The Valentine Legacy (Legacy 3)

James said easily, “Certainly, Allen. Oslow, get Sweet Susie all rubbed down and ready to go.”

“I don’t think so,” Oslow said. He turned to Allen Belmonde. “Listen to me

, sir. Sweet Susie’s still in heat. The worst thing would be to try to move her while she’s still lunging after every stallion she sees. She could get hurt. Here, we’ll protect her.”

“The way you did tonight?”

“I’ll find out what happened,” Oslow said. “I’ll guard her myself.”

“Do as you please, Allen,” James said, “I really don’t give a good damn.” He took Jessie’s arm and pulled her into the front hallway.

“Everyone will hear about this, Wyndham!”

“Let me hit him, James,” Jessie said, as she tried to pull free of him. James grinned at her and held her firm. “You could just look at him and scare him to death.”

“I look that bad?”

Oh damn, he thought, looking at her pale face, at the pain in her green eyes, pain he knew hadn’t been there but an instant before. He’d hurt her feelings? No, not Jessie Warfield’s feelings. Why, she had no vanity; she wasn’t any more female than . . . “No, you look raffish, sort of like a female pirate. Very dashing. What I meant was that mean look you gave him should have frozen his mouth shut. Pity it didn’t last.”

“I’ve never liked Allen Belmonde. He doesn’t treat Alice well. He doesn’t treat his horses well, either. Don’t let him take Sweet Susie. You buy her.”

“Jessie, she’s his mare. Now, you’re about to fall over. I’m going to pick you up. All right?”

“I thought you said I was too heavy.”

“You are, but I’m very strong and stoic. Be quiet now.”

“I’ll be up in a moment,” Dr. Hoolahan called after them. “I’ll give you some more laudanum, Jessie. Now, Oliver, your daughter will be just fine. This is a bachelor’s household, but James knows what he’s doing. Surely you don’t have to worry about such things.”

Jessie’s head was against James’s shoulder. Thick, tangled red hair billowed against his face, tickling his nose. He hadn’t realized she had so much hair. “Are you still awake?”

She nodded against his neck.

When he tucked her into bed, he spread her hair over the pillow as Old Bess had done so it would dry. “How do you feel?”

“Like a stall that hasn’t been mucked out in a month.”

“Pretty bad, then. Thanks, Jessie, for defending me.”

“I really do detest Allen. Alice made such a mistake marrying him, and now it’s too late. I’ll get Allen if he says anything bad about you, James. I promise.”

“Thank you,” he said again as her eyes closed. Her face was very pale except for the freckles over the bridge of her nose. Dr. Hoolahan appeared in the doorway.

“She’s asleep, Dancy. Let’s just leave her be.” He rose and snuffed out the candle beside the bed. “Tell me what to do for her.”

* * *

The following morning, James stood beside Jessie’s bed, legs spread, hands on his hips. His voice was low and controlled. “Now you will tell me exactly what happened. You will then tell me why you took such a risk for a stupid horse. You were wrong, Jessie, and you nearly got yourself killed to prove it.”

He is furious, she thought, watching the pulse leap in his throat. She wondered where he’d dredged up that iron control he was exhibiting. Usually he yelled his head off if he was mad, as he certainly was now. Why hadn’t he yelled at her last night? She shook her head. He’d been afraid she’d die; that’s why he’d been so calm. But now he knew she’d live, and he was ready to fire his cannons.

“Answer me, damn you. And don’t try to tell me that you’re in too much pain. Any pain you have, you well deserve and you damned well know it.”

“Very well.”

“Very well what?”

“I’ll answer you. I didn’t think at all, really. I saw Sweet Susie, saw my chance when she went after Billy’s horse and was nipping at his rump. He’d already thrown Billy, so I just rode Benjie right in between them. Billy’s horse jumped a ditch and ran off into the field beside the road. I grabbed Sweet Susie’s lead. I’d hoped they’d get Billy’s horse, but they didn’t. The other man came after me alone. He fired twice before he realized that he might hit Sweet Susie, then stopped. That’s all, James. It’s not so much of a story.”