The Hawk and the Jewel (Kensington Chronicles 1) (28 page)

Jeremy, who had more brawn than brains, only grinned. "It was her idea, Miles. I'm not forcing her."

Miles opened his mouth, but Sunny cut in.

"Well, let's get on with it. We'll race around the trees, onto the ridge, back along the pasture, around the other trees, and right back to this spot. First one back wins."

"And what exactly is the wager?" Jeremy wanted
to
know.

"If I win, you'll never again open your big mouth against Gallagher horses."

"And if I win?"

"I'll tell everyone that the Cradwells have the finest horses hi the land."

"Done." Jeremy stuck his hand out and again they shook. Their three reluctant spectators refused to call the start, so Sunny let Jeremy do it. Within seconds they were off, leaving a cloud of dust behind them.

Holly had barely been able to speak by the time Miles and Jordan had come from the house. Jeremy had already left, and it was

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"What are you staring at?" Rand wanted to know, as Brandon stood at the study window that looked out over the ridge.

"Someone is racing along the ridge."

Rand joined him and spoke after a moment. "The white looks like it might be of the Cradwells' stables, and if it is, it's probably young Jeremy. He's got more nerve than sense."

"The other mount, the black, looks to be a fine piece of horseflesh too. But whoever those riders are, they're foolish to be running along the ridge."

The men watched until the riders, moving neck and neck, were out of sight. Neither one had a clue as
to
who they were. Had they been able to view the horses for a few more yards, they would have seen one rider's cap fell, a cloud of chestnut hair flying out behind her.

"You don't have to come back with us, Jordan; my father is not going to blame you."

"I realize that, but I just wish I'd done more to stop it-dragged her off the horse or something. For that I feel I should be there."

Miles nodded, and both young men looked behind them.

Sunny, triumphant and glowing after her victory, rode next to

Holly's trap, chatting along as though she hadn't a care in the world.

As they all arrived at the house and trooped into the parlor,

Sunny was a bit put out with her companions.

"You'd think someone had died the way you were acting," she commented just as they cleared the threshold of the room.

No one answered her, and Rand, Chelsea, and Brandon were glad to see them until they had a look at Sunny.

"Sunny." Chelsea was the first to comment, and did so with some concern. "What's happened to you?"

The younger girl was a mess. Her hair was in a riot around her face, and her riding habit was covered with dust. There was a smear of mud on her cheek, and sweat ran in a small trickle down her temple.

**I raced!" she answered Chelsea, her eyes sparkling with pleasure. "That idiot Cradwell said that nothing good ever came out of the Gallagher stables, so we had a wager."

Chelsea, who had done far worse in her day, and had not seen them on the ridge, leaned forward in her chair. She failed to notice

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that her brother was livid.

"Whom did you race? Jeremy?"

"Yes!"

"Did you win?"

Brandon's voice thundered in the room, and Chelsea settled back in her chair to circumspectly inspect her nails, as well as to work at not laughing.

A long-suffering look came over Sunny's face; Brandon clearly did not understand. "I had to uphold the honor of the Gallagher name. Jeremy said-"

"We saw you on the ridge," Rand put in quietly, looking and feeling quite pale now that he knew which horse he had seen and who had been riding it. "You were riding my horse without permission."

All amusement faded from Chelsea as she understood the severity of the circumstances. Barely holding himself in check, Brandon allowed Rand to handle the situation. After he had seen Sunny and realized who the rider of the black horse had been, Brandon's anger mingled with fear.

"You will not ride Lady or any other horse for a week, Sunny," Rand said quietly. "Now go and get cleaned up."

Sunny glared at her brother in fury. "You're only saying that because Brandon is here, and you know if you don't punish me, he'll have a proper fit. I was defending the Gallagher name, I tell you!"

"No name is worth your life," Rand continued with more calm than he felt. "And I dare say, if Brandon had his way, you'd lose riding privileges for a month and get a sound thrashing to boot."

Sunny's furious eyes swept the room until they rested momentarily on Brandon's own angry gaze. Her chin went into the air, and she left the room in a swirl of chestnut hair.

No one spoke for some minutes, but Miles turned to find Rand's eyes on him. The younger man's hands went into the air in a pleading move.

"Don't say it, Dad. You don't know Sunny at all if you think we could have stopped her. She was gone from the Cradwells' before we even came out of the house. I could have come for you, but it would have been over by the time we got back."

"Where was Hank Cradwell?" Brandon wanted to know.

Jordan spoke this time. "He's very much like his son; he would have thought it a good joke."

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They quieted again, and everyone became aware of Holly's muffled sobs. "I tried to stop her," she cried, "but she wouldn't listen.
1
was so scared. All I could do was pray."

Rand sat down next to his daughter and put a loving arm around her. "You're not responsible for Sonny's actions, and she's all right, so don't cry anymore. I'm going to talk with her later and see if I can get through to her."

The young people went their separate ways then, and Rand gave his wife a loving, if not reproving, look, his hand reaching to stroke her cheek before he walked her to the door. She wanted to check on Sunny.

Brandon spent some time wondering how he would be able to talk with Sunny about her finances without mentioning the race.

sunny sat opposite rand's desk and stared at the back of the paper in Brandon's hand. It was one of her expense sheets. Brandon had brought the last several months' reports with him, but he had asked for her new one, and now he was studying it and leaving her to sit.

"If you're going to take this long," she finally spoke impatiently, "I'll go and come back."

"Stay where you are, Sunny." The paper never moved, and the voice behind it was maddeningly calm.

Sunny, who had finally settled down after the incident in the parlor, began to boil all over again. She had really thought Brandon would be far too busy to spend time on her finances, but here he was, poring over her records as though he hadn't a care in the world.

Brandon needs a family of his own.
Sunny concluded silently.
A wife and at least four kids, maybe six. Then he wouldn't have time to nose into my affairs. After all, the money is mine. What does he care what I spend? Tes indeed, marriage would be perfect. Tou need a wife, Brandon.

The paper dipped slightly; Brandon's dark eyes met Sunny's over the top.

"Sunny?" Brandon's brows had lifted, and his voice was soft- too soft. Sunny realized she had uttered the last sentence aloud. "Would you mind repeating that?"

"I'd rather not."

The paper was laid on the desk. "I'd rather you did."

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Sunny sighed and saw no hope for it. "I was just thinking that if you had a wife, you wouldn't have time to bother me about my money."

Brandon tried not to laugh at the comical look on her face. To Sunny's annoyance, he raised the paper again as though she hadn't spoken. With ill-concealed impatience, she shifted around in her chair and waited once again. She had decided to leave without permission when the paper lowered for the last time.

"What is this entry for riding boots? It must be an error. Twenty-three pounds? How many pair did you buy?" "Just one," Sunny said with a shrug. "I thought you were never going to many?" Sunny blinked at him in confusion. "I'm not." "Well, the way you're going through money, you'll be broke in five years and in desperate need of a rich husband to support you."

It wasn't quite as bad as all that, but Brandon did not know how to get through to her.

"You're just saying that," Sunny accused, but her voice was uncertain.

Brandon stared at her young face, and when he spoke, his voice held all the love he felt for her. "You're right; I am. But your spending is rather excessive, and I'm worried about you."

Sunny's heart would have needed to be made of marble not to respond to the love his eyes displayed. She nodded reluctantly and gave him a small smile. He joined her on the far side of the desk then, and they looked over her spending together. He pointed out some areas where she needed to show a good deal more discretion, and when Sunny had questions, he answered them with just the right words to help her understand.

When the business was settled, Sunny thanked him graciously and they moved to the davenport to talk about the family and the London social season. It felt like old times.

Holly's "coming out" the following spring was the central topic, and Sunny was quite excited about all that would go on. Brandon allowed his head to fall against the back of the davenport, his long legs stretched before him as he spoke.

"It's hard to believe how old you and Holly are now. She's the first of the granddaughters to come out. It's at times like these when I really miss my grandfather." Brandon, his eyes on the ceiling, did not see Sunny's body stiffen.

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"I can tell how much you must miss him." Her voice went cold without warning, and Brandon lifted his head and frowned in surprise at her. When he saw that she was about to rise, he put a hand on her arm.

ttWhat did you mean by that, Sunny?"

Sunny pulled her arm free and stood. "In my country a man does not bury his grandfather one day and seek a wife the next." Sunny knew that wasn't the truth, but she was angry. She headed for the door, but Brandon was there first, reaching over her head to push the portal shut as she tried the handle. Without turning back to him, Sunny spoke.

"Move your hand; I wish
to
leave."

"We need to talk."

"No."

Brandon ignored this and began to speak. "I think you've been unfair, but you probably know that. I do not care to be told that I've feigned my mourning."

Sunny turned then, surprised at his words.

"I loved my grandfather, and I do not believe my seeing Dinah has blasphemed his memory. But then that's not what this is really about, is it, Sunny?"

She moved from the door then, her movements nearly panicked. **I don't care to discuss it." Brandon watched her go to the window. Had there been another exit in the room, she would have bolted. He stayed by the door and began to speak softly to her back.

"You can't understand how we can go on living a normal life after saying goodbye to a man we loved so well, can you? I miss my Papa, more than I can say, but I know where my grandfather is. I know 111 see him again someday."

"You can't know that." Sunny turned back to him, her eyes fierce, her hands clenched at her sides.

"Yes, Sunny, I can." Brandon's voice was so gentle that it brought tears to her eyes, but she would not break down. His heart melted at the sight of those tears.

"You fight, sweetheart. You fight against what we believe in with all of our hearts. You admired Papa, and I know you admire Rand and me and all of us, but you refuse to face why we're different; you refuse to face the Person who has made the difference." "But I'm a good person too," Sunny interjected.

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**Be that as it may," Brandon's voice was still tender, "yot goodness counts for nothing outside of Jesus Christ. It won't save] you from a lost eternity, separation from God, and having to live in] torment forever."

Brandon could see he had upset her. She looked distraught. "Sunny," he called her name softly. "Turn to Him now, Sunny, and He can help you through this pain and confusion."

He watched with a good deal of hurt as she gave a small shake of her head and composed herself once again. He couldn't help but think that if he felt pain, God must be in agony.

Oh, God,
he prayed in his heart.
She won't let go of her pride. She needs Tou so much. Help me to keep loving her, and please. Father, break down the watt around her heart,

When Sunny was back in control of herself, she once again approached the door where Brandon still stood.

"I'm sorry. What I said about you and Dinah was wrong. I've met Dinah Hadley, and she's a lovely person. If she's the one, Brandon, I hope you'll be very happy." She hugged him then, and Brandon's arms went gladly around her.

He was still hugging her when he spoke. "Promise you'll come to me, Sunny, if you need to talk about Grandfather."