Harnessed Passions (56 page)

"That ain't none of yer business," he
snapped.

"Answer the man's question boy," Rally
ordered. "Ya wanna loose another job?"

"The owner and me, well we didn't get on is
all," the younger Overton reported, with a crooked smile.

"Didn't
get on
?" Rally snapped, slapping his
son across the back of the head. "Ya tried ta screw his wife, ya
fool. I can't understand ya, boy. What's the matter with ya,
anyhows?"

"You raped your employer's wife?" Harold
asked, sounding more like an attorney than an innocent
bystander.

"Hell no," Dourn shouted in his defense.
"I's didn't have ta force the woman inta my bed. She was comin' on
ta me like a she-cat in heat. Hell, she only turned ‘gainst me
'cause we's got caught in bed by her ol' man."

"Ya tol' me, ya never did an'thin' 'cept ta
kiss her, now yer sayin' ya got her inta bed? I swear boy, yer
always findin' the wrong women. I's tellin' ya, yer gonna be the
death of me yet." Rally slapped the boy again, this time hard
enough to make his him stumble forward. Daniel hid his amusement at
the way his foreman was treating the man, but other thoughts soon
burned his humor to cinders.

"What the hell are you doing here? You knew
there was a chance Julia or I would recognize you and call you out
on your lies."

"I's didn't think ya'd 'member me since I's
weren't nothin' but a drunk 'n as fer Miss Julia, well I's figered
if'n I's just avoided her, there wouldn't be no chance she'd
rec'nize me. After all, it's been five years."

"Why did you lie to me Rally? I trusted you.
I thought we were beyond all of this?" Daniel sounded hurt and
angry with the older man; the feeling of betrayal burned in his
soul.

"I's awful sorry, Mr. Brownin', but I's had
ta look after my boy, 'n he promised me not ta go near Miss Julia,
so I's thought it'd be alright. I's have us both packed 'n outta
'ere, t'night 'n cause ya no more problem."

"No, that won't be necessary Rally," Daniel
assured the man, after a few moments to pull himself together. His
sympathy and understanding went out to the senior Overton, thinking
he'd probably have done exactly the same thing, given similar
circumstances. "You can both stay; just stay out of trouble and
keep your nose clean. Next time Rally, try trusting me."

"There won't be no need fer a next time, Mr.
Brownin'," Rally assured the man with a smile that revealed the
tooth missing in front and a hearty handshake.

"What about the fire?" Harold intervened,
bringing his friend back to one of the reasons they had come down
here. "What do you know about it?"

"Hey, now hold up there. I's ain't the one
who's started it. If'n ya want someone ta blame, try askin' his
wife," Dourn pointed a long brown finger to Daniel. "Ivan and Henry
says they's seen a woman ridin' 'way, right after the flames broke
out; a woman with long dark hair."

"It sounds like you're trying to find a
scapegoat if you ask me," Harold said, preventing his friend from
knocking the man's teeth out.

"The boy ain't the one ta set that fire, Mr.
Leonard," Rally insisted. "He were with me, fer certain sure when
the alarm was rang."

"Ya can ask Ivan and Henry, they's tell ya
'bout the woman," Dourn insisted, glaring at the anger shining in
his employer's eyes. "How do ya know, it weren't that little prissy
pants of his who burned the stables? Maybe she's in a hurry ta
leave this place n' grew despert. She always was one ta have them
sweet perky tits leadin’ her inta trouble. Maybe she was rollin' in
the hay with one of the hands?"

"Julia was with me that night, in my bed,"
Daniel growled in defense of his wife. The man stepped back from
Daniel's anger as though he'd been physically struck. Daniel
however didn't back down.

“
You can tell those ears
you’ve been whispering in, that Julia is innocent and I intend to
prove it. If I hear so much of a hint that you’ve been spreading
rumors, I’ll be back and there won’t be a shovel small enough to
pick up what’s left.” Daniels anger was full blown and he turned
back to the older man next to him and glared.

"Keep him away from my wife and keep his
nose clean, Overton, until I can put an end to all of this or he'll
answer to me…alone!"

"I's will Mr. Brownin', ya can trust me fer
certain sure."

"I'd better be able to...this time," he
snapped, turning back to the younger man and ordered, "I don't want
you going anywhere near Julia, understand?"

"Ya ain't got nothin' ta worry 'bout, Mr.
Brownin'. Five years is too long a time ta be waitin' fer Miss
Perky Tits ta come 'round anyhows," Unaware of how he had addressed
the woman to her own husband; the younger Overton looked confident
and snide. Daniel however didn't miss the slur on his wife's good
name. His hand curled into a fist, his muscles bulged beneath the
material of his shirt; his eyes narrowed in anger and his lips drew
thin with the dangerous malice building inside him. Daniel's arm
pulled back at lightning speed, his large balled fist striking
against Dourn's face with such force, he knocked the man off his
feet. Daniel's anger was released in an instant on the man who lay
in the hay, panting and bleeding.

"Don't you ever call my wife that again, do
you understand? She's Mrs. Browning to you and you'll address her
in that manner or you'll find yourself a bloody mess every time you
see her." Dourn spit and sputtered, coughing the blood and remains
of a tooth from his mouth. He'd forgotten how strong Daniel was and
how powerful a fist he had; which was the only thing he could
remember of their last fight together. Daniel turned on his heel to
leave, but turned back abruptly glaring at the man still lying in
the dirt. Dourn saw the anger and loathsome contempt in the man's
turquoise eyes and cowered on the ground, fearing another deadly
punch.

"You have my wife's bridal garter," Daniel
snapped, feeling his emotions throbbing wildly, demanding release
and more than willing to supply them with one if the man resisted.
"I want it back, now."

"I's ain't got it," the man said struggling
to his feet, wiping the blood from his mouth and rubbing the
painful swelling growing around his lips.

"You told Julia you had it. Are you calling
my wife a liar?"

No sir, I's ain't; I's just sayin' I's ain't
got it no more. I's lost it, the last time I's ridin' the fields.
I's don't know where it is."

"If you find it Overton you'll give it to me
immediately, is that clear?" Daniel waited for the nod of
acknowledgment before he turned and joined Harold on the path back
to the house. The two Overtons watched the men disappear up the
dirt path, before Rally turned back to his son.

"Bastard," Dourn growled under his breath,
rubbing the throbbing pain in his face, feeling the bleeding gap of
his missing tooth with his tongue. "He deserves what he gets."
Rally slapped the boy on the back of the head again before he
answered in Daniel's behalf.

"Ya just do what he says 'n stay 'way from
Miss Julia or ya'all find yerself at the undertaker's or in the
hospital prayin' ta be dead. I's warnin' ya boy; she ain't right
fer ya 'n I's ain't gonna tell ya again." The older man turned and
left his son still standing in the doorway of the stables.

Dourn thrust his hand deep
into his pocket and pulled out the slender silk fabric he had
hidden. He wasn't about to let it go, not just yet. His fingers
slid across the lace and satin as he played and toyed with the
delicate object; the strain of his libido tightened beneath his
breeches and he chuckled at his own discomfort. He wasn't done with
Julia yet, either. No matter how much her husband threatened him,
there were some things worth dying over and he had very specific
plans for
Miss Perky
Tits
.

“
You alright, pal?" Harold
asked as they neared the house.

"I swear Harold, if that bastard comes near
Julia, I'll..."

"Don't say it partner," the man warned
softly. "Don't even think it. A person could find himself in a
whole lot of trouble with thoughts like that."

"Don't lecture me, Leonard. I'm not in the
mood."

"What are you in the mood for? Blood? A
little revenge perhaps? What good would that do Daniel? You still
wouldn't have any answers and Julia would still be a suspect in
many people’s eyes. There's more than one person who's looking in
Julia's direction with word of a mysterious woman circulating
around town."

"Julia didn't do it, Harold," Daniel
snapped.

"I'm not saying she did, but there are those
who think differently."

"What do you think?" Daniel pulled his
friend to a halt on the path, locking his turquoise gaze with that
of honey brown.

"I think you should keep an eye on Overton.
I don't think he's at the root of whatever it is that's been
happening around here, but he may know more than he's telling us.
If he does, he may slip up and try something else regardless of how
much you threaten him."

"I am not using my wife as bait," Daniel
argued, turning back toward the house.

“
I never suggested you do,”
Harold insisted with a heavy sigh. “Things have been pretty calm
around here lately, but how long do you think it will stay that
way? You have to keep Julia under close supervision in order to
provide her an alibi and hopefully put an end to the suspicions. We
may be barking up the wrong tree; what if Overton isn’t behind any
of this? What then?”

Daniel thought about what his friend had
said, what he had heard and wondered if there really was more,
perhaps something they were overlooking.

"If Dourn - Overton - whatever the hell his
name is isn't responsible, then who is?" Daniel was eager for
answers, and running short on patience.

"I really can't say. I will tell you this
much though, somebody's out to cause trouble for whatever reason
and I think Julia's just been getting in the way."

"So what do you suggest we do? Lock her up
someplace until all of this blows over?"

"Honestly?" he asked stopping on the path
again to stare at Daniel who waited impatiently for his response.
Harold knew he wasn't going to like his suggestion, but he had to
offer his advice regardless. "Get her out of harm's reach, Daniel,"
Harold continued once his partner and friend nodded his consent.
"Send her off on vacation somewhere. At the very least you can hope
things will quiet down for a while, hopefully long enough to get
this sale over with."

"I don't know if I can do that Harold. It's
hard enough letting her out of my sight for a few hours, but for
days, even weeks? You're asking me to do the impossible."

"Even if it's for her own safety?" Daniel
stared at him for a long time in silence. Harold was right, no
matter how much he wanted to deny it, she was at risk here. Perhaps
he should send her away for a short time, just long enough to get
things back to normal. It might just give him enough time to find
out who was behind all of these accidents.

"Alright, I'll suggest it to her. She has
been wanting to go back to Boston and visit her aunt and uncle.
This would be a good excuse to get her out of the way, but I'll
want her back before the sales. Julia is still part owner of this
place and she needs to be here when the clients arrive. I need
her," he said the latter of his statement softly, realizing the
pain in his heart was caused from the anguish of having to release
her, even for a short time.

"Do as you see fit. Perhaps working
together, we can get things settled before she comes home."

"And if we don't?" That was one thought,
neither of them wanted to face. One way or the other, they had to
find out who was behind all of this and put an end to it.

"Did Harold leave?" Julia asked when Daniel
entered the bedroom a half hour later. She sat in the bed against a
stack of pillows; the single blanket tucked around her legs, a book
propped in her hand. She had already bathed and was dressed only in
a thin satin camisole as she waited her husband’s return. The soft
glow from the lamp gave her a seductive appearance, but in his
present mood Daniel really didn't seem to notice.

"Yes, he's gone," he answered, coming toward
the bed, a deep frown creasing his brow.

"What did he think of the construction?"
Julia couldn’t help the suspicion on his face as he sat down on the
edge of the bed beside her.

"Huh? Oh, I guess he liked the progress he
really didn't say. There's not much you can say about a bunch of
stalls made for a pack of smelly horses."

"Is everything alright?" Julia's tone was
filled with concern as she watched her husband play with the edge
of the blanket. He looked worried, but she couldn't even begin to
comprehend his reasons. "Harold wasn't upset because he lost to me
at poker, was he?"

"What?" Daniel looked at the woman and
realized she hadn't missed the change in his mood. "No Princess, he
wasn't upset about the money. In fact, I think it taught him a
lesson. I don't think he'll be challenging you to a game of cards
again; not for a while at least."

"What about you? Will you challenge me
again?"

"Every chance I get," he assured her,
stretching out beside her. Daniel took her in his embrace kissing
her waiting lips. His mouth tasted and teased hers until she
sighed.

"Why are you so upset?" she asked a few
minutes later as he began to undress in front of her eager eyes.
Daniel stopped and turned his back on the woman. He didn't want to
think about that right now, but he had to tell her something.

"I wasn't upset," he lied, tossing his pants
to the end of the bed and crawling beneath the sheets. "I'm just
tired."

"You were upset Daniel," she told him,
calling him on his lie.