Enticing the Weary Warrior

by Tammy Jo Burns

  “I dare because I’m your friend and I worry about you. You should have moved on, but instead you have allowed those horses of yours to take over your life. How many times have you raced the horses in Ireland?”

  Megan refused to answer.

  “How many times were you thrown or injured?”

  Megan remained silent once more.

  “One of these times, it is going to be your last. Is that what you want? To leave your family mourning you long before it’s your time? You need to behave like a woman and not some horse mad girl that has yet to grow up.”

  “Are you finished?”

  “Quite.”

  “Then I would appreciate it if you would leave me to dress.”

  * * *

  “Your sister is the most stubborn, aggravating person I’ve ever known,” Clarissa ranted as soon as she entered their bedroom. She expected to see Justin pacing angrily, but instead she heard a click behind her. Clarissa spun around and saw him lock the door, then lean against it. He crossed his legs at his ankles, his arms over his chest, and that boyish grin lit his face that still caused her stomach to flip. “What are you smiling about? Your sister is about to—”

  “Do exactly what I want her to.”

  “Pardon?”

  He pushed off the door and crossed the short distance to his wife. “They were both hiding from life and each other. I refuse to let them throw away what they might have. So, they will either rely on each other or they will part ways forever.”

  “Did you have something to do with Legend’s papers?”

  “No, that was just luck. I am going to send word that Liam cannot be allowed to back out regardless of whatever excuse my conniving little sister invents.”

  “But is that wise?”

  “Clare, they must work it out.”

  “Justin Southerby…”

  “Yes?”

  “You are evil, and I love you for it.”

  “I love you, too, my beautiful wife,” he said as he swept her into his arms.

  * * *

  Megan stomped down to where the stable hands slept and knocked. The door opened revealing a stable lad dressed in homespun.

  “Lady Dalmore, what can I do for you?” he asked after bowing respectfully.

  “Could you tell Hamrick I need to speak to him?”

  “Yes, my lady.”

  Megan paced as she waited for Hamrick to appear.

  “Lassie, is something wrong?”

  “Hamrick, my plans have changed. In the morning we begin the journey to Newmarket.”

  “Aye, lass. We’ll need to rent or borrow some hacks.”

  “I’ll ride Belle. I’m worried about Legend though.”

  “As long as we take our time getting there, he should be fine.”

  “Here,” she passed him some coins and bank notes. “Go to the village in the morning and get whatever you need. I want to be ready to leave as soon as possible.”

  “Yes, lass. Has something happened?”

  “Nothing for you to worry about. I’ll meet you in the stable in the morning.” They exchanged goodnights, and Megan walked to the women’s dormitory. She knocked on the door. Mother Davis quickly answered.

  “Is Lady Southerby needing my help again?”

  “No. I hoped I might sleep here tonight.” Megan tried to avoid the concerned look the other woman gave her. “It’ll only be for tonight.”

  “Of course,” she opened the door farther to allow Megan to enter. “Girls, Lady Dalmore will be staying the night with us.”

  At least a dozen pair of eyes turned to Megan. “This was a bad idea,” she said and backed towards the door.

  “Nonsense. You’ll stay right here,” the older woman said with a gentle smile.

  “Thank you, I truly appreciate it.”

  “You can use this bed, m’lady,” one of the girls indicated the empty one next to hers.

  “Thank you.” Megan dropped her bags and saddlebags on the floor and then collapsed heavily onto the mattress. She avoided making eye contact with the red-head that had eyes for Liam.

  “You look like you could talk to someone. My name’s Lily.”

  “Lily, have you ever felt like your life was falling apart?” Megan asked. She spent the rest of the night staring at the ceiling.

  * * *

  Megan crept out of the dormitory before the sun began to rise the next morning. She did not get any sleep during the night and was anxious to be on her way. She hoped it wouldn’t take Hamrick long to gather what they needed to travel. Megan walked into the stable and dropped her bags just inside the door before crossing to the horses. She wrapped her arms around first one, then the other, nuzzling them. A shuffling sound announced that she wasn’t alone and remembering the last time she had been here, she quickly looked for a weapon. Grabbing a nearby pitchfork, she spun around.

  “Do you plan on impaling me with that?” a familiar deep voice queried.

  “What’re you doing here?” she demanded.

  “Put that down first,” he ordered.

  Megan eyed him, then the pitchfork, then him again. She finally relented and placed it back where she got it. “Well?” Her fists were planted firmly on her hips.

  “Your brother and I have decided it would be best if I moved on from here.” Megan shocked him by laughing. “What do you find so funny?” he demanded.

  “Well, it seems as if you and I are in the same predicament.”

  “You’re leaving?”

  “Yes.”

  “And what’s your reasoning?”

  “A difference of opinion…with my brother.”

  “Hmmm. When are you leaving?”

  “As soon as Hamrick arrives.”

  “Where are you going?”

  “Newmarket, I suppose. There are many races held there before the major ones begin. I need to get Legend seen as much as possible.”

  “And winning as much as possible.”

  “Yes.”

  “I think I should accompany you.”

  “That’s not necessary. Hamrick and I will be just fine.”

  “Hamrick is eighty if he’s a day. Need I remind you what happened just a few days ago?”

  “Fine, you may accompany me to Newmarket, but once there, we part ways. Understood?”

  “Perfectly.” They worked silently saddling their horses. “You should have told me about the bairn.”

  “I’m not going to talking about that now.”

  “We have to at some point.”

  “Lass, I was able to rent myself a horse,” Hamrick announced as he entered the stable.

  “Good. Mr. McTavish will be accompanying us to Newmarket.”

  “I am much relieved of that, sir,” Hamrick addressed the other man. “I’ve been quite worried about traveling since the two of you came back.”

  “Well, since that’s settled, I suggest we leave,” Liam said.

  * * *

  The trio traveled slowly for Legend’s benefit causing them to have to stay overnight at an inn. Hamrick slept in the stable to keep an eye on the horses. They had garnered many looks on the road here, especially at Legend, and Megan feared someone would attempt to take off with him in the night. Thankfully, nothing happened and they reached Newmarket earlier than expected, without encountering any bloodthirsty highwaymen.

  “What now?” Liam asked.

  “I suppose we should find a place to stay.” Every inn they arrived at was already full and the clientele was a raucous and rowdy crew. “It seems as if fate is contriving to work against me,” she shrugged.

  “Let me see if I can do something,” Liam suggested.

  “You think a room is going to just magically open up? Well, good luck,” she offered before he disappeared into the last inn she had just moments before been told had no vacancy. A few moments later she watched as Liam emerged. “I told you so,” she said.

  “I wouldn’t gloat so fast if I were you,” he said. “Wait here.”

  Megan
watched him walk up the road. Her heart raced as she studied the way his trousers pulled taut over his buttocks with every step he took. She found places within her body stirring to life after five long years of lying dormant. No man other than Liam had ever sparked this feeling in her, despite her attempts to deny it.

  “You all right, lass?” Hamrick asked.

  “Of course.”

  “You look a bit flushed.”

  “You worry too much.”

  “I wonder if it could be a certain someone that has just recently come back into your life causing that reaction?”

  “Don’t be ridiculous,” Megan ordered. She straightened in the saddle when she saw Liam leave a building he had entered earlier, tossing something in the air repeatedly and whistling. Megan looked over his head to read the shingle gently swinging in the breeze. John Franks, Solicitor. “What is that?” she demanded as Liam approached her and Hamrick.

  “A key.”

  “To what?”

  “Our house.”

  “Our what?!”

  “Our house.”

  “Need I remind you that there is no ‘our’? There is you and me and that is all.”

  “I remember perfectly well, but I did some inquiring when I was making arrangements with the solicitor to rent this house for the racing season. It seems The Jockey Club is extremely serious about the owner being at every race. If not, the horse will be declared disqualified and ineligible to race in the big races you are so desperate to win.”

  “No,” Megan breathed out on a sigh.

  “Yes. It seems there has been some cheating in the past and this is their current answer to fixing that.”

  “No.” Megan shook her head as if denial would keep the inevitable at bay.

  “So, as your fiancée, it appears I’ll have to stay around and make appearances at all the races that Legend appears at.”

  “Where is this house?”

  “The solicitor drew me a map.”

  “I’ll repay you.”

  “Consider it a gift.”

  “I don’t need a gift from you. Now please, if you’ll lead on, I would like to get the horses settled.”

  “In a moment.” Liam left her once more and entered a storefront. He appeared quickly. “Now, we may go.”

  They had been traveling for almost a half hour and Megan was quite proud of herself for not asking every five minutes where this house was and when they would see it. But when another fifteen minutes passed with no sign of a house, she could no longer hold in her doubts. “I think perhaps you should get your money back from that solicitor.”

  “Patience,” was Liam’s only response. Five minutes and several turns later, Liam held out his arm and bowed as low as he could over his horse. “Lady Dalmore, may I present our humble living quarters?”

  Megan gently nudged Belle forward until she pulled even with Liam. The sight before her left her breathless. It was an old hunting lodge. In the background were stables and just beyond that someone had cleared the land enough that a practice track had been laid out.

  “I can’t believe I’m actually seeing this.”

  “Mr. Franks wanted me to choose from several properties that were closer to town and much grander, but none had a track.” Megan looked over at him and was at a loss for words. “You’ll not have to worry about taking care of the house, either. Franks had a list of people in the area looking for work. He is sending over several tomorrow for interviews, of which you will not be required to take part in at all. I will take care of everything. There are also several men looking to make their way in the racing world as jockeys. I asked him to send them in a couple of days to be interviewed by you and Hamrick. I knew you would want Legend to have time to rest after the journey here.”

  “Liam, I don’t know what to say.”

  “You don’t have to say anything. Let’s take a look about the place.” Hamrick and Megan were pleased with the stable and practice track. Though it wasn’t like what they’d left behind in Ireland, it had great potential. Liam took care of Draco and excused himself. He headed to the house and left Hamrick and Megan alone.

  “Hamrick, you’ve lived a long while and seen a great many things.”

  “Aye, that I have, lass.”

  “Did you ever want to do more than what you’ve done?”

  “Nay, lass, but I always had a fondness for the horses. Knew I’d work with ‘em ’til my dyin’ day, but my brother, oh, what a story there.”

  “Yes?”

  “He had the wanderin’ spirit. Took off when he was just a lad. Every few years, he’d find his way back home to share his tales. He made them sound like grand adventures, but one night I came upon him, and here was this huge, hulkin’ man, sobbin’ like a wee babe.”

  “Why?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “Didn’t you ask?”

  “No, lass. A man doesn’t like to show any weakness, and I respected that of him. He left the next day. We never saw him again.”

  “Did he die?”

  “I don’t know, lass. He near broke my mum’s heart. Every time the door opened, she’d get a hopeful look on her face, and just as quickly, she’d be crushed.” They worked in silence for a while, rubbing down the horses. “That last trip he came home, my brother had a haunted look about him, like he was living with ghosts. Your man has that same look.”

  “He’s not my man, Hamrick.”

  “Aye, lass.”

  Megan worked on Belle while she took in all that Hamrick had said. “You think Liam looks haunted?”

  “Aye, lass. In my experience, a man isn’t gone for five years without seeing things that will change him.”

  “I’m going to retire for the night.”

  “‘Night, lass.”

  “Goodnight.” Megan walked to the house, mulling over all that Hamrick had shared with her. Her heart had softened towards Liam when he had presented this house to her. She reached up with one hand and lightly touched her neck. She had kept it covered by a light muffler to hide the bruising.

  She entered the hunting lodge for the first time and the site that greeted her greatly pleased her. Every surface was deep, rich wood. There was no dainty furniture scattered about that one had to fear would break. This was a place to be lived in and enjoyed. She heard thumping upstairs and followed the sound. Megan walked down the hall and passed by an open door only to pause in shock at what she witnessed.

  “Why, Liam McTavish, I didn’t know you were so domesticated,” she teased. He was readying a bed for occupation.

  “There’s quite a bit I’ve learned over the years.”

  “Evidently. Here, let me help.”

  “Thank you,” he said, once they were finished. “Are the horses settled?”

  “Aye. Hamrick is staying in the stable master’s rooms.”

  “Oh.”

  “Is there something wrong with that?”

  “We will be alone.”

  “And we’re two adults. My word, I’m a widow. I think we can manage.” An awkward silence filled the room. “Is this my room or yours?” Megan finally asked.

  “Yours,” he said, his voice growing husky. “I… Sleep well…”

  Megan stopped him with a hand to his arm as he tried to pass her. “Thank you,” she said.

  “For?”

  “This,” she spread her other hand to encompass the property.

  “It was the least I could do.”

  “Thank you just the same,” she stood on tiptoes and pulled him down slightly so she could more easily brush a kiss across his lips. She took a step towards him to deepen the kiss. A moan registered in her hearing, but she wasn’t certain if it had come from herself or Liam. It must have been her, for his lips remained tightly pursed. Megan ran the tip of her tongue along the seam of his in an attempt to coax him to respond. Instead she felt two steel bands around her upper arms pushing her away from him.

  “Goodnight, Megan,” Liam said. He quickly left her room and shut the
door.

  Megan stood bereft. The Liam of old would have had her skirts up around her waist before she had known what happened. This Liam acted as if he didn’t want her to touch him. She crossed the room and collapsed on the bed, her body thrumming with unrequited passion.

  Chapter 10

  Liam spent hours tossing and turning before finally giving up. He threw on a pair of doeskin breeches and a shirt then made his way downstairs. He found a lamp, lit it, and held it up as he strolled through the lower portion of the house. His stomach growled as he entered the kitchen, but he knew there was nothing there to eat. All they would need should be delivered tomorrow with the servants interviewing for positions.

  He sat the lamp down and rummaged through cabinets until he found a kettle. He pulled out a small bundle from his pocket that contained coffee and went about building a fire. So lost was he in what he was doing, that he didn’t realize he was being watched until she spoke.

  “What’re you doing at this hour?” Megan asked, yawning.

  “I couldn’t sleep. Go back to bed.”

  “With all the racket you’re making? I doubt that’s possible.”

  He watched her cross the floor, her bare toes peeking from beneath her nightgown and robe. She sat on one of the benches at the table, pulled her feet up off the floor, and tucked the cloth about her. She rested her chin on her knees and wrapped her arms about her legs. Had she always been so tiny?

  “Then I’ll return to my room.”

  “Coward,” she taunted.

  Liam swung towards her, expecting to see her standing, ready for a fight, but there she was, still looking relaxed. “Pardon me?”

  “You heard me. You are playing the part of my fiancée. You can’t leave the room every time I enter it.”

  “I just have to attend the races.”

  “There are certain social obligations, even in the racing circles. There will be events we are expected to attend.”

  “I didn’t sign up for that,” Liam said.

  “Well, it’s too late now, isn’t it? Newmarket is the hub of racing in England. As soon as it gets out in town that we’ve moved to the area and have a horse to race, they are going to want to know all about us. And they will not approve of our living together in an unmarried state.”

  “I can’t marry you,” Liam said.