Wild Lord Taggart

by Tammy Jo Burns

  “What in bloody hell are you doing here?” he demanded.

  “I followed you.”

  “You were asleep.”

  “I am a light sleeper.” She picked her way down the cliff face. She sat close to him but was careful not to touch him. They sat in silence for a long time, each lost in their own thoughts. Finally, Circe was the first to speak. “Do you hate me, Reese?”

  “No.”

  “Are you certain? Because it felt like it tonight. Tonight felt nothing like friendship. I could return to England and pretend this never happened. I could try to find a husband there or become a governess or something like that.”

  “You could forget me that easily?”

  “Hardly,” she said, “but I do not want you to come to hate me, especially when I—”

  “What?”

  She took a deep breath then let it out. If she told him how she felt this would be the point of no return. She would have no upper hand. Her heart would be laid bare before him for him to easily crush.

  “Well? You what?”

  “I love you, Reese.”

  “What?!” he asked dumbfounded. He looked at her and studied her face in the moonlight. Tears shimmered in her eyes, but he watched her quickly swipe them away.

  “I know,” she gave a despairing chuckle. “We have known each other a short time, but there it is. Is four months a short time? It has felt like a lifetime to me. It has felt like I have known you my entire life. That there has not been a time that I did not know you.”

  “I…I…”

  “I know, I am babbling again. You do not have to say anything back. In fact, I am really not expecting it,” she said. They sat in the quiet night, the sound of the waves washing over the beach soothing them. “Reese, I wish you were more confident about yourself than you are.”

  “I am,” he sat up proudly.

  “No, you are not,” she responded sadly. “You are only confident that you can charm women. Did you know that from the first time I saw you on the ship, assisting the sailors, I was impressed at how well you adapted to what was going on around you? You were eager to learn and help.”

  “And then I got knocked on the head.”

  Circe ignored him and continued, “Now look at you on this plantation. You are doing everything in your power to make it a success, trying to learn everything about it. I believe you can do anything you wish to do. No matter what it is. The only person blocking your path, whatever it may be, is you.”

  Reese said nothing.

  “I was attracted to you on the ship. In fact, I have fought my attraction to you from the moment I knew who you were, standing in that rowboat. I thought I did not want to become involved with a man so embroiled in scandal. I thought I was looking for someone who could give me a staid, boring life filled with children. I thought my husband was going to be a means to an end. You were the opposite of everything I was searching for. I saw you as a man that was off limits to me. You were scandalous and did not want to settle down. Marriage and children were not in your future. We should have had nothing in common, yet somehow I found you so easy to talk to. Then when we arrived here, and I discovered this was your beach, I came here, not only because it soothed me, but also in hopes of finding you. I missed our talks.”

  “You avoided me on the ship.”

  “Because I thought you were all wrong for me. Reese, I believe in you. If you want to stay here and work this plantation, then we will stay here. If you want to return to England and find a position as a professor or tutor, we will do that. If you think you want to do something else, whatever it may be, I will be with you the entire time.”

  “Because we exchanged vows.”

  “Because I love you, and I believe in you. I have realized something very important about myself since marrying you.”

  “What is that?”

  “Everyone keeps telling me I am more like my mother than I believe I am, but I have discovered I am also a lot like my father.”

  “How’s that?”

  “If you had not offered me marriage and there had not been a way to book passage on the ship, I would have lived with you in sin just to be with you.”

  “But you wanted marriage.”

  “I did and do, but remember, my parents raised me to be a free thinker. If that was the only way I could have been with you, I would have done it. Just the same is if I thought you had an idea that was completely foolish, I would not hesitate to tell you. It is because I love you that I will go where you go, and I will support you in anything you do, regardless of if we ever have children or not.”

  “Do,” he paused to clear his voice. “Do you mean that?”

  “Yes. I always thought my life would only be complete if I had a husband and children, but I find that is no longer true. My life is complete because you are in it.”

  He breathed out a sigh of relief.

  “Reese, are you frightened of becoming a father?”

  “More than you know,” he muttered.

  “Then why all that talk the first night we made love about how beautiful you thought my body was, and how it would do all the things you said for our future children?”

  “I said it because I meant it at the time, but…”

  “But?”

  “But I’ve had time to think about it.”

  “You do not like my body?” she asked sounding truly wounded.

  “No, I adore your body. I’m not sure how to think of myself as a father. If I would be a good one. If I could be one they respect.”

  “You are wonderful with Tally.”

  “I don’t want my children knowing about my reputation. I don’t want them to be tainted by my past,” he blurted.

  “Oh, Reese, look at my past. Do you think they are not going to realize their grandparents are not married? I have lived that life. It is hard, but I think I turned out all right.”

  “More than all right,” he muttered.

  “Thank you.”

  “Circe, you are unique, from your name to the person you are. I lived down to my reputation where you overcame yours.”

  “I ran from mine, to a place I hoped would have no knowledge of who I was, or who my parents were. I was so incredibly wrong. In fact, some might consider it a waste, except…”

  “Except what?”

  “Except that I found you. Reese, if we are blessed to have children, we will be there to make certain they are raised to overcome society’s prejudices.”

  “I apologize for being an arse earlier. I’m worried about the plantation and well, everything. I took it out on you, and I shouldn’t have done that.”

  “When you are worried, I want you to come to me, to talk to me. We are in this together.”

  “You aren’t like most wives that I know.”

  “I will take that as a compliment.” She rested her head on her up drawn knees and gave him a lopsided smile.

  “What are we going to do if I can’t make this plantation successful? I don’t just have myself to think about any longer. I have you now, and perhaps someday, a child or children. If this fails, I won’t be able to just take off and do whatever I wish.”

  “You absolutely can, as long as you take me, and our hypothetical children, with you. We will not be left behind, you know. I am afraid you are stuck with us for the rest of your life, like it or not.” Circe sat there and watched Reese process all she had said. She knew that he realized she meant their relationship to be permanent when he let out a breath he seemed to have been holding, letting his head drop as he exhaled.

  “Come here,” he said, holding his hand out to her. Her hand felt warm when she placed it in his. He was awed that she trusted and supported him so readily. It was something he never thought would happen to him. He helped her to sit between his legs and lean back against his chest. He watched her turn her head to look up at him. He bent down and captured her mouth. They shared a brief, but poignant kiss before she fully relaxed against him. After a while, Reese could feel her
chest and abdomen rising slow and steady beneath his hands and arms, indicating she had fallen asleep.

  His chest felt tight with…what? He had never felt what he was feeling for any woman. He felt overwhelmed with emotions he was afraid to put a name to. His arms tightened slightly around her, holding onto her as if she would slip away from him. How did she know she loved him already? Already? You’ve known her for months now, he chastised himself. But how does she know it’s love and not lust? That question caused his stomach to churn nauseatingly. He rested his cheek on top of her head and closed his eyes, allowing the peace of holding her in his arms lull him to sleep.

  * * *

  Circe blinked awake as she felt the morning sun rising. Her back and bottom ached. She tried to shift to stretch her sore and aching muscles, but she was still being held tightly in her husband’s arms. A smile played along her lips. She knew the talk they had had was much needed, and even though he did not tell her he loved her, she was content in their relationship. She had meant every word she had told him. She would follow him wherever he went and despite the fact that she desperately wanted a child, his child, she knew she would be happy with him if a child never came along.

  Her eyes studied the beach and she saw some things that must have washed up on the shore. She could not make out what they were from this distance.

  “Reese,” she said.

  “Hmmm?”

  “Reese, the sun has risen. We should return home.”

  “First, a kiss,” he said.

  She turned sideways so that her head was pillowed in the crook of his arm. He kissed her with a raw passion and hunger she had not felt before. Where the last few nights he had been aloof, this morning he was beyond passionate. Circe draped her arm over his shoulder and kissed him back with equal intensity. When they finally pulled away from one another, they were both breathless.

  “You truly are beautiful,” Reese said. “If we do have children, I hope they look like you.”

  “Oh, Reese.” She wrapped her arms around him tightly and kissed him hungrily. “Do you think we could make it back home before Sean and Ruth wake up?” she winked at him after she asked the question.

  “I don’t think it’ll matter much either way,” Reese murmured against her lips.

  “Before we go, I want to see what those things are that washed up on the beach.” She got to her feet and started picking her way down the still wet rocks.

  “Be careful,” Reese called out after her. “I imagine they’re just some sort of seaweed that has balled up.”

  “I am sure you are right,” she readily agreed. Feeling much more lighthearted than she had last night when she followed him down here, she practically skipped to the three objects lying on the sand. What she saw had her screaming in horror. She fell to her knees, clawing at the sand. She did not see Reese scramble down the rocks and race towards her, nor did she hear him call her name. All she could do now was mumble, “No,” over and over and continue to dig and scrape away the sand.

  “Circe, what… Oh, my God,” Reese said, shaken to his soul by what he saw. It had been a long time since he had been in church, but he crossed himself and sent up a quick prayer as he dropped to his knees. He pulled Circe into his arms and away from the ghastly sight. She fought to get free of him.

  “Help me, Reese! We have to save them!”

  “Circe, stop! It’s too late! Sweetheart, stop, now! It’s too late! They’re gone,” he whispered in her ear. In her fear and anguish, her strength tripled and Reese feared he would hurt her pulling her away from the macabre sight.

  “No!” she sobbed against his chest, gripping fistfuls of his shirt.

  Reese held her face against him and rocked her as the bloated faces of three drowned women, one old and two young, stared back at him.

  Chapter 24

  Somehow Reese managed to guide Circe up the path along the cliff face, but once they reached the road and after several faltered steps, he swung her up into his arms and carried her the rest of the way to the house. Unable to open the door, he kicked it until O’Connor opened it for him.

  “We were wonderin’ where the two of you’d gotten off to.”

  “Send some men to the beach with shovels. They’ll need to take the supply wagon with them to retrieve three bodies. I hope to God there are bodies,” Reese muttered the last part under his breath. He winced when he heard Circe whimper.

  “Bodies? What happened?”

  “I need to get Circe settled first. Can Ruth heat some water?”

  “I’ll ask her.”

  “Thank you.” Reese carried his wife to their bedchamber. Every time he tried to put her in a chair, she clung to him, refusing to let go. In the end, he sat in the chair with her in his lap.

  “My fault,” she kept murmuring against his neck, tears soaking his shirt. She shook uncontrollably in his arms.

  He rubbed her back soothingly and whispered softly in her ear, trying to calm her like he would a wild and frightened horse. Sean carried in a large, round tub they used for washing and Ruth followed behind with two buckets of water. She dumped the water into the tub and shared a worried look with Reese before rushing back out after Sean. Tally had slipped into the room at some point and haltingly approached the couple.

  “Weese, why’s Sissy cwying?” she asked.

  “She’s scared, princess.”

  “Oh.” Tally moved closer and gently patted her leg. “It’ll be all wight,” the little girl said. “Weese’ll take care of you. He wuvs you, and so do I.” She laid her head on Circe’s lap.

  Reese found his heart clenching at the little girl’s words. She was right, he would take care of Circe, and he would protect her, even if it meant laying down his life for her, but he couldn’t get the image of those three women out of his mind. An overwhelming fear washed through him that something was going to go terribly and inexplicably wrong, and he would lose Circe forever. Despite the fact that he didn’t know yet if he loved her, he knew he wanted her in his life. He knew she was his best friend.

  When Ruth entered the room again, this time carrying two buckets of water, she saw Tally and went to shoo her out of the room, but stopped when Reese halted her. “Leave her for now,” Reese said. “She’s helping.” Ruth nodded and dumped the buckets into the tub. A short time later, Sean arrived with more buckets. The third time Ruth entered, both buckets had steam rising from them. She dumped them into the tub and tested the water.

  “Go ahead and get her in there. I’ll bring some warm water that she can rinse with. Tally, it’s time to come with me.”

  The little girl seemed to know this was not the time to argue with her mother. “Wuv you, Sissy,” the little girl said as she patted Circe’s legs once more.

  “Love…love you, too, ba…baby.”

  Content with Circe’s response, Tally skipped out of the room.

  “Call out if ye need help,” Ruth said before pulling the door closed.

  “Sweetheart, let’s get you warm and clean. Can you stand up for me?” When she did not respond, he stood and put her on her feet. When she started to sway, he guided her to the wall and allowed her to lean against it. He started undoing the buttons of her dress, but this time it wasn’t because he wanted to seduce her and make love to her, it was because he wanted to take care of her. He wanted to make certain she was all right. He wanted to erase what she had seen from her mind. Once all of her clothes and boots had been removed, he swung her up into his arms once more and carried her to the tub. He lowered her into the water. She sat, her arms encircling her raised knees with her cheek resting on them.

  There was a light tap at the door before Ruth entered carrying two more buckets. “These are still a little hot. Let them cool before you use them, and here’s this.” She reached into a pocket on her apron and pulled out a vial.

  “What is it?”

  “Some oil that might help her relax.”

  “I’ll try anything at this point. Ruth I’m worried about her.”
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  “She’s had a shock. She’ll be all right.”

  “I hope so.”

  “I’ll leave her in your care,” Ruth said closing the door behind her as she left the room.

  Reese opened the vial and a heady aroma assailed him. It is rather calming, he thought as he poured a little in his hands. He rubbed his hands together, got down on his knees, and gently kneaded her shoulders. He could feel the knotted muscles beneath her skin, and the tenseness in her neck.

  “I killed them,” she said softly.

  “What?” he asked, his hands stopping.

  “I killed them.”

  “You didn’t kill them.”

  “I did. Molly helped me escape. Granny Mabel was my friend and Bree was her granddaughter. It is Dorothea’s way of getting back at me. She goes after those I care about. Even you believe she killed Uncle Robert.”

  “I could be wrong.”

  “No, she is evil. I have to leave. I do not know if I would survive if anything happened to you or the O’Connor’s.”

  “Nothing is going to happen to any of us and you’re not going anywhere.”

  “She will go after one of you next,” Circe prophesied, “just like she went after them.”

  “Those women weren’t killed because of you.”

  “Why did we find them on your beach?”

  “I don’t know, but it wasn’t because of you.”

  “I am sorry, but I do not believe that.”

  Deep down, Reese didn’t either.

  * * *

  After Reese helped Circe climb into bed after her bath, he left the door cracked open and joined Ruth and O’Connor in the kitchen. Tally sat quietly playing with her baby brother on a nest of blankets spread out on the kitchen floor. Reese knelt down next to her.

  “Hey, princess, would you go watch over Circe for me?”

  “Uh, huh,” she nodded excitedly, jumped up, and ran to the couple’s bedroom. “I’m goin’ ta take care of ya,” Tally announced loudly.

  The adults heard a muffled response. There was a pregnant pause before O’Connor asked, “What’s going on Reese?”