Moonlight on Water

by Jo Ann Ferguson

  “Don’t!” She leaped to her feet. “The Assembly of Elders won’t allow you to ask questions here.”

  “I represent the law in this county.”

  “But not in River’s Haven.”

  Wyatt put his hand on Rachel’s shoulder. “Listen to her, Sheriff Parker. She knows what she’s talking about. Is there a way the sheriff can get permission to talk to River’s Haven folks, honey?”

  She saw the sheriff’s eyes narrow at Wyatt’s endearment, but answered quickly, “There’s only one way. You must present your request personally to the Assembly of Elders, Sheriff Parker.”

  “Where can I find them?”

  “They receive callers from outside the Community only once a month, and that day has already passed this month.”

  The sheriff muttered something that she did not ask him to repeat.

  “Maybe,” she added, “if you were to ask Reverend Faulkner to speak with them, they’d be willing to make an exception. They have before because they respect him.”

  “Just not the laws outside this place?”

  “That’s right.” She was not going to dodge the truth.

  “I can see this is going to be more complicated than I had guessed.” He turned to Wyatt and Horace. “When will you be returning to The Ohio Star? I’d like you to show me around and point out what was damaged in the fire.”

  “It’s pretty obvious.” Wyatt scowled. “How about tomorrow, about midmorning?”

  “Tomorrow, about midmorning, it’ll be.” He tipped his hat to Rachel again. “Thank you for your hospitality, Miss Browning. It was, I admit, more than I thought I’d find out here. Good evening.” He looked at Wyatt again. “And I hope a much better tomorrow.”

  Rachel looked up as the cottage door opened, allowing in the moon’s glow, which was dimmed by fog. When she saw Wyatt enter, she wanted to jump up and throw her arms around him. Her last caller had been Mr. Foley, who had been quite insistent that she go for a ride with him tomorrow “to talk about the rumors I’ve been hearing.” She had few doubts what he might have heard. By now, everyone in River’s Haven must know that Wyatt and Horace had spent last night in her cottage.

  Mr. Foley had been polite, as he always was. He had not interrogated her about her guests or why she had agreed to let them come to stay with her. Instead he had given her hands a kind squeeze and said how he looked forward to their ride tomorrow afternoon.

  Merrill had not called, and Rachel was grateful that he was too busy enjoying his new wife to think about his wayward sister. Merrill would not have been as pleasant as Mr. Foley.

  “You’re up late,” Wyatt said, hanging his hat on the peg by her door as if he had done the same thing hundreds of times before. “Where are Horace and K. C.?”

  “Kitty Cat is asleep in her own bed. Horace is sleeping on the floor of her room. I told him that he could have the sofa, but he said he didn’t mind sleeping in there.”

  “I guess he thought we might like a little privacy to talk about things.”

  “Do you want a cup of coffee?”

  He nodded. “That might be a good idea. No, don’t get up. Just tell me where the cups are.”

  “On the shelf over the table.”

  “I’ll find them.”

  When Wyatt came back to the sofa, he was carrying two cups. He handed her one.

  Taking it, she asked, “Are you feeling better? You’re walking better.”

  He grinned. “You’re about the best medicine any man could wish for, honey.”

  Setting her cup on the table by the sofa, she said, “We do need to talk, Wyatt.”

  “And we will.” He put his cup right next to hers. “Later.”

  He pressed her back onto the cushions. While his mouth explored her neck, his breath billowed against her skin, inviting her to open herself to him again. With regret, she looked up at his strong face. He was the realization of her dreams, but she was not sure if he knew that.

  “We must stop,” she whispered.

  “I don’t want to, honey, but …” He sat and drew her up beside him. His fingers combed through her hair that had tumbled out of its loose bun. “I know you want to hear about The Ohio Star.”

  “Horace told me it’s repairable.”

  “One deck has a hole in it, and the railing is broken in two places. Otherwise, the wood’s just charred. It can be scraped down or replaced.”

  “How will you pay for the materials?”

  “Horace tells me he has a few dollars stashed away, and we’ve got a shipment to deliver down the river. It’s coming in on the train, and The Ohio Star takes over from there. What we earn should be enough for the wood we’ll need. Mrs. Sawyer will advance us the wood, I’m sure, because she gave us the commission to take down the river.”

  Rachel stared at him. She did not know what to say. She had known that eventually Wyatt would be leaving Haven, but she had not guessed he would tell her this right after they had become lovers. She had hoped—futilely she realized now—he loved her enough to stay.

  “When did you know about this?” she asked softly.

  “A few days ago. I haven’t had a chance to tell you.” He curved his hand along her cheek. “Honey, I didn’t want to tell you when you were in my arms. I wanted those moments to be perfect.”

  “When do you leave?”

  He lowered his hand. “Some time shortly after the Centennial celebration. It depends on when the shipment arrives on the train.” He took her hands. “Honey, I’ll be back. Leave River’s Haven and find a place to stay in Haven. After all, if you stay here, you’ll probably end up married to Foley.”

  Rachel got up. “Those aren’t my only two choices, so why do you keep suggesting that I leave River’s Haven?”

  “I thought it was obvious.”

  “If you think this is the way to seduce me—”

  “It is.” Standing, he put his hands on her shoulders. “To seduce you into being rational and leaving this place. You don’t belong here.”

  “Why do you care?”

  “Horace asked me the same thing. He told me I was a fool.”

  “Listening to you now, I’d have to agree.”

  “But I’ve got another solution to this problem.”

  “What is it?”

  “Honey, you want to stay here. I can’t stay here. You don’t want to get married. Neither do I. If I stay with The Ohio Star and stop to see you each time I pass here, we can have what we both want—a life free of commitments and with each other.”

  “Are you serious?” she gasped. Her head was reeling with all that had happened in the past days.

  “Yes, I thought it’d make you happy.”

  “To be with you only when you have the time to stop by and see me?”

  “You know it’d be as often as possible.” He arched a brow. “After all, that arrangement has worked well for Horace and his families.”

  “Wyatt, that won’t work for me. I don’t want to spend the rest of my life alone, waiting for you to come to see me whenever you decide to.” But I don’t want to say goodbye either, she added silently.

  “Rachel—”

  She put her fingers to his lips and said, “Maybe you have it backward, Wyatt.”

  “Backward? How?”

  “Instead of me leaving River’s Haven, why don’t you come and live here?”

  He stared at her in astonishment. “What did you say?”

  “Kitty Cat and I have enough room in our cottage for another.”

  “Foley intends to take that spot.”

  Grasping his sleeve, she said, “Forget about that for now.”

  “Honey, Foley won’t forget that.”

  “I’m not talking about Mr. Foley. I’m talking about you.”

  “Are you seriously asking me to become a member of the River’s Haven Community?”

  “Yes.”

  He laughed so hard that he bent almost in half. He began to cough.

  “I didn’t mean for it to be a jest,
” she said, handing him a cup of water.

  “But it’s funny.” He drank the water and set down the cup.

  “No, it isn’t. I came here because I loved my brother enough not to want to leave him to create a new life alone.” She swallowed harshly. “Isn’t that what love is? Sacrificing for those you love?”

  “Love?” He shook his head. “Don’t bring that into this discussion.”

  “How can I leave it out? You must know that I’ve fallen in love with you. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have stayed with you on The Ohio Star.”

  “Rachel, I thought you wanted to avoid any complications, too.”

  “Am I just another convenient bit of fluff for you?” Blinking back tears, she kept her voice low. Had Merrill been right? Had Wyatt Colton been using her? “I won’t be so convenient any longer, I can assure you.”

  His jaw tightened. “I thought this was what you wanted. You said you didn’t want to get married.”

  “How lucky for you! You get to tumble me like a cheap whore, and then you can walk away without a care.” Her hands clenched at her sides. “I’m no whore! I don’t lift my skirts for just any man.”

  “I never meant to suggest that you did. I didn’t mean any of this!”

  “I did.” Her voice broke as she backed away. “I meant every bit of the love I offered you.”

  She went into her bedroom, closing the door. She waited for the latch to move … and waited and waited until dawn, but it never did.

  Eighteen

  Rachel adjusted her bonnet as she closed the cottage’s red door behind her. Kitty Cat was going to spend the afternoon playing with the other children. Wyatt had gone back to The Ohio Star with Horace before dawn. No one was here to ease her anxiety as she went to meet Mr. Foley at the stable for a carriage ride.

  It would have been far easier to face Mr. Foley if she had not given herself to Wyatt. What a nincompoop she had been! He had told her that he wanted no commitments, even as her heart was pleading to belong to him.

  Bugs buzzed along the river, their strident song adding to the tension that made her muscles ache. The sun burned through her bonnet, for the storms had not decreased either the heat or the humidity.

  Rachel paused at the door of the stable, waiting for her eyes to adjust from the bright sunshine. She took a deep breath of the aromas of horses and straw and leather polish. When she and Merrill had lived on the farm in Ohio, she had loved helping their father clean his saddle.

  As her eyes began to see through the dimness, two forms emerged from the other shadows. She started to call a greeting, but quickly clamped her mouth shut. She stared, unable to believe what was right in front of her. A man and a woman kissing with obvious ardor. Mr. Foley and … Miss Turnbull, who was now his ex-wife. She wanted to believe that she was mistaken. When the two drew apart, smiling at each other, she knew she was not.

  Miss Turnbull ran her fingers along Mr. Foley’s cheek with the gentleness that suggested that they had recently shared far more than this one illicit kiss. Rachel had seen that satisfied expression on Wyatt’s face when she was lying beside him in his bed. Had Mr. Foley and Miss Turnbull had a tryst right here in the stable? That was possible, for no one else was in sight.

  She must leave, for she could not imagine what she might say to Mr. Foley and his onetime wife. As she shifted to take a step back, her gaze locked with Mr. Foley’s. Shock and fury mixed in his eyes before his mouth stretched in a rigid smile.

  “Calvin, my love, what’s wrong?” asked Miss Turnbull. “You look positively distressed.”

  Mr. Foley continued to stare at Rachel as he said, “Miss Browning has joined us.”

  With a tiny squeal of dismay, Miss Turnbull whirled. She jabbed her hair back under her bonnet, but Rachel could see that it was loose and mussed.

  “Just as I supposedly joined you,” Rachel said quietly, “on a carriage ride. There wasn’t any meeting you were trying to avoid, was there, Miss Turnbull?”

  As Miss Turnbull’s face bleached, Mr. Foley put his hand on his former wife’s arm and said, “I’ll see you this evening at dinner in the Community room. If you’ll excuse Miss Browning and me …”

  Was he going to pretend that nothing amiss had happened here? Did he think that Rachel would not recognize what had taken place between the two of them? She wanted to ask those questions but bit them back as Miss Turnbull murmured something and vanished into the dusk at the far end of the stable.

  Straightening his dark waistcoat, Mr. Foley strode toward Rachel. His smile did not warm as he offered his arm.

  She did not put her hand on it as she said, “I believe it’d be better if we canceled this carriage ride, Mr. Foley. It appears to be an inopportune time for you.”

  “Do you believe so?” He moved closer to her.

  She pressed back against the wall. Something caught at her skirt as she tried to slide away. His hand on her arm kept her from harboring any ideas of fleeing. She squared her shoulders. She did not want to escape. She wanted him to explain why he had been kissing his ex-wife.

  Mr. Foley continued to smile. She said nothing, and his lips fell. He wanted her to beg him to let her go. What an arrogant idiot! Did he think she would forget the rights she had to denounce him to the Assembly of Elders?

  She clasped her hands in front of her. Mr. Foley was not the idiot. She was. As a member of the Assembly of Elders, his lies would be believed instead of her truth.

  “Come with me, Miss Browning,” he said. “Our conversation is more suited for a ride along the river.”

  “No. I’m going to return to my cottage to do some chores.”

  “I’ll walk you there.”

  Rachel wanted to decline his company again, but she knew she could not tell him that he was unwelcome to walk anywhere he chose at River’s Haven. He said nothing until they reached her cottage. When he opened her door, she wanted to pull it closed behind her.

  She faced him as he entered. “If you’re intending to explain why you and Miss Turnbull are breaking River’s Haven’s laws, I—”

  “You are the one breaking our laws, Rachel.” His superior tone returned.

  “There’s no law against being friendly with our neighbors.” She would not pretend not to understand what he meant. There had been too many lies and half-truths already. She untied her bonnet, and set it on the table.

  “Neighbors, not outsiders.”

  She crossed her arms in front of her. “I’ll be glad to admit my questionable actions in front of the Assembly of Elders, if you’re as willing to admit to yours.”

  “You know you’re to play a special part in my life. What part does that river rat play in yours?”

  As she sat on the sofa, Rachel saw rage had come back into his eyes. Until Wyatt had arrived at River’s Haven, she had never seen Mr. Foley so angry. She did not like what she was discovering about this man the Assembly of Elders wished her to marry.

  “Don’t be jealous of Wyatt.” She would not be a hypocrite like Mr. Foley and speak of Wyatt as Mr. Colton.

  “Should I be? Have you been giving him what should be mine alone?”

  He sat, pulling her to him. When he kissed her, she shoved him away.

  “Mr. Foley, it’s clear you and Miss Turnbull are lovers still.” She scowled. “Why are you trying to pretend otherwise?”

  As if she had remained silent, he went on. “I don’t want you giving Colton even a single kiss because you’re to be my second wife.”

  “While you still have a secret affair with your first wife?”

  “You’ll never speak of that again.” His mouth twisted before it pressed over hers.

  As he reached to draw her skirt higher along her legs, she cried, “Mr. Foley, stop!” She struggled against him, but he did not release her.

  “Why are you resisting?” He smiled. “I can give you everything you want in River’s Haven. After all, I obtained permission for anyone, who wished to, to go to Haven for the Centennial celebration.” His smile van
ished into a threatening scowl. “Prove to me that you want me instead of Colton.”

  “I don’t need to prove anything to you.”

  “Yes, you do. Prove it to me now.” His mouth over hers silenced her protest as he shoved her back onto the cushions, holding her arms tightly.

  With a grimace, Rachel exerted every bit of her strength against him. It was not enough to break his grip, but she was able to roll out from beneath him. Sitting on the floor, she pointed to the door and ordered, “Get out! Now!”

  “You can’t tell me what to do.”

  “This is my home, and I can ask you to leave. Go, or—”

  “Or you’ll run to the other Elders with your lies?” He stood and adjusted his waistcoat as he had in the stable. Was that his way of pretending again that nothing out of the ordinary had happened?

  “With the truth.”

  “Go ahead.” He gestured toward the door as she had. “Go ahead and spread your filth as you spread your legs for Colton.”

  Pushing herself to her feet, Rachel paid no attention to the heat on her face at his coarse words. She should not be the one blushing. Mr. Foley was the liar, not her.

  With quiet dignity, she said, “I’ll spread the truth, if you don’t leave.”

  He smiled again, a condescending smile. “It’ll be very sad.”

  “What will be very sad?” She watched him closely, wondering what that smile augured.

  “That your river rat is found floating in the river when his half-burned boat goes to the bottom.”

  “Are you saying if I go to the other Elders with the truth about how you and Miss Turnbull have thumbed your noses at River’s Haven’s compound marriage doctrine, you’ll attack The Ohio Star … again?”

  He patted her arm. “My dear, you’re becoming irrational. I believe I’ll have to speak to the Assembly of Elders about how you’ve obviously been overtaxed with taking care of that urchin. It’s time we remedied that.”

  Rachel stepped back, wrapping her arms around herself. He was threatening to hurt both Wyatt and Kitty Cat. Lowering her eyes, she swallowed the bitter taste of defeat.

  “There’s no need to remedy anything,” she said quietly. “I’ll concentrate on taking care of Katherine and forget about everything else.”