Bobbi Smith (37 page)
Authors: Heaven
“I’m so glad to see you. I miss you when you’re away.”
“We miss you, too, but Grampa is awful nice.” Lisa had opened up more in the last few weeks than she ever had in all the years before. There was a shine in her eyes and the healthy glow of a loved and cherished child in her cheeks.
“What do you want to do today?” Catherine asked.
“I don’t know. Just have fun, I guess.”
“All right. Behave yourselves,” she teased.
“Don’t worry. We will,” Tommy promised.
They bounded off, full of life, love, and joy. She watched them run to join their friends, and she felt a deep abiding contentment. This had all happened because of Matt.
Matt. . .. She missed him. She wondered if he’d really come back to her. Ever since he’d kissed her, she’d been caught up in a dream of having him in her arms. She knew she was being crazy. They’d only known each other for such a very short time. But then, who could explain the reasons behind feelings? Somehow, her heart knew it was right, and she believed in following her heart.
New Orleans.
Matt had been anticipating his moment of arrival in port ever since he’d sailed out of Galveston Bay. His ship docked at midday, and as soon as he disembarked, he hired a carriage to take him straight to St. Joan’s.
The carriage couldn’t go fast enough to please him, but he was forced to bide his time. The trek across town seemed to take longer than the entire voyage from Texas. When it finally drew to a halt in front of the orphanage, he climbed out, paid the driver, and paused to stare up at the building.
St. Joan’s was already undergoing major improvements. Obviously, Markham had kept his word, and the knowledge pleased Matt.
Matt drew a deep breath and started up the steps. He came face-to-face with Tommy, and he grinned broadly as he opened up his arms to the youth. Without hesitation, Tommy flung himself into his embrace.
“You did come back!” Even a little more faith in adults was restored in him as he held on tight to Matt.
“I told you I would. I came as soon as I could.” He hugged him back.
“Did you find the treasure? Did my clue help?”
“Yes, we did.”
“Where is it? Did you bring it with you?”
“No, it seemed that the right thing to do was to leave it right where we found it.”
“Tell me all about it! Was it hard to find?”
“I’ll tell you everything, but not right now. It’s a long story, and I want to see Miss Catherine first.”
Matt put Tommy down as he looked toward her office.
“Yeah, she’s in there, and, boy, is she ever gonna be glad to see you!”
“You think so?”
“I
know so.”
know so.”
“What are you doing here?” Matt asked as he slowly made his way toward her office door.
“Lisa and me get to come over and play with the other kids. Grampa lets us come whenever we want.”
“Are you both happy living with him?”
“Yeah. We’re real happy.”
There was a joy about Tommy that Matt had never seen before, and he was glad to know that things had turned out so well.
“I want to talk to you, but first I’ve got to see Catherine.”
They shared a man-to-man look.
“Are you gonna marry her? You should, you know,” Tommy blurted out.
“If she’ll have me, I’ll marry her as soon as she wants.”
“Then are you gonna stay here?”
“It’s up to Catherine. If that’s what she wants, I’ll stay.”
“Good.” Tommy looked particularly pleased.
“I’ll see you later, after I talk to her.”
“Okay, I’ll go tell Lisa you’re here.”
Matt knocked on the office door.
“Come in.”
The sweet sound of her voice was a caress to his love-starved senses. He took off his hat and entered the office.
“Matt! You’re back!” Catherine hadn’t known when, or even if, he would come back to her, but she’d prayed constantly that he would.
She looked more beautiful than ever to him, and Matt didn’t hesitate another second. He came around the desk and swept her up into his arms. “I missed you,” he vowed.
There was no denying the kiss he so desperately needed. He kissed her passionately, telling her with his embrace just how much she meant to him.
“Catherine, I love you,” he said simply.
“I love you, too, Matt. I missed you so much while you were gone. I’m so glad you’re back.”
Their eyes met and locked, and each saw the promise of fulfillment in the other’s gaze.
“Will you marry me, Catherine?”
She kissed him with infinite tenderness. “Yes, Matt. I’ll marry you.”
“We can stay here, if you want. I’d like to help you with the children.”
“What about your home and your life in Boston?”
“My life . . . my future is with you. This is where I belong. This is where I want to stay. You are my home, Catherine.”
“And you are mine.”
They came together, their lips seeking each other’s in a devoted pledge of love and faithful promise that would last a lifetime.
Matt thought of Boston and the life he’d led there, and it seemed as if that all that had happened to another man in another lifetime. This was where he belonged. He’d known it since the first day he’d seen her. He was home.
Outside in the hallway, Milly, Catherine’s assistant, started for the office, obviously intent on talking to her about business. Ever vigilant, Tommy intercepted her just in time.
“I don’t think you want to go in there right now, Miss Milly.”
“Oh?” She frowned at the boy. “Why’s that, Tommy?”
“ ’Cause, Mr. McKittrick’s back.”
Milly grinned and winked at Tommy. “I see. Well, I’ll just come back a little later then.” A little flustered, but smiling, she found something else to do for right then. “You guard that door real good Tommy.”
“Don’t worry. I will.”
Milly hurried off to busy herself with other things, while Tommy stood watch over Miss Catherine. He glanced back toward the closed door and smiled. He was happy now that he had his new grandpa and Lisa, and he thought Miss Catherine and Matt should be happy, too.
Winn and Alex stood together at the rail of the ship staring out across the Atlantic. They’d been at sea for several weeks now and would be making port in Boston shortly. They planned a quick trip to her home to see if any word had come from her father. If there had been none, they would sail right away for London.
“Winn . . . I’m so afraid,” Alex admitted.
He put his arm around her and drew her comfortingly to his side. “Whatever happens, love, I’ll be with you.”
“But what if we have to go to London and once we get there, we find out that Papa’s already been executed.”
Winn hastened to reassure her. “If the Anthonys had influence with the guards, then I think your father’s safe. I’m sure they paid handsomely for his protection. There was no way for the guards to know exactly when Philip and Robert were going to return, so he should be all right.”
“I want to believe you. I hope you’re right.” She lifted her troubled gaze to him and saw the strength in his eyes. She couldn’t help but smile as she remembered what the Anthony brothers had told her about him.
“Why are you smiling?”
“Because Philip and Robert told me that the minute we found the crown, you’d take it and run. They said you were a spoiled, rich, arrogant nobleman, who didn’t care about anything but your own pleasures.”
“There was a time when all that was true, but I’ve changed, Alex, and you’re the reason. Before I met you, my life was pointless. I had all the money I needed and all the friends my money could buy.”
“It sounds so dreadful . . . and so lonely.”
“It was. I was surrounded by people, but no one I cared about and no one who cared about me. I can never go back to being the man I was before. Between Uncle Edward and you, the Winn Bradford who sailed from London at the beginning of this quest doesn’t exist any more.”
“I was so afraid after they told me those things about you.”
“Why?”
“Because I loved you so desperately, and I was afraid you really would leave me when the search was over.”
“I don’t ever want you to be afraid of anything again. Believe in me and believe in what we feel for each other.”
“I do, and I’m sorry I ever doubted you.” Her expression was eloquent as she looked up at him. “It was all so terribly complicated. I knew from the very beginning that I would have to betray you, and I prayed all the while that somehow you would be able to find it in your heart to forgive me when I did.”
“There’s nothing to forgive. You were doing what you had to do.”
She sighed and leaned more heavily against him, savoring his nearness, wishing the rest of the ordeal was over and her father was already with them.
They drifted back to her cabin then and made love long into the night. They sought through the physical expression of their love for each other the peace of spirit that they couldn’t find in reality.
Boston.
Tension filled Alex when, at long last, Boston Harbor came into view. She had lived night and day with the dread that she would return home to learn that something terrible had happened to her father while he was in prison. She clung to Winn’s hand tightly as they disembarked and made their way to her home.
Everything looked quiet. Nothing seemed to have changed from that day all those weeks before when ‘Father Bradford’ had first come to call. They climbed the steps to the front porch and knocked on the door.
The maid answered, and her expression, as she stared at the two of them, was nothing short of shocked. “Miss Alex! Thank goodness you’re back!”
Alex’s heart was in her throat, and she feared the absolute worst. “Why? What’s wrong? Have you heard something about Papa?”
The question hung heavily in the air. For a moment, no one moved as they anticipated the tragic news they were sure was to follow.
“Well, Miss Alex, your papa . . .”
Suddenly, Enoch’s voice sounded from the study. “Alex, my dear? Is that you?”
At the sound of his voice, she went weak-kneed and Winn quickly put an arm around her for support. “Papa?! Oh, Papa! Thank God you’re here!”
She broke into a run down the hall, just as he appeared in the doorway of the study. Without saying a word she threw herself into his arms and hugged him with all her might.
“You’re all right! You’re really all right!” She was crying openly as she held onto him.
“Alex, I was so worried about you. All the maid could tell me was that you’d gone on a search for a crown with some friends of Lawrence’s––a priest named Bradford and another man named McKittrick.” Tears were burning in his eyes as well.
“Oh, Papa,” she sobbed. “I thought you were going to die. I was so afraid I wouldn’t be able to save you!”
“I thought I was, too, sweet.”
“But how did you get out? What happened?” Alex was still crying, and she refused to let go of him. So fierce were her emotions, that she hung onto him for dear life, not wanting to be separated from him after all this time of worry and missing him and loving him.
She hadn’t thought he would be there. She’d thought they would have to go to England and use all of Winn’s influence to free him, and now her prayers had been answered.
“Come, come, child.” He patted her on the back in a paternal fashion as he suffered her over abundance of emotion. “Let’s go sit down. I think, from the looks of the both of us, that a small brandy might be in order.”
“Yes, Papa.” She sniffed. Then, remembering that she’d left Winn standing behind her, she quickly introduced him. “Papa, this is Winn Bradford.”
“It’s a pleasure.” Enoch went forward and offered him his hand.
“For me, too.”
“Are you related to the priest?”
Winn couldn’t keep from grinning. “You could say that.”
“How so?”
“Well, sir, I was the priest.”
“What?” Enoch’s surprise was evident in his sharp tone as he looked between the two of them.
“Papa, I can explain everything. Winn was, but he isn’t.”
“That certainly clarified things for me,” he said drolly, still looking skeptical.
Alex realized how silly her answer had sounded, and she laughed. Keeping her arm around him, she walked with him into the study, leaving Winn to follow. “It’s a long story, Papa, but I think you’re going to find it very interesting.”
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