Lonesome Rider and Wilde Imaginings

by Heather Graham

  Gregory informed her coolly that Mr. Evigan would be out for the evening, but that he himself would be delighted to see that she was served dinner upstairs.

  Gregory would simply be delighted not to have to see her, she knew. But she would be equally delighted to dine upstairs, so she thanked him and suggested that he also bring her a bottle of Chablis.

  He did so. She dined on a meat pie, trying to read a mystery novel but having little success. She sipped her first glass of wine before she ate, her second during the meal and her third when it was over. Then, for good measure, she drank a fourth before deciding that a hot bath might make her just as tired and help her avoid the agony of a hangover the next morning. She turned off the lights in her room. The fire that some kind-hearted staff member had built her was just burning low in the hearth. She filled the tub with hot, steaming water and sank into it.

  The steam filled the bathroom like a mist. She laid her head back. The bath was working. It was so hot and relaxing that, despite the turmoil in her head, she nearly dozed off. Afraid that she might drown and therefore end the difficulties over the will, she crawled out of the tub, wrapping herself in a big towel. She started toward the bedroom, then stopped.

  It was dark, of course, with just the fire’s glow, and spooky, with the steam from the bathroom streaming out into the other room.

  A man was standing there. Tall, dark, towering. Hands on his hips, watching her.

  The steam cleared slightly.

  Brian.

  She bit her lower lip, clinging to her oversize towel, then walked out of the bathroom and straight to him. He stared at her without a word. There were so many things she wanted to say. She wanted to be flippant, to tell him that he ought to learn to knock. She wanted to ask him if be had crawled through the window.

  Most of all, she wanted to ask him if he would remember being here tomorrow.…

  But none of those things left her lips. Though she parted them to speak, no words came. He seized hold of her harshly, and his lips fell upon hers, hungry, questing. She wanted to protest, but, far more than that, she wanted to feel him. He kissed her endlessly, until her knees grew weak. Then he lifted the towel from her shoulders, let it fall to the floor, and then his lips touched her shoulder. His hands fell to her breasts, caressing them. He kissed her again, whispering against her lips, “You taste like wine.”

  “Lots of it!” she whispered in return, and he smiled crookedly. He lowered himself against her, his lips falling first to the rise of one breast, then taking the fullness of it into his mouth, his tongue laving and caressing the nipple. Her breath caught, and her knees threatened to give way, but his arms came around her, supporting her. He lowered his body still farther, his kisses and caresses drying the last of the dampness from her skin. His fingers curled around her buttocks, bringing her close against him. Lower and lower against her abdomen he caressed her. Her fingers dug into his shoulders as he brought her closer, closer, his touch more and more intimate.…

  She cried out very softly. The mist and the wine seemed to be swirling together. She was going to fall from the effect of each searing ecstasy. But she didn’t. He swept her up and carried her to the bed. And there he made love to her. Once, twice …

  And into the night. Violently, tenderly, tempestuously. Firelight touching them, turning them golden. The mist of the night swirling around them, adding a touch of magic. He rose above her again and again, the gold of his eyes igniting a blaze, the touch of his fingers, his every caress, creating new desire. She shuddered against the force of his body, felt the sweeping wonder of it filling her. Touched heaven again and again.

  She should have spoken. Oh, she should have spoken. But it was too beautiful a night. He had made it so. And finally, when they had reached the heights yet again and she lay against him, spent, content to feel their naked flesh just touching, she slept at last.

  She awoke with a start. Daylight was streaming through the narrow slit that served as a window. It must be very late. She pressed her head into her hands. It was pounding.

  The wine! That horrible wine.

  Then she remembered.…

  She stretched her hand out. He was gone. Of course he was gone. What had she expected?

  She bit her lip, looking at herself. She was naked. She pulled the covers up. He had been there. He had! She was not losing her mind! She was going to find him, and she was going to accost him, then and there.

  She leaped up, then hurried into the bathroom. Quickly, she bathed and dressed.

  Darryl was not to be seen downstairs. She left the house and found Liam by the stables. He cheerfully asked her if she’d like a ride, and she told him yes, please, and asked him to saddle up Lady Luck for her.

  She watched him as he did so. “At least you seem to be speaking to me, Liam.”

  He nodded. “Right so,” he told her.

  “Why?”

  “Because I knew Mr. Paddy Evigan, miss. And I’m certain he knew what he was doing. Coming between the two of them—it’s the best thing I can imagine. We’ll find out what’s what around here now, I dare-say! Here you go, Allyssa Evigan. Lady Luck all ready for a ride.”

  “Thank you, Liam. For Lady Luck, and for the vote of confidence. Actually, though,” she said, accepting his hand for a boost up onto the mare, “I told the attorney—the solicitor—yesterday that I’d like him to find a way to get me out of Paddy’s will. I …” She hesitated. “I’ve learned what I needed to learn here. The things I felt that I needed to come home to find out. I really didn’t come for anything else. Certainly not to take anything away from either Darryl or Brian.”

  “We often get what we don’t think to ask for, don’t we now, miss?” Liam said. He waved a hand to her and started toward the stables. Allyssa nudged Lady Luck and started out across the fields for the trail through the forest that would lead her to the cottage—and Brian.

  When she was halfway across the fields, she reined in for a moment, certain she saw a rider near the woods. Then the figure disappeared into the cover of the trees. Brian, she wondered, out already?

  She gave Lady Luck free rein, as both she and the horse loved a fierce gallop across the open fields. Riding felt so wonderful. The sharp chill of the air against her face, the magnificent feel of the beautiful horse racing beneath her. Leaning low against Lady Luck’s neck, she felt the wonder and the freedom of their motion. She closed her eyes for a moment, to better hear the thunder of the horse’s hooves.

  Someone was yelling. Her eyes flew open. Brian. He was racing out of the trees to her left, yelling at her.

  Damn him. She was a fool for caring. They fought every single time they were together. He chastised her constantly, denied his own actions, and made her furious.

  And then he stepped into her bedroom, leaving her without a word to say.

  She looked straight ahead, determined to ignore him. When she was ready, she would slow her gait and speak to him, but not until then.

  But suddenly she realized that the earth was trembling beneath her. She turned back. Brian, with a hard look on his face, was bearing down on her. Lady Luck was a strong, big-striding horse, but Brian’s dark steed seemed to be more than her match. Allyssa urged Lady Luck onward, but Brian came closer and closer, thundering up behind her.

  “Stop!” he commanded her.

  When she didn’t, he suddenly came leaping off his horse, flying at her. She screamed, stunned breathless at the impact of his body thudding against hers. They went flying into space, then crashing down hard upon the earth. The shock was startling and painful. Brian had managed to twist so that his body was mostly beneath hers, but still she had to gasp for breath, had to struggle to roll away to discover whether she was still in one piece.

  “You stupid, arrogant fool!” she cried, beating her fists against his chest in her anger.

  “Son of a bitch!” he cried in return, catching her wrists, wincing as he thrust her back and rolled over her, straddling her. “You little fool! Don’t
you ever listen? I was trying to save your life!”

  She stared at him, thinking he’d clearly gone insane. Save her life! He had nearly killed her, throwing them both from their horses at that speed. Even if he had taken the brunt of the fall, they would probably both be a mass of bruises from head to toe.

  “What—” she began.

  Then she heard a squeal from Lady Luck. She broke off, staring at Brian, then pushing at him. “What was it? What happened?”

  He rose, taking her hand, pulling her to her feet.

  Across the field, just before the place where the trail led into the trees, Lady Luck was down. She had tripped and fallen and rolled. She was half up now, snorting, terrified, the saddle twisted beneath her belly.

  “My God!” Allyssa breathed. “I don’t understand. What happened?”

  “Someone stretched wire across the riding trails,” Brian said sharply. “I’d just discovered it when I saw you. God forbid you should listen to me! Excuse me, will you? I’m going to see if that poor horse is going to survive this!”

  He started walking toward Lady Luck. Allyssa ignored him and followed quickly behind him. “Easy, girl!” Brian said softly to the horse, who had collapsed on the ground.

  She whinnied, her dark eyes rolling. “Let me, she’s come to know me,” Allyssa said. She started talking to Lady Luck, moving closer and closer to her. She reached the horse and patted her nose and her neck, still talking very gently. Brian came along beside her and told her to go on. One by one, he ran his hands over the horse’s legs.

  “Get her up now,” he told Allyssa.

  She nodded and urged the mare up. With a heave, Lady Luck got to her feet. She swayed at first, but then she took several steps before obediently standing still. Allyssa looked anxiously at Brian. “Is she going to be all right?”

  He nodded. “It seems so. Come to the cottage. You look as if you could use a stiff drink.”

  She shook her head. “I definitely don’t want anything to drink!”

  “Then I’ll give you coffee, or tea.”

  She hesitated, and he smiled. “Mrs. Griffin, my housekeeper, is there. You’ll be perfectly safe.”

  She walked Lady Luck along behind him. At the cottage, they left the horses in a paddock and went into the house. The fireplace reminded her of the last time she had been there, and she sat nervously in front of it. He seemed to sense her unease and quickly called, “Mrs. Griffin!”

  A plump, rosy-cheeked woman in her late fifties or early sixties appeared. She smiled, walked over to Allyssa and took her hand. “How nice to meet you, love! I’ve been hearing so much about you!”

  Allyssa wasn’t sure what she had been hearing, given the way Brian had been acting, but she smiled in return. Mrs. Griffin promised them coffee and biscuits right away, and she was true to her word. It was delicious coffee, too. Maybe the British were known for their tea, she told Allyssa, but coffee had actually been around much longer, and she could make it quite well, thank you!

  When she was gone, Brian and Allyssa sat uneasily across from one another by the fire. Finally Allyssa looked at Brian. “So,” she said, trying to keep her tone light, “is someone trying to kill me?”

  He leaned forward, close to the fire, brooding as he sipped his coffee. At last he looked at her. “What do you think?”

  She leaned back. “I don’t know what to think!” She bit her lower lip, then said softly, “Honestly, I don’t know what to think! Someone cracks me on the head—and you’re there. I’m nearly thrown to my death—and you’re there.”

  “So!” he said, and the word sounded harsh. “You think I’m trying to kill you? Why save you, then?”

  She shook her head. “I don’t know. Maybe you’re just trying to prove that I’m insane. Wouldn’t the property revert to you and Darryl in that event, too?”

  He exhaled slowly. “Probably. Has it occurred to you that I might not be trying to kill you or make you appear insane? And that if I’m not doing it, then perhaps someone else is?”

  She nodded. “Options,” she said softly.

  “You need to go away.”

  “I can’t!” She leaned toward him suddenly, anxiously. “Something is happening. I could never leave now—I would never know!”

  “Damn it, Allyssa! I can’t guarantee that I can always be in the right place at the right time!”

  “You always have been,” she told him.

  He gritted his teeth. “Allyssa! I was not at the station the night you arrived! I was not—”

  She leaped up. “I know! I know! You weren’t at the station! And you weren’t in my room that first night. And damn you!” she whispered, trembling. “You weren’t in my room last night, either, right? I’m sure you’ll deny that, too!”

  She spun around, determined to leave. She had reached the door before he called her name. “Allyssa!”

  She stopped, her back stiff and straight. She felt more than heard him coming after her. He caught hold of her shoulders and spun her around. “I wasn’t in the train station the night you arrived. And I wasn’t in your room that first night, either.”

  “Let me go!” she commanded him.

  “But I would never, never deny that I was in your room last night. It was, beyond a doubt, one of the most wonderful nights of my life.”

  She started to tremble as he held her, lowering her eyes. “Why did you disappear?” she whispered.

  “I know how you feel about being rude to Darryl. I didn’t think that you’d want me there once morning came.”

  She raised her eyes to his glittering gold ones once again. “How did you know I’d want you there in the night? After the way you’ve behaved—”

  “Can’t you understand?” he demanded, his voice suddenly harsh. His eyes searched hers. “No, I guess you can’t. Not yet.” He stepped back, releasing her. “There’s nothing I can say. Not when you don’t trust me.”

  “I—I do!” she protested. “I think I do!” she amended softly. But was it a lie? True, he had been with her last night; he had admitted it. But there were things she didn’t know. Who had come to the station? Who had come to her room? Who had knocked her out in the crypt, and who had strung the wire across the trail?

  Who would benefit from her death?

  Darryl Evigan—and Brian Wilde.

  “I have to go,” she murmured.

  “Fine, run,” he told her. “Just be careful where you run, Allyssa! Be careful who you choose to run to!”

  She threw open the door and hurried from the house, down the path between the roses and to the paddock, where Lady Luck was patiently awaiting her.

  She rode carefully to the castle, avoiding the wire.

  Exhausted, she hurried up to her room after leaving Lady Luck with Liam. She fell asleep nearly as soon as she lay down.

  Dreams plagued her. Dreams in which a tall, dark man kept coming to her. He wore Brian’s face and Brian’s smile, black riding breeches, a white cotton shirt and high black boots. “Take care, Allyssa, take care!” he warned her. She twisted in her sleep, dreaming that she opened her eyes to find him there, standing guard at her door. “Rest,” he said softly. “I’m here.”

  She closed her eyes in her dream. And after that all dreams faded, and she slept deeply and well, curiously secure.

  She woke with the room nearly dark, full of shadows. Anxious, she leaped to her feet. It was nearly suppertime. After quickly bathing and changing into a soft red knit dress, she hurried downstairs.

  Darryl was there, waiting for her. “Sherry?” he asked. “Or perhaps something else to drink?”

  “A sherry would be fine, thank you,” she told him.

  “Actually,” he said ruefully, “I shouldn’t be offering you things that are yours.”

  She placed a hand gently on his. “Darryl, please. I find the terms of the will very distressing. This is your home. I am the guest here. I don’t know what to do. I may just go home, and perhaps I should—”

  “Perhaps you should marr
y me!” he said suddenly.

  “What?” she gasped.

  “Oh, I know that sounds awfully rushed, doesn’t it? I apologize with all my heart. I shouldn’t have spoken. It’s just that we’ve done well together here, haven’t we? My God, being together, living together, has been wonderful. I’ve been falling in love with you, bit by bit, ever since that first night when I walked in and saw you by the fire. You were so sodden, but so beautiful with your wide eyes and mane of hair! I am talking foolishly, aren’t I? It’s just that I was so certain that you were growing fond of me, too—”

  “I am fond of you!” Allyssa assured him awkwardly. “It’s just that this is so—”

  He pressed a finger to her lips. “No, please. I spoke out of turn. I’ve given you no time at all. Let’s just forget everything I’ve said. Let’s start fresh, all right? Give me a chance to start over—and be subtle this time!” He grinned engagingly.

  She lowered her lashes quickly, feeling both terribly guilty and ashamed. He had no idea that she had been seeing Brian. No idea of just how she had been seeing Brian.

  Falling in love with Brian …

  “You’re very kind and considerate, Darryl,” she murmured softly. “I—”

  “Don’t say anything now!” he implored her.

  “I want you to know that I think you’re wonderful,” she insisted. “Brian told me that Paddy accused my mother of stealing a cross. He said that you must have known, too. I know that you were trying to spare my feelings when you said you didn’t know anything about it, and I want you to know how much I appreciate it.”

  “Brian shouldn’t have told you,” Darryl said.