Where The Heart Is

by Sheridon Smythe

  Before he could answer, Lori caught sight of them and came racing from the parlor, her face alight. Jo, Cole, and Brett followed more slowly, but Natalie noticed their faces held the same eager expressions. All for Elliot.

  "Mr. Montgomery!” Lori stopped just short of jumping into his arms. She held out her doll for his inspection. “Look, I made Gloria a new dress and a bonnet. Isn't she grand?"

  He dutifully looked, a strange expression flickering across his handsome features as he studied the fine stitching in the doll's dress. “Remarkable, Lori. You say you made this?” When Lori flushed with pride and nodded, he shook his head. “You're a fine seamstress, and that's a fact."

  Natalie made a strangling sound in her throat. Elliot glanced at her sharply. She glared back at him, telling him without words that she wasn't fooled by his smooth tongue.

  Without taking his piercing gaze from her face, he said to the children, “How about a picnic?"

  Lori bounced up and down with excitement. “At the creek? Can we go swimming?” Then, as if she realized he wasn't the one to ask, she cast Natalie a pleading look. “Can I, Natty? I'm much better."

  She didn't hesitate, remembering the little girl in the mercantile with the doll house. Swimming cost nothing. “Yes, you can swim.” When Lori squealed, Natalie added firmly, “But you'll have to change into dry clothes the moment you finish."

  Elliot smiled at the other children. “Well? Any more takers?"

  Takers, Natalie repeated silently. Yes, Elliot was a taker. And a rotten scoundrel to boot. Suddenly, she realized they were all staring expectantly at her. She shook her head, chagrined to feel a stab of regret. “I've got work to do. It's wash day."

  "If Natty's not going, neither am I,” Jo said, folding her arms across her middle and assuming a stubborn stance Natalie knew well.

  Cole and Brett echoed her sentiment. Lori's face crumpled with disappointment, but after a meaningful glance from Jo, she hung her head and mumbled, “Guess I don't want to go neither."

  Smothering her exasperation, Natalie threw up her hands in surrender. “All right. I'll go.” She was bombarded with squeals and hugs, and over their shoulders, she met Elliot's smug gaze. She stuck her tongue out at him. When he laughed, she vowed to ignore him the entire afternoon. He would discover that despite the warmth of the sun, the day would be quite chilly.

  * * * *

  At first Elliot was amused by Natalie's stoic determination to ignore him. Deciding he could wait her out, he entertained himself by admiring the lush scenery. It was curiously quiet and still with not a squirrel or a bird in sight, and not even the faintest of breezes blowing to stir the enticing curls at her neck. He frowned as he inhaled the faint scent of sulfur, then shrugged. After living in the city, he knew nothing about country air and could only assume it was a natural occurrence.

  Angling his head, he squinted against the sun's glare as he admired the frosted mountain peaks. Winding down from the mountain, the creek was a sparkling silver ribbon, flanked by thickly furred trees and an occasional cluster of sun-bleached boulders. The place they'd chosen for a picnic was a natural clearing and according to Brett and Cole, a regular watering hole for local wildlife. On arriving, Elliot had studied the various animal tracks with interest, wondering if his grandfather had once done the same.

  Perhaps Gill Montgomery had crouched in the bushes with his trusty rifle, waiting for a buck or a doe to venture from the forest to drink. He closed his eyes and easily visualized the image of a young Gill waiting for his chance to bring home a hefty deer. The picture made him smile, and made him wonder why his grandfather had never returned—or at least brought his grandson back to visit. He'd never wondered until now because he hadn't known what his grandfather had left behind.

  As one hour turned into two, irritation began to push amusement aside. His interest in the surroundings waned. Natalie sat beside him on the blanket, back rigid, face set, staring straight ahead at the children gamboling in the creek. She'd hardly eaten any of the succulent ham and had only nibbled at the cheese he'd purchased from a local dairy farmer with money he'd earned mucking stalls. And with a disdainful sniff Suetta would have admired, she had refused the sweet red wine he'd bought with her in mind.

  Yes, he was growing very weary of her childish actions and was slightly piqued at the way she turned her nose up at his hard-earned offerings. He grunted to himself, wishing he could explain to her the sense of accomplishment he felt knowing he'd earned the money by hard work. He suspected she'd never believe him—would quite probably laugh in his face. His grandfather had been adamant about his education, and later insisted he see as much of the world as he could before taking over the business. Gill wanted his grandson to experience everything he had missed. As a result, Elliot had never worked a day in his life for actual pay until coming to Chattanooga.

  He turned to admire Natalie's smooth, creamy skin shadowed by the broad brim of her bonnet. Although her face was in profile, he could see the tension; in the thinly pursed lips, the angry tilt of her chin. He knew that if she looked at him, her eyes would be as dark as storm clouds and just as threatening.

  Lounging beside her on the quilt, he chuckled, watching the quick stiffening of her spine. Her fingers curled into the blanket at her side and tightened. A tremor of desire shot through him as he remembered those fingers tangled in his hair, her firm, straining breasts flattened against his chest. He wanted to reach up and pull the pins from her proper bun and watch the silken tresses tumble down her back.

  He stirred restlessly to ease the sudden tightness in his trousers, cursing his undisciplined body. He kept forgetting how easily this she-cat aroused him. “How long are you going to punish me?” he asked abruptly. When several taut moments passed in silence, he leaned a fraction of an inch closer. “If you don't answer me, I'm going to tumble you onto your back and kiss you senseless.” With satisfaction, he watched her jerk in reaction to his low-voiced threat.

  "I don't know what you mean,” she whispered tightly, her gaze unwavering on the children splashing in the water.

  He gave in to the pressing urge to touch her, running the pad of his thumb over the top of her tightly clenched hand. “Are you still upset because I kissed you on the front porch?"

  "No."

  No, he realized with a vicious curse, she hadn't been upset; she'd been ashamed. “So if you're not angry about that, then what are you angry about?"

  "I'm not."

  "Liar,” he snarled softly. Jumping to his feet, he reached down and grabbed her around the waist, lifting her up. “Come on."

  Sputtering, she tried to twist out of his embrace, her eyes flashing fire. “Let me go!"

  "No.” His voice hardened. His patience was at an end. “We're going for a walk. Alone. I want to see if I can find the cave my grandfather told me about."

  Natalie apparently decided struggling was useless. She stilled in his arms. “I'm not going with you."

  He pressed a hard kiss on her lips, instinctively grabbing her hand as she drew back to slap him. He lifted his head, bringing her clenched fist between them to lie against his chest. He switched tactics. “Go with me?"

  "And if I don't?” she demanded breathlessly, proving she wasn't unmoved by the kiss.

  A wry grin twisted his lips. He'd have to resort to blackmail after all. “Then I guess I'll have to keep kissing you until you agree."

  Her beautiful blue eyes narrowed. “You're despicable."

  "Does that mean you'll go?"

  "I can't leave the children—"

  "Jo's perfectly capable of watching Lori.” He lowered his head as if to continue his persuasion.

  "All right!” She leaned back, her chest rising and falling rapidly in her agitation. “I'll go, although you should know that I hate dark places."

  With a triumphant grin, Elliot reached into the basket and withdrew a candle and a tin of matches. “We'll be prepared if we find it."

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&n
bsp; CHAPTER ELEVEN

  "Lori will get sick again if she stays in the water too long.” Natalie kept her distance, still shaken from his kiss and determined not to weaken. But it was difficult to remain angry on such a beautiful day, especially when walking with a man who could charm the birds from the trees. She wasn't immune, but she was aware and on her guard. “And Brett and Cole will get carried away and douse her—"

  "I get the point,” Elliot said as he took her elbow to lead her around a boulder. “If we don't find it soon, we'll go back."

  "Are you sure about this cave? I've never heard anyone mention a cave in this area.” Obviously, he sensed her skepticism, for he smiled. She frowned and concentrated on lifting her skirts to keep from tripping. Better to watch her step than to watch that smile of his.

  Instead of answering right away, he paused and shaded his eyes. He glanced slowly around the area, then pointed to a pile of boulders at the base of the mountain. “There. I think that's the landmark my grandfather spoke of. He said it was behind a pile of rocks with a tall pine on either side."

  She followed his pointing finger, still doubtful. It looked exactly like any other ole pile of rocks to her—and there were trees all around them. “I don't see it."

  He took her hand and approached the boulders. “Of course you don't see it,” he chided. “That's why no one knew about the cave but my grandfather."

  Intrigued despite herself, Natalie couldn't resist asking, “So how did your grandfather find it?"

  Elliot chuckled. “I'm not sure I believe the tale, but he said he was out hunting one day and a bear ran him up one of those trees. For hours he sat in that tree waiting for the bear to give up. He fell asleep, and the next thing he knew, he woke up on the ground.” He halted at the boulders and glanced at her. “When he fell, he fell backward out of the tree and landed in front of the cave."

  "Which is hidden by the boulders and the trees,” she concluded. “Why didn't he just shoot the bear?” She loved God's creatures, but when she pictured herself in Gill's place, she thought she might be tempted to shoot the bear.

  "The bear had cubs. Speaking of bears—wait here. We don't want to startle one if it happens to be using the cave for an afternoon nap."

  Her protest died on her lips as he brushed a branch aside, squeezed between the biggest boulder and an old pine tree and disappeared from sight. After a long, tension-fraught moment filled with images of Elliot becoming a snack for a hungry grizzly, he emerged again, his handsome face filled with boyish excitement. Her heart tripped at the sight.

  "I found it."

  "I gathered,” she said, forgetting that she was supposed to be angry and grinning at the expression on his face. “Is it safe?"

  "I made some noise and didn't get a response, so I think it's empty."

  He reached out as if to take her hand and pull her along, but she stepped out of reach. “I think I'll just wait out here.” The discovery of the cave was exciting, but she felt no desire to go inside. It would be dark, and she'd be alone with him. Two very logical reasons why she should remain right were she was.

  Unfortunately, she didn't think Elliot would accept either reason. A little desperately, Natalie said, “Bats! I don't like bats, Elliot—oh!” She found herself pulled tight against his chest, her face inches from his.

  "Don't you trust me?"

  A slow, sweet shiver skirted down her spine at his husky question. She firmly closed her eyes. True, she couldn't close her ears to that persuasive voice of his, but she could close her eyes to the tempting promise in his gaze. Why did he keep battering away at her defenses? Didn't he see what it was doing to her?

  Of course he did.

  "You've got to learn to trust someone sometime, Natalie."

  "And you think I should trust you?” came her caustic reply. She kept her eyes tightly closed, forcefully reminding herself of every reason not to trust him—or like him.

  Or love him. They were worlds apart, extremely unsuited, and destined to remain at odds. He wanted Ivy House and she wanted Ivy House and they couldn't have it together. She could never give up the children and she couldn't imagine him cheerfully accepting a ready-made family. Why would he when he could have his pick of single, unattached, carefree women? And his home was in Nashville, not Chattanooga.

  "Yes, you should trust me,” he whispered somewhere dangerously close to her mouth. “And sooner or later you're going to have to admit that there's something powerful between us."

  "Can it—can it be later?” Oh, she hated this weakness he caused with so little effort! Easing her lower body away from the disturbing hardness of his, she opened her eyes. “I'll go into the cave with you if you'll forget this nonsense about us."

  "Nonsense?” He smiled slow and wicked before letting her go. “That sounds like a challenge, Miss Polk. I've always loved a challenge."

  "It wasn't any such thing,” she denied. “Now. If I have to go with you into that—that awful cave, then let's go. It's getting late.” She trembled at the thought, but wasn't willing to admit her fear to him. If he sensed it, he would just use it to his advantage.

  Let him think she didn't like the dirt and the damp. Let him think she didn't trust him. Let him think anything he chose! With her head held high and her insides quivering like a turkey on Thanksgiving, she gestured for him to proceed. He chuckled and took her hand as if he didn't trust her to follow. Natalie didn't blame him—she thought about bolting the moment his back was turned, but he wasn't giving her the chance.

  The opening to the cave was small, maybe four feet high and two feet across. With some trepidation, she watched Elliot bend his tall frame and duck inside. She took a deep, fortifying breath and did the same, grateful now that their hands were linked.

  A musty smell greeted her as she straightened carefully once she was inside the cave. She wrinkled her nose. “Light the candle,” she whispered, twisting around to face the dim light filtering through the trees and into the mouth of the cave. She wasn't taking another step away from that light until she could see what was ahead.

  He let go of her hand. Although she could not see but his faint outline, she heard him searching through his pockets for the candle and the tin of matches he'd taken from the picnic basket. Finally, a match flared. He stuck it to the candle wick and it sputtered, then caught. She exhaled slowly so that he wouldn't hear. Elliot would enjoy mocking her fears.

  "Better?"

  "Yes."

  "Come on. I want to see if I can find the treasure."

  She reluctantly took his hand again and followed, her gaze fixed on that wonderful wavering light in his other hand. “Treasure? What treasure?” Had the man taken in too much sun? she wondered, trying not to think about what could be hanging above them, or what was on the cave floor where she stepped. Maybe, she assured herself, the bats didn't know about the cave either.

  The musty smell grew stronger as they went deeper into the cave. It smelled of age and damp, and something else she shuddered to imagine. He felt her tremble and squeezed her hand for encouragement, letting her know without words that he knew of her fear. Natalie vowed to do a better job at hiding it.

  "My grandfather used to play in this cave—sometimes camped here over night. He kept his treasures here, things like Indian arrowheads, and old coins and such. You know, trinkets that boys collect."

  She didn't know, and didn't think Brett or Cole collected anything but blisters and calluses. It was a shame, she thought, that they had missed out on so much of their childhood. If Elliot could find someone to adopt them, then maybe they would get the opportunity to recover those lost years before it was too late.

  She stopped dead in her tracks. Was she beginning to believe in his promises as well? She, the only one left that appeared to have a lick of sense where Elliot was concerned?

  A gentle tug on her hand got her moving again. With an incredulous shake of her head, she thrust those dangerous thoughts from her mind. “Is it much further?” she whispered, then wond
ered why she whispered. Perhaps because she didn't want to alert any creatures to their presence. She suppressed a shiver and picked up her pace.

  "I think it's close. He said there was a ledge at the back of the cave where he slept. He hid his treasures nearby. There—see the ledge?"

  Natalie peered around him and saw the slate of rock jutting from the wall at the back of the cave. It did indeed look like a bed, but an uncomfortable one. She bit back a protest as he released her hand and stuck the candle into a crevice in the wall. She watched him as he knelt at the end of the ledge and moved a rock aside. After a moment he came back to her and shook something out of a tattered cloth sack into his hand. With something akin to reverence, he held it out for her inspection.

  "Arrow heads. The Indian's used them to make spears and tools. My grandfather said they were as thick as rocks when he was a boy."

  Dutifully, she touched one of the cool, triangular-shaped stones, her mind on getting back into the blessed sunlight. “Interesting. Now can we go? I'm sure the children would love to come back with you another day.” She thought her hint came through loud and clear, but Elliot merely chuckled. The sound had her eyes narrowing with temper. Strange, she'd never considered herself easy to anger until she met him. When she was around him she seemed to be in a constant state of agitation.

  "Scared?"

  "You've got a cruel streak in you, Elliot—” Her tantrum ground to a halt as she caught a movement out of the corner of her eye. Something had darted at the candle then whipped away, something fluttery and dark. Something that made her heart jerk painfully. “What was that?” The whisper was back, shaky and fearful. She moved closer to Elliot until her arm brushed his sleeve. “Elliot?"

  "I didn't see anything."

  And he didn't sound worried about what she had seen, either, but that didn't stop her from continuing to sidle closer. Slowly, knowing she shouldn't but unable to resist, she tilted her head and looked at the ceiling of the cave. She quickly closed her eyes.