Iris Johansen - Dark Rider

Hiding her relief, she carefully nudged Kapu past Morgana. "Aren't you coming?"

He shook his head. "I want to watch him run. Even if I can't time him, I'll be able to judge his speed."

"I don't see why it's important. You saw him run the first night I met you."

He smiled. "But I wasn't able to concentrate on the stallion. I was definitely distracted."

She could feel heat rise to her cheeks as the memory of that night came back to her. It had been no mere distraction for her. He had walked out of that thatch of trees into her life, changing it forever.

She bent over the stallion's neck and loosened the reins. "Go, Kapu!"

It was the only invitation he needed. He streaked like an arrow down the path. Cassie clung to him, gripping with thighs and calves.

Wind whipped her cheeks and snatched away her breath.

Kapu's stride lengthened until he scarcely touched the ground.

Sea, sky, and earth became a blur.

"That's right," she murmured. "Run!"

He ran! She could hear his labored breathing as the pace increased and then increased again.

Dear Lord, she had missed this almost as much as Kapu had.

She felt as if she were floating, anchored to the earth only by the thunder of the stallion's hooves.

They reached the edge of the forest too soon for either of them. She reluctantly reined him in and turned back toward the castle.

Jared met her when she was halfway back to the stable, his eyes blazing with excitement. "My God, he's wonderful."

"Yes," she said simply. Contentment flowed through her as if he had praised her child. She was too filled with sheer joy to feel antagonism or wariness for anyone in the world. "It was a good run. He feels better now."

"And so do you."

She nodded. "Maybe this England isn't completely bad. The wind is sharp, but battling it causes a certain exhilaration." She patted Kapu's neck. "We enjoyed it, didn't we, boy?" She glanced at Jared. "Well, did you judge his speed?"

He blinked. "No!"

"Why not?"

"I was watching him and, dammit, I forgot all about it."

She burst out laughing. She had never known Jared not to be in control, and now he looked like a cross little boy.

Her lips were still twitching when she said, "I assure you, he was very fast indeed."

"I know." His tone was distinctly surly. "And I don't like to be laughed at."

Her eyes were dancing as she accused, "You were dazzled."

His gaze was fixed bemusedly on her face. "Completely." He glanced away from her. "I still am."

Her smile vanished. Warmth and humor and amusement were all there in his expression. In a way, such emotions were more dangerous than lust. She hurriedly glanced down at Morgana. "She's a magnificent mare."

"As I told you."

"But not as fine as Kapu."

"And what makes the stallion better?"

"Because he's mine," she said simply.

He laughed. "Why doesn't that statement surprise me?"

"Aren't you the same? Don't you think that Morgana is finer because she belongs to you?"

"I suppose I'm a bit biased, but I try to control it. For instance, I'm ready to admit that Kapu may be faster."

She grunted in disgust. "I don't see why you're all so excited about how fast they are. Bradford could talk about nothing but the races you have here."

"I admit I'm also guilty. I'd love to see Morgana and Kapu race."

"I won't allow it," she said quickly. "I don't want them ever pitted against each other."

"Why not?"

"Because I like Morgana."

"And?"

"Can't you see? They don't like each other. They're only ignoring each other now, but I won't have them enemies."

"They're not ignoring each other."

"Of course they are."

"Oh, they're not being obvious about it, but I've noticed a few sidelong glances."

She frowned. "You're wrong."

"Watch them. Perhaps I'm more accustomed to such subtleties than you are." His glance shifted away from her to the fence bordering the meadow. "There's Josette. She's waiting for you."

Cassie stiffened as her gaze followed his to the small figure sitting on the top rail of the fence. "There's no reason for her to want to speak to me. She's probably waiting for you."

His lips twisted. "I assure you that after our talk this morning she won't want to see me for a while. Besides, she came up with a rather unique suggestion regarding you. She probably wants to discuss it."

The girl probably wanted to see her drawn and quartered, Cassie thought gloomily.

"At any rate, I'll leave you alone and let her have her chance." He nudged Morgana into a gallop and headed for the stable. He nodded at Josette as he passed, and she gave him a wary glance. Then her attention shifted to Cassie.

"You've been a long time. I've been waiting for hours." Her gaze went to Kapu. "How fast is he?"

"You didn't wait for me to find out how fast Kapu could run." Cassie rode the stallion up to the fence and braced herself. "Did you?"

"Well, not primarily, but I'm always interested." Josette soberly met her gaze. "You think I'm going to blame you for what your father did."

"For what Jared says my father did," she corrected.

"He's usually right about most things."

"He's not about-"

Josette waved her hand to silence her. "I'm not here to argue. The quarrel's between Jared and him, not us. I'd never blame anyone for being born to the wrong father or the wrong country. I've suffered too much myself for my birth."

Cassie felt a rush of relief. She had not realized until this moment how much she had dreaded Josette's condemnation. "Thank you. You're being very generous."

"Not as generous as you think." Josette's eyes were suddenly twinkling. "There's a price to pay. When can I ride Kapu?"

Cassie shook her head. The girl was impossible. "He'd kill you."

"Maybe not. I told you, I'm good with horses." She jumped down from the fence and moved forward to open the gate. "Come on. I'll help you put him up."

Cassie felt bewildered. She had feared this encounter since she had discovered the girl's identity, and Josette was being almost casual about it.

Josette's gaze narrowed on her face. "It's not so strange," she said as if she had read her thoughts. "I was very young when my parents were killed. Jared and Bradford are the only family I remember. Did you know that after his father was killed, Jared brought me to England himself?"

"No."

"He was holding me when they murdered his father. His wrists were bound, but he managed to slip into the underbrush and hide in the forest for three days. Then he made his way to the ship his father had arranged to meet them. He wasn't able to get the ropes off, and his wrists were still tied and bloody when he reached the coast."

I hate to be bound.

No wonder. He must have felt terribly helpless and frustrated, bound, bereaved, with a small child to tend. The experience would have scarred anyone.

"So you wouldn't find me understanding if you or your father did something to hurt Jared." Josette closed the gate behind Cassie. "But you're very interesting. I can't stand those ninnies at school. I believe I'll enjoy your stay here at Morland. You can tell me all about that odd place where you lived, and we'll ride and have great fun."

"Indeed? Jared regards me as a hostage, you know."

Josette made a face. "A very peculiar hostage, who's permitted to ride freely over the estate. I don't see that as a problem." She opened the stable door. "Now, what about this Lani? Is she really your father's mistress?"

Cassie stiffened. "Yes."

Josette didn't seem to notice the change in her demeanor. "Many of Jared's friends have mistresses, but they don't usually let me meet them. Once at one of Jared's house parties I saw one of his lady birds slip into his room."