Moonlight on Water (21 page)

She bit her lip. Trust Wyatt to see the truth, even when she had tried to deny it. “Wyatt, don't make it worse. Mr. Foley cares for me.”

“Does he?”

“He asked for me to be his wife.”

“Why wouldn't he? Any man would be lucky to be your first lover, Rachel.” He gave her a sudden grin. “I'd gladly volunteer for the task.”

She tried to ignore his teasing and her reaction to it. Her heart thudded in anticipation. “Don't pressure me more, Wyatt. That's what Mr. Foley is doing, and look what's happened.”

“What has happened?”

“Nothing, but we both know me being here with you like this isn't right, Wyatt. If I kiss anyone, it should be Mr. Foley.”

“But you want to kiss me,” he said as he framed her face with his broad hands.

“Yes.” She could no more imagine lying to him than to Kitty Cat. Coldness seeped into her heart at that thought, for she did not want Wyatt to become as important a part of her life as the little girl was. Then, when she lost him, too … She closed her eyes to hold back her tears. “But it's wrong for me to kiss you.”

“Why?”

She turned away. Glaring at him over her shoulder, she snapped, “Because I shouldn't feel as I do when you kiss me.”

He caught her arm before she could storm out of the shop. “Is it so different from when Foley kisses you?”

“He has never kissed me!” She flushed as she realized she had spoken out of turn. What existed between her and Mr. Foley was not Wyatt's business.

His laughter was cold. “So Foley is content just to court you with pretty words. What kind of man is he?”

“He's a gentleman and a member of the Assembly of Elders! He's not like you!” Jerking her arm away, she raised her chin. “He doesn't go about ravishing reluctant women.”

“Ravish?” His eyes widened. “Honey, if that's what you'd like, I'd be more than happy to oblige.”

“I'm sure you would.”

“And you aren't reluctant.”

“I should be.”

He laughed humorlessly as he tipped her chin upward again. “Are you trying to remind yourself? For someone who's supposed to be so deeply committed to the ways of this Community, you're amazingly fervent in returning my kisses.”

“River's Haven is my home, and I want to belong here. It's just when you kissed me, I—” She stopped, afraid to speak the rebellious thoughts she tried to keep hidden even from herself.

He stroked her cheek tenderly. “You what, Rachel?”

“I don't want you to stop,” she whispered. It was useless to try to hide the truth. He had tasted the longing on her mouth. As he smiled and drew her closer, she held up her hands. “No, no more, Wyatt. I have to get back to the wedding celebration.” Reaching for the door again, she added, “Good afternoon.”

The door exploded open. As she jumped back, she bumped into Wyatt's hard chest. He steadied her, but his eyes were like two rocks glinting in a frozen river as he looked past her.

“What's going on here?” came a shout from the doorway.

Rachel's shoulders shuddered beneath Wyatt's hands. Stepping around her, he faced her brother. Merrill Browning was slipping his hand beneath his coat. For a gun? Wyatt started to shove Rachel aside, but paused when her brother drew his hand away from his coat. Did Browning have a gun, or was he just hoping Wyatt would believe he did? It did not matter. Wyatt was not going to risk Rachel's life to find out.

“I was checking Mr. Colton's order,” Rachel replied with a serenity that impressed Wyatt. “He's impatient to get his steamboat fixed.”

“Was that all you were checking?” Browning demanded.

“Why would you think I'd be checking anyone else's orders today?”

Browning picked up her coat off the desk. “Because you're half dressed.”

Rachel took her coat and folded it over her arm. “If you haven't noticed, Merrill, it's hot in here.”

Her brother started to reply, then stepped aside as K. C. rushed in, exclaiming, “Here you are! Come and see the castle we've built with stones on the shore.”

“Rachel will be with you in a minute,” Wyatt said, not taking his eyes from Browning's mouth, which was working with rage. Browning grasped his sister's arm and drew her out of the metal shop.

K. C. looked up at Wyatt with large eyes. “What's wrong? Did I do something wrong?”

“You didn't do anything wrong.” He held out his hand to the little girl. When K. C. took it, he led her outside. Raising his voice, he called to Rachel, who was several yards away with her brother, “Rachel, one more thing.”

As he had expected, Browning stormed back toward him, menace in every step.

“K. C., go with Rachel,” Wyatt urged quietly.

She looked at him and nodded, running to where Rachel stood. The little girl gave Browning a wide berth, he noted. K. C. was a smart kid.

Browning stopped an arm's length away. “You've gotten the information you came for. Why don't you leave?”

“As soon as I complete my business with your sister.” He strode past Browning, trying not to tense when he had his back to Rachel's brother. He waited for any sound of Browning coming after him.

“You should go.” Rachel's face was ashen.

“I will, but I wanted to thank you for the update on the parts.”

“You're welcome.”

“I'll check back in a few days.”

“That would be fine.” She glanced past him, then said, “Wyatt, you should speak with Mr. Dow after this.”

“And avoid complicating your life further?”

She nodded.

“I get the message,” he replied. “And I agree. As long as you're considering Foley's offer of marriage, you can't be mine.”

“You make it sound as if he owns me.”

“Doesn't he?” When she did not answer, he held out his hand where her brother would not see. “If you've changed your mind about Foley, come with me. We'll be more comfortable in my quarters.”

“In your quarters?” she choked. “You're asking me to go there
now
?”

“I guess that pretty much gives me an answer to any invitation I might have offered you.” He heard her brother walking toward them. “I'll see you when the parts are done.”

“I will let you know as soon as they are ready.”

Although he wanted to pull her into his arms and plead with her to leave this crazy place, he simply nodded. He ruffled K. C.'s curls and glanced back at Rachel, who was pulling on her coat to conceal those curves he wanted against him again. She gave him a tentative smile, and he turned to leave, knowing that she believed she would be able to handle her brother's wrath without any help.

Wyatt looked back over his shoulder as he crossed the area in front of the looming common house. When he saw Rachel walking hand in hand with K. C. toward the shore with Browning several paces ahead of them, he headed back toward Haven and
The Ohio Star
. There was nothing else he could do here but cause more trouble for her.

Horace, who was sitting on a bench and whittling, greeted him as Wyatt came aboard. Grumbling something, Wyatt headed for the stairs.

“Whoa there, partner!” Horace called. “Why are you trying to drive your feet right through the deck?” He chuckled. “Or should I ask what has she done now to get you fired up with a full boiler of steam?”

Pausing, Wyatt put his hand on the rail. “Horace, sometimes you are just too blasted nosy.”

“Sounds as if you got a cold welcome from pretty Miss Rachel.”

“Not from her.”

Horace frowned. “Stirring up trouble out there isn't a good idea.”

“You don't have to tell me that. Rachel's already mentioned it.”

“Figured she had. She's one wise lady.” He put down his knife and the piece of wood that was taking the shape of a cat. “Maybe I should go out to River's Haven and get the rest of the parts when they're ready.”

“Maybe you should.”

“But you're going to go anyhow, aren't you?”

Wyatt arched a brow. “I still have a question I need to ask Rachel.”

“A question?” Horace's eyes nearly popped from his head as he grinned. “Are you fixing to ask her to marry you? It'd be great to have her and the kid on
The Ohio Star
with us.”

“That isn't what I plan to ask her,” Wyatt said quietly. Blast it! Why did Horace have to ask questions like that? He should know better. Yet, Horace's comments had instantly created an image in Wyatt's head—an image of a life on the river with Rachel and K. C.

He shook his head. His plan was better. He could have his free life on the river, and Rachel could have her life at River's Haven doing the work she enjoyed. Each time
The Ohio Star
passed by this way, he could stop and spend a night—or even an afternoon if they were behind schedule—with her. She had said again today that she had no interest in getting married. But she sure was interested in his kisses. The perfect arrangement. All he had to do was ask her when the time was right.

Before Horace could ask another question, Wyatt went up the stairs. He worked in silence the rest of the afternoon, stopping only when it became too dark to see. Then he skipped supper during which he was sure Horace would ask more questions he did not want to answer. He walked along the deck to his quarters and opened the door. The cramped space barely had room for the bed that was built against the wall and the small box that held everything he owned.

He closed the door, on which his best clothes hung on a peg. After stripping off his sweaty shirt, he collapsed into his bed. He closed his eyes. As always, in the twilight world between being awake and asleep, he thought about Rachel and how her sweet body would feel woven with his. Her kisses seared through him, just beyond his reach. He allowed his fantasies free rein. For the first time, his mind led him to the consummation of the yearning. He groaned. His eyes popped open as he ached with the need to love the real woman. If he did not persuade her soon, it was likely never to happen.

As soon as those parts were ready,
The Ohio Star
would be leaving. He had to get an answer from her straightaway. Not just any answer. He needed her to say yes.

Fourteen

Wyatt gave the bolt another turn, then straightened. He pressed his hand to his lower back. It ached as if he had twisted it with the wrench. When he saw starlight drifting across the pilothouse floor, he understood why his back hurt. He had been working here since before dawn.

“Getting old?” asked Horace as he peeked into the pilothouse.

“Just tired.” He bent to pick up the tools he had been using. Pain seared his back, and he groaned.

Horace laughed as he leaned on his broom.

“I thought you were my friend,” Wyatt said as he placed the tools in the wooden box set on a shelf by the wheel.

“I am. Only your friend would laugh at you like this.” He chuckled again.

He pulled off his sweaty shirt and tossed it atop the coat he had taken off earlier when the day had become too hot. “If you were really a friend, you'd have water heating on the stove so I could take a hot bath.”

“And have Miss Rachel wash your back?”

“Rachel?” He snorted. “If she were here, she'd be more likely to push my head under the water.”

Horace grinned and scratched his side. “She
is
here.”

“What?” Wyatt was not sure if he had heard his partner correctly. After the scene with her brother at River's Haven, Wyatt had not guessed that Rachel would come to
The Ohio Star
the very next day.

“K. C. got here about an hour ago.”

Wyatt frowned. “You know we were supposed to send her back to River's Haven if she came here.”

“
You
promised Miss Rachel that. Not me.” He began to sweep the floor. “Miss Rachel arrived just a few minutes ago. She's down on the deck with K. C.”

“Did Rachel come alone?” His mouth twisted as he thought of dealing with Browning again. He would gladly give the fool a few lessons, but not when Rachel was watching. She was upset enough already.

“Her sweetheart is here.”

Startled, he blurted, “Foley is here? You let that polecat on our boat?”

Horace chuckled deeply. “I didn't say Foley was here. I said only that Miss Rachel's sweetheart is here.” He clapped his hands in amusement.

Wyatt gave him a sheepish grin. Deciding it was time to beat a less than dignified retreat, he said, “Like I said, I think I'll go and talk to Rachel.”

“Undressed like that?” Horace laughed again. “You'll get that girl all flustered if you parade around without your shirt on. Girls like that, I understand.”

“You understand?” Wyatt shoved his arms into the sleeves of his shirt, then grimaced. Not only did his shirt reek with sweat, but every muscle protested.

Horace chuckled again as Wyatt went out of the pilothouse. A quick stop in his quarters would garner him a cleaner shirt to wear beneath the coat. Then he would find out what had brought K. C. here … and Rachel after her.

Rachel tried to restrain her temper. She had been patient with Kitty Cat, but her patience was strained. If Merrill or anyone else at River's Haven discovered where she and the child were tonight, there was sure to be trouble. They were standing on the port side of the boat, facing the far shore, but someone might still be able to see them from Haven.

“Kitty Cat, you promised me that you wouldn't come here without me.”

The little girl stubbed her toe against a space between the deck boards as she hugged her rag doll close. “You were upset about having to bring the parts here, so I thought I would.”

“Kitty Cat, a promise is a promise.”

“And you promised to get the parts to Wyatt and Horace as soon as they were ready.”

“
I
would have.” She sighed. “Kitty Cat, you can't use an excuse to break a promise.”