Moonlight on Water (18 page)

“Steal me away?”

“Marry you.”

She lowered her eyes, embarrassed that he would speak so openly of things she had thought of only in her dreams. “That's just as well, for I have no wish to marry.”

“Why not?” He lifted the cloths off her hands and tossed them onto the table. “If you're going to stay here, your Assembly of Elders is sure to find you a husband. If not Foley, there will be someone else ready to marry you. I don't want you to get the idea that the someone else is me.”

Pulling away and standing, she snapped, “I don't want to marry anyone. Especially not you.”

Wyatt grabbed Rachel's arm and whirled her to face him. Shock shone in her eyes, and he knew his mouth was twisted with fury. He pulled her to him, so tightly that he could enjoy every inch of her soft curves beneath her gown's thin fabric.

“Good, because I don't want to marry you. I want
this
from you.” His mouth covered hers.

An explosion, as powerful as the storm above them, coursed through him. When she curved her arms up around him, he caught her elbows and held her hands away, taking care not to touch her ravaged palms. As eagerly as if he had never kissed her before, his lips explored hers. When he drew her back down to the sofa, leaning over her so he could delight in her so close to him, she did not resist. Why would she? The soft eagerness in her eyes had told him that he was doing exactly as she longed for him to do.

With a strangled gasp, Rachel sat up, moving away.

His hand against her cheek gently turned her face back toward him. “What's wrong?”

“You know what's wrong. No matter how much I wish otherwise, while I'm considering marrying Mr. Foley, I shouldn't share these delicious kisses with you.”

“You aren't married to him yet.” He pressed his lips to her neck, and she quivered.

“No.” She drew away again. “I can't let you seduce me into doing something that could persuade Merrill that I can't be trusted to make my own decisions.”

“Honey, you're
deciding
to be with me here.”

She shook her head, and her soft hair brushed his face. He wanted to pull it around him so he could breathe in the very essence of her. “You don't understand.”

“You're right. I don't understand why we're talking when we could—”

“Stop.” She raised her hands between them.

Did she realize that he would not draw them away, for that would hurt her? Did she realize how desperately he longed to press her back onto the sofa and make love with her?

“Rachel …”

She put the tip of one finger to his lips. When she winced, he knew even that slight motion had brought her pain. Before he could scold her for being silly, she said, “If Merrill decides that I'm unable to make reasonable decisions, he'll insist I marry Mr. Foley right away.”

“He can't force you to marry Foley.”

“You wouldn't say that if you really understood.”

He seized her shoulders, keeping her from standing. “Tell me. Tell me the truth, so I can understand why you'd acquiesce to his demands.”

She put her hands out to push him aside. A soft whimper burst from her lips. Instantly, he grasped her wrists, holding her hands up away from both of them.

“Tell me, honey,” he said. “Tell me so I know what's scaring you so much.”

“This
is scaring me. This longing for you that I can't control.”

“Because you're supposed to marry Foley?”

She shook her head. “This has nothing to do with him.”

“Then what is it?”

“Kitty Cat.”

“What on earth does the kid have to do with this?”

She raised her earth-brown eyes to meet his gaze. In them, he could see her craving for his kisses and caresses. He did not need a mirror to know that the same yearning shone from his.

“Everything, Wyatt. This wanting you—an outsider to River's Haven—is wrong!”

“That's your Assembly of Elders preaching, not you.”

“But it's wrong!”

“Are you going to repeat it enough so you'll believe it?”

She looked away.

“Rachel, answer me,” he ordered softly.

She flinched as rain struck the window. He looked past her. He had forgotten all about the storm as he fought the tempest trying to control his every thought.

“Once the rain is past,” she said, “you should leave.”

“Why?”

“I've told you why.” She came to her feet.

He stood and put his hands on her shoulders. “You haven't told me anything. All I know is that you're frightened. What are you frightened of?”

“Of losing Kitty Cat.”

“Why would you lose her?”

“Merrill thinks I'm more concerned about Kitty Cat than I am about the Community.”

“Of course you are.”

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “But it's not supposed to be that way. We are all supposed to care about each other in River's Haven.”

Going over to the table, he swore as he picked up the cloths and threw them back at the bucket of warm water by the stove.

“Wyatt, try to understand.”

“I would if you'd explain.”

Tears filled her eyes but did not overflow on her cheeks. “If I lose Kitty Cat, I'll be all alone.”

“You have your brother and the whole Community here and the village of Haven.”

“If I lose Kitty Cat, I'll be all alone,” she repeated. “You're going to leave as soon as
The Ohio Star
is repaired. You've got your life on the river. My life is here with Kitty Cat.”

“But I thought she's only been with you for three or four months.”

“In that time, she's filled my heart with such joy that I can't begin to describe it.”

Something twinged in him. Envy? That was ludicrous! He was glad the kid and Rachel had found each other. They needed each other, just as he needed his free life on
The Ohio Star
. So why did her words refuse to stop resonating in his head—
She has filled my heart
? Why did that ache of longing and loss resound within him like thunder?

She gazed at him with those soft eyes and those delicious lips, and he wondered why he was fighting the truth. He wanted her to want him. He wanted there to be a place in her heart for him, so she would be waiting here, happy with her life of raising K. C., whenever he passed this section of the Ohio. Rachel would be here, eager and loving and responsive to his touch.

There was a broken-down pier in the river below River's Haven. He imagined her standing there, the wind sifting through her hair as his fingers longed to do. As
The Ohio Star
rounded the bend, he would see her waiting for him and the passion that would be hotter than the fire in the boat's boiler.

But would she be willing? She had said she did not want to marry anyone in this community—or anyone else. That suited him perfectly, just as she fit within his arms perfectly. No marriage, no ties, just a shared need that would be satisfied each time he held her. Would she be willing to agree to such an arrangement?

“Rachel—”

The door opened, and K. C. rushed in along with windswept rain. As Wyatt closed the door, the little girl shook water from her hair and ran to hug Rachel. K. C. gave Rachel a quick squeeze before turning to throw her arms around his waist. Words exploded out of the little girl as she tried to tell him about everything she had done since she last saw him.

He listened to K. C. but watched as Rachel sank down to the sofa. As K. C. looked at Rachel's blisters and cooed as if she were the mother and Rachel the child, he said nothing. The arrangement he wanted to offer Rachel could bring them both what they wanted. He could not ask her when the child was here and listening, but he would ask her at the social. It could be the perfect setup, for she would not lose the child and he would not lose her. All he had to do was convince her to agree.

Twelve

The morning of Merrill's latest wedding ceremony dawned as hot as midday. Fog clung to the river, warning that the day ahead would be so humid drawing a single breath would be a challenge.

Rachel took one look in the mirror and gave up any attempt to arrange her hair. She tied it back with a ribbon, letting it fall down her back. The wisps about her face curled as tightly as Kitty Cat's hair.

Smoothing her brown skirt that was edged with dark brown velvet, she smiled. The skirt was split to reveal the cranberry plaid petticoat beneath it. The same fabric decorated the lapels of the close-fitting jacket she had closed with velvet-covered buttons over her favorite white blouse.

Going out to the main room where her brother was pacing, she laughed. “Merrill, you look as nervous as a bridegroom at his first wedding.”

“It never gets easier.” He gave her a grin. “Miss Page wants everything to be perfect.”

“It will be.” She straightened his bow tie that was the same black as his double-breasted coat and trousers. She handed him his gloves, laughing again when she saw how his fingers trembled. “Would you like something to drink before the ceremony? Miss Page wouldn't be pleased if you swooned in front of your guests.”

“Maybe that's a good idea.”

“I believe there's some wine in the cupboard. Pour a glass to settle yourself down.” When shouts came from outside the cottage, she saw people gathering in the middle of the common area. She gave her brother a kiss on the cheek before adding, “It sounds as if your guests are waiting for you.”

“I shouldn't keep them waiting.”

“Or your bride either.”

He chuckled and picked up his silk top hat.

“You look beautiful!” cried Kitty Cat from behind her.

Rachel turned and smiled. For once, the little girl's gold hair ribbon on the top of her head was not askew, and her white stockings beneath her lacy dress had no holes. The gold sash around the light green dress that was hemmed with wide white lace still had its perfect bow at the back.

“You look beautiful, too, Kitty Cat.”

The little girl twirled about, nearly tipping off her toes.

Catching her and steadying her, Rachel said, “Try to keep this beautiful until at least the wedding ceremony is over.”

“What's it like?”

“Haven't you been to a wedding before this?”

Kitty Cat shook her head. “Never. What do I have to do?”

“You and I have to be quiet like all the other guests.” She tied the ribbons of her brown velvet bonnet under her chin. “Merrill and Miss Page will repeat their vows to love each other during their marriage. Then they'll kiss to seal the promise of their marriage.”

“Kiss?” Her nose wrinkled. “That's disgusting.”

“You may think differently when you're old enough to marry. You'll like when your sweetheart kisses you.”

“Like you like kissing Wyatt?”

Rachel gasped and looked up, hoping that Merrill had left the cottage. He was standing only an arm's length away, and his frown was fearsome. He had heard every incriminating word Kitty Cat had said.

“Rachel?” asked the little girl. “Are you all right? You look sick.”

“I'm fine.” She came to her feet and gave the little girl a gentle shove toward the door. Not taking her gaze from her brother's fury, she said, “Go out to the common area and find two chairs for us.”

Kitty Cat glanced at Merrill and faltered. “Rachel, I can—”

“Go! Now!”

The little girl rushed out of the cottage. Through the window, Rachel could see her running across the grass toward where the guests were talking and laughing. She wished she could flee with Kitty Cat, but she looked back at her brother, trying to steel herself for the explosion she knew was coming.

He stepped past her and closed the door. She understood why when his voice rang off the low ceiling as he demanded, “Is it true? Have you been kissing Colton?”

She would not lie. “Yes.”

“How could you break every principle we live by?”

“I haven't. A single kiss—”

“So it's been just one kiss?”

Rachel stepped back as the door opened and a man called, “C'mon, Browning. You don't want to be late for your own wedding, do you? Might give your bride the idea you aren't interested any longer and she should be looking for someone else.”

Merrill stiffened, warning that the jesting words bothered him. Maybe he did not believe that Miss Page would be any more faithful to him than she had been to her previous husbands. He glanced at Rachel, and she wondered if he was trying to shift his anger onto someone else. Fury darkened his eyes, and his mouth worked, but he said nothing as he walked out of the cottage with his friend.

She dropped to a seat at the table. Holding her face in her hands, she shuddered. How could she have been so stupid? Merrill would not allow her to do anything to get them banished from River's Haven. For the first time, she wondered what he might do to prevent that.

Rachel sat rigid through the wedding. She kept trying to relax her shoulders because she wanted to keep folks from getting the idea that she did not approve of her brother marrying Helga Page. Keeping her arm around Kitty Cat, she listened as Mr. Carpenter led Merrill and Miss Page through their vows. They were similar to what would be spoken in any church, but there was no mention of “until death do you part.” Instead they pledged for one year from this day to be true to each other and love each other as a family within the family of the Community. A kiss sealed the promise, and flower petals were tossed on the newlyweds as they walked back down the aisle, hand in hand.

She waited for Merrill to look in her direction, but he did not. She blinked back hot tears. He had been angry with her before, but he never had shut her out of his life like this.

Kitty Cat tugged on Rachel's dress. A thread snapped.

“Be careful!” Rachel cried.