Lady of Light (35 page)

As she followed Evan to the other side of the stage to deliver the box suppers for the raffle, the band struck up a waltz. Claire saw Beth tug a reluctant Ian onto the dance floor and begin to teach him the simple steps. She smiled. They did make an appealing, if albeit overly young, couple.

“Well, would you like to dance, Mrs. MacKay?” her husband asked her just then, distracting Claire from her pensive musings over Ian and Beth. He set the now empty basket beside the raffle table, removed her shawl and placed it in the basket, then took her by the arm and led her out onto the middle of the floor.

“I took your silence as agreement,” he explained smilingly as he grasped one of her hands in his and slipped his other hand about her waist. “I hope that wasn’t too presumptuous of me?”

Claire chuckled. “Och, it was indeed presumptuous, and no mistake, but seeing as how you
are
my husband, I suppose I won’t take offense this time.”

“Good.” Evan grinned, his dark eyes sparkling. “You’d be the last person I’d ever wish to offend.” With that, he swirled her about and, to the four beat music, began to guide her around the dance floor.

As they waltzed around the room, Claire gave herself up to the sheer pleasure of the beautiful music and the heady presence of her husband holding her securely in his arms. Och, it was all so perfect, she thought. This wondrous autumn eve, the gaily decorated room, all the brightly dressed women and their dark-suited escorts, the laughter, the sheer fun. And, to make it all even more special, there was that tiny life growing within her, the miracle that was her and Evan’s child.

“You’re looking especially radiant tonight,” Evan mentioned just then. “Dare I hope I had at least some part in that glow you’re wearing?”

“Och, you had a verra large part in it, husband,” Claire replied with a laugh and an impish grin. “More than you might ever imagine.”

“Good,” he said, puffing out his chest in pride, “because I swear you’re the most beautiful woman here.”

They danced one dance after the other, stopping only for an occasional cup of punch and to catch their breath. People came and went. Sheriff Jake Whitmore, a tall, ruggedly attractive man with chestnut hair and what seemed a perpetually beard-shadowed jaw, finally walked in with Noah and Millie Starr. Mary Sue Edgerton, who until then had been occasionally dancing and frequently ensconced near the punch table with some of her friends, instantly made a beeline toward the sheriff. He politely danced a few waltzes with her, then seemed to find an excuse to head toward the front door.

As Evan finally swung her about to face in that direction, Claire saw the reason for Jake Whitmore’s abrupt departure. Brody Gerard had arrived. Her glance met his as he checked his hat and gun with the husband of one of the quilting society members, then turned to scan the room. At the look of frank admiration in his eyes, Claire stiffened, then deliberately averted her gaze. When she next had opportunity to look his way, Brody Gerard had moved to the punch table, where he had struck up a conversation with Mary Sue.

After that, Claire paid him no further heed. The night was too perfect to let a man like him ruin it. Besides, she had more important—

With a start, Claire realized it had been a while since she had last seen Ian and Beth. Surreptitiously, so as not to alert Evan as they danced, she scrutinized the room. There was no sign of either of the two young people. Unease coiled and twisted within.

“Och,” she began when the music momentarily died, “I’d like to take a few minutes for a breath of fresh air.” She fanned herself to add emphasis to her words. “With all the people in here now, it has become a bit warm and stuffy.”

“Fine.” Evan released her waist and started to pull her toward a side door. “I wouldn’t mind a short break myself. Especially,” he grinned, “in the company of my beautiful wife.”

“Och, nay.” Claire slid to a halt and tugged her hand from his. “You needn’t come. I’ll just be a few minutes at any rate. Go. Talk with some of the men. I’m sure you’ve been wanting to do that, haven’t you?”

He eyed her quizzically, then shrugged. “Sure. Just don’t be too long, or I’ll come looking for you.”

“Only a few minutes. I promise.” Even as she spoke, Claire began to back away. When she was several feet from her husband, she waved, then turned and hurried out the door.

It was dark and chilly once she moved from the shelter of the town hall. Claire clasped her arms about herself, wishing she had remembered to take her thick, warm shawl. However, in her concern over finding Ian and Beth, she hadn’t given much thought to the cold night. Besides, she didn’t intend to be outside long—only long enough to find the increasingly troublesome young lovers.

They certainly weren’t anywhere on the side of the building where she had exited. Claire walked around to the front, glanced up and down Winona Street, and noted only the various horses and carriages tied to the hitching posts. Then, from somewhere far down the street, a dog howled mournfully and a horse whinnied.

Her concern growing, she made her way back down the side of the town hall. As she neared the end of the building, the sound of voices rose on the night air. Claire slowed, then drew to a halt.

“Please, Reverend Starr,” she heard Beth say. “Don’t tell my brother. He wouldn’t understand. He just wouldn’t!”

“How do you know that, Beth?” Noah replied gently. “Evan understands what it’s like to care deeply for someone. And you two can’t go on like this—am I wrong in assuming this little tryst of yours isn’t the first time?—or there’s going to be trouble. You both need the help of your family to deal with this before—”

“I agree,” Claire announced, forcing herself to turn the corner and join the little gathering. Better to take charge and be quick about it, she decided, or things really
would
get out of hand. “It’s past time something be done about this.”

Beth and Ian lifted startled gazes to Claire, but Noah only half-turned to render her a nod of greeting. She pulled up at his side. “I must say,” she then said, glancing from one youngster to the other, “that I see my trust in you two has been sadly misplaced.”

“We weren’t doing aught but a little kissing,” her brother muttered, casting her a sullen look.

“Indeed.” Claire sharply scanned them and found nothing apparently amiss. She relaxed a little. “Well, be that as it may, this is no time to be discussing this now.”

She took Beth by the arm, then turned to Noah Starr. “I thank you for finding these two for me, Father Starr. I assure you I can handle this from here on out.”

For a moment, Noah looked as if he might protest or say more. Then, with a nod and a quiet “Good evening,” he turned and walked away.

“So, are you planning on telling Evan?” Ian demanded the instant the priest was out of earshot. “Are you?”

Claire didn’t like the surly tone in her brother’s voice. “It’s his sister that you’re taking liberties with,” she snapped as she met his gaze once more. “In the absence of their parents, Evan has the right—and duty—to know and to deal with the situation.”

“So, you
do
choose him over me then, do you?” Ian cried. “I told you it would come to that sooner or later. And I was right, wasn’t I?”

Staring at her brother, who stood there now, shoulders rigid, hands clenched at his sides, challenging her to make a most heartrending choice, it was all Claire could do to keep herself from slapping him. The audacity, the self-centered selfishness! How dare he put her in such a horrible position?
How dare he?

But now wasn’t the time or place for such a confrontation, she cautioned herself. All of them were too upset right now. All of them needed time to calm, think things through a little more clearly.

“It isn’t a matter of choosing Evan over you, or vice versa,” Claire stated firmly. “It’s a matter of right and wrong, and proper—”

“My, my, my,” a deep, masculine voice rose unexpectedly from the shadows of a small storage building behind the town hall. “What a most entertaining evening this has been,” Brody Gerard observed as he moved toward them. “Too bad that cursed priest showed up when he did. Things were really warming up quite nicely, until he happened by.”

At his approach, Beth gave a cry and moved closer to Ian. In a protective gesture, he slipped his arm about her shoulders and glared at the older man. “You’re a swine, you are,” he snarled, “to be spying on us like that!”

Brody Gerard halted. A dark brow arched in warning. “Have a care who you call a swine, boy. I don’t take kindly to grown men calling me names, and I don’t intend to make any exceptions in your case, either.”

“Then why don’t you hie yourself out of here?” Ian released Beth and shoved her behind him. “I don’t take kindly to Peeping Toms.”

Watching them, Claire decided it was past time she put an end to this rapidly worsening little interchange. She stepped between Brody Gerard and her brother. “One way or another, Mr. Gerard, the evening’s entertainment out here is over. If you don’t mind, we’ll just be on our way.”

A hand snaked out and grabbed her arm. “Oh, not so fast, missy,” he drawled, looking her up and down with that repulsive way of his. “Go on. Send the children back into the dance. You and I, though, still have some unfinished business.”

Fear rippled down Claire’s spine, and set her skin to crawling. “There’s no business I ever care to do with you, Mr. Gerard!” She pulled back, but he held her tight. She jerked harder, but to no avail. “Let me go, please. Now!”

“I’d do what my wife asks, Gerard,” Evan said suddenly from behind them. “If it’s unfinished business you’re looking to settle, I’d be glad to help you out with that right here and now.”

Brody Gerard glared down at her, the light in his eyes suddenly flat and hard. “Some other time then, missy,” he said softly, releasing her. As Claire hurried to join Beth and Ian at Evan’s side, the big drifter’s mouth lifted in a feral smile. “Speaking of unfinished business, MacKay, seems like you’ve got a heap more of it than I do.”

“Indeed?” Evan growled. “And what might that be?”

In that moment, Claire knew what Brody Gerard planned to do. She lifted her horrified gaze to his. At the look of malevolent triumph gleaming there, her heart sank. “Nay,” she whispered, shaking her head. “Nay …”

“Ask your wife why she’s standing out back of the town hall with her brother and your sister,” the big, swarthy man sneered. “Ask her what those two were doing just before she got here. And then ask her why, though she’s apparently known about their shenanigans for a while, she’s never bothered to tell you. Ask her, MacKay,” Brody Gerard taunted, his smile now brutally victorious. “Because I think once you hear what that boy has been doing with your sweet little sister, things aren’t ever going to be the same—”

“Lyin’ dog!” Ian roared as, with three strides, he flung himself at the bigger man. His momentum was just enough to knock Brody Gerard off balance, and both tumbled to the ground.

“Ian! Nay!” Claire leaped forward, to be immediately drawn up sharply by Evan’s hand on her arm.

“Get some help,” he ordered, his face an impassive mask. “Get Sheriff Whitmore!” With that, her husband whirled her about and pushed her in the opposite direction. “And take Beth with you!”

Claire hesitated but an instant, then grabbed Beth’s hand and dragged her along. Though she was loath to leave Ian, not knowing what either of the two men might do to him, she also knew she couldn’t stop any of them without help. So she ran on, fighting a struggling, crying Beth all the way.

“Let me go,” the girl begged. “Let me go! If Brody doesn’t kill Ian, Evan will!”

“Nay,” Claire ground out, “he won’t be that lucky.
Neither
of you will be that lucky. I just hope you’re both happy with this particular pot you’ve stirred.”

“We love each other! Can’t any of you understand that?”

“Well, it won’t mean aught to your father or brother if you and Ian keep on the way you’re headed,” Claire muttered bluntly, at the end of her patience. “But I doubt either of you have given any thought to that, have you?”

“Oh, just let me go!” the girl sobbed, digging in her heels.

Claire’s strength and determination, however, was a match and more for Beth’s. She finally pulled her to the hall’s side door. “Stay here,” she then ordered, “and don’t make a scene, or you’ll bring even more shame down on your family. Do you understand me, Beth?”

“Y-yes,” the girl snuffled, wiping her eyes.

Though it took but a minute or two to locate Sheriff Whitmore in the crowd, quietly explain the situation transpiring out back, then make their way to the site, all three males were bloodied and bruised by the time they arrived. Ian knelt on the ground, his nose broken, spitting out blood. Evan and Brody were locked in brutal combat nearby, neither man giving quarter as they pummeled each other unmercifully.

It required Jake Whitmore and three others to pull the two opponents apart. Even then, Evan and Brody glared at each other with murderous rage, straining at the hands that held them.

“Well, it seems you’ve finally gone and disturbed the peace one time too many, Gerard,” the sheriff said, shaking his head. “I’m afraid that’s going to cost you a night or two in jail.”

“And what about MacKay?” the big man cried through a lacerated lip, shooting a nervous glance at the crowd slowly forming behind them. “He’s disturbing the peace, too!”

“That lowlife was accosting my wife when I showed up,” Evan snarled, wiping the blood from his own split lip. “That’s grounds enough to lock him up!”

Jake Whitmore turned to Claire. “Is that true, Mrs. MacKay?”

Suddenly, all eyes were on her. Claire swallowed hard and nodded. “Aye, it’s true.”

“Lock him up, boys,” the sheriff then curtly ordered. “Seems pretty cut-and-dried to me.”

As the men led Brody Gerard away, though, Ian climbed to his feet. “I’m not finished with you, you lying swine!” he shouted after him, his lean, wiry body stiff with rage. “But when I am, you’ll rue this night. You’ll rue it to your dying day!”

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