River Lady (James River Trilogy 3)

And the town merely joked about Doll’s laziness. The only time they interfered was when Justin’s oldest sister, Corinne, told some lies and caused some trouble with the town’s precious Macalisters.

“Is this the Macalister with the pretty daughter?” Leah was beginning to understand that Justin was one of her kind, not Wesley’s. Maybe Justin wouldn’t hate her, as Wes did, because of where she came from.

“The same one,” Justin said. “Now tell me of your family.”

Leah hesitated. At least Justin’s lazy father was liked by the townspeople. What good could she say about her own family? A glance at Justin showed her that he was prepared to wait until doomsday for her to speak.

She began slowly, watching for signs of revulsion from him, but when she saw only interest and concern on his face, she launched into her story rapidly. She told of her eldest brother kidnapping a woman, of her sister’s prostitution, of her father’s insanity, the way he beat his wife and children. And last of all, she told of the constant, backbreaking work she’d always had to do.

The forest seemed especially quiet when she finished and she held her breath for Justin’s reaction, afraid to look at him.

“And even though you were Stanford’s cousin, he let you suffer through that? He’s never said, but isn’t he rich?”

“Massively,” Leah murmured, still not looking at him.

“What made him finally rescue you? Or did he hire you to wait on his princess Kimberly?”

Leah took a deep breath. “My father died and the children were adopted by other planters. I…wanted to come west, to go where no one knew me, so Wesley’s sister-in-law gave me money to start a weaving shop and Wesley allowed me to travel with him.”

Justin was silent for a while and Leah wondered if he believed the last part of her story. “Where did you learn your pretty manners?” she asked tentatively.

“Macalister’s wife. An English lady. And you?”

Leah began to smile as she briefly told of Regan and Nicole’s transformation of her. It was beginning to sink in that this man didn’t mind that she was a Simmons. Perhaps not all men were like Wesley. Perhaps in this new state she wouldn’t be judged by who her father had been.

“They sure did a good job.” Justin laughed as he stood. “Now that’s enough seriousness for today. Come on and see the waterfall.” He grabbed her hand and led her up the steep, rocky hillside. There at the top was a pool and a short, hidden waterfall.

“Not the biggest I’ve ever seen but one of the most private. How about a bath?”

Instantly Leah’s eyes narrowed at him.

He ignored her obvious suspicion. “You go first while I wait down the hill for you and when you’re finished, give me a call.” With that, he turned and left her alone.

Leah hesitated onl

y seconds before removing her clothes and climbing into the pool. Using soap she’d brought for the laundry, she shampooed her hair and used the waterfall for rinsing. The pressure of the water nearly pushed her under. When she emerged, a long time later, she felt better than she had in months. She was no longer burdened by a secret past; a handsome man waited for her; she was on her way to a new land, new people; she had her weaving—and now she had clean hair. What more could a woman want in life?

She was laughing when she reached the bottom of the hill and Justin.

“I won’t be but a minute,” he said, racing up the hill to the pool for his own bath.

With energy Leah knelt on a rock and began the laundry, and a very short time later Justin joined her. With a grimace he started to help her rinse the clothes.

“And does this little frilly nothing belong to princess Kimberly?” Justin asked, holding up a nearly sheer chemise trimmed with tiny silk ruffles.

Her face red, Leah snatched it from him. “That one happens to be mine.”

“Oh?” he asked, one eyebrow raised. “Then this is her ladyship’s.” He lifted a pair of drawers that were faded yellow and torn at the waistband. “She may be a lady on the outside but not where it counts. We ought to do her a favor and lose these.”

Before Leah could blink, Justin tossed the worn-out drawers into the river.

“No!” Leah gasped, laughing as she hitched her skirt to her knees and walked into the river, following the underwear, which was rapidly heading downstream.

Justin came wading in behind her, grabbed the drawers, and caught Leah’s arm at the same time, purposefully nearly causing her to fall. “Watch yourself.” He smiled as Leah clung to him. In an instant his arms were around her and he was kissing her, and Leah liked this so much better than the first time he’d kissed her.

Neither of them heard Wesley plowing through the brook until he’d grabbed Justin’s shoulder and shoved him into the water. “Is this how you’re to be trusted?” Wesley bellowed. “Do you always attack the women you’re supposed to be caring for?”

Justin came out of the water in a rage and Leah knew this was the beginning of a brawl. She put herself between the two men. “You have no right to interfere in my life,” she yelled up at Wesley.