by Lori Wick
"They shouldn't be in there alone."-
"They
won't be, at least not for very long, but I'm sure you*ve j seen by now that Brandon's intentions toward Dinah are more than honorable."
Catherine, a good deal taller than her husband, suddenly leaned forward and kissed his balding head.,
"Don't try your wheedling ways with me, Cat," he chided, his | voice gruff.
Catherine's eyes became very wide. "But L.C.," she said, "they always work."
This brought a grudging smile to the old man's face, but before returning to his study he told his wife to keep an eye on that "young man."
linded in the least," he added softly.
Dinah couldn't stop the blush that spread on her face, but unlike [the first visit, she Jield his eyes lovingly with her own. ' Brandon stood suddenly and moved toward a window. Dinah}looked at his back in confusion.
"Brandon," she asked softly. "Is something wrong?" "No," he replied with his back to her. "It's just that I-" "What is it?" Dinah persisted when he hesitated. Brandon turned from the window and held her eyes from across the room. "I know it's too soon to kiss you," he said softly.
Dinah's gaze, already tender with love, softened yet again. She
stood and took a step toward him. Brandon, feeling like he had been
I granted his greatest wish, was moving to cover the distance between
them when the door opened. A servant was bringing tea, and
Catherine Hadley was just steps behind him.
Both Brandon and Dinah, from years of training, were able to cover the incident with case, and no one seemed the wiser as tea was served. But even at that, there were occasional lulls in the conversation when Dinah would not hear her stepmother's question because her eyes were locked with those of the man she loved.
"You look lovely today," Brandon uttered softly when the door shut.
"You said that last time you were here," Dinah teased. "And the time before that," Brandon teased right back. "Oh, now I know you're lying. I was terrified the first day you came.''
"I know." Brandon chuckled. "I had come over here to talk with you, but you looked like you would leap from your skin if I said a word, so I had to content myself with just watching you. Not that I
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$MU>~Qfw
jordan's heart thundered over sunny's nearness, but he worked at keeping his face an impassive mask. From where she stood directly in front of him, her head bent slightly, the feint fragrance of her hair intoxicated him. The desire to gently place his arms around her ran strong within him.
"There," Sunny stated with a triumphant smile and took a small step back. "That looks much better." She had been adjusting the neckline of his shirt and tie.
Jordan thanked her, his voice quiet with regret. Thankfully Sunny didn't notice. No other girl he knew would have stepped away from him so swiftly, but then there was no deceit in Sunny. She didn't feel romantic toward him, and she would never have flirted or pretended she did. Jordan was relieved to hear Holly calling them.
"We're all ready."
"Coming, Holly," Sunny called back, and tucked her hand in Jordan's arm. "I'm sorry you have to go back next week, but it's been a lovely summer, hasn't it?"
"Yes, it has." Jordan made a fast decision to not ruin these last days with sentimental dribble. "Fll miss you and your wild ideas."
Sunny laughed. "I'll miss you too, that is, until I get another wild idea, and then I'll enjoy the feet that you're not here to talk me out of it."
Jordan laughed with her as they rounded the house. The four of them-Sunny, Jordan, Miles, and Holly-were all headed to the
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Cradwells'. Miles had some papers to deliver, and Sunny thought they should make an outing of it. Holly was in her trap, the picnic basket neatly stowed behind her, and everyone else was on horseback. Because of Holly's buggy, they had a longer ride, so on the way home they would be stopping at the pond for lunch.
The young people made the journey in high spirits, and no one even noticed the warmth of the day. There was much laughter and talk, and before they knew it, they were riding into the stable area at
the Cradwells'.
Both Miles and Jordan went directly to the house to see the elder Cradwell, but Jeremy Cradwell, a cocky youth of 18 years, was just coming out of the stable, so Holly and Sunny lingered. They had talked for just a few minutes when a beautiful white horse galloped
through the paddock.
"Oh, my," Sunny exclaimed with admiration. "She's certainly a
beauty."
Jeremy's chest swelled as though he himself had given birth to
the fine animal.
"That she is," he said with pride. "You'll not find a fester animal in this part of the country. But then you wouldn't be used to seeing fine animals, not out of the Gallagher stables."
Holly felt Sunny stiffen beside her.
"You didn't really mean that, did you, Jeremy?" Holly asked hesitantly. Her eyes begged Jeremy to take back his careless insult, but the young man didn't notice.
"OhsI meant nothing personal in that," he went on expansively. "It's just that Rand is no horseman. His beasts are all right, I guess, but none are the caliber of Cradwell horses."
"Would you care to make a wager on that?" Sunny spoke with a calm that belied the feelings inside her.
"She didn't mean that," Holly cut in as she plucked at Sunny's arm and studied her calm features.
"I'm sure she didn't," Jeremy laughed. It was not a nice sound. "You'd think you were going to race me yourself, the way you talk." His smile had become patronizing, and Sunny's eyes narrowed into
purple flints.
"And what were you thinking of riding?" Jeremy went on, his voice scoffing. "Certainly not London Lady. She's a nice mount, but she's no racer."
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Jeremy turned then and really looked at Sunny, seeing for the first time that she was serious. She was watching him intently. Having been one of the many who had made advances toward her the first time he had seen her, only to be leveled by one of her looks, Jeremy didn't like her. The thought of putting her in her place did his heart a lot of good.
"So you'd like to race?" He was very serious now himself.
"Yes. Along the ridge in one hour's time."
"Why not now?"
"Because you're right; Lady is no racer."
"Done," Jeremy stated and held out his hand, not the least intimidated by any horse Sunny would bring from Willows* End.
Sunny shook his hand swiftly and moved into the stable. Within minutes she rode out again, this time at foil speed, and headed for Willows' End, all to the accompaniment of Holly begging her to reconsider. When Sunny was out of earshot Holly turned her pleas to Jeremy, but he had already turned toward the stables, and she knew he wouldn't have listened in any case.
"Well, Hawk," his sister greeted him kindly. "We haven't seen you in a few weeks. How are you?"
Brandon kissed Chelsea's cheek and walked into the parlor with his arm around her shoulders.
"I'm well, and I was hoping to see Sunny. Is she around?"
"No, she's on an outing with Miles, Holly, and Jordan Townsend. I think they'll be back soon after lunch. Why don't you stay?"
"An excellent idea," Rand called from the doorway, taking in Brandon's serious look and the papers in his hand. "I've some things I need to discuss with you before you take my little sister apart piece by piece, as I suspect you're here to do."
All three adults laughed, and within minutes Rand and Brandon were closeted in the study.
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some moments before she could make herself understood. Miles, thinking Jordan might have more pull where Sunny was concerned, asked him to ride ahead to the meeting place, so he could ride more slowly with his sister. As it was, all were there when Sunny came on the scene. Holly had to tell herself not to feint when she saw that her aunt was riding Jackson, her father's stallion.
"I don't want yo
u to do this," Jordan finally cut in through clenched teeth after everything else he had said had fallen on deaf ears. Jackson sidestepped toward him suddenly, and he had to move away. At the same time, he knew he had been wasting his breath.
"I'll be fine," Sunny assured him smoothly, and they all watched as she scooped her hair up and stuffed it under the cap she had grabbed out of the stables.
Jackson danced to the side once again, and even though Miles was so angry he was seeing red, he had to admit that she handled the mount with ease. Even at that there was no way he would let Sunny leave without having his say. Knowing that to forbid her was the worst thing he could do, he directed his words to Jeremy.
"I'm holding you responsible, Jeremy." Miles' voice was low. "If Sunny gets hurt, I'll give you a thrashing you'll never forget."
Jeremy, who had more brawn than brains, only grinned. "It was her idea, Miles. I'm not forcing her."
Miles opened his mouth, but Sunny cut in.
"Well, let's get on with it. We'll race around the trees, onto the ridge, back along the pasture, around the other trees, and right back to this spot. First one back wins."
"And what exactly is the wager?" Jeremy wantedtoknow.
"If I win, you'll never again open your big mouth against Gallagher horses."
"And if I win?"
"I'll tell everyone that the Cradwells have the finest horses hi the land."
"Done." Jeremy stuck his hand out and again they shook. Their three reluctant spectators refused to call the start, so Sunny let Jeremy do it. Within seconds they were off, leaving a cloud of dust behind them.
Holly had barely been able to speak by the time Miles and Jordan had come from the house. Jeremy had already left, and it was
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"What are you staring at?" Rand wanted to know, as Brandon stood at the study window that looked out over the ridge.
"Someone is racing along the ridge."
Rand joined him and spoke after a moment. "The white looks like it might be of the Cradwells' stables, and if it is, it's probably young Jeremy. He's got more nerve than sense."
"The other mount, the black, looks to be a fine piece of horseflesh too. But whoever those riders are, they're foolish to be running along the ridge."
The men watched until the riders, moving neck and neck, were out of sight. Neither one had a clue astowho they were. Had they been able to view the horses for a few more yards, they would have seen one rider's cap fell, a cloud of chestnut hair flying out behind her.
"You don't have to come back with us, Jordan; my father is not going to blame you."
"I realize that, but I just wish I'd done more to stop it-dragged her off the horse or something. For that I feel I should be there."
Miles nodded, and both young men looked behind them.
Sunny, triumphant and glowing after her victory, rode next to
Holly's trap, chatting along as though she hadn't a care in the world.
As they all arrived at the house and trooped into the parlor,
Sunny was a bit put out with her companions.
"You'd think someone had died the way you were acting," she commented just as they cleared the threshold of the room.
No one answered her, and Rand, Chelsea, and Brandon were glad to see them until they had a look at Sunny.
"Sunny." Chelsea was the first to comment, and did so with some concern. "What's happened to you?"
The younger girl was a mess. Her hair was in a riot around her face, and her riding habit was covered with dust. There was a smear of mud on her cheek, and sweat ran in a small trickle down her temple.
**I raced!" she answered Chelsea, her eyes sparkling with pleasure. "That idiot Cradwell said that nothing good ever came out of the Gallagher stables, so we had a wager."
Chelsea, who had done far worse in her day, and had not seen them on the ridge, leaned forward in her chair. She failed to notice
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that her brother was livid.
"Whom did you race? Jeremy?"
"Yes!"
"Did you win?"
A long-suffering look came over Sunny's face; Brandon clearly did not understand. "I had to uphold the honor of the Gallagher name. Jeremy said-"
"We saw you on the ridge," Rand put in quietly, looking and feeling quite pale now that he knew which horse he had seen and who had been riding it. "You were riding my horse without permission."
All amusement faded from Chelsea as she understood the severity of the circumstances. Barely holding himself in check, Brandon allowed Rand to handle the situation. After he had seen Sunny and realized who the rider of the black horse had been, Brandon's anger mingled with fear.
"You will not ride Lady or any other horse for a week, Sunny," Rand said quietly. "Now go and get cleaned up."
Sunny glared at her brother in fury. "You're only saying that because Brandon is here, and you know if you don't punish me, he'll have a proper fit. I was defending the Gallagher name, I tell you!"
"No name is worth your life," Rand continued with more calm than he felt. "And I dare say, if Brandon had his way, you'd lose riding privileges for a month and get a sound thrashing to boot."
Sunny's furious eyes swept the room until they rested momentarily on Brandon's own angry gaze. Her chin went into the air, and she left the room in a swirl of chestnut hair.
No one spoke for some minutes, but Miles turned to find Rand's eyes on him. The younger man's hands went into the air in a pleading move.
"Don't say it, Dad. You don't know Sunny at all if you think we could have stopped her. She was gone from the Cradwells' before we even came out of the house. I could have come for you, but it would have been over by the time we got back."
"Where was Hank Cradwell?" Brandon wanted to know.
Jordan spoke this time. "He's very much like his son; he would have thought it a good joke."
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They quieted again, and everyone became aware of Holly's muffled sobs. "I tried to stop her," she cried, "but she wouldn't listen.1was so scared. All I could do was pray."
Rand sat down next to his daughter and put a loving arm around her. "You're not responsible for Sonny's actions, and she's all right, so don't cry anymore. I'm going to talk with her later and see if I can get through to her."
The young people went their separate ways then, and Rand gave his wife a loving, if not reproving, look, his hand reaching to stroke her cheek before he walked her to the door. She wanted to check on Sunny.
Brandon spent some time wondering how he would be able to talk with Sunny about her finances without mentioning the race.
sunny sat opposite rand's desk and stared at the back of the paper in Brandon's hand. It was one of her expense sheets. Brandon had brought the last several months' reports with him, but he had asked for her new one, and now he was studying it and leaving her to sit.
"If you're going to take this long," she finally spoke impatiently, "I'll go and come back."
"Stay where you are, Sunny." The paper never moved, and the voice behind it was maddeningly calm.
Sunny, who had finally settled down after the incident in the parlor, began to boil all over again. She had really thought Brandon would be far too busy to spend time on her finances, but here he was, poring over her records as though he hadn't a care in the world.
Brandon needs a family of his own.Sunny concluded silently.A wife and at least four kids, maybe six. Then he wouldn't have time to nose into my affairs. After all, the money is mine. What does he care what I spend? Tes indeed, marriage would be perfect. Tou need a wife, Brandon.
The paper dipped slightly; Brandon's dark eyes met Sunny's over the top.
"Sunny?" Brandon's brows had lifted, and his voice was soft- too soft. Sunny realized she had uttered the last sentence aloud. "Would you mind repeating that?"
"I'd rather not."
The paper was laid on the desk. "I'd rather you did."
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Sunny sighed and saw no hope for it. "I was just thinking that if you had a wife, you wouldn't have time to bother me about my money."
Brandon tried not to laugh at the comical look on her face. To Sunny's annoyance, he raised the paper again as though she hadn't spoken. With ill-concealed impatience, she shifted around in her chair and waited once again. She had decided to leave without permission when the paper lowered for the last time.
"What is this entry for riding boots? It must be an error. Twenty-three pounds? How many pair did you buy?" "Just one," Sunny said with a shrug. "I thought you were never going to many?" Sunny blinked at him in confusion. "I'm not." "Well, the way you're going through money, you'll be broke in five years and in desperate need of a rich husband to support you."
It wasn't quite as bad as all that, but Brandon did not know how to get through to her.
"You're just saying that," Sunny accused, but her voice was uncertain.
Brandon stared at her young face, and when he spoke, his voice held all the love he felt for her. "You're right; I am. But your spending is rather excessive, and I'm worried about you."
Sunny's heart would have needed to be made of marble not to respond to the love his eyes displayed. She nodded reluctantly and gave him a small smile. He joined her on the far side of the desk then, and they looked over her spending together. He pointed out some areas where she needed to show a good deal more discretion, and when Sunny had questions, he answered them with just the right words to help her understand.
When the business was settled, Sunny thanked him graciously and they moved to the davenport to talk about the family and the London social season. It felt like old times.
Holly's "coming out" the following spring was the central topic, and Sunny was quite excited about all that would go on. Brandon allowed his head to fall against the back of the davenport, his long legs stretched before him as he spoke.
"It's hard to believe how old you and Holly are now. She's the first of the granddaughters to come out. It's at times like these when I really miss my grandfather." Brandon, his eyes on the ceiling, did not see Sunny's body stiffen.
