The American Bride - By Karla Darcy Page 0,58

matched the promise of the rest of her body and to teach the immature chit proper manners. In his more sanguine moments Julian found it wonderful that since his marriage two fascinating women had entered his life. First the enigmatic Miss Farraday and now the unknown girl in the woods.

After all the households were visited and there was still no hint of the horsewoman, he had fallen back on laying a trap for her. And finally it had paid off.

When Julian spotted the girl on the edge of the woods he swore, realizing that he was too far down the hill to catch her. Spurring to the top, he plunged into the first line of trees then reined in in frustration. She was nowhere in sight. He slapped his leather quirt against his boot and scowled at the surrounding trees. It was almost magical how the girl had disappeared so quickly. Knowing that the woods spread out for miles, Julian could only make a guess in which direction she had gone.

"Unless," he smiled cunningly, "like a fox, she's gone to ground."

The more he thought of the idea the more reasonable it sounded. The woods were curiously silent and according to his reckoning she would not have had enough time to outdistance him. Somewhere she was lying low, waiting until he gave up the hunt. Tyrr stamped and snorted, throwing his black mane in the air. The stallion sensed the nearness of the mare and like his master longed to give chase. Julian nudged the eager horse forward, setting an easy pace toward the top of the hill. He rode without hesitation to give the impression that he had made up his mind. But instead of going deeper into the woods he guided the horse toward the trees that edged the meadow. Once there he pulled Tyrr to a halt and leaped to the ground, holding the stallion steady.

Julian reasoned that he had seen the girl on the edge of the meadow, waiting to cross it. If he was right that she was in cover to escape him, she should return to the meadow once she was convinced he was riding away. With the patience of a hunter, Julian waited to spring the trap.

As the first sounds of movement came to his ears, he tensed, reaching up to stroke the stallion whose ears were pricked forward in anticipation. He could see nothing through the heavily leaved trees. Julian waited, his breath streaming through flared nostrils and his eyebrows lowered in concentration. When he saw the girl sitting her horse at the edge of the woods, he heaved a sigh of satisfaction mixed with admiration.

She certainly was a beauty, Julian admitted. Well worth the trouble he had gone to. Though at a distance her features were indistinct, her sun-bronzed hair floated around her in a burnished cloud. Silhouetted against the foliage her figure stood out in sharp relief. Her eyes were narrowed as she searched the meadow so he could not identify their color but he suspected they were flashing with triumph that she had outwitted him. She sat the gray expertly, at home with the discomfort of a sidesaddle. He watched with burning eyes as she leaned down, patting the neck of the dainty horse. Then with a light, tinkling laugh that floated across to Julian's straining ears, the lovely vision tossed her hair over her shoulders and trotted out into the field.

Tyrr caught the scent of the mare and threw his head back soundlessly against Julian's restraining hand.

"Steady, boy. They'll not get away this time." There was a flash of white teeth against sun-browned skin as Julian's predatory gaze followed the figure of the girl. "We'll let her relax and then we'll introduce ourselves," he chuckled mirthlessly.

Julian's relentless eyes stalked the horse and rider until they approached the middle of the field. Then in a single fluid movement he released the stallion and threw himself into the saddle. Tyrr, quivering with anticipation, needed little encouragement to tear after the graceful mare. Julian's chest expanded with the joy and excitement of the chase as they hurtled after the girl.

In blind panic Cara raced across the meadow heading for the cover of trees at the far side. As they tore through the brush at the edge, she lay against Gentian's neck to avoid the branches that slashed at her face. She realized the futility of her flight as the woods narrowed and fell away to reveal another open field. From the corner