Harnessed Passions

by Dee Jones

"Why? Do you think I'd abuse her the way your father did your mother?" The pain showed in his voice and Jeremy knew it was more for his sister's confidence than the subject of their relationship.

  "I don't want her hurt that's true, but I also knew you had very deep feelings for her. I knew you'd never be able to comply with her restrictions for long." Jeremy glanced back toward the house. "She's too beautiful for any man to resist, let alone her own husband. It's just her insecurities that made her conceive such an agreement. She remembers what it was like with father; I think it’s easier to put up boarders than to endure the pain of losing the man she loves. She's always been too embarrassed to talk to anyone about sex; at least no one except Heather. Whenever mother would broach the subject, she would turn red and cover her ears. She would leave the room and insist it was not a proper subject to discuss." Jeremy's voice trailed off again as more memories echoed through his mind.

  The two men fell into silence. Both knew and understood a little bit more about Julia than they had a day ago. She had too much guilt consuming her to let anybody near her. Daniel understood now why she pushed him away and planned to help her rectify the situation the first chance he got. At least now he had the incentive he needed to go slow - if he had to.

  They walked over to the spot Daniel had been avoiding all evening. He hoped to find some physical proof that would link Julia's ghost to the real world, but then again he hoped he didn't find anything. He just wanted to put all of this out of his mind and help Julia to forget it as well.

  "What are we looking for?" Jeremy said, noticing the way Daniel was searching the area.

  "I don't know for sure. I saw a young woman, maybe sixteen years old, standing right here when your mother told me Julia had gone into the barn. The smoke blocked her departure, but I know she wasn’t a ghost. I don’t believe Julia saw Heather Farnsworth tonight or the last time at the swimming hole."

  "What makes you so certain?"

  "There were other footprints there besides Julia's. I know she thinks she saw her, but I think what she saw was very much alive."

  “And you think whoever it was at the pond was the same one tonight?”

  “I don’t know for sure; but the description was the same. Only the ghost tonight was wearing a blue dress; I saw that much. The one at the swimming hole was wearing white.”

  “I may not have paid much attention in Sunday school,” Jeremy said with a frown. “But I don’t remember anyone ever saying spirits changed their clothes.”

  “That’s what I said. Maybe the girl tonight didn’t have a chance to change when she saw the fire; or maybe the one at the pond had more time to plan. Either way, I want to find the truth behind this and put an end to it.”

  They continued searching, but found nothing out of the ordinary; no foot prints, no lost clothing, no signs of life at all. There were a couple of horse prints, but considering the evening and the events, it seemed unlikely there would be any spot on the whole ranch that hadn't been trampled and stomped.

  "What are you going to do now?" Jeremy asked, after abandoning their search.

  "I'm not going to leave Julia alone again, that's for sure. I don't know what's been going on, but I'm damn well going to find out. Until then, Julia isn't going to get in the path of whoever is doing this again. I’m not letting her out of my sight for a minute."

  Chapter Seventeen

  Julia had bathed, washed her hair and was snuggled in a warm bed by the time Daniel came in. She kept her eyes closed hoping he wouldn't try to wake her. She heard him take his boots off and set them in the corner by the dresser; the buttons of his breeches popped open, echoing like gun shots in the quiet room. He discarded his pants on the floor near the bed, tossing his dirty, smoky sweat soaked shirt on the pile along with his socks. Julia listened as he walked softly into the wash closet. The door closed and the sound of water splashing could be heard through the barrier, indicating he had chosen to use the bath she left for him. She smiled as she remembered how cool the water had been over an hour ago when she had finished bathing. By now, it must have been like bathing in ice.

  Several minutes passed by before the door opened again and Daniel stepped into the room. So far so good; he still thought she was asleep, even though the vision of him naked and wet, made her blood race and her palms itch to touch him. She imagined him covered with goose bumps and droplets of water that danced in the soft mat of hair that covered his broad chest. The picture of a wet powerful giant invaded her mind and she remembered how that giant had felt, holding and caressing her just a few short hours ago. She could see his long damp hair against his neck and shoulders. The urge to soothe the chill and dry the dampness from his bronzed skin, nearly made her moan.

  The bed next to her sagged when Daniel climbed between the sheets, but it wasn't until his arm slid around her slender waist, did she realize just how much she had needed his touch. That was the real reason she had stayed awake, and now as he hugged her against the cool damp wall of his chest she could feel the need for other things erupt inside her aching soul.

  "Are you still angry with me?" he asked her. Julia gasped realizing her charade hadn't been as convincing as she had hoped.

  "Why should I be angry?" she asked, struggling against his arms. She didn't want to be this close to him; didn't he realize how it made her feel when he held her? Didn't he realize how nervous she became whenever he touched her?

  Daniel tightened his hold on her easing her struggles as he gently nuzzled her neck with his chin. The light stubble from the day's growth of beard tickled her neck, causing a warm chill to race across her flesh.

  "I'm sorry I upset you," he whispered near her ear. "I didn't want to make you mad Princess, I was just worried. I don't like to think about you in danger."

  "I wasn't in danger Daniel," she insisted, feeling his arms relax around her when her useless struggles ceased. "You were there; I knew you'd help me."

  "To your rescue again, my Princess?" he teased, kissing the soft skin beneath her ear. Julia leaned her head back against his strong shoulder, feeling the warmth of his breath as he nibbled her ear lobe.

  "Always my knight in shining armor, aren't you?" her voice was soft and seductive, like a gently purring from a new born kitten.

  "Do you object?" he whispered again.

  "I'm not sure any more. I just wish I could make you believe me, Daniel. I did see Heather. She was standing there staring at me and it was her at the pond that night."

  "Julia," Daniel hesitated. He really didn't want to go into all this again, especially when he held her so close to him. "Are you listening to yourself? Do you hear what you're saying? You're talking about ghosts. The dead do not come back to life seeking revenge on innocent people. You didn't do anything for Heather to want to kill you over."

  "But I did," she argued, turning around in his arms. "I left her there. I didn't keep my promise to her. I should have been there, Daniel, but I wasn't. Heather wasn't a very good swimmer and she was afraid of the water. If I had been with her, she would never have drowned."

  "So you think her ghost wants you to pay for her being a bad swimmer? Julia that's crazy."

  "I knew you'd think I was insane. I knew I couldn't trust you to believe me," Julia offered Daniel her back as companionship. He leaned up on his elbow gazing at the dark braid disappearing beneath the covers. He was too tired to argue with her and too emotionally involved to listen to her ranting.

  "What if I can prove to you, you didn't see a ghost either that night, or tonight? What if I can prove what you saw was someone playing a very nasty trick on you? Would you stop thinking Heather had come back for revenge?"

  "Can you?"

  "Go to sleep Princess," he assured her softly. "When you're feeling more up to it, we'll talk. Perhaps together we can help find out who's behind all of this." Daniel kissed Julia's cheek, lifting her braid across her shoulder and laying his head on the pillow next to hers.

  He had to bring an end to all of this and put Jul
ia's mind to rest, but he just didn't know how. He had a couple of ideas to work on. Sharon's accusations for one and the mysterious woman Victor had written about in his journal. If only he could prove they were all connected. If Sharon's story of when she returned is correct, than there was no way she could be responsible for what had happened at Turner Stables, before Victor's death, but Daniel knew there had to be a link somewhere, something that would tie everything together. And what about the girl he saw tonight? Who was she and how did she fit into all of this and how did she get a dress that so closely matched the one of Heather’s that it fooled Julia?

  It was just going to take time to sort out the details and even more patience trying to keep Julia safe and out of harm's reach. None of this was going to be easy, and the feeling of anticipation weighed heavy on Daniel's broad shoulders. His heart ached for Julia; his arms tightened around her and his lips nuzzled her neck. She was his and it was up to him to protect her if he could. Even to the point of risking and offering his own life in exchange.

  Breakfast was ready and waiting when Daniel entered the dining room. The thought of the work that lay ahead forced him out of bed earlier than he would have preferred. Julia's arms were too inviting to leave, but as the sun began to shine through the curtains he knew it was pointless to be lazy.

  He dressed and shaved as quietly as possible hoping not to wake her. He kissed her softly on the cheek and headed down the stairs to find Jeremy was already waiting.

  As Daniel gulped down his meal, eager to get started, the sound of a heavy step echoed down the hall as Rally Overton hurried into the room. He eyed Daniel momentarily before smiling, removing his dirty hat.

  "We's got a problem down at the stables," the older man replied, much to Daniel's irritation. Just once he'd like to hear something besides, we's got a problem, from the man.

  "What is it Overton?" he asked; last night’s events made his words seem sharper than he would have preferred.

  "We's found three dead hosses in the pasture," Rally explained briefly.

  "How?" Daniel snapped.

  "They's been shot clear through the 'ead. I's say they's been dead since the fire."

  "Damn," Daniel cursed slamming his fist on the table. Three more dead horses meant a great loss to the stables, but to have them shot on private land, was unthinkable.

  "There's more Mr. Brownin'," Rally continued, reaching inside his jacket, pulling out an old whiskey bottle with the remains of a charred rag stuffed inside. Daniel looked the bottle over and frowned as the foreman began again.

  "We's found seven of them there bottles and they's all been burned real bad."

  "Where did you find them?"

  "With the ashes. It weren't no accident them bein' there. They was under the hay stacks 'n tucked way back in the back of the barn. We's found two outside near the rear door. I's be bettin' that fire weren't no accident, Mr. Brownin'. I's stake my last dollar it were deliberate."

  "Arson?" Daniel asked, mentally running through a list of names of anyone who could be responsible.

  "It's lookin' that way."

  "Anyone see anything?"

  "No sir, ain't nobody see nothin'. We was all busy helpin' to put out the fire."

  "Where was Dourn last night?" Daniel asked, receiving a frown from the older man.

  " Dourn?"

  "Yes Dourn," he grumbled irritably. "Where was he when the fire broke out?"

  "It weren't Dourn, Mr. Brownin'. I's swear ta that. He were with me, runnin' Roustabout. He weren't nowhere's near the stables. But some of the men, they's say they's seen a woman with dark hair, just a'fore the fire broke out. She were riding away from the barn on a brown mare."

  “I thought you said nobody saw anything?” Jeremy asked with a deep frown.

  “Well, I’s be meanin’ nothin’ other than that. That there lil filly has been seen a might number of times.”

  “Who saw her?” Daniel asked, a frown matching his brother-in-law’s creased his brow.

  “Some of the new hands,” Rally said shuffling his feet.

  Daniel frowned at the man; Rally Overton had never defended a man so eagerly, as he did Dourn, then to mention the sighting of the mysterious woman, after insisting just seconds ago no one had seen anything out of the ordinary. It was as though Rally was deliberately making excuses for Dourn, even to the extreme of accusing an unknown woman - their mystery woman.

  "Check out everything and everyone and I want a full report on this mystery woman, whoever she is. I want to talk to everyone who saw her, myself." Daniel made his orders clear, pushing his plate aside. Rally nodded and turned to leave. "Rally," Daniel said, stopping the man before he could reach the door. "I think you'd better call in Sheriff Patrick. And keep an eye on that Dourn fellow. I want him watched for a few days."

  "Yes sir," the man replied, leaving the room with Jeremy and Daniel inside. They listened to the heavy footsteps as they disappeared down the hall and then the back door closing before discussing the news they just learned.

  "First we have an attacker to worry about, now an arsonist," Jeremy complained, pushing his plate across to settle next to Daniel's. "I'm almost afraid to ask what's next."

  "I'm not going to push fate at this point. Let's just get busy on the new barn and try to keep everything as calm as possible. The last thing we need right now is for word of this to get out to the buyers."

  "I really should cancel my trip for a few more weeks," Jeremy insisted. "You're going to need help getting the new stables finished in time for the sale."

  "Absolutely not; I promised your mother I'd have you on that train the twentieth and I'm not going to break my word. Besides, she'd probably find some horrible way to punish me if I disobeyed."

  "Let’s just hope she doesn’t chose to send you to your room; especially when you have to share it with my beautiful, sexy sister. A fate worse than death?" Daniel smiled at the boy and chuckled softly.

  "Isn't it just terrible?" The two men left the room and headed out to the remains of the stables, their spirits feeling much lighter than a few moments earlier.

  The sun was bright and the air was humid as they hurried across the yard to the charred remains of the stables. The sounds of horses could be heard across the acres of open land and the creaking of old timbers echoed in the morning air as several workers were busy pulling the timbers down from the burnt structure.

  Daniel could feel the apprehension of the stable hands; the story of the homemade bombs had filtered through the masses as well as the fact horses were shot on private property. It was going to take every ounce of strength Daniel had to hold everyone together. He only prayed the danger was over and nothing else would happen - at least before the sales were over.

  Nearly two weeks had passed before Daniel and Louise would allow Julia to go out of the house without a chaperone. They worried about her and she knew it was more for her mental health, than physical. Thompson watched after her like an old mother hen and when he was forced to abandon his guard, Mrs. Lester or Louise was always there to take his place.

  All the hired hands were busy working on the new stables, spending sixteen to eighteen hours a day hammering, banging and sawing. Although the stables were some distance from the house, the sounds were a constant reminder of the horror that seemed to plague the ranch.

  The nightmares still interrupted Julia’s sleep on a nightly basis, but Daniel was always there to comfort and console her and although they had yet to make love, he slept in her bed and held her throughout the night.

  With a great deal of arguing and coaxing on both Daniel and Julia's part, Jeremy finally returned to school just a week after the fire. He and Julia had taken the buggy out the day before he left for one last ride together. The sights of the farm left a definite impression on one's mind and Julia knew saying good-bye was difficult for her younger brother, just as it had been the first time she left home.

  She sat still and quiet waiting for him to speak, watching as Rally rode his steed o
ut of the stables alone heading toward the open fields. She noticed another man leaving the stables minutes after Rally, heading north toward the swimming hole.

  Julia refused to think of that place any further. It was upsetting and a constant obstacle between Daniel and her. she glanced back to her little brother and frowned. She had the distinct feeling there was something specific on his mind, although he continued to drive the buggy in silence. They rode together for a long time, before Jeremy found the courage to say anything.

  "You don't know how really worried we all were when Daniel brought you back up from the pond," he told her at last. "I don't think I've ever felt so completely helpless."

  "It was stupid to go to the swimming hole alone," she repeated the lecture Daniel had given to her, as though reciting it after hours of diligent practice. "I should have found someone to ride with me."

  "You would have gone either way. You're too much like father," he teased before falling back into silence. Julia cleared her throat for the fifth time, deciding to take a new approach to the man's solitude.

  "Is it my imagination Jeremy or are you wanting to say something?" He looked at the woman in shock then smiled.

  "I never could hide anything from you, could I?" He patted her hand with a tender gesture.

  "Never; so what's on your mind, little brother?"

  "Daniel told me you thought you saw Heather's ghost," he admitted delicately. Julia lowered her eyes. She had hoped to avoid mentioning the subject again. "Is it true?"

  "I thought I did," she replied looking out across the open fields.

  "But now you're not sure?"

  "I don't know what I saw, Jeremy. I thought it was Heather, it looked like her, it sounded like her, but...I just don't know anymore. Daniel says it's impossible for the dead to come back to life. Perhaps he's right."

  "Have you seen her since the night of the fire?"

  "No and personally I'd rather forget the whole thing. It upsets Daniel and I don't like to think about it." Jeremy fell into silence again, glancing across the seat to his sister. Her hair hung in a braid down her back and she wore a tight fitting blue cotton dress. She looked like a picture out of a book of poetry, he thought, as he studied her beauty for several moments. He actually found himself envious of Daniel. It wasn't every man who could capture the heart of a woman as beautiful as his sister.