Faith didn’t want to give away what she knew. Seth and Nancy had told her over and over that the investigation was secret, so she played dumb. “What are you talking about? How has Seth caused you grief?” She hoped her look of confusion convinced him.
Lakewood frowned. “He didn’t tell you? I suppose that’s understandable. What is important is that you know I will stop at nothing to rid myself of trouble and those who delay what I want to accomplish. Including you.” He finished his tea and set the cup and saucer back on the serving cart. “I am giving you a few days to think this over and accustom yourself to the idea. My wife and children are leaving for California the day after tomorrow. It will free me up to spend a great deal of time with you—initiating you, so to speak, in being my mistress and helping me with my affairs.” He grinned. “I have a lovely place where I intend to put you up. I will lavish you with every comfort. I think you’ll be quite pleased.”
“I won’t be, and I won’t do it.”
“Now, my dear, you really must think this through.” His eyes narrowed. “I wasn’t making an idle threat in regard to Mrs. Carpenter. Perhaps you would feel more inclined to say yes if I told you that I have a man watching your young brother.”
She jumped to her feet. “Leave my family alone. You have no right!”
“I have whatever right I decide to have,” he replied. “I simply take what I want when I want it. And, my dear, I have decided that I want you. In fact, I feel rather daring, what with you being Indian and all. Perhaps you’ll convince me of a reason that Indians should be allowed to live.” He laughed, leaving Faith quite ill.
What in the world was she supposed to do about this? How could she fight such evil?
CHAPTER22
It was easy for Samuel Lakewood to see that he had the upper hand where Faith Kenner was concerned. Her weakness in the situation made him feel strong, and that power was absolutely intoxicating. He wanted her, that was true enough, but it was so much more. It was the power that came from her knowing that she had no choice but to do whatever he wanted. It was all about supremacy.
“So you see, my dear, this is how it will be.” He eased back in his chair. “We have a war to plan.”
“A war?”
She was clearly clueless. He smiled. “Yes. What your Mr. Carpenter has kept from you all this time is that he’s helping the government interfere in some very important plans of mine. Plans that surprisingly include your aunt and uncle.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Your uncle, Adam Browning, knows how important it is to cooperate. We approached him, hoping for his assistance. At first he wasn’t keen on the idea, but we were able to convince him. After all, he has a wife and children to think about.”
“I don’t believe you.”
Lakewood chuckled. “I can be very persuasive, as can my friends. You see, I belong to an association that desires to see the Indian eliminated from Oregon.”
Faith watched him with those icy blue eyes he found so intriguing. She had a captured-prey expression that made him feel all the more empowered, yet at the same time her gaze held raging hatred. It stimulated his thoughts.
“As you’ve pointed out, Uncle Adam is part Cherokee,” Faith said. “Why would he help you do anything against the Indians?”
“Well, at first he refused to help me. Not only that, but he reported my offer to the Indian Affairs Regulator, Mr. Singleton. But, as you might understand, I’m not easily dissuaded, and I know that the nature of most men is to desire power and money for themselves. It wasn’t that difficult to convince him.”
“I don’t believe you. My aunt and uncle would never do anything to cause the Indian tribes harm.”
Lakewood seethed, but he remained composed. “Your family has caused me plenty of trouble, and that has given me a powerful grudge against them all. Add to this the trouble Mr. Carpenter has caused and ... well, let’s say that you owe me, Miss Kenner.”
“I owe you nothing. You’ve nearly killed Seth, and you’ve seen to it that I cannot graduate. If anyone owes anyone anything—you owe me and my family.”
He laughed. He had to admire her spirit. After all, it was that spirit that made her so deliciously appealing to him.
“Faith, the sooner you realize your situation, the better. We can accomplish a great deal together. I believe that with your help, I can get what I need from your aunt and uncle.”
“You don’t know them at all if you think that. They are both passionate about their work. I was hoping to join them as afully certified medical doctor. Now, I’ll simply go as an educated healer. I don’t need your piece of paper to help others. It would have been nice, but it’s certainly not necessary. I was acting as a doctor to people long before I attended school, and I’ll go on doing the same.”
“Hardly. I won’t have my mistress involved in such matters.”
“And I won’t be your mistress.” She got to her feet, and Lakewood felt her slipping away.
“Then you will be responsible for a great many deaths. I’ll start with Mr. Carpenter, and just as his wife’s grief makes her life unbearable, I’ll see to her infant’s death ... and then hers, but not until the pain is so great that she’s ready to end her own life. Perhaps I’ll even allow her to do so. Next I’ll start on your family in Oregon City.”
“Stop!” Faith pointed her finger at him. “I will kill you myself before I’d allow that to happen. You may think you have me backed into a corner, but I am not easily commanded. And as you would say, I’m part ‘savage.’”
She seemed strangely at ease, and for a moment a ripple of fear coursed through Lakewood. She stormed for the door.
