Caine thought she looked as if she were about to burst into tears. He gave her a smile to reassure her, then led his horse inside. After handing the reins to the stablemaster, and waving the men who were following him back outside, he casually leaned against the wall next to her. He was deliberately trying to make her believe nothing much out of the ordinary had happened.
"The fight was over and done with by the time 1 got to the forest."
"The fight was over? How could it be over?" she asked. "I don't understand."
"They must have changed their minds," he said.
"You don't have to lie to me," she cried out. "And you can quit acting as though we're discussing the crops, too. Now tell me what happened."
He let out a long sigh. "Most of the fight was over and done with by the time I got there."
"Caine, no more lies," she demanded.
"I'm not lying," he countered.
"Then make sense," she ordered. "You're supposed to be logical, remember?"
He'd never heard that tone of voice from her before. God's truth, she sounded like a commander now. Caine grinned. "It was the damnedest thing I ever saw," he admitted. "I got two of them, then turned to the area I thought hid the rest, but when I got there, they were gone."
"They ran away?"
He shook his head. "There was evidence that a fight had taken place."
"Then your men…"
"Were with me," he interjected.
Jade folded her hands in her lap, her gaze downcast so he wouldn't be able to see her expression. She feared she wouldn't be able to hide her relief or her pleasure. Matthew and Jimbo had done their jobs well. "No, that doesn't make any sense," she agreed.
"There was evidence of a fight," he said, watching her closely.
"Evidence?" she asked, her voice whisper soft. "Such as?"
"Footprints… blood on a leaf," he returned. "Other signs as well, but not a body in sight."
"Do you think they might have had an argument among themselves?"
"Without making a sound?" he asked, sounding incredulous.
"You didn't hear any noise?"
"No." Caine continued to lean against the wall. He stared at Jade.
She stared back. She thought he might be filtering through the information he'd gained over the past hours, yet the strange expression on his face worried her. She was suddenly reminded of a story Black Harry liked to tell about the wonderful, unpredictable grizzly bears who roamed the wilderness of the Americas. The animal was such a cunning breed. Harry said the bear was actually much smarter than
his human trackers. Often he would deliberately lead his victims into a trap or circle back to attack. The poor unsuspecting hunter usually died before realizing he'd actually become the hunted.
Was Caine as cunning as the grizzly? That possibility was too chilling to think about. "Caine? You
frighten me when you look at me that way," she whispered. "I hate it when you frown."
She underlined that lie by wringing her hands together. "You're sorry you got involved in this mess,
aren't you? I can't fault you, sir," she added in a melodramatic tone of voice. "You're going to get
yourself killed if you stay with me. I'm very like a cat," she continued with a nod. "I bring people terrible luck. Just leave me here in your barn and go on home. When darkness falls, I'll walk back to London."
"I believe you've just insulted me again," he drawled out. "Haven't I already explained that no one
touches what belongs to me?"
"I don't happen to belong to you," she snapped, somewhat irritated he hadn't been impressed with her theatrics. The man should be trying to comfort her now, shouldn't he? "You can't just decide that I…
oh, never mind. You're shamefully possessive, aren't you?"
He nodded. "I am possessive by nature, Jade, and you will belong to me."
He sounded downright mean now. Jade valiantly held his stare. "You're not only in error, sir, but you're horribly stubborn, too. I'd wager you never shared your toys when you were a child, did you?"
She didn't give him time to answer that allegation. "Still, I didn't mean to insult you."
Caine pulled her to her feet. He put his arm around her shoulders and started toward the doors.
"Caine?"
"Yes?"
"You can't continue to protect me."
"And why is that, love?"
"A father shouldn't have to lose two sons."
The woman certainly didn't put much store in his ability, he thought to himself. Still, she sounded so frightened, he decided not to take exception. "No, he shouldn't," he replied. "Your brother shouldn't
have to lose his only sister, either. Now listen to me. I'm not sorry I got involved, and I'm not going to leave you. I'm your protector, remember?"
Her expression was solemn. "No, you're more than just my protector," she said. "You've become my guardian angel."
Before he could answer her, she leaned up on tiptoe and kissed him.
"I shouldn't have done that," she said then, feeling herself blush. "I don't usually show much affection, but when I'm with you… well, I find I like it when you put your arm around me or hug me. I do wonder about this sudden change in me. Do you think I might be wanton?"
He didn't laugh. She seemed too sincere and he didn't want to hurt her feelings. "I'm pleased you like it when I touch you," he said. He paused just inside the door and leaned down to kiss her. "I find I love touching you." His mouth captured hers then. The kiss was long, hard, lingering. His tongue rubbed against her soft lips until they opened for him, then slid inside with lazy insistence. When he pulled
back, she had a most bemused look on her face again.
"You tried your damnedest to become my shield on that horse, didn't you, love?"
She was so surprised by that question, her mind emptied of all plausible explanations.
"What did I do?"
"You tried to become my shield," he answered. "When you realized the shots were coming from…"
"I didn't," she interrupted.
"And the other night, when you threw yourself into me and knocked me off center, you actually saved my life," he continued as though she hadn't interrupted him.
"I didn't mean to," she interjected. "I was afraid."
She couldn't discern from his expression what he was thinking. "If there is a next time, I promise not to get in your way," she rushed out. "Please forgive me for not being very logical, Caine. You see, I've never been chased after before, or shot at, or… do you know, I don't believe I feel very well now. Yes,
I feel sick. I really do."
It took him a moment to make the switch in topics.
"Is it your head, sweet? We should have asked Christina for something to put on that bump."
She nodded. "It is my head and my stomach and my side, too," she told him as they walked toward the front of the main house.
She was weak with relief, for her aches and pains had waylaid his attention. Jade glanced around her, realizing for the first time how beautiful the landscape was. When they turned the corner, she came to