Chapter 28

Two days and nights passed since they returned home from the failed dinner party. Each night was spent like the night at the inn. Reese was beyond restless and she dozed in a chair beside the bed. Each morning he woke her with a hurt expression on his face. She tried to explain to him his behavior during the night, but he scoffed at what she told him.

It was the third night when true terror made itself known in Circe’s life. They settled into bed and for the first time since the dinner party, Reese seemed to be able to sleep calmly. Sometime around midnight she felt the bed shift as he stood up. She turned on her back to see him pull on his pants and boots.

“Reese, is something wrong?”

No answer. 

She tugged on his shirt she always began the night wearing, and crossed the room to him. “Reese, what is it?”

Nothing. 

A shiver ran through her as she noted his eyes were open, but it was as if he was looking through her at something only he could see. “Reese, talk to me, please.” She gripped his arm in an attempt to stop him.

He brushed her off and continued walking past her. “I’m coming, Dorothea,” he mumbled.

She froze at his words. Dorothea was calling for him as she had Samson. It was different because Samson had been aware of the pull, but she was luring Reese at his weakest time—at night. She watched him open the door and knew she had to do something.

“Bloody hell, I will not lose him to that evil bitch! Sean! Sean, help me!” she yelled as loud as she could. She dashed over to the chest and went through their clothes until she found what she was looking for. “Sean!” she yelled again as she spun towards the bed.

“What’s the matter?” Sean stumbled into the room, pants on and hair askew.

“Dorothea is summoning Reese. Bring him back in here.”

“You’re speakin’ nonsense.”

“What’s nonsense?” Ruth asked joining her husband.

“She said Dorothea’s summoning Reese.”

Ruth was suddenly wide awake and saw Circe frantically ripping fabric into strips and tying it to the bedposts. “Go, Sean. Do what you have to. Just bring him back.”

“Aye.” Sean said, trusting his wife. He turned and left the two women tying the cloth strips to the bed. He walked through the kitchen and out the door, looking for some sign of the man. Nothing. He made his way around the house and saw him walking down the drive. “Taggart! Stop!” The man kept walking as if he hadn’t heard him. Sean jogged after him, ignoring the pebbles he stepped on along the way. He caught up with him, grabbed his arm, and swung him around. “Taggart, come back to the house.”

Reese turned back around, ignoring him. “Dorothea,” he muttered.

“Oh, hell,” Sean said. Reese was a big man, but so was he. He just hoped he could do what was needed and get the man back to the house without killing one of them in the process. Sean jogged to catch up to him and managed to maneuver in front of him. “Taggart, ye need t’ go t’ yer wife, t’ Circe.”

“Circe?” Reese asked sounding confused.

“Aye. Circe, yer wife.” For a split second Sean thought his friend would be able to overcome one of Dorothea’s dark spells, but when Reese said, “Dorothea,” Sean knew he would have to take desperate measures. “I wish I didna’ have t’ do this t’ ya’ friend.” Sean hauled back and with all his strength behind him, landed an uppercut to his friend’s chin. Reese’s head snapped back, and he staggered backwards. Sean rushed up to him, dipped low, and pulled him over his shoulder before standing with the now inert man. He managed to make it back to the house and dump his friend on the bed.

“Thank you, Sean. I do not even care how you managed it, just thank you.”

“Aye,” he said, nodding his head and catching his breath.

The women worked together and made slip knots that would effectively tether Reese to the bed without hurting him. They tied both of his hands, then worked on removing his boots before working the loops over his feet to his ankles. Once all three were certain he was secured, they took a step back to study the man who was only now coming to after his run in with his friend’s fist.

“I think we will be all right now,” Circe said to their friends.

“Are ye certain? We can stay up with ye,” Ruth said

“No, you have done enough, both of you. Thank you. I do not know what I would have done if…”

“Dorothea,” the man muttered from the bed, his body breaking out in a fine sheen of sweat.

“I hate her,” Circe said, tears clogging her throat.

“She just wants ‘im because ye have ‘im.”

“She cannot have him. I will sooner see her dead than that.”

“Try t’ remember it’s not his fault, and it’s not really him talking. She’s manipulatin’ him. She’s in his mind.”

“I know.”

“If you need anything else, call out.”

“Thank you,” Circe said, never taking her eyes off her husband who was now pulling at his tethers. She vaguely heard the door close, but was too engrossed in studying Reese. She hated seeing him like this, but she refused to let that woman get him in her clutches. Circe’s eyes flicked over his body and saw his member pressing against the placket of his pants. She knew, from experience, that if she were to undo the buttons, it would be erect, but she would not do that because it was erect for the wrong reason.

She stumbled to the chair and dropped heavily onto it. She watched him with silent tears slipping down her cheeks as he fought to free himself and called out for a woman she despised. Circe curled up as best she could on the chair and sometime during the night, she fell into a haunted sleep.

*     *     *

Reese came slowly awake and the first thing he noticed was that his jaw ached as if someone had hit him. When he tried to rub it, he found his arms had very limited movement and his shoulders ached. He rotated his head and saw the strips of cloth tied to the columns of the bed and followed them to his wrists. The same was true for his ankles. Why was he tied to the bed? He turned his head and saw Circe curled up asleep in the chair.

“Circe,” he said trying to get her attention. When she didn’t move, he tried again, louder, “Circe!” He watched her head snap up, and she blinked owlishly as if trying to get her bearings.

“Reese?” she asked and winced as she unkinked her body.

“What’s going on? Why am I trussed up like this?”

“Oh, Reese,” she sobbed and threw herself across his chest.

“I would love to put my arms around you and hold you, but I’m a bit tied up,” he said sarcastically.

“I was so frightened,” she said as she stood up and struggled to loosen the cloth so he could slip his hands free. She did the same to his ankles then crawled back on the bed and plastered herself to him not giving him a chance to escape.

“Tell me what happened.”

She recounted everything she knew, unable to say how exactly Sean had overpowered him enough to get him back into the house. Once she had finished, they were both quiet.

“This is ridiculous,” Reese said.

“What?” Circe sat up and swiped at the tears that had escaped without her realizing it.

“No one can control another person like that.”

“You do not believe me,” Circe said, somewhat mystified.

“Imagine how it sounds, Circe. You’re telling me that somehow Dorothea is controlling me and trying to make me go to her to be her lover. It’s unbelievable. You’re just upset because of your confrontation with her.”

“I do not believe this. You really believe I am making this up?”

“She’s not.” Sean and Ruth stood in the doorway.

“He does not believe me.”

“Dorothea’s manipulatin’ ye in yer sleep,” Ruth said. “It’s when ye’re weakest.”

“You really believe this madness, O’Connor?”

“I didn’t at first, but then when I saw ye… Aye, I believe it.”

Reese took in the concern on all of their faces. “What do you propose we do? Tie me up every night?”

“For the time bein’,” O’Connor answered.

“Surely you jest.”

“It is for your own good, Reese,” Circe said.

“I can’t believe you’re all willing to be sucked into this superstitious nonsense, but,” he continued when he saw Circe start to argue, “if it will ease your minds, I will let you tie me up.”

“It does sound a bit silly, Reese, but if you had seen the way you acted last night, not responding to any of us, and calling her name…”

“Shhh.” He crossed to Circe and pulled her into his arms seeing that she was truly agitated.

“Reese, I, no, we have to get away from her.”

“I’ll look into obtaining us passage on a ship.”

“You will?”

“Yes.”

“Thank you,” she said, feeling like she could breathe for the first time in hours.

*     *     *

“Ye’re goin’ t’ be leavin’?” Ruth asked Circe when they were left alone.

“It appears so,” she replied, unable to meet her friend’s gaze. The men had gone into Bridgetown after Circe had pleaded with Reese to take Sean with him. “Why do you think Reese does not want to believe Dorothea was controlling him?”

“What man wants to believe he is being controlled by a woman in any manner?”

“I suppose.” They were quiet for a while before Circe spoke up. “Ruth, I have a question to ask you.”

Ruth looked up from what she was doing and waited patiently for Circe to speak.

“When Reese and I go back to England, we have discussed opening a school.”

“That’d be nice.”

“It would be for children that would not be welcome and accepted at other schools.”

“That’s noble of ye.”

Circe ignored that, because she did not feel like it was noble. She just felt like it was what needed to be done. She looked at Ruth and said, “We want your family to come with us.”

“What?” Ruth asked, her voice full of shock.

“We want you and Sean and the children to come with us to England.”

“And ye’ve talked t’ Reese ‘bout this?”

Silence.

“I didn’t think so.”

“But I want you to come with us. He will too. I know he will.”

“That might be true, but I don’t know that we belong in England.”

“Do you belong here?” Circe countered. She felt guilty when she saw the look of hurt on Ruth’s face. “I am sorry, Ruth, I did not mean it.”

“Ye might not’ve, but it’s true. We lived in hidin’ for years. As long as she’s here, no, we don’t belong here.”

“I am going to talk to Reese about it, but please, promise me you will talk to Sean about it as well.”

“I will, but I’m not makin’ any promises.”

*     *     *

The men arrived back home shortly after midday. Circe walked to the stables and met them. She sent Sean on to the house and helped Reese take care of the horses.

“Were you able to book passage?”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“No one is leaving. Some old sea captain has body aches and everyone is certain there is a big storm coming this way. The whole damn town is shutting down for the foreseeable future. Bloody hell, I hate this bloody place and the people and their bloody superstitions and predictions,” Reese growled, as he threw the horse’s bridle across the stable. It hit the wall and landed impotently on the floor. The horse Circe was brushing skittered nervously, and she stepped backwards to avoid him stepping on her foot. In the process, she tripped over a bucket and fell in a heap, hitting her temple on a shelf as she went down. She lay prone on the ground blinking her eyes to ease her blurry vision.

“Circe! Bloody hell, Circe, are you all right? I didn’t mean to hurt you,” he said.

“Help me up.”

“Here,” he said and took her hands in his. He pulled her up and helped her sit on a nearby milking stool. “Stay there.”

“I am not going anywhere,” she muttered as she leaned against the wall. She hoped that by resting her head on something stable the sudden spinning that had started would cease. Circe opened her eyes and tried to focus on something across from her, but the spinning only worsened. She found it was not any better when she closed her eyes. The sound of boots came to her, and she knew Reese had returned from tending to the horses.

“How do you feel?” he asked softly, concern laced his voice.

“Been better,” she answered honestly

“I’m truly sorry. I didn’t mean for you to suffer the consequences of my bad temper.”

“I know. ’Twas an accident,” she muttered. Her stomach began to churn in time with her spinning head and that did not bode well for either of them. “Stand back,” she muttered between clenched teeth.

“What is it?” he asked as he did as she requested, but unfortunately for him, it wasn’t far enough back. 

Much like on the ship, whatever had been residing in her stomach now resided on his boots. Mortified, upset, and ill, she watched him walk to the doorway and leave her. He was probably disgusted with her. She managed to sneak a peak at her ring before she closed her eyes. Circe jumped when she felt something cool and wet pressed to her face.

“Shh, it’s just me.”

“You must hate me,” she managed to say as he continued to wipe her face.

“Because you were ill? Never. I’m mad at myself for losing my temper and causing your accident.” He continued to minister to her until she was once more clean. “How is your head now?”

“It throbs, and I am so sleepy.”

“Talk to me, and fight through the sleep. Remember? Like you made me do on the ship.”

“I’ll try,” she slurred the words together. “I want to ask you something.”

“Yes?”

“Cannot remember.” She let out a sigh and closed her eyes.

“Wake up, Circe.” The response he got was a snuffling sound. He lifted her into his arms and carried her out of the barn as the first fat raindrops made themselves known. He paused in the yard and looked upwards to see clouds churning above them. It had been overcast most of the day, as it had been more often than not lately, but the clouds would always burn off in the afternoon. These looked as if they would be around to stay for a while. He did his best to ignore the drops and entered the house.

“What happened?” Ruth demanded as she scurried to the couple.

“Because of my bad temper, she had an accident.”

“You didn’t hit her, did you?”

“No, but I might as well have.” He quickly explained what happened.

“Put her to bed and try to wake her up. I’ll be in shortly.”

Reese did as instructed, ridding her of her clothes and putting his shirt she wore as a nightgown on her. He tapped her face gently and gave a sigh of relief when her eyes fluttered open.

“Bright,” she groaned.

Reese quickly walked over and looked at the darkening sky. He pulled the shutters closed on the windows, throwing the room into shadows. He approached the bed and sat beside her. “How’s that?”

“Better. Sean and Ruth should come with us to England,” she murmured, grasping at the question she had wanted to ask before sleep beckoned her once more.

“We’re not going anywhere any time soon, remember?”

“Eventually, we will.”

Ruth entered the bedroom carrying the baby with Tally trailing behind her. “We’ll watch over her while you go work.”

Reese looked at Circe. “Take care of her,” he said, reluctant to leave her.

“We will.”

He dropped a kiss on Circe’s forehead and reluctantly left the room.

*     *     *

Reese and Sean dragged in later than usual, soaking wet and filthy. When they had shared the story of the old sea captain’s prediction with the others, they had all thought it best to be prepared. The rainstorm seemed to increase the urgency. That meant instead of working in the fields when they came back from Bridgetown, they had prepared the plantation for a strong storm. Men had taken care of all the outside shutters on the large house. The animals had been moved to the protection of the barn. They got all they could done by the time the sun went down. They would have to continue working tomorrow, if circumstances allowed it.

Reese was going to check on Circe and halted in the kitchen when he saw her sitting at the table. He approached her and sat down next to her.

“How do you feel?” he asked hesitantly.

“I have a headache is all.”

He grabbed her chin and gently turned her head. There was a lump on her temple that had turned a purplish gray and there was a small gash in the center of it. “I never meant for you to get hurt.”

“I know,” she said and palmed his bristle covered cheek. “I have already eaten. Would you like me to take your plate to our bedroom?”

“That would be nice,” he agreed. Reese thanked Ruth for watching over Circe and then they bade everyone goodnight and retired to their room. Upon entering, Reese shut the door and locked it. “Are you certain you’re feeling better?”

“Yes,” she nodded slowly.

“Circe, I’m so sorry. I was frustrated and I didn’t mean for you to become injured in the process.”

“I know. What did you do this afternoon?”

“Prepared for a storm of gigantic proportions that isn’t going to materialize.”

She looked at him with a cocked brow when a tremendously loud boom of thunder rattled the house.

“It’s just a storm. It will pass by morning.”

Circe wisely kept quiet about that topic. “I prepared you a hip bath,” she said as she sat the food tray on the bed.

“You should have been resting.”

“I did and then after I felt better I got up and helped Ruth.” She continued when she saw him start to say something. “Ruth did not allow me to overwork myself, but we did preparations in the house for the storm. We prepared several rooms that we could seek refuge in if it comes to that. Now, let me help you get cleaned up.”

Reese stripped out of his clothes and stepped into the large barrel. 

“Dunk your head before you get settled.”

He did so then sat in the large half barrel. Circe grabbed the cake of soap and lathered her hands. She placed the soap back on its holder and cupped Reese’s head and worked the lather into his hair. She used her fingers and massaged his scalp.

“How does that feel?”

“Amazing.”

This was going to be for and about Reese and no one else. She massaged his neck and his broad shoulders. Circe took the large cake of soap and lathered a piece of cloth. Sitting the soap aside, she ran the cloth up and down his back, his arms, and his stomach. She continued to lather his legs and massage the tight muscles. As her hands continued upward, his body stiffened and he gulped in a breath of air.

“Does that feel good?” she asked.

“Don’t start something you aren’t ready to finish.”

“Who says I am not ready to finish this?” she asked in a sultry voice. Her hand slipped upwards and caressed his manhood.

“You’re playing with fire, and you’re injured.”

“I hope so, and I am not that injured.” She watched Reese stand and the water sluice off his chiseled body. She sat back and gazed unashamedly at her husband, proud that she had created this reaction in him and that it was only for her. Circe studied his lean flanks and the way his muscles bunched and stretched as he bent over, picked up the bucket of clean water, and upended it over his head, letting the water wash the suds away.

“I’d suggest you move that tray of food.”

“Oh, yes.” Circe jumped up a little too quickly and wilted back to the floor.

“Circe—”

“I am all right,” she interrupted.

“Of course you are,” he soothed.

“I am,” she argued.

“Humor me, please.” He had stepped out of the barrel and wrapped a bath sheet around his waist. He moved the tray, and then retuned to Circe and helped her stand and walk to the bed. 

“I can undress myself,” she muttered petulantly as he removed her dress and placed his shirt on her.

“I know.”

“I had a more romantic idea in mind.”

“I know you did, sweetheart. Now climb under the covers and rest. I’m going to eat and then I will join you.”

“Reese, have you been thinking about the school?”

“I have.”

“And?”

“I think it has merit.”

“You are not just saying that to appease me?”

“Definitely not.”

“I have been thinking that the country would be a wonderful place to have the school,” she said sleepily.

“I agree.”

“Reese?”

“What is it, sweetheart?”

“I love you.”

“I love you, too.” He sat in the chair, eating and watching her sleep when the strange sensations started making themselves known. He stood and walked around the room trying to expel the odd energy coursing through his body. His body felt as though it was no longer his to control. Reese looked downward and saw that his member tented the towel wrapped around his lean hips.

He walked to the window and peeked between the slats in the shutters. Lightening lit the skies, and he could see the clouds churning like bubbles out of a caldron. The wind was beginning to pick up as well. Had that crusty old sea captain been correct in his prediction?

You’re mine, he heard a silky voice whisper in his mind. Come to me.

Reese started across the room to the door when he passed by Circe and saw her peaceful, sleeping figure. Then his eyes moved to the pieces of cloth still tied to the columns on the bed.

Dorothea’s manipulatin’ ye in yer sleep, Ruth had said earlier. But he wasn’t asleep, and he could hear Dorothea’s words echoing in his mind and feel her pull on his body. The pull he had scoffed at and thought his friends and wife were crazy for believing to be true. Sweat broke out over his body. He knew that he had to climb up on that bed and slip his wrists and ankles in those loops.

I want you and you want me, Dorothea whispered in his mind.

“No,” he groaned. Reese fought his way to the bed. He felt like he was fighting against something that was pulling him backwards. “Circe,” he groaned as he finally made it to the bed. He reached out and grabbed for her hand. “Circe,” he repeated, gripping her hand tighter. He breathed deeply of her familiar scent, hoping to hold onto his sanity.

“Reese?” she squinted her eyes at him.

“Help me.”

“What is it?”

“She wants me.” He saw that Circe quickly understood.

“Come up here,” she said and helped him. She slipped the loops over his hands to his wrists and tightened them. Circe then did the same thing with his ankles.

“I’m sorry,” Reese managed to grit out.

“Why?”

“For doubting you. For thinking that a human could not control another human.”

“I forgive you and I must admit it does sound strange. Try to sleep. It is easier on you when you sleep and do not realize what is happening.”

“How can I sleep? Bloody hell, get out of my head!” he ordered to the faceless voice.

“What can I do to help you?” Circe asked.

“Stay with me.”

“I will.”

Circe waited until Reese fell asleep before leaving the bed. She took a moment to make certain she was steady on her feet. Satisfied, she quickly bound her breasts. She slipped into the breeches and shirt she wore to be married in and pulled on her boots. She found a gun and made certain it was loaded. One way or another, she was going to put an end to Dorothea’s manipulations. Tonight.