by Mari Carr
“Erin, I don’t go picking fights. You know that. It’s the nature of my job to occasionally run into some trouble. I’m not going to back down and allow someone to hurt one of my women or children. Who’s going to stand up for them if I don’t?”
“I’m not telling you to stop protecting those people. I’d convince you to stop breathing before I could persuade you to do that. And I’m not saying there aren’t times when you can’t avoid being caught in the middle of a violent situation. That’s the nature of the job you’ve chosen and there isn’t anyone in that shelter who doesn’t know you’ve found your true calling. I just wish you would take better care of yourself. Why does it always have to be you who stands up to take the punch?” Erin was no longer laughing, but truly concerned for her friend.
Jack remembered the look of sheer panic on Erin’s face when he carried Hayley into the house. These two women were more like sisters than friends, and Erin’s words made his blood run cold.
“What do you mean by take the punch?” Jack asked.
Hayley started to answer that she didn’t, but Erin cut her off. “She places herself between bullies and their victims. She’s done it for as long as I’ve known her. We met when we were ten years old at a summer camp. In fact, that’s how we befriended Tori. Tori was an extremely shy, chubby little girl with glasses and braces, and a few of the older girls picked on her. Hayley and I were late coming out of lunch one afternoon and a group of them had tripped Tori and wouldn’t let her get back up. Hayley approached the pack of girls. All of them were twelve years old and enormous. She walked over to the meanest one, threw a fist that would make George Foreman cry and knocked the girl out cold.” Erin shook her head. “We picked Tori up, dusted her off and she’s been a June girl ever since.”
“What about the mean girls?” Jack asked, unsure he wanted to know.
“Hayley became their target after that, instead of Tori. They didn’t really approach her physically, but they put bugs and snakes in her sleeping bag, spit in her food, made rude comments and so on.”
“Yes, but they left Tori alone.” Hayley seemed to believe that made her actions acceptable.
“That’s right,” Erin said. “You put yourself between Tori and the bullies. You took the abuse, just like you always do. God forbid any of us actually have to take care of ourselves.”
A burly groomsman appeared at the door, motioning to speak to Alex. The others fell silent while Alex consulted with the man. After a few moments, the servant left. “They found where the man had tied his horse, but had no luck following the tracks. They’re going to continue the search, but as dark as it is in those woods, they don’t expect to find anything.”
No, Hayley thought, they’ll find something. Lady Julia. All her help was for naught. Surely, someone would remember the cabin and search it. Perhaps it was for the best. Hayley was tired of the deception and lies. She wanted to help Julia, but she was finding it damned difficult to do alone.
A soft rap at the door announced the arrival of Mrs. Scott and the doctor. An elderly man with a full head of white hair and blue eyes entered the room. He reminded her of Santa Claus. He approached the bed with a kind smile and promptly ordered everyone out of the room.
Erin squeezed her hand and Alex patted her shoulder before they left.
Jack, however, did not move. “I’m staying.”
“Very well,” Dr. Claus replied. “I welcome the help.” With light, cold fingers, he removed the bandage from her head as she squeezed her eyes shut to hold back the tears.
Jack leaned forward and whispered reassuring words to her as the doctor pressed and poked her head and looked into her eyes.
“Well, it’s not as bad as some I’ve seen. I’m afraid you may have a concussion, nothing too serious, mind you, but that gash will have to be stitched up.”
Hayley struggled to sit, but was stopped by Jack’s strong hands on her shoulders.
“Can’t you just bandage it up tight? I’m sure it will be fine.” She didn’t want to think about what it would feel like to be sewn up without the benefit of painkillers.
“Chin up, my dear,” Dr. Claus replied with a kindly pat on her shoulder “I’ve been told I have a magic touch when it comes to stitches and the gash is at the hairline, so I doubt you’ll even notice the scar once the healing is done. Captain Campbell, I’ll need your help to hold her down.”
“Hold me down?” Once again Hayley attempted to escape.
“First—” Jack said, pouring something from a decanter by the bed. “Drink this.”
Helping her raise her head slightly, Jack held a glass of brandy to her lips. It tasted awful. She choked after the first swallow and attempted to push the glass away.
“No.” Jack refused to remove the glass from her lips. “Drink it all. Trust me. It will help.”
After she drained the glass, Hayley lay back on the bed, letting the liquid heat spread through her body. She couldn’t understand how anyone would purposely choose to drink the stuff, but she didn’t have long to consider it as Jack quickly placed a strong arm across her shoulders and straddled her legs with one of his own powerful thighs. His movements were so quick and unexpected she didn’t have a chance to fight him. His placement ensured she couldn’t move a muscle if her life depended on it.
With his free hand, Jack gently grasped the top of her head. His position left his face only inches from hers. Hayley took comfort in his dark blue eyes. Dr. Claus quickly wiped the gash with alcohol, then began to close the wound with a needle and thread. Hayley shuddered violently.
“Relax,” Jack said after the first stitch, “and breathe. It won’t get any worse than that.”
Hayley began to breathe, though shallowly, and decided that while the procedure was certainly not pleasant, it wasn’t as painful as she imagined. After several minutes, Dr. Claus tied off the final stitch.
With a soft smile for Hayley, the doctor looked at Jack. “No tears? Amazing. I’ve stitched up wounds for soldiers and sailors who cried like babies and this little slip of a thing didn’t shed one. Well, my dear, that will do for now. I’m leaving some laudanum to help your pain. Don’t take any tonight though. Not good after a head wound. All you can do tonight is sleep. I want you to stay in bed and rest for a couple days. Concussions are tricky things and you don’t want to overexert yourself.”
“She’ll stay in bed.” Jack gave her a look that would have turned a lesser mortal to stone.
“Thank you, Dr. Claus,” she murmured drowsily. The long night, brandy and pain from her injury had sapped the last of her strength and she closed her eyes to shut out the light.
“Dr. Claus?” the doctor repeated with a small chuckle. “I’ll be back tomorrow to check on her. And I’ll talk to the McCormicks before I leave. She shouldn’t be disturbed anymore tonight. Thank you for your help, Captain Campbell.”
“Thank you,” Jack said as the doctor left, closing the door behind him. Jack returned to the chair by her bed. Hayley drifted off to sleep aware he would watch over her and keep her safe.
Chapter 17
Jack awoke late the next afternoon to a hand gently shaking his shoulder. He was sitting in the chair by Hayley’s bed. She had finally fallen into a deep sleep. She’d had a restless night, crying out several times as if in the throes of a violent nightmare. Each time she thrashed about, Jack would hold her and whisper comforting words until she settled back to sleep. Trying to get his bearings, Jack glanced up to find Erin, looking down at him.
“It’s late,” she said with a smile. “Mrs. Scott said you refused breakfast and lunch. It doesn’t look like she’s going to stir anytime soon. Why don’t I take a shift and you go get some rest in your own room?”
Weary, Jack reluctantly agreed, stiffly rising from the chair. He headed toward his bedroom, but halfway there he decided to speak to Alex first. He wanted to know if the footmen had found any trace of the man in the woods.
Knocking on the door, Jack entered Alex’s study, walk
ing across the room to drop into the chair opposite the large desk.
“Hayley?” Alex asked.
“Still sleeping,” Jack replied. “It was a rough night. I’ve never seen anyone suffer from nightmares like that. Poor thing is worn out. You should have seen her when the doctor put the stitches in. She didn’t move a muscle or cry. Do you ever wonder why…” Jack paused, uncertain whether he should begin this line of conversation.
“Do I wonder why she’s so strong?” Alex supplied when Jack failed to continue.
At Jack’s brief nod, Alex said, “I sense you and Hayley have formed a friendship. I’m not sure how much she’s told you about her past. Erin told me a bit about her upbringing that would certainly explain her strength of character. I don’t think she had it easy growing up.”
“Erin’s a good friend. They seem more like sisters actually.” Jack was curious about Hayley’s childhood and hoped Alex could provide more information. “Hayley mentioned having a father who was a bit too fond of drinking. She said he hit her mother. I’m sure that couldn’t have been easy.”
Alex quietly nodded, pondering the information, but offering nothing else in return.
Jack decided to change the subject. If Hayley wanted him to know about her life, she would tell him. “The doctor wants her to stay in bed for a few days.”
“Yes, he spoke to me before he left. He seemed to think there was perhaps an understanding between you and Hayley. Hinted around there may be some feelings between the two of you. You know what a nosy old man Doc Jonesbury is.”
Jack merely shrugged. He was perfectly aware how things must have looked last night to the doctor and to Alex. He and Hayley had been outside alone prior to the stranger’s appearance and subsequent attack. Jack hadn’t explained and, even though Alex had not questioned him last night, Jack was sure the time of reckoning had arrived.
After several strained minutes, Alex cleared his throat. “I consider myself responsible for Hayley, despite anything she might say to the contrary. All that bloody nonsense about being an independent woman and able to care for herself. Erin would never forgive me if anything happened to her best friend. Therefore I have to ask. What exactly are your intentions toward this woman?”
Jack stood. “My intentions are completely honorable, I can assure you. She’s your guest and Erin’s best friend. I have and will continue to treat her with respect.”
“There’s more to it than that. I have to remind you there is a very good chance she will leave eventually.”
“I realize that,” Jack said sharply. “For God’s sake, Alex, you know me. I’m not about to get involved with Hayley. Marriage is not in my future. It never has been.”
Alex nodded. “And that’s my biggest concern. Hayley’s time here is not permanent. Perhaps you see that as tempting. She’s not a threat to your blasted life of bachelorhood and, let’s face it, your reputation as a rake is only surpassed by your reputation as a businessman.”
“What kind of man do you think I am?” Jack roared. “Do you really think I would compromise an innocent woman for my own selfish needs because there’s no risk of commitment? I may be a rake, but I’m not a bastard. I know when a woman is unavailable and I’m able to control my animal instincts.”
“Good,” Alex replied, “because Hayley is definitely unavailable.”
Furious with Alex’s accusations, Jack stormed out of the parlor, slamming the door behind him.
Erin watched from the top of the stairs as he stalked out the front door and headed toward the stables. She’d left Mrs. Scott to watch over Hayley when she heard the yelling begin.
Walking downstairs, she opened the door to the study and peered inside. Alex was sitting in his desk chair staring out the window. Crossing the room to stand behind him, she massaged his shoulders. “Trouble?”
“No, yes, I handled that situation wrong.”
“What situation?” Erin asked.
“I basically told my friend he was a cold-hearted bastard and warned him to stay away from Hayley.”
“Why on earth would you do that?”
“I don’t know. I suppose I was remembering when you came into my life. I kept telling myself not to fall in love with you because I knew there was a chance you wouldn’t stay. Then I did fall in love with you and the agony of thinking you would eventually leave nearly killed me. I don’t want Jack to go through the pain of losing a woman he cannot keep.” Alex pulled Erin around the chair and placed her across his lap. She wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned her forehead against his.
“You forget, Alex. I chose you. I stayed. Hayley and Jack will have to find their way, just like we did.” She moved closer and kissed him lightly. “You can’t control other people’s feelings, no matter how much you might think it’s for their own good.”
Alex tightened his hold on Erin’s waist and kissed her deeply. “You’re right,” he whispered, “as always.”
Erin wiggled out of Alex’s hold. “I may have to get your signature on that always right comment for future use. Now go apologize. You’ll feel better for it.”
“In a minute,” Alex said, chasing Erin around the desk. “Right now, I have something much more pressing to do.”
Erin continued circling the desk, staying out of his reach. “What it that?”
“I need to make love to my wife.” Alex leapt over the desk as papers flew everywhere and caught her. Erin squealed with delight at his surprise attack. Gently, he led her over to the chaise and laid her down. “Have I told you lately how glad I am that you stayed?”
“Not today,” Erin said breathlessly.
“I am so glad you stayed,” he said before kissing her again. “So very glad.”
Jack was only halfway to the stable, when he remembered Hayley and stopped in his tracks. As much as he wanted to ride hard in an attempt to forget his argument with Alex and his anger toward himself for denying his true feelings, he didn’t want to leave her alone. Not until he was sure she was well. The image of her trembling with the terror of her nightmares tormented him. She needed him, but he had to get himself together before facing her.
Shaking his head in frustration, he turned and strolled to the bench where they’d sat together the previous evening. Sitting down, he replayed the argument with Alex over and over again. Everything he’d said to Alex was a lie. He was a rake of the worst kind. He had tried to keep his distance from Hayley and had actually been successful for a few weeks. Then last night, sitting beside her in the moonlight, he’d lost control and kissed her with every intention of seducing her. If the stranger in the woods hadn’t appeared, he would have laid her down upon this very bench and taken her.
Groaning, Jack closed his eyes, holding his head in his hands. What was it about this woman that caused him to throw all his morals out the window? He wondered if perhaps there was some truth to Alex’s words. Did he only want her because she was a temporary distraction? Was her main appeal the fact she would be leaving and he wouldn’t be forced to make a real commitment?
The thought of that tree splitting and taking Hayley away forever left Jack cold inside. No, he definitely didn’t want her because she would eventually leave. It felt as if he wanted her despite the fact she would almost certainly leave him. He couldn’t begin to imagine his life without her. In one month, this fiery, feisty redhead from the future had turned his life inside out and he doubted he’d ever recover.
Jack sitting outside Fernwood Grange was a tribute to that, as he had never left his business for this long unless he was sailing. The last message from his secretary had been a desperate plea for his return. Jack suspected the man had actually shed tears while writing the missive.
The best thing he could do for his sanity and Hayley’s virtue was return to his own home. He’d convinced himself staying on had been in hopes of finding Julia, but it was time to admit she was most likely far away from the area. He only hoped wherever she was, she was unharmed and safe. Everyday he remained at the Grange bur
ned his obsession for Hayley deeper into his skin—his firebrand was leaving a mark on his heart that would never heal.
Spending so much time with her was tempting fate and his wavering willpower as he couldn’t spend five minutes in her presence without wanting to touch and kiss her senseless. He had to leave.
He stood and was halfway to the back door when he thought of Hayley’s eyes last night when he held her as the doctor stitched up her head. She looked to him to keep her safe. The trust he’d seen—without the usual walls she erected around herself—had been like an arrow through his heart. She’d put herself in his hands. That kind of trust from her was an amazing gift. He couldn’t leave until he was sure she was well again. He would stay for a few days more until she recovered and was able to take care of herself.
Jack stopped short of entering the house when he heard hushed voices coming from the front yard.
Peering around the corner, he spied Wilshire and his man Rawlings climbing the porch stairs. The two men were arguing and Jack hung back in an attempt to hear their hushed conversation.
“Shut up, you fool,” Wilshire hissed. “You’re lucky you weren’t caught last night.”
“But I tell you, my lord, that redhead, she knows where Lady Julia is. I heard her say—” Rawlings began, but Wilshire shushed him before knocking on the front door.
As Giles opened it, Wilshire asked to speak with the marquis and he and Rawlings entered the house.
Leaning against the sidewall of the house, Jack pondered Rawlings’ words. He was the man from the woods last night. Jack wanted to go inside and challenge the man for the injuries he’d inflicted on Hayley, but his last words gave Jack reason to pause. Hayley knew where Julia was? Last night, she’d been gone for nearly two hours while he paced in the garden waiting for her to return.
Concern for Hayley quickly turned to anger as he recognized the truth. She knew where Julia was and she’d hidden it from him. He’d been worried about Julia while Hayley had known that she was safe and sound. Furious at her deceit, Jack pondered his next move. She was still injured and, despite his anger, he didn’t wish to cause her any more stress. Besides, Jack couldn’t help but wonder why Wilshire was here. No doubt the old man hoped to corner Hayley and question her about Julia’s whereabouts.