Savage Conquest (21 page)

With a burst of strength borne of fear and
desperation, Miranda arched upward and flung
Weber to the carpeted floor. She bounded off the sofa
and scurried behind it. "If you touch me again,
Weber Richardson, I'll scream," she warned him
icily. "This isn't any way to behave with your future
sister-in-laws"

Weber refused to recognize the fury in her voice. He
chuckled and teased, "Come on, Randy, don't play
around. We both know you want me," he smugly
declared, a lewd grin curling his lips into a devilish
sneer.

Miranda saw the peril she was in and the evil
which filled this man. Suddenly, she was afraid for
both herself and her sister. "You're wrong, Weber. I
did want to be friends, for Mandy's sake, but not any
more. If you truly loved my sister, you wouldn't be
trying to seduce me right beneath her nose. If you don't get out and leave me alone, I'll tell Mandy what
you tried to do tonight."

Weber crossed his legs and remained sitting on the
floor. He laughed mirthfully, intimidatingly, vengefully-the sound chilled her soul. "She wouldn't
believe you," he alleged confidently. "Come here,
woman."

"No," she refused flatly. "Leave now, and we'll
forget this ever happened."

Weber slowly and purposefully got to his feet. He
began to stalk her around the sofa, but Miranda
eluded him. "Give it up, Randy; you can't get away.
From tonight on, you'll belong to me."

Miranda shook her head, chestnut locks flowing
about her shoulders. Her tawny eyes were shaded
with rising hatred. Her expression was lined with
contempt. Yet Weber saw none of it-he was blinded
by lust. He bounded over the sofa and captured her in
his arms, her back to his chest. Miranda twisted and
fought, but Weber's grip tightened. She stomped his
booted foot and elbowed his ribs.

She panted, "Let go of me, you brute!" She jerked
her head forward to throw it backward with force
into his nose and chin.

Anticipating her impending action, he moved his
face aside as her head landed against his shoulder.
Before she could lift it, her left ear was imprisoned
between his teeth and he gritted out this ominous
threat: "Move, and I'll rip it off. No woman teases me
like you did. Hold still while I see what you have to
offer. You owe me, Randy."

Tears of panic and pain sprung to her eyes as she
remained motionless, ready to savagely attack him
the instant he released her ear. Before his hands could
cover her breasts, the door opened and Amanda
walked inside. She came to an abrupt stop and glared
at them, shock and fury flooding her features. "I
heard Weber's voice, so I dressed to come down.
What's going on here?" she demanded.

Weber released Miranda and laughed merrily as he
went to her sister. Miranda turned hastily to
straighten her clothes and hair. "Randy and I were
just having some fun, tussling and playing like two
kids. I haven't had so much fun in years. Sorry if we
disturbed you, my sweet. We're going to be good
friends, a happy family, just like you want. How are
you feeling? Randy said the doctor came by, but you
weren't doing too well. She said you were napping,
so I told her not to bother you," he chatted lightly.

Amanda's frosty eyes went from the grinning
Weber to the rigid and silent Miranda who was
refusing to turn and look at her. Her skeptical gaze
wandered over Miranda's disheveled state and then
over Weber's mussed hair and clothes. Her eyes
focused briefly on Weber's flushed cheeks and stillcloudy gaze. She noted the misplaced cushions, a
rumpled throw rug, and the discarded flower.
"Something tells me I should be glad I didn't take
that medicine and go to bed," she announced
sarcastically. "I asked what's going on in here?" she
repeated suspiciously, knocking Weber's hand away
from her arm.

"I told you, my sweet, we were teasing around,"
Weber replied.

"It didn't look or sound that way to me," Amanda
refuted hotly.

"Don't be silly. You're just tired and feeling
poorly. You go back to bed and I'll come by to see you
tomorrow," he cajoled.

"Miranda, what's wrong with you?" Amanda
persisted.

"I- Nothing, Mandy. Weber and I were just ...
horsing around. Trying to make friends like you
asked," she responded, edging noticeable tension
and hesitation into her words.

"Dressed like that?" Amanda scoffed.

"Weber came over right after you went upstairs.
I'll go change," she murmured contritely.

"Then why didn't you fetch me instead of
entertaining him in that cheap attire? As for you,
Weber Richardson, you and Randy are too old to be
'teasing' around," she scolded them both in a
scathing tone.

"Don't be such a stick-in-the-mud," he retorted in
annoyance. How dare she reprimand him like a
childl

His reference to mud reminded her of Reis. She
eyed Weber intently. He could actually stand here
playing the innocent after trying to attack Randy
only moments ago! He was worse than she had
imagined! "I suppose you two think I'm gullible.
I've seen enough passion to recognize its after-effects.
Look at you two. Eyes glazed. Mouths red and puffy. Clothes and hair mussed. You both have guilt
stamped all over youl How could you do this to me?
Especially you, dear sister! Tell me, were you going
to make love right here on the floor like rutting
animals? Or perhaps sneak up to Randy's room?"

"Amanda!" her sister shrieked in distress. "It isn't
like that!"

"She's right, Mandy," Weber injected hastily.

"Be quiet, Weber! How long have you two been
scheming behind my back?"

"Don't be ridiculous!" Weber snarled." Randy and
I have never been intimate. I suggest you get off that
mind-weakening drug!"

Amanda let her tears flow freely. Weber glanced at
Miranda and motioned for her to keep silent.
"Randy, why don't you leave us alone so I can
explain to Amanda," he suggested softly.

"But ... ," she started to protest.

Weber had pushed Amanda to the sofa. He caught
Miranda's arm and led her to the door, saying, "I'll
get her settled down." He winked at Miranda, then
grinned conspiratorially. "I'll see you later," he
promised, licking his lips and winking at her.

Miranda looked over his shoulder at the superb
actress on the sofa. She nodded and left, eager to learn
how Weber would extricate himself. She poured a
sherry to calm her distraught nerves, then concealed
herself behind the archway into the dining room to
make certain Weber left after his devious talk with
Amanda.

Miranda didn't have to wait long. Soon, the double doors opened and Weber headed for the front exit.
After opening it, he cast a longing glance at the
stairway before disappearing outside. Miranda
rushed to the door and bolted it. She hurried to the
parlor.

Amanda looked up and grinned. "Did you lock
up?" she-asked-.-

Miranda nodded and sat down. "Well? What did
he say? What took you so long to come down? He was
about to rip off my clothes! He's more dangerous
than we imagined, Mandy. I was terrified."

"I'm sorry, sis. I didn't think he would pounce on
you so fast! I thought you two would talk, get cozy,
then he would make his play for you. After I was
dressed and came down, I couldn't believe what I was
hearing. I had a time controlling my temper! I
wanted to tear him apart! But it would spoil things.
Our plan's in motion and we know what he's really
like. Heavens, Randy, I'm glad you're leaving," she
blurted out in panic. "His kind of lust is scary. Are
you all right?" she inquired worriedly.

"Fine now, but I was petrified," she confessed then
revealed what had been between them. "Maybe we
got him too worked up; he was all over me before I
could think. What did he tell you?"

Amanda laughed. "He tried to cajole me and
prove I was deluding myself. He wanted me to feel
remorse for my suspicions. He told me how much my
mistrust pained him. He wanted to convince me I
was acting out of jealousy. He even scolded me for
embarrassing you two. He said I should be ashamed of myself for being so ugly to you. What enormous
gall and ego!"

"He just implied you were mistaken? He didn't try
to insinuate I had tempted him?" Miranda asked in
surprise.

"I have a feeling he'll use that ploy when he sees I
didn't fall for his charm and lies. The moment you're
gone, he'll fall at my feet and beg forgiveness. He'll
blame you for everything. If it weren't so grave, it
would be hilarious. You know what truly alarms
me? If this weren't a ruse, he could take advantage of
both of us," she speculated.

Miranda hugged her sister affectionately. "No,
Mandy, you would never believe me capable of such
betrayal. But you're right; I can't imagine trying to
explain tonight if it truly took place. It's so
incredible; he would have ravished me right here!"

"Make sure you avoid him until you leave," she
warned.

"What about you, Mandy? Luke and I will be gone
in less than two days. And Reis won't be back until
the end of next week. I'm afraid for you. Weber's so
strong and persistent when he's aroused. What if he
tries to ... seduce you?" Miranda fretted anxiously.

"I can handle Web's passions. It's you I'm worried
about. He finds you more desirable than we realized.
He might go after you and Luke. He could hurt Luke
to force you to come home! I feel so duped. It's you he
wants, not me. He only settled for me because he
couldn't get to you. I could kill himl"

"Don't say such things, Mandy. It isn't me or you he wants; it's all we own. He just wants to enjoy us
while he's stealing everything we have. I'm not sure if
he's crazy or just greedy and desperate. Maybe I
should stay here and help you stop him."

"No, you must go with Luke. We'd both be in peril
if you remained here. If Weber believes he could have
you and put me out of the way . . ." She faltered at
that staggering reality and shuddered. She prayed
Reis would return soon. This drama wasn't so
simple; it was petrifying. She instantly berated her
cowardice, reminding herself she was smart enough
to outwit and foil Weber.

"Then I'll persuade him I despise him before I
leave. He'll be convinced you're his only hope for
success," Miranda vowed with fierce determination.
"I know!" she shrieked in elation. "I'll catch the
train tomorrow above Alexandria. Luke can leave
from here Friday, then join me in Baltimore. That's
where we take the train to St. Louis. You can tell
everyone I left for Charleston for the summer. That
should throw him off our path. Even if he searches
for me, he'll come up empty-handed, except for you."

"That should work," Amanda concurred. "If he
goes after you, that will supply me with another
excuse to rebuff him. He won't risk hurting me until
he's positive he can have you. I'll ask Mrs. Reed to
stay over the weekend. Then, next week, I just won't
open the door unless she's here to protect me."

"Perfect. When Reis gets back, you drop this game.
If you can't announce your marriage, then go to his
home like he suggested. Or go visit friends where you'll be safe. You can always tell Weber that I
exposed his attempted assault. Or, better still, that I
confessed to his forcing me to carry on a secret affair.
I was so humiliated by your discovery of our torrid
rendezvous that I ran away," she jested. "That should
give him plenty to fret over! I can see it now; ailing
Amanda trying to decide who's honest and what's the
truth."

They joined in nervous laughter. "I think I'll wait
to see how he reacts to your absence. He might just
ignore tonight. Naturally I won't let him. I shall play
the offended, betrayed maiden," she stated in a thick
Southern drawl. "I shall waver back and forth,
tormented by doubts, harassed by suspicions."

"Just promise me you'll be careful," Miranda
entreated.

"We shall both be wary and alert," Amanda
concluded.

When Lucas came over the following morning, he
found the girls packing frantically. They quickly
related the events of the night before. Lucas was
furious; he wanted to beat Weber senseless. The twins
had a difficult time pacifying him, telling him to be
satisfied that his contempt and hatred had been
justified. They had to be content with the knowledge
Weber would eventually get his due.

They went over their new scheme to get Miranda
away before Weber realized she was gone. "We need
you to find some way to lure thatguard from his post
for an hour," Amanda said. "I can take Randy and
her luggage to the station outside town. When you catch the train to Baltimore tomorrow, everyone will
see you leave alone. After disguising myself as
Miranda, I can purchase a ticket to Charleston, board
the train, then sneak off and come home."

"That sounds very clever," he complimented
them. "Now, all we have to do is pull it off. Let's
see ..." He lapsed into deep thought, then grinned
as an idea came to mind. "I can disguise myself as a
widow, sneak upon the guard, club and rob him, and
escape. Old Weber won't think we had anything to
do with the daring robbery of a spy we didn't know
existed. While the devil is out cold, you two can sneak
out with my help. Considering the train schedule, we
have to be ready to act at two. Think we can make it?"