Wild legacy (7 page)

"They didn't seem in the least bit suspicious," she said.

Dominique perched herself on the edge of the bed. Her room was decorated in a pale pink as delicate as dawn, while Belle's was a sky blue that very nearly matched their eyes. Dominique thought her sister's room pretty, but she preferred her own and seldom spent any time in Belle's.

"No. Why should they be? Haven't we always been perfectly obedient daughters?"

Last night's late encounter with Falcon was still too vivid a memory for Belle to agree. "Not always," she confessed, but refused to add the incriminating details. "I'm eager to leave, but that doesn't mean I'm not frightened. Not about the journey, really, because we ride well enough to reach South Carolina without mishap, but I can't predict Falcon's reaction. What if he's furious rather than thrilled to see me?"

Dominique had never cared deeply enough about a man to agonize over his reaction to anything she did, but Belle's torment was etched so plainly in her anguished expression she readily understood her pain. "Let's worry about Falcon after we get there," she proposed. "Tending the wounded is such a worthy goal; let's concentrate on that rather than him for the time being. What we need to do now is look as though we're preparing for a picnic while we gather everything we need for an extended trip. That means we have to take only the essentials with us, like Mother's herbs and a change of lingerie. Our hairbrushes, of course," she quickly added. "It might be wise to have more than a single pair of shoes."

Belle raised her hands to her temples. "I'm not going to be able to sleep at all tonight," she moaned. She had had little sleep the night before, either, but would not delay their plan until she was well rested.

"We'll need money," she recalled. "Not so much as to invite robbery, but some at least. I do expect we'll be paid for tending the wounded, but what if it isn't enough to cover our lodgings?"

Dominique gestured toward the desk. "Bring your savings and I'll bring mine. Where's that list we began this afternoon? We had food and clothes, but not money, and we mustn't forget anything else because once we leave the house, we can't return or we'll surely be caught."

Belle had just opened one of the small drawers in her desk to retrieve the list she had hidden when she was interrupted by a knock at the door. She sent Dominique a pleading glance, then hurried to answer it. Her mother stood in the hall holding a simple blue and white gown folded over her arm. Belle recognized it instantly as one of her Aunt Alanna's. She opened the door wide and gestured for her to come in.

"Will this do, Dominique?" Arielle asked. "Alanna had intended to pass it on to one of Cook's daughters, but you could certainly wear it to go fishing first."

Dominique slid off the bed and came forward to take the cotton gown. She held it up and smiled. "Yes. This is perfect. Please thank Aunt Alanna for me if I don't see her before we leave in the morning. I didn't mean to insult anyone when I mentioned borrowing a gown from Johanna. After all, she has her mother's taste in clothes and prefers cotton and linen to satin and lace. I hope it didn't sound as though I believed she went around in rags."

Dominique was an exquisite creature, but unfortunately, she never quite saw the world as clearly as her mother did. Belle had a far more practical nature, but Arielle never discounted Dominique's remarkable gift for painting even the most mundane aspects of her life with wildly dramatic strokes. "Well, I'm afraid it sounded as though you considered her everyday gowns only good enough to wear for fishing, but because Johanna wasn't there, and neither Hunter nor Alanna will ever repeat your remark, no harm was done."

"Oh dear. I didn't mean to be tactless."

Because it was one of Dominique's most common failings, Arielle did not scold her again. "Just be more careful about your comments in the future. Cook will have your picnic basket prepared before she goes to bed. Now don't you two stay up too late."

Belle walked her mother to the door. "We won't," she

promised. "The best time to fish is just after dawn." She held her breath until her mother had started down the stairs, but Dominique's eyes were lit with a wicked light. "The way you look, one would think you're the one hoping to catch up with a sweetheart. I thought you agreed attempting to see Sean O'Keefe would not only be foolish but dangerous. Have you changed your mind?"

Dominique shook her head and again pointed to the desk. "Of course not. Now find the list," she reminded her sister. "We're not finished and I don't want to risk leaving anything important behind. As for Sean, your comment about being hanged as a spy was enough to banish thoughts of seeing him from my mind. Now let's see—food, clothes, money. What else should we take?"

"Fishing gear," Belle added in neat script. "With it we can feed ourselves the whole way so it would be valuable even if we didn't have to take it to make our trip believable."

"Yes, of course. Don't forget a tinderbox for flint and steel as I'd not want to eat the fish raw."

Belle made a note of it. "A small sewing kit," she added. "We're sure to rip our skirts riding through tall brush."

The sisters went over the list several times and added a Bible, soap and towels, and several pairs of stockings. Dominique reviewed the list, and unable to think of anything more, took her sister's hands in a fond clasp. "I know what we're doing is right, Belle, and not simply for Falcon's sake, but our own. When we've found work in a hospital, we'll write to Mother and Father and let them know we're well and happy. I know they'll be angry with us for leaving, but I can't help but hope they'll also be proud of us for wanting to be of service in such troubled times."

Belle managed a nod, but as soon as Dominique had crossed the hall to her own room, she began to shake. She clutched her arms and told herself again and again that what they were doing was right. The memory of the sorrow that

had filled Falcon's eyes as he had kissed her good-bye had convinced her her place was with him. She let no other thought intrude as she gathered the few belongings she intended to take. She would have to wait until her parents had gone to bed to copy one of her father's maps, but she would trace a path to Falcon, and pray with every step of the way that he would also view what she was doing as right.

Belle slept fitfully that night, for whenever she fell asleep she was jarred awake by the sheer audacity of what she and Dominique were about to undertake. If pursuing Falcon proved to be a fool's errand, she would have no one to blame but herself. But if it brought him back into her arms, then the risk would have been well worth it.

She was up and dressed in a pale blue muslin gown more than an hour before dawn. Her trip downstairs after midnight had prompted her to fetch a lantern from the back porch rather than rely on a candlestick when she feared she would be shaking so badly she would spew tallow all over her clothes. Her belongings were packed in a single leather bag she would lash behind her saddle. Chilly, she grabbed a warm woolen shawl and wrapped it around her shoulders. Leaving her bag to pick up on the way out, she took the lantern and tiptoed down the hall to Dominique's room.

Jean was a sound sleeper so she doubted he would awaken, but if he did, she would simply provide their brother with a gentle reminder of their fishing trip and send him back to bed. She rapped lightly at Dominique's door, then let herself in. She had fully expected to have to wake her sister, but Dominique was not only up and dressed, she had made her bed.

"Ready?" Dominique picked up her bag and came to the door. "I've taken care to be quiet, and I've not heard a peep from Jean. Let's hope we can slip by everyone else as eas-

ily" She noticed Belle's shawl then, and quickly fetched one of her own. She scanned her room with an anxious glance, then blew out the candle on the dresser and was ready to go.

Belle picked up her bag as they passed her room, then held the lantern aloft to light their way. They hesitated at the second floor landing, but it was much too early for either their parents or Falcon's to be awake and stirring. Belle tugged on Dominique's sleeve, and the pair made their way on down the stairs and out the back door.

The rhythmic chirping of crickets ruffled the cool night air, and the most ambitious of the English sparrows nesting near the house had already begun to trill their familiar greeting to the dawn. As they neared the kitchen, a mockingbird called loudly, startling them both, but they hurried inside without wasting the breath to scold it. As promised, their picnic basket sat on the pantry table, but a day's rations of ham, cheese, bread, and cider wouldn't be nearly enough to sustain them on their journey.

Dominique plucked a string of dried apples from its hook on the wall. "I know we'll be able to gather berries along the way, but we ought to have something in reserve for the day we can't find any"

"My God," Belle moaned. "I almost left without a pan to fry the fish." She hurriedly sorted through the utensils and found an iron skillet just the right size for the two of them. Taking care not to create a rattling clatter, she removed it from the stack of pans. "We can cook beans in this too, and cornmeal. Fill a small bag with each, please, while I fetch some more ham from the smokehouse."

Dominique picked up one of the cook's aprons and spread it on the table. She set the iron skillet in the center, then rummaged around for cloth to hold the provisions Belle had requested. She had loved to help in the kitchen as a child, but it had been years since she had worked there and she had to search for everything far longer than she would have

liked. As soon as Belle returned with the ham, she knotted the corners of the apron to make a sturdy sack.

"I put in a knife and cooking spoon," she whispered, "but we'll have to stop at the scullery for plates and utensils." She peeked out at the sky, but it was still a dull gray with no hint of the coming dawn. "We should have started gathering everything earlier."

"Have you had second thoughts?" Belle asked anxiously.

"No, of course not. I just don't want to ride for two days and find we've already run out of everything."

"We won't run out of fish, nor berries," Belle promised. She picked up the picnic basket, then had to shift hands to carry her satchel and lantern. "I know we can do this, Dominique. Falcon taught me everything Hunter taught him, and he travels the countryside without worrying he won't be able to provide for himself."

Dominique struggled to carry the bundle of foodstuffs through the door, then bent down to pick up her bag. "I shall hold that thought whenever we lack for anything."

Belle turned back toward her. "If you've changed your mind, say so now. I'd prefer to go alone than listen to you complain the whole way to South Carolina."

Startled by the vehemence of her sister's tone, Dominique came to a sudden halt, but did not drop her burden. "There's nothing for me here," she replied with fierce determination. "Have you forgotten that this was my idea to begin with? Now let's hurry to the barn before the stableboys begin work and notice how much we're taking."

"I'm scared witless," Belle confessed, "but I won't turn back."

"Neither will I," Dominique insisted. When they reached the scullery, she made a quick trip inside for plates and utensils that would never be missed, then the sisters stayed on the path that ran past the carriage house and smithy to the stable.

Belle placed the lantern beside the double doors before

laying the rest of the things she had been carrying in the dirt. It took two hands to pull open one of the heavy doors, then she quickly brought the lantern inside. Both she and Dominique owned prize mares they rode often, but now she wondered if they were the best choice.

"We've dressed in simple clothing to appear inconspicuous, but I didn't think how much attention fine mounts will attract. They are such beautiful bays, and I fear everyone will remember seeing them even if they forget us."

Dominique brushed that worry aside. "They're beauties because their reddish hides are kept glowing with constant grooming. Let's just toss a bit of dust on them as we ride along and tangle their manes so they don't look nearly so sleek and pampered. Besides, I thought you meant to guide us through the countryside rather than along the main roads. With luck, no one will see us after we take the ferry across the James River."

It was easy to argue that they had been blessed with good luck from the day they were born, but Belle did not want to rely upon luck now. "Your idea's a good one," she said instead. "We'll just let Baby Dee and Ladybug get so sweaty and dirty they can pass without notice as easily as we."

Dominique's lips formed a pretty pout. "That will be the real challenge, won't it? To pretend that we're humble serving girls on an errand rather than respectable young ladies who expect to have their commands obeyed. It will be like acting a part in a play," she enthused.

"Hush, and saddle Baby Dee. At least we know how to care for our mounts ourselves, and that's a blessing. A sidesaddle may be fine for a jaunt into town, but for a trip this long, we'd be better off riding astride."

As they were growing up, Byron Barclay had been a superb teacher who never excluded his daughters from the skills he taught his sons. If they showed no interest he excused them, but not until he was satisfied they need not be

dependent on any man. Belle had been more appreciative of the lessons, but as they saddled their pets, Dominique handled the task just as effortlessly.

It took careful planning to secure all they wished to bring to their mount's saddles, but with Dominique carrying the picnic basket and Belle the fishing gear they had found in the stable, they were at last ready to go. Belle doused the lantern, and leaving it behind, the sisters rode their horses down the soft dirt path to the river. The sky had just begun to lighten with a faint blush, and they could find their way along the familiar path without mishap, but each sent a longing glance toward home when she thought the other wasn't looking.

At noon, Arielle went out the front door and looked down toward the river. It was a lovely day, warm and clear. A perfect day for a picnic, and yet by midmorning she had begun to feel uneasy.