Mystic Mountains

by Tricia McGill

  "Of course. Selena has always been well known for helping people in need of a roof and a meal," Tiger said with harsh sarcasm.

  "Darling, do I detect a note of peevishness in your tone?" Selena retorted.

  Isabella turned on her heel. "I don't have to listen to this."

  "Quite right, you don't," Fergus agreed. "We were just heading off, Selena. The wench and I are tired of dancing. We have more important games to play." He waved as he began to saunter after Isabella.

  Tiger grasped the raised arm, dragging him to an abrupt halt. Fergus gasped and stared down at the hand securing him.

  "The wench, as you put it, is heading nowhere with you," Tiger said. "You seem to be hard of hearing, Brunt. She belongs to me. I own her. Do you understand: she's serving her sentence out with me. I have official papers stating I have her services until at least 1825. She ran away from me, and our dear Selena here took it on herself to convince her to follow the same downward path she treads." Tiger's teeth gritted as he outstared the smaller man.

  "Don't adopt that condescending tone, Tiger Carstairs," Selena crowed. "You were more than happy to share my bed before your insipid Irish wench took your fancy. I don't know what you did to her but she was more than happy to come under my wing."

  "I'll wager she was." Tiger swore as he wagged a finger under her nose. "You planned it well I'll give you credit for that."

  "Why, thank you. I must admit I am quite proud of myself." Selena preened. "The chit fell into my hands."

  "Fell into your hands?" Gareth interrupted, his cheeks matching his red hair. "Selena, that's hardly fair. The poor woman was nearly killed by the horse." He turned to tell Tiger, "She was injured, you see. I took her to Selena's as it was near the spot where she fell. Isabella decided to stay of her own free will, old fellow. No one coerced her. The way I saw it she was better off there than working the wharf area, which is what she would have ended up doing if Selena hadn't taken her in."

  "Yes, Selena has a big heart." Tiger sneered. He still gripped Fergus's arm—tightening his hold when Fergus tried to free himself.

  Fergus sighed, then ran his free hand down his perspiring face. "Look, this may be of great importance to you, but I've spent good money on the wench. When you've all finished wrangling I'd like it to be known that the chit is warming my bed this night."

  "I'll unhand you, but you'll not lay another finger on the woman in question. Not as long as I have breath in my body."

  "In that case I'll have to knock all the breath out of your body, won't I?" Before Fergus could raise a hand Tiger's fist knocked him to the floor.

  "Unfortunately Selena will have to reimburse you, old fellow. Isabella goes with me." Tiger pointed a finger at Selena and she took a step back. "Try another trick like that, and you'll be up before the magistrate."

  Tiger turned to stare at a portly man who stood watching the proceedings with interest a few paces away. He had snickered as Fergus hit the floor.

  "Well, well, the wench certainly is a magnet for trouble," he remarked in a cynical drawl.

  "What business have you with her?" Tiger felt anger spiraling in him. Here was another who would feel the touch of a fist if he besmirched Bella's name. Even though it was the truth; trouble drew her like a flame enticed a moth.

  "The wench and I have unfinished business. I've travelled half the world to seek revenge." He jerked a misshapen thumb in front of Tiger's face, and Tiger knew in an instant this was the man who'd instigated her downfall. Damned if he wasn't sorry she hadn't unmanned the cur as she'd intended.

  "A word of warning to you all." Tiger pointed a finger at each of them. "Isabella O'Shea is bound to me for the term of her sentence. I own every hair on her head and every part of her. Any man touches her only after passing me; and I'm a formidable barrier."

  Selena tittered. "She ran away from you, Tiger Carstairs, and doubtless will again. Would you watch over her every minute of every day? Seems to me you'd do well to let her go; she likes the life of a paramour, was born to it, it seems. Why not admit defeat and allow her to follow her own path?"

  "I repeat, madam, Bella is mine to do with as I please. Stay away from her. All of you."

  Tiger strode off, ignoring Selena's blasphemies, and the abuse Brunt hurled at his back.

  Chapter Twenty

  Tiger stormed through Prince's house, ignoring the calls of people he passed.

  "Paul, the young lady who came with Selena Drake, have you seen her?" he asked a man who leaned indolently on the doorjamb, surveying the room with a bored air.

  "Ah, you mean the delightful wench who arrived on lucky Fergus's arm, eh?" Paul's air of boredom vanished, his eyes taking on a gleam of interest. "The lady in question left in a mighty hurry a while ago. I asked if I could be of any assistance. Her reply wasn't meant for my dainty ears." He guffawed as Tiger charged past him.

  Tiger scanned the garden, but Isabella was nowhere in sight. He cursed; she could be anywhere by now. A group of carriage-drivers sat beside one of their vehicles. "Did a young lady with dark red hair and a gown of ivory silk ask one of you to take her anywhere?" he asked them. "Is Miss Drake's driver among you?" he demanded when they looked at him vacantly.

  "Aye, I dropped Miss Drake and the two Lieutenants off, sir. The wench who came with them just ran off that way." The man pointed down the driveway.

  "Thank you."

  "I told 'er to come back, sir. It ain't no place for a lady to be wandering about at night all alone, I told 'er, but she took no notice of me," the man shouted, but Tiger was already on his way to saddle Satan.

  He set the stallion straight into a canter. He hadn't gone far when he saw a flash of silver some distance ahead. Slowing Satan, he looked left and right, but there was no one in sight. "I know you're there, Bella, so you may as well show yourself," he shouted, standing in the stirrups and peering at the trees along the side of the path. "There's snakes in there, and spiders that'll kill you. Better to come out and face me than them."

  "I'd as soon face a snake as you!"

  Tiger grinned humorlessly, patting Satan's neck. "At least come out and explain why you ran away from me. You owe me that much."

  "I owe you nothing."

  Tiger moved Satan stealthily towards the sound of her voice. "You think not? I treated you well, Bella. Never made you think you were a servant. Wasn't that enough?"

  "Enough?" she snorted. "You treated me like a whore, Tiger Carstairs. Now, leave me alone, will you?"

  "Never. Now, get out here and come home," he ordered, by now behind her. A twig cracked beneath Satan's hoof, and she turned, a hand to her mouth, then began to run.

  "Stop," Tiger shouted, but she raced headlong into the night. "Christ, let's get her, boy." He dug his heels into the horse's sides and Satan followed the track she'd taken. When he drew alongside her she swerved and headed off in another direction, the branches catching at her skirt and hair. By the time Tiger was close enough to lean down and catch her about the waist her hair was streaming about her shoulders.

  "Let me go," she yelled, thumping at his thigh, the only place she could reach as he hauled her up and in front of him on the saddle. "I don't want to go anywhere with you. I hate you."

  "Hate all you like. But you'll come back where you belong. If you had any idea of the pain and anguish you've brought on those who care for you you'd die of shame." He urged Satan into a slow canter and held her secured about the waist, pinned against his chest.

  "I'm sorry for hurting Dougal and Thelma, but it couldn't be helped."

  "Dougal and Thelma, eh?" Tiger growled. "What about me?"

  "You? Are you saying you cared for me? You care more for Satan here than for any woman."

  "Don't go too far," he snarled. "God, but you would try the patience of a saint." But even as he said the words he could sympathize with her. He pulled Satan back into a trot. "Look, about that night, Bella, I should explain…"

  "What night would that be?" She glared at him over her sh
oulder. "I recollect no night any more spectacular than the others in my life. If you're worried about any silly romantic words I may have uttered, why, they were just words I thought you wished to hear. Now, would you turn Satan about and take me to Selena's house please. I am happy living with her."

  "Like hell I will. I'll see you sent to the penitentiary first. You belong with me, Bella, and there you'll stay. Don't fret; your term will be up sooner than you think, then you'll be your own woman and free to whore for the whole of the King's regiment if you so desire. Until then, you stay under my roof. Is that clear?"

  She remained silent. Tiger had no idea what went on in her mind. God, had he ever had any idea how the minds of women worked? She felt so soft and feminine in his arms, and she smelt like a posy of spring flowers. Against his will his body reacted. She shifted forward as far as he would allow, her whole body stiffening.

  "You're a very lovely women, especially now you've learnt how to bring out all your finer points with dear Selena's help," he said. "Can you blame me for desiring you?"

  Her only response was a snort.

  They rode in uncomfortable silence for a while, then he said, "So, your tormentor has followed you here."

  Her shoulders lifted in a shrug. "'Tis no matter. It appears all men see me as a whore. I would have been better by far if I'd given him his way and become his harlot in England, then at least I would have been spared the humiliation of being labeled Tiger Carstairs' property. Or perhaps I should have hacked his cock off as I intended and met the hangman's noose."

  The desolation in her voice touched Tiger somewhere deep inside. Dear Lord, if only he could turn back time. But would he have done things differently? 'Twas doubtful. He was no different from the other besotted fools.

  When they reached the garden gate in front of his house, Tiger leant closer and said in her ear, "Run away again, Bella, and I'll bring you back and put ankle chains on you, is that clear? I have the right, you know." He lied; he would no more shackle her than he would cut his own throat, but he must threaten her in some way to keep her here. "Do you give me your word that you'll stay put now?"

  "My word?" she scoffed, sliding down Satan's side and stepping back when Tiger reached down to touch her. "Would you believe my word? The promise of a slattern and a whore?"

  "Bella." He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "Just get along inside. Here's Thelma, she'll be glad to see you. And look now, Dougal has been roused from his sleep."

  "Bella, is that you?" Dougal was struggling into his shirt as he came from the back of the house. "Well, bless me, what a sight for sore eyes. We thought you dead." He came at a run, almost throwing himself at her. But at the last minute he pulled up, staring at her as if he expected her to disappear at any moment.

  "Aye, 'tis her," Tiger said, taking her arm and pushing her before him as he handed Dougal the reins. "Put Satan away for me, Dougal, then you can ask her all the questions you like."

  Isabella smiled at Dougal, then shrugged out of Tiger's hold to walk straight backed towards the verandah, where Thelma waited to greet her.

  * * *

  Isabella put the bucket down and slumped beneath an apple tree. The sun was poking its head up over the horizon, promising another hot March day. One year since they'd arrived. It didn't seem possible. How the time had flown, and how much had happened.

  She gave a huge sigh, breathing in the scented air, but the nausea returned and she dropped to her knees at the base of the tree. Her stomach gave up her breakfast. Wiping a hand across her brow she shuddered. What was she to do now? He would surely throw her out when he found out, send her to the female factory. What would Tiger want with her baby? He didn't desire her for a wife so he would want her child even less.

  "Bella, how do you feel?" Dougal asked, and she quickly wiped her face on her apron and put a false smile on her face as she turned and went to sit beneath another tree. He sat beside her, staring at his dusty boots.

  "Oh, I'm fine Dougal. Why do you ask?" She tugged her skirt over her knees as she pulled them up in front of her.

  "I saw you bringing up your food. 'Tis useless to try and hide the truth. Everyone knows you're with child. Thelma's just waiting for you to tell her so she can shower you with attention." He toyed with a blade of grass.

  "Everyone knows?" Isabella pressed her face onto her knees, groaning softly.

  "Well, all except Tiger." Dougal snorted. "He just thinks you still have the sulks. What are you going to do?"

  "Do? There's not much I can do, is there?" She shrugged, feeling more desolate than when she'd run away. "I'll likely get tossed out on my ear. He won't want a baby."

  "He'll not throw you out, silly. He was as pleased as me to see you back. Well, maybe not quite as pleased." He smiled and took her hand in his, gently squeezing her fingers.

  Isabella wondered for the umpteenth time why she couldn't love him as something more than a friend. "Oh, Dougal," she sighed. "What did I do to deserve such a friend?"

  "Is that all I'll ever be to you, Bella?"

  She heard the yearning in his voice and wished with all her heart she could be all he wanted.

  "Oh, Dougal." She reached out and stroked his cheek. His skin quivered beneath her fingers.

  "It's Tiger's baby, isn't it?"

  The question was asked so low she barely caught it.

  "Of course. But he'll not accept it as his. We both know that. He doesn't want anything to do with a convict. He's got his sights set higher." Isabella wiped her knuckle across her mouth.

  "I'll marry you, Bella. I know you don't love me as I love you, but the feelings I have for you will do for both of us. I'll love the baby as my own because it's a part of you. If you say you intend to marry me he won't put any bars on us and you'll have someone to care for you and the child. We can stay here together where we're both welcome, then when your time is served we'll apply for a tract of land. I'll have a bit saved by then. Just think, Bella, we'll have our own place. Something we never dreamed of when we set foot on this land. What do you say? Make me the happiest man alive and I'll do my best to make a good life for you." Uncertainty and hope mingled in his eyes.

  Dear Dougal, what could she say? "Can I think about your offer for a bit, Dougal?" she asked tentatively.

  And meanwhile she could tell Tiger she was expecting his child. Surely he would not be able to spurn his own flesh and blood. He'd ask her to marry him and forget all his notions of wanting a wife from the gentry. No man could turn his back on his own baby.

  "Right." She saw Dougal's disappointment as he stood up and touched the top of her head. "I'll give you 'til the morrow. But Bella, 'tis really the only sensible way to go."

  Sensible? She felt as if she'd never been sensible in her life. As he walked off she watched his broad back. Of course she was chasing dreams. Tiger would no doubt disown his child the same way he'd denied her his love. The man had a lump of clay for a heart. He'd barely spoken to her since he'd dragged her back. Often she caught his eyes on her with lust clearly written in their depths. Well, perhaps desire would be enough; perhaps he could learn to love her in time.

  Standing, she brushed at her skirt and picked up the bucket. Slowly making her way across the orchard she shielded her eyes from the brightness of the sun. Dougal and Gillie were striding off to tend the flock on the river flats. Taking a deep breath she headed for the kitchen where she guessed Tiger would also be preparing to leave. She'd heard him telling Gillie he was heading to the wharf where a new shipment of grain, tea, coffee, tools and other necessities was being unloaded.

  "How long have you known?" she heard him ask Thelma as she stood by the open door.

  Thelma turned to smile at Isabella as she answered, "A week or so."

  They both watched her as Isabella crossed the room and began to pick up the bundle of linen due for a scrubbing. They appeared to be waiting for her to say something. "What?" she was forced to ask when the silence grew uncomfortable.

  "I hear you'r
e with child," Tiger said, and Isabella winced at the anger that stiffened his voice.

  "You knew." She bit her lip as she faced Thelma.

  "I had a good idea. I was hoping you'd come to me when you were sure. You are sure, aren't you?" Thelma wiped her hands on her apron and came to put a hand on Isabella's arm.

  "Yes, I'm sure. I've missed three monthly cycles. So, I'd say that's about as sure as I can get." She heard the note of bitterness in her voice. Tiger had gone very still.

  "Three months, you say?"

  There was a slight turn to his lip Isabella couldn't quite make out. Surely he wasn't angry with her? "Aye. 'Tis all your doing. Is it perhaps you disclaim your own child." With head held high she faced him, her shaking fingers hidden beneath the linen.

  "My own. . .?" Uncertainty flickered across his gold flecked eyes, quickly replaced by scorn. "Come now, do you take me for a fool? It could be the spawn of any number of men. How many bedded you in the time you were at Selena's? Ten? Or was Fergus the first? Will you let him know he's to be a father?"

  "Tiger." Thelma looked at him as if she'd never seen him before.

  "'Tis yours," Isabella stated simply. She felt the color leave her cheeks. "I lay with no other man, not Fergus, nor anyone. The night you brought me back was to be my coming out, so to speak. Selena put a lot of time and effort into turning me into a . . . well, we all know what she turned me into. But on my word, I have never been with any man but you. And that English pig who violated me."

  "Your word?" Biting out a rough curse he turned away, thumping his fist into his palm. "You expect me to believe you? I'd have to be out of my mind."

  "Tiger, if Bella says it's so, then it's so. Can't you see the truth?" Thelma turned appealing eyes on him.

  "It's a trick, Thelma." His eyes narrowed as he looked from one to the other of them. "The wench thinks to trap me into marrying her by claiming I sired her brat. Well, let me tell you, the sun will drop from the sky before I'd do that."