Fields of Fire by Carol Caldwell

Author:Carol Caldwell [Caldwell, Carol]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Historical Romance
Publisher: Belgrave House
Published: 1995-09-19T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 13

Jalene buried herself beneath the bed covers, trying to get comfortable. The noise and uproar from downstairs carried on until the wee hours of morning, but that was not why she was restless. Nor could she blame the darkness in the room. It was a moonlit night, and this time she escaped having to explain to Taylor the presence of a candle burning while she slept.

After a simple, but tasty supper, during which Hug prattled endlessly and Taylor’s frown never faltered, they retired to their rooms. Taylor apparently had succumbed to sleep as soon as he climbed into his bed, over an hour ago, while she lay on her back, wide-eyed, thinking one disturbing thought after another.

What of Wil? Was he recovering? If Donnegan knew Wil was alive, would he still hunt him down despite recovering the map from the cemetery? Aye, more than likely. That damning map contributed to her inability to sleep. Somehow, this single document of great import to both Wil and Donnegan had something to do with James, but what did it mean? A voice inside her vowed to learn the truth at any price. Another, more fearful voice, prayed the map would never be found, especially if it implicated Blackwater Distillery and the Somervilles’ good name.

She closed her eyes and blinked away a single tear that ran across her temple into her hairline. She barely whispered, “I haven’t given up on you, James, I swear.” A moment later she flopped to her side and stared at Taylor’s blanket-covered back. How was it possible to be physically attracted to a man whose intention might bring ruination to everything your family had worked to build for years?

She prayed this ordeal would be over soon, so she could get on with running the distillery and become more active in Dublin society, as well as in her own home. One day she’d like to meet a man and have children, she thought to herself, before she fell asleep.

James! Jalene! Come away from the water’s edge, children. It is going to storm. Look, Ma, Ma! James and I have made sailboats. We’ve stuck a twig through one end of the big oak leaves to make the mast. Mine’s winning the race downstream.

Jalene’s eyes remained closed as her ears tuned in to the sound of splashing water. As sleep wore off and wakefulness set in, she remembered where she was and thought a minute about the water sound.

She opened her eyes to find Taylor sitting on his bed, bare-chested with his face in a towel and with a bowl of water on his lap. She studied the ridge of muscles across his hairy chest, easily imagining what it would be like to press her unbound breasts against him. A pleasurable warm feeling arose in her, and she quickly chastised herself. This kind of thinking had to cease. Taylor dropped the towel and stood. “Ah, you’re awake. I’m afraid the best we can do is this.” He held the bowl out for emphasis.

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