Chapter 7
Brook poured a cup of
tea. Her stomach still felt queasy. She had managed to bathe and dress for the
morning. Any other plans she had had for the day was not an option right now
and maybe even for tomorrow.
Sipping the warm tea felt
soothing to her throat. The fresh morning air felt even better on her skin. A
light breeze blew through the trees above her head. A butterfly fluttered in
the wind.
It must be nice to be free to float where you like. No worries or
thoughts other than to make it to the next flower. If I were a butterfly I may
like to be blue. The color of the sky and the ocean on my wings.
“There you are my little girl,”
Brook’s father John said. He kissed her softly on her forehead. “I was
beginning to worry about you. I had stopped by the Price estate and Richards
said you had left early in the morning.”
“I was not feeling well
Papa. But I am better now,” Brook said.
“Lady Sarah and Lady
Wilsbee paid a visit a short time ago. I told em you would be by when you felt
up for it soon. They send their regards and hope for a speedy recovery.”
Brook smiled. “I will
send word later to them.”
“Lady Wilsbee mentioned
a trip to the country with her and Lady Sarah,” he said.
Brook looked away from
him. “Oh yes. I am going to turn the invitation down. I do not feel comfortable
being away from you for so long Papa. After all who will cook and tend to you
while I am away.”
He removed his cap and
scratched his head. “Well the thing of it is…I told Lady Wilsbee that you would
accept. You see I have to go out of town and will be gone for a month or so.”
Brook gazed up at him
and her mouth fell open slightly. “I see,” she said slowly.
“I would feel better if
you were not alone in the woods. I asked her and Devon if they would not mind
you stay with them.”
“Papa! I am a grown
woman and am perfectly able to care for myself,” Brook said.
“Well being that as it
may, you are still my girl and I need to do right for ya,” he said. “I will not
be able to do me job if I’m worrying about you. Lord Price has given me the job
of me dreams Brook and I must do me best at it. He depends on me to keep his
estates in order.”
He let out a long sigh.
“I’ll make ya a deal. You can stay here as long as someone can check on ya
every night after your trip.”
Brook smiled up at him.
“I can live with that. Thank you Papa.”
John gave her a kiss
again on the head. “I am heading out now. I will try to write you soon. Devon
knows where I’ll be if you need me. I left money for you in the jar.”
Brook gazed up at him.
“Be safe Papa. I love you.”
“Ya are me heart little
girl,” John said and then left.
Landon rode home slowly.
He pondered last night’s events further in his mind. And scolded himself for it
as he did. More than anything he thought about what Grams had said to him. He
knew she was right.
Upon arriving home
Quentin was waiting outside his front door on the stoop.
Landon pushed open the
gate. Quentin stood up to meet him at the path.
“To what do I owe this
pleasure that is not so pleasurable old friend?” Landon said jokingly.
“I have word on McMay,”
Quentin said.
Landon’s expression
changed. He led him inside and to his study.
“He has employed quite
a few men Landon,” Quentin said.
“How few are we
talking?” Landon asked.
“Few as in a small
army. Some of the meanest men on the streets Landon. Hugh Dulling, Belford
Short, Neal Maitland. The list goes on and on,” Quentin said.
Landon walked over to
the window. “Any word on their plans?”
“No. That was all my
brother had heard last night.”
Landon looked back at
Quentin. “This stays between you and me Quent. Devon is already a mess as it
is. I’m not even sure he could handle this news.”
“We should leave for my
estate as soon as possible. How fast can we ready the women?” Quentin asked.
Landon rolled his eyes.
“They’re women, not fast enough. I’m going to ride back out to Devon’s and talk
with Richards.”
Quentin stood from his
chair. “I will meet you there in about an hour.”
After packing Landon
rode back out to the Price estate. He came to the conclusion there may be no
way around not telling Devon of McMay’s new army.
Landon soon found
Richards in the back of the house in the gardens.
“Richards we will need
to leave for Quentin’s today,” Landon said.
“Why the sudden rush
Sir?”
“McMay is planning
something big with a large group of very bad men.” Landon sighed. “Let me put
it this way. The condition we found Sarah in that night will be nothing
compared to what these men would do to the girls if they had the chance.”
Richards’s eyes grew
big. “Alright then I will start getting everyone ready.” He started to walk
away.
Landon placed his hand
on Richards’s arm. “One more thing. Is there any way we can do this without
telling Devon. I just don’t think he can handle this. Something is going on
with him lately and I’m concerned about him.”
Richards paused for a
moment. “Yes I know just what to do. Leave it to me Sir.”
Devon came in the front
door to see bags lining the wall and stairs. He went hunting for Richards.
“What is going on with
all the bags?” Devon asked.
Richards stood up
straight. He hated he had to do this. “I found Lady Sarah packing her bags
earlier and she had thought we were leaving today. I did not want to upset her
so I just figured we could leave today instead of later this week. My only fear
is Sir, she will not remember doing so,” Richards said.
Devon nodded. “I will
announce to the ladies I have decided to leave sooner.”
Richards smiled.
“Smart. I do not see them having a problem with it. Do you?”
“No. They should be
fine with it,” Devon said.
Landon sat in Devon’s
study and waited for him. He wasn’t waiting long. Devon walked over to his desk
and pulled out a notebook and jotted a quick note in it.
“I received word we had
a change of plans,” Landon said from the study window.
Devon jumped nearly out
of his boots. “Good God Landon!”
“I’m sorry Devon. I
thought you had seen me.”
Devon ran his hands
through his hair. “No I didn’t.”
Landon leaned forward
off the windowsill and walked over to Devon’s desk. “What is going on with you
Devon? You are not yourself lately.”
Devon shook his head.
He wanted to tell Landon what was going on with Sarah’s memory but he had promised
her he would keep it quiet for now. “I will not be settled until McMay is
dead.”
Landon stared at Devon.
“No, it is something else entirely Devon. I know you too well my friend.” He
watched Devon gaze down at the surface of his desk. “Is there anything at all I
can do to help?”
Devon did not answer
right away and Landon waited patiently. Finally Devon looked back up at him and
said, “I wish there were Landon.”
Grams and Sarah came in
through Devon’s study door. “My boy you have surprised us.”
Landon saw Devon smile.
He wondered what Richards had said to Devon about having to leave sooner.
Sarah stood behind
Grams and appeared to look somewhat shy.
“Yes well I thought you
might be pleased,” Devon said. “Sarah, are ready to go?”
Landon watched Sarah
shake her head and smile with an odd expression. Almost as if she did not know
him that well. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Devon’s hand tense into a
fist. Landon was now really beginning to worry about Devon.
“Well someone will have
to fetch Brook,” Grams announced.
“I will since you
twisted my arm Grams,” Landon said as if bothered.
Grams giggled. “I did
not twist as much as a hair on your head boy. Off with you. Go and fetch our
beautiful Brook.”
“Oh Brook is coming also,”
Sarah said with excitement.
“Well of course she is
my dear. She is not feeling that ill,” Grams said.
~
Landon arrived at
Brook’s cottage. He knocked on the door lightly. No one answered. He knocked a
little louder with no results. Landon followed the path to the backyard. There
he found Brook asleep in a hammock.
He leaned down and
whispered, “Brook wake up.” She did not move. “Red, wake up.”
Brook heard Landon’s
voice and answered him. “I’m tired.”
Landon stood over her
and smiled. He blew gently on her neck. “Red I want you to come with me.”
“No I want to stay here with you,” she said.
A devilish smiled
crossed over Landon’s face. “What shall we do here Red?” He saw Brook smile.
Landon ran the tip of
his finger over Brook’s lips. She quickly licked them removing the tickle from
his finger. He did it again and as he did she parted her lips. Landon pulled
his hand back.
Brook’s eyes fluttered
open. “What are you doing here?”
“Nice to see you too
Red. I was sent by Grams to tell you we are leaving today for the country. I am
to escort you back to the Price estate.”
Brook sat up. “Today?
Now? Why?”
Landon said in a low
loud tone, “Because we men say so woman.” He then smiled at her.
Brook smiled back and
shook her head at him. “It will take me a few minutes if you don’t mind
waiting.”
Landon bowed before
her. “I am at your service.”
Brook looped her arm
through his and said, “Good then you can help me.”
Landon chuckled. “I do
not pack ladies things. I will carry them for you though.”
“Ah I see Lord Fields.
Fair enough then come inside,” she said.
