Harnessed Passions

by Dee Jones

  "It's not impossible Daniel. I know what I saw and I saw Heather Farnsworth. I'm not crazy damn it! She tried to kill me."

  "Calm down Julia," Daniel urged rather sternly, caressing her cheek with his thumbs. "I never said you were crazy. I just don't think you saw Heather; I'm not doubting something happened that night and you thought you saw her, but ghosts can't kill people. It's impossible."

  "Don't patronize me," she snapped, pushing the man away with a force she didn't know she possessed in her weakened condition. Her head began to explode behind her eyes as she lay back against her pillow. "I know what I saw."

  "Julia, please listen to me," Daniel began gently, brushing her hair away from her face. "I know you saw someone, but you have to admit it was dark and it could have been anyone out there. Perhaps someone was trying to frighten you. It was a sick joke, someone's idea of fun."

  "Do you think I'm crazy?" she asked after a few silent moments, blinking the tears away. She kept her face turned from Daniel's accusing eyes, unwilling to see the truth in the blue depths. The thought that people would think she was insane was bad enough to deal with, but if Daniel ever thought that...well it would prove impossible to contend with. He didn't answer at first. Instead he leaned down and kissed her cheek tenderly. The touch of his warm lips against her skin brought goose bumps to her flesh. His hand moved to her waist and caressed her softly through the flannel nightgown as his lips briefly moved to the soft curve of her neck.

  "What would you say, if I told you I thought you were the sanest woman I've ever known?" Julia looked him, inspecting his handsome features with interest. There was no mockery in his eyes, only tenderness. She blinked, this time unable to contain the tears as they rolled unchecked down the sides of her cheeks. Daniel wiped the moisture away with a brush of his thumb. He moved her to lie on her back, then leaned down across her and briefly kissing her dry lips.

  "Daniel I'm scared," she whispered, feeling the quickened pace of her pulse. She no longer thought of the swimming hole or of the night Heather tried to kill her. She thought only of tonight and the man leaning across her, his hand on her shoulder, his lips a hair's breadth away from her own.

  "I know Princess," he told her reassuringly. "Will you trust me to take care of you?"

  "Even if I lose whatever's left of my sanity?" she tried to tease him, but found his closeness overpowering.

  "You're not insane Julia."

  "I suppose it would prove easier for you if I were." Daniel frowned sternly, glaring down at her. Julia smiled softly hoping to make light of the feelings now erupting within her. Feelings of betrayal, desertion...and especially love echoed through her veins as she looked into his blue-green eyes. She loved Daniel and there was no way she could deny those feelings - not any more.

  "Just think," she continued with a simple, uneasy smile. "If I am crazy, you'd be free of me and have my land too. It would prove very profitable for you." Daniel narrowed his eyes on the woman for a few moments, before he climbed out of the bed. Silently he pulled his jeans up across his muscular thighs, avoiding the eyes watching him.

  "You're tired Julia," he told her, his voice deep and rough. "Try and get some sleep. I'll be next door if you need anything." He started for the door dividing their rooms, his eyes diverted from looking back at her. He looked so proud and distinguished, even with only his jeans on, that it made Julia feel instantly guilty. She sighed deeply to steady her nerves. She didn't mean to hurt him, if anything she wanted to pull him closer. Instead, she only succeeded in pushing him further away.

  "Daniel," she whispered, hesitating to finish until he turned to glare back at her. She rose up on her elbows and lowered her eyes. How did she tell the man she loved, she didn't want him to leave her - now or ever?

  "What is it Julia?" He was growing impatient waiting for her to say something. The urge to wring her little neck for accusing him of wanting her land and not her weighed heavily on his shoulders, but the urge to pull her beneath him and make passionate love to her proved to be ten times as heavy.

  "I'm sorry," she told him at last. "I didn't mean to say that, it's just...I don't know...perhaps I am going crazy. I just know I don't want you to leave. Please stay with me. I promise not to make you angry again." The soft plea in her voice was enough to crumble Daniel's resistance. He couldn't stand the idea of her being so frightened or feeling she had to beg for his attention. He groaned inwardly as he stepped to the foot of the bed. He sat down on the edge pulling one leg up under him.

  "I'll stay. Try and get some sleep." She frowned as she lay back down, closing her eyes. It wasn’t what she had expected or hoped for, though now that she was broaching new territory with him, she wasn’t quite sure how to proceed.

  Daniel sat at the foot of the bed for several minutes watching to see if she could fall asleep again. God, she was beautiful and his desire for her was beginning to throb again. If only he could convince her it wasn't her land he wanted to lay his hands on, but her.

  "This is silly," she said, after some time. "I can't sleep knowing you're just sitting there. Please come back to bed? I promise not to attack you."

  "Promise?" he teased after a moment. She smiled and tossed the covers next to her aside, then giggled softly as he reluctantly began to crawl up the bed toward her. Julia laughed lightly when he lay down beside her, staying on top of the blankets. He pulled her into the curve of his arm and held her against his chest. At least he could still touch her, even if it wasn't as rewarding as he had wanted.

  Julia snuggled up against the security and comfort of Daniel's hair firm body. The warmth of him radiated through the blankets, warming her everywhere. Her pulse skipped a beat and her palms began to itch, aching to touch his body.

  She bit her lower lip as she moved her hand up to his chest, tracing the faint circle of a nipple hidden beneath the brown hair with her fingers. Daniel reacted to her touch much as she had hoped. His nipple peaked to a small kernel and she heard his heart pick up speed beneath her ear causing her to smile, biting her lip a little firmer.

  "Julia," he warned softly, his voice deep and husky. She knew that tone, she'd heard it often; every time he held her and kissed her. Julia knew she was playing with fire, but she couldn't think of anything to warm her more than the raging inferno this man she called husband ignited within her.

  "I can't sleep," she told him, knowing he could tell when she lied. Daniel chuckled and kissed the top of her head.

  "You're the only woman I know who can get hit on the head one day and try seducing a man the next." Julia held her hand still against his chest. She didn't know whether she liked the sounds of that or not. She wasn't even certain whether she was being insulted or just teased until she looked up and saw the gleam of emotion in his beautiful blue eyes.

  "Do you want me to stop?" she asked, a strong sense of caution forcing the color to rise in her cheeks. Daniel chuckled again hugging her tight and kissing her forehead.

  "If it was another time or under any other circumstance, I'd say no. But you've had a very bad accident and you need to rest. Close your eyes Princess and get some sleep. We'll continue this when you're feeling stronger."

  "Promise?" she teased, lightly, smiling at the laughter he supplied her, pushing his hard erection against her thigh so she understood exactly what she was doing to him.

  "Just try and keep me away." Julia sighed softly, realizing she really wasn't up to his taking her serious and thankful he had called her bluff.

  "Will you stay here the rest of the night? Please?" Daniel pushed away from her to gaze into her clear green eyes. He felt the burn of emerald flames and the touch of a child's plea melting his resistance. She was still frightened and needed someone to comfort her. Even if she changed her mind in the morning, Daniel knew she wanted him now. With that thought still ringing in his mind, he climbed off the bed pulling back the covers and unfastened his jeans.

  "I can't sleep in these things," he whispered gently, seeing the color rise higher in her
face. He tossed his breeches to the foot of the bed and climbed in between the sheets. He pulled Julia into his arms again, feeling the soft material of her nightdress press gently against his bare flesh. He remembered his silent vow never to rush her into something she wasn't ready for, or to ever do anything again to cause her grief, but right now he had to touch her, he had to hold her near him regardless of the results.

  "Do you still love me?" she asked, softly. Daniel tipped her head up kissing her lips passionately; their tongues playing against each other until she was panting, a soft moan escaping her throat.

  "More than anything else in this world," he assured her, holding her gently against him as she drifted off to sleep; a soft smile curling her lips.

  Daniel sighed when he heard her steady breathing and the strong rhythm of her heart next to his own. He realized the price he was willing to pay for loving this incredibly sensuous woman. Keeping his silent promise to himself to stay clear of her until she was ready wasn't going to be as easy as he had anticipated, but he knew it would be worth it. He knew of many ways to make her eager, make her want him to please her and he was just as eager to explore her to those dark depths of release. With a yawn he slowly and thankfully began to drift into a soft slumber. He had no idea how he was going to keep his distance from this woman...his wife.

  Chapter Fifteen

  The week that followed Julia's recovery proved to be restful and very informative. Daniel had resigned himself to making friends with the woman he'd married, talking with her about everything from her first word, to her last days in Boston. He was determined to find out every ounce of information about her, hopefully enough to discover why anyone would want her dead.

  Dourn remained a mystery; he would work hard whenever he was at the stables and ride off to search the grounds when Daniel was seen coming down from the mansion. Daniel and Jeremy both had tried repeatedly to find him, but managed little more than a glimpse as he rode out to the fields. Daniel felt certain Dourn knew more about the night Julia was attacked than he was willing to say.

  Julia's injuries had nearly mended by the week's end, although the nightmares continued. Every night was like the one before. The dreams of cold, hateful revenge filled her heart with terror; visions of Heather standing in a body of water calling to her, pulling her under the current while her father watched, Every dream would end the same way; her knight riding to her rescue, disappearing before he could reach her. The horror was so real she would wake up screaming.

  Daniel was always there to comfort and hold her against his warm chest, securing her in his strong embrace until the dreams passed and she could fall asleep again. Night after night Daniel would wake her, pulling her out of her torment and anguish, only to wait for the next dream to invade. He couldn't stand seeing Julia like this, hearing her screams of terror and her pleas for someone to save her. He wanted to find out who had done this to her and put an end to her nightmares once and for all.

  Jeremy aided Daniel as much as possible watching for Dourn's return, but like his brother-in-law, he always seemed to miss him by a few minutes. After Julia's first attack in the library and the discovery of the snake in her wash closet, Jeremy had decided to take the last of his third semester off to stay and help out at the ranch. Unfortunately his time was nearly up and he found himself making plans for his return trip back to school and his future bride sooner than he would have liked. As much as he found himself missing both his studies and his fiancée, he also found leaving Kentucky and the problems that were still unfinished very difficult. He was as certain as Daniel the accidents were much more than a coincidence and he wanted to have an end to it before he left.

  Friday morning arrived to find Julia feeling strong enough to venture as far as the front porch. She sat in the rocking chair her mother had brought out for her and gazed up at the clear blue sky. Margie had been out to visit the day before and they spent the better part of the afternoon talking and discussing the new dressmaker in town. They decided to go shopping once everything began to settle down and Daniel felt she was capable to ride again.

  Julia hadn't told her new friend she felt up to making the trip now, though she was enjoying the added attention her husband was giving her. She was happy Daniel was as doting as he was, but she was certain if he continued at this rate, she'd never be able to see the dressmaker again, much less the world outside of their bedroom walls.

  She sat on the front porch for over an hour enjoying the warm breeze and the sunshine that seemed to burn off the remnants of her latest nightmare. The ranch was relatively quiet and she found herself content as she looked around the vast span of her property. Mrs. Lester was issuing orders to the kitchen staff regarding lunch while Thompson hummed his off-tune song in the sitting room.

  Life was simple here, calm and quiet and she couldn’t resist the smile that caressed her lips; until she glanced toward the stables and frowned. Near the entrance to the large wooden structure were to figures. Julia wasn't certain how long they had been there, but knew without a doubt they were. The tall muscular man with blondish-brown hair hanging loosely about his shoulders would stand out in a crowded room, but in a deserted yard he was more than visible. It was who he was with that bothered Julia. She narrowed her eyes trying to bring the scene in to a closer perspective, but couldn’t make out what they were talking about or looking at. Finally she decided to move inside to the library; at least that part of the house had a better range of view.

  Julia stood at the west window watching the couple who was so engrossed in their conversation they wouldn't have noticed the second coming, let alone an observer. She felt very uncomfortable spying on them, but after all it was her husband out there. Didn't she have a right to know why he was talking so intimately to their new neighbor?

  "I didn't know you were in here, dear," Louise said, opening the door to find her daughter standing by the window. Julia didn't turn around; instead she kept her back to her mother as she replied.

  "I came down for some fresh air. I'm getting tired of just sitting in my room."

  "Well, it's nice to see you up and about again. Would you care to join me in a drink? Mrs. Lester just finished making a pitcher of lemonade."

  "Thank you," was all the younger woman said, listening to her mother fill a glass with the sweetened liquid. Louise stepped up behind Julia handing her the drink and frowning at her intent gaze.

  "What's so interesting out there, you can't turn away?" she asked, glancing over her daughter's shoulder. She sniffed her disapproval when she realized what had captured Julia's attention.

  "Why would she be here I wonder?" Julia asked, more to herself than to her mother. Louise walked over to her usual chair and sat down.

  "She's been here nearly every day since your accident. Daniel invited her."

  "Daniel?" Julia turned and looked at her mother with wide eyes. He never once mentioned any of this to her. "Why would Daniel invite her here?"

  "He's been helping her find some horses. Would you believe the witch had the nerve to ask him to sell her some of our horses to help work her land? The very idea."

  "Did Daniel agree to help her?"

  "Of course; he says it's not right to be rude to your neighbors. I don't think it's very hard with that one."

  "How often does she visit?" Julia felt an odd feeling grip down around her heart thinking of Daniel working with that woman.

  “She’s been here nearly every day since your accident. Daniel told her you weren’t up to visitors so she asks about you when she visits, but I doubt she’s here for you. All these men around; I’m more than certain she’s smelled them a mile away. She’s like an old alley cat sniffing out a meal.”

  Julia knew the rumors about Sharon Farnsworth. She knew how many men in town claimed to have shared their beds with her. It really never made any difference in the past since Julia didn’t care what the girl did in town, but now it was her husband she was occupying time with. Sharon was messing with the man Julia loved and want
ed more than anything else in this world, that made a big difference. Julia wanted to know more.

  She wanted to know why they were together, what they were discussing and what exactly why Daniel was standing so close to the woman. What if he found Sharon attractive? What if there was more going on between the two of them? Would she be able to compete with a woman with so much experience when it came to men? Would she be enough to hold Daniel if he chose to find another woman’s bed more inviting?

  Julia sighed; she couldn’t find fault in Daniel, after all he was a very desirable man and since their marriage was nothing if not celibate, he would need to find affection somewhere. He no doubt had the same urges every man had from time to time and she couldn’t help but wonder if Sharon Farnsworth had made arrangements to pay him for his services in another manner than money.

  "I wouldn't worry too much about it," Louise insisted, noting the look on the young woman's face. "Daniel's just trying to help her out."

  "Help with what I'd like to know."

  "Julia Dennese! How can you think such things? Daniel's very devoted to you, you should know that. He shares your bed not hers."

  "I wish he did," Julia whispered.

  "Just exactly what is that supposed to mean?" Louise asked with a deep frown. Julia turned back to the window and watched Daniel walk with Sharon's arm tucked inside his, heading toward her waiting trap. She didn't know how to answer her mother's question and wasn't exactly certain how much she should tell her.

  "Julia?" the woman insisted. "Are the rumors I've been hearing true? Have you and Daniel been sleeping in separate rooms?" Julia's head dropped. She never considered the gossip of the maids. Knowing they had occupied different beds must have made her love life prime pickings.

  "Julia?" the woman insisted, when she didn't receive an answer. "Have you and Daniel been sleeping in separate rooms? I want to know."

  "Daniel shares my bed, now," she answered softly. It wasn’t a lie, but it wasn’t the truth either. They had slept together since her accident, though not in a sexual manner.