Smiled at her. The expression felt strange on his face. But she seemed to take courage from it and faced her brother again.
"The doctor has said that Caitlin must have complete rest. It is obvious that she cannot travel far under these conditions, and a tent is not adequate accommodation for an invalid."
Niall stood up and brushed off his trousers. "Of course not. Miss Hughes may remain in the hotel until she is—"
"Not the hotel, either." Having dared to interrupt her brother, Athena forged ahead. "There is a much better place where she can be cared for and remain with her friends. Very little goes on at Long Park this time of year—why can we not allow the circus to winter there, while Caitlin recovers?"
"The ranch?"
"Yes. Of course there will be snow and cold temperatures, but Long Park is sheltered from the worst weather, and there is plenty of room. The second barn hasn't been used in years. It could hold the circus livestock, and between the bunkhouse and the main house, surely there would be enough beds or cots for everyone. I have already discussed this with Mr. French, and he has agreed that in return for winter quarters he and the troupe will give two charity performances in the spring—"
Niall held up his hand, silencing her. Morgan stiffened.
"If you will excuse us," he said brusquely to the doctor, "I must speak to my sister." He stepped around Caitlin, shouldered Morgan aside, and took the handles of Athena's chair.
"It's all right," Athena said in a whisper meant only for Morgan. He stepped back, and Niall took her away from the group and to a place of relative privacy across the tent.
The conversation that followed was both quiet and vehement. Morgan ignored the murmurs of the troupers and watched Athena and Niall, listening to the debate progress. Keeping her calm, Athena presented her argument. Her brother, as expected, was furious, though he made some effort to hide his anger from the unwelcome witnesses. She had put him in an awkward position by asking his cooperation in public.
But Athena did not back down. Her voice remained firm and full of conviction, even when Niall loomed over her and looked as if he would have liked to give her a good spanking.
God help him if he did.
"Morgan?"
He glanced down at Caitlin. She was white about the mouth and her eyes revealed great pain, in spite of the doctor's efforts.
"You should be moved to a bed, Miss Hughes," Dr. Brenner said. He followed her gaze up to Morgan. "Can you carry her?"
Caitlin gave a husky laugh. "I think… Morgan is up to the task. I will be all right. Thank you, Doctor."
He nodded and packed up his bag. "Mr. French, if I may have a few words?" With a wary glance toward the Munroes, he walked off with Harry.
"What are they saying—Athena and Niall?" Caitlin asked.
Morgan crouched beside her. "Athena is telling him what she told us. Munroe is against it."
Caitlin wrinkled her nose. "I could guess that. What else?"
"Munroe says that they have no responsibility for what happened, and he and Athena had agreed that the circus would leave right after the performance. He isn't saying it, but he does not want her around us."
"I know that, too." Caitlin sighed. "I tried to tell Athena that it was not a good idea."
"But she isn't giving in to him. She is telling him that whether or not they have responsibility for what happened to you, providing you with a place to recover is the right thing to do. It is… 'common decency.'"
"To her it would be. But Niall—"
"He says it would be too expensive to keep the troupe fed for the whole winter. She says that the cost is nothing to the Munroe fortune, and the charity performances in spring will more than make up for it."
"Go on."
"He tells her that she had no right to make such promises without consulting him, and she asks him what he's so afraid of."
"That will make him angry."
"Yes. But she…" He lost his train of thought as he watched Athena, the proud lift of her head and the set of her shoulders. Niall ranted and bullied, but she did not buckle.
"You're proud of her, aren't you?" Caitlin asked.
Proud? He began to deny it, but the word rang true. Yes, he was proud. She had stood up to her brother not once, but twice—both times for the sake of people she hardly knew.
Would she do the same for herself alone?
"She says," he continued, "that if he cares anything about you being able to walk or ride again—" He met Caitlin's eyes. "She asks how much he is willing to do to make sure that what happened to her does not happen to you."
Caitlin closed her eyes. "I never asked Athena what made her—"
"An accident. That is all I know." He looked at Niall's face. "Munroe is wavering."
"Because she compared herself to me. I wonder… He is so protective. Maybe it's more than just the duty of looking after a crippled sister."
Her statement caught Morgan's interest. Was there more to it? Was Niall's vigilance driven by something other than brotherly devotion? When the opportunity arose, he would ask Athena…
No. He didn't want more details of her life, poignant little facts that would work their way deeper into his heart. "Do you want to go to their ranch, Firefly?"
Caitlin shifted her body and winced. "I dread the thought of staying in bed for months."
"It is not likely to be months, is it?" Morgan had learned soon after he joined the circus that Caitlin had an ability to heal almost as strong as his own.
"Niall doesn't have to know how quickly I can be on my feet again." She smiled slyly. "What about you?"
Morgan had deliberately avoided imagining what it would be like to stay at a snowbound ranch through a long winter, idle and restless, with Athena in reach. Had she thought of that? Had she even considered what would happen if she and Morgan were thrown together time and time again?
"If you go to the ranch," he said, "I may not stay."
"Because of Athena?"
"You will not need me anymore."
"You are avoiding the obvious, Morgan. It's Athena you are afraid of."
"As you are 'afraid' of Munroe, Firefly?"
"Maybe I am."
They fell silent. Morgan saw that the troupers, satisfied with Caitlin's care, had dispersed. The doctor had left the tent; Ulysses and Harry stood talking a few feet away. The Munroes had finished their debate and Niall was pushing his sister's chair in Harry's direction. Nothing in either face suggested who had won the skirmish.
Miss Hockensmith chose that moment to return. She minced her way up to Munroe's side and bent an apologetic smile upon Athena. Words were exchanged, with a certain coldness on Munroe's part and a plaintive question by Miss Hockensmith.
"Please do go speak to Miss Hockensmith, Niall," Athena said. "I would like to say good-bye to Mr. French."
Niall's expression was as stormy as an August sky. "Very well. I will come back for you in a few minutes." He glanced at Caitlin and allowed Miss Hockensmith to lead him out of the tent.
Athena was already wheeling herself toward Caitlin and Morgan. Harry and Ulysses joined them—Harry, as usual, torn between worry and apology.
"Mr. French," Athena said, holding out her hands to him as if the past hour had been perfectly pleasant and unremarkable. "I must go now. The children have had a rather exciting day, and I wish to make sure that they return to the orphanage in good order."
"I quite understand, Miss Athena. Quite. We are all most grateful for your kind care of our Caitlin."
"It is nothing." She paused and looked at each of them turn. "As for that other matter… Niall has agreed."
Harry grinned. "Wonderful. Most wonderful. Yet another debt we owe you, my dear."
"I will not be seeing… a great deal of you over the winter. I promised my brother that I would remain in Denver while the troupe is at Long Park. I know you can be comfortable there. I will make sure of it, even if I cannot be present."
So that was how she'd sealed the bargain—
with a promise to stay apart from the people her brother did not trust. It was no more than Morgan had expected.
Why, then, did he feel like tearing the tent apart with his bare fingers?
"It was the only way," she said, meeting his stare. "Caitlin will have plenty of rest among her friends, and she will be as good as new by spring."
"He'll let you come to see us later," Caitlin said. "I know he will."
"Perhaps." Athena continued to gaze at Morgan. Her lips parted, full and moist. His body remembered, vividly, how they had tasted. How they had responded.
Harry cleared his throat. "Perhaps you had better take Caitlin to my tent, Morgan, until we can get her to the hotel."
"I will arrange transportation," Athena said. Her tongue darted out to wet her lower lip. "Everything will be made ready at Long Park, and you'll have a guide through the pass. There may be some snow, but the weather should not be too severe."
Morgan broke the almost painful connection between them and knelt to gather Caitlin in his arms. She sucked in her breath at the motion, but her gaze darted from Athena to Morgan with avid attention. Athena noticed and turned quickly to Harry.
"Good-bye, Mr. French. Mr. Wakefield, Caitlin… Morgan."
"Good-bye for the time being," Harry said. "Thank you, my dear."
Morgan didn't remain for the end of the scene. He carried Caitlin out the back door and to Harry's tent.
"It's that bad, is it?" Caitlin murmured.
He grunted and laid her on Harry's cot. "Worry about your leg, not me."
"I worry about you denying what anyone can see."
The cold, relentless stare that Morgan frequently used to great effect did not work with Caitlin. "And what is that?"
For once her expression was perfectly sober, and not just because of the pain.
"Why, my friend," she said, "only that you're in love with Athena Munroe."
Chapter 12
Morgan seldom laughed. He did so now, a bark that sounded half cough and half growl. He could not have confirmed Caitlin's diagnosis more completely.
She had seen it coming, of course. At first the sparks between him and Athena had seemed mere attraction, the kind of curiosity a person might have about someone the very opposite of oneself. Like me and Niall Munroe.
But somewhere along the way curiosity and attraction had turned into something far more serious. Serious enough to frighten both of them. Badly.
As it frightened Niall.
"You are making this much more difficult than it needs to be," she said, trying to settle her aching leg more comfortably. "For once in your life you had better be willing to take advice. I understand Athena as you cannot. I am a woman too, you know."
"So Munroe has observed." He glared at her. "Are you in love with him?"
"That is foolish," she said lightly. "And even if I were, he'd have nothing to do with me."
"No? The way he stayed close to you, when you were hurt..."
"Means nothing." She shrugged. "And we are talking about you, so don't try to change the subject."
"You are wasting your breath. Athena will not be coming to the ranch."
Caitlin chuckled, though the motion jarred her leg. "I have a feeling that she'll find a way."
Morgan muttered under his breath and paced up and down the short length of the tent. "You are her friend," he said. "If you speak to her again, tell her not to come."
"Why? She likes the troupe, and we like her. I have no right to even suggest it—unless you have a very good reason for me to give her."
He paused in midstride and fisted his hands behind his back. "It would be better if we never met again."
"Better for her, or for you?" She tried to sit up, but the pain was too intense. Damn the inconvenience of being so… so helpless, even if it was only for a little while. "I do not believe that you think less of her because of her affliction. I know you don't care for townies. You two are very different in many ways. But that isn't why you want her to stay in Denver." She took a deep breath. "You want to protect her from yourself. You don't think you're good enough for her, and it has nothing to do with money or position or any of those things. What happened to you that made you so sure she's better off without you?"
She had pushed too far and too fast. He swung to face her, head lowered and teeth bared.
"Enough," he said. "Do not speak of this again, Firefly."
"I'm not afraid of you, Morgan. I know you too well. You bluster and bully, but you wouldn't hurt me. Or her."
Never had a man looked more like an affronted and very hungry beast. But Morgan closed his mouth and backed toward the door, prepared to retreat where he could not win.
"I'm sorry," she said. "I have no right to judge you. But whatever you did in your past—whoever you were before you came to us—I know you are a good man. You've proved that to all of us. And as for Athena—"
A tall shadow loomed against the outer tent wall. Niall Munroe ducked his head into the tent and nearly bumped into Morgan. He scowled, caught sight of Caitlin, and quickly smoothed his expression.
"Miss Hughes" he said. "I beg your pardon. I would like to have a word with Mr. Holt."
Morgan bristled. "You'd better leave, Munroe."
"Not until you hear what I have to say. Privately."
Without a word, Morgan shoved past Niall and left the tent. Niall followed.
If her leg had hurt only a little less, Caitlin would have hobbled her way to the door and listened for all she was worth. As it was, she heard only the rumble of deep voices, rising in pitch and hostility as the minutes ticked by. Niall did most of the talking—or ordering, for Caitlin had a very good idea what he said. Morgan's replies were brief and edged like a knife thrower's blades. When it was over, only one man returned to the tent.
Niall Munroe paused momentarily at the entrance and then came inside, bending his long body awkwardly.
"Where is Morgan?" Caitlin demanded. "What did you say to him?"
Perhaps he had expected a kinder welcome. He straightened and removed his hat. His brown hair was mussed underneath, though the recent duel had been made with words and not fists.
"That need be no concern of yours, Miss Hughes," he said stiffly.
"Morgan is my friend," she said. "What concerns my friends also concerns me."
"Very well." He set his hat down on a stool beside the cot and folded his hands behind his back. "I asked him to stay away from my sister."
Gritting her teeth against the discomfort, she rose up on her elbows. "Did you, then? Why, pray tell?"
He held her gaze without apology. "It has been brought to my attention that he is showing a certain… interest in her, and that she has not been entirely indifferent."
Brought to his attention. Then it was not he who had observed the attraction, but someone else. And Caitlin had a very good notion of who that someone might be—the officious, pinch-faced, and resentful Cecily Hockensmith.
"I can assure you that nothing improper has gone on between Morgan and Athena," Caitlin said. "Harry wouldn't allow it, and neither would I."
"What you consider proper—" He thought better of what he'd been about to say and began again. "I was not mistaken, then, in believing that my sister is keeping company with Holt."
How much to admit, when his mind was already so set against Morgan? "They like each other," she said. "Why is that so terrible?"
"Because Athena is still very much a child in many ways, and has no experience with men. She is far too open-hearted, and Holt is—" He paused again, setting his jaw. "My sister is dependent upon me, and upon my judgment. Your 'Wolf-Man' is not fit company for a lady."
So Munroe had discovered the nature of Morgan's circus act. Doubtless that was also Miss Hockensmith's doing.
"I am surprised you deigned to visit me," Caitlin said, "for surely I'm no better company for so fine a gentleman as yourself. Will you tell your sister to avoid what you will not?"
He could have left then, and escape
d her insulting questions entirely. But he lingered, staring about the tent as if it were filled with valuable and fascinating treasures rather than the flotsam and jetsam of circus life.
"I know the world as Athena does not," he said. "She is the one thing in my life with which I will take no risks and no chances."
"I see. And what did Morgan say to your kind request?"
His gaze jerked back to her. "He denies any interest in my sister."
Liar. Either you or Morgan is a liar of the worst sort, because you're lying to yourself. "Then you have nothing to worry about. I understand that Athena has promised to stay away from the ranch while we are there. You have arranged everything just as you want it." She eased back on to the cot. "You had better not waste any more of your valuable time, Mr. Munroe."
He swept his hat off the stool and sat down, straddling it with legs spread wide. "Is it not enough that we are giving you a place to stay for the winter, Miss Hughes? Have we not demonstrated our goodwill?"
"Troupers are not fond of unwilling charity."
"It's not unwilling, damn it—I beg your pardon." He swiped his hand across his brow, further ruffling his hair. "You must understand that—"
"That charity is all right from such as you to the likes of us, but not friendship?"
He blew out a sigh. "Miss Hughes—Caitlin—"
"Only friends should call each other by their Christian names, Mr. Munroe."
"What proof of friendship do you wish of me?" he roared.
She stared at him. He subsided into something like meekness. "I apologize. It is just that I—" His curse was not quite low enough to escape her notice. "I consider myself your friend… Caitlin. And I hope you will consider yourself mine."
Well, well, well. "Indeed? That is generous of you… Niall."
He didn't balk at the familiarity, so she was compelled to grant his sincerity. Still, he was far too high-and-mighty for his own good.
"Since we have become such bosom friends," she said, "you must explain to me why Athena and Morgan cannot be friends as well."
"It is different—"
"Just how is it different? I have little education myself, no name or money. I'm no better than Morgan."
TO CATCH A WOLF Page 16