Jodi Thomas - Northern Star

"No, I don't have time to explain, but I need to be in Raleigh for the election. I thought you might like to ride back to Three Oaks with your brother." Hunter stopped, as if in thought, leaving Perry to wonder if he was trying to say good-bye. "I would like to call for you in three days. We have much to talk about."

"If you like, I'll stay here and run the house. There is much to do. I need to talk with you about what you would like done."

"No," Hunter answered sharply, "I don't want you here alone. If Wade returns, this will be the first place he will come. I'd feel much better if you were at Three Oaks with Andrew.''

Perry slipped into her dress. "I'd better pack," she said, more to herself than Hunter.

"No." Hunter's order surprised her. His next words told her a great deal about the way he felt. "You have everything you need at Three Oaks. Leave your things here. I want to know part of you stays."

"All right," she answered, knowing she was getting into his blood.

"I'll tell Andrew you hadn't enough time to pack," Hunter reasoned. "I've already asked Hank to saddle a horse so you can ride back with your brother after breakfast."

Perry slipped her knife into her pocket in an action that had become habit.

"You'll need to carry your gun also, until we are together again," Hunter added.

Perry's headjerked up to study Hunter's back. "How…?" she whispered, then realized he was watching her in the mirror on the wall in front of him.

She stormed toward him. "Hunter Kirkland, you were watching me all the time." She raised her fist to strike him.

He easily dodged her swing. "Sorry, madam, but I kept my word. My back was to you."

"Hunter!" she squealed as she raised her fist to his chin.

"Take your best blow, lady, for I assure you the pain will be little to endure for the pleasure I've received." He laughed as she fumed.

"Or if you think me unfair, I'll let you watch me change clothes, and then we'll be even."

She burst into laughter at his plan of repayment for the crime.

He pulled her into his arms and lifted her off the floor. "Will I ever get enough of you?" he whispered into her hair. "Is there enough time in eternity for me to grow tired of the look of you?''

His lips found hers, and for several minutes there was no world outside his arms.

An hour later Hunter gently lifted Perry onto her horse. Andrew watched the way his eyes held hers. His hand covered hers as he spoke to Andrew. "Take very good care of my angel, Andrew."

Andrew thought the way they acted was improper, but he knew he would never again comment on their behavior. He felt sorry for any man who dared.

As the three old oaks came into view Perry felt a sadness engulf her. The memories of Noma's betrayal and Wade's beating suddenly and painfully returned. The place looked much the same as it had months ago when she'd first ar-ived. When her horse stopped beside Andrew's mount, she stared at the long French windows through which she'd made her escape, and all the pain of that night came back to her…

Andrew helped her from her horse, unaware of her hesitation. "I haven't properly welcomed you back to the living." He hugged her tightly. "When I rode to Ravenwood and found only ashes, I was disheartened. When I reached here and was told you had drowned, I thought life and this war had finally broken me. My only hope lay in the fact that they never found your body, and I remembered how strong a swimmer you were."

Sarah and James came out of the house shouting like sinners on the last night of a revival. When Sarah calmed down enough to speak, she mumbled between sobs, "We kept your room just as it was. Noma made us. Said there was so much sorrow in that room, nobody was ever goin' in there again."

"You've seen Noma?"

Andrew nodded. "She came by a few weeks ago. She works near town for a Union officer named Williams." His tone lowered as Wade's name flavored his voice with disgust. "Seems he was real nice to Noma after you 'died,' and Noma went to work for him. I invited her to come back here, but she said she couldn't stay at the place with you gone. I'll ride over and tell her you're back."

"No," Perry answered, wishing she had time to tell Andrew all that had happened. "Wait a few days." The last thing she wanted was Wade's entire household knowing where she was. There would be time enough to tell Noma after Hunter returned from Raleigh.

Andrew watched her, reading her sadness. "Come on inside. You must be tired. We can talk at dinner."

She was thankful he allowed her the afternoon alone. When she joined him in the newly decorated dining room, Perry felt she was finally ready to face his questions.

But to her surprise they didn't dine alone. An attractive widow, Victoria, whose husband had been Andrew's friend during the war, joined them. She was warm, and her voice was soft and friendly. She'd been helping Andrew redecorate the house and mend the wounds of war. As they talked, Perry watched her eyes and knew she would someday erase Andrew's scars of war with strokes of love.

When they moved from the dining room to the newly painted study, the thunder of horses silenced all conversation. Andrew patted Victoria's arm and excused himself. Perry moved to build a fire to warm the study. Her brother often had late visitors before the war. It usually meant someone was hurt and in need of a doctor. With the cold night his visitors would welcome a fire.

Just as Hunter lifted his hand to knock, Andrew opened the door. "Andrew"-Hunter's voice blew into the hall, along with the cold night air-"I know it's late, but I must see Perry."

Andrew stepped aside and held the door wide. He could see just beyond the porch that a huge black man waited holding the reins of their horses. Andrew indicated the study door. It never occurred to him to deny Hunter's request. In truth, Andrew knew Hunter was stating his plans and not asking permission. Despite Hunter's temper, Andrew liked him and had decided, after a day's thought, that the Yankee was probably an equal match for his headstrong sister.

Hunter stormed into the study and stopped in mid-stride as he watched the vision before him. Perry was kneeling beside the fireplace trying to add more logs. Her dress was a dark wine red, which made her skin seem even more lovely. Her hair streamed down her back in long waves the color of midnight. He wondered, as he moved closer, how she could grow more beautiful each time he saw her.

He was almost across the room before she looked up. "Angel," he whispered as he pulled her into his arms. His lips met hers as his name formed on her mouth. He held her close to his body, as if they had been separated for a long time. Her softness molded into his hard frame as his mouth whispered of his need. His hands moved over the velvet of her dress in hungry urgency.

After some time she pulled away slightly. "What are you doing here so late?"

"Trying to make love to you," Hunter answered as his hands roamed her back in caressing strokes.

"No." Perry laughed. "What has brought you?"

He released her long enough to throw his hat and heavy coat aside. "When I see you, I forget all else but my need to hold you." He reached for her, but she darted from his touch.

"Hunter, this is my brother's house."

He moved toward her slowly. "I'm aware of that fact. Why else would I be restraining myself?" A devilish twinkle danced in his gray eyes.

"You're a lost cause." Perry moved away, loving the way he followed.

"Agreed, lady, completely lost," he whispered before sobering to his duty. "I came to warn you of something. Abram arrived this afternoon and reported Wade may have reached North Carolina ahead of him. He said several people along the road reported having seen a man of Wade's description, traveling fast."

"Wade's here?" she whispered as she unconsciously slipped her hand into her pocket and encircled her knife.

"I've spent the past few hours looking for him but with no luck." Hunter walked to the window, as if searching the darkness. "He has a house between here and town, but he isn't there."

Hunter turned suddenly to face Perry. His voice was cold with determination. "I must go to Raleigh tonight. It's very important. I've come to tell you to stay inside and be careful. Go nowhere until I return."

"Ordering me?" she asked, placing her fists on her hips as she faced him. When would he learn to stop treating her like a child or a servant?

"Yes, damn it, I'm ordering you!" he shouted, suddenly tired and torn between staying with her and doing what must be done.

"Well, I'm through with running away from Wade. Let him find me. I'll shoot him for the dog he is!" Finally all the fear within her changed to anger. "I can't spend the rest of my life running from him."

Hunter raised his finger. "You will stay safe. I'll not have you confronting Wade alone." His anger set fire to his stormy eyes. He'd seen men freeze at his wrath, yet this little lady stood her ground.

She lifted her chin. "And who are you to tell me what to do? No one owns me, and I'll do as I please."

Hunter moved toward her, his frustration showing in the muscles along his jaw. The door to the study opened before he reached Perry.

"Oh," Victoria said, ignorant of the drama she had walked in on. "I'm sorry. I didn't know anyone was in this room."

Perry introduced Victoria, loving the way Hunter fought to control his anger as he addressed the lady. "I hope you'll excuse us, Victoria," Perry urged. "We were in the middle of an argument."

Andrew stepped into the room just behind Victoria. He watched his sister and the Yankee closely as the widow politely said, "Oh, we can't have you two arguing. I'll bring tea and we'll talk over any problem."

Andrew almost burst out laughing. Gentle Victoria, who'd been sheltered from the war, would be unprepared for these two.

Hunter bowed politely. "I thank you, but I can fight with Perry quite successfully without refreshment. If you and Andrew will excuse us, I have a few things to say to her, and I feel they must be said without an audience."

Victoria looked at Andrew for direction.

"Does my sister wish us to leave?" He watched Perry.

"I'll be quite safe." Perry smiled at Andrew, wondering what he would have done if she'd demanded he stay.

Andrew nodded and took Victoria's arm. He closed the door behind them without another word.

"Safe?" Hunter raised one sandy eyebrow as he moved toward her.

"I'm not afraid of you or anyone else." She stood her ground by the fireplace. He seemed so tall in his black riding boots and dark gray slacks.

He put his hands around her waist, encircling her as he lifted her off her feet and stood her upon the brick hearth. Now her face was equal to his as he studied her in the firelight.

"Perry.' His voice was low, without anger. "I must go to Raleigh tonight. I would feel much better if I thought you safe. This morning you asked me if I cared for you." He was only an inch from her nose. "I care for you very deeply." His words came slowly, as though being pried from him.

Perry laid her arms lightly on his shoulders. "And you think your caring gives you permission to order me around?"

She loved his words, but she had to be honest. "I'll not be ordered or bullied by any man. Not even you. You can't take what must be given." He would accept her as an equal or not at all. She would not be one of those women who lived in fear of a man's orders.

He ran his fingers through his hair. He had to convince her of the danger she was in, but he found it hard to reason with her hands gently moving across his neck. Finally he shoved his fists into his pockets and looked deep into her eyes. He saw the warmth and fire of a woman he would hunger for all his life. "Come here," he whispered as she stood only an inch away.

Perry closed the space between them and lightly kissed him. "I'll not be ordered."

He closed his eyes in agony as she slowly moved her lips over his face. She ran her fingers through his windblown hair, yet he made no move to withdraw his hands from his pockets. He was waiting for her to agree to his request. It was unthinkable that she might try to face Wade alone.

"You'll stay in the house until I return?" he asked, not moving as she slid her hands along his shirt.

"And if I say no, what will you do?" she whispered as she kissed his ear.

"Will you take care?" His body stood in agony as she moved beside him, pushing her breasts lightly into his chest as she kissed his cheek. The vision of her dressing only hours ago floated over his mind like a fog.