"I was telling them about our trip yesterday, Erin, and even these dyed-in-the-wool sophisticates had to admit it sounded like fun," Bibi said. "How about some more sightseeing today? There are loads of interesting places on the island."
Erin's face lit up. "I'd love it!" She looked uncertainly at Jason. "Would you mind?"
"Not at all. As a matter of fact, Tommy and I will join you."
"Speak for yourself, buddy," Tommy warned.
"All right, then I'll take the girls," Jason said.
He was all affability this morning. Although Erin didn't care to examine the reasons for it, she was grateful that he was in a good mood.
"Don't be such a party pooper, Tommy," his wife advised. "It won't hurt you to come along. I thought we'd go to Rose Hall Great House today. How does that sound?"
"What is it?" Erin asked curiously.
"Rose Hall is one of the most famous of the old plantations that flourished in the seventeen hundreds. There are all kinds of legends about it, mainly because of Annie Palmer, a sadistic beauty who ran the place with an iron hand. She was noted for her cruelty."
"Was she English?" Erin asked.
"Partly. She was born in Haiti of an English mother and an Irish father, and the story goes that she learned black magic from the local witch doctors. The natives called her the White Witch of Rose Hall, and they truly believed she had supernatural powers."
"She also had three husbands who all came to a bad end," Jason added. "She claimed one was an alcoholic, one went mad and the third died of natural causes, but the natives gave a different version. They called it poison, stabbing, and strangulation," he said dryly.
"Her slaves didn't have it much easier," Tommy chimed in. "She used to ride around the property at night in men's clothes with a huge whip that she used on anyone she found roaming about. I think she rode a black stallion. That's fitting, isn't it?"
"You've just given me a great idea," Bibi exclaimed. "Rose Hall covers thousands of acres. Why don't we rent some horses and tour the estate on horseback?"
Tommy was doubtful. "I'm not sure you're allowed. I know you can ride through Good Hope Estate at Falmouth, but I don't know about Rose Hall."
"Jason can arrange it," Bibi assured him. "He has influence everywhere."
Jason smiled. "I'm flattered by your confidence in me." Turning to Erin, he asked, "Do you ride?"
"Not very well," she admitted, "but I'm sure I could manage to stay on, as long as you don't mind how I look doing it. I was a regular customer at the pony track when I was little, if that helps any."
"You'll be fine. We'll get you a gentle horse," Bibi assured her. "Then it's all settled."
"What's all settled?" Veronica had entered the dining room and was looking at them questioningly.
"We were just planning an outing to Rose Hall today and a horseback ride around the grounds."
"Are you still on that sightseeing kick?" Veronica asked disgustedly.
Bibi looked at her with narrowed eyes. "No one's forcing you to go."
"Of course I'm not going," Veronica said. "Dwayne and Karen's yacht is due back this morning and a group of us are going to have lunch on board. Isn't it a divine day for it, darling?" she asked Jason, apparently completely over her pique of the night before.
Erin looked at Jason apprehensively. He had evidently forgotten his date with Veronica. Did that mean the rest of them would have to give up their plans also?
But she needn't have worried. Jason was saying, "I'm sorry, but the four of us are going to Rose Hall. You can go to lunch with the others if you'd rather."
"I don't want to go with them. I want to be with you." Veronica's lower lip was jutting out like a thwarted child's.
"Then come to Rose Hall," he told her reasonably.
"Why can't we go to lunch?"
Jason's patience, never his long suit, was wearing dangerously thin. "Make up your mind, Veronica. We'll meet out front in half an hour. And if you're coming, wear jeans," he called over his shoulder.
When Erin stepped out the front door right on time, she found Jason standing beside the most remarkable car she had ever seen. It looked as though it had been driven right out of the pages of an F. Scott Fitzgerald novel. Low and racy, it had a long squared off hood decorated with gleaming curved pipes on either side. The convertible canvas roof was fastened to the windshield with a long row of shiny round snaps and the interior was upholstered in the finest glove leather.
"I have no idea what it is, but that's the most beautiful car I've ever seen," Erin gasped, touching the dark green paint gently.
"Isn't she a beauty?" Jason agreed. "It's called an Excalibur. Would you like to drive it?"
Erin's eyes shone. "Could I really?"
"Of course." He smiled down at her. "Would you like the top up or down?"
"Oh, down, please. I love convertibles."
As Jason started to unfasten the top, Bibi and Veronica joined them. Erin had hoped that Veronica would opt for lunch over sightseeing, which she obviously loathed, but she was evidently determined to put up with anything to be with Jason. It didn't augur well for their outing. She was bound to make someone suffer for her disappointment and wouldn't mind if she spoiled the day for everyone.
As though to prove the point, she called sharply to Jason, "Are you putting the top up?"
He glanced up briefly. "No, I'm putting it down."
"Well, put it back up. You know I can't stand the wind making a mess of my hair."
Tommy was backing a small yellow luxury coupe out of the garage. Jason said, "You can ride with Tommy and Bibi."
"I don't want to go with them. I want to be with you. Why do you think I'm coming on this stupid tour, anyway?"
Jason eyed her impassively. "You can go with them or you can stay home. Erin and I are driving the Excalibur—with the top down," he added firmly.
Veronica's thin lips curled back, exposing clenched teeth. "What makes you think I'm going to put up with those arrangements? You've humiliated me for the last time, Jason Dimitriou! I don't have to take that kind of treatment from you or any man! I'm leaving, do you hear me? When you get back, I won't be here," she shouted, and stamped furiously into the house.
Erin stood by in an agony of embarrassment, but Jason was completely unruffled. "Get behind the wheel and I'll adjust the seat for you," he said, as though nothing had happened.
Erin's heart swelled with happiness. It didn't seem possible, but he didn't care if Veronica left! Slipping obediently into the front seat, she looked at the top of his head as he bent over, appalled at herself because she had an almost uncontrollable urge to run her fingers through his thick black hair. As he straightened up, he caught her watching him and their eyes met. She dropped hers in confusion, afraid she had given herself away and he would guess why she was suddenly having trouble breathing.
His hand reached out and gently caressed the soft skin of her neck under the tumbling mane of shining hair. "Erin…"
"Okay, troops, let's get going," Tommy's voice called.
As the little yellow car roared past them down the driveway, Jason walked around and got in the passenger seat. Erin's breathing was still uneven, but Jason seemed unaffected by the small moment of intimacy. He gave her last-minute instructions.
"Take it easy until you get the feel of her. This little devil can go like the wind. Before you know it, you're doing ninety."
Erin promised to be careful, but when they got out on the highway and she felt the powerful car surge under her, she unconsciously stepped down on the gas pedal. The wind lifted her long hair, whipping it wildly around her excited face. Jason moved close to her, gathering the silken strands in one hand so her view was unimpeded. He studied her tilted nose and the contours of her soft mouth, but for once Erin wasn't conscious of his nearness.
"Oh, Jason, this is so wonderful. I'll bet this is what flying feels like!"
He kissed her hair so lightly that she was unaware of the caress. "I know, but you'd
better slow down, little one."
Looking at the speedometer, Erin was aghast and eased up on the accelerator. "You were right. I had no idea we were going so fast."
When they reached the stables, Tommy took charge of selecting horses. The mare he chose for Erin was named Sunshine and guaranteed to be docile. Looking at its eyes as it turned its head to look at her, Erin had some misgivings, but not for the world would she have admitted it.
The ride to Rose Hall was through gently wooded slopes, and Erin gradually overcame her nervousness. When Bibi and Tommy cantered on ahead, she was all for joining their pace, but Jason restrained her.
"I want you to get the feel of it first. We have all day."
"But I'm holding you back," she protested. "This can't be any fun for you."
He smiled at her. "Don't bet on it."
A wave of delight swept over Erin. Maybe this was only a truce, but he was telling her that he was enjoying being with her. No matter what came after, she had a feeling this was going to be a golden day in her memories.
Nothing they had told her prepared Erin for her first look at Rose Hall. The serene three-story mansion nestled among towering trees and belied its bloody history. Wide balconies invited sunning, and the huge mahogany doors with high ornamented arches looked hospitable.
Inside, the polished floors had been restored to their former magnificence and everything spoke of money and ease, but there were subtle reminders of the former owner's cruelty. How many slaves had it taken to fashion those hand-hewn stone steps that led to the music salon and countless guest rooms? And in Annie's great bedroom, where she finally met a violent end at the hands of grossly abused servants, were there actually duppies, or ghosts, as some Jamaicans still claimed? Erin shivered. Although she enjoyed the tour, she was nevertheless glad to get out into the warm fresh air.
The large pond, at least, held no memories of evil. The regal swans floating on its glassy surface appeared almost unreal in their perfection. The small island in the middle, filled with brilliantly flowering shrubs, was an added delight.
After giving Erin time to look her fill, Bibi called, "Okay, everybody, time to get on our horses— literally," and they all mounted up.
Only a short distance from the house, or so it seemed, they were back in the seventeen hundreds. Huge tree ferns, still standing after centuries, waved their feathered fans at broad-leafed banana trees that whispered softly back. Their dense green formed a backdrop for flaming poincianas, African tulip trees and pink oleanders, while citrus of every kind contributed their perfume. Civilization with its horns and radios was far away, and harmonious sounds took their rightful place in this sylvan wonderland. Bird songs filled the air and secretive rustlings stirred the underbrush, hinting at a hidden world.
Bibi and Tommy had gone crashing on ahead, and this time Erin was happy to let them go. She wanted time to savor the peace and quiet of this enchanted spot.
Looking at her rapt expression, Jason asked gently, "Are you happy, Erin?"
"Oh, yes, it's the most beautiful place I've ever seen. Thank you for bringing me."
He smiled down at her excited face, but she wasn't aware of it. Looking past his shoulder, she cried, "Look! Aren't those orchids over there?"
Without turning, he said, "I wouldn't be surprised. There are two hundred varieties growing wild in Jamaica."
Impulsively slipping off her horse, Erin ran over to inspect the exotic pale green blossoms, which on closer inspection had centers of brilliant scarlet. Jason joined her, but when he reached toward them, she caught his hand.
"No, no, don't pick them. We must leave everything exactly as it is."
He ruffled her hair fondly. "You're a funny woman. They wouldn't mind if you took one."
She shook her head. "I just like to look at them. There's something so exciting about finding them in the wild."
He slipped his arm around her shoulders, and it felt completely natural. "Let's walk for a while and maybe we'll find some more."
With the horses trailing lazily after them, they strolled through the woods. To her delight, Erin found several other varieties. She crooned over little purple orchids with delicate pansy faces and knelt down to inspect yellow ones with bright orange splashes while Jason followed indulgently.
But finally, with obvious reluctance, he said, "I think we'd better catch up with Bibi and Tommy."
Erin had almost forgotten about them, but she agreed immediately. "Of course. They must be miles ahead of us."
They got back on their horses and this time speeded up the pace. Jason went ahead to lead the way and Erin followed on the fat mare, who was indignant at being expected to do more than a fast walk.
It happened as they passed an especially dense part of the trail. Jason's horse scared up a small animal that became so startled it jumped back on the path instead of into the dense underbrush on either side. Erin's mare reared in alarm, and before she even knew what happened, a low overhanging branch swept her to the ground with a sickening thud. Fortunately, she landed in a bed of soft leaves, but the fall took her breath away and she couldn't even cry out.
Jason was off his horse in a flash and he gathered her in his arms. "Erin, are you all right?" His voice was taut with apprehension.
She opened her eyes and tried to speak, to reassure him, but the words wouldn't come. In her dazed state, she thought she saw terror on his face, but that couldn't be. Jason wasn't afraid of anything.
"Darling, tell me where it hurts," he begged, pasty white under his tan.
Finally, her breath returned enough to say, "I'm all right, just shaken up a bit. Sunshine reared and that branch knocked me off."
He gathered her to him in a smothering embrace and she could feel his heart beating wildly. "Thank God," he breathed. "Oh, thank God!"
With her nose mashed against his chest, she said with difficulty, "I'm sorry I was so clumsy, but something ran across the path and I didn't expect it."
He released her long enough to look at her searchingly. There was a smudge on her cheekbone and he probed it with gentle fingers. "Does that hurt?" When she shook her head, his feather touch explored every part of her face and then the back of her head, anxiously looking for bruises. There was a very small lump at the base of her hairline, and she winced when he touched it.
"Does that hurt?"
"Just a little bit," she admitted. He leaned over and kissed it, and she laughed, peering up through her tangled mane. "You must have had a mother like mine. She always believed you could kiss away the bumps."
But he didn't laugh with her. His face was somber as he said, "If anything had happened to you…"
Erin looked up at him in wonderment. She had never seen him like this, so tender and caring. He cradled her and his hand stroked her cheek. It seemed like an awful lot of concern for such a little accident, but she snuggled happily in his arms until honesty prompted her to say, "It wasn't anything serious, Jason."
He remained unconvinced, and his voice was ragged as he said, "If you'd hit your head on a rock…" He tightened his hold convulsively. "My little doll, what would I have done?"
Erin's heartbeat matched his. Did that mean he really cared? Not the way you would naturally care about anyone who had had an accident, but really cared? He had caused her so much pain and torment. Was this just another passing mood?
His fingers were gently combing bits of leaves from her hair, carefully avoiding the sore spot. Erin relaxed in his arms. Life could hold very few sweeter moments, but, like all good things, it couldn't last forever. A crashing in the distance heralded the arrival of Tommy and Bibi, coming back to see where they were.
"Lie down and rest for a minute," Jason told her, spreading his handkerchief under her head.
When the Exeters arrived and saw Erin stretched out on the ground, immediate concern gripped them.
"What happened?" Bibi cried, jumping down from her horse.
"Erin had a little accident, but I think she's all right," Jason told
them, explaining the circumstances.
"Poor baby," Bibi exclaimed, rushing over to examine Erin, who felt like a fool.
"I'm fine, really. Jason's making much too much out of it. I just had the wind knocked out of me."
"We'd better get her to a doctor," Tommy said.
"No! I don't need a doctor. There's nothing wrong with me," Erin assured them.
Bibi's expression was anxious. "Are you sure?"
"Of course." Erin struggled to sit up. "I'm getting back on that dumb horse and we're continuing our ride. How can I convince you?"
"I think you just did," Bibi said, smiling at her.
She got back on the mare, but the others insisted on returning to the stables. By then it was late afternoon, so Erin didn't feel too guilty about it. Jason fretted over her all the way home.
When they got to the house, he wanted to carry her inside and was dissuaded with great difficulty.
"Jason, do stop fussing over me. It's not like I broke anything." But when she reached back for her purse, a twinge of pain shot through her shoulder and she winced.
"What's wrong?" He scooped her up in his arms in spite of her protests and examined her worriedly.
"It's nothing, really. I must have twisted my arm slightly. It just hurt a little when I reached in back of me, but it isn't anything serious."
"I'll be the judge of that," he said grimly, carrying her to her room. "I'm going to put you to bed."
"Jason, no! There's that fancy party at the club tonight, and I don't want to miss it."
"Not on your life!" he told her firmly.
The color had returned to his face, and his autocratic manner along with it, Erin thought wryly. "Please, Jason, it's only five o'clock," she pleaded. "If I promise to rest for a while, can't I please go tonight?"
At first he was adamant, but she had her heart set on going, which was quite funny. Ordinarily, she would have welcomed any excuse to get out of one of their endless parties, but tonight was different. If Veronica really meant what she said about leaving, Erin would have Jason all to herself. The idea was so intoxicating that she begged quite shamelessly. With her smudged face and pleading manner, she looked adorable. Jason's eyes softened.
Holiday in Jamaica Page 14