To Catch a Wolf (24 page)

control their partnership. If not, she might as well pack her bags and leave Denver

tomorrow.

She passed the folded paper to Tamar and quickly withdrew her hand. "Send a

message to me if you learn anything more of use, but be discreet. If you cause me

embarrassment, I can assure you that it will become most unpleasant.”

"Threats?" Tamar laughed, a husky rattle from deep in her throat, like scales against

stone. "I, too, can make threats. But it is better not to be enemies, no? Go to your fine

lover before it is too late.”

She turned and, with a swing of her hips, left Cecily alone to consider the wisdom of

pacts with the devil.

The white-haired doctor put his implements, bottles, and bandages away in his bag and

shook his head. Morgan knew that no one else was meant to see the gesture; he

glanced at Athena in the chair beside him. She had missed it. Caitlin had not.

To Catch a Wolf – 19th Century Werewolf 04

Page 183 of 410

"It is so bad then, Doctor?" the equestrienne said, grinning crookedly. "Must I start

planning my funeral?”

The old man glanced at Niall Munroe, who crouched at Caitlin's other side. He had

hovered over the girl ever since his return with the physician, as possessive as a puma

with a fresh kill. Munroe probably didn't think anyone noticed that, either.

"Perhaps we should speak in private, Miss Hughes," the doctor said.

"These are my friends," Caitlin said, bravely ignoring her pain. "I am not afraid for them

to hear.”

The doctor sighed. "Very well. As I told you before, your leg is broken. I have done what

I can to set and stabilize it with a plaster of Paris cast, but time must do the healing. It is

my considered opinion that you must have several months of complete bed rest if you

ever wish to walk again. If you do not, I fear that you will be permanently—" He

hesitated, looking from Niall to Athena.

"Please speak frankly, Dr. Brenner," Athena said. "I am not afraid to hear the truth." She

reached down and squeezed Caitlin's finger. "Dr. Brenner has been our physician for

many years. I trust his judgment completely. That is why you must do exactly as he

says and have rest in a quiet place where you can be properly cared for.”

An expectant hush fell over the group. Morgan stared at Niall, bracing for his reaction

when Athena proposed her scheme for Caitlin's recovery. He moved an inch or two

closer to Athena, his hip against her chair. Not quite touching her, oh, no; if he were to

touch her now, after what had happened in her bedroom, he didn't know what he might

do.

Carry her off and ravish her? he mocked himself. It was a kiss. That is all. And Athena

showed no signs of being either flustered or disturbed in his presence.

To Catch a Wolf – 19th Century Werewolf 04

Page 184 of 410

She had probably dismissed the kiss, just as he had—an impulsive act swiftly explained

as a momentary madness. Better this way. Better that whatever lay between them begin

and end with that kiss. Even so, he could not bring himself to leave her side.

"Niall," Athena began. Morgan could feel her body tense, hear the swift intake of her

breath. He tightened his grip on the back of her chair.

"Niall, I have been thinking

about how we might help Caitlin." She glanced, once, at

Morgan's face, and he smiled at her in encouragement.

Smiled at her. The expression felt strange on his face. But she seemed to take courage

from it and faced her brother again.

"The doctor has said that Caitlin must have complete rest. It is obvious that she cannot

travel far under these conditions, and a tent is not adequate accommodation for an

invalid.”

Niall stood up and brushed off his trousers. "Of course not. Miss Hughes may remain in

the hotel until she is—”

"Not the hotel, either." Having dared to interrupt her brother, Athena forged ahead.

"There is a much better place where she can be cared for and remain with her friends.

Very little goes on at Long Park this time of year—why can we not allow the circus to

winter there, while Caitlin recovers?”

"The ranch?”

"Yes. Of course there will be snow and cold temperatures, but Long Park is sheltered

from the worst weather, and there is plenty of room. The second barn hasn't been used

in years. It could hold the circus livestock, and between the bunkhouse and the main

To Catch a Wolf – 19th Century Werewolf 04

Page 185 of 410

house, surely there would be enough beds or cots for everyone. I have already

discussed this with Mr. French, and he has agreed that in return for winter quarters he

and the troupe will give two charity performances in the spring—”

Niall held up his hand, silencing her. Morgan stiffened.

"If you will excuse us," he said brusquely to the doctor, "I must speak to my sister." He

stepped around Caitlin, shouldered Morgan aside, and took the handles of Athena's

chair.

"It's all right," Athena said in a whisper meant only for Morgan. He stepped back, and

Niall took her away from the group and to a place of relative privacy across the tent.

The conversation that followed was both quiet and vehement. Morgan ignored the

murmurs of the troupers and watched Athena and Niall, listening to the debate

progress. Keeping her calm, Athena presented her argument. Her brother, as expected,

was furious, though he made some effort to hide his anger from the unwelcome

witnesses. She had put him in an awkward position by asking his cooperation in public.

But Athena did not back down. Her voice remained firm and full of conviction, even

when Niall loomed over her and looked as if he would have liked to give her a good

spanking.

God help him if he did.

"Morgan?”

He glanced down at Caitlin. She was white about the mouth and her eyes revealed

great pain, in spite of the doctor's efforts.

To Catch a Wolf – 19th Century Werewolf 04

Page 186 of 410

"You should be moved to a bed, Miss Hughes," Dr. Brenner said. He followed her gaze

up to Morgan. "Can you carry her?”

Caitlin gave a husky laugh. "I think

Morgan is up to the task. I will be all right. Thank

you, Doctor.”

He nodded and packed up his bag. "Mr. French, if I may have a few words?" With a

wary glance toward the Munroes, he walked off with Harry.

"What are they saying—Athena and Niall?" Caitlin asked.

Morgan crouched beside her. "Athena is telling him what she told us. Munroe is against

it.”

Caitlin wrinkled her nose. "I could guess that. What else?”

"Munroe says that they have no responsibility for what happened, and he and Athena

had agreed that the circus would leave right after the performance. He isn't saying it, but

he does not want her around us.”

"I know that, too." Caitlin sighed. "I tried to tell Athena that it was not a good idea.”

"But she isn't giving in to him. She is telling him that whether or not they have

responsibility for what happened to you, providing you with a place to recover is the

right thing to do. It is

'common decency.'“

"To her it would be. But Niall—”

"He says it would be too expensive to keep the troupe fed for the whole winter. She

says that the cost is nothing to the Munroe fortune, and the charity performances in

spring will more than make up for it.”

To Catch a Wolf – 19th Century Werewolf 04

Page 187 of 410

"Go on.”

"He tells her that she had no right to make such promises without consulting him, and

she asks him what he's so afraid of.”

"That will make him angry.”

"Yes. But she

" He lost his train of thought as he watched Athena, the proud lift of her

head and the set of her shoulders. Niall ranted and bullied, but she did not buckle.

"You're proud of her, aren't you?" Caitlin asked.

Proud? He began to deny it, but the word rang true. Yes, he was proud. She had stood

up to her brother not once, but twice—both times for the sake of people she hardly

knew.

Would she do the same for herself alone?

"She says," he continued, "that if he cares anything about you being able to walk or ride

again—" He met Caitlin's eyes. "She asks how much he is willing to do to make sure

that what happened to her does not happen to you.”

Caitlin closed her eyes. "I never asked Athena what made her—”

"An accident. That is all I know." He looked at Niall's face. "Munroe is wavering.”

"Because she compared herself to me. I wonder

He is so protective. Maybe it's more

than just the duty of looking after a crippled sister.”

To Catch a Wolf – 19th Century Werewolf 04

Page 188 of 410

Her statement caught Morgan's interest. Was there more to it? Was Niall's vigilance

driven by something other than brotherly devotion? When the opportunity arose, he

would ask Athena

No. He didn't want more details of her life, poignant little facts that would work their way

deeper into his heart. "Do you want to go to their ranch, Firefly?”

Caitlin shifted her body and winced. "I dread the thought of staying in bed for months.”

"It is not likely to be months, is it?" Morgan had learned soon after he joined the circus

that Caitlin had an ability to heal almost as strong as his own.

"Niall doesn't have to know how quickly I can be on my feet again." She smiled slyly.

"What about you?”

Morgan had deliberately avoided imagining what it would be like to stay at a snowbound

ranch through a long winter, idle and restless, with Athena in reach. Had she thought of

that? Had she even considered what would happen if she and Morgan were thrown

together time and time again?

"If you go to the ranch," he said, "I may not stay.”

"Because of Athena?”

"You will not need me anymore.”

"You are avoiding the obvious, Morgan. It's Athena you are afraid of.”

"As you are 'afraid' of Munroe, Firefly?”

"Maybe I am.”

To Catch a Wolf – 19th Century Werewolf 04

Page 189 of 410

They fell silent. Morgan saw that the troupers, satisfied with Caitlin's care, had

dispersed. The doctor had left the tent; Ulysses and Harry stood talking a few feet away.

The Munroes had finished their debate and Niall was pushing his sister's chair in Harry's

direction. Nothing in either face suggested who had won the skirmish.

Miss Hockensmith chose that moment to return. She minced her way up to Munroe's

side and bent an apologetic smile upon Athena. Words were exchanged, with a certain

coldness on Munroe's part and a plaintive question by Miss Hockensmith.

"Please do go speak to Miss Hockensmith, Niall," Athena said. "I would like to say good-

bye to Mr. French.”

Niall's expression was as stormy as an August sky. "Very well. I will come back for you

in a few minutes." He glanced at Caitlin and allowed Miss Hockensmith to lead him out

of the tent.

Athena was already wheeling herself toward Caitlin and Morgan. Harry and Ulysses

joined them—Harry, as usual, torn between worry and apology.

"Mr. French," Athena said, holding out her hands to him as if the past hour had been

perfectly pleasant and unremarkable. "I must go now. The children have had a rather

exciting day, and I wish to make sure that they return to the orphanage in good order.”

"I quite understand, Miss Athena. Quite. We are all most grateful for your kind care of

our Caitlin.”

"It is nothing." She paused and looked at each of them turn. "As for that other matter

Niall has agreed.”

Harry grinned. "Wonderful. Most wonderful. Yet another debt we owe you, my dear.”

To Catch a Wolf – 19th Century Werewolf 04

Page 190 of 410

"I will not be seeing

a great deal of you over the winter. I promised my brother that I

would remain in Denver while the troupe is at Long Park. I know you can be comfortable

there. I will make sure of it, even if I cannot be present.”

So that was how she'd sealed the bargain—with a promise to stay apart from the people

her brother did not trust. It was no more than Morgan had expected.

Why, then, did he feel like tearing the tent apart with his bare fingers?

"It was the only way," she said, meeting his stare. "Caitlin will have plenty of rest among

her friends, and she will be as good as new by spring.”

"He'll let you come to see us later," Caitlin said. "I know he will.”

"Perhaps." Athena continued to gaze at Morgan. Her lips parted, full and moist. His

body remembered, vividly, how they had tasted. How they had responded.

Harry cleared his throat. "Perhaps you had better take Caitlin to my tent, Morgan, until

we can get her to the hotel.”