Savage Spring

by Constance O'Banyon

  “Nonsense! The girl in that portrait is far more beautiful than I,” she said, smiling.

  “Will he come, do…you think?” Howard’s eyes kept going to the door, as if he were expecting someone.

  “Will who come?” Alexandria asked.

  “Still you play your…little game, Alexandria. I know Tag will come. Come hell…or high water, he’ll be…here.”

  Alexandria looked at the clock on the bedside table and saw it was nearing the seventh hour. In a panic, she realized that Falcon would be here at any moment. She decided she would meet him in the hallway and prevent him from coming into the room.

  “Why don’t you rest now? You have had a very tiring day, Mr. Landon,” she urged.

  “I can…rest later. For the first…time in a long while, I feel…alive!”

  Alexandria picked up the tray and started for the door. When she had almost reached it, the door was opened and she stood face-to-face with Falcon. His eyes bored into hers, and she found herself wanting to look away. She had to prevent him from seeing Mr. Landon!

  “You must leave immediately,” she said lowering her voice. “Mr. Landon knows who you are! Go quickly, before it’s too late!” she whispered hurriedly.

  “I will not leave, Alexandria, Alex, or whatever you are now calling yourself. I have come to see Howard Landon, and I will see him!” Tag demanded in a cold voice, before he brushed past her and entered the bedroom.

  Alexandria felt her face flush with shame as she realized that Falcon knew how she had tricked him. She pushed her shame to the back of her mind as she rushed after him. She placed the tray down on a chair and watched Falcon move across the room.

  Alexandria found when she reached Mr. Landon’s bedside that her legs were trembling. She couldn’t understand what was going on. If Mr. Landon was the monster Falcon claimed he was, wouldn’t he have prepared some sort of trap for him? Wouldn’t he have alerted Claudia that Falcon’s true identity was Taggart James?

  She watched Falcon’s face and knew he was angrier than she had ever seen him. By now she had worked herself into a frenzy. What should she do? She shivered when his cold, ice-blue eyes rested on her face. Alexandria felt such overwhelming shame that she couldn’t bring herself to look into his eyes any longer.

  Folding her hands together, she clutched them tightly. She lowered her eyes, remembering how shamelessly she had gone to Falcon at night, pretending to be Xandria. She hoped that Falcon wouldn’t realize she had not only pretended to be the boy, Alex, but Xandria, as well. Please let him think Xandria is my sister, she prayed silently, remembering she had once told him that Xandria was her sister.

  Tag looked past Alexandria and walked to the bed where his Uncle Howard lay. He noticed that the old man’s eyes were closed and he appeared to be sleeping. Tag looked at the frail hands that rested on the outside of the covers, remembering a time when there was strength in those hands. His eyes moved up to Howard Landon’s face, remembering when his uncle had been cruel and unfeeling to Joanna and himself. He reminded himself that he had every reason to hate this man, but now he could only find it within himself to feel pity for him.

  Howard’s eyes opened slowly, and he stared at Tag. His eyes locked with violet-blue eyes that were the same shade as Joanna’s.

  “So, the…boy has become a…man,” Howard said in a raspy voice.

  “You know who I am,” Tag stated flatly.

  “Yes, I…always knew…you would come back. I have looked forward…to this…day.”

  Tag was having difficulty understanding his uncle, so he motioned for Alexandria to translate for him, since she had seemed to be able to comprehend what he had said earlier in the garden.

  “I came back to kill you, but I see you are worse than dead,” Tag said, as his eyes blazed with anger.

  Howard started babbling rapidly, and Alexandria had to translate for Tag.

  “Mr. Landon says he wishes you would kill him.”

  Tag’s piercing eyes locked with the old man’s. “Why shouldn’t I kill you? You are responsible for the death of my wife, Morning Song.”

  Again Howard spoke, and Alexandria translated. “He says he doesn’t know what you are talking about. He didn’t even know you were married.”

  “Like hell he didn’t! It seems he and Claudia were aware of everything Joanna and I were doing.” He stepped closer to the bed, and Alexandria could see the muscles in his neck standing out. “I could understand if you wanted to kill me, Uncle Howard—but why Morning Song? She had never harmed anyone. The two men you sent to kill me shot her instead. Did you know before she died she gave birth to my daughter?”

  Alexandria saw Tag clench his fists and felt tears in her eyes. Dear God! she thought, Tag had every right to hate Mr. Landon. She felt sorrow in her heart that his life had been touched by so much tragedy.

  Howard seemed to be struggling to sit up, and he was jabbering so fast Alexandria had to ask him to slow down so she could understand him. When he regained his composure, she turned to Tag. “Mr. Landon said that he never sent anyone to kill you. This is the first he’s heard of it!”

  Tag bent over and grabbed Howard by the shirtfront. “You lie! I overheard the men talking, and they said…Claudia sent them! I have learned that you had my father killed, also. Just try and deny that!”

  Alexandria pried Tag’s hands loose and pushed him away. “Can you not see that he is an old man? I don’t think he would conspire with his wife for any reason. They hate each other! If this thing was done, you are accusing the wrong person. I believe Mr. Landon.”

  Tag’s eyes went back to Howard. “Tell her, Uncle. You didn’t even know Claudia when my father was killed.” He turned to Alexandria. “My father had been in Oregon country and was recuperating from a broken back. I was told by a very reliable source that he lay helpless while someone smothered him with a pillow! Ask my uncle if he knows anything about that?”

  As Howard answered, tears ran freely down his face. He seemed so excited that Alexandria feared he would have another attack. As she listened carefully to his words, she was horrified by his confession.

  “He…he says it’s true that he sent a man to Oregon to kill your father. He…even confesses he shoved your Aunt Margaret down the stairs, but he had nothing to do with your wife’s death.” Alexandria tried to keep the horror from her voice. She couldn’t associate this tired, sick old man who had been so kind to her with the unbelievable deeds to which he had just confessed.

  “Is there any reason I shouldn’t kill you?” Tag said in a deadly calm voice.

  By now, tears were streaming down Alexandria’s cheeks. “He…says he wishes you would end his life, since he is living in hell.”

  Tag walked over to the window and threw the curtain aside. “This was once my mother and father’s bedroom. I cannot rest easy knowing the man who killed my father and took all that belongs to me and Joanna lives in this house.” He turned to face his uncle once more. “I want you and Claudia out of this house! If you are innocent of killing Morning Song, then the blame rests on Claudia’s shoulders. I will see her punished for the deed. The day will come when she will beg for mercy.” Tag’s threat hung heavy in the silence until Howard started speaking.

  “Mr. Landon says he wants nothing more than to see Claudia pay for what she has done. He wants me to warn you that she is very dangerous. Right now, she doesn’t know who you are, but the moment she finds out, you will be in danger.”

  “Does he intend to tell her about me?”

  “No, he says he will not betray you to her. He says to remind you that Claudia wouldn’t suffer under the law for having an Indian killed. If she is to be punished, it will have to come from you.”

  Tag walked slowly back to the bed and stared down at the frail old man. For some reason, he believed him. “You have my word that Claudia will suffer before I’m through with her, but, so help me God, I’ll bring you down with her! You have much to answer for yourself. While the law won’t touch Claudia fo
r having Morning Song killed, they sure as hell will hang you for having my father killed. Joanna and I will not be at peace until you are both dead!”

  Alexandria shivered. She had never seen a man so eaten up with hatred and revenge. This wasn’t the Falcon Knight she knew. This was a man who was dangerous and would sweep anyone out of his path to get what he wanted. She knew he had every right to hate Mr. Landon and his wife, but she shuddered inwardly, thinking how cold and unfeeling he was at the moment.

  Howard started babbling again, and Alexandria had to ask him to repeat what he had said before she could tell Tag. “Mr. Landon asked if you would tell him about Joanna,” she said at last.

  Tag’s eyes went to the portrait over the mantel, and he smiled. “You obsession for my sister was your downfall, Uncle. I wonder what she would do if she could see you now? I believe she would spit in your face!”

  Howard seemed to wince visibly as Tag continued. “Joanna, as you know, is married to Windhawk, chief of the Blood Blackfoot. She has two children, a son and a daughter, and is extremely happy. I don’t believe she will ever want to return to Philadelphia, even after I have settled with you and Claudia.”

  The old man closed his eyes, and Alexandria looked at Tag pleadingly. “He is exhausted, Falcon—please allow him to rest now.”

  Tag looked into her eyes. “Before long he will have a long, peaceful rest.”

  Alexandria wanted to plead with him to rid himself of his bitterness. “You could go to the authorities and let justice be served, Falcon. Don’t take this into your own hands!”

  “You heard my uncle. The authorities will not care that Claudia paid two men to slay an Indian. I will see that she suffers before I’m through.” Tag looked down at Howard Landon, who was now sleeping. “As for him, I believe he is already paying. I couldn’t have come up with anything that would have been more appropriate. It must be pure hell being bedridden and having Claudia for his wife.”

  “I never knew anyone could hate so deeply, Falcon. I find I don’t know you at all.”

  He glanced at her, and she saw unleashed anger in his eyes. “I’m not sure I know you, either,” he said sarcastically. “Who am I addressing…Alex, Alexandria, or Xandria?” He clamped his mouth together tightly and took her by the wrist, pulling her into the outer room. He tightened his grip and stared into her golden eyes.

  “I think I much prefer you as Xandria. You did give me some degree of pleasure as her.”

  Alexandria tried to spin away from him as his insult struck home. Was she to be spared no shame? Falcon had guessed that she was also Xandria! “Let me go!” she demanded, raising her head and looking into his eyes daringly.

  “What did you do, Alexandria, go over to my enemy? Did you tell my uncle about me?”

  “No! No, I would never do such a thing!” She knew it would be useless to tell him that she had taken this position in hopes of helping him. “You are the one who betrayed me, Falcon. I learned from Farley that you went to see my stepmother behind my back.”

  He smiled without humor. “Ah, yes, I see. It might interest you to learn that I went to see your stepmother, but I didn’t betray you, Alexandria. I wanted to find out if your stepbrother was dead. You might be interested to learn that he is very much alive!”

  “I…he is?”

  “Yes, very much so. I also learned that the authorities are still searching for you. I would take care not to be recognized, if I were you,” he said, releasing her hand and walking to the door.

  Alexandria watched him leave, feeling somehow abandoned. She wanted to rush after him and pour out the love she felt for him, but she dared not. Falcon was so eaten up with hatred and bitterness that he had no love to give anyone, except his dead wife and his sister, Joanna. Alexandria buried her face in her hands and cried out her misery. The way Falcon was acting must mean that he had added her to his list of enemies. She should have known he wouldn’t betray her to Barbara. She knew that she should feel grateful that Rodney was still alive, but at the moment Alexandria was too miserable to feel anything but pain.

  Alexandria dried her eyes and walked out of the room and down the hallway. Today had been the most emotionally draining day she had ever lived through. She was finding out that it was very painful loving a man who didn’t love her in return. She realized that she had half hoped Falcon would insist that she leave with him, but he hadn’t.

  Alexandria walked down the backstairs and out into the garden. As she breathed in the sweet fragrance of the roses, which were in full bloom, she tried to visualize Falcon as a young boy running and playing in this lovely garden. It was hard to think of him as other than the angry man she had encountered today.

  Tonight he had made it plain he didn’t want anything more to do with her. She looked up at the night skies and wished she could bring Falcon comfort in his torment. She could see no easy way for him to reclaim his inheritance, unless he allowed Mr. Landon to help him. But Falcon wanted more than his inheritance back—he wanted revenge!

  Chapter Twenty-three

  As the days passed, Alexandria’s life settled into a routine. Each day she would have Barlow carry Mr. Landon downstairs so she could wheel him into the garden. The two of them hadn’t discussed Falcon’s visit, but Alexandria could see a change in Mr. Landon. He seemed to grow weaker with each passing day; however, she could sense that a feeling of peace seemed to have settled over him. Once in a while, she would see a smile playing on his lips, and she knew he was pleased about something. It was as if he were waiting with impatience for something to happen.

  Alexandria was sure that Mr. Landon had said nothing to his wife about what had occurred between him and Falcon. On one occasion, Claudia had summoned Alexandria to her bedroom and had grilled her about the meeting. Claudia had wanted to know what Mr. Landon and Falcon had talked about, and how long Falcon had remained in her husband’s bedroom. Alexandria had told Claudia very little, which didn’t seem to please her in the least.

  Alexandria could feel Claudia’s animosity toward her, but it didn’t bother her overmuch. She herself had no love for the woman who had committed such unspeakable deeds. It was hard for her to conceive anyone’s deliberately setting out to harm another human being, much less trying to have someone killed. Alexandria’s apprehension came from the fear that Claudia might find out Falcon’s true identity.

  There was to be a masquerade ball, which Alexandria knew Falcon would be attending. She could see that Claudia was attracted to him, and she was finding she felt bitterly jealous toward the older woman. It was common knowledge in the household that Claudia had plans for Falcon Knight. The servants were gossiping among themselves and even laying bets that the mistress of the house would lure the handsome young man into her bedroom before the night was over.

  Alexandria rapped softly on Mr. Landon’s bedroom door, wondering why he had sent for her during his nap period. The door was immediately opened by Barlow, who nodded for her to enter.

  When she approached the bed, she saw that Mr. Landon was propped up on several pillows and there was a glowing smile on his face.

  “I feared you might be ill when you sent for me. Are you feeling all right, Mr. Landon?”

  “Never…better,” he said, with a surprising amount of volume. “I have…a surprise…for you. Look in those…boxes that are stacked on the…chair,” he told her.

  “What is in them?” she asked curiously.

  “Now, you will…just have…to open them to find out, won’t you?” he beamed.

  Alexandria lifted the lid to the first box and caught her breath as she gazed at the lovely gown she found inside. As she lifted it from the box and held it in front of her, she found it was made of a soft white gauzelike material. There was a golden clip at one shoulder, and a shimmering gold belt. She turned to face Mr. Landon with a question in her eyes.

  “Who…what…?”

  “I had…it made for you…so you could attend the masked ball tonight. I took…the liberty…of having Bar
low take one of your gowns…and a pair of your shoes…to the seamstress for sizing. Don’t you…recognize the style? You will be going to the masked ball…as an Egyptian…princess.”

  “Oh, no, Mr. Landon, I could never attend the ball! As a servant, I haven’t been invited.”

  “I won’t take…no for an answer. Since I can’t go…myself, you will attend for me…and tell me all about it…tomorrow,” he replied, watching her golden eyes light up wistfully.

  “It wouldn’t be at all seemly for me to attend the ball. Besides I don’t think Mrs. Landon would approve.”

  “No one will know…who you are. You are young, and I…want to see you…have a good…time. Would you…disappoint an old…man?”

  “No, of course not, but…”

  “I will hear…no more…about this. Take those…boxes to your room. The only thing I…ask of you…is that you come back here before you go to…the ball. I want to see…how you look in all your…finery.”

  Alexandria felt misty-eyed. “I don’t know what to say, Mr. Landon. You are much too kind to me.” She clutched the filmy gown to her. “Thank you, thank you so much!”

  “I don’t want your…thanks, Alexandria. Just go and enjoy yourself…tonight. That will be my…thanks.”

  Howard’s eyes went to the portrait, and Alexandria knew he was thinking about the beautiful Joanna once more. As always, when he stared at the portrait, he shut everything else out of his mind. Alexandria gathered up the boxes and left the room quietly. Her heart was stirring with excitement. She had never owned such a beautiful gown. She wanted with all her heart to go to the ball. Just this once, she wanted Falcon to see her in a lovely gown.

  It was well after sundown, and already Alexandria could hear the music drifting up the stairs, and she knew the ball was in progress. Viewing herself in the cracked mirror that hung on the wall, she was unable to see below her waist. The soft material draped across one shoulder and molded her young body. There were tiny golden sandals on her feet, and a black wig topped her head encircled with a blue-and-gold-colored double serpent’s crown.