To Catch a Wolf (30 page)

for her private pain.

Was this what humans called compassion? Had Athena taught him its meaning?

He wanted no part of it. He began to walk again, hardly knowing which direction he was

headed. Tamar was just like the others, aiming to bend him to her desires.

He found himself at the end of the hall, where it opened up into the great parlor. The

place echoed with emptiness, not quite as grand as the public rooms of Athena's

Denver home, but large enough to hold a pair of average cabins or an ordinary

farmhouse within its high walls. The wooden floor and rustic embellishments did little to

make it seem less palatial. Padded and polished furniture was grouped around

sumptuous woven carpets and a thick bearskin rug. The hearth was immense, its

perpetual blaze constantly fed with the trunks of small trees.

The parlor's door stood open to the entrance hall. Snow blew in from the outer doors.

Athena wheeled in, one of the ranch hands behind her with a pair of carpetbags.

Athena loosened the collar of her thick wool coat. "Please set the bags down anywhere,

Sterling," she said to the hand. "I would appreciate it if you will make sure that my driver

is given a meal and a bed for the night.”

"I'll do my best, Miss Athena," Sterling said, dropping the bags onto the floor, "but it's

mighty crowded here what with the circus folk and all. The foreman ain't none too happy

with the tight quarters at the bunkhouse and them trick horses in the barn, and I hear

Mr. Durant is thinking of quitting—begging your pardon, ma'am.”

To Catch a Wolf – 19th Century Werewolf 04

Page 230 of 410

Athena smiled, tugging at her gloves. "Poor Mr. Durant. For many years all he has done

is keep the house in readiness for guests that seldom arrive. I will be certain to tell him

and the foreman that they will be very well compensa—”

She saw Morgan and stopped. Morgan was vaguely aware that Sterling had vacated

the room, leaving them alone. Athena continued to stare, her lips slightly parted, and

Morgan felt as if he had been shot, skinned, and hung on the wall for a trophy.

He had told Caitlin that he could leave any time and never look back. He had lied. He

could not make himself move a single step away from the woman across the room.

"Morgan," she whispered.

Absence makes the heart grow fonder, the old saw proclaimed. Now Athena understood

exactly what it meant. One look at Morgan, standing so still by the hall, and she knew

her coming had been inevitable. One breath of the air he breathed, and she wondered

how her heart had continued to beat in the cold void of their separation.

A thrill of almost painful sensation shot up her legs from heel to hip. Morgan's eyes

burned, compelling her. Commanding.

Come. Come to me.

It was as if he had been calling every moment of the past five weeks, and only now did

she truly hear him. Her fingers clutched at the arms of her chair. The muscles in her

legs, so long dormant, began to quiver and twitch.

Come. He smiled, lifting the burden of her fear. He held out his hand.

Come.

To Catch a Wolf – 19th Century Werewolf 04

Page 231 of 410

Athena pressed all of her weight onto her arms and pushed up. Her feet touched the

floor. Her knees quivered, but only for a moment. Then they locked, steadying her, and

she rose. Slowly, carefully she stood up, the chair at her back, and swayed from the

dizzying height of her own five and a half feet.

She had no time to contemplate the miracle. Morgan summoned her, his eyes ever

more demanding, his fingers curled to beckon. She slid one foot along the smooth

wooden floor. The second followed the first.

One step taken. Another. A third. She dared to look up from the ground again. Morgan's

eyes flashed triumph and pride—for her. But he waited—waited until she had taken all

the steps between them and only one more led directly into his arms.

She made it. She reached up and wrapped her arms about his shoulders—not for

support, not out of need, but because she wanted him. With her own strength she drew

his face to hers. She opened her mouth and inhaled the warmth of his breath.

And she kissed him. She kissed him, free to make that choice as she was free to stand

and walk and feel again.

Morgan's mouth opened over hers, seizing what she offered. Some great mystery

waited to be revealed in his embrace, a tale only he could illustrate with his lips and his

tongue. She felt its erotic promise all the way down to her toes.

Let it not end too quickly. Let it never end

"Athena.”

Something was wrong with Morgan's voice. She opened her eyes, and the shock of

reality flung her back into her chair.

To Catch a Wolf – 19th Century Werewolf 04

Page 232 of 410

The chair she had never left. She was not on her feet, not in Morgan's arms. She

remained exactly where Sterling had left her, and Morgan still waited by the hall.

All a dream. All a cruel, treacherous fantasy concocted by her addled mind. She could

have wept, but many years of practice had taught her how to swallow the tears.

You forgot why you are here. You saw Morgan, and everything else disappeared, even

Caitlin. This is your rightful punishment for such base selfishness.

Punishment, and a stark reminder that Morgan was not what her childish dreams made

of him.

"Athena," he said. His eyes were not welcoming, but wary. "Are you ill?”

"No." She managed a smile. "I am quite well. How is Caitlin? I have come to make sure

she is recovering as she should.”

"You came here without your brother's permission?”

She couldn't tell if it was censure or admiration she heard in his voice. Hadn't he

encouraged her to defy her brother in the past? "Niall is away on business." She lifted

her chin. "Will you show me to Caitlin's room?”

He took half a step toward her, stopped, and made a strange, almost helpless gesture.

"Athena. You should not have—" He shook his head, grim about the mouth. "I will take

you to her.”

"Miss Athena!”

Harry swept out of the hall, barely pausing to step around Morgan, and greeted Athena

with a warm smile. "Welcome, welcome! Of course I have no right whatsoever to

To Catch a Wolf – 19th Century Werewolf 04

Page 233 of 410

welcome you to your own home, but we are all so glad you have come. Caitlin will be

pleased—”

"How is she?”

The sparkle in his eyes dimmed. "I have been worried about her, as you know, but—"

He cast a wary glance back at Morgan. "Now you are here, she will surely make

progress. Morgan, would you be so good as to take Miss Athena's bags to her room?

Mr. Durant was quite plain that he was saving your chamber for you, my dear, as well

as Mr. Munroe's, in case you should come—just as he ought, of course. Not that any of

us would dream of appropriating it!" He took the handles of Athena's chair. "I confess

that I feel some pity for Mr. Durant's situation. He was not at all prepared for us, even

with the addition of the extra staff your good brother hired. I understand that Mr. Durant

has been caretaker here for years

but even though most of the troupers are in the

bunkhouse, the poor fellow has clearly not had to deal with so many guests. In spite of

our efforts to help he seems

quite annoyed.”

Athena remembered Mr. Durant as a nervous, efficient, but generally kind older man

who had competently handled the large parties her father had given when she was a

child. Prominent men and women had come from Denver to talk business or simply

relax away from the city's summer heat, but that had been many years ago. Evidently

Mr. Durant was out of practice.

"Don't worry, Harry. I will speak to him myself this evening.”

"I am sure that he will be quite upset to have missed you—I believe he is consulting with

the foreman about a shortage of provisions." Harry pushed her chair away from the

door, and Athena was very much aware of Morgan gathering up the baggage and

trailing along behind.

To Catch a Wolf – 19th Century Werewolf 04

Page 234 of 410

"You did not bring your maid, my dear?" Harry went on. "I know there are several young

women here to clean and cook and whatnot. Perhaps one of them might attend you—”

"That will not be necessary," Athena said, wishing that she had eyes in the back of her

head. "I should be staying for just a few days, and I will need only occasional

assistance.”

"Quite so, quite so. Nevertheless, I will see if I can locate a girl for you so that you may

refresh yourself. Caitlin is sleeping at the moment, but when she wakes—" He paused

halfway across the room and gazed at the great oak staircase in dismay. "Oh dear. How

extraordinarily foolish of me. Your rooms are on the second floor, are they not?”

"I haven't been to Long Park many times in the past several years. Niall had meant to

have an elevator installed, but it seemed unnecessary

" And he always carried me.

But he isn't here. Mr. Durant isn't strong enough, and neither is Harry. That leaves—

"Morgan, if I may impose upon you once again," Harry said.

Athena held her breath. Morgan stalked up beside them, bent over Athena, and lifted

her into his arms. It was not the first time he had held her so, but since the kiss—since

her fantasy of walking—the act was charged with almost unbearable excitement.

And shame for her pitiful expectations.

Morgan mounted the stairs, unspeaking, while Harry puffed along at a much slower

pace. "To the right," she whispered when they reached the landing. Morgan carried her

to the room she indicated, balanced her weight on one arm, and used his free hand to

open the door.

The room's furnishings and decorations were the frothy, unsophisticated selections of a

young girl, unchanged since before the accident. Morgan hesitated when he saw the

white, lace-canopied bed, and then gently set her down upon it.

To Catch a Wolf – 19th Century Werewolf 04

Page 235 of 410

She stared up at him. He stared back. The room grew very warm despite the empty

fireplace. Huffing like a bellows, Harry appeared in the doorway.

"Morgan," he said between breaths. "The bags—”

Morgan backed away and fled the room. Athena pressed her hands to her face, wishing

for a handful of snow to cool her flush.

"There, there, my dear girl. What is the matter?”

She tried to gather herself into a more dignified position on the bed and smiled at Harry,

inviting him to sit in the delicate wicker chair at her dressing table. He closed the door,

gave the chair a dubious glance and sat down cautiously. The chair creaked, but held.

"I suppose I am tired, that is all," she said. "The driver I hired was quite competent, but

the wagon was not comfortable, I fear.”

"Your brother does not know you have come.”

"No. He's away, and I made the decision on my own." Best not to elaborate on that

point; sharing such worries with Harry did neither of them any good. And there was

something else that she could no longer keep to herself. "Harry

is Morgan

is he

upset that I have come?”

Harry leaned forward, eliciting a groan from the chair, and clasped his hands between

his knees. "My dear child," he said with uncharacteristic gravity, "How can you ask such

a question?”

"He

I

" She turned her face aside. "I have never spoken of this to anyone. It feels

very strange

wrong—”

To Catch a Wolf – 19th Century Werewolf 04

Page 236 of 410

"No, no. Never say so." Harry placed his hand over his heart. "I am honored beyond

words that you choose to speak to me as you would to your own father. You see, I have

regarded you as something of my daughter from the day we met. And Morgan is like the

son I never had.”

Casting discretion to the snow-laden wind, Athena met his gaze. "I loved my father very

much," she said. "I still miss him dreadfully. But if I could have a second one, I would

choose you.”

"Thank you, my dear. Thank you." He reached into his pocket for a handkerchief. "I

have seen much in my time. Very little surprises me. Nothing you may say will disturb

me, I assure you.”

Athena swallowed. "I hardly know how to begin. Ever since I met you

the circus

I

have felt as if you are a second family.”

"As we have felt of you.”

"And

and—" Oh, why did all eloquence desert her at times like this? Yet how often

had she spoken with real intimacy to anyone, discussed anything but charitable work,

social affairs, fashion, or household management? Among all the women she