Chapter Fifteen

Tyler didn’t mind the short walk back to Glen Knolls after the Davis family dropped him off at the Red Pony Tavern. It gave him time to think about Cory. He’d been outraged when Douglas had shown up uninvited and talked about marrying a woman who could advance his career. Cory was an asset to any man, but her talents and charm would be wasted on an insolent man like Douglas. Tyler had flirted with Beth all night to anger Cory. By her stormy expression when he left with Beth, he had hit a mark. Yet, it provided no satisfaction.

Why were relationships so complicated? Even his relationship with Noah was far from simple. If only he could find him and talk to him. He knew Adelaide had seen him, maybe knew where he was hiding, but the old woman didn’t trust him.

He couldn’t blame her, especially if Cory had shared any of the information he had confided in her. But Cory had whitewashed his past during supper and instinctively, he knew his secrets were safe with her. As long as he hadn’t made her too mad.

He walked around to the back of the house and glanced at Cory’s window. Was she looking out the open window? He wouldn’t mind seeing her in her nightie one more time. One more time? He’d never grow tired of looking at her in her nightie or anything else.

He could barely keep his eyes off her all evening, and she’d been dressed in a prim and proper gown. He had to exercise every ounce of self-control with her sitting so close to him at the table. When she had innocently placed her hand on his thigh, he thought she was going to discover how much his self-control could be taxed. He’d nearly dragged her onto his lap and made her dessert.

Why did men like Douglas always win the girl? Couldn’t Cory see he was all wrong for her? She’d be bored, even on their wedding night. It made his blood boil to think of someone else touching Cory.

But he had no right to claim her. His father had abandoned his family, his mother had turned to a profession no decent woman practiced, and he had no lucrative prospects for employment.

Cory was only being polite in her tolerance of his presence. She would give a cry of relief when he finally left. But before he left, he wanted to do something noble, something to win her respect. Winning her love was out of the question after revealing so much, but he wanted her to know he was above his base breeding. He wanted her to know that deep down he was a decent man.

He was ready to open the back door when he heard the barn door slide open to the threshing floor. He turned. Was it Cory? His heart quickened at the thought of a repeat of their actions last night. He hurried to the barn. “Cory?”

“I hate to disappoint you,” a deep masculine voice replied. A black man the same height and build stepped out of the shadows into the moonlight shining through the open door.

“Noah!”

“I heard you were looking for me.” Noah stepped forward and embraced Tyler in a bone cracking bear hug.

“Easy.” Tyler gripped his side. “I was shot.”

“Chasers?”

“Courtney Beecher.”

“Serves you right after what you did in the barn last night.”

“How much did you see?”

“You’re lucky the barn didn’t catch fire.” He grinned. “I didn’t want to interrupt. I left the toy I made for Adam in the stall so you’d know I was here.”

Tyler reached into his pocket and handed him the small metal horse. “I wasn’t sure if you were still around.”

“I hadn’t planned on staying this long.” Noah examined the miniature before putting it in his pocket.

“You don’t know where Tess and Adam are?”

“I know she was in Akron the day I was arrested. I convinced one of the conductors who visited me in jail to confide about where she was heading. That’s why I left the flier with Glen knows the way on it with Mr. Morris. I figured you would find us or know we had headed for Canada. Only she never arrived here.”

“I came here to help, but Adelaide refuses to tell me anything.”

“She’s bull-headed about not betraying her guests. She came out to the woods where I hide and asked about you. I convinced her you were trying to help.”

“I may have caused more trouble by coming.” Tyler paced along the floorboards of the barn. “Edward knows I’m here. He came snooping around earlier today with the Cassell brothers.”

“You let him follow you?”

Tyler cringed. “I’m new at this Underground Railroad secrecy, and I had to ask a lot of questions.”

Noah looked out the door. “I have to find Tess and Adam before Edward does.”

“We have to find them.”

Noah shook his head. “You should go back home.”

“I sold the Dunking Witch. I knew you could never go back to Virginia, and I had no reason to stay. Your money is safe in an Akron bank.”

“Half is yours.”

“I don’t have your responsibilities.”

“I won’t have those if Edward takes Tess and the baby back to Virginia.” He swiped at tears on his cheek. “I can’t lose them.”

“You won’t.” He patted him on the back. “How did you know Tess was the one for you?”

“One day she was all grown up, and I knew.”

Tyler rubbed his wounded side. “Did it feel like a kick to the gut?”

“Only when Edward refused to let me marry her. It took nearly a year before he gave us permission.”

“I didn’t know that,” Tyler said. “What made him change his mind?”

“Miss Regina convinced him Tess needed a man.”

“Reggie always liked you.”

“She likes Tess,” he corrected. “That’s why I didn’t understand why she ran off. And why didn’t she tell me? I would have gone with her.”

“Reggie told me she made her leave,” Tyler explained. “You left in a hurry when you followed her trail, but I had a long talk with Reggie after Edward headed north after Tess. She was sorry for the way she did it, but one morning she woke to Tess playing with Adam, and it broke her heart. She said something snapped inside of her. She ordered Tess to pack a bag and drove her to the river. She put her on the next boat north. Tess only left because Reggie promised to tell you what happened.”

“Three days later,” Noah complained. “I’ve been following her trail ever since.”

“Does Adelaide have any idea where they are?”

“Miss Adelaide said Tess refused to leave Akron while I was in jail and couldn’t reach Glen Knolls with Edward snooping around. She’s been hiding in the church on the square. Miss Adelaide is working on a plan to bring them here.”

“No wonder she wanted Cory to invite the Reverend Davis to supper,” Tyler realized. “He must be a part of this.”

“Who was the other fellow? I saw him calling Sunday night.”

Tyler grunted. “Douglas Raymond. He’s courting Cory.”

Noah smacked a mosquito. “You’re worried about him as competition?”

He hung his head in despair. “I have nothing to offer. I told her about Grayson running off and Olivia being the madam of the Dunking Witch. I’m out of contention as a husband.”

“Now, why did you tell her all that?” Noah demanded. “They’re dead. Nobody cares anymore but you.”

Tyler disagreed. “Edward tipped her off when she was in town.”

“Is his nose still out of joint about who’s the better man?”

Tyler laughed. “Crooked as the day I broke it. But he hasn’t learned his lesson. The man won’t stop meddling in my life.”

“You’re lucky Miss Olivia didn’t marry Old Man Vandal, or he’d have every right to play big brother.”

Tyler met Noah’s gaze. “One big brother is enough.”

****

Tyler entered the kitchen through the unlocked door and crept up the stairs as quietly as possible. He cringed when one of the steps creaked beneath his weight, but no sound came from the occupied bedrooms. He was about to open the door to his room when Cory opened hers. She stepped into the hallway, illuminated by a candle in her hand.

“Is something wrong?” he asked when she didn’t speak.

A smothered sob escaped her lips.

He took a step closer. “Have you been crying?”

Cory swiped her cheek. “I have a cold.”

“In July?”

“It’s a summer cold.”

“Probably from running around in your nightie.” He noticed she wore no robe and her feet were bare. Her dark hair cascaded in a turbulent wave nearly to her waist. She swept it back behind her shoulders in a habitual gesture. Her breast jutted out against the thin white fabric. Tyler felt an instant hardness and cursed the woman. Why did she have such a strong effect on him? All he had to do was look at her, and he was aroused. Did she enjoy torturing him on purpose?

“Did you kiss her?”

Tyler wasn’t sure he had heard the question. “Kiss who? Whom,” he corrected.

Cory took a deep breath. “Beth Davis.”

The deep breath undid Tyler. His fascination feasted on her taut nipples, his fingertips yearning to caress them, his mouth watering in anticipation of devouring their pink loveliness. His answer was a casual dismissal. “Does it matter?”

“Oh, you did!” Cory’s words were a horrified shriek. Both glanced toward Adelaide’s room. The door remained closed.

Tyler was baffled. “I only met her tonight,” he excused. “Why would I kiss her?”

“You kissed me within hours of meeting,” she reminded him.

Tyler thought about it. Had it been so soon? “Do you think I go around kissing every woman I meet?”

“You cad!” She turned and slammed the door.

Tyler was astounded. Did she honestly think he could seduce a woman mere hours after introductions? Or that he would want to? All his carnal actions were prompted by Cory. He had kissed her because she had put her arms around him and whispered words to distract him from Noah hiding in the barn. He had taken full advantage of an innocent diversion and recalled her reaction and subsequent description. His kisses were anything but chaste.

He wanted her, but it would be a small conquest if she did not match his desire. Neither one of them was experienced, but discovery would be the sweetest adventure lovemaking could give them. Tyler turned the knob of the door and entered.

****

Tyler shed his clothes and quietly slipped into bed. The ropes creaked beneath his weight, and Cory stirred, turning toward him in her sleep. She nestled her warm body next to his without acknowledging his presence. His hand brushed against the smooth skin of her thigh, eager to explore uncharted territories. Fingertips danced down to the indent at the back of her knee and upward to the curve of her hip.

She moaned and turned to her other side. “Go to sleep, Juliet.”

“It is Romeo, not Juliet, who shares your bed,” Tyler whispered in her ear. He kissed her neck.

Her eyes flew open. He crushed her outcry with his lips and pinned her beneath his body. His rough grip softened as her tense body relaxed beneath his ministrations. He kissed her temple, forehead, nose, and returned to her lips, urging her to respond. When he knew she wouldn’t reject him, his fingertips danced from her shoulder to her collarbone and over the fullness below. The succulent fruit of her body ripened beneath his clever fingertips. Her breathing quickened to match his.

She tugged at the cotton barrier between them. “Help me take this off.”

He was impatient to see her nakedness and ripped the nightgown free with a violent split of the fabric.

She sat up. “My nightie!”

He tossed it over his shoulder onto the floor. “You’ll never wear a nightie again.”

The moonlight bathed her nakedness, and he stared at the twin peaks perfect in shape and form. Nothing was more beautiful than her body.

“Are you going to do something other than look?”

She was bossy. Another man would put her in her place, but he knew her frustration from lack of power. He wanted to give her control. He belonged to her. “What do you want to do to me?”

“I want on top.” She rolled him to his back and dangled twin fruits in full ripeness before his gaze. He reached, and she moved away. She was taunting him. He would not go hungry tonight. His mouth brushed against a pink nipple and teased the taut peak with his tongue. He latched on and feasted until her body rocked with orgasmic spasms.

He heard her moans and nearly went mad with wanting her. Even inexperienced, he knew he had to control his own need for satisfaction. Hers came first.

His fingers discovered the differences between them. It was a slow, sensual journey as he scoped the details of the landscape and gathered information on what pleased her.

Her hands sought an equal exploration. Fingertips danced all around until they played lightly along the smooth length of him. Her touch was torturous, but he steeled himself to remain still. But when her gentle fingers took ownership of his manhood, he groaned.

“Am I hurting you?”

“No.” It was barely a gasp. He didn’t dare speak, move, or think. He was ready to explode, but he couldn’t take pleasure without giving in return. His hand stroked her flat belly and fumbled between her thighs for the hidden treasure. It was her hand that guided him into virgin territory.

His fingers trembled. He began a rhythmic beating. She moaned and arched against his hand. He moved within her, and she became stiff. Was he doing something wrong? Was he even in the right spot? Then suddenly, she cried out, arching her body to his dance. She grasped his hair. “Don’t stop, please, don’t stop,” she urged.

He covered her body and replaced his hand with a stronger tool. Slowly, carefully he pressed inward as he sought his way into this strange land. He felt her warm embrace as it drew him inward, deeper, and tighter. He advanced and retreated, her body matching his own in a battle both could win, building to a climax…

Tyler woke up in a sweat. He felt for Cory next to him, but he was alone in his bed. The dream had seemed so real. He swung his legs over to the edge and stood, his arousal evident. He pulled on his trousers and boots and grabbed the blanket from the bed. He carefully opened the bedroom door. Cory’s room next door was too close. He might be tempted to act on his thoughts in the middle of the night. Then Cory’s accusation would be true. He kept telling himself he was doing the right thing, but why did being noble seem so foolish?