The American Bride - By Karla Darcy Page 0,41

Cara pleaded as she eased his leg to the ground.

"I'll have Megan see to it when she comes in the morning."

Cara knew that one of the tenant's wives brought over a kettle for Pennyfeather's dinner each day. She had met the woman several times when in the company of the children and had taken a liking to the shy, soft-spoken woman. She knew that Megan would have salves and ointments to heal the man's leg. Nodding her head in acquiescence, she rose to her feet as Pennyfeather took another long swig on the bottle.

"And furthermore I want your promise that you'll not take the children with you if you go poaching."

"Oh, Miss Farraday. It wasn't Pennyfeather's fault," Richard burst in. "Belin and I just happened to run across him right before the accident."

"It's not to happen again. I don't approve of the poaching laws, but you'll have to abide by them." Then as the boy looked mutinous, Cara continued, "That could have been Belin's leg caught in the trap today."

At the startled look in the boy's eye, Cara turned her back on him. At least that would give him food for thought, she reasoned. Richard would never give up the opportunity for adventure on his own account but he would protect Belin from possible harm.

"Is Pennyfeather going to be able to walk again?" Belin asked in a whisper.

Cara's heart turned over at the woebegone face raised to hers. Tearstains ran down dirty cheeks, leaving trails of whiter skin. Taking a corner of the cloth Cara dipped it in water and washed the little girl's face. Satisfied at last she hugged the child and pushed her toward Richard.

"Now you two get back to the Hall. The excitement is over for the day."

After bidding Pennyfeather a hasty goodbye and promising to return the next day for a visit, the children scampered off down the track toward the Hall. Cara turned in the doorway to see Pennyfeather taking another long pull at the jug. His smile was a trifle crooked and his eyes had a groggy look to them.

"I'll go back along the path and make sure there's nothing there to send the gamekeeper to your door."

"Much obliged, Miss," Pennyfeather slurred as he shifted in his chair.

"It's nothing, you old reprobate. You've been a good friend to the children. And to me, " she added.

With a final wave of her hand, Cara left the cottage, hobbling painfully on her ankle. Once out of sight of the cottage she pulled up the hem of her dress to look at the bruise on her leg.

The ankle was puffy and discolored but no skin had been broken. Although it was swollen she suspected after a thorough soaking and a good night's rest it would be fine. But for now she had a painful walk ahead of her. Despite her slow pace it was no time at all until she found the place where the accident had happened.

The rabbits lay on the ground just off the path. Fearing their discovery, Cara gingerly picked them up and carried them into the woods. She was dismayed at the amount of blood on the ground. Dropping the rabbits, she broke off a small tree branch and began to sweep the area. Cautiously she picked up the trap ready to shove it under a thick covering of leaves. The dust swirled up and she was overcome with a fit of sneezing and coughing.

"May I be of some assistance?"

The deep voice froze Cara. Her eyes swung to the trail and through watery eyes she looked up at Lord Wilton astride his great black hunter. Viewing the twitch of humor around his mouth, Cara closed her eyes as if in pain. Summoning what dignity she could, she coolly faced him.

"Thank you, milord, but I'm fine now. Just a fit of sneezing." Cara tried to look unconcerned at Julian's presence. "You may continue your ride," she encouraged him.

Her eyes flew open in terror as Julian threw his leg across the saddle and vaulted to the ground. Like a child hoping to avoid discovery she thrust the trap behind her back. For a moment she considered dropping to the ground in a fit of screaming hysteria. Why couldn't the blasted man just mind his own business? Through lowered eyes she winced at the streaks of dirt on her dress. She was positive her face was as dust-covered as her hands. Out of the corner of her eye she spotted the rabbits and moved to cover