My Savage Heart (The MacQuaid Brothers) (42 page)

“My well being.” Caroline’s snort was unladylike. “If you were so concerned about
my
well being, why wasn’t I consulted?” Caroline grabbed her brother’s arm. With more strength than she knew she had, she propelled him toward the door. “Please leave! Wolf and I have some things to discuss... about our child.”

Edward looked toward Raff and shrugged as Caroline opened the door. She slammed it, twisted the brass key and dropped it in her pocket.

“That wasn’t a good idea.”

Caroline turned slowly, trying to control her anger. “If you mean telling him about the baby, he’s known for some time. If you mean forcing him from the room, I think it high time we have a talk.” Head held erect and knees shaking, she walked across the room and sat on the edge of the winged chair facing his. He watched her step over his long legging-clad legs, but he didn’t pull them back.

When she could stand the silence no longer, Caroline cleared her throat. “When did you decide to send me back to England? And don’t tell me ’twas a recent arrangement because I won’t believe you.”

Wolf took a slow breath. “I have thought it best since you arrived in the New World.”

“So that’s when you came to the conclusion that someday you would buy me passage to England?”

“You were not my responsibility then.”

“But I am now?”

“Caroline, you don’t understand.”

“Then explain it to me.” She leaned forward. “I thought—I thought we—” Caroline tried to summon back her anger but it was fast giving way to tears.

“That we what? Would marry, raise our child?” I can see from your expression that you did.” Wolf let air out through his mouth. “Do you not understand that it would never work? That you are better off returning to England where you belong.”

“And who made this decision that I belong there?”

“It is obvious.”

“Not to me.” Caroline stood and paced to the window, lifting the linen curtain and looking out over the harbor. “I thought I adapted to the frontier fairly well.”

“You did, but for God’s sake there is a war.”

“And you’re Cherokee.” She turned back, her gaze locking with his.

“Yes, and I am Cherokee.” After a moment, Wolf stood as well, but he knew better than to go near her. He’d held himself apart from her for a fortnight. It had been difficult, nearly impossible at times, but he’d done it because he knew it was what he had to do. “You are a widow, a beautiful widow. I have spoken with my father’s factor, and his estate is yours. You will not want for money. If you return to England, I am sure your life will—”

“I’ll marry again, is that what you mean? Some respected Englishman? Is that what
you
want, Wolf?”

“It would be best for
you
.”

“I asked if ’twas what you wanted.”

Time was measured by heartbeats as they each stood, their eyes locked. Wolf moved first, violently turning toward the mantle and pounding it with his fist. “It does not matter what I want.”

Caroline let out her breath. Then, as calmly as she could, she walked toward him. “Answer me one question, truthfully if you would please. Do you love me?”

His head shot around, and he skewered her with his dark stare, but said nothing.

Caroline advanced a step closer. “When I came to the New World, I was afraid of nearly everything. You helped show me the strength and courage that lay within me. But now Wa`ya MacQuaid, I believe ’tis you who are afraid... afraid to say three little words.”

Caroline watched his jaw clench and dared to move a little closer. And waited.

“My feelings for you should be apparent, but they are not the issue.”

When Caroline took another step, her body grazed his. She felt him stiffen and smiled to herself. “Say it Wolf.”

“Caroline...”

“Say it.”

His chest expanded, brushing against her breasts. He closed his eyes, the long dark lashes fanning against his skin. When he opened them, his hand reached out to caress her cheek. “I do love you.”

Her smile was slow and sweet. “Was that so difficult?” His arms folded around her, and Caroline leaned into his hard body.

“What would be difficult,” his arms tightened, “probably more difficult than I could bear is if something happened to you. If I took you back to the frontier and...”

“And the same fate befell me as did Mary?” she finished for him. Caroline felt his shattered breath and wove her arms about his narrow waist.

“’Tis sad Wolf. But sadder still is the life they led. Mary loving her husband, knowing he didn’t love her. Your brother guilt-ridden because he couldn’t return her love.”

Wolf lifted her chin with his thumb. “I will not take you back to Seven Pines.”

“And I’d be foolish to go, wouldn’t I? At least right now.”

“But I must go back.”

“I know that.” Some of the joy drained from Caroline, but she took a deep breath and smiled, listening to his next words. He wouldn’t be the man he was, the man she loved and do any differently.

“My people cannot win this war.” Wolf shook his head, his expression pained. “I cannot fight for either side. I can only try to help bring peace.”

Standing on tiptoe, Caroline pressed a kiss to his mouth. Their bodies molded, cradling their child between them. “Then know this Wolf,” Caroline said against his lips. “I shall wait here for you... your son and I shall wait for the time when we can be together forever.”

May, 1762

The South Carolina Frontier

“I
t has been a long time.”

Taking a deep breath of pine-scented air, Caroline tore her gaze from the sweep of greening valley below and focused on her husband. They had stopped where the river forked above Seven Pines to rest the horses. “I often wondered if we’d ever return.”

Wolf’s arm draped about her shoulders, and he pulled her close. “I always hoped we could.” He smiled down at her. “But more than that, I longed for the day when we could live as one.” He rested his hand atop the curve of her stomach where another of their children grew, and he bent his lips to hers.

But a tug on his leggings interrupted the kiss, and laughing, Wolf scooped up his precocious son. “Do you see down there, Kalanu?”

Two-year-old Kalanu MacQuaid blinked up at his father with large, dark eyes and nodded.

“We shall build a house for your mother and the new baby there. And a barn for the animals.”

“Domino?” Kalanu pointed a chubby finger toward the black and white dog whose front paws dug frantically in the rich earth. The spaniel had been a gift from Edward when he returned to South Carolina from England. Edward had finished his schooling only to decide he wished to live in the colonies.

“Yes, Domino can live in the barn.” Wolf slanted a look toward Caroline. “Though perhaps your mother will allow her to sleep in the house.”

Caroline just shook her head and laughed. It was no secret she might fuss at the energetic puppy, but she cuddled Domino into her bed when Wolf was away.

And he’d been away a lot over the last few years. As Wolf predicted, relations between the English and Cherokee deteriorated into all-out war. Hundreds on both sides were killed before a treaty was signed last September.

The Cherokee suffered terribly. Most of the Lower Towns and many of the Middle Towns were destroyed. Many of the Indians who weren’t killed outright died of hunger and disease.

And Wolf had worked tirelessly to help bring understanding to both sides. Unfortunately, it wasn’t until the Cherokee nation was on the brink of starvation that the war finally ended.

Caroline had feared the destruction and killing would make Wolf a bitter man. But it hadn’t, and he credited Caroline’s love and understanding with keeping him sane during those trying times. When they were apart, just the memory of her passionate kiss, the gentle way she cared for their son, healed his heart.

Last autumn was not the first time Wolf managed to visit Charles Town during the years of bloodshed—he rode for days to see her whenever he had the chance. But when he accompanied Attakullakulla, The Little Carpenter, to the colony’s capital, it was finally the visit he and Caroline had longed for.

For it heralded the end of the war that kept them apart.

Now they were on their way home. To Seven Pines, to start anew. Lyttleton’s replacement, Governor Bull had appointed Wolf a Commissioner of Indian Affairs for the Cherokee. He planned to take the position seriously, and in Caroline he knew there could be no better helpmate, lover, wife... no better woman for him.

Wolf lifted Caroline carefully onto the saddle. She still wasn’t too fond of horses, though she wouldn’t admit it to anyone... not even her husband. But he knew anyway and always found a gentle mount for her. “Are you all right to continue?” he asked as she settled into the leather.

“Yes, baby and I are fine.”

Wolf patted her knee and mounted, then reached down for Kalanu. He settled his son in front of him, took up the reins of the packhorses and glanced over at Caroline.

The afternoon sun caught the gold of her hair, and he marveled again that such a beautiful, delicate creature could be so strong. “Are you ready?” he asked, cocking his brow.

“Oh, yes.”

Kalanu squealed, Domino barked, and Wolf and Caroline started down into the valley and their life together.

I hope you enjoyed
My Savage Heart
. The story of Wolf MacQuaid and Lady Caroline Simmons has haunted me for years, and I was thrilled to give their love a “happy ending.” In telling this tale, I tried to stay as historically accurate as possible and to show both sides of the conflict between the English and Cherokee. But, as always, the characters and their love are the main thrust of my books.

My Savage Heart
is the first of my trilogy about the heroic MacQuaid brothers. In
My Seaswept Heart
, we meet James MacQuaid. Yes, I know, you thought Robert’s oldest son was dead—hanged after he fought with Prince Charles, The Young Pretender, in his unsuccessful attempt to capture the English crown. But the devilishly handsome Jamie escaped the noose in Scotland. Now he’s a swashbuckling pirate, the scourge of the Caribbean. And he
thinks
he’s given up on lost causes.

And then there’s Logan MacQuaid who you met in
My Savage Heart
. I just couldn’t deny such a tortured man the redemption of a good woman’s love.
My Heavenly Heart
gives Logan literally, the angel he needs.

You can also read my Charleston Series, Blackstone Men of the Sea in e-book format.
Sea Fires, Sea of Desire
, and
Sea of Temptation
, all critically acclaimed, all bestselling books, all the perfect way to lose yourself in romance.

For more information about my books go to
www.christinedorsey.com
. You can also follow me on
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and
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.

To Happy Endings,

Christine Dorsey

Read on for an excerpt from Book 2 in the MacQuaid Brothers Trilogy,
My Seaswept Heart
.

Prologue

London

June 1746

T
rying to stanch the overwhelming fear was like keeping warm in the damp, vermin-infested dungeon.

Impossible.

James MacQuaid huddled knees to chest as shivers of cold and terror wracked his thin frame. He would fill out to become a brawny man, at least that’s what his stepmother had assured him. But she was wrong. There was no time left for the promise of broad shoulders and muscled arms to transform him.

Within a fortnight he would be dead.

Jamie let his head fall back against the moisture-bleeding stones of his cell. It wasn’t supposed to end like this. By now he was to be riding into London astride a mighty stallion amid joyous huzzahs and cheering multitudes. He would be a hero, adored by the masses for his help in restoring the rightful king to his throne.

Closing his eyes, Jamie let the fantasy flow through him like warm honey. The flowers strewn in his path, the smiling faces of pretty maidens eager for a kiss from the handsome crusader. He would be hailed as one of Prince Charles Edward Stuart’s lieutenants. One of the intrepid souls who’d risked all to see the rightful heir proclaimed king.