Blood Blade Sisters Series (49 page)

Finn stood. “I’ll go and fetch some.”

Lucy grabbed his hand before he could leave. “Wait. Don’t go just yet.”

All playfulness had left her voice, leaving her sounding young and scared.

“I won’t be gone long, I promise. But we need to get something on that hand.”

“I know.”

But she didn’t let go. Her thumb rubbed across his knuckles in slow, even strokes and a kick of heat hit him in the lower gut.

“Lucy…”

“Don’t go, Finn. Please. Stay with me.”

Finn hesitated. He knew it wasn’t a good idea. Even after the night they’d been through, all he could think about was that they were alone, in her bedroom. And he wanted to do much more than comfort her.

But one look in those deep brown eyes of hers and he was lost. He took the bowl of water away, soaked a cloth, and gently wrapped her hand and then settled back beside her with a sigh, putting his arm about her. She snuggled into his chest, hanging onto his shirt with her good hand as though she were afraid if she didn’t keep a good grip on him, he’d flee.

“They’re going to keep coming back, aren’t they?” she asked.

Finn’s arm tightened about her. “Yes. I think they will.”

“It’s all so senseless! What harm is there in educating them? It’s not hurting anyone. It’s not changing anything that hasn’t already been changed.”

Finn wrapped his arms around Lucy and pulled her back into his embrace, rocking her, stroking her hair. “I know, love. I know. I’ve watched it since before the war. And it hasn’t changed much since then. I think it will be a very long time before things do change.”

He kissed the top of her head, her forehead, tilted her head up and kissed her nose. “But it’s people like you that will help make that change happen. Good, kind, strong people who are willing to stand up for what’s right.”

“It doesn’t feel like enough.”

Finn kissed her gently, his heart swelling with pride for the amazing woman he held. “You amaze me, do you know that?”

He kissed her again, his lips lingering longer. The tension slowly melted out of Lucy and her lips opened beneath his. Finn groaned, his tongue plunging into the heat of her mouth, his hand slipping into her hair. Lucy wrapped her arm around his shoulders. She slipped farther down the pillows, pulling him with her until he leaned over her.

He knew he should stop this. Letting this get out of hand would only hurt Lucy more, and he’d vowed to keep that from happening.

Lucy’s tongue darted out and met his. Her hand fisted in his shirt and she pulled him closer with a little sigh.

That sound was his undoing. Finn stretched out beside her, nudging his leg between hers so he could lay half on top of her. Lucy was busy trying to unbutton his shirt with one good hand while he was equally busy trying to unbutton the high-necked collar of her bodice. Their breathing echoed in the quiet room and Finn’s heart pounded so fiercely he thought it might burst.

He dragged his lips away from hers so he could taste her throat, his lips trailing to the small bit of flesh he’d exposed.

A knock at the front door paralyzed him. Finn and Lucy stared at one another for a second and then there was another knock.

They sat up, hurriedly putting each other to rights. Finn slid off the bed and went to see who it was.

“Miz Lucy?” He could hear Lilah calling through the door. “Miz Lucy, you there?”

Finn opened the door.

Lilah stared up at him, her mouth hanging open. “Oh. Mr. Taggart. I…I didn’t expect to see you…”

“Lucy is in the back. She’s injured her hand and is resting.”

Lilah’s mouth snapped shut, her eyes flashing fury. “I heard that ruckus, all them boys leaving. Hoped nothin’ had happened, that they were just out pitchin’ a fit like usual. I checked the schoolhouse. You all did a good job cleaning up whatever happened, but it’s clear something went on there tonight. Is Miz Lucy okay?”

“Yes, come on in. She’s burned her hand, but it isn’t too bad. It could use some salve though.”

Lilah smiled and patted the basket hanging on her arm. “I thought I’d best bring this along just in case. I know Miz Lucy ain’t got much here and I thought if anythin’ had happened, she might be needin’ a bit of something.”

Finn smiled at the woman, pleased that Lucy had someone like Lilah looking after her.

“Just go on back. I know she’ll be glad to see you.”

“Ain’t you coming?”

“No, I…I better be going. If you could make my excuses…”

“Nuh-uh, no sir. I’ve got enough excuses of my own. If you goin’ to be slippin’ out the back door like a thief in the night, you can just go along and make your own excuses.”

Lilah stared him down, her hands on her hips, until Finn smiled. “You’re right, of course. I’ll just go, uh, make those excuses then.”

“That’s more like it,” Lilah said, planting herself on the sofa. “I’ll just wait here ’til you’re done.”

“That’s not necessary…”

But Lilah just waved him off. “Go on now.”

Finn chuckled and went back into the bedroom.

Lucy was up, tidying her hair. “Was that Lilah I heard?”

“Yes,” Finn said, standing in the doorway. He was afraid if he got too close, he’d throw her on the bed and finish what they had started, Lilah or no Lilah. And he was running out of excuses to keep from doing just that.

Lucy smiled at him and his heart kicked up a few beats. Oh yes. He’d just have to work harder to get out from under Halford’s thumb. Because staying away from Lucy was becoming intolerable.

“I must go,” he told her.

Lucy came closer, wrapped her arms about his waist, and rose up on tiptoe to kiss him. He hesitated only a second before leaning down to meet her lips. The sweet taste of her on his tongue nearly drove him to folly. He wanted nothing more than to crush her to him, mark her as his in every way possible. Instead, he gently eased from her embrace and stepped away.

“I won’t be able to come to the school for a few days. Halford has me playing errand boy again. Can you stay out of trouble for that long?”

Lucy snorted. “I’ll do what I can, but I’m not making any promises.”

Finn forced a laugh though he found it far from funny. “Well, I suppose that will have to do.”

He gave her a little bow and turned to go.

“Finn.”

He looked back at her.

“You stay out of trouble, too.”

He thought about making a funny quip, but her face was deadly serious.

He nodded. “I will. I’ll see you soon, Lucy.”

“Until then.”

She gave him a small smile and he turned and left her standing alone.

Chapter Eleven

Lucy’s hope that the persecution would stop grew over the next two weeks. There hadn’t been another incident since the night of the firebomb. Perhaps the miscreants had finally realized that she wasn’t going anywhere and had given up. A small thread of worry always stayed with her, but as each day passed peacefully, Lucy began to think the struggle might be over.

A far greater worry in her mind was Finn. She hadn’t seen him since that night. Lilah had brought word from the hotel that he hadn’t been back, so he must still be on whatever mission Philip had sent him on, and the thought of what he might be doing frightened her.

She and Lilah were nearly finished straightening the schoolhouse for the night, but Lucy had no desire to go back to her little cottage all alone. If she had to spend one more evening with nothing to do but worry about Finn, she’d go mad.

“Well, looks like we’re about finished here,” she said, sounding more disappointed that their work was done than she should be.

“My sister’s got a big pot of fish stew boilin’, if you’d care to join us for supper. I know it’s probably nothin’ like what you’re used to but you’re welcome to it.”

Lucy smiled, gratitude at the woman’s kindness and intuition flowing through her. “I’ve fought off coyotes for a pail of burned beans. Believe me, I’m used to some pretty awful things.”

Lilah’s mouth dropped open and Lucy laughed. “Oh, Lilah dear, I could tell you some stories. I wasn’t always as fortunate as I am now.”

“I’d like to hear some of those stories,” Lilah said, grinning at her.

“Well, I’d be honored to join you for supper. And perhaps afterward, I’ll regale you with the sordid tales of my past.”

The women walked out the door laughing, Lucy’s heart lighter than it had been since Finn left.

They spent a very pleasant evening with Lilah’s family. Lucy’s belly was pleasantly stuffed with the most delicious stew she’d ever eaten and she was lounging lazily by the fire in their small house when Isaiah bounced over to her.

“Miz Lucy, tell us a story!”

“Yes. Maybe one of them sordid tales you mentioned,” Lilah said, smiling.

Lucy laughed. “Hmm, well let’s see.” She racked her brain for something she could tell them that would be appropriate for children’s ears. She had had quite a few adventures in her bandit days. Perhaps she should just tell them the beginning.

“Once upon a time,” she said, giving Lilah a little wink, “there were three sisters who lived in a beautiful place called California. They lived on a ranch with their mother and father who loved them very much. Sadly, their parents died. But they weren’t all alone. They had two very loyal servants named Carmen and Miguel who stayed to help the sisters.

“But their half brother was the sheriff of their small town, and he was an evil, greedy man. He wanted to take the ranch from the sisters because he thought there was a gold mine on the property. He also loved power, and he ran the town with an iron fist. The sheriff terrorized the townspeople and taxed them beyond their endurance.”

“Oh no,” Joshua gasped. “What did the sisters do?”

Isaiah shushed him and Lucy smiled. “The sisters were very young. But knew they had to do something to protect their ranch, and their town, from the evil sheriff. So the middle sister, Cilla, came up with a plan. They would just have to steal back all the money that the evil sheriff had taken from the people. They would have to disguise their identities. So they started a story about a bandit named Blood Blade, who roamed the trails raiding unsuspecting stagecoaches and travelers. But the bandits never harmed the innocent townspeople. They only stole from the evil sheriff and his henchmen. And everything they took, they gave back to the townspeople. They helped them with food and supplies also, leaving gifts for the people who were in need of help.”

“Did they ever get caught?” Joshua asked.

“One of the sisters was caught once, but the others were able to free her. And after years of fighting the evil sheriff, they finally defeated him for good and found a good man to be the new sheriff.”

“Did they all live happily ever after?”

Lucy’s smile faded a bit. “Almost. Two of the bandit sisters got their happily ever afters. One is still searching for hers.”

“Will she get it?” Isaiah asked.

“I hope so,” Lucy said, forcing her smile back. She glanced at Lilah, only to find the other woman staring out the window.

“What is it, Lilah?”

Lilah started and looked at Lucy. “Oh, prob’ly nothing. I just thought…” She glanced at the children.

“Never mind for now. You two,” she said to the kids, “off to bed with you. Tell Miz Lucy thank you for the story.”

The boys jumped up, gave Lucy hugs along with their thanks, and scampered off to bed. Lucy went to join Lilah by the window.

“What is it?” she asked again.

“Look at the sky.” Lilah pointed west, up the lane a bit where the schoolhouse and Lucy’s cottage sat. The sun had set and the sky was dark, but there seemed to be a faint glow still. Lilah pushed the window open and the evening breeze brought the distinct smell of smoke.

“The school!” Lucy tore from the house, running toward the schoolhouse, Lilah close on her heels.

They closer they got to the school, the brighter the glow became. The stench of smoke grew thicker and Lucy ran harder, her heart in her throat. She already knew what she’d find when they rounded the bend onto her property. But she held out hope until the last second that she’d be wrong.

Lucy skidded to a halt in the school courtyard. Because what she saw was far worse than anything she’d imagined. The school itself was fine. It sat in its clearing, untouched. But in the small courtyard in front of it stood a cross, the flames that engulfed it throwing menacing shadows on the whitewashed walls of the school…and on the semicircle of white linen clad men.

There were ten of them, seated on their horses, their faces completely covered by white hoods, with nothing but two eyeholes cut into them. The horses pawed the ground, snorting their dislike at being so close to the burning cross. Lucy didn’t blame them. The sight sickened her. Her head swam with the force of the hate she felt for the cowards before her. The so-called men who were so terrified of change that they had to terrorize two unprotected women.

“Who are you?” Lucy called out, reaching an arm out to keep Lilah behind her. She began edging toward the school’s door.

“They’re Klan,” Lilah whispered, the terror in her voice igniting a deep burning fury in Lucy’s gut.

“Who are you?” she asked again, almost screaming the words. “You have no right to be here. This is
my
property and I’m telling you all to leave. Now!”

“It’s you who have no right to be here, you damn Yankee bitch,” one of the men said, though Lucy had no idea which.

“This is my property,” Lucy said again. “You are trespassing.”

“They won’t listen,” Lilah whispered, tugging on Lucy’s arm. They were close to the schoolhouse door now.

“What you are doing here is an abomination,” shouted another man.

They’d reached the bottom step that led into the school. The horses were tossing their heads, shifting and pawing at the dirt, picking up on their riders growing agitation.

“You’re a traitor to your own kind!” yelled another.

“Get inside,” Lucy said to Lilah, shoving her up the stairs.

“You can’t hide! Those walls won’t protect you! We are here to bring you to justice!”

Lucy stumbled after Lilah, slamming the door shut behind her. She leaned against it for half a second, trying to get her furiously beating heart under control. Lilah sank onto a bench, her tear-filled eyes wild as the men’s hateful shouts from outside carried to them through the broken windows of the school.

Lucy pushed away from the door and marched to the closet.

“What are you doing?” Lilah asked as Lucy wrenched the door open and stood on tiptoe, reaching her arm back as far as she could onto the shelf inside.

Lucy pulled out a shotgun and then reached up again for the ammunition. “I’m not letting anyone terrorize me on my own property. Let alone a bunch of cowards running around in their night sheets.”

Lucy loaded the gun and marched to the window, ripping down the new curtains she’d recently hung to cover the broken windows.

“Lucy, no!”

But Lucy already had the gun aimed through one of the broken panes. “Don’t worry,” she assured the other woman. “That story I told your nephews wasn’t just a fanciful bedtime story. I could shoot the rattle off a snake from a much farther distance than this. I can certainly shoot the hood off a yellow-bellied weasel or two.”

Lucy yelled out the window. “I’m giving you until the count of three to get off my property, or I’ll be forced to defend myself!”

A smattering of laughter let her know what they thought of her threats. Lucy smiled. It was so much fun when an enemy underestimated her.

“One!”

The horses shifted a bit, the men looking back and forth at each other. None of them pulled a weapon. Lucy doubted anyone had even brought one. Men, especially egotistical and arrogant men like those contaminating her yard, rarely expected a fight from those they considered weaker or inferior to themselves.

“Two!”

“I think she might mean it, Jed.”

“No names!” another one hissed. His words were quiet but Lucy’s blood ran cold. She knew that voice.

She focused on him. On his build, the way he sat his horse, his expertise at handling his animal.

“Why that insufferable, miserable, piece of week-old horse shit!” Lucy cursed under her breath.

She aimed the gun at the man she very much suspected was none other than Philip Halford himself.

“Three!”

The men didn’t move. Lucy took a deep breath, blew it out, aimed carefully, and pulled the trigger.

The gun fired and the man she thought was Philip yelled. She’d only grazed him. While she’d dearly love to shoot him right there in her yard, doing so might not be a good idea. Just yet anyway.

“Shit, she’s really shooting!” one of them shouted.

Lucy fired again, this time hitting the ground near the feet of one of their horses. The horse reared, throwing the rider off, and then took off at a dead run. The rider, who hastily pulled his hood back into place, took off after it.

Lucy yelled through the window as she loaded new shells into the gun’s chamber. “Those were warning shots. Next time I won’t miss!”

A few more horses rode off and by the time Lucy had the gun loaded and ready to fire again, only one horse and rider stood in the courtyard. He looked toward the schoolhouse for a moment and then turned and rode off.

Lucy watched out the window, waiting to see if any of them would come back. And wondering if that had indeed been Philip under that hood. Whoever it was had been the man who’d stayed behind to give her that parting look to make sure she knew he wasn’t afraid of her.

But none of them came back.

The adrenaline that had been coursing through her system started wearing off, and Lucy carefully lowered the rifle with suddenly shaking hands. She took a tremulous step away from the window and Lilah hurried forward to take the gun from her. Lucy stumbled to a bench and sank down, her hand pressed to her pounding heart.

More shouts echoed from the courtyard and Lucy jumped to her feet, but Lilah grabbed her arm.

“It’s just Sam.”

Lilah ran to the door to let Sam and the others with him know she and Lucy were all right. The men started a line from the water pump, filling a bucket up and passing it down until they had the cross doused. They had the smoldering timbers pulled down in record time. But Lucy knew the image would always be seared into her mind.

Once Sam and his friends had cleaned up the sacrilegious mess as best they could, and made sure that Lucy was okay, they returned to their homes. Lilah saw Lucy to her little cottage. Lucy stood on the threshold, looking around at the home that only a few hours before had felt like such a refuge, and realized that despite her anger and her bravado, she didn’t want to be alone there.

“Lilah,” she said quietly.

“I was wonderin’ if you’d mind if I stayed with you tonight,” Lilah said. Lucy looked at her and Lilah smiled. “What just happened is enough to shake anyone, I reckon. I think we’ll both sleep a might better if we weren’t alone.”

“I’d be very grateful, Lilah. Thank you.”

“My pleasure, Miz Lucy.”

Lilah started a small fire in the hearth while Lucy found a few quilts and made up a bed for her friend on the sofa.

“I think Philip was there,” she said, finally voicing the thought that wouldn’t leave her mind.

“It wouldn’t surprise me,” Lilah answered.

Lucy frowned. “Really?” She thought for a moment. “I suppose it doesn’t surprise me that he’d want to be part of something like that. But it does surprise me that he’d follow through on it. For a man who needs to keep a large majority of his affairs private, it seems like an unnecessary risk to be involved with such a group.”

Lilah shrugged. “Seems to me like he’s just the sort of man who’d fit right in with them.”

Lucy thought for a moment longer. “No matter what the sentiments of those down here, being involved in such activities wouldn’t be the best for Philip politically if they were known. He’s certainly committed crimes while he thought he was hiding in his bedsheets. Maybe if we could find proof that he was part of this tonight, or that he was part of similar incidents, it would be enough to bring him down. Maybe even get him arrested. And once one crime is known, others are sure to be exposed.”

“The only place to find proof would be at his home. He won’t keep anythin’ that will tie him to the Klan where just anyone can find it.”

“Well then, we’ll just have to search his house.” Lucy smiled at the horrified look on Lilah’s face.

“Why do you want to jump right into the lion’s den?”

“It’s the best place to look. The sooner we get him exposed for the evil, corrupt coward that he is, the better for our students and our school…and Finn.”

Lilah chewed that over for a minute and finally nodded. “So, how do we get into his house?”