More Than Scars (22 page)

I rubbed his beautiful face and ears and listened to his soft mutterings before giving him his carrot. “One day…you and I are going to escape this stable,” I promised. I peeked over to see Amelia offering her gift to Cocoa Princess. The gelding took the carrot gently. Brianne stood watching me timidly and with a bit of awe.

“You like Zosimo?”

“He’s the most beautiful horse here!” She smiled at him.

I remembered what Liam said about Zosimo recognizing a survivor and though it was worth a test.

“Come here,” I whispered to her. “I will watch him. You don’t have to fear.”

Jack got a little edgy and stepped forward…to which, Zosimo stamped a great hoof. I held up my hand.

“Brianne, come here,” I said in a gentle voice. I held my hand to her and she came without fear.
Zosimo did not even flinch. I removed my hand from him and he grew agitated and nervous. I quickly laid my hand on his neck and whispered to him. “Touch him,” I insisted to her.

She hesitated.

“He will not hurt you with me here,” I promised her.

She reached out a small hand and touched his glossy fur.

Zosimo trembled, but at my soft words, he remained still and allowed the little girls touch. “She needs this,” I told him gently. The horse murmured in his throat but stood still, not a muscle flinching. “Good boy,” I praised and then smiled down at Brianne. “See? He’s as gentle as a lamb!”

Brianne was holding her breath as she stroked him. “He’s so pretty!” Once she got her fill, she stepped back, smiling up at me. I patted
Zosimo, telling him again that he was a good boy. He tossed his head a bit, seeming well pleased.

Jack breathed a sigh of relief, and I patted his shoulder, as I passed him to kneel before Brianne. Amelia came to join into our little powwow. She gave
Zosimo a curious glance.

“Don’t ever do that without me,” I pleaded with them.

“It’s okay,” Amelia spoke up, shaking her head. “I like Cocoa Princess better. He doesn’t growl like Zos does.”

I smiled at Brianne. “How was that?”

“It was awesome Rissa!”

I gave her a quick hug. “Go see if your Daddy is coming!”

My heart felt like it was overflowing at the sparkle in Brianne’s eyes. After last night she needed something special. I turned to Zosimo and hugged the horse’s great neck. ”You gorgeous beast!” He almost sounded like he was purring, as I scratched him between his eyes and then he gave out a sudden and a familiar whinny. I knew what it meant. Liam had arrived!. I lowered my gaze and moved to give a quick offering to Baxter. The sweet natured horse accepted his gift and the well-meant pats. He would remember my scent and the gifts for next time!

Brianne was at his heels and crowing about the recent event. “
Rissa kept me safe Daddy,” Brianne laughed. “And Zosimo has the softest silkiest fur ever! But I can’t pet him without her”

“And you will listen to her? You don’t go near him unless she says?”

“Oh yes Daddy!”

“Go on out to the wagon,” he commanded softly, ushering her toward me. He couldn’t resist saying hello to his
Zosimo either.

“After I say goodbye to Cocoa Princess!”

I smiled to myself as I made my way outside to the wagon. I hefted Amelia up into the softness of the blankets and the hay. I was glad I had put her in thermals when the cold breeze blew through. I turned to Brianne as she exited the stable and swung her up beside her sister.

“You ready?” I asked them, watching their excited faces. I went to step up myself, when my waist was grasped firmly and I was lifted without effort over the side. I didn’t even have time to react or gasp. I didn’t have to ask
who’s strong arms had placed me here. Jack was already at the helm.

Liam Byrne was climbing in right behind me, and if I wasn’t mistaken, he was chuckling at the fact that I was flustered.

“Daddy is so strong,” Amelia sang.

I blushed. “Indeed he is,” I played along with her hero worship.

He settled himself at the back of the wagon, where the end was higher and made for a good back rest. He was wearing a hoodie under his jacket and pulled his hood on now against the cold and also for further coverage. It was substantially dark, so not necessary, but it made him feel more comfortable.

I glanced his way, also feeling more comfortable that he was hiding behind the hood. All I could make out was a pair of smiling lips. Lips I had observed last night for a moment in the moonlight. Lips that had been dangerously close to touching mine. They had touched me…I knew their softness…their firmness as they brushed my cheek. They would feel lovely against
mine. I drew in a breath now, focused now on that thought. The mouth tilted further at the corners and I knew he read my thoughts.

“Are you comfortable Miss Meadows? You seem a bit…flustered.”

My face was going to burst into flames any moment. “I am perfectly fine, thank you.” I cleared my throat and focused my attention on the girls, who wanted to burrow in the blankets. His eyes were on me though.

There were lanterns on the front of the wagon to lead Jack along…just enough for him to see the trail. It was getting quite dark now and the stars were very visible in the clear fall sky. This had been an excellent idea!

The girls excitedly chattered about what they swore were either shooting stars or U.F.O.S. They squealed at sounds in the dark…which were no more than night creatures that suddenly became Big Foot in their imaginations. Since they were enjoying themselves, I did not scold or stop them. This was what this trip was all about!

Liam spoke up now and then to point out the bright eyes of an animal shining in the dark. He would chuckle when the girls squealed and the animal would take off.

I kept my eyes on the little ones as he would speak, knowing he still watched me. What was he waiting for from me? I wasn’t quite sure. I had expected to be completely ignored by him from Stewart’s words this morning. Last night had been intense. Did he want to pretend it had never happened? Stewart said he felt he had crossed a line. Was he waiting for me to tell him he had or was he believing Ian? Did he know I had wanted…my cheeks warmed at the thought. I really had wanted his kiss in that magic vulnerable moment. I had wanted him to open up to me! I wanted him to spill and tell me what Ian had told me at lunch!

Jade had cheated on Liam! Her lover had tried to kill him…had murdered her! How messed up was that? He had been betrayed and he still fought to save her! This man was so beautiful on the inside! And he had been so badly hurt…physically and emotionally! Could I ever even begin to deserve to be the one to try to heal him? I wanted to be! More than ever I wanted his trust! And I had dug information from his brother!

What was done was done. At least now I knew what I was working with. I shook off the heavy thoughts and joined in with the girl’s fun. The air was getting cooler now. I was wishing now that I had brought my gloves. I summoned them over to me to tug theirs onto their little hands. They returned to the night time festivities.

Every now and then my gaze would drift to the back of the wagon, where Liam leaned back, his long legs stretched out, crossed at the ankles. Those ankles were crossed right there in front of me
!. He was sitting there just watching, observing as he always did. He was quiet now and it made me wonder what he was thinking. He always turned into himself when he started thinking too much. He needed to be involved with the girls tonight!

I tugged Amelia into my lap and whispered something to her.

She smiled, and gave a nod, crawling up her Dad’s long legs. “Come find the stars with me Daddy,” she insisted. “Lay in the hay with me.” She was tugging on his hands. “Come on…you can’t see as good sitting up!”

“Amelia…”

I tilted my head to Brianne to help her sister.

“Daddy come on,” Brianne chimed in. “Lay down!” She went for his other hand and pulled until Liam was scooting down between them and lying on his back, peering up at the stars. Either
girls were lying at his sides now.

“Do you see now Daddy?”

“Yeh,” he grumbled. “I see now!”

The girls giggled at his grousing.

I smiled and turned, biting my lip against a laugh.

“I see Miss Meadows is still sitting up! She needs to get over here and look at the stars too.” He sat up quickly and I yelped in surprise. His grip was firm. His tug was strong and I was soon flat on my back in the wagon as well…night sky above me.

The girls were laughing so hard it made me laugh.

I didn’t fight to sit up, just laid there. His fingers were still around my wrist and he squeezed. I felt the warmth run up my arm…it was like electricity. Could he feel that too? His thumb pressed my pulse. Yes, he could.

Amelia was right between us. Our arms made a teepee above her. She clasped both of her little hands one over each of ours.

“No, you do it wrong,” she sighed and undid Liam’s grip around my wrist. She placed our hands together palm to palm. “Like this.”

I shivered as he completed the hold, lacing his fingers with mine.

“Like that?” His voice was low and soft.

“Yes!” Amelia laughed.

I let my fingers twine with his. He had to feel them trembling.

Brianne sat up and smiled over at me. I saw something in that little face. It was kind of like when she was petting Zosimo. There was a little bit of awe…but a lot more love. She laid back down in the crook of her Daddy’s arm.

Amelia crawled over us to join her sister. She was dragging a blanket with her to cover up. “
Bri, Rissa and Daddy are holding hands,” she said in a loud whisper.

Brianne hushed her. “I saw!” They scooted over and started whispering.

Liam’s chuckle warmed me. He took our entwined hands and set them on his chest…which forced me to have to scoot closer to him, eating up space between us. I felt his heart beat under the back of my hand. I could hardly breathe. I didn’t want to move and break the contact. “Are you comfortable?” he murmured.

I bunched the blanket at my head to make a better pillow and drew in a breath for my thankful lungs. “Yes.”

His forearm was trapping my forearm against his side at the angle he held our hands. “And this…” he rubbed his thumb along mine. Again…electricity ran through my veins. “Is okay?”

My heart hitched in my chest. “Yes.” He repeated the action and he could have asked me anything and I probably would have said yes.

He sighed out a breath. “I’m glad,” he whispered. “I don’t think I could let go if you asked me.” His fingers contracted. His face turned toward me, but I did not look up into the hood. I studied our hands on his chest. “Nothing has felt this good…this right in a long time Nerissa.” He said it so softly I thought I had imagined it.

I smiled afraid to say anything. Knowing me…I would burst into tears.

His other hand reached to touch my cheek and I felt him lean in…his breath was on my face. I closed my eyes.

“I think he’s going to kiss her,” Amelia crowed. “Yuck!”

His nearness was taken away…but my hand remained in his. “What are you two little monkeys cackling about?” Liam chuckled.

Amelia smiled innocently. “Uncle Ian says…”

“We don’t want to hear what Uncle Ian has to say,” Liam growled playfully. “Now lie down here and watch for those shooting stars you were hoping for. Daddy needs one to wish on tonight.”

Brianne giggled. “
You going to wish for a kiss Daddy?”

I smiled. I didn’t know what was going on in those little minds, but I had a feeling they had been influenced by Uncle Ian. After our talk at lunch; I was sure of it.

The soothing sway of the ride and the touch of Liam’s hand against mine made me forget the cold. We pointed out constellations to the girls and thought we may have seen a shooting star.

Liam gave us a serenade from his lying position and it was so beautiful I wanted to grab him by the collar and kiss him right then and there! A family man who could play a piano…a guitar…work his voice like that and run a business? There was nothing sexier. Maybe one day I would work up the nerve to tell him that! Instead I ran my thumb along his like he had done mine earlier. If he had at all the same reaction I did…it would be thank you enough for the song.

He sat up the moment I did this and cleared his throat, reaching for a blanket to cover up. He let go of my hand and flashed me a smile. “Suddenly got cold.” He arranged his hood and scooted away from me to lean back in his original position at the back of the wagon.

I frowned for a moment and then his sudden reaction hit me. Well, he’d reacted to my touch…just a little stronger than I had to his. My cheeks warmed and I turned my face to smile.

Liam cleared his throat and coughed, which made me smile bigger.

Jack was turning the wagon around and we were heading home.

I wrapped a blanket around my shoulders and watched with envy as the girls crawled into Liam’s arms. I had no right to be jealous. It was their right. I drew my knees up to my chest to conserve warmth.

“Come here with us,” Brianne murmured from her Dad’s side.