Chadwick's Rare Find (An Intriguing Romance Novel) (11 page)

“Now hold on, Mr.  There isn’t enough room in here.  This is a two-seater, not a four- seater.”  The carriage was very small on the inside.  Their carriage had been bigger.  The man and woman looked outraged at the intrusion. 

The driver came around to explain to the man and woman that it was company policy to assist customers in danger on the trail.  He could not leave Chadwick and Brittany under any circumstances. They would have to make a way for them all to travel back to the riverfront together.  

Chadwick sat Brittany into the carriage.  The woman climbed onto her companions lap.  They both looked at Brittany as if the whole thing was her fault.  Brittany ignored them. She wondered what Chadwick was doing now.  She leaned forward and could see that he was helping the driver get Johnson-the-drunk off the damaged carriage.  They were putting him up on the driver’s seat of the rescue carriage.  Minutes later the door to the carriage was snatched open and Chadwick, without saying one word pulled Brittany out and climbed in.  Reaching down he dragged her back into the carriage and settled her in his lap.  

Chadwick was still angry.  He was angry at everyone and everything.  He was mostly angry at himself.  What if something had happened to Brittany?  If he had lived, he would have had to face Amber.  The thought made him shudder.  He was cold.  He could feel Brittany trembling.  She was cold too.  She was in his lap with her back to his chest.  Each one of her long legs hung over one of his legs.  They were literally limb to limb from head to toe.  He could smell her scent and even though she was cold he could feel her body heat searing him.  The first beginnings of torture that he had never known before begin to stir inside of Chadwick.  His body tingled all over.  His response to Brittany was phenomenal.  He could feel his testicles swell and he knew within seconds Brittany would be able to feel the hardness of his erection.   

He was glad he couldn’t really see the people sitting across from them.  Brittany’s hair had come completely undone when the top blew off the carriage.  He couldn’t see past her hair.  Her hair had puffed up or something.  It was all over head, but she was still sensational.  She smelled good too.  He had a beautiful, wet woman who smelled good in his lap.  It was too much for Chadwick.  Brittany’s reaction to his proposal, the dangerous carriage ride, and her sitting in his lap like this was more than he could take.  He felt the tremors start and tried to control them, but couldn’t.  

#

Brittany had been sitting like a stone in Chadwick’s lap.   She was mortified.  She had never been this close to a man before.  She had always felt tall and gangly, but in Chadwick’s lap she felt feminine.  He was larger than her in height and width.  He practically filled the carriage.  The poor people across from them looked extremely uncomfortable.  Everybody’s legs were entangled in one way or another.  This carriage ride had to end soon.  Suddenly, Brittany felt Chadwick trembling.  They were hard tremors that slammed into her back and her thighs.  Chadwick was in some sort of trouble.  

“What’s wrong?” Brittany pressed her back against him and turned her mouth into his ear.  His teeth were chattering.  His arms that had been holding her loosely, now held her in a vice grip as he tried to control his shaking.  

“He’s not having a seizure is he?” the woman asked, horrified.  Brittany knew what was happening to Chadwick.  

“No it’s a panic attack.  I’m a masseuse and I know what to do for him.”  Brittany quickly untangled her legs from everyone’s and awkwardly turned herself to face Chadwick.  She was still in his lap, but she was straddling him with her knees pressing into the seat behind him.  Chadwick was shaking harder and he seemed to be having trouble breathing. 

“Chadwick listen to me.  I am going to help you relax.  Just try to take deep breaths.”  Brittany’s voice was soft and low.  She spoke slowly as she showed him how to breathe.  Placing a hand on either side of his face she leaned in and kissed him gently on the lips.  His teeth were chattering too.  He stared into her eyes.  Brittany lowered her hands to his shoulders and began to knead her way up either side of his neck.  She set a rhythm and gradually she could feel his tremors lessening.  His teeth stopped chattering.  

“Thank you for saving my life,” she whispered as she looked into his eyes.  “I am sorry for the way I acted earlier too,” she continued.  Chadwick’s eyes widened as he listened.  Brittany kept the massage going.  She reached in deeper to knead the back of his head and neck.  Chadwick’s eyes closed and his lips parted.  He was completely relaxed now.  She knew he would sleep soon.  Most people were exhausted after a panic attack.  

“Thelma, I think you need to go to school to learn that.”  The man and woman stared at Chadwick in amazement.  He had been shaking the entire carriage and now he was in a stupor.  They looked from Brittany to Chadwick and both shared twin expressions of wistfulness.  The woman gazed at Chadwick and the man stared openly at Brittany’s butt, which was practically in his face.  Brittany tried to turn back around but Chadwick’s heavy arms held her down.  

“Could you undo his arms so I can turn around?”  She asked either of the two people that were staring.  The woman was the only one really in a position to do anything. She reached across and lifted Chadwick’s arms away from Brittany.   As soon as Brittany turned around, Chadwick’s arms wrapped back around her.  

The carriage ride finally came to an end.  Chadwick was lethargic, but arousable.  After getting him settled into the car with the help of eager assistance from the company office, Brittany got under the wheel and drove away hoping she never again laid eyes on an old-fashioned carriage.  

Brittany drove Chadwick back to Adanna’s house.   Mara and Adanna were the only ones there to receive them.  Mara had taken one look at Brittany’s wild hair and Chadwick’s sluggish behavior and rushed them into the house.  After reassuring herself that both Brittany and Chadwick would be okay, Mara demanded an explanation for their appearance.  Brittany recounted every detail of their frightening experience, except those pertaining to her and Chadwick’s argument.  Chadwick had very little to say. 

His eyes followed Brittany as she rose to leave.  He wanted to go with Adanna to drive her home, but he was so tired and his body had begun to ache.  He remembered his last panic attack.  It had been years ago on the construction site of his business.  He had seen a man fall from a scaffold.  The whole incident had been horrific and had put Chadwick in a state of petrification.  That was the only other time in his life he recalled experiencing a panic attack.  That attack had left him bed bound for two days.  He hoped fervently that he would rebound faster this time.  Nonetheless, he knew that he was in no condition to go with Adanna to take Brittany home.  He would be doing good to make it upstairs to his bed. 

“Brittany”, he said hoarsely.  He reached up to rub his throat.  It felt irritated.  

Brittany looked at Chadwick sitting in the kitchen booth and had to restrain from wrapping her arms around him.  He looked haggard.  She knew he had been through a lot for any man.  Just the thought that they had been sitting in a carriage with runaway horses was terrifying.  They could have flipped over.  She understood his panic and was glad it happened afterwards and not during their dangerous adventure.  He had been so heroic in his handling of the situation.  

“Yes,” she said noticing that Adanna and Mara left the room, giving them privacy.  

“Come here.”  He held out his arms.  There was no where for Brittany to go except between his legs, which she did hesitantly.   He laid his head on her stomach and wrapped his arms around her waist.  Brittany placed her hands on his head and gently kneaded his neck.  

“You’ll be alright, Chadwick.  You’ll feel better after some sleep.  I’ll call and check on you in the morning.”  

He loved Brittany’s scent.  Her wet clothes had dried and he could feel the warmth of her stomach through her T-shirt. Turning his face into her stomach, he breathed in deeply.  Looking up he almost laughed.  Brittany’s hair was all over her head.  She didn’t seem to realize how wild she looked.  But after what they had been through, there was no other way for her to look.  

“Brittany, I’m embarrassed about the panic attack, but I’m glad you knew what it was.  I’m glad you helped me.  It felt good.  Everything felt so good.  Will you let me hold you in my lap again?” 

“Now?” Brittany knew Adanna was waiting on her.  Chadwick’s intensity was setting her on fire.  She needed to get away from him before she embarrassed herself in front of Mrs. Jordan.  

“I guess now would be inappropriate.  Please remember to call me in the morning.”  He let her go and stretched out flat against the booth throwing his arms above his head.  He looked up at her and Brittany became aware that she was still standing between his legs.  She quickly stepped back knowing that if anyone were to come in, the sight of them positioned so would be very suggestive.  

“I will be sure to call.  Get some rest, Chadwick,” she said as she turned to leave.  She noticed that he had already closed his eyes.  Brittany bit her lower lip and wondered how a man who had just had a panic attack could still be so incredibly sexy.   She followed Adanna to the car with visions of Chadwick lying back in the booth in his tight black jeans and t-shirt fast asleep.  It was endearing and disturbing.  She wondered what the future held for her.  She was sure of one thing.  She would brook no more arguments about his intentions.  She wanted him and that was a fact that she would not allow to get muddled with her pride ever again. 

#

Days passed and Chadwick heard nothing from Brittany.  His disappointment turned into a bitterness that was felt by all in the family. 

The family gathering had been a success as far as Adanna was concerned and she was happy it was over with.  She was sad that she would have to say goodbye to her mom and dad.  She wished wholeheartedly that it was Chadwick leaving and not them, because he had turned into a monster.  Adanna was angry at Brittany for leaving Chadwick high and dry.  Vana had even threatened to go find Brittany, beat her up, patch her up, and bring her to Chadwick.  Everyone knew that was a bad idea, but they couldn’t help but share her sentiment.  After all, Brittany had promised she would call. 

Instead of being angry, James Jordan had been worried.  He was convinced that something terrible had happened.  He liked Brittany and he refused to believe that he had misjudged her character.  He kept saying that someone with Brittany’s character would call and explain instead of just disappearing.  Chadwick, however, stubbornly refused to listen.  He repeated the conversation he and Brittany had had the day of the carriage fiasco and staunchly refused to believe anything other than that Brittany had decided she wanted nothing to do with him.  James, however, remained puzzled, but upon Chadwick’s threat of retribution of the gravest kind, he promised not to call or make any effort to contact Brittany. 

After seeing his mom and dad safely onto their train,  Chadwick decided it was time for him to go back to Atlanta.  He purchased his ticket and packed his bags.  Sitting in the passenger seat, as Adanna prepared to drive him to the airport, Chadwick felt self-disgust.  

“Adanna, please drive by Brittany’s house.  I know I am being weak, but I just can’t leave without driving by.  We won’t stop or anything.   I just want to take one last look.”

 “Chadwick, are you sure?  What if she sees us?  Won’t you be embarrassed?”  

He thought about this for a minute.  Why was he driving by her house anyway?  She didn’t want him.  She thought he was some sort of opportunistic, bad rich man who took advantage of people less fortunate. That was the greatest insult.  Chadwick had been kind all his life.  It was one of his trademark qualities.  To be impugned with unkind motives was unbearable.  She had accused him basically of looking out for his own selfish interest, which was so far from the truth.  He had taken an iron will not to seduce her.  He could have had her if he wanted to.  He knew what to do to break her down and get her in his bed, but he wanted her to feel safe with him. He wanted their relationship to be built on trust and respect.  He was willing to give her the time she needed to get to know him before he proposed marriage, before he proposed anything.  Why had she thrown his kindness back in his face?  She owed him an explanation and he would have it.  

“Yes, Adanna I am sure.  As a matter of fact, we are going to stop when we get there, because I have a few words for Brittany Bradfield.  I don’t know who she think she is, but nobody and I mean nobody insults me for any reason.  I want her little neck between my hands.”  Chadwick’s jawline was rigid and he looked determined. 

“Chadwick, she has a right to deny you.  You can’t make her love you.  Just let it go.  I’m taking you to the airport.”  Adanna was not Vana.  She never had and never would encourage Chadwick in his madness.  Vana would have broken all speeding laws to get Chadwick to Brittany so he could give her a piece of his mind.  Adanna was gentle by nature.  Forceful people made her uncomfortable.  For this reason, she and Chadwick, although they loved each other as siblings should, had never really been close.  He didn’t understand her supplicant nature and she surely didn’t understand his obstinate nature. 

“Adanna, pull the car over now.”  Chadwick knew she would obey.  When she did as he had commanded, Chadwick got under the wheel and headed towards Brittany’s house.  

#

When they rounded the corner that lead to Brittany’s home, Chadwick stopped breathing.  The charred mass of rubble before him could not be Brittany’s house.  He could feel his heart pounding. His ears began to ring.  He had the eerie feeling someone was pulling his hair up by his scalp.  He could hear Adanna crying.  Through glazed eyes he looked away from the pile of burned wood and into Adanna’s eyes.  He saw pity and horror wash across her face simultaneously.  

Chadwick was out of the car and stumbling towards the wreckage.  For some insane reason he was screaming Brittany’s name.  This bought out the neighbors.  An old woman shuffled up to him quickly.  Putting a hand on his arm she said, “You are Brittany’s young man, aren’t you?  Christy told me about you.  She told me you would come and she gave me an address to give you. They’re alright baby.  They’re all mourning this old house, but they are fine.  Who is that in the car with you?”  The little old lady’s eyes had become suspicious.