River Lady (James River Trilogy 3)

By the time she’d cleared away breakfast, she was actually looking forward to her ride. As she picked up the empty dishpan, Verity caught her arm.

“Don’t go,” Verity said in a hoarse whisper. “Revis is evil.”

In spite of herself, Leah pulled away

from Verity. She couldn’t very well say what she thought, that Verity was frightened of her own shadow. Verity was afraid of Bud and Cal. No doubt she’d warn Leah not to be alone with one of those harmless giants.

“I’ll be fine,” Leah said patronizingly. “You just rest and when I return I’ll bring you some flowers.”

“Leah,” Verity pleaded.

“Go rest,” Leah half ordered and the light went out of Verity’s eyes. Slowly the scared little woman turned back toward her corner.

Leah clucked her tongue for a moment over the woman’s lack of courage, but she didn’t waste time thinking about Verity. As soon as she started getting along with Revis, she could get Wesley out of the forest.

A half hour later she was running down the mountainside. It’d been quite easy to escape the boys and now she was looking forward to a morning away from work. When she saw Revis, she smiled tentatively.

“Come on.” He half laughed. “Your horse awaits you, my lady.”

At first Leah was so pleased to be away from her worries for a few minutes that she barely noticed Revis. It was hot and the air was hazy with mist—and it all looked beautiful.

“There’s fire in you, Leah,” Revis said beside her. “You’d be a good partner for a man.”

“I’m a married woman,” she said, patting the horse’s neck.

“And where is your husband?”

“In Sweetbriar, Kentucky,” she said quickly. “Are we going anyplace in particular?”

“Just down the mountain. Any man who’d let you out of his sight would be a fool. I could give you a silk dress.”

She smiled at him. “I have several silk dresses, thank you. And I don’t think my husband would want me to remain here.” How she wished that were true!

“Is there nothing I can do to persuade you to stay with me?”

In spite of telling herself it didn’t matter, it was very nice to be desired by this good-looking man. He thought she was a lady even though he knew she was a Simmons.

The woods began to thin as stumps showed where travelers had cut down trees.

“Isn’t that the Wilderness Trail down there?” she asked, looking at the deep, permanent wagon ruts. “We’d better go back.”

“No,” he said. “There’s a stream across the trail. I want to show you something.”

“But if someone sees you…I mean…”

“I know what you mean, Leah,” he said heavily. “Could I show you something now?”

“Of course.” They were sitting on their horses in the middle of the well-worn trail and just a little way away was the smoke from a camp fire.

Out of his pocket Revis pulled a black silk handkerchief, and while Leah watched he tied it about his face.

She didn’t like what she saw. She’d almost forgotten that he was a thief. “I think we’d better return.”

“Not yet, my lofty princess,” he said as he grabbed the reins of her horse.

The next minute they were thundering down the trail toward the camp fire smoke, Leah barely able to hang onto the saddle. Once she screamed “No,” but Revis paid no attention.

They burst like storm clouds into the clearing where two wagons sat. The settlers, each involved in some task about the campsite, looked up and froze.