Savage Destiny (The Hearts of Liberty Series, Book 1)

by Phoebe Conn

  After months of striving to banish any thought of the Barclays from his mind, he had been badly startled by the sudden arrival of two of them, and most especially these two. The news of Melissa's death had awakened painful memories, and to talk of a son he would never see was nearly unbearable. He allowed none of his anguish to show in his face, but he felt every bit of it deeply.

  When Hunter began to caress her nape lightly with his fingertips, Alanna opened her eyes. Not because his touch didn't feel wonderful, it did, but she did not want to give him the impression that once awake she would welcome more of his affection. Obviously aware that she had been feigning unconsciousness for several minutes, he responded with an amused grin. Aghast that he would surely think she had been enjoying his caress, she struggled to sit up without touching him, but it was impossible not to rest her hands on his broad chest. When their eyes met, she saw something more than the hint of laughter in his dark gaze and, unwilling to explore just what it might be, she took Elliott's hand when he offered it.

  Once on her feet, Alanna struggled to gather her composure. She pulled her cap back into place and adjusted the folds of her gown. It was a simple gray dress designed for traveling, but not for reclining in the dirt, and she quickly brushed away the leaves and soil that clung to her skirt. When she had run out of ways to primp, she spoke to her cousin rather than the handsome Indian who was still seated on the ground.

  "I'm sorry, I don't know what came over me."

  "You needn't apologize," Hunter assured her. "I'm not fond of the sight of blood either, especially when it's mine."

  Still nonplussed, Alanna again turned to Elliott. "Where were we?"

  Elliott relayed only what suited him. "You were scolding us both for behaving badly, but I'll put our argument aside if Hunter will." When Hunter nodded slightly, he continued. "Not knowing what would be available here, I brought writing materials. I think we can come up with a satisfactory statement in a few minutes time. After it's signed, Alanna and I will go back to the barge to be ready for the return trip to New York tomorrow."

  Hunter thought that over for a moment, and then shook his head. "No, that's a poor plan. The crew of the barge will all be drunk tonight and Alanna won't be safe on board. Stay here with me instead."

  "That's really very thoughtful of you," Alanna replied, "but the crew was respectful on the voyage here, so I'm not afraid of them."

  "Did the captain allow drinking?"

  "I really didn't notice. Did you, Elliott?"

  Elliott scuffed the toe of his shoe in the dirt. "The crew were all sober, but Hunter's probably right. They're a rough lot, and once drunk, what few manners they have will undoubtedly disappear. Does the trading post have lodgings for travelers?"

  Having recovered his strength, Hunter rose with an easy stretch. "They have a few rooms, but it's no place for a lady. I know my house isn't nearly as grand as yours, but you'll be safe here. I can hang hides to make a separate room for Alanna, so she needn't sleep with us. I have venison to roast for supper. Are you hungry?"

  Elliott doubted that either of them were truly safe with Hunter, but if the frontiersmen who had been watching the Indian fight were a fair sample of the trading post's clientele, he did not want Alanna near that rude bunch either. Not pleased with the choice forced upon him, he tried to make the best of it. "Will you be comfortable staying here?" he asked Alanna.

  "Is the trading post really so bad?" she inquired. "I saw several ladies there, and they didn't appear to be in any danger."

  Hunter winked at Elliott. "Their kind never is, but no one else ever calls them ladies."

  Now realizing that the women she had mistaken for trappers' wives were not a respectable sort, Alanna came to the same conclusion as Elliott. After all, he would be there, so she'd not have to be alone with Hunter. "It's very kind of you to offer us a place to stay. I hope we won't be in your way."

  Hunter's gaze swept over her slowly before he shook his head. "I will enjoy your company."

  Elliott was amazed by how easily the Indian filled a simple phrase with innuendo. He was anxious to leave, but first they had business to conduct. "To answer your question, we're both hungry, but I'd like to get the statement out of the way before supper."

  "The barge will not leave until noon tomorrow," Hunter reminded him, "and I'd like some time to think. I want what is best for..." he paused to regard Alanna with a rueful glance, "Christian."

  Impatient to have the matter settled, Elliott wasn't at all pleased by Hunter's request. Fearing he would risk losing the Indian's cooperation if he argued, however, he tried to smile as he agreed. "Of course. I didn't mean to rush you. There's plenty of time for you to come to a decision before we leave tomorrow. Now what can we do to help you prepare supper?"

  "I don't ask my guests to cook. Rest, go to the trading post if you like. I'll call you when supper is ready."

  Neither Elliott nor Alanna had any desire to peruse the trading post's wares, so they sat outside the long house talking quietly until it was time to eat. Hunter produced not only venison roasted to perfection, but corncakes dripping with maple syrup. He had ale for Elliott and offered to buy wine for Alanna, but she assured him it was unnecessary.

  Alanna had not expected such a delicious meal, and paid Hunter a sincere compliment. "You're a marvelous cook. I wish all of Polly's meals were this tasty."

  Seneca men did not cook unless they lacked a woman to handle the chore, and Hunter took no pride in his culinary skill. He uttered a distracted word of thanks and offered his guests another corncake, which both accepted. He had not been particularly hungry at the start of the meal, but the novelty of having company soon increased his appetite. It wasn't until they had all finished eating and he had gathered up the pewter plates and utensils, that he began to regret inviting them to stay with him. He had asked for time to think, but how could he think clearly with them there?

  Alanna was fascinated by the way the fire's golden light sculpted Hunter's features with constantly changing shadows. For much of the meal he had appeared to be preoccupied, but she would not fault him for being less than a charming host. All of them harbored bitter feelings, but she was grateful she had been able to convince her male companions to behave as gentlemen. She doubted many people would believe an Indian brave was even capable of such courtesy, and especially not one who had seduced a white woman, but Hunter had an intelligence and depth she could not help but admire. She then began to wonder if Christian wouldn't miss out on a valuable part of his heritage, if he never knew his father.

  "Hunter," she called softly. "Christian is as much your son as he is Melissa's, and I hope you won't think that we're forgetting that fact or being unfair to you. Is there a Seneca maiden you might marry to provide a mother for him?"

  Unable to understand how Alanna could ask him something so personal, Hunter simply stared at her for a long moment. She was lovely, but it hurt to look at her when she asked such foolish questions. He had to swallow hard before he could force himself to reply, but his words still rang with contempt. "I wanted Melissa for my wife, but she did not want me for a husband and denied I was the father of her child. If I ever take a wife, it will be because she pleases me, not because I need her to raise Melissa's son."

  Not having meant to revive his hatred of Melissa, Alanna hastened to apologize. "I didn't mean to insult you."

  "No? What did you expect? Did you think I would welcome your advice? You're little more than a child. What gives you the right to tell me who I should take as a wife?"

  "I said I was sorry."

  "It's too late," Hunter informed her coldly. Unable to remain with his guests another second, he rose and left the long house.

  Alanna turned to Elliott. "Was what I said as rude as he made it sound?"

  "No, you weren't rude at all, but he's not like us, and you can't expect logical replies from him. Come on, let's find the hides he mentioned hanging as a partition."

  "Don't you think you ought to go after
him?"

  "No, that will only make things worse. He'll probably be back in awhile."

  "Where do you suppose he sleeps?"

  Elliott gestured toward the platform where Hunter had sat during supper. "Over there I think. I'll take the one opposite his. That way you'll have the whole back of the house to yourself."

  Alanna chewed her lower lip nervously. "Hunter is Indian. Why should the suggestion he wed an Indian maiden insult him?"

  "Haven't you better things to think about than him? My proposal, for instance?"

  They were standing in the narrow passageway that ran down the center of the long house, and when Elliott reached out to catch her in a fond embrace, Alanna couldn't escape him. His touch was familiar, bearing the comfort of home, but none of the almost magical excitement she had felt in Hunter's arms. He kissed her then, a soft, sweet, gentle kiss that left her totally unmoved. Had Hunter kissed her that afternoon, she knew she would still feel it, and guilt rather than pleasure brought tears to her eyes.

  "Please don't," she begged.

  Instantly, Elliott dropped his arms to his sides. "I didn't realize my affection would disgust you."

  "I'm not disgusted, not in the least," Alanna argued. "It's just that, well, I wish you'd give me some time to adjust to the idea you'd like to court me. I'd never even considered the possibility before today."

  When stated that way, Elliott readily understood her reticence. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have spoken so sharply to you. Let's just concentrate on getting Hunter's name on a statement for the time being. We can talk about us on the trip home."

  Alanna had said earlier that day that love wasn't all that important to her, but that had been before she had seen Hunter again. He was as wrong for her as he had been for Melissa, but she couldn't deny the way he made her feel. His touch made her long to reach out and caress him, and she had not forgotten the kiss he had given her last August. How could a Seneca brave be more appealing than her own cousin? How could the black-eyed devil fill her with the desire another man might never satisfy? Why would the gods torment her so cruelly?

  "Alanna? Are you all right?"

  "No, I don't suppose that I really am," she admitted. "It was about this time last year that we met Hunter. It's been a truly awful year, hasn't it?"

  Elliott turned away to fetch her valise. "The worst. Here, you take this, I'll find a rope we can use to suspend some hides. This house is really cleverly made. Did you realize that?"

  Alanna saw only how dark it was, rather than the ingenuity of it. "I wonder if it's warm enough in winter?"

  Elliott bent down to inspect the hides stored beneath the platforms. "I'll bet it's as cozy as a cave," he offered as he searched among them. "Here, these deer skins look long enough to use. Now where would Hunter keep a rope?"

  "I thought I saw one outside."

  "You're right, so did I." Elliott stepped outside and returned with the neatly coiled rope. He hummed softly to himself, as he stretched it between two poles on opposite sides of the structure. He draped the hides he had chosen over it, and stood back to judge the quality of his handiwork.

  "That's a pretty flimsy wall, but it's probably more privacy than you'd get at the trading post."

  Alanna wondered if Hunter hadn't deliberately been trying to frighten them, but she did feel more secure there than she would have staying in a rowdy inn filled with drunken sailors and frontiersmen eager to pay a woman for her favors. She wondered if a man as appealing as Hunter ever had to pay for a woman's attentions, and decided that was not a question she cared to have answered.

  The hides covering the rear of the long house were secured only at the top, permitting an easy exit, and after telling Elliott she was going to prepare for bed, she stepped outside. Surrounded by dense forest, she breathed deeply and attempted to clear her mind of the distractions conjured up by thoughts of Hunter. Despite Graham Tyler's attentions, she was still dreadfully inexperienced when it came to men, and told herself that was undoubtedly why dealing with a man with Hunter's confidence was so unsettling. At least she would only have to pretend an indifference she didn't feel until noon tomorrow, rather than the rest of her life, but managing such a feat for even those few hours wasn't going to be easy.

  Seeing her leaning back against his house, Hunter stepped out of the shadows and approached her. Her eyes widened slightly when she saw him, but he raised his fingertip to his lips to warn her not to cry out. He waited until they were mere inches apart to speak.

  "Elliott says you're his woman now. Is that true?"

  "I, well, that is—"

  "Can't any of you speak the truth?"

  "Of course, I can!" Alanna whispered defiantly. "It's just that I'm not sure what it is in this case."

  Hunter caressed her cheek with his fingertip. "How can you not know if you are his?"

  Her hands at her sides, Alanna gripped the hides covering the doorway in a frantic clutch, and wished her emotions were as easy to hold in check. "If I have no right to inquire as to your marriage plans, then you certainly can't expect me to confide in you about mine."

  "Why not? They might be the same."

  The sun had already sunk below the trees, but the twilight was still bright enough to reveal Hunter's smile with alarming clarity. His lips were parted slightly, and when he leaned close, she thought he meant to whisper something, but instead he kissed her. She gave only the smallest cry, and that was muffled by his second kiss, or perhaps it was the third. She lost count as he traced a meandering trail of kisses across the soft swell of her cheek, and then lingered at her temple. Next he drew her earlobe into his mouth, and sucked it gently before sliding his tongue down the smooth curve of her neck.

  By then, he was wrapped around her as securely as a vine, and she still wanted him to come closer. His mouth returned to hers, his taste honey-sweet, and she welcomed him eagerly. He was kissing her as passionately as he had the morning he had mistaken her for Melissa, but now neither of them was confused as to his purpose. His tongue caressed hers until she feared she might drown in desire, but all too soon he drew away.

  "You are as hungry for love as Melissa. Would Elliott want to marry you, if he knew you were just as faithless?"

  Stunned to be insulted after she had welcomed his affection so joyously, Alanna raised her hand to slap the smirk from his face, but Hunter caught her wrist and twisted her arm behind her back. He pulled the hides aside and gave her a gentle shove.

  "Now that I have you so eager, sleep with Elliott."

  Alanna jerked free. "You despicable bastard," she mouthed silently.

  Hunter blew her a kiss. "I love you, too," he answered.

  Alanna ripped the hides from his hand to shut him out of the long house, but fearing he might return for more of the delicious affection she couldn't refuse, she spent the night tossing in fitful slumber, tormented by a shameful dream in which she was scorned as a harlot by all of Williamsburg. When in the morning Elliott placed his hand on her shoulder, she sat up so quickly they bumped heads, causing them both to recoil in pain.

  "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to frighten you," Elliott whispered. "It's early. You needn't get up yet, but Hunter just left, and I'm going to follow him. He took his quiver and bow as well as a musket he had hidden under his bed. Maybe he's only going hunting, but I'm afraid he might plan on staying away for several days, so that he won't have to sign a statement for us. After coming all this way, I'm not leaving here without one."

  Alanna swept her hair out of her eyes. "Why didn't you stop him?"

  "I awakened just as he was leaving, or I would have."

  Alanna reached out to grab his arm. "Wait, I want to go with you."

  "There's no need of that. You'll be better off staying here."

  "No, I won't. What if Hunter's going home? Do you know where his tribe lives?"

  "No, but—"

  "You can't ask me to stay here all alone, when you don't know where you're going or when you'll be coming back. If I wouldn't have be
en safe staying at the trading post, then I certainly won't be safe here. Just give me a minute, and I'll come with you."

  Initially, Elliott hadn't seen any reason to take Alanna along on what could be an arduous hike through the woods, but now understanding how frightened she was of being left on her own in a strange place, he reluctantly had to relent. "All right, I'll wait for you, but hurry."

  Her head aching from lack of sleep and worry, Alanna rose and hurriedly gathered up the clothes she had worn the previous day. Thinking her petticoats would only impede her progress, she didn't bother with them, nor with a corset. Making do with only her chemise and drawers for underwear, she donned the gray gown and was dressed in just a few minutes. She brushed her hair, coiled it atop her head, and covered it with a cap. Once outside, she splashed water from the rain barrel on her face, wrapped a shawl around her shoulders, and was ready to go.

  "I'm afraid you're going to ruin your dress."

  "I have others. Which way did he go?"

  "Luckily the ground's damp, and I found the tracks of his moccasins. Come on, he went this way." Elliott reached out to take Alanna's hand, but the trail soon narrowed, and they had to travel in single file. Fortunately, she had no difficulty keeping up with him. Hunter was traveling northwest on a well-worn path, but after the sun came out and dried the ground, they could no longer be sure he hadn't left it.

  It was now too warm for Alanna to need a shawl, and she tied it around her waist when they stopped at a creek to take a drink of cool water. They were walking at such a brisk pace, they had traveled several miles. "If we miss today's barge, when is the next one?" she asked.

  "Not until next week." Elliott raised his hand to shade his eyes, as he looked up to judge the position of the sun. "We still have time to make it. If we can find Hunter, that is."

  "Why does he have to be so terribly uncooperative?"

  Elliott was touched by Alanna's troubled frown. "I used to think I understood him, but now I doubt anyone ever will. Clearly he's running from us, but we can't let him get away with it." Startled by a rustling in the shrubbery bordering the stream, Elliott reached for Alanna's hand and pulled her close.