by Karen Kirst
“So now you oversee things from a distance.”
“Yes.”
“I’m sorry it didn’t work out for you.”
He lifted a careless shoulder. “It wasn’t meant to be.”
“What about when you’re in the city? Do you fix things there, too?”
“Oh, no. My father would have a fit of apoplexy. I spend a large part of my free time at my gentleman’s club boxing. Or fencing.”
Megan could only stare. “Boxing? Isn’t that a brutal sport?” No wonder he was in top physical condition.
“It can be. Lucky for me, I’ve only ever suffered the occasional black eye and busted lip.” He ran a finger down the length of his straight nose. “No broken nose. Yet.”
His rakish grin transformed his features. Irresistible.
Forcing her gaze straight ahead, Megan retreated into silence. Attempted to make sense of these new revelations. There was certainly more to Lucian Beaumont than she’d given him credit for. And that made it even more difficult not to care for him.
Chapter Nine
Since Megan had insisted on taking a bundle of Owen’s and Sarah’s clothing to her aunt for mending, Lucian convinced her to let him take her there in his wagon. No point in her toting it across town. She waited patiently while he retrieved the supplies from Clawson’s and delivered them to the house. Mrs. Calhoun came outside and invited her in for a slice of pie, but as it was nearing supper time, she declined. Having encountered the sweet aroma permeating the kitchen, Lucian promised he’d eat a slice upon his return. All that hard work had stirred his appetite.
His clothes might be dirty and his body weary, but he felt terrific. The best since his arrival, actually. This was a good kind of tired. Plus, he’d come away knowing he’d helped a man in need. Recalling Sarah’s reaction to the doll, his chest squeezed. Maybe because of her resemblance to Megan or maybe because—like him—she’d recently lost her mother, the little girl had somehow wormed her way into his heart. He hoped the gift would bring her a measure of happiness.
Megan sat quietly as he guided the team along the shaded lane. It was cooler here, the profuse, overhead canopy a barrier against the sun. They’d crossed the wooden bridge spanning the Little Pigeon River a quarter of a mile back, so they’d be coming upon the turnoff to Sam and Mary O’Malley’s place shortly. He’d passed it before on his way to Megan’s. Apparently the two properties were adjoining but Sam and Mary’s cabin was situated closer to town.
“There it is.” She pointed to a break in the trees.
The first thing Lucian noticed when they emerged into the clearing was the picturesque view, quaint cabins and outbuildings nestled in a verdant valley and framed by sprawling mountains. The main cabin was a two-story structure with a porch running its length and a massive stone chimney scaling one end wall. Blue-and-white gingham curtains hung in the sparkling windows. On the opposite side of the clearing, tucked beneath the trees, sat a one-room dwelling also with a porch. A large barn dominated the space between the two structures, along with a corncrib, chicken house and smokehouse. Neat rows of vegetables comprised a good-sized garden.
“Who lives there?” He indicated the small cabin.
“Nathan. Josh built it for himself and his intended bride—Kate’s sister, Francesca. When Kate arrived in her stead, Josh moved back in with his parents so that she could have the cabin. When they got engaged, Josh decided to build a larger one. He doesn’t like to admit to being sentimental, but I think he did it to spare Kate’s feelings. He wouldn’t want to live with her in a home originally intended for himself and her sister,” she said with a knowing grin. “Their home is located behind my aunt and uncle’s house, beyond the apple orchard.”
“Wait.” He was having trouble reconciling this revelation with the obviously head-over-heels-in-love couple he met the other day. “Josh was supposed to marry Kate’s sister?”
Her expression took on a dreamy quality. “Yep. It’s a rather complicated story. Here’s the short version—Francesca married another man and Kate came here to deliver the news. Josh eventually came to realize that Kate had all the qualities he’d been searching for in a wife, and they fell in love.”
“Just like that, huh?”
She rolled her eyes. “I told you, it’s complicated. Theirs was not an easy road to happiness.”
“I’m sure you enjoyed observing it firsthand.”
“It wasn’t as enjoyable as you might think,” she remarked, swaying in the seat as he guided the team to a stop beside the porch. “There were times I questioned if they would end up together. It was all quite stressful, let me tell you.” Squinting, she jerked her chin. “Look, there’s Nathan.”
As usual, she didn’t wait for him to assist her down. As his boots touched the ground, he reminded himself she wasn’t the helpless type. Nor was she the type to manipulate the situation to her advantage, pretending to be helpless so that he’d be forced to help her at every turn.
The tall, dark-headed young man striding across the yard resembled Josh in height and build. Similar facial features, too. Only this man was clean-shaven, unlike Josh, who sported a mustache and goatee, and his eyes were an odd silver instead of blue. He smiled broadly at Megan, yet his eyes were assessing when his gaze met Lucian’s.
“Nathan, this is Charles’s grandson, Lucian Beaumont. Lucian, Nathan is the middle son. Don’t let his quiet nature fool you. He’s as stubborn as the rest of us.” She elbowed her cousin in the ribs.
His response was to tuck her against his side. He stuck out his free hand. “Nice to meet you.”
The two men shook. “Ma’s got supper on the table. Why don’t you join us?”
The way Nathan said it made it sound almost like a challenge.
“I wouldn’t want to intrude. Besides, I’m not exactly dressed for dinner.” He indicated his wrinkled shirt and grass-stained pants. He wasn’t even wearing a cravat, for goodness’ sake. And who knew what his hair looked like. As usual, it was hanging in his eyes.
Megan laughed. “Trust me, you’ll fit in. You don’t look any different than Nathan here. Uncle Sam, too, I’m sure.”
“She’s right,” Nathan agreed.
While Megan was looking at him expectantly, her cousin retained his watchful air. Did Nathan regard all strangers with a dose of suspicion, or was Lucian’s association with Megan the cause? She’d mentioned the O’Malley cousins had grown up together and were practically like brothers and sisters. Lucian wouldn’t blame the man for being protective.
He had two choices. Eat with the O’Malleys and spend a little more time in Megan’s presence. Or eat at the house. Alone.
“All right, then, I accept.”
Reaching in the wagon bed, he retrieved the sack of clothes and followed them inside.
The cabin was roomier than Megan’s. On their right was a wide staircase made up of smooth, white pine boards, same as the floorboards. An oversize stone fireplace dominated the living area, family portraits lining the mantel. Kate’s work, perhaps?
Tossing her bonnet on the side table, Megan motioned for him to follow her. Windows lined the dining area, providing a sweeping view of the front lawn. The succulent smells emanating from the kitchen filled his nostrils. His stomach rumbled. Lunch seemed ages ago.
Megan introduced him to Mary O’Malley, who welcomed him like a long-lost relative. The type of lady who immediately put a person at ease. Sam, Josh and Kate entered through the kitchen door just as he and Megan were handed platters to carry to the dining table. Like his wife, Sam was friendly, with a bespectacled gaze that seemed to miss nothing.
Lucian didn’t have a chance to feel self-conscious. The lively bunch swept him along to the table, seating him beside Megan and around the corner from Sam. Mary and Nathan sat opposite. Josh occupied the opposite end from his father, with Ka
te on Megan’s other side.
“Is Caleb joining us tonight?” Kate asked, indicating the one empty chair.
“I don’t think so,” Sam said in a subdued voice. Mary’s mouth pinched with worry.
Megan placed a hand on Lucian’s sleeve and leaned in close, her shoulder bumping his. “Caleb is the youngest brother. You’ll meet him later. I hope.”
He nodded, wondering what she meant. What Caleb’s absence meant. Family trouble?
As soon as the blessing had been said, conversation surged as platters passed around the table. Chicken and dumplings. Pickled beets. Green beans. Fried potato cakes. The food melted in his mouth. He could quickly grow accustomed to this.
He liked Megan’s family. Like Josh, Sam was well-spoken and intelligent. A solid, practical man. Humble, too. A quality Lucian didn’t encounter often in his world. Nathan didn’t offer much to the conversation, but when he did, there was quiet wisdom laced with humor. Lucian intercepted his probing gaze more than once. What did he see between himself and Megan that bothered him? Lucian had made a conscious effort not to touch her. Or lean too close. Or whisper in her ear.
When the women began to clear the table, Nathan offered to show him around. Lucian accepted. He was interested in seeing the farm. Curious, too, if the other man would confront him with whatever was bothering him. A half an hour later, he had his answer.
Lounging against a barn stall, Nathan tossed a hay sliver to the ground and turned his enigmatic silver gaze on Lucian. “There’s something you should know. Megan is family, and I make it my business to watch out for family. I’ve noticed the way she looks at you.” His gaze narrowed. “And the way you look at her. Seems to me you’re more than friends, which doesn’t make a whole lot of sense seeing as how you’re not sticking around here.”
Lucian didn’t speak for a moment. Exactly how did Megan look at him? Focus, Beaumont. “You’re right— we are friends. But that’s the extent of our relationship.” He could not allow it to develop further. “I like your cousin. I respect her. The last thing I’d want to do is cause her harm.”
Nathan pushed upright, crossed his arms. Set his jaw. “You like her? Correct me if I’m wrong, but I was under the impression that you suspected her of selfish motives where Charles and that house are concerned. Accused her of things she’s incapable of doing.”
“I can’t deny that I misjudged her.” He held Nathan’s gaze. “I was wrong.”
“Have you told her that?”
“No, not yet.” He sighed and lowered his gaze to his boots. She deserved an apology. “But that’s something I plan to remedy.”
Nathan considered that a long moment. Relaxing his stance, he jerked a nod. “Good. Oh, and Beaumont?”
“Yes?”
“Megan is a one-of-a-kind girl. Folks around here wouldn’t look too kindly if you were to hurt her in any way.”
“I understand.”
No use telling Nathan his warning wasn’t necessary. Any punishment the townspeople might mete out wouldn’t compare to Lucian’s own guilt and self-recrimination were he to cause her pain.
* * *
Megan was ensconced in the rocking chair, exhausted from the day’s chores and enjoying a moment’s rest when Lucian and Nathan emerged from the barn. Keeping the chair in motion with the toe of her boot, she observed the two men as they headed her direction. They weren’t speaking, and the waning light made it impossible to read their expressions. She’d noticed the looks Nathan had sent Lucian, looks that troubled her. Sometimes Nathan took his role as protector a bit too seriously.
Her gaze naturally strayed to Lucian. Slightly taller than her cousin, Lucian’s posture, the way he carried himself, commanded respect. Restrained strength combined with rakish good looks equaled devastating appeal. He was so incredibly handsome. And far, far out of her reach.
Climbing the porch steps, Nathan asked, “Where is everybody?”
Megan stood and smoothed her water-stained skirt. There was nothing she could do about the dirt clinging to her hem. “Josh and Kate went home, your ma is already mending Owen’s and Sarah’s clothing and Uncle Sam is reading his Bible.”
Lucian paused on the top step, one hand resting on the handrail. “I’ll give you a ride home, if you’d like.”
“Thanks.” She gave Nathan a hug. “Good night.”
“Take care.”
Lucian was quiet during the short ride to her place. When he halted the team, his warm fingertips grazed her knuckles. “Allow me to help you down.”
Puzzled, Megan waited as he came around to her side and lifted his hands. Setting her hands on his shoulders, he gripped her waist and swung her down. His fingers tightened when she would’ve pulled away. Pulse jumping, she searched his features, barely visible in the low light cast by the kerosene lamp.
“Lucian?”
“Please, I have something to say.” His voice was gruff, apologetic, as his hands dropped to his sides. He didn’t move to put space between them, however. His heat and closeness were reassuring. “When I first arrived in town, I accused you of a lot of things, none of them good, and now that I’ve gotten to know you...well, I realize you aren’t the type of person who would take advantage of an old man. Or anyone else, for that matter. I know what a conniving, manipulative woman is like and, frankly, you’re not it. I’m sorry, Megan. Will you forgive me for my utterly absurd error in judgment?”
Megan couldn’t think to respond. He was apologizing? Admitting he’d been wrong about her?
“Aren’t you going to say something?” he said at last.
“I, uh, wasn’t expecting this. Of course I forgive you.”
“I mean it. I shouldn’t have rushed to judgment like that.”
“I made assumptions of my own, remember? It happens. But I’m glad we’re past all that now.”
“Me, too.” He sounded as relieved as she felt. Glancing at the cabin, he said, “I should get going. It’s been a long day. I have a feeling I’m going to fall asleep the second my head hits the pillow.”
When he made to move past her, she snagged his hand. “That comment about manipulative women...what did you mean by that?”
“Only what I said. You have a good heart. Nathan was right,” he responded as he squeezed her hand. “You’re a one-of-a-kind.”
“Whoa. You and Nathan talked about me?” She wiggled her hand free. “Did he put you up to this?” If the apology wasn’t his idea, it meant nothing.
“I didn’t need Nathan or anyone else pointing out what I had already figured out myself,” he said with a hint of asperity. “Yes, your name came up in the course of conversation. He cares about you, you know.”
“I know.” Still...
“That apology was mine alone. My thoughts, my words.” His tone brooked no argument. And honestly, was he really the type of man who’d do something purely because someone else suggested it?
“All right. I believe you.”
With a speaking look, he circled around the horses and climbed up onto the seat. “Bonne nuit, mon chou.”
“Bonne nuit.”
A tentative happiness settled in around her heart. Lucian’s trust in her was responsible for that. Only his mention of manipulative women hampered it. Why had he refused to offer an explanation? She wasn’t naive. A man like him wouldn’t lack for female attention. So who had tried to hurt him? And why did she suddenly want to strangle the unknown perpetrators?
Chapter Ten
“I’m off for the day.” Mrs. Calhoun poked her head in the study door late Thursday. “Your supper is warming on the stove. Don’t leave it there too long,” she said with a smile, “else the potatoes will get soggy and the creamed corn will cease being creamy.”
Lucian turned from the window. “I’ll remember. Thank you.”
�
�Is there anything else you need before I leave?”
“Actually, I was wondering if you could answer a few questions for me.” These past few days with Owen and Sarah had kept his own family in the forefront of his mind.
Her wrinkles became more pronounced. “I’ll do my best.”
Coming around the desk, he leaned his weight against the edge so as not to tower over her. Embarrassed to be involving her in private family matters, but determined to find answers, he forged ahead. “Did my grandfather ever mention wanting my mother and I to come and visit?”
Resting a hand on the back of a chair for support, Mrs. Calhoun regarded him with regret-filled eyes. The subject obviously troubled her. “After your mother left, Charles became a different man. He spent much of his time closeted in here or in the library, preferring to be alone. I’m sorry, I wish I could help you, but he didn’t speak with me or Fred about what happened. We wanted to help. And although we made it clear we were available if he needed a listening ear or a shoulder to cry on, he chose not to come to us.”
Disappointment gripped him. “He apparently didn’t have a problem opening up to Megan.”
Her face smoothed, brightened. “Her friendship brought a bit of joy back into his life. I’ll always be grateful.”
“You didn’t think it strange?” he felt compelled to ask. “A young woman spending time with an elderly man when she could be out doing a hundred other more exciting things?”
“Megan is a helper by nature, a nurturer. The type of girl that, when she sees someone in need, drops what she’s doing and rushes to their aid. In Charles, she saw a hurting, lonely old man.”
“So she befriended him.”
“Yes.”
Lost in thought, he trod back to the window and leaned against the frame.
Perhaps he should leave the house in her hands. Even if he did find a way around the stipulation and put it up for sale, who knew how long it would take for a buyer to materialize? He could be tied to this place indefinitely. A shiver of alarm worked its way up his spine. No, he couldn’t have that.
