Love Lasts Forever (13 page)

Willow pulled off her clothing and slipped into the disguise she stored away after speaking with the children. Dressed as a boy, it would be easier to creep through the woods. Her hair posed a problem, but she couldn’t bear the thought of cutting off the long braid. She coiled the ropy mass on top of her head, holding it in place with a few pins. One of Reverend Brown’s old worn hats fit perfectly over her hair and completed the ruse.

With that chore complete, she sat down behind her desk. Using strong, sure strokes, she dipped her pen into the vat of ink and drafted a letter to Olivia and the reverend. Once they were fast asleep, she’d leave the letter on the dining room table and steal away into the night.

* * *

Something in Willow’s luminous eyes haunted Thor, but he couldn’t put his finger on it. The nighttime hike to his family’s cabin absorbed most of his concentration, forcing his concern for Willow to take a backseat for the moment.

The bright full moon and the glittering stars provided a natural beacon to guide his path, but he still preferred the large expansive beams that came from electrical lights. Adjusting to the current century was easy enough, but he sorely missed the little modern conveniences like electricity and indoor plumbing.

When he reached the cabin, he noticed the groundwork for the additional rooms. A breath lodged in his throat at the sight. As if in a daze, he ran his hand along the wooden planks. He marveled at how fresh the wood looked in comparison to its appearance in 1985. The pride Anders held in his work was evident in how everything was laid out. Thor felt a momentary twinge of disappointment at having never noticed before.

“Who’s there?” The click of a rifle followed the deadly quiet voice.

Thor raised his hands and moved away from the cabin. “It’s Thor.”

The rifle clicked again. A figure stepped from the shadows. The man stood an inch shorter than Thor, but other than that, the similarities were startling. His eyes were the same dark, piercing blue, and his hair was the same sandy brown.

Lowering the firearm to his side, the man moved closer until they stood only inches apart. “So, you’re the Thor Eva’s so fond of. I can see the resemblance, more or less. You took your time returning. Did you get lost from Brown’s place to here?”

So, this was his great-great-grandpa Anders. Thor accepted Anders’s outstretched hand and gave it a firm, hearty shake. “Sorry it took me so long. The reverend needed help with a few things.”

“Eva held dinner for you. She’s asleep now, so if you’re hungry, make your plate quietly.” Anders’s steely gaze fixated on him.

“Thanks but I’m not hungry. I had chicken and dumplings at the Browns.”

Anders nodded once. He moved away from Thor to lean the rifle against the cabin. Resting his backside against the porch’s edge, he folded his arms across his chest. “You’ve spent a considerable amount of time over there. What did he need help with?”

“Just a few things around the place. Odds and ends.”

His ancestor bent over and grabbed a blade of grass from the ground. Rising, he stuck it in his mouth and chewed. “Eva says you’re from down by Atlanta. I didn’t realize the Magnusens had traveled so far south.”

Thor stiffened slightly. Anders wanted to play twenty questions.
Okay
, Thor thought,
let’s have it
.

“We’ve been there for quite some time.”

“For how long?”

“All my life. I can’t really speak for what happened before I was born.”

“Your folks didn’t talk much, huh?” Anders shoulders relaxed. The piercing gleam in his eyes relented. He appeared almost relaxed and as if, he trusted and believed Thor. “I suppose all Magnusens have that in common.”

“It would seem so.”

“Tell me about the work Brown had for you. He’s a nice enough man, but he’s involved in things that are best left alone. While you’re staying here, I’d rather you not take part in his other activities.”

“Why not?”

Anders broke eye contact with Thor. Looking away, he spit out the grass and then bent down to grab another blade. When he straightened, he gave Thor a hard stare. “Some things are best left alone. Only devilment befalls a man for treading where he doesn’t belong.”

“But how can a man disregard souls screaming in agony?”

“It’s not that simple,” Anders countered. “Things are boiling to a fevered pitch. I won’t be in the thick of it. With the baby coming, I have to put
my
family first and tend to their needs.”

Thor sighed and ran a weary hand through his short mass of hair. Even if he disagreed with his great-great-grandfather, he understood the other man’s reasons. “There’s no point to arguing.”

“No, there isn’t.”

“Give Eva my regards. I’ll be over at the Browns.” Thor looked down at his shirt and pants. “These are yours. Mine got dirty in the pigpen yesterday. After I change, I’ll be going.”

“Wait. Never mind about my clothes. They fit. Wear ’em. I can only wear one shirt and one pair of pants at a time anyway. We’ll take care of your clothes when we do the wash. When you see Willow, tell her I’ll take care of the chores here tomorrow and she can stay at home.”

Anders’s attitude irked Thor. The other man spoke as if Willow was nothing more than Eva’s maidservant. His jaw tightened, and in a voice heavy with sarcasm, he replied, “Sure thing. Will do.”

On the return trip to the Browns, he strode quickly through the woods. He slapped the overhanging branches and fading leaves off his shoulder. The nocturnal beauty of the woods went unnoticed. Annoyance and a slow building anger fueled his movements and came close to blinding him to the world around him. A few yards away, a twig snapped. Thor’s stride came to an immediate halt. He held himself still and listened.

The game of watch and wait lasted for what felt like an eternity. Through narrowed eyes, he searched the woods for a sign of anything. Nothing stirred.
When did I become such a wuss
? Of course, nothing stirred! He was the only person fool enough to be in the woods at that late hour. He dismissed his overly cautious behavior and took a step forward.

The evidence hit him. The fragrance of honeysuckles mingled with the scent of pine, oak and maple drifted to him. The delicate aroma assailed his nostrils and Thor breathed it in. A knowing smile spread across his face. He called out softly, “Willow.”

No response, but he wasn’t surprised. Why was she in the woods at this late hour anyway? Why was she hiding from him?

He planted his hands on his hips and looked around. “I’m not leaving until you come out, so if you’re prepared to stay out here all night, I’m prepared to wait. It may get awful cold, though. I hope you’re bundled up. I wish I was.”

The rich timbre of his voice lingered with a sad note. She’d probably be unable to resist, but just in case, a little improvisation might be necessary.

Balling his hands into fists, Thor blew into them. “Whew!” he exclaimed as he shivered. He then wrapped his arms around himself and rubbed briskly. “Yeah, it’s getting nippy out here, but I can handle it. I won’t catch a cold. Well, I hope I won’t.”

More silence answered him. Giving up wasn’t an option. With bounty hunters running rampant, there wasn’t a snowball’s chance in hell of him backing off. He wouldn’t leave her out there alone, so if she wanted to play, he’d be her playmate.

A fleeting image of passionate play flashed before his eyes. Hot bodies pressed together and slow, moist kisses came to mind. A sense of urgency rippled through him. His body hardened in response.

Sudden anger at the direction that his thoughts took him flared deep within. Through clenched teeth, he bit out, “Willow! Enough’s enough! Come out now, or by God, I’ll come in there after you.” He paused a beat. “So, what will it be? Willow—”

“Blessed be!” She stepped from behind the large trunk of an oak. “You’ll wake the dead!”

“It’s the living I’m more concerned with,” he retorted. His gaze roved over her, and he shook his head. Men’s clothing covered her from head to toe. The masculine garments did little to hide her femininity. He wondered why she wore the clothes in the first place. Thor moved to her and snatched the hat from her head. Holding it up between them, he asked, “What’s the meaning of this?”

Her hand shot out to retrieve the hat. He held it over her head, just out of her reach. “Give it back!”

“No. Not until you tell me why you’re dressed like that.”

Irritation blazed in her eyes. “This is ridiculous and childish, too!”

“I agree.” He tossed the hat to his other hand, still out of her reach.

“Thor!” Her small hands balled into fists, but she made no move to strike him.

Anger livens her up
, he mused. Oh, she was a beauty no matter what expression she wore, but fury added another dimension to it. Black orbs glittered dangerously under the light of the moon. The usual soft tones of her voice gave way to husky indignation. Her breath came out in short gasps and drew his attention to her chest. Despite the bulky jacket, he remembered the round, ample curves that lay underneath.

“Why must it always come down to this?” she asked.

“To what?”

“To using your manhood against me! You did it with the water buckets, and you’re doing it now! I thought you were different, but you’re not! You’re like all the rest. You take what you want, not giving a care to anyone else!”

The hardness of anger slipped from her eyes. Thor caught a glimpse of hurt and disillusionment before she whipped away. Her words slammed into his chest and knocked the wind out of him. Tension crept in through the trees and became a long, thin cord between them. Words left him, but he refused to accept that excuse.

He cleared his parched throat and went to her. “Here’s your hat.”

She turned around to grab the hat before giving him a good view of her back again.

Thor groaned. This would be difficult, and what’s worse, he deserved it. He swallowed hard and moved to stand behind her. Without a moment’s hesitation, his hands closed over her shoulders and gently squeezed the tight muscles they encountered.

“I am so sorry,” he said with quiet emphasis. “I was only teasing, and it got out of hand. Seeing you dressed in these clothes threw me, and when you wouldn’t answer me, I lost it. Forgive me.”

“Are you asking for my forgiveness or demanding it?”

“Begging,” he said in a low, apologetic tone. “Please. I won’t make the same mistake again.”

“I forgive you,” she murmured as she turned to face him.

Eased by her forgiveness, his earlier curiosity returned. “What are you doing out here dressed like that in the middle of the night?”

“I can’t exactly say.”

“I suppose this means you lied to me then. You haven’t forgiven me.”

“Blessed be!” she muttered. “What does one thing have to do with the other?”

“If you’ve forgiven me, you would trust me,” he said sadly, spreading the guilt on thick for effect. “If you trusted me, you’d tell me. You’re giving me the run around again, so that can only mean one thing.”

“No, please don’t think that,” she said soothingly. “I do trust you. It’s just that… Well, if I tell you, you may try to stop me, and I won’t be stopped.”

An eyebrow raised in surprise. “Stop you from doing what exactly?”

Her chin lifted in a gesture of defiance. “From doing what I must to preserve a family!”

“A family?” Thor sputtered. “Whose family? What are you talking about?”

“I’m talking about Nat, Charity, and Clay. They told me what happened to their mother. Her death was horrific, and it’s abominable those children had to witness it.”

“Yes, it was, but I don’t see how dressing like a man and running around in the woods in the middle of the night will change that—”

“If you would hold your tongue and not interrupt.”

“I won’t say another word.” He made a show of buttoning his lips and waited.

“Their father is very much alive, and once I bring him back to them, their family will be whole again!”

“I don’t believe it,” he said underneath his breath.

“Believe it! Don’t try to stop me either because I won’t stand for it. I can do this, Thor. I know what it’s like to be without a mother and a father. Those children don’t have to experience that.”

“Are you trying to convince me or are you just telling me?”

She looked taken aback. “I’m just telling you. I will do what I set out to do! And you won’t stop me either!”

“Did I say I wanted to? It sounds like a good idea. In fact, I like it so much that I can’t think of anything I’d like more than to join you.”

“But you can’t! You can’t sneak on and off a plantation like I can!”

“No, I can’t. I can take us right up to the front door.”

“I’m not sure about this.” Uncertainty clouded her expression.

“I wasn’t asking you.” Thor shrugged. “Either I go with you, or you don’t go at all. The choice is yours. I’ll wait right here while you make your decision.”

Chapter Seven