Rachel greeted each person she passed as she went down to the ground floor. The stairwell was open from the first landing all the way to a skylight in the roof. More than once she had been tempted to bring her work out of her office to sit on one of the risers while sunshine cascaded around her.
The ground floor’s hallway was as massive as the common house itself. It arched up more than twenty feet above her head. Intricate moldings marched along the walls and across the ceiling, reminding her of pictures she had seen of ancient cathedrals in Europe. This corridor always gave her the same sense of awe. Along the walls, at a height perfect to be read, was a listing of the doctrines guiding the River’s Haven Community. Most were simple and commonplace—being kind to others and being willing to work hard for the betterment of everyone.
The Community Hall was as large as the Grange Hall in Haven. Everyone in River’s Haven could gather here to listen to the Assembly of Elders, as they did once a month. Several small rooms opened off the great space. Each one was labeled with its name in a brass plaque over the half-moon window atop the door. The Community parlor was the nearest and smallest. With just three sofas and an equal number of chairs, it was cozy in comparison with the Community Hall. It was decorated in soft shades of navy blue and yellow.
Rachel paused in the doorway and stared at the man who was looking at the books on the shelves flanking the tall window. This was Wyatt Colton? This man who was dressed in what her mother had called “his going-to-church best”? The light gray coat he wore over darker gray trousers was double-breasted. His white shirt closed at his collar with a narrow black tie. He held a black top hat with a silver band that glistened as brightly as his shoes beneath pristine white spats. He could have been a fashion-plate, so she was surprised when she realized she preferred him in his work clothes that revealed his strong muscles instead of encasing them in dignified wool.
She wondered why he was dressed so. He obviously wanted to impress someone, but who?
“Good afternoon, Wyatt,” Rachel said when she found her voice. “I’m sorry I’ve kept you waiting. I’m very busy this afternoon. I was told you wish to speak to me.”
“Good afternoon.” He dropped his hat on a nearby table along with his pose of being a gentleman caller. His eyes glistened as they narrowed and swept along her. A slow smile tilted his lips.
She looked down, realizing that he had never seen her in a River’s Haven dress. Other than the short skirt, the navy dress could have been worn by any woman in Haven. Her pantalets of the same color hid any hint of ankle, and the lace at their hem covered her shoes in an odd copy of his spats.
When his gaze rose, she could not halt herself from reaching up to touch her hair, which was in a loose net balanced on her shoulders. She had worn it in a tight bun each time she had seen him before. As she did with her clothes, she appreciated the comfort of this hairstyle favored in River’s Haven.
“You’re walking much better,” Wyatt continued. “Why don’t you walk back to the door?”
“What?” she asked, startled.
“I like watching you walk.” He grinned. “Both toward me and away.”
“May I remind you that you aren’t on your boat?”
He smiled tightly. “I’ll use my best ‘going ashore’ manners, Rachel. I should do this, shouldn’t I?” He took her hand, and, with a bow as fine as any she had ever seen, he raised it to his lips and pressed a kiss to her skin.
She never had understood what was meant by the term “making one’s head spin” until now. The courteous kiss was like one other men had given her, but none of those had delighted her like this. As he raised his head, she let herself become lost in his eyes.
He pressed her fingers to his face. They slipped from beneath his palm to stroke his smooth cheek. How would his freshly shaven skin feel against her if he kissed her mouth?
Several voices came from the Community Hall, and Rachel pulled back, shocked at how easily she had let him enchant her … and how much she wanted to linger within his touch’s spell.
“We should—I mean—” Heavens, she was stuttering like a naughty child caught in the midst of mischief.
Wyatt tan his finger along her jaw. “If you want me to continue acting like a gentleman, I can spend the next ten minutes telling you how lovely you are, but I thought you’d rather talk business.”
Never had he been so wrong about what she wanted, but, as he glanced uneasily at the door, she realized that he was not comfortable here. She had seen other outsiders act ill at ease in the common house. She would not have guessed that Wyatt Colton would be unsettled by the River’s Haven Community. Then she recalled his disgust—there was no kinder word for it—when she had first spoken of living here. For a man who seemed to live by his own rules, making them up as he needed them, the very idea of a community like this one must be an abomination.
“Will you sit down, Wyatt?” When he arched a brow and smiled, Rachel added, “Please.”
As he sat on a chair, he said, “I trust you got the oil stains out of your jacket.”
Blast this man! He was the one who was uncomfortable, but he was doing everything he could to make her blush. If he thought he would unnerve her so much that she would say or do something foolish so he could tease her more, he would quickly learn his mistake.
“Yes,” she replied. “The laundry here is very skilled. They’re accustomed to the task of removing stains left by work in the shops here.”
“That’s lucky for you.”
“Isn’t it?”
“I see you aren’t going to waste your ‘going ashore’ manners on me.” His smile wavered at her sarcasm.
“I’m sorry.” She sighed. She was lashing out at him when he was teasing her in an effort to put both of them more at ease. “I was in the midst of trying to track down some mistakes I’d made in the calculations I was doing, and I fear I’m cantankerous when the numbers don’t add up.”
“And I’m sorry for intruding on your work. I don’t like to leave a job half done either.”
She gasped at the apology she had not expected from him. But she barely knew this intriguing man, so why should she believe that she would know how he might act? When he did not pounce on her reaction, she relaxed against the sofa where she sat facing him. She discovered that was a mistake, for without her vexation between her and his charming smile, her thoughts drifted again to the memory of his broad hands and warm lips.
“That’s quite the outfit,” Wyatt said.
She again glanced at her navy dress. “It suits me during the hours of working on the financial reports for the Assembly of Elders or when I go from shop to shop. But I doubt that you came all the way out here to discuss my clothes.”
“You’re right.” He pulled his chair closer to her. He leaned forward and lowered his voice. “What in blazes is a smart woman like you doing here? These places are for folks who can’t think for themselves. You’ve proven that you can.”
“This is my home. My brother and I have lived here almost three years.”
He whistled lowly. “I’m surprised you could put up with this for that long.”
“This is my home.”
“So you said.”
Folding her hands on her lap, she said, “I assume you came here to find out about getting parts made for The Ohio Star.”
“That, and to make sure you were all right.”
“Our shop can make most parts.” It was easier to speak of work because then she could tear her gaze away from the silver fire in his eyes.
“For how much? You said Horace and I were fools to send to Louisville for parts for The Ohio Star when we could get them from River’s Haven for much less.”
“For less, yes. It’d depend on what you wanted and the shop’s schedule. You should speak with Mr. Dow. He’ll be able to tell you if he can do the work you need on your timetable.”
“I’d thought you’d make sure he did the work for me in lickety-split time.”
“So I
could be rid of you?” She laughed. “You seem to think that I have nothing but you on my mind.”
“Maybe because you’ve been clogging up my mind too much since you barged onto my steamboat.”
“You invited me on!”
“I should have known better.” His smile grew wider. “You’re a hard woman to get out of a man’s head, Rachel.”
She glanced toward the door to the Community Hall as she came to her feet. “You shouldn’t be speaking so here. Others might hear and get the wrong idea.”
“I don’t see any reason not to be honest here,” he said, standing. “This is your home. You’re honest on the boat that’s my home, so why shouldn’t I be honest in your home?”
“But you’re an outsider.”
“Thank goodness.” He went to the shelves and pulled down a pair of books. “Are all of these books about the tenets you follow here?”
“I’m not sure. I have my own books in my cottage.”
“I thought everyone in River’s Haven lived in this big mansion.”
“There isn’t room for all the residents until the new wing is finished. Kit—Katherine and I live in one of the cottages on the other side of the common area.”
“Are you going to let K. C. come into Haven to work with the other kids on the parade?”
“I told you that I’d have to obtain permission from the Assembly of Elders.”
“Have you asked them?”
“Not yet.”
“Why not?”
She frowned. “That’s none of your business, Wyatt.”
“Why not?”
“Because she isn’t your responsibility. She’s mine.”
“She isn’t a responsibility. She’s a little girl. Kids need some freedom, or they’ll find it on their own.”
“The voice of experience.”
He stepped closer to her. This time she did not back away, instead holding her ground so that he would see how seriously she took her obligations to Kitty Cat.
“On this, honey—”
“Don’t call me that.”
“I won’t if you’ll listen to me.”
She knew arguing was worthless, so she nodded.
“I do have experience in being a kid,” he said when she remained silent. “My family tried to tie me down too much, and I fought to escape in every way I could. I found my escape on the river. That’s fine for a boy, but you’ve got to make sure K. C. doesn’t try to copy me and Horace. The river’s no place for a girl unless she’s willing to lift her skirts for any man who has the money.”
“I’d never allow her to do that.”
“As long as she’ll heed you, but living in a place like this is sure to confuse her.” He fingered the hem of her skirt. “After all, no one would have to lift these skirts too far.”
Again sounds came from the Community Hall. Rachel knew she must put an end to this before anyone came close enough to eavesdrop. “I’ll check with Mr. Dow for you tomorrow. As soon as I have some information, I’ll send it to The Ohio Star. Good afternoon, Wyatt.”
“Wait!” he called as she turned to leave. He reached out and took her arm.
Rachel pulled back, but he refused to release her. “I must ask you to take your hand off me.” She would not let him compel her to forget her manners.
He drew her closer to the chair. His eyes sparked with irritation. “Not until you’re willing to act sensibly!”
“Me? I’m not the one who’s manhandling someone.”
“You couldn’t.”
“I assure you that I—”
“You aren’t a man.” His hand on her arm gentled. “A fact that I noticed right away.”
“I’m sure you did. Let me go!”
Wyatt smiled at Rachel’s command, but took her other arm. Standing face-to-face, he enjoyed a leisurely perusal of her. His first shock at her odd outfit had faded, and now he could admire how the mother-of-pearl buttons along the navy front accented her intriguing form. She did not need frills and jewelry.
But he needed to kiss her. Slowly he slid her hands up his chest while he drew her closer. Her eyes grew wide, then softened as her lips parted in an invitation he could not ignore, no matter how many members of this strange community were watching. With a groan that came from deep in his gut, he captured her mouth, feasting on every flavor it offered.
Her arms rose to his shoulders, and he pulled her tighter to him. When his lips traced a dazzling path along her neck, she trembled but pressed even nearer. Her ragged breath brushed his ear, and he was sure he had never wanted anything more than he wanted her at this moment. Guiding her mouth back to his, he tasted its sweetness with a hunger he was finding more and more difficult to govern. And why did he want to stifle this yearning for her? She was everything he should want in a woman—lusciously beautiful and sensual as well as tied to the shore as he was to his boat. She would not be begging to come and share his life on The Ohio Star.
All thoughts vanished from his head as he slowly glided his hands up her back, pressing her soft breasts against him. Then he let his fingers amble lower as he held her hips tight to his.
Suddenly she stiffened, and he heard what she had. Footsteps coming closer to this room. Blast! He had to get her away from this place where there were too many people. Maybe in her cottage while K. C. was busy elsewhere.
He smiled as he lifted his mouth from hers. Sending the kid into Haven to work on the decorations for Independence Day would be the very answer to two problems. He could have Rachel to himself away from the little girl and all the rest of the folks here.
A soft denial bubbled from her lips, and he looked down to see diffused pleasure in her eyes. She brushed hair back from his forehead with trembling fingers. He could not resist taking her hand and running his tongue across her palm and up her longest finger.
Wyatt was not surprised when Rachel pulled her hand away and walked across the room to put the books back on the shelves. Even though his pulse pounded through him with the fury of wind-driven rain against The Ohio Star’s bow, he had heard those footsteps coming directly toward the room.
“Miss Browning?” came a voice from the doorway. “Oh, I didn’t realize your guest was still here.”
He turned to see a woman, a pair of decades older than Rachel. She was dressed in a dark gray dress, and her face was blank of any emotion.
“I assume you are Mr. Colton,” she said.
“Yes, ma’am,” he replied with the courtesy he knew Rachel doubted he possessed. He glanced at Rachel, but she was looking at the older woman.
“I’m Miss Hanson, Miss Browning’s friend,” said the woman in the doorway. “I trust you’ll understand why it’s important that Miss Browning not receive an outsider alone.” She smiled at Rachel. “Mr. Atlee was sidetracked and failed to deliver the message to me that Mr. Colton was visiting.”
Rachel’s cheeks turned a charming pink. His hand tingled with the longing to touch that warm color, but he did not move.
“You may sit there, Mr. Colton.” Miss Hanson pointed to the sofa.
Wyatt made no attempt to hide his smile. Miss Hanson spoke even more bluntly than Rachel. If all the women in River’s Haven shared this trait, he could not figure out why the men had not fled in both directions along the river.
Miss Hanson smiled. “Miss Browning, you may sit there as well while Mr. Colton finishes up his call.”
Rachel sat at the opposite end of the sofa, as far from him as she could. A single glance in her direction told him that she was putting space between them because she did not trust herself to sit closer to him. He could not keep from imagining her in one of those small cottages, welcoming him into her bed as the sun burnished her bare skin that lovely pink.
“Mr. Colton,” said Miss Hanson as she sat in the chair that he had been using, “I assume you came here to allow Miss Browning to speak of her gratitude at your help when she hurt her leg.”
“She expressed her gratitude at the time,” he replied. “I’m
here to discuss business with her.”
“Business? What sort of business, Mr. Colton?”
Rachel hurried to answer before Wyatt could. If she let him take control of this conversation as she had let him take control of her senses, she was unsure what the result might be. “Mr. Colton and his partner are repairing a steamboat, and he’s seeking the services of our metal shop to replace some broken parts.”
“Ah, I see.” Miss Hanson’s smile returned. “River’s Haven is fortunate to have Miss Browning’s skills with business. She is, I believe, quite unique.”
Wyatt grinned. “I would—”
“Not so unique,” Rachel said, interrupting Wyatt before he could try to wheedle his way into Miss Hanson’s good graces. “Mrs. Sawyer runs the store in Haven. What she does isn’t so different from what I do.”
“That’s true,” he agreed, his amusement drifting up into his fascinating eyes.
“I’ll get the information you need from Mr. Dow and send it to you tomorrow.” Rachel stood.
“An approximate price is all I need.” Wyatt came to his feet, too.
His broad shoulders seemed to fill the room, and she went to a nearby table where paper and ink waited as she said, “All right. Give me a moment, and I’ll give you a good idea of what the cost will be.”
As she scribbled some figures on a piece of paper and double-checked them to make sure she was not in error, she heard Wyatt say, “It’s been a pleasure to meet you, Miss Hanson.”
“I may see you again when you come back here to work with the metal shop.” Miss Hanson glanced at Rachel before heaving herself to her feet. “I see Miss Stokes in the Community Hall. I must speak with her posthaste about an important matter. If you need me, Miss Browning, please call.”
Wyatt laughed quietly in Miss Hanson’s wake. “In other words, if I fail to be the gentleman, she will swoop down on me like an avenging hawk.”
Moonlight on Water Page 8
