Page 5 of Wild Hearts

Her eyes widened in wonder, and she smiled happily as her fingers closed over their satin smoothness. Her gaze met his and held for what seemed long, endless moments. It was as if the satin ribbons were a pledge of friendship, of help, of hope to one who had become almost hopeless.

As he looked at the delicate beauty of the girl, he felt an overwhelming desire to protect her from the world's harsh realities. Each heartbeat told him a bond was being forged between them that might be everlasting.

"I have pretty hair when it's down," she assured him.

"My own color," he said, quickly running his hand through his thick curls.

She remembered the gesture immediately. "I remember you now," she accused. "You took me from my mother and brought me to this place. I hate you! I've always hated you!"

Somehow, he could not endure the thought that she hated him. He could not leave her with the mistaken impression that he was the author of her misfortune, and suddenly, Paris Cockburn, who never explained himself, was pleading for her understanding. "I was only a boy. I remember your mother was dying and begged my father to take you to a place where you would be looked after. I cannot question him further; he, too, is dead." She looked devastated. He said quickly, "I'll try to find out more for you, but I can't promise. What I can promise is no more beatings for you, and perhaps an outing or two. Before Mrs. Graham comes back, I'll bid you good-bye... nay, rather... I'll bid you au revoir. Until we meet again." He opened the door and called for Mrs. Graham. She appeared in a suspiciously short time. His cold voice grated out, "I've decided to double my donations, but there are strings attached, Mrs. Graham."

A definite flicker of interest could be detected in her eyes of agate.

"Never beat this child again. If you do, I shan't just stop the money, you understand, but will pay you back in kind, Mrs. Graham." He threatened so quietly, a chill ran up her spine. "Also, I think the children would benefit from outings each Sunday. We Live in a beautiful country, Mrs. Graham. It would be more healthful than purging them of the Devil."

"Whatever you say, milord." She nodded her agreement but thought to herself, Before the day is out I'm going to make her pay, lord high and mighty.

Paris met his men at the tavern on High Street as prearranged, but he could not shake off a feeling of unease. True, the situation he had just come from was enough to depress the most lighthearted soul, but when the feeling of foreboding did not lift after his second whisky, he called up his men. "Come, lads, I think we'd best make tracks for home. Saddle up while I change and get my gear abovestairs."

Cockburnspath was thirty miles from Edinburgh, a four-hour ride through the Border country, the most beautiful place on earth. The first five miles to Musselburgh led them past houses and small farms, but between that town and home lay the wild Lammermuir Hills, which changed color with the seasons. At the moment they were purple with wild bell heather, but in another month they would begin to turn russet from dried bracken. The landscape was dotted with lakes and thick stands of fir trees. They followed no roads but cut across country, through rivers and bogs, and with each mile they drank in the smell of the sea, so near. They covered the distance in three hours, arriving at dusk. The tiny villages that belonged to Cockburnspath were prosperous. Milky herds of cattle and flocks of sheep, grazed the gentle slopes that led up to the castle. Paris's apprehension had increased with every mile. When he arrived at the castle, he found his sisters and the servants at their wits' end.

"She's been at it for twelve hours without let-up, Paris," Shannon informed him as she covered her ears to keep out the animal-like wail coming from the top of the White Tower.

Paris let out a sigh of relief. If the only trouble awaiting him was Anne, then God be praised. His mood lightened considerably as he assured the household he would put everything to rights. He took a large box of confections from his saddlebag and ascended to the upper tower.

"Poor Anne," said Damascus, "I hope she's all right."

"The bitch ought to take one of her fits and choke to death," declared Shannon in her blunt way.

"Well, she does make enough racket to raise the damned rent," quipped Alexander.

"Don't worry, Paris knows how to handle his wife," assured Alexandria.

"At arm's length, I should think," muttered her twin.

As soon as Paris opened the chamber door, Anne stopped the caterwaul. Her nurse, Mrs. Sinclair; quickly took the opportunity to slip away for a short respite, casting a quick apologetic look at the master. Anne sat in the large bed; propped by satin pillows. Her perfumed shoulders and small, high breasts were displayed exquisitely by the lacy nightgown. Her silvery blond hair fanned out across her pillows. As she reached eagerly for the box Paris had brought her, he decided that she was utterly beautiful. He studied her dispassionately for a moment and thought for the thousandth time he had been cursed with a monster for wife.

Tabby spent the rest of the day in a state of wonder. Her life, ordinarily so bleak and uneventful, only punctuated by the cruelty of Mrs. Graham, had, suddenly changed. She had immediately hidden the lovely ribbons down her stocking, away from Mrs. Graham's prying eyes, and every once in a while she peeked to make sure she really had them. She lived only for the moment when the day would end and she could seek privacy, let down her hair and adorn herself with their silken brightness. Time positively dragged, and she was acutely aware of the thin-lipped Mrs. Graham's beady eyes upon her through most of the afternoon. Tabby was wise enough to know there was a reckoning coming, so she tread warily for the rest of the day.

Usually, the evening chores were divided up. Either she had to scour the pots and pans or put the younger children to bed. When Mrs. Graham informed her that tonight she would have to do both, Tabby assumed the woman had vented her spleen, and she relaxed her guard. After she had emptied the last bucket of dirty dishwater down the street's gutter, she escaped to her own little cubicle in the dormitory. She quickly unplaited her hair, and as it escaped its confines, it took on a life of its own, wildly curling and cascading as if it gloried to be free at last. She fastened the pale green satin ribbons on either side and twirled about until she was dizzy. She sank down upon the hard little cot and thought about Lord Cockburn. If only he had been her father, how wonderful it would be. Perhaps he would come again. Perhaps he would help her find her father. He was rich— that much was obvious— and in his home there would probably be enough food so that one never had to go hungry. She pictured herself eating beside a roaring fire. The daydream went on and on, with Cockburn as savior. Suddenly, she shivered and crept beneath the cover. She fell asleep, quite happy to contemplate what the future might hold for her. She began to dream, but the dream soon changed into a nightmare, and before she could help it, she had cried out in her sleep.

Then the thing she most dreaded happened. Mrs. Graham came to see what the trouble was. Icy fingers gripped Tabby's heart, and she gabbled, "I'm sorry, ma'am. 'Twas only a dream, ma'am. I won't cry out again, ma'am." But it was all to no avail.

Eyes gleaming in anticipation, Mrs. Graham clamped a hand to Tabby's forehead and exclaimed triumphantly, "Just as I thought. Fevered! You have clearly had too much attention and excitement today, and this is what comes of it. Come with me, girl. I have the cure for fever!" She dragged her from her bed, and once again that day, Tabby found herself in Mrs. Graham's sitting room. The older woman took a pair of scissors from her work basket and with relish began to shear the magnificent tresses from Tabby's scalp. "Drastic measures, my dear, but the fever is far too dangerous for us to take a chance," she explained with glittering, eyes. "It could spread to the other children."

Tabby looked down in horror at the red curls, tied with pale green ribbons, scattered upon the floor. The pain was a thousand times worse than bruises.

At Cockburn Castle, inside his own chamber, Paris was about to retire when he saw the signal fire from his window. A raid! By God, he had known that foreboding feeling meant there would be trouble before this night was done. These late summer nights, with their full moons, invited raids. The villages on Cockburn land looked to their laird at the castle for protection. The fields held crops ready to be harvested, the herds were full and fat after the summer months, and Cockburnspath was ripe for plucking. They were on good terms with all the neighboring clans, so he knew it could only be their enemies the Gordons. No one else would dare!

Sword in hand, Paris shouted, "Troy, wake up man, a raid!" He ran to Alexander's chamber and found him reading his poems by candlelight. "Quick, lad, down to the armory and rouse the men. Tell Ian there's a raid." He looked from Alexander's window. "Christ, one of the villages is ablaze. Those bastards! Hurry, Alex." He didn't need to call The Mangler; the faithful beast was at his heels by the time he reached the stables. Men were running from all directions, but order was soon established out of chaos since each man knew exactly what he had to. do. They went after the raiders.

Rogue's men retrieved one herd of cattle but were too late for another. A second village had been fired by the time the marauders had been chased off. Paris stopped to assess their losses. He saw that at least two of his men had been wounded, and shouted orders to get them back to the castle. He knew from experience that immediate attention to wounds saved lives, and his men were precious to him. He felt near disappointment that they had killed no Gordons, but The Mangler had badly mauled one man, and they had taken two other prisoners.

Paris called to his captain, "Ian, take the men back to help the villagers."

Ian called back to him, "Rogue— over here. I think Troy's been wounded badly!"

"Duncan, help me with Troy," shouted Paris, not allowing himself to think the worst.

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