Romance in the Rain Read online

  “Miss Stover said you’d gone to visit someone today. Are you on your way home?”

  “This is not my home,” she said instantly, then looked as if she regretted it.

  James couldn’t fault her honesty. “It’s not mine either. Unfortunately, I don’t know where ‘home’ is right now. But I hear you would like to return to Indiana?”

  She nodded. Her hands had stilled and though he doubted she felt that way inside, she looked calm and… natural, here in the forest. Her dark hair, twisted into a knot, matched the bark of the pine trees and her amber eyes, open yet wary, could have been those of an owl.

  James smiled. She probably wouldn’t appreciate being compared to a bird of prey. “Evening is almost upon us. May I walk you back to… wherever you are staying?”

  She glanced at his rifle. “But you were hunting.”

  He shrugged. “Another time. I would rather see you safely returned.”

  “Has everyone left your place?” Her mouth tightened, as if she wished she hadn’t asked.

  “They have.” He had to be polite so he added, “Thank you for asking them to come.”

  She began walking west and James followed. “You looked like you needed the help.”

  Of course he did. He was an aristocratic Englishman with no training and very few wits to get by on; she’d made herself perfectly clear on that score. “I won’t be staying in Seattle either, but I have no doubt the next occupant of the land will appreciate the cabin.”

  She brushed aside a small branch. “Where do you intend to go?”

  That was the question. He couldn’t return to England—he’d done nothing to prove himself. “I’ll probably return to Baltimore. I had begun studying at the Maryland Law Institute, so perhaps I will enroll again.”

  And undoubtedly fail again, but Mattie didn’t need to know all of his shortcomings.

  She glanced at him with an unfathomable look.

  “What?”

  She resumed staring at the ground, picking her way carefully. “Nothing.”

  Would no one speak their mind to him? “No. Why did you look at me that way? What did you want to say?”

  The earth sloped and they began to descend, Mattie ever more cautiously. It mattered not, she lost her footing anyway.

  James grasped her around the waist and hauled her upright. He should have let go, but didn’t, instead turning her to face him, resting his hands on her slight hips, loving the feel of her. “Please, be forthright. I will not take offense.” He wouldn’t show any offense but he’d probably take it.

  She tipped her face up. Her skin was so fair, so smooth, so perfect in its youthfulness. Her eyes, though, spoke of an old soul, a wounded heart. James wanted to pull her close, wanted to protect her from any further harshness life might dole out.

  “You left your own country to study law in America. You left those studies to sail all the way to the Washington Territory, to what purpose I don’t know. And now you intend to leave here when you’ve only just arrived. I can’t make heads or tails of you, Mr. Caldwell.”

  “Neither can I.” He dropped his hands from her waist and stared off through the trees. What did it matter if she knew the ugly truth about him—they were going their separate ways. And she’d already guessed at most of it. “I had no purpose in England; I was just another peer’s fourth son with a small inheritance and not much else to recommend me. My oldest brother is the heir and a damn fine steward of all he will inherit, the next is a brilliant MP, the next a distinguished captain in the army, and then there is me. I barely made it through Cambridge and then only on the basis of my name. Oh, and don’t let me forget my two younger sisters—one has published two novels and the other is too young to have made her mark, but she will. She will.”

  He paused to take a breath, but couldn’t look at Mattie. Didn’t want to see the scorn in her eyes. Not only was he a useless idiot, but he complained about it. To her, a woman who had lost her husband. The greens and browns of the surrounding forest swam before his eyes. He took a breath and plunged back in, intent on finishing the demoralizing tale of his life.

  “I thought if I went somewhere else, somewhere far away from my family, I could focus and accomplish something. Become someone. There was no lawyer in the family, so I took up the law. And failed. When I saw the chance to escape to the west, I took it, thinking surely I could make something of myself here.” He smirked and shook his head. “But I can’t. What am I to do? I don’t have that law degree. I have the money to open a bank, but not the financial mind to keep it afloat—at least I’m smart enough to realize that. So, I’ll wander off again, still searching. Now, let’s be going. We are beginning to lose the light.”

  He took her arm and steered her down the hill, swatting aside branches when necessary. She didn’t resist his touch, but didn’t say anything either. Just as well. He did not want to hear platitudes or worthless advice, such as when his brother told him, “you’re dashing enough, James, just marry a fortune.”

  Soon, the terrain flattened out again. The towering trees blocked the light of the setting sun and twilight pushed down on them, making the hike more treacherous. While he wanted more than anything to be free of Mattie Jensen’s contempt, James was glad he’d offered to see her home. What had she been doing out so late in the day? And where was the dog she’d had with her yesterday?

  She stopped suddenly, so of course he did too and looked a question at her. Her sight fixed on a spot to his left. She said nothing, but pressed herself against his hip.

  “Mattie?”

  Silence.

  She was nigh on clinging to him and yet wouldn’t suffer him calling her by her given name. He huffed out a breath. “I beg your pardon. Mrs. Jensen?”

  Her brown eyes met his. Her brown, fearful eyes.

  Then he heard it. A low growl coming from over his left shoulder.

  James turned his head. A coyote, its grey and tan fur the perfect disguise in the woods, glared at them with glittering eyes. A bush closer to them shook and out slunk a coyote pup.

  His breath hitched. Instinctively he threw his arm across Mattie’s body, ready to push her out of harm’s way. Hoping the movement wouldn’t alarm the animal, he raised his rifle slowly.

  Too late.

  The guttural growl turned into a full-blown snarl and the coyote charged.

  Chapter 3

  Mattie gasped as the mother coyote rushed toward them, but there was no time for any other reaction. She turned to run but Mr. Caldwell snatched her around the waist, carrying her as though she were nothing more than a sack of flour.

  They didn’t go far. He stopped at the base of a sturdy maple tree and lifted her toward the nearest branch. “Climb! Go!”

  She grabbed the limb and used her boots to gain purchase. The vicious barks of the coyote were so close. Below, the animal locked its jaw around Mr. Caldwell’s boot. He swatted it awkwardly with the rifle.

  “Keep going!” In one swift movement James hauled himself up beside her.

  Dear God. Mattie choked on a sob. She turned back and reached for the next limb. Her fingers slipped on the moss covering it. She tried again. The branch was so high there was nowhere to push off with her feet. She wrapped her arms around it and attempted to pull herself up.

  Below, the coyote snuffled and growled ferociously. Mr. Caldwell cursed.

  She renewed her efforts to climb higher. Suddenly a hand pushed on her bottom, giving her the boost she needed to clamber up and straddle the thick branch. The cacophony from below increased. Mattie grasped the limb to balance herself and looked down. The young coyote had joined its mother and they were both tearing at Mr. Caldwell’s legs as he tried to climb higher and hold onto the rifle. The frustration of being unable to help clawed at her.

  “James, hand me the rifle!” She was all too aware of using his Christian name, but hoped he wouldn’t notice.

  He swung the weapon up high and Mattie slid forward, reaching for the barrel. James let go. The weigh
t of the rifle upset her balance and her sweaty fingers lost their grip. She watched it freefall, landing with a thud that distracted one of the coyotes.

  “No!” She mouthed the word but didn’t think any sound came out.

  With just one coyote gnawing on his boot, James swung his arms over Mattie’s branch and retracted his legs. The young cub retained the boot, dragging it a few feet away and lying down to chew on it contentedly.

  James levered himself over the thick branch and settled behind her.

  Though relieved he was safe, she sat stiffly, afraid to turn around. “Are you hurt?”

  “Not really. My boots took the worst of it. Tilford isn’t likely to forgive me the loss of them.” He was so close his voice seemed to vibrate up her spine.

  Everything had happened in the space of a minute. Her whole body trembled. Because she was scared, not because of his nearness. “This isn’t funny! I dropped the gun, you’ve lost your boot, we’re stuck in this tree for who knows how long.” And, you could have been mauled to death.

  He snorted. An honest-to-goodness snort. “We’ve been treed by coyotes; I can’t think of anything more amusing at the moment.”

  Despite the timing, she was glad to see his humor restored. He’d been so critical of himself earlier, especially in regards to his intelligence. Mattie didn’t have much schooling, but she didn’t think herself stupid and from the conversations she’d had with James, she didn’t think him unlearned. Indulged and coddled, yes, but not dim-witted.

  Fabric rustled behind her and she felt the branch bounce as he moved. Surely he wasn’t stripping off his clothes?

  “Firstly, Mrs. Jensen, let me apologize for the… ah… inappropriate way I assisted your climb.” A trace of laughter clung to his words.

  Mattie flushed, remembering the heat of that large hand upon her bottom. She stared down at the coyote who sat at the base of the tree, still quietly growling.

  “Secondly, you must be terribly uncomfortable, Mrs. Jensen. I’ve folded my coat over the limb so if you’ll just move back a few inches I think you’ll find these accommodations much more to your liking.”

  The heat radiating across her cheeks intensified at his insinuation. But, she shuffled backwards anyway, all too aware of how accurate his assessment was. The bark of the tree was not kind to her nether regions. She stopped well short of him and held herself stiffly. To no avail.

  He snaked an arm around her waist and pulled her against his chest. “And lastly, now that we have achieved this great intimacy and you’ve already called me James, I am going to call you Mattie. Relax.” His breath whispered across her cheek. “I simply want to keep you from falling.”

  She wanted to resist, maintain her dignity, keep her distance. After a wasted moment, though, she gave in to the need to lean on someone else. She relaxed against him and rested her head on his shoulder. The sun had disappeared from the forest completely. A velvety twilight enveloped them. The day’s breeze had vanished too and all was quiet, except for the snuffling of the pup with the boot and the protective rumbles of its mother.

  More at peace than she’d been in weeks, she closed her eyes. Her breathing fell into the same rhythm as his.

  “Is Mattie your given name?” The deep timbre of his voice hummed against her ear.

  “No, it’s Mathilda.”

  “And do you have a second name?”

  She hesitated, curious. “Anne.”

  “What is your maiden name?”

  “Porter.”

  “Mathilda Anne Porter Jensen, what on God’s earth were you doing walking alone at this time of day?”

  She jerked up and opened her eyes at his harshness and the sudden tensing of his muscles. “I—I…”

  “I know you were visiting someone; couldn’t they have walked you home? You don’t even have your dog with you. What if you’d been alone when these coyotes attacked?”

  Unable to resist, she turned to look at him. His eyes glittered like the darkest jade and strips of red slashed his cheekbones. He was afraid for her, but his fear manifested as anger. She knew the feeling well—she’d spent much of the journey out here angry with Daniel, an anger that disguised a much-warranted fear.

  “Well?” he demanded.

  She faced forward, her memories crowded out by embarrassment. She couldn’t answer him truthfully. Her visit had ended a couple of hours ago, when the light was still strong. She’d walked back toward James’s plot and dithered around in the woods, hoping to walk home with Helene. Too shy to reveal herself, she had watched the afternoon’s activities from afar. Had watched James particularly as he’d hauled fallen logs across the meadow and then finished the ends. He’d worked meticulously and without complaint. In fact, she would have said he was content as he filed off the bark and sanded the logs down.

  He sighed against her neck and she sank back into his embrace, comforted by his size, his warmth, and the earthy scent of a man who’d labored all day. Not what she expected from an English aristocrat. James wasn’t anything like her image of a lord’s son.

  “When I left I didn’t think it was so late. And…” Thank goodness she wasn’t facing him. “…I thought I might find Helene at your place and go back with her.”

  There, that was close to the truth.

  His arms tightened around her. “I’m glad I hunted you down.”

  This time, she laughed at his pun. But their situation was still serious. “It’s getting dark and those coyotes seem intent on staying.”

  “I have an idea of how to rectify that, but first, there’s something I wish to do.”

  By the end of his sentence, his voice was nearly a whisper. Mattie’s skin tingled with premonition. She meant to forestall his wish by asking what his plan was, but the words wouldn’t come.

  He pressed forward slightly and his lips melted against her neck. Her eyes drifted shut but she managed to stifle the moan of pleasure welling in her throat. He kissed his way up to her ear and then stopped to nibble on the lobe. She leaned her head to the right, giving him better access, giving up all resistance.

  “Mmmm. You taste wonderful. And your skin is so soft. Must be all the rain.”

  She felt his fleeting smile but he moved on, scorching his lips along her hairline, across the back of her neck, and to her other shoulder. One hand still anchored her waist but the other skimmed down her thigh, sending a rush of heat throughout her body. It seemed like a lifetime ago she’d last experienced such a flash of passion.

  She turned her head as far as she could, hoping to capture his mouth with hers; instead he placed hot open-mouthed kisses along her jaw while his hand slid up her ribcage toward her breasts. Her nipples ached with anticipation of his touch. She dug her fingers into his thighs to steady her off-kilter body.

  “Bloody hell.” He pulled away from her, everywhere, all at once. His lips, his hands, even the hard wall of his chest at her back abandoned her. “I’m sorry. I need to get you home. Miss Stover will be worried about you.”

  Mattie nodded, nowhere near capable of speech. There were at least ten likely reasons why he’d stopped but the only one running through her head was that he didn’t want her as much as she wanted him.

  With an economy of movement James stood up on their branch. He sounded out of breath when he said, “Be ready to jump down and run. Go as fast as you can; I’ll follow.”

  Thwick. Thwick. Thwick. She looked up to see him snapping branches off a higher limb. Mattie swung a leg over so she was sitting sideways, at the ready. Noticing James’s coat, she unfolded it and slipped her arms through the sleeves so it wouldn’t be left behind.

  “Ready?”

  “Yes,” she managed to say in a normal voice.

  Using her peripheral vision, she saw him throw the first branch as far as he could. One coyote jumped up and ran after it right away. The other sat up, on alert, but didn’t leave. James quickly threw another stick. As soon as the second coyote loped off, barking, Mattie swung down to the next limb and the
n lowered herself to the ground. She took off running in the opposite direction, hoping she hadn’t miscalculated in the dark.

  She heard the thud of James jumping down and then a curse. Afraid he was hurt, she stopped and turned back. He was hopping around on one foot, attempting to pull on his battered boot.

  “Mathilda! I said run.”

  “I don’t want to lose you.” She’d said those exact same words to Daniel. She didn’t mean them in the same way to James, though—the forest was just too shadowy.

  He grabbed his rifle from the ground. “I’m not going to get lost.” He sounded irritated.

  She hadn’t meant that either. She’d meant—oh, never mind. Mattie turned and ran. The loud report of the rifle caused her to stumble. She righted herself and soon James caught up to her. They were going downhill again. He took her hand and led the way, keeping a pace Mattie could match.

  “Did you shoot one of the coyotes?” she huffed out.

  He shook his head. “I missed, but the shot scared them off.”

  At last they emerged from the woods into an area above the Seattle settlement already cleared of trees. The sky to the west hadn’t faded to black just yet. Here and there a light winked from the cabins dotting the shore and hillside.

  James slowed to a walk, but didn’t release her hand. “Do you live with Helene’s family?”

  “I live with my brother-in-law, Magnus Jensen. His wife Oda is Helene’s sister.” She pointed to the south. “Their cabin is over there.”

  “Your husband’s family is Danish?”

  “Norwegian. Magnus and Daniel’s father came to America in the ‘20s and eventually settled in Indiana, near my family’s farm.” Without the trees as a buffer, the breeze was chilly. Mattie went to pull her shawl closer and realized she still had on James’s coat. No wonder the smell of him had continued to flirt with her nose. She slipped it off. “Here. I remembered to grab this.”