Lynette Vinet

by Wild Eden Wicked

  She glanced out the window and noticed the guests weren’t assembled. People spoke to each other in small groups, others straggled off, but their voices carried up to the second floor and she swore she heard someone mention “Alexander.” Just when she decided to have Nonnie check and see what was the cause of the delay, a knock sounded on her door and Jock entered.

  “Jock, it’s bad luck to see the bride!” Marjorie admonished.

  Jock ignored her, training his eyes on Eden. “I have to leave, my dear. Something has come up and it’s imperative I ride off for a while. As soon as I return, the ceremony will take place.”

  “What’s wrong?” Eden asked, fearing that if she waited another moment she’d go mad but more than grateful for the short reprieve. “You’re dressed, the guests are growing impatient…”

  “I’ll explain later. Under no circumstances are you to leave the house. The magistrate’s men shall be nearby,” was his terse declaration, and he was gone.

  “What do you suppose that was about?” Marjorie went to the window. “There are a number of men mounting up.”

  Looking for herself, Eden saw not only the stationhands and law officers but some of the guests on horseback. They all carried guns. They waited until Jock came out of the house and mounted Ice, then they departed in a whirlwind of dust and thundering hooves.

  “I think it’s a posse,” Marjorie remarked. “I wonder what happened.”

  They didn’t have long to wonder, for a moment later the secretary-general’s wife flew into the room. Her face was bright with excitement. “There’s been a murder!” she cried. “The men have gone to hunt down the killer. He made it onto High Winds and was shot! Heavens, what a day!” She fanned herself with her handkerchief. “He escaped the men and now is a terror to the countryside.”

  “Who was killed? Who are they after?” Eden questioned before Marjorie asked the same thing.

  The woman opened her mouth to speak, but faltered. “Oh, my dear, Eden, I’m sorry. Forgive me, I had forgotten about you and Mr. Alexander.”

  “Tell me! What about Damon?”

  “He’s wanted for the murder of his wife. Her body was found along the Shotover this morning, strangled, I believe. The rumor is they constantly argued and he was heard to threaten her a number of times. When the constable went to question him, he bolted away, but before he could be captured he’d made it to High Winds. One of Mr. Sutherland’s stationhands shot him. No one knows how bad he was hurt, but he managed to escape.”

  A cry of anguish erupted from Eden’s throat, and she fell to the floor in an ivory satin heap. “Damon didn’t kill Tessa! He couldn’t kill anybody!” she screamed for the whole house to hear. “I don’t believe it! I don’t!” But even as Marjorie hovered around her and tried to quiet her, Eden wasn’t certain she believed her own rantings.

  Could Damon be capable of murder? Had he killed Tessa? He wanted a divorce, and he’d told Eden that somehow he would be free of his wife … Quivers of alarm and suspicion overpowered her.

  ~~~

  Eden. He must save Eden. Eden. Eden.

  Damon’s mind whirled with images of her and Jock Sutherland, and he knew he had to rescue her from High Winds. He couldn’t let her marry Tessa’s murderer. And Jock had strangled Tessa, he knew it. But no one would believe him. The constable had arrived that morning with three of his men and approached Damon at the mine with news that Tessa’s body had been discovered by a placer miner along the Shotover. They’d questioned him about Tessa and the rumors they’d heard about his wish to divorce her. He’d answered them truthfully, why lie when he’d done nothing wrong? But it seemed they were convinced he was guilty and decided to arrest him for Tessa’s murder. Their proof of his guilt was a letter found by her body, the letter he’d written to Eden in which he told her he loved her and would free himself of Tessa.

  Damon’s mind had been working while they questioned him, and he’d come to the realization that Tessa must have met Jock someplace and that he’d killed her. There was no other explanation for her to have left the house other than to see Jock. He was the only friend she had in the Otago, and Damon knew it had been Jock who’d brought her from Christ Church. Jock had murdered her and now was framing him with a letter he’d written to Eden. Jock wanted him out of the way—permanently.

  God, his shoulder hurt! Luckily, the bullet had grazed him, but he was losing blood and a strange weakness threatened to overpower him. He was riding on War Dance across the open plains of Kia Ora, having eluded the constable’s men, but the bullet had come from one of Sutherland’s stationhands. Damon knew it was only a matter of time before a posse was on his trail.

  He needed help and knew of only one person who would freely offer it.

  Tiku saw him on the plains before Damon spotted him. Immediately the Maori rode toward him, scattering the sheep in his wake. No words were necessary, as he immediately discerned Damon was in trouble. He grabbed the reins and led War Dance to a more secluded spot where no one would see them.

  “I owe you my thanks,” Damon groaned when Tiku helped him from the horse. His breath came heavily and he was unable to sit up.

  “Don’t thank me yet.” Tiku pronounced each word distinctly. “The blood flows freely, and I must stop it. But you can’t remain here. Word travels fast, Damon. You must hide.”

  “The lagoon. Take me there.”

  Tiku nodded, and tried to stop the bleeding by applying pressure. “I’ll get the wagon and place you beneath the freshly sheared wool. If anyone sees me, they’ll believe I’m headed into town to sell it.”

  “Tiku, wool makes me itch.”

  “Better to itch than to die, my friend.”

  ~~~

  Jock had been gone for three hours. Dusk was descending and Eden’s nerves were stretched taut. There wasn’t going to be a wedding that day, and Eden didn’t care. Her thoughts centered on Damon and she couldn’t stop the kaleidoscope of images twirling around her brain.

  She saw Damon, hurt and bleeding, left to die somewhere or be captured by the constable, if not killed. Jock was the driving force behind the posse, she knew it. Everyone looked to him because he was a member of Parliament, perhaps one day to be appointed governor of New Zealand. If Damon were captured, no one would lift a hand to save him, not if Jock decreed his death. The bullet from the stationhand’s gun was proof that men did whatever Jock wanted.

  More than anything, she prayed Damon would escape. She paced her room, rushing to the window each time she heard voices in the yard. But now all was strangely silent, the yard empty. The townspeople must have realized the wedding wouldn’t occur and had gone home.

  Marjorie knocked on her door and peered inside. She quietly entered the room and shut the door. “Eden,” she whispered. “Tiku’s waiting behind the house. He knows where Damon is and will take you to him.”

  “Oh, Marjorie, did he say how Damon is?” Eden started ripping open the buttons on the front of her wedding gown, not wasting a moment.

  “He’s lost a great deal of blood, but Tiku stopped the bleeding and saw to the wound. He won’t tell me where Damon’s hiding because of Jock.” Marjorie placed a pleading hand on her friend’s arm after Eden had changed into a riding outfit and boots. “Damon is innocent, Eden. Stay with him and don’t come back here, even if you both have to run away.”

  Eden kissed Marjorie’s cheek. “Take care of yourself … and Tiku.”

  Marjorie flushed but didn’t apologize for not telling Eden she and Tiku loved each other. “Be as happy with Mr. Alexander as I am with Tiku, Eden. That’s what I want for you. And here, wear this…” Taking off her lace shawl, she placed it over Eden’s head and then handed Eden her cane. “The house is overrun with guests and the magistrate’s men. Jock gave orders that you’re not to leave, but I am free to do so. If anyone sees you, pretend to be me. No one will stop you if you’re seen leaving with Tiku. They’ll assume we’re returning to Kia Ora.”

  Tears of gratitude and love for Mar
jorie blinded Eden. She wasn’t certain she’d see Marjorie ever again after tonight, and already she missed her. But Damon waited for her and she had to go to him. He was her life.

  Slipping out of the room, she managed to make it to the back stairway, ready to give a convincing imitation of Marjorie’s limp, if someone should happen by. No one was in the kitchen and she made it outside without trouble, then was pulled aside by Tiku, who stood near the back door. He pointed to the buggy and Eden started to run for it, but his arm on hers warned her to be still when Jock and a group of riders galloped into the yard.

  They’d already been spotted by Constable Vickers. “Going home, Mrs. Carruthers?” he called out.

  Eden pulled the shawl tightly around her face, making certain her hair was well hidden beneath it. With a halting limp, not unlike Marjorie’s, and Tiku guiding her to the buggy, she muffled an affirmative answer and returned the wave. The blood pounded in her ears, and she dared not look directly at any of the men, especially Jock, who now dismounted nearby. She could see Jock was disgruntled and that his wedding attire was a mess of dust and dirt. Indeed, there wouldn’t be a wedding that day. She could only pray he wouldn’t go in search of her too soon.

  Eden and Tiku got into the buggy, and she held her breath and prayed. Please don’t let Jock look this way, don’t let him look at me. But almost as soon as she’d finished the prayer, Jock called out, “Marjorie, how is Eden faring?”

  “Dear gracious God,” she whispered.

  “Answer him,” Tiku prodded.

  Eden swallowed and attempted to imitate Marjorie’s British accent. “Fine, Jock. She’s resting.”

  Her heart nearly stopped beating when Jock started walking in their direction. “Are you ill? Why is that shawl about your face in this warm weather?”

  “Mrs. Carruthers has taken a chill and needs to return home,” Tiku swiftly responded, and began urging the horse forward. “Today has been trying for her.”

  “Marjorie, let me bid you a proper farewell,” Jock shouted.

  Panic swelled within Eden, and her blood turned to ice with each of Jock’s approaching footsteps. He was within twenty feet of them when the secretary-general came out of the house and called to him. Jock, ever suave and courteous, lifted his hand to the buggy’s occupants in semblance of a wave and joined the man on the porch. The horse and buggy sauntered from the yard but broke into a full-scale trot when on the road.

  “Hurry, Tiku,” Eden cried, and allowed herself breath again. “Take me to Damon.”

  Chapter 24

  Darkness enfolded the forest in a velvet warmth. No stars glittered overhead as Eden followed Tiku and the lantern-light along the trail to the lagoon. With each step, her heart thumped in anticipation to see Damon again, to hold him in her arms. She’d beg his forgiveness, that’s what she’d do, for allowing him to believe she knew about the damming of the Shotover, for deserting him when he needed her.

  A small outcropping of rock shielded Damon from view. Eden saw him, lying on a soft nest of ferns, only after she’d come around the other side of the lagoon and nearly stumbled upon him. From the lantern’s light, Eden saw Damon’s eyes were closed and he lay so still, she worried he was dead. But Tiku bent down and gently touched Damon’s shoulder. Damon stirred and came awake. “How do you feel?” Tiku asked him, examining the bandaged wound.

  “Hurts like hell,” Damon admitted.

  “You’ve a fever, too, so I’m going to have Eden give you the elixir I’ve brought.”

  “Eden?” He sounded disbelieving and blinked a number of times when Tiku moved out of the way and Eden came forward.

  She didn’t immediately go to him as she longed to do, but stood watching him with a wary expression. What if he didn’t want her? He seemed so surprised to see her that she suddenly wondered if he’d asked Tiku to bring her here in the first place. She surmised correctly when Tiku explained. “Someone needs to care for you. I have duties at Kia Ora, so Eden is the best choice. I’ve brought blankets and enough food to last a few days—until you’re able to travel. I’ll check on you again in a day or so.” Tiku glanced from Damon to Eden and back again to Damon. “I trust I won’t need to referee.” Tiku positioned the lantern on the top of a rock, bade them farewell, then silently, he left them.

  Eden held a flannel blanket and absently fingered the fringe. She felt so unaccountably foolish, so embarrassed to realize Tiku had arranged for her to come to Damon. Damon hadn’t asked for her at all.

  Finally, she got her bearings. Damon needed her care.

  “Are you cold?” she asked in concern, falling to her knees beside him.

  “Aye, ‘tis chilly I am.”

  She couldn’t help but smile as she laid the blanket over him. Damon always reverted to his brogue when uncertain or nervous. Did her presence make him nervous? That would be better than making him angry.

  When she would have moved away, he caught her wrist in a surprisingly strong clasp for a feverish man. “Did your husband allow you to leave his bed and nurse me?’’

  “I didn’t get married today.”

  “Ah, of course, my shooting must have prevented the happy occasion. Will there be a wedding tomorrow?”

  Eden shook her head. A long strand of hair spilled out of a pin and fell across her shoulder. “I’m not marrying Jock or returning to High Winds. I’m staying with you, Damon, for better or worse. I should never have gone in the first place. Because I left you, Tessa took over Castlegate. It’s because of me that you’re lying here now, hurt and hunted down for murder. I shouldn’t have run away but stayed and fought for you.”

  “Aye,” he agreed with a quiet firmness. “You should have stayed.”

  Choking back a sob, she fought for control of her emotions. “Tiku came for me. I realize now you didn’t ask for me, but I’ll stay with you until you tell me to leave.”

  The grasp on her wrist loosened and he brought her hand to his lips. He placed a small, warm kiss within her palm. “Stay with me forever, my beauty.”

  “Oh, Damon, do you mean that? Can you forgive me for letting you believe I supported Jock in damming the river? I didn’t. I only agreed to marry him because you and the miners would suffer if I didn’t. None of this would be happening, except for my stupidity—”

  “Eden, if you don’t stop your jabbering, how am I, a sick and wounded man, ever going to get you to bend down and kiss me?”

  She sucked in her breath at the realization he did love her and somehow knew the truth. Golden lights shimmered within his eyes and mesmerized her. Stretching out and lying against the hardened length of him, she felt his arms go around her and bring her against the warmth of his chest. Their lips touched of their own accord and the kiss was filled with a bright fire, a sweetness which caused the tears to spill from her eyes and roll down her cheeks.

  “Woman, what are you crying about?” he asked, wiping one tear away with the pad of his thumb. “Aren’t I doing a good job of kissing you?”

  Her fingers trailed sensuously across his stubbled chin, and she nestled her head on his shoulder. “I want you to do more than kiss me, but, Damon, I don’t deserve your love or forgiveness. How can you want me, ever again?”

  “Ah, my beauty, we’ve both made our share of mistakes, and mine was the worst. I’m hoping that one day, you can forgive me.”

  The sadness in his voice touched her like nothing else, not even the kiss he placed on the top of her head. “I forgave you long ago,” she replied in an aching whisper.

  “Then you really will be staying with me, Eden? I should make you go back to America, because until I can prove Sutherland killed Tessa, there’s no life for us.”

  “You think Jock killed Tessa?” She sat up and peered closely at Damon. Perhaps his fever had unbalanced his thinking, but no, she could see he meant every word he said and was perfectly lucid. “Why would he do such a thing? I can’t believe he’s capable of murder—”

  “He is! And I have to prove it. But you’re n
ot thinking of going back to him are you?”

  “No, never.”

  “Eden, he’s framing me for Tessa’s death with the note I sent you when you were at Kia Ora. It was found by her body.”

  Her shocked expression was all Damon needed to know she hadn’t given it to Sutherland. “Jock must have searched my room,” she said, and her anger grew. “How dare he do such a thing.”

  “That’s not all. Jock went to Christ Church and persuaded Tessa to return. From the very first he wanted to hurt me, and he knew that by bringing her back, you’d leave me. But apparently he was afraid you’d change your mind and wanted me out of the way permanently. So, because everyone knew how much I hated her, he’s made it look as if I killed her to be free of her. After I realized Jock was behind Tessa’s death I rode to High Winds. It was a stupid and unthinking thing to do, but I wanted to get you away from him, to save you from marrying him. Instead, I get a shoulder full of lead and I’m running for my life.”

  “And you have me,” she reminded him, sinking down next to him and circling her arm around his neck. “You’ll always have me—and Collin. We have to get Collin, Damon.” Her face filled with apprehension. “Suppose Jock decides to use him as a leverage.”

  “I thought about that already. Tiku went to Lanu and she’s hiding Collin at her pa.”

  Eden breathed a relieved sigh. The pa was a fortified village and Lanu’s home. Jock wouldn’t look for the boy there. “Then we have only ourselves to worry about for the moment.”

  “Eden?” Damon asked after a few minutes as they snuggled together. “Do you think I could take some of that elixir Tiku brought?”

  “Are you feeling worse?” she questioned in alarm.

  “No, but not any better. Tiku swears the elixir will make a sick person as good as new, and I’m eager to be feeling better again.”