Candace McCarthy (10 page)

The child assured him she would, and Daniel tugged Amelia into the other room, where he gently pushed her into a chair. Then he took the seat next to her.

“This is ridiculous,” she said.

He didn’t say anything. He preferred to study her; the sight of her always brought him pleasure. And he found that pleasure increasing with each new day.

“Tell me what caused you to cry.”

She shook her head, sending her brown hair flying. She had worn it down this day, and Daniel admired the silky locks, the rich warm sable color. Her eyes were red-rimmed, the lids puffy; yet, he’d never seen a woman more beautiful or appealing. “Amelia—”

“It’s silly. I don’t know why it came over me like that. It’s not like I’ve learned anything new … anything to upset me.”

“Your father,” Daniel guessed.

She inclined her head. “Susie and I were making cookies when suddenly I remembered how it was when I was a little girl. My mother died when I was young, but we had Aunt Bess. She’s my father’s sister. Aunt Bess loved to bake, and Rachel and I would help her.” Amelia’s lips curved slightly up. “Father would put up such a fuss after he’d tasted one of our cookies. You’d have thought we’d fixed him a seven-course meal.”

Daniel watched her without speaking, wanting to hear more. He enjoyed the vision of her as a little girl. She was probably a skinny little child with brown eyes as big as saucers in a face that would light up the world when she smiled.

He wanted to take away her pain, but he knew that he couldn’t—not until he found her father. Still, he had to
try. It hurt him to see her tears. “We’ll find him, Amelia— and soon.”

She started and stared at him as if he knew something that she didn’t.

He recognized his mistake. “No, there is no word yet. I went back to the mission. There’s been no sign of anyone who’s been missing.”

Her face fell, and he felt like a heel. He stood and drew her up next to him. Next, he pulled her into his arms. “You know I’m going to do everything in my power to bring your father back, to make you happy again.”

She gazed up at him, her brown eyes swimming, her expression one of trust and admiration. He caught his breath. “No,” he said, “don’t make the mistake of thinking me more than a man. I don’t have any special powers. I can’t snap my fingers and make your father appear, but I can search for him. I can ask my friends to help.” He brushed her cheek with his knuckle, wiping the tear that dripped from her left eye.

“It’s going to take time,” he warned. “Oh, I could easily ride out now and search, but I could just as easily get myself captured by the Sioux—or worse.”

“No,” Amelia breathed, “you mustn’t.” I
couldn’t bear it if you were.

“Then have faith,” he whispered.

She nodded as she stared into his eyes. His tender look made her feel warm inside.

“Pa? Miss Amelia?” Susie appeared at the door, her face, hands, and clothes covered with flour and batter. “Can we bake the cookies now?”

“We’ll be right in, sweeting.” Daniel held Amelia’s gaze for a minute longer. “Shall we?” he then said to Amelia when he’d sensed Susie gone.

She nodded. Amelia wiped the remainder of her tears and went back to the kitchen with Daniel following closely behind.

After asking Jack to keep an eye on Amelia and Susie, Daniel slipped away early one morning to find Black Hawk. He found the Ojibwa village easily enough, but when he arrived, he learned that Black Hawk and a small band of his men were away from the encampment. The group wasn’t expected back for a few days. Daniel spoke with Rain-from-Sky, asking that he send word upon Black Hawk’s return. Then, he went home to Amelia and Susie, knowing that Amelia would be disappointed that he hadn’t learned anything. He arrived at the cabin shortly after noon. Amelia and Susie were inside, preparing their midday meal.

“Pa!” Susie spied him first, running to jump into his arms. “Did you see Black Hawk? What about Conner?”

Daniel flashed Amelia a glance before he responded. “Conner was running about with Brown Bird.”

Susie nodded. “Pa? When can we go back for a visit?”

The man shrugged. “As soon as we know it’s safe enough to travel.”

Amelia approached with a question in her brown eyes. “Daniel?”

He shook his head. “I’m sorry, Amelia, but Black Hawk wasn’t there. His brother will send word as soon as he returns.” He felt a sudden ache as her face fell.

“Susie?” Amelia said. “Would you please set the table?”

The girl looked reluctant to leave.

“Go ahead, sweeting,” Daniel said. “I’ll not be going anywhere for a while now.”

The child dashed toward the cabinet where the dishes, eating utensils, and glasses were kept. Amelia waited for her to be gone from the kitchen, before she said what was on her mind.

“Has something happened to your friend?” she asked anxiously.

Daniel looked surprised by her question. “No,” he said with a certainty that relieved Amelia’s fears. “He’s on a mission for his People. His brother Rain-from-Sky said that Black Hawk will be back in a few days.” He touched her face and smiled. “I explained to Rain-from-Sky about the Sioux attack on the mission. He understands the gravity of the situation. We’ll hear from the Ojibwa in a day or so.”

Amelia felt the knot that had caught in her stomach ease away. She nodded. “Are you hungry?”

He grinned, but looked surprised that she’d cook for them. “Starved. What’s for dinner?”

She blushed. “I’m afraid I’m not the greatest cook.”

He fingered her jaw, then released it. “I’m sure the meal will be just fine. The cookies that you and Susie made were delicious.”

“Baking is one thing,” she said. “Cooking a meal is something else.”

“Did Susie help?” he asked.

“Yes, of course,” Amelia said.

“Then I imagine you’ve made flapjacks with maple syrup and Indian pudding.”

She felt a flicker of surprise. “How did you know?”
Susie had shown her how to make the pudding. Amelia had seen her Aunt Bess make flapjacks back in Baltimore.

“They’re Susie’s favorites. She’ll eat both every day if you let her.”

Amelia made a face. “She may change her mind after she tastes the way I cooked them.”

Daniel chuckled and hugged her to his side. “Let’s go take a look and see if you’re such a terrible cook.”

Amelia was surprised how well the meal turned out. The flapjacks were light and airy, much like the ones she’d had as a child in Baltimore. The maple syrup sweetened them just enough to make the dish more of a treat. The pudding, made from cornmeal and other ingredients, was just as delicious. When the Traherns announced both tasty, Amelia beamed.

She felt Daniel’s amused regard as she accepted a second helping. Susie chatted to her father about her morning, while Amelia remained silent, contributing to the conversation only when Susie or Daniel addressed her directly. She watched Daniel with Susie and felt a tug on her heart. Daniel was patient and loving toward the child. As she studied him, she felt herself responding to his gentleness, his capacity for loving his little girl. When Susie, at one point, left her chair to climb onto Daniel’s lap, Amelia became caught in a memory … of herself and her father … of Rachel and her father when she and her sister were small. Fear for her father hit her hard as she could no longer put aside her concern or forget that her father could be in grave danger or dead. She blinked back tears. She didn’t want to spoil the Traherns’ afternoon. When she could no longer stifle her tears, she rose and left the room with the excuse of clearing the table.

Daniel followed her into the kitchen seconds later. She could feel his gaze on her as he set down some dirty
dishes near the washbasin. “Thank you,” she said without meeting his gaze.

She felt him hesitate. “Amelia—”

Amelia met his gaze. “I’m all right, Daniel.”

He stared at her, and she felt herself respond to the warmth and sympathy in his beautiful blue eyes.

“I need to speak with Reverend Whitely and Will. I need to know if they saw anything—”

“Two days,” Daniel said. “I’ll take you there myself if only you’ll wait two days.”

“But what if they know something? What if two days is too late?”

He touched her arm. “I don’t want you returning to the mission. Not until I’ve spoken with Black Hawk.”

“But that’s not fair! He’s my father. I think Reverend Whitely was the last one to see him!” She felt an overwhelming panic. “Please, Daniel,” she whispered.

Daniel frowned. “I’ll see what I can do to bring him here.”

She felt a rise in her spirits. “Thank you,” she murmured. In a moment of gratitude, she gave him a hug.

“I can’t promise they’ll come, but I’ll ask them. If they choose to stay at the mission, then you will wait until it’s safe to return.”

She nodded, pleased by this man who had initially stirred within her feelings of anger and dislike.

“I’ll go back there tomorrow morning.”

“Fine—”

“Amelia, tell me you won’t leave this area. I need to know that you and Susie are safe.”

Susie,
she thought. “I’ll watch over your daughter for you.”

A strange look entered Daniel’s expression and was gone.

“You two seem to be getting along,” he commented after a silent moment.

“She’s a wonderful little girl. She doesn’t particularly like her lessons in becoming a lady. She refused to wear a dress, and she’ll not wash her hair until I make her.”

Daniel smiled. “It’s the soap. She’s afraid of getting it in her eyes.”

“Oh, I didn’t realize.” There was much more that Susie objected to. She didn’t want to play with dolls—a curious thing, Amelia thought. When she asked Susie why she didn’t own any dolls, Susie’s expression closed up and she wouldn’t answer. Perhaps Daniel would know why Susie had no dolls.

“… And the princess had hair of gold and eyes that were so blue they matched the clear summer sky.”

Amelia stood for a moment at the doorway of Susie’s room, watching as Daniel told his little girl a story. Moved by the scene and understanding that it was a special, private moment between father and daughter, she stayed only a minute before she turned away to wait for Daniel in the great room.

The sight of Daniel seated on the edge of Susie’s bed, his blond head tilted to one side as he told Susie the story would forever be etched in Amelia’s memory. She thought of her impression of Daniel when she’d first laid eyes on him, how she’d thought him an impossible, unfeeling man, and realized that she’d never been so wrong about anyone.

Susie was lucky to have Daniel. Amelia wondered about Jane, Susie’s mother, Daniel’s wife. Was she sweet and docile or spirited like her daughter?

Amelia recalled earlier that day when she’d attempted to show Susie the proper way to partake of an afternoon
tea. Susie had been restless, not at all interested in dressing up or drinking tea, her mind wandering to outside, where the child preferred to be playing.

When she’d tried to instill in Susie the importance of learning how to conduct herself in polite society, the child had given her a look designed to kill, then she’d shoved back her chair and run outside, ignoring Amelia’s request to rejoin her.

Susie had been sulky at dinner, but her sour mood had quickly passed afterward when Daniel had promised an extra story that night. The three of them had gone outside to sit on the front porch of the house, studying the moon and stars, while Daniel told a tale of a ship captain’s adventures on Lake Superior one stormy night two years ago.

It had been a pleasant time, with Amelia and Daniel seated side by side on a bench swing, Susie on Daniel’s lap and snuggled within his arms. Amelia had listened to the deep melodic tone of Daniel’s storytelling voice and had felt some of the strain of the last day ease. It could have been another time or place. Her father’s kidnapping might never have occurred.

When the story was over and it was time for Susie to go to bed, Daniel carried Susie inside, and Amelia had remained on the porch swing, studying the night sky. When she finally roused herself to go inside, she had heard the low sound of Daniel in the other room and had gone to look in on the two briefly.

Now, as she waited for Daniel to rejoin her, Amelia was conscious of the quiet intimacy of the night, the fact that soon she would be seated with a man she was greatly attracted to … a man she desired. The thought made her heart trip and a warmth burn in her stomach. She recalled
the previous night’s kiss … and longed for another taste, a taste that could prove dangerous to her peace of mind.

She sat on the sofa before the fireplace. There was no fire, as the night was warm, but she could imagine the orange flames licking about the wood. She could feel the heat as if the fire were alive—and it wasn’t her physical attraction to Daniel that made her feel warm and tingly all over.

Being separated from her father, not knowing what was happening to him at this very moment, was difficult for her, but she knew it would be impossible if it weren’t for Daniel and his kindness and understanding.

She felt the sting of tears and fought hard against them, determined not to give in to sadness again. If anyone could help her, it was Daniel, and she would take comfort in the fact that he had promised to help her and that he had friends who could help her as well.

Amelia studied the room—the large beams across the ceiling, the stone fireplace … the smooth wooden floor. On the mantel, there was a vase of cut flowers. On the wall above the vase was Indian artwork, no doubt given to Daniel by his Ojibwa friends.

After the attack on the mission, it was hard for her to be open-minded about the Indians. She knew that there were different tribes, that one couldn’t be blamed for the actions of another, but she wasn’t sure how she’d feel if any Indian—Chippewa or Sioux, friendly or not—came through that front door.

She wondered if Susie was being difficult tonight. It was taking Daniel what seemed to be an inordinately long time with her. Perhaps Susie was complaining about Amelia and her lessons.

Feeling a bit sleepy herself, Amelia closed her eyes, sure that she would hear Daniel’s return.

She must have dozed, because suddenly she jerked awake. Daniel sat beside her, his eyes shut, his face boyish in repose. He must have returned a while ago. She shifted uncomfortably, wondering if he had watched her while she slept. Then she realized that she really didn’t care, for he felt comfortable enough to relax, to sleep, in her company.

She studied him—the bright blond wave that fell across his forehead, the lighter streaks of gold brought by the touch of the sun. He had changed his clothes, shedding his buckskins for a white linen shirt and brown breeches. His feet were bare, the tops with a smattering of golden hair, his toes nicely shaped and even.

Once again, she was struck by the power in his male form, in his arms and legs, in his upper and lower torso. Her eyes fell on a small scar on his right wrist. She wondered how he had gotten it, if he had others, and how he’d gotten them, too. Staring at him, she wondered what he had been like as a little boy, and was shocked by her musings, for no other man had ever inspired such questioning thoughts.

Her gaze wandered down to his waistband, and she felt herself blush as she wondered what he’d look like without clothes. She decided that he would be pleasing to her eye no matter what, because of the strength of her feelings for him.

Her attention returned to his face, and she found, much to her embarrassment, that he had awakened and was watching her through heavy-lidded eyes. She gasped, then managed to control her emotions enough to smile. He didn’t smile, but just looked at her. Mortified, she rose to escape, but he reached out and pulled her back down, right onto his lap.

Her gaze flew to his face, and she saw that a grin had come to his lips and a mischievous twinkle lit up his eyes.

“Thought you’d get away from me, didn’t you?” he said in a deep husky voice.

“Daniel—”

“No, Amelia,” he said. The look in his eyes had changed. Desire flamed within the blue orbs. His expression held her captive; she couldn’t look away.

She felt herself respond to his look, his hold on her. She shifted a little and heard him groan. The sound made her freeze until she realized that she hadn’t hurt him. It had been a soft exclamation of pleasure.

He cupped her shoulder, then ran his hand down her arm. She trembled beneath his touch and briefly closed her eyes.

“Susie sleeping?” she asked, aware of how shaky her voice sounded.

Daniel nodded, his attention intent on his hands, one of which held her wrist, the other that hovered near the top button of her gown.

His eyes captured hers. She stared at him, her thoughts in turmoil, her body aching, but the doubts playing on the surface confused her. His wife was missing, but he still seemed attached to the woman.

She was here, but was it her that Daniel wanted—or was he pretending she was his Jane?

“I’m not your wife,” she said, aware of how lame that sounded.

He jerked with surprise, then scowled. “I know you’re not. Don’t you think I know the difference? The last thing I think about when I’m with you is my wife.”

There was an underlying harshness in his tone that surprised her. “Daniel—”

“Don’t talk, Amelia,” he said. “Don’t talk. Just feel.” With that he caressed the underside of her chin and jawline,
ran a finger about her left ear, trailed a path around to the back of her neck.