Wild legacy (15 page)

"I want so much for you to get well," she insisted. "Please believe me."

Sean closed his eyes for a moment, then tried to smile. "Have you cut your hair?"

Dominique released his hand to remove her kerchief. She shook out her curls and they spilled down over her shoulders in a radiant cascade. "There. I'm pleased to see you still have your hair, too." She combed it back from his temple with a gentle caress. "I'm so sorry you were hurt."

"So am I." Sean started to laugh, then caught himself when a fiery surge of pain shot down his left side.

Dominique saw the agony flash across his expression and reached for his hand. "Please, You must rest. Don't try and say anything more."

Sean looked away, but held her hand long after Dr. Perry had brought the laudanum, and he had fallen asleep.

Before leaving the room, Dominique checked on the other injured men. She knew their names now, and had heard their stories of home. They were sweet boys, really, and impossible to regard as the enemy now that she knew

them as individuals. She paused at Sean's cot for a last good night, and brushed his lips with a tender kiss.

Her chest felt tight as she approached the tent she shared with Belle and she hoped her sister was already asleep because she did not feel up to arguing again. She raised the tent flap and stepped inside, but she was astonished to find Belle seated on the canvas flooring. She was weeping huge tears, and covering her mouth with both hands to muffle her pathetic sobs.

Dominique immediately knelt beside her. "Oh, Belle, I'm so sorry. I told Dr. Perry we'd have to gather herbs and he didn't seem in the least bit suspicious. We'll leave in a day or so. I promise we will."

Embarrassed to be found in such a miserable state, Belle dried her eyes on her apron. "I've been such a stupid fool," she sobbed.

"No, not at all," Dominique assured her. "Sean was awake again tonight, but he's so dazed by laudanum he can't think clearly enough to wonder why I'm here. We'll be safe another day or two, and that will be plenty of time to get away."

Belle didn't even know where she wanted to go anymore. "Falcon's here," she revealed, and in a halting whisper she described just how thoroughly wretched he had made her feel. "This whole trip was utterly pointless," she declared. "I thought love was worth the sacrifice, but he doesn't even know the meaning of the word."

Her eyes again filled with tears as she looked up at her sister. "How can I go home and tell everyone Falcon didn't want me?"

"Belle, that can't possibly be true!"

"You didn't hear him or you'd know I mean less to him than the beads on his moccasins. I'm nothing. Nothing at all."

Dominique had never seen Belle so badly upset, and she seriously debated asking Stephen Perry for some laudanum for her, but at the last minute realized she would have no

way to explain why her sister was in such dire straits. "Falcon must have been shocked to discover us here. Give him a few days to accept the fact. If he came to speak with you once, he'll do so again."

Belle shook her head and wrapped her arms around her knees. "He's probably ten miles from here by now. I'm sorry, Dominique. I've gotten you in such an awful mess, and it was all for nothing."

Dominique took a firm hold on her sister's shoulders. "Stop that this instant," she hissed. "Coming after Falcon was my idea in the first place so I'd never blame you for the way the trip's turned out. Besides, I've gotten to see Sean, even if it wasn't the way I expected to, either. Now we're going to have to keep our wits about us, Belle. Let's work as we usually do in the morning. In the afternoon, we'll go out to pick chamomile, and that will be the last anyone here will ever see of us."

Belle wished they had left that day so she would not have had to suffer through an awful scene with Falcon, but she could not find any joy now that Dominique had agreed to go. "I can't go home," she repeated numbly.

Dominique hugged her tightly. "Oh, Belle, you've not done anything shameful. Everyone will understand that you had to follow your heart. I'll insist it was all my doing anyway." She stood and hauled Belle to her feet.

"Now let's just go to sleep and try to make everyone think tomorrow is no different from any of the other days we've spent here. If Dr. Perry sees you crying in the morning, he'll pester you to tell him why and what can you possibly say? I don't think a lovers' quarrel will be a convincing excuse."

Belle slumped down on the edge of her cot. "It wasn't a quarrel," she stressed. "It was the end."

Dominique stroked Belle's hair with the same tenderness she had shown Sean. "Falcon has always loved you, and no matter what he said tonight, he loves you still."

Belle wrung her hands. "He isn't Falcon anymore. He's someone else, Dominique." She hated him for changing, for abandoning her after he had shown her such a small sample of how glorious love could be. She drew in a ragged breath and released an anguished sigh. When she looked up at Dominique, she could barely see her through her tears.

"He is the one who shot Sean, and he was thoroughly infuriated to learn he isn't dead."

Dominique wasn't surprised by that announcement, but when she stopped to think how easily Falcon had slipped into camp to speak with Belle, she was terrified. "Do you think he might sneak into the hospital?" she asked. "I know he wouldn't risk shooting Sean again, but it would take only an instant to slit a wounded man's throat."

"Oh, my God," Belle moaned, the possibility too awful to bear.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you again. It would be cowardly to attack a wounded man and I'm sure Falcon would never stoop that low."

"He isn't Falcon anymore," Belle stressed. "Have Dr. Perry post a guard at the hospital, or sit with Sean yourself, but don't leave him alone tonight. He isn't safe."

"Thank you." Dominique leaned down to kiss her sister's cheek, then dashed back to the farmhouse. On the way, she realized she could not admit how she had learned Sean was in danger without revealing Belle had spoken with Falcon. Because that would endanger all three of them, it was another secret she would have to keep.

The surgeon's mate who was on duty after Stephen had retired was a competent lad she would have trusted on any other night, but telling him only that she was worried about Sean, she sat beside her former beau and prayed until dawn that Falcon was as badly confused as Belle, and would have no appetite for vengeance.

a long, feral moan. But tomorrow night, he vowed to smother his cries in Belle's tender flesh. He made his way back to his camp and stretched out on the leaves he had gathered for a bed, but his dreams were dark, and his anger renewed by the dawn.

After being up all night again, Dominique slept until noon. When she finally entered the farmhouse, Stephen Perry thrust a spoon and bowl of broth into her hands. "Sean won't eat unless you feed him. Make certain that he finishes every last spoonful. Officers always make the most demanding patients, and he's no exception. Insist that he behaves himself with you and maybe he'll give my mates less trouble."

Dominique was alarmed to hear Sean was alert enough to eat, but unable to refuse Stephen's request, she carried the bowl into the bedroom. Lieutenant Beck was leaning over Sean's cot, speaking in a hushed voice. Frightened her ruse was over, her hands shook so badly the broth sloshed in wild waves in the bowl. She glanced back toward the door, but before she could flee, Leland Beck straightened up and saw her.

"Good afternoon, Miss Scott. I'll get out of your way so you can give the colonel his dinner."

The lieutenant's expression was merely curious rather than threatening, prompting Dominique to wonder what Sean had just told him. "Good afternoon," she replied as calmly as she could. The lieutenant nodded politely, but as he passed by her, his expression filled with disdain. He raked her with an insolent glance, his eyes lingering on the soft swell of her bosom. He may have claimed she and Belle weren't worth a second look, but obviously he had not meant it. Sickened by that silent insult, she hurried on to Sean. He was still pale, but with his cheeks shadowed

by a second day's growth of dark stubble, he was infinitely more menacing.

Dominique felt torn, for while she believed she may well have saved Sean's life by keeping a watch on him last night, she feared every hour she and Belle remained there increased the risk to their own lives. She sat down in the chair beside him and dipped the spoon into the broth. "I'm glad to see you're well enough to eat," she told him, and then jammed a spoonful of the clear soup into his mouth when he opened it to reply. He sputtered slightly, but swallowed.

"Delicious, isn't it?" she asked.

Sean still had one good arm, and while he lacked much in the way of strength, it was enough to block her next attempt to feed him. "Wait," he ordered gruffly. "Beck said he provided you and Belle with an escort here. The Scott sisters,' he called you. Somehow I don't believe Ian would be pleased that you're claiming him as kin."

Cheered that he had not greeted her with a threat, Dominique managed a slight smile. "First you must eat, and then we'll talk," she insisted.

"Promise?"

Dominique rolled her eyes. She knew precisely what value he would assign her word, and did not give it. She raised another spoonful of broth to his lips and he opened his mouth obediently. "Neither of us is in any position to bargain at present," she whispered. "So I propose we simply concentrate on making you well."

"Ian would be touched by your concern for me," Sean responded smugly.

"Just eat!"

Sean swallowed the rest of the nearly tasteless broth without further complaint, but the instant Dominique set the empty bowl on the floor, he reached out to grab her wrist. He did not ask the most obvious question aloud, but the

sharp angle of his brow spoke it clearly. He tightened his grasp and waited.

Sean was still so weak that Dominique could have easily broken his hold, but she chose to relax instead. She looked out the window and wondered if Falcon were lurking nearby. She did not actually owe Sean an explanation, and she could not provide one that even hinted at Falcon's involvement, but desperately needing his sympathetic silence, she gave the truth the same clever spin she had used the first time they had met.

"Belle and I were restless at home. We wished to tend wounded, and came south believing we could be of service. I like to think that we have been."

Dominique exhibited a serenity she had lacked in their earlier acquaintance. Sean assumed maturity had imparted a new seriousness to her manner, but if anything, it made her even more desirable. She was a woman now, rather than a luscious child, and he wished he felt well enough to fully appreciate the change. Disgusted that just sipping soup had tired him, he closed his eyes for a minute. When he opened them, he longed for far more than his damaged body would allow.

"Kiss me," he said.

It was an order rather than a request, but Dominique leaned over him to comply. When her lips met his, she felt an unnatural warmth and grew alarmed. Intimidated by his grasp, she had been concentrating on the conversation so intently she had not felt the heat in his hand before now.

"You're feverish," she worried aloud. "I'll change your dressing and brew some special tea."

"Poison?" he asked, only half in jest.

Dominique shook her head. "If I'd wanted you dead, Sean, you'd already be in the ground." She peeled his fingers off her wrist and went to fetch the last of the chamomile infusion to make another poultice. She removed his bandage and found his shoulder swollen and inflamed.

She worked quickly to spare him pain, but each time her fingertips brushed his skin, she felt him flinch.

"This may hurt a bit now, but it will speed the healing and you'll feel better soon."

Sean had nearly bitten through his lip to keep from crying out. "I hope so."

"We keep tea made from the bark of the white willow brewing constantly. I'll bring you some, and don't worry, I'll add honey to improve its taste." She soon returned with a battered tin cup and raised his head so he could sip it easily. "Try and sleep now without the laudanum if you can," she encouraged. "I'm going out for more herbs, and I'll give you another cup of tea as soon as I return."

Fatigue and the warm tea had dulled the sharp edges of Sean's mood and he closed his eyes without making another pointed comment. Dominique touched his hair lightly, then withdrew. "We need more chamomile," she announced loudly enough for both Belle and Dr. Perry to overhear. Busy with an amputee, the physician waved her away.

Belle had been folding bandages, but laid them aside. "Let's saddle our horses then, and gather some."

Dominique led the way out the back door, but they found Lieutenant Beck standing just outside. "If you've somewhere to go, Colonel O'Keefe instructed me to provide you with an escort," he said.

He looked inordinately pleased about the assignment and considering the haste with which he had abandoned them there, Dominique thought his change of heart odd. Unless, of course, Sean had prompted it. "That won't be necessary," she replied. "We're just going out to search for herbs. We won't be away from camp long."

The lieutenant moved to block their way. "That's far too dangerous an errand for you to run alone, ladies. While British regulars would never attack defenseless women, Colonial troops are unfettered by scruples. Now, either my men

and I accompany you, or you will not be permitted to leave camp."

Leland Beck was obviously in control of the situation, but Belle could not hide her disgust. "I would hate to take a man of your unique abilities away from his other duties, Lieutenant. If you have a musket we could borrow, we'll gladly defend ourselves."

The lieutenant appeared to give her request serious thought, but then shook his head. "I know you could probably defend yourself with that lively tongue of yours, Miss Scott, but Colonel O'Keefe is very worried about your sister. Let's hurry. I don't want any of the wounded to suffer from lack of attention for too long."

"Neither do we," Dominique assured him. They brought along the picnic basket to hold whatever they might find, but neither young woman could keep her mind on the task. This was to have been a brief excursion designed to allay Dr. Perry's suspicions, if he held any, as to their loyalty. Their second trip was to have been their escape, but stymied on their first, each was desperately disappointed.