Wild legacy (23 page)

Simon Farquhar, the ferryman, remembered Hunter but he did not at first recognize Dominique and Belle as the pretty blondes the Indian had been pursuing. Their gowns were wrinkled and stained, their figures gaunt, their faces drawn and strained. That the once attractive pair had picked up a bearded man and another Indian struck him as damn odd, but he earned his living ferrying passengers across the James River, not offering opinions, and didn't comment on their choice of traveling companions.

"Looks like you found your friend's daughters," Simon said as Hunter paid the fare for the group.

Hunter tipped the man handsomely. "Forget that you ever saw them."

Simon doffed his faded hat. "My memory has always

been poor," he promised, but he was curious. Wherever the girls had been, they had obviously had a bad time of it, but they walked on board with a pride he had not noticed on their earlier crossing, so surely they did not feel disgraced. " Tis the war," he grumbled to himself. "It's turned everything inside out." But he sure wished he were privy to their secrets.

Hunter had repeatedly positioned himself between Dominique and Sean since the night he had found their camp. He had not upbraided his nieces after his initial outburst, but his disapproval permeated the silence and made them far more uncomfortable than the heat. Belle had Falcon to intercede for her, but Dominique's only ally was Sean, and the others regarded him with contempt.

By the time they reached the ferry, Dominique had had ample opportunity to compose and review the explanation Hunter had refused to hear, but she had yet to create a sufficiently inventive story to save herself and Belle from their parents' scorn. The trouble was, she truly believed they would deserve whatever punishment they received. They had left home filled with foolish romantic notions, and while Belle had achieved her goal of a reconciliation with Falcon, one glimpse of Sean would cause the family to damn Dominique for a good long while.

As usual, Hunter was standing at the ferry rail between Dominique and Sean, and she leaned out to look past the brave to the Englishman. "Whatever possessed you to demand that I bring you home?" she asked.

Sean laughed at the tardiness of her question and just shook his head. "I'd lost too much blood to think clearly, and now that I'm better, it's too late. Don't be frightened for me. I'll be all right."

Dominique preferred to study the rushing current rather than meet her uncle's critical gaze but with home only a few hours away, she could take no more of his dark moods. "I daresay that at first the family couldn't have been thrilled

with you, either," she suddenly threw at him. "You of all people ought to be more understanding."

Hunter recoiled slightly, then turned his back to Sean and spoke to Dominique in the same low, threatening snarl he would have used to address his worst enemy. "Do not dredge history for insults or you'll soon find your mother wasn't welcomed, either. What happened to us isn't the issue. That you and Belle endangered your lives, and that of those who had to rescue you, is! Now keep your thoughts to yourself if you've no more wisdom than that."

Sean tapped Hunter on the shoulder. "Don't take that tone with her," he warned.

Hunter raised his hand, but before he could slap Sean with a fierce, backhanded blow, Dominique looped her arms around his elbow. "Stop it!" she screamed. "Stay out of our arguments, Sean. The Barclays have more than enough trouble without you jumping into the midst of it."

"No," Sean swore. "I'll not allow anyone to mistreat you."

Sean and Hunter were near equals in height, but the Indian had a clear advantage in strength. He was fourteen years Sean's senior, but fast as a snake and Dominique had no doubt he could kill Sean in under a dozen blows. That possibility horrified her.

"Thank you," she told Sean, "but I have no need of your protection. Now I think you'd better see to our mounts."

That Sean would challenge him when he could not possibly be strong enough to fight struck Hunter as either very brave, or utterly stupid. Rather than debate the issue with his fists, he dismissed him with a single, rude epithet and crossed the wide deck to the other side. The exchange had taught him something about Dominique he would not soon forget, however. He may have compared her to Melissa in the past, but he would not make that mistake again. Dominique had the courage to defend the man she loved,

while Melissa had died without ever admitting that she had once cared for him.

Dominique held her breath until Hunter reached the opposite rail. "Please, don't ever do that again," she begged.

Sean moved close. "Don't ask me to turn away. You'd lose all respect for me if I did."

"Perhaps, but it would spare me the disagreeable chore of tending your grave." Dominique waited a moment to make certain he fully appreciated that risk, then changed the subject. "When we leave the ferry, let's switch mounts. I'll take Belle's mare and you can ride mine on to the Scott plantation and keep her until you have a horse of your own."

"We weren't talking about horses," he chided.

"Please. I can't stand having Hunter yank me one way and you pulling me the other. You promised to wait at Ian's and let me come to you. Don't go back on your word."

Sean didn't speak, but his glance held a promise of an entirely different sort and Dominique knew he would not wait long for the visits she had promised to pay. "I wish that you had stayed mean," she lamented softly, "so that I could hate you, too."

Sean laughed out loud at that, then leaned closer still to whisper, "I wish I hadn't been shot, so that when I found you in Camden, I could have demanded your favors as the price for my silence. I would have reveled in your hatred until it turned to love."

"You would have died of old age before then," Dominique swore.

"Perhaps, but I would have had a glorious life and a great many pretty, blond children."

The ferry reached the bank before Dominique found a suitable retort, but that teasing exchange, despite its vulgar undertones, lifted her spirits to the point that she rode the final miles home without agonizing the whole way as to how she would be greeted once she arrived there. When Falcon rode ahead to announce they were coming, she

looked down at her faded gown and wondered if she would even be recognized. She turned to Sean.

"You ought to fall back and go on to Ian's after we've all gone inside the house."

Sean straightened his shoulders, which he did often despite the pain. "I'd not miss this for anything," he replied. "It's like coming home for me, too."

The way Dominique remembered it, on his last visit Christian had beaten him so badly his men had had to carry him away. "We've just assumed that Ian would invite you to stay with him if he were home. Because he isn't, you have to ask Liana's permission to reside there awhile."

Clearly perplexed by that suggestion, Sean tossed it back to Dominique. "I doubt she'll even deign to speak with me, and we both know Christian will never allow it. Perhaps you could intercede on my behalf and beg for the use of a corner in the scullery."

They reached the Barclay plantation before they had settled the issue, but when her family came swarming out, Dominique had to call upon all her resources to defend herself for the moment, and left Sean to fend for himself. Her father yanked her off her mare, his face dark with rage, and shook her. When he went for Belle, she had already dismounted and was ready for him, but all he did to her was push her toward Dominique.

"How could you girls have done this to your mother?" Byron yelled. "Look at you! My God, I'd not have recognized either of you had Falcon not warned us what to expect." He waved them on toward the porch. "I've seen hogs with less dirt than you two have on your gowns and your faces don't look much better. You'll have to soak in tubs for the rest of the afternoon, but don't you dare come to supper looking like that."

Arielle came down the steps with her arms outstretched and eagerly embraced her daughters. "You look very beau-

tiftil to me," she exclaimed, "but I will have you looking your best again within the hour."

Belle clung to her mother, but Dominique stepped away and turned back to her father. "I'm sorry for being thoughtless, and causing you so much worry. Going after Falcon was entirely my idea. Please don't blame Belle."

Since the day she learned to talk, Dominique had coaxed, wheedled, and simply been such a charming child Byron had never been able to refuse her anything. There was nothing of the coquette about her now, however, and her calm, steady gaze held no hint of her former sparkle. As alarmed as when she had first disappeared, he followed her over to the steps and lowered his voice.

"What's happened to you, Dominique?"

Dominique saw the fear in her father's eyes and easily guessed what he was imagining. "I've not been raped, or beaten, or mistreated in any way, and neither has Belle. We've simply traipsed across three states and felt every mile." Her father's frown deepened, but she did not know how else to reassure him. Because he had at least ceased shouting, she nodded toward Sean.

"I've brought Sean O'Keefe home with me. He's no longer in the army and hopes to stay at Ian's, if Liana will allow it."

Byron spun on his heel, but with Sean bearded and in civilian clothes, he had not recognized him earlier. "You're not welcome here," he called to him. "And Liana will never give you more than a stall in her father's stable."

"Please tell her that I'm grateful for that," Sean responded. He touched his brim in a casual salute, and with a nod toward Dominique, turned Baby Dee back toward the path along the river.

"Where's he going with your horse?" Byron cried.

"To Ian's stable, I suppose," Dominique replied. "I'll fetch her when he has another."

"No," Byron swore emphatically. "You'll not go any-

where near that bastard for any reason. Now get on inside, and do what you can to make yourselves into ladies again."

"We've never been anything else," Belle argued, but her mother took her hand and lured her inside before her father could say that she certainly did not look like one.

Alanna and Jean were standing just inside the open doorway, and while Alanna's smile was warm, Jean walked out without speaking to his sisters. "I already have water heating," Alanna announced as she followed them up the stairs. "You poor things—not a day has gone by that we haven't all cried, we've missed you so."

Dominique and Belle looked suitably contrite, but while away they had been far too concerned with their survival to weep over those they had left behind.

Dominique chose her coral satin gown and Belle wore lavender muslin when they came downstairs for supper. Christian and Liana, as well as Johanna and David, were there to welcome them home; not having seen the pair earlier, they were all struck by the enormous difference in them. Their once sun-streaked hair was now a paler blond, and their creamy complexions had deepened to a golden tan. Thin rather than merely slender, the effect was surprisingly elegant.

Christian hugged them both. "You look tired, but so beautiful I don't know what to say except please don't ever leave us again."

Liana hung back slightly, and Dominique feared she knew why. "Falcon told you about Sean O'Keefe?" she asked.

Liana slipped her hand in Christian's. "Yes, but from what I gather, your father has plans for him. Until then, he's welcome to stay in my parents' home. After all, he would still be a hero to them and I'll accede to their wishes rather than impose my own."

Dominique was relieved beyond measure. "That's very

gracious of you. Thank you." She noted the anxious glances passing between the others, but at the moment simply did not feel up to defending Sean any further. She took her place beside her father at the dining table, and realized she had not eaten a single meal at a table since she and Belle had left home.

After the blessing, which included a thanksgiving for their safe return, she sat back in her chair and surveyed the table with newly appreciative eyes. "Everything is so pretty: the china, the crystal, the beautiful flowers." She ran her fingertips over the linens. "Just look how white the tablecloth is."

"Are you feeling all right, dear?" Arielle inquired. "You should have heard her exclaiming over the delightful warmth of her bath. You would have thought she had never taken one."

"It's simply good to be home," Belle said, but her smile held special warmth for Falcon. They all raised their glasses in a toast, but he had refused when offered wine. Belle remembered his promise to her; she was touched. He winked at her, and she was not a bit sorry that she had gone after him when she had found so much more than she had hoped.

"Belle," Arielle whispered, "if you keep smiling like that, we're all going to become very suspicious as to the cause."

Falcon laughed and leaned forward to address everyone. "Belle has at last agreed to become my wife," he announced proudly. "I hope we'll have everyone's good wishes."

Dominique found it easy to smile for them, and she was deeply grateful for the distraction that kept the conversation flowing in joyous waves throughout supper. Johanna teased her younger brother, and David and Christian offered advice, but Liana was subdued, and Dominique feared she knew why. Sean had pursued her even after she had wed Christian, and while Dominique knew Liana had cared nothing for him, she knew Liana could not possibly be

pleased to have him living so near. Recalling Liana's comment, she touched her father's sleeve.

"What plans do you have for Sean?" she asked.

Byron had just taken a bite of bread and had to swallow before he replied. "Later," he promised.

After existing on a diet of fish and berries on the trail, Dominique had expected to be ravenous once she reached the table, but in truth she had little appetite. They had sent Sean off without a scrap to eat, and while they were enjoying their plantation's usual abundance, she could not help but think of him being hungry and alone. She had not known how badly she would miss him, but it hurt. The meal ended with blackberries drenched in cream, and it was all she could do not to get up and carry her bowl off to the Scott house for him to enjoy.