Forbidden Angel (4 page)

Michael laughed with her. “Then, my father started riding with me. Those were some of my favorite times.” She appeared wistful.

When she talked of her father remarrying, different emotions flitted briefly across her lovely face. At first happy for her father, then sad when she found herself set aside yet again by his wife.

God, Adrian, you have no idea.

It wasn’t hard to read between the lines and, knowing Beth as he had, to see the self-centered woman who’d had scant time for a lonely child. To his surprise and admiration, Angeline never once uttered a word against Elizabeth.

He listened as she imparted another childhood adventure. “At one time, my father entertained quite often. I found the perfect place to hide at the top of the stairs where I could watch everyone arrive and not be seen. Back then, Lord Windsford was a viscount, and so handsome. When I knew he planned to attend, I would sit and wait until he ventured by.”

Michael listened while she turned Adrian into a bigger-than-life hero made to leave his home and flee to America, and for the first time felt the initial stirrings of jealousy toward his best friend. Adrian had no idea what he could have with this fantastic creature, but Michael did. What he wouldn’t give for the opportunity. He felt like hitting Adrian, and wanted nothing more than to knock him flat on his ass.

“It’s late and I really must go.” Angeline started to rise.

Michael came quickly to his feet. He hated seeing the evening end, but how revealing it had been. He bowed. “Thank you, ma’am, for a most enjoyable evening.”

When he glanced toward the doorway, now thick with shadows, a deeper shadow retreated back into the hall.

“I’ll see you safely to your cabin.” As he spoke, Michael monitored the darkened corridors for any further movement.

“Thank you, Captain.” Angeline accepted his arm.

After seeing her safely inside her room, Michael retreated into the shadows and waited. After spending the better part of the night on guard, he was about to leave when a man appeared and made his way quietly to Angeline’s door. Dressed in a black seaman’s coat, with a cap pulled low on his forehead, he blended into the background so effectively, Michael had almost missed him.

Slipping up behind him, Michael pushed the barrel of his pistol against the man’s ribs. “If you value your life, do not move.”

The man stiffened. “See here, ‘tis some mistake.”

“It is indeed a mistake. Yours. Now, turn quietly and climb the stairs,” Michael ordered.

“‘Ere, now. No need ta take on like that. I thought ‘twas my room, I did.”

“Walk.” Michael’s well-honed instincts told him this man wasn’t alone. In the morning, he would alert his men to be on guard.

“Where we goin’?” the man glanced over his shoulder at Michael.

“That depends on you and how cooperative you are. Now move.”

Michael forced the man up the steps and out on deck. The man hung back. As they neared the railing, his eyes widened.

“What we doin’ up ‘ere?”

“Again, that depends on you. Tell me who hired you.”

“He’ll kill me if I do.”

“So will I if you don’t.” Michael urged him nearer to the railing.

The man’s eyes bulged.

Michael lowered his voice. “Don’t make me ask again.”

The man paled. “He were a nob. Insisted on bein’ called, ‘Sir.’”

Michael pressed the gun closer.

“Malcolm, his name was Sir Charles Malcolm.”

Michael eased back. “How many others are there?”

The man stared, refusing to answer.

Michael pulled the hammer back on the pistol, the sound echoing in the still night. “You try my patience. How many more?”

“Two,” the man almost shouted.

Michael nodded. “You have a choice. You may accompany me downstairs to a safe cell, or try your luck at swimming.”

After the man was incarcerated below deck, Michael woke his men. Although a thorough search was made, they were unable to locate the other two.

During the remainder of the trip, Michael spent a considerable amount of time with Angeline. They played cards and chess and exchanged tales of their childhoods. He had a fairly good idea of the events prior to the tragic death of her father and Beth. Although he didn’t believe Malcolm played a part in the accident, it was obvious the man had taken full advantage of the situation.

With many opportunities to tell her who he was and why he was there, Michael instead chose to build on the tenuous relationship growing between them. Now, he would have to stop Joel and Virginia from revealing his identity before he could explain.

Surprised to learn Michael and his men would be continuing on to Houston, Angeline was pleased to accept their continued presence. At one of the stops, he brought her a women’s magazine and a Henry James’ novel,
Daisy Miller
. Delighted, she passed the time reading and discussing the book with him.

Six days later, dressed in a dark gray gown trimmed in black cording, Angeline held Jimmy’s hand as they stepped from the train at the Houston station. The train had, out of necessity, stopped along the way at various points, making the last part of the trip seem interminably long.

Angeline hoped someone would come forward to greet them, as she had no idea who she was to meet.

A man in his early thirties, one arm protectively around the strikingly lovely woman at his side, made their way toward them through the jostling crowd.

The woman spoke. “Are you, by any chance, Lady Angeline Ashley?” Tall, with golden blond hair, her clipped speech affirmed her as English.

“Yes I am.” Angeline inclined her head.

“I’m Joel Donnelly and this is my wife, Virginia. We’re here to greet you and welcome you both to Texas.” The man’s warm smile lit his face.

When Jimmy slid his hand into hers, Angeline glanced down to see his lower lip quivering.

He stared at Virginia and whispered, “You look like my mama.”

Glancing quickly at Virginia, Angeline was surprised by the likeness.

Virginia bent down and spoke softly to Jimmy. “Your mother was my sister, sweetheart. I am your aunt.” She straightened and addressed Angeline. “I know this was a difficult trip at a most difficult time. Come, I imagine you would like to freshen up and have something to eat. Joel has arranged for accommodations at the hotel just across the street.”

Angeline passed Jimmy’s hand to Shirley. “Would you take him inside? I’ll assure a tray with some pudding is sent to the room.”

“Yes, my lady.” Shirley bobbed a curtsy and steered Jimmy toward the hotel.

When Angeline would have introduced Captain Harrington, he was nowhere in sight. His sudden departure left her unaccountably disappointed. She’d hoped for the chance to say goodbye.

Virginia tucked her arm through Angeline’s. “I’ve been looking forward to your arrival. I know you’ve had a lot to deal with of late, but once we’re at the ranch, you can relax and not worry about anything.”

After kissing Jimmy goodnight, Angeline met Joel and Virginia downstairs in the dining room. Her dress of midnight-blue velvet was a brief concession to the severe black and shades of gray for mourning. A net covered in tiny pearls secured her hair at the nape of her neck.

“You look lovely, my dear.” Joel helped Angeline with her chair.

“Thank you, Mr. Donnelly.”

“We do not stand on formality here in America, especially with family.” Virginia patted Angeline’s hand. “He is Joel and I’m Virginia. We’ve taken the liberty of ordering for you. I hope you don’t mind.”

Angeline let herself relax. “Not at all. Is the food quite different from that in England?”

“At times,” Virginia smiled. “But I think you’ll enjoy it.”

As the evening progressed, she was entertained with stories of Texas and Spencer Ranch in what she knew was an effort to help her relax.

The ranch covered sixty-four thousand acres, a hundred sections, and lay sixty miles north of Houston. Adrian and a group of wranglers had driven cattle to a stockyard in Abilene, Kansas. It was expected to take as long as three months. With the demand for beef increasing, more and more steers were being driven north where the prices were much higher.

Angeline listened with rapt attention as they described the hardships of such a trip; the half crazy longhorn cattle, the rough terrain and the real possibility of rustlers.

She glanced up as Michael Harrington approached.

He executed a half bow. “Please excuse the interruption, but I wanted to wish you a safe journey.” He nodded at Joel and Virginia, then turned his gaze to Angeline. “I see you’ve found your escort.”

Angeline let her pleasure at seeing Michael show on her face. “Yes, I have.”

Joel came to his feet and extended his hand. “I’m Joel Donnelly, Captain, and this is my wife, Virginia. We thank you for the company you provided, especially as she was not met in London as expected.” Joel gestured to the one remaining chair. “We were about to have dessert. Would you care to join us?”

“Some coffee, please.” Michael accepted the seat next to Angeline.

“I wanted to thank you for your company,” Angeline told him. “You made the trip most pleasant.”

“It was truly my pleasure.” Michael responded with a grin.

Much later, and after the dessert plates had been cleared, Michael addressed Joel. “We’re headed north in the morning. If that is your direction, my men and I would be happy to accompany you.”

Joel responded with a grateful nod. “It is indeed, and we gladly accept your offer.”

Virginia laid her napkin on the table. “I could use an early night. It’s been a pleasure, Captain.”

Joel came to his feet and pulled out her chair.

“I’ll join you.” As Angeline rose, Michael reached to help her. Her gaze met his. “Good night.”

After the women left the room, Joel and Michael faced one another.

“What in the hell happened?” Joel asked.

“Adrian was right in his concern for Angeline. Three men followed her on board. Although I was able to apprehend one of them, we could not find the others.”

“I take it she doesn’t know?” Joel leaned back in his chair, plucked a cigarillo from a case, and lit it.

“No, she doesn’t.”

Joel drew on the miniature cigar. “Why did you conceal your real purpose from her?”

Michael grimaced. “Suffice to say, I wish I hadn’t. When the subterfuge first began, it seemed harmless enough. And then, after a while, I didn’t know how to tell her.”

“I don’t imagine she’ll take well to the deception.”

“I think that’s putting it mildly.”

Angeline was surprised by the large number of people gathered outside the hotel the next morning. Their luggage had been secured atop a traveling coach. Nearby, Captain Harrington and his men were mounted and waiting.

Two men sat on the bench of a buckboard, the back piled high with supplies for the ranch and a few remaining pieces of their luggage. Dressed in rugged denim trousers and plain cotton shirts, both with guns at their hips, they might have stepped from a magazine depicting life in the Wild West. They touched the brim of their hats in polite acknowledgement.

A quick breakfast of bacon, fresh baked bread, butter and jam had been provided and served with hot coffee, tea, and cream. As there were no inns between Houston and the ranch, baskets of food had been prepared and stored in the buckboard to be eaten along the way.

One of the ranch hands helped Shirley into the coach, a broad smile crossing his face as he did. It delighted Angeline to see Shirley’s flushed cheeks.

After Joel handed Angeline and Jimmy into the coach, he signaled the coachman to begin. With a crack of a whip, the team settled into the harness and the large conveyance moved forward.

“How long will it take to get there?” Jimmy asked, as he peeked out the window.

“Moving at this pace, it will take us most of the day. We’ll cross onto Spencer land when we stop for luncheon.” Joel caught Jimmy’s gaze. “There’s someone waiting to meet you.”

“Who is it?” Jimmy bounced with excitement. “I hope it’s someone to play with.”

“As a matter of fact, it is.” Virginia chimed in. “Her name is Clairece and she is also six years old. She’s our daughter, and like you, hopes for someone to play with.”

“A girl?” Jimmy considered, “Well, that’s all right.”

“I’m certainly happy to hear that.” Virginia’s eyes brimmed with laughter.

In the well-sprung coach, Jimmy’s eyes soon closed.

Although Virginia and Adrian had lost a sister and Angeline had suffered the loss of her father, Jimmy was now an orphan. He’d cried at first, then adopted an attitude of stoic acceptance. His resolute behavior troubled her.

Angeline watched the view from the coach’s window. Deep green pine trees towered as high as she could see, the heavy foliage allowing only flickering light to penetrate. Occasionally the trees would thin, and pastureland, covered with lush, green grass, was visible.

Angeline considered the soldiers riding on both sides of the coach. “Why do we need an escort?”

Joel’s gaze swung from the window to meet hers. “We have rustlers and bandits, much like your highwaymen, who would stop a conveyance such as this. That’s why I was happy to accept Captain Harrington’s offer to accompany us.”

“Is that also why your men are armed?”

Joel inclined his head. “Yes. Most would recognize this coach and the brand on the horses as belonging to Adrian, and not bother us.”

“Lord Windsford is well known?”

“I think you could safely say that.”

Midway through their journey, they stopped to rest the horses and eat the luncheon that had been prepared. Once finished, everything was packed away in the wagon and the trip resumed.

Within minutes, Jimmy’s lids began to droop and he slid down in the seat, his head finding a spot in Angeline’s lap. With everyone else napping, she leaned her head back against the soft squabs, and closed her eyes.

She must have dozed, for sometime later she heard Joel’s whispered, “Wake up, Virginia, we’re finally home.”

Angeline sat up and peered out the window at the large expanse of manicured lawn. Carefully tended flower beds added splashes of vibrant color. The coach pulled onto the well-maintained, circular drive, and came to a rocking halt in front of the house.

Angeline gaped at the towering, three-story residence. Stones formed the foundation of the structure. Logs, stripped of bark and cut to fit snugly, continued upward for all three stories.

A westerly sun reflected off the many windows, while lamplight glowed softly through lace curtains. Chairs and swings were placed at different locations along an expanse of covered porch. A balcony spanned the length of the second story while evenly spaced dormer windows could be seen along the third level. From her seat in the coach, she noticed stone chimneys rising high above a tiled roof.

“This is amazing,” Angeline whispered. “I would never have imagined anything like this out here.”

Joel opened the coach door and lowered the steps. Once out, he handed the women down, then reached in for Jimmy. “Welcome home, lad.”

Jimmy gazed at the towering home. “Thank you, sir.” Then, as children will, he squealed with delight and patted the front of his legs when he noticed a female dog with puppies.

“That’s Mitzie,” Virginia told him.

Ever happy to oblige, Mitzie trotted over, tail wagging, and began licking his face. Laughing, he hugged the dog around the neck.

“It’s good to hear him laugh,” Angeline said.

“Come along and let me show you the house and your room.” Virginia took Angeline’s hand as they started for the front door.

“Captain Harrington,” Joel called. “We have quite a large bunkhouse. With most of the men away on the drive, there’s plenty of room for you and your men to bed down. There are empty stalls in the barn and you’ll find hay and grain in the back. I’ll send food to the bunkhouse for your men, but perhaps you would care to join us inside for dinner?”

“My men and I will gladly accept your hospitality, but, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll have dinner with them. We have an early start in the morning, and things to discuss.”

Michael tipped his hat to the women, his gaze meeting Angeline’s briefly.

“A moment please.” Angeline excused herself from Virginia and hurried over to Michael. “I don’t know if I’ll see you before you leave, so I want to tell you how much the time we’ve spent together has meant. You were there when I needed a friend, and helped me through a very difficult time. I won’t forget you, Captain Harrington. Take care and God be with you wherever you go next.”

“It’s Michael, Angeline. It always will be to you.”

She smiled. “Michael.”