Wings of a Dove (29 page)

    He had known many of the fellows named on this most recent list. He remembered Fred Bellows, who had not waited for the state to make a decisive move but had demonstrated his support of the Union by joining up. He remembered Willis Crane's smile when he was sent off by a cheering crowd. Delaney wondered how many of that crowd would meet the train to welcome Willis's body home.

    Even James had not been deaf to the first call to arms in defense of the Union, but his patriotism had been tempered by Mrs. Case's quiet insistence that he was needed on the farm. Delaney had no doubt that when the heat of patriotic zeal had cooled, James had been glad he had not acted on impulse. After all, who would protect the family against Delaney Marsh if he left?

    As for himself, the words "slavery" and "secession" had little bearing on the goals he had set for himself. He had relegated them to the specific portion of his mind that dealt with reporting the progress of the war to his readers accurately and in depth. He had also made certain to keep himself aloof from the emotional discussions that abounded.

    The passage of six years since he had come to the Case household had wrought many physical changes in him, but inside he had changed little. He felt little sense of responsibility to a society that bowed to money and power and had so casually sacrificed his father's life and career. He was more determined than ever to one day be in a position where
he
would wield such power, so he would never be at its mercy again.

    Delaney was only too aware of the manner in which he was regarded by most of the people in this small Michigan town, and he had made no attempts to change their opinion of him. In truth, he couldn't care less that most people thought him suspiciously uncommunicative, angry, arrogant, and hostile. Some still went out of their way to avoid him.

    His association with Lil and her like was general knowledge around town and frowned upon by most, although the subject had never been addressed in the Case household. It was apparent, however, that most of the "nice" girls in the area were kept out of his way. He was secretly amused, for he had not the slightest interest in them.

    The town merely tolerated him, and he knew it. He also knew his success in any endeavor would always be overshadowed by his prison-boy reputation. In truth, he cared very little what the townspeople thought of him. He was only passing through.

    Delaney glanced at Max, seated at his desk a few feet away, realizing that the editor was one of the few exceptions. Delaney's    respect for Max Marshall had increased with each passing year. He had worked hard for Max, but Max had rewarded him in an invaluable way.

    His hard expression softening momentarily, Delaney noted that Max had again forgotten to shave and that his hair was longer than was either fashionable or tidy. As a matter of fact, Max actually looked seedy, but Delaney knew the brain inside that grizzled head was nowhere near following suit. Three years of working side by side with the crusty fellow had given Delaney a healthy respect for the knowledge stored behind those bloodshot eyes and that dour expression, and he had been more than flattered when, unknown to most in town, Max had turned over the editorial page to him a year before.

    Delaney was conscious that their positions on the newspaper had slowly reversed themselves during the past three years, and he knew the gradual changes had not come about without Max's deliberate intention. Now it was Delaney who made most of the major decisions about coverage of the news, with Max overseeing. Max had not yet given him a completely free hand, but Delaney's ideas were always explored and considered, and often were implemented. Max had trained him very well.

    A familiar nagging realization again assailed Delaney. Max had trained him so well, in fact, that he had learned just about all he could here. It was time to move on.

    Running his hand roughly through his hair, Delaney massaged the tension at the back of his neck. He had come to that realization several weeks before but he had not yet acted upon it. The reason for his hesitation eluded him.

    A wagon traveled past the window, catching Delaney's eye. The flashing glimpse brought him upright in his chair. Getting to his feet so quickly that his chair fell to the floor behind him, Delaney ignored the crashing sound and Max's protest. He strode to the window as the wagon drew to a halt in front of the general store a short way up the street. Allie. There was no way he could have mistaken that hair.

    Delaney was again assailed by a peculiar restlessness he had begun to experience whenever he thought of Allie lately. She had taken to wearing her hair up since she turned sixteen. He didn't like it that way. He missed seeing it hanging long and    unbound against her shoulders or flying out behind her when she ran.

    ''Delaney!"

    Delaney turned with a frown at the gruff summons that broke into his thoughts.

    "Dammit, man, are you deaf? I called you three times!"

    Delaney turned back to the window, his eyes on James as the younger Case stepped to the ground and swung Allie down beside him. A familiar knot twisted inside his stomach as James smiled into Allie's face, his hands lingering on her waist.

    "Delaney, dammit!"

    "What do you want, Max?"

    "What do I want!"

    "That was my question."

    "I'd like to have your attention while I discuss this piece you did about Adam McDonald."

    Delaney turned to face Max's obvious annoyance. He didn't have the slightest desire to talk about the piece he had written about Widow McDonald's only son, who had died a hero. He doubted the widow found much consolation in that fact, and he had stated as much in the article. If he did not miss his guess, Max took exception to that comment, but he was not in a mood to discuss it.

    Delaney snatched his hat off the peg on the wall and placed it on his head. "I'm going out. I'll be back in a little while."

    Leaving Max's sputtering protests behind him, Delaney strode down the street toward the empty Case wagon. Ahead of him, James stepped into the drugstore. He was alone. Quickening his step, Delaney turned into the general store. He glanced around the dim interior and saw Allie by the rear counter. Her back was toward him, but she turned abruptly as he neared, a smile on her lips.

    "I thought I recognized your step."

    "Did you." It was a statement rather than a question, and Delaney did not expect a response. His annoyance dissipated. Allie's smile still had the power to light him up inside like no other. He brushed a wisp of hair from her cheek and saw her flush, knowing she was berating herself for being untidy. She would never understand the appeal of those little wisps and the way they seemed to call his hand to her cheek. She did not know how often he had been grateful to them for giving him an excuse to touch her.

    Allie's smile dimmed. "Mother Case is feeling poorly, Delaney. The doctor came out this morning and left a different prescription. James asked me to come to town with him while he had it filled, and Mother Case insisted. She said we needed some things from the store, and I needed some time to myself." Her voice dropped a notch lower and she turned a fleeting glance toward the counter to make certain she would not be overheard as she continued. "I didn't want to leave her, but I thought if I did, Sarah would be forced to spend some time with her."

    Delaney knew that Sarah's attitude of late had not endeared her to anyone. Caught up in her own concerns, she appeared to be completely insensitive to her mother's severely deteriorated condition. But Delaney was not in a mood to think about Sarah right now. He wanted no, he needed to have Allie to himself for a little while.

    Delaney took the list from her hand and gave it a quick appraisal. Sending a glance toward the waiting clerk, he set it down on the counter.

    "It'll take Elmer at least a half hour to fill this order. There's no point in waiting here. Come on."

    To his annoyance, Allie held back. "James will be expecting me to be here when he comes back."

    "There's only one person in town slower than Elmer, Allie, and that's Joe Stoeller when he's filling a prescription." Delaney ignored Elmer's annoyed snort, as he directed, "When James comes back, tell him Allie and I went for a walk."

    Curving his arm around Allie's shoulders, Delaney turned her toward the door. Her momentary resistance stirred his annoyance anew.

    On the sidewalk outside the door, Allie turned to him disapprovingly. "Why do you go out of your way to make people dislike you, Delaney? You were insulting to Elmer, and you know James is going to be angry when he comes back." Her earnest reproof trailing to a halt, Allie paused with a frustrated shake of her head. "You don't care what people think of you or what they say behind your back, but I do!"

    Allie's candid statement touched him more than he wanted to  admit, as Delaney took her arm and urged her down the street at a rapid pace.

    "Delaney, you're walking too fast."

    "Not fast enough."

    "I don't want"

    "Come on."

    He was all but dragging her as they turned the corner and walked past the livery stable and out into the field behind it. Against her protests, Delaney pulled Allie up the sharp incline of Tillman Hill. Just over the crest and out of sight of the town, he came to a sudden halt and released her. Without a word of explanation, he sat down on the grassy slope.

    Hands on her narrow hips, Allie looked down at him in an unspoken bid for an explanation. Instead, Delaney curved his arm around the back of her knees, and pulled her down beside him.

    "Delaney!"

    "Mother Case was right. You need some time away from everything, and so do I. This is the perfect place, isn't it?"

    "Delaney, she didn't mean you had to practically drag me through town!"

    Conflicting emotions battled with Delaney. He was annoyed with Allie's resistance, touched and warmed by her concern. And he was angry at her and at himself for the sense of urgency that had driven him to drag her off so he could have her to himself for a little while.

    But Allie was angry, too. Delaney marveled at the change that came over her small, almost angelic countenance when she was determined to make him sit up and take notice of what she was saying. Her cheeks were pink, her delicate nostrils were quivering, and her dark eyes were snapping. But most appealing of all was the way she unconsciously pursed her lips as she glared unflinchingly at him.

    "Delaney"

    "You never answered my question."

    "What question?"

    "I asked you if you thought this was the perfect place to get away and relax for a few minutes."

    "It's very pretty."     "Then just lie back and enjoy it for a little while. Besides, I want to talk to you."

    Following his own suggestion, Delaney flipped his hat to the ground beside him and lay back against the thick mat of grass beneath him. Ignoring the impatient sound that issued from Allie's throat, he looked up at the sky over his head. He couldn't remember the last time he had lain back and just stared at the sky. The only notice he had taken of it in the past few years was in judging the weather in which he could expect to be riding or working that day. He'd been too busy to do anything but work. He had sacrificed all to driving ambition and now he

    "You wanted to talk to me?" Allie's tone was clipped. She was still angry.

    "I've missed talking to you, Allie."

    Allie continued to sit stiffly, looking down into his face.

    "Dammit, Allie!"

    Catching her off balance, Delaney pushed Allie to her back and then leaned over her, his palms resting on the ground on either side of her shoulders.

    "I remember when I didn't have to talk you into spending time with me. You were always cuddling up next to me."

    "I've grown up a little since then."

    "And you're too old to waste time talking to me?"

    Allie's tight expression finally faded. A reluctant smile touched her lips.

    "Delaney." Her voice held a futile note. "You know I'll never be too grown up to spend time talking to you."

    Then she glanced at the incredible blue of the sky. "You're right, it is beautiful here. It's sunny and quiet, and it smells like flowers. You can't even smell the livery stable up here."

    "I remember when you didn't object to the smell of horses or cows, when you preferred to sleep in the barn rather than in the house because"

    "Because you were there." Allie gave a small laugh. "I'd still prefer you to Sarah as a roommate."

    Delaney wasn't amused by Allie's statement. She wasn't as grown up as she thought. Living with Sarah had educated her to certain facts of life, but it was obvious she didn't apply them to herself. It bothered him even more to remember that James seemed only too willing to fill in that void in her education.

    Delaney avoided that disturbing thought. "You said Mrs. Case is doing poorly today."

    Pain flickered in Allie's eyes. "She had a very bad night, and when I took breakfast up to her she looked… she looked like"

    "Allie." Delaney silently cursed his stupidity. He should have realized why Allie was out of sorts. "You know how ill she is."