“Father would have been so happy about that. He really loved it when people liked the things he made. He was always tinkering.”
“Everyone likes approval for their efforts.”
“My father was always careful to let people know it wasn’t his idea, that he had just made something he had seen elsewhere.”
Geordie followed her as she went back outside and started walking toward the trees on the land where Bennet dreamed of putting a fancy hotel. “What are ye doing now?”
“Time to check on the fruit trees.”
“Too early for there to be fruit.”
“I know, but one needs to keep a watch on them. They get attacked and chewed up by a lot of things.”
“True. Robbie often complains about things eating his apples.”
“Well, we have apple trees, pear trees, and peach trees, plus a lot of beach plum bushes. Also some quince bushes to the left. And wild blueberries in the woods there. A true buffet for the deer and other creatures. I throw netting over them and it may be getting near the time to do that. Have already got it over the grapevines on the back porch. I sell a lot of the fruit, and the things I can make with it, on market day, but when it is hot and I am climbing a ladder to drag a net over the top of one of the trees, I find myself doing the math to remind myself itisworth it.”
“Robbie finally put up a fence to protect his trees. Took several tries until he got it to the height where they couldnae just leap over it.” He grinned when she laughed softly.
“I doubt I will go that far, although we put up a fence of sorts between the orchard and the other trees so the deer could not sneak up from the far side where we would not spot them.
“Oh, hell,” she muttered and tied up her skirts again. “Can you give me a boost up?”
“Ye have to climb the tree?”
“I do. I hope I am wrong, but I think I see something that needs to be dealt with soon. I can go get the ladder. It is just tucked in the barn.”
Geordie shrugged, then lifted her up until she could grab a branch. She appeared completely unconcerned by the fact that she was showing her legs and giving him the opportunity to have a look up her skirts. He crossed his arms over his chest and watched her scramble up the tree with true skill. Even he could not climb a tree with such ease and grace. Then she studied a number of apples, putting several in her pocket, and he was pretty sure that muttering she was doing included a lot of swearing.
She started to climb back down and when she got within his reach he grabbed her by the waist and helped her the rest of the way down. Then she put her hands on his shoulders to steady herself, so he tugged her close against him and held her there. She tensed slightly and narrowed her eyes. He just grinned.
“You can let me go now.”
He smiled. She sounded so prim and proper, a bit like his brother’s wife, Emily, when she got cross with one of them, but actually a bit primmer. Belle sounded much like a queen ordering her subject, despite the fact that she had just been climbing a tree with her skirts hiked up to her knees. He was just going to have to show her he was neither a subject nor very obedient.
“Why? I think I deserve a reward. I did all the heavy lifting.”
“Heavy?”
He had never heard a woman growl like that, he thought, fighting not to laugh. She felt good in his arms, and fit perfectly. Leaning his face a little closer to hers, he brushed a kiss over her mouth. She did not jerk away and she tasted sweet. Her kiss also stirred his manly appetites in a way none had before. Then she sagged a little in his arms and he went down with her as he deepened the kiss.
Mehitabel held on tight as she savored his kiss. She had been kissed a couple of times and, ignoring the youthful ones that had been awkward and were never repeated, there had been one or two that were unwanted and forced on her until she struck back. Yet she had heard enough women rhapsodize over a man’s kiss that she had remained willing to try. This man made her understand why people kissed. She finally glimpsed why it could make a woman sigh.
The way he was stroking her as he kissed her only added to the strong mix of emotions she was experiencing. Her father had firmly believed that women should not be kept ignorant of things that concerned them, and freely told her whatever she wanted to know, as well as things he felt she really needed to know as she grew. Belle knew what her body was becoming interested in, but could not fully understand why she should feel that way. He was handsome and pleasant, but that alone did not seem like enough to stir anything wanton in her.
Yet she was feeling a bit wanton and increasingly so, she thought as she tightened her hold on him. For some reason this man was making her think of learning if what her father had told her was actually right. Then she decided that was a dangerous, perhaps even foolish thought, as he was her guest, a paying customer. The very last thing she needed was him talking and spreading the idea that she came with the rooms she let. He did not strike her as a man who boasted and bragged to any who would listen, but she did not need that trouble. Being a lone woman renting out rooms had always caused her enough trouble without her adding to it with her own thoughtless actions.
Then he moved his mouth down and kissed the side of her neck. She shivered and he kissed her again, even as he lay down and pulled her firmly into his arms. She felt good there, he thought, and held her a little tighter. He was just sliding his hand around to touch one of the full breasts pressed into his chest, tempting him, when a sound ripped through the air. It sounded like a scream caused by pain, a lot of pain.
He kept a hold on her as he listened for the sound to come again. Geordie had the odd feeling that he should recognize that voice, despite how the voice was changed and twisted in a scream of pain. Then he decided that no matter who it was, they should go have a look. Someone had been hurt. By the look on Belle’s face, she thought the same.
Chapter Nine
Belle pulled away and stood up to stare in the direction the sound had come from. Geordie sat up and looked as well. He was still wondering who or what could have made such a sound. It had definitely sounded like a scream of pain, but he could see no sign of a fight or anything else as he also stood up and looked around. Then he saw a small figure appear at the top of the steps leading down to the beach.
“Abel,” Belle gasped, then waved her arms. “Abel! Abel, what has happened?”
The boy stopped, then turned and began running toward her. Belle brushed off her skirts and began to run to meet him. Geordie did up his shirt, idly wondered just when it had become undone, and hurriedly walked over to the two of them.
