Savage Conquest (18 page)

"Why is that Yankee staying with your bloody
cousin?" he snapped, his body stiff with rage.

"What Yankee, Web? Luke lives alone," she
argued innocently.

"Reis Harrison!" he thundered, refusing to calm
down and speak politely.

"Reis Harrison?" she echoed. "But you told me he
had left town. Why would he be at Luke's? Did you
decide to do business with him?" she asked, hoping
her questions sounded logical.

"You haven't seen Harrison in the last few days?"
he demanded.

"Certainly not!" she threw at him as if insulted by
his tone. Actually, she was angry that it was the truth.
"As for Luke, he was here the same night you were. I
haven't seen him since then. Why are you attacking
me like this? You know I haven't been well," she
scolded him petulantly.

"When is Lucas leaving for Dakota?" Web inquired coldly.

"How did you know he was? He only told me
Friday night; that's why he came over. He said it was
a secret," she stated beguilingly.

"Is that Yankee going with him?" Weber went on,
ignoring her question.

Puzzlement filled her eyes. "Why would they travel
together? And how would I know such things? Your
hateful questions are confusing," she informed him brusquely. "Luke isn't in the habit of explaining
himself to me or anyone. If you don't mind, I need to
go lie down again; I'm weak and shaky," she stated
peevishly.

"Have you seen a doctor?" He suddenly became
solicitous, actually smiling at her. Right before her
eyes, he reversed his mood.

"If I'm not feeling better by tomorrow, I plan to see
Doctor Ramsey. What I need is rest and quiet," she
stated pointedly.

He grinned in false remorse. "I'm sorry, my dear. I
shouldn't take my anger out on you."

"No, you shouldn't," she frostily concurred. "You
know something? I see new facets to you each week.
Sometimes I don't think I know you at all, Weber,
and that troubles me. You are far too bossy at times. If
you behave in this hateful way with a woman you're
wooing, I wonder how you would treat a wife."

Weber tensed, then forced himself to relax. He
chuckled and wheedled, "That's not true, my sweet.
Besides, you'll have plenty of time to know me better
once we're married. Have you made a decision yet?"

"How can I make any decisions when I feel terrible
and you act so mean?" she replied, leaning against
the door.

"You've had lots of time and privacy," he insisted.

"Do you realize how much has happened to me
these past few months? I need time to adjust, Weber.
If that seems selfish to you, then I'm sorry," she
purred sarcastically.

"When is Miranda coming home? You need
someone to take care of you," he remarked, tempering his vexation with feigned worry.

"She planned to be away for a week, but she could
stay longer. I've been so irritable lately that I'm awful
to be around. And you make it worse with your
meanness. Once I feel better and get things settled
with the business, I'll be fine."

"What about the business?" he pressed curiously.

"You don't mind handling it a while longer, do
you? I'm just not ready to deal with it. I can't decide
whether to sell it or run it." She sighed dramatically
as if utterly fatigued.

"Don't worry your pretty head, my sweet. I'll take
care of everything for you. Just concentrate on
getting well, and on me," he added, cuffing her chin,
then bid her farewell.

That night Amanda couldn't get to sleep. It was
after midnight when she stood before her bedroom
window looking out over the garden. Moonlight
filtered through the gauzy drapes and outlined her
body against them. But for stirrings and singing of
nocturnal insects and birds, all was quiet and serene.

Suddenly a mellow voice teased from behind her,
"How can you daydream at night, my love? A sick
lady should be in bed."

She whirled, his name escaping her lips as she
rushed into his beckoning arms and hugged him tightly. "It's about time you remembered I'm alive,"
she scolded Reis playfully. "Besides, I dream of you
all the time. Where have you been? What's happening out there?"

"One question at a time, love. We've got to be more
careful than I imagined. Richardson's having your
house watched and he's having me and Luke
followed. I had a time losing my shadow and
sneaking in here. I found a minister not far away
who can marry us, but getting to him in secret will be
difficult. I sent Miranda a telegram; she should be
coming home tomorrow. One thing that'll help
distract Weber is a trip I need to take."

"A trip?" she wailed apprehensively. "Where?
Why?"

"I have to follow the shipment that's leaving at
dawn Wednesday. I'm staying hidden until then.
Hopefully Weber will think I'm gone for good and
lower his guard. When I get back, we'll see that
minister first thing. You haven't changed your
mind?" he asked.

"Never," she happily responded. "Do you have to
leave?"

"It will speed up solving this case, and we both
want that."

"But I'll be alone here, Reis. Luke is taking Randy
with him," she said frantically.

"But you can refuse to see Weber for a long time
after Randy finishes with him. Luke told me your
little scheme. What could make a woman more angry than her suitor getting too friendly with her sister? If
Luke's right about Weber, it'll work. Perfect timing
is the key, love. Just don't make him think you're
spurning him for keeps. I don't want him to think
you're contriving an excuse to be rid of him. If Randy
leaves with Luke, Weber will know she's out of his
reach. He'll then work on regaining your trust and
earning forgiveness. I've also come up with another
scheme to confuse him. In your state of spiteful rage,
you can pretend to sell your firm to someone else."

"Sell the firm?" she questioned, listening intently.

"I can have a friend of mine, a northern shipper,
come down and pretend to purchase your company.
You can claim you wanted to be rid of the company
and its problems. Say you want to live on the
plantation or in Washington. Once Weber thinks
all's lost to him, he would be foolish to retaliate
against you. He wouldn't be able to carry on any of
his deceptions because you'll know the true facts.
We'll have to wait to use this ploy until he leaves
town and we can work out any tangles. The main
thing is to protect the woman I love."

"Say it again," she coaxed warmly.

"I love you, Mandy. Soon you'll be mine forever,"
he vowed confidently, drawing her into the circle of
his embrace.

Amanda's hands flattened against his hard chest,
then traveled up his muscled shoulders. She snuggled close to him, wantonly rubbing her body against
his without realizing how deeply she was arousing both of them. Her fingers pushed aside his shirt so
she could place kisses near his heart, then drifted
upward to tease at his collarbone. Her arms went
around his waist and she pulled him tightly to her.

Reis was trapped in a heady conflict of wanting to
remain perfectly still to enjoy this blissful torment
and of needing to urgently lay siege to her body and
make savagely sweet love to her. Her nearness, touch,
and smell drove him wild, and her stimulating
actions sent him beyond control. Yet, her movements
revealed her inexperience. He flamed with passion
just imagining how it would be months from now
when her skills were honed and her modesty
discarded.

He glanced down at her, eyes dark with desire. "If
you have any intention of our honeymoon coming
after our wedding, you'd best halt your tempting
game, love. I feel like steel in a forging furnace."

Amanda bravely met his seeking gaze and smiled.
"If you planned to deny me anything, then you
shouldn't have come tonight when I'm weak from
illness and cannot think clearly. Surely love is the
best medicine for what ails me?" she hinted vividly.

She didn't protest when he removed her gown, or
when he eased out of his garments. He lifted her and
carried her to the bed. They stretched out, their naked
bodies touching from head to foot. When she started
to roll toward him, he gently caught her shoulder
and pressed her to her back. Bending forward, he
warmed the cool peaks on her chest with a moist and fiery tongue.

His lips played upward until they fastened on hers.
His kisses tantalized her, sending her soaring above a
high mountain of passion. Her head spun madly as
his hands danced over her flesh, embracing each
breast and enticing each point to readiness. One
hand started a titillating journey down her tingling
body. It wandered over a flat stomach which tightened with anticipation, then roved over nicely
rounded hips to end its thrilling trek in a tawny forest
which pleaded for his intrusion. There, he explored
gently and leisurely until she was trembling with
urgent need.

Passions soared; hearts and bodies united. The
sensations which he inspired were achingly blissful.
He slipped between creamy thighs which entreated
his invasion. With tenderness and caution, he eased
into a moist paradise that was his for the taking. He
wanted her so much that he feared his control would
be lost if he didn't concentrate fiercely on retaining it.

They soared together, higher and higher, until
Amanda reached ecstasy's summit. The moment Reis
was certain of her rapture, he too surrendered to the
all-consuming pleasure.

Rolling to his side, he held her in his arms. Curled
against his lithe frame, she lay her cheek against his
steadily slowing heart. He cast a possessive leg and
arm over her contented body, then trailed his fingers
up and down her back. Together they savored this
dreamy time so devoid of thoughts or cares.

Amanda closed her eyes and inhaled softly. Reis smiled into the darkness and briefly tightened his
embrace. Whatever lay in their paths, they had each
other and a powerful love. He felt so lucky to have
found this special woman and to have won her heart.
Amanda sighed again, thinking how glad she was
that she had found love and passion with this
extraordinary man.

Amanda was relaxing in a steamy bath Monday
morning when her sister burst into the private closet
in a f lurry of surprise and delight. For the first time in
her life, Amanda revealed modesty at being naked
before her own sister. Miranda giggled in amusement
when Amanda shrieked and tried to cover her ample
bosom with delicate hands. Her shyness vanished
quickly in the elation of Miranda's return. "You're
home!" she declared happily.

"Whatever are you doing bathing so late, Amanda
Lawrence? It's almost noon," she teased. "I could
hardly wait to get here. You'll never believe what I've
learned," she hinted eagerly. "Hurry and we'll talk.
I'll make us some tea and a snack while you get
dressed."

Amanda finally got a word between her sister's
commands and queries. "I'm so glad you're back.
Just wait until I tell you my news," she further piqued her sister's curiosity. "I'll be down shortly.
Send Mrs. Reed on some errand so we can have total
privacy," she hastily suggested. "On second thought,
give the dear woman the day off."

Within an hour, Amanda and Miranda Lawrence
were sitting side-by-side in the parlor, sipping tea
and preparing to exchange facts. Miranda opened the
conversation. "Tell me about you and Reis."

"First, there's something I must explain before I
start on Reis, for I doubt I would stop any time
soon," she mirthfully confessed, bringing a smile to
Miranda's face. "Oh, my, where to begin?" she
muttered.

"What's been going on here, Mandy?" Miranda
interrupted. "That telegram from Reis was perplexing. He said I was to hurry home but to tell everyone I
had been visiting friends in Boston. What did he
mean: 'W. is dangerous. A. is mine now. L. is helping
me. All being watched. Can't meet you at train. Be
careful'?"

While Miranda listened with disbelief and horror,
Amanda revealed all the events which had taken
place. She explained how she had been cunningly
deceived by Weber and why she had been acting so
terrible lately. She told about Reis's mission for the
President and his charges against Weber. Then
Miranda told her sister what she had discovered at
Morning Star. They discussed this perilous situation, analyzing and speculating about Weber's
motives and actions.

"What about you and Reis?" Miranda pressed once
more.

Unwilling to keep secrets from her sister, Amanda
exposed Reis's kidnapping ploy and its results.
Miranda was thrilled by their imminent wedding
plans. Clearly they loved each other, and she vowed
to do all she could to help and protect them and to
thwart Weber's evil plots.

"Don't be so hasty to make such rash promises,"
Amanda teased her, then told Miranda of Lucas's
daring idea to use jealousy between the sisters to inhibit Weber's amorous demands and to foil his
wicked schemes.