s song as Joshua took out his harmonica and played a soft, plaintive tune. Allison moved with Paul as he took her in his arms and gently danced her round the fire. He held her against him but didn’t smother her in his embrace. A cool breeze stirred, and wisps of her hair loosened about her face. She sighed. Had she ever felt such contentment as this?

The mood was broken by Tilly as she toddled out of the cabin, crying for her mother. Since Allison was closest to her, she bent down and scooped up the child in her arms. “Don’t cry, little Tilly,” she crooned softly. Your mother is over here.” When Allison attempted to give Tilly to her mother, Tilly balked and clung to Allison.

“It seems you’ve made a friend,” Mary noted. “She doesn’t usually take well to strangers.”

“Or aunts either, it seems,” Dorcas piped in. “The child never wants anything to do with me.”

“I don’t blame her,” Allison heard Richard say under his breath.

Allison sat down on a makeshift bench, Paul at her side, and talked gently to Tilly who pulled at the ribbon in Allison’s hair until her tresses cascaded like sunlight around her shoulders. Instantly, the child placed the ribbon in her mouth and chewed on it. Tilly whined crankily but refused to leave Allison’s side.