Shay looked past her to the house. “Why has Claibourne come?”
“I know not. He and Xander are confined in the study.”
“’Tis not a good sign.” He grimaced and tossed aside a worm-ridden apple. “He’s in league with Laurent, no doubt.”
Kentke squirmed in Selah’s embrace, hastening her to the house. “Pray,” she said over her shoulder. “And be on your guard.”
“I am here as Helion Laurent’s second, to challenge you to a duel.”
“A duel.” Xander faced Claibourne across a desk littered with work left undone. “While my fields lie in ashes and I’ve just reclaimed a peace child.”
“Indeed, a duel is required.” Claibourne’s eyes narrowed to slits in his pockmarked face. “For impinging on Laurent’s honor.”
“Honor?” Xander did not hide his disgust. “He has none to defend.”
Flushing, Claibourne rapped his coiled riding whip againstthe side of the desk. “How dare you, Renick. Your words bear the craven mark of a coward.”
Xander crossed his arms. “Let us return to the matter at hand. Why a duel?”
“For trespassing on Laurent land. For spreading malicious accusations that a gentleman of his merit would stoop so low and set fire to your acreage—”
“I spread no accusations. The truth has an uncanny way of surfacing. As for trespassing, did Laurent not do the same when he showed himself last night at my very door?”
“He simply wanted to reclaim his wayward African and challenge you himself. Denied that, he sent me instead to secure a date and time. Not pistols but swords.”
“Your arrogance knows no bounds.” Xander moved to the study door and opened it wide, when what he wanted to do was grab Claibourne by the throat and let him fly. “Get off my land lest I fight you after I finish him.”
With an epithet beneath his breath, Claibourne went out and slammed the front door after him.
Watseka’s face brightened when Selah appeared with her pup.
“Kentke has missed you. See how he wriggles at the sight of you?”
The pup gave a little bark, which led to Watseka’s first smile since her return. She stretched out her arms. “Kentke. He grows big.”
Risking Widow Brodie’s ire, Selah turned the pup loose atop the clean coverlet. “I’ll return in a few moments and see what merriment you two have been making.”
She sailed back down the staircase and into Xander’s study. He stood at the window, arms crossed, as the hoofbeats of their visitor grew fainter. Though she’d heard not a word of their exchange, ill will suffused the room and made her choose her words with care.
“Claibourne is an unwelcome caller.”
Xander turned toward her. “He comes to issue a challenge as Laurent’s second. A duel.”
She put a hand to her throat. “You have more reason to call him out than he you.”
“Aye. Pride blinds them both. I expected the challenge, but I will not bow to it.”
A sigh of relief escaped her. “His sword is formidable, some say, but no match for yours. If you did fight and best him, he’d surely go to his eternal punishment. At least alive he stands some chance at redemption.”
“Well spoken by a wise wife whom I have no wish to worry.” He came and rested his hands upon her shoulders, his gaze tender. “How is our charge?”
“Playing with her pup.” She smiled past her weariness. “I’m going to fetch something more from the kitchen and coax her to eat.”
“The physic should be here shortly, though we might have no need of him, God be thanked.”
“She’s more herself by the hour, truly. I pray she has no more bad dreams.” Last night had been fraught with them, Watseka’s restless tossing and cries only soothed by Selah’s whispered words and soft embraces.
“You need to sleep.” He touched her cheek. “My aunt will watch over her tonight.”
