Rated: M
Disclaimer: I don't own them, I just like writing about them
Chapter Seven
For months after that one dark night she witnessed death, Sam had dreamed of a face haunted with shadows and eyes burning with an intensity she could barely fathom. Those eyes. Even in their pain, the sorrow was so deep it reached out and grabbed hold of the deepest part of her heart. At night, buried beneath the covers and snuggled as far down as she could into the tiny bed Madam afforded her, she would fall asleep to the memory of this man and wonder how it would feel to love so deeply.
Common sense eventually asserted itself, and she cast thoughts of her shadowed stranger aside to get on with the business of escape. Now here they stood across from each other years later and all of those feeling were rushing back. The torment in his gaze even more poignant and her emotions were stirring in response. She had a name to put to her wraith and while part of her wanted to know more of him, she had to wonder if Jason Morgan was the precursor to the ruin of the life she had built here in redemption.
For the longest time they stared at each other recognition shining in those vivid eyes, sheer terror warring with denial in her own. Mentally she begged, pleaded for the words that could trip so easily off his lips not to come forth. There was more at stake here than her secrets and she couldn't allow one night to destroy the life that Dusty and Alexander were building here with Kristina.
She couldn't imagine Jason's family would hold their pasts against them, but not all here were as open minded. If word that she and Dusty had worked in a brothel reached the ears of the citizes of Redemption, especially the old biddies, the gossip would start. Then the outright snubs and any respect regained after the horror of New Orleans would be forever lost.
"That just isn't possible," she managed to choke out, hoping no one could hear the fear in her voice.
Blue eyes narrowed briefly and she thought he would disagree, instead he gave her the merest inclination of his head.
"Mrs. Spencer, I was wondering if your son had arrived yet."
Four pairs of eyes turned in the direction of that feminine voice. Sam didn't need to see the surprise on Beth and Maggie May's faces to know they were wondering how the elegant but inappropriately dressed Courtney Matthews had managed to cross the yard without any of them realizing it.
Torn between relief the irritating woman had interrupted and a spurt of jealousy from the clear interest in Courtney's eyes, Sam tried to take a discrete step away.
Only, it seemed Jason wouldn't be deterred. A large calloused hand closed briefly over hers, the slight squeeze and release, promised this conversation wasn't over. She should feel guilty over the way her heart skipped in her chest. And she definitely shouldn't be savoring the warmth of his hand, it's strength. Instead she dragged a shaky breath through slightly parted lips, immediately noticing how his eyes observed the movement.
"Of course, it would be my pleasure to introduce you, Courtney," Maggie May's dry tone proved she wasn't falling for the Easterner's act. She raised a hand in Jason's direction, "Courtney, this is my son, Jason Morgan." Her kind blue eyes focused briefly on her son, some silent message passing between them. "Jason, this is Wyatt's aunt, Courtney Matthews."
Clearly accustomed to being the center of attention, Courtney sashayed forward in a swish of expensive fabric and held out a hand. Lucky had tripped over his feet to grasp the delicate appendage, bow and place a light kiss to the waiting fingers. It seemed, Ms. Matthews was expecting the same from Jason. Beth rolled her eyes and turned to the table where she had been setting out food. Sam just wanted to escape this introduction but trapped between Maggie May and Jason ensured that she would be witness to every awkward second.
"Ma'am." Jason nodded once, touching a respectful hand to the brim of his hat but it was obviously not what Courtney was expecting.
"Well, Mr. Morgan, you're certainly not what I was expecting," she simpered, disguising the slight Jason had handed her just barely with a broad smile.
"And just what were you expecting?" The bluntness of his words surprised Courtney because her eyes widened dramatically. The rumors and gossip of Jason's return would have spread through Redemption to reach Courtney's ears by now. The argument he and Beth had in the street certainly was the topic of conversation this morning at the restaurant in eager whispers over breakfast and just before church services.
What exactly was Courtney expecting? A hardened criminal, rough and ready to shoot first and ravish the women afterwards? It was women like her that made Sam shake her head in exasperation. Easterner riding west for some adventure before running back home to settle down as her parents decreed with the man of the right social status. So close to her own tarnished roots, that Sam felt a little hypocritical for her harsh thoughts.
It wasn't Courtney's fault what had happened to her family, nor that she was the same sheltered woman Sam herself had been before being thrust into the colder side of reality.
"Not a man so well mannered and kind," she answered with an attractive smile. The woman probably thought that was some sort of compliment. "Certainly not with the reputation you carry."
"Well, I only kill men in my spare time," he retorted dryly.
"Jason!" Maggie May rebuked while Courtney tapped open her fan to flick nervously around her face to cover the rush of heat and embarrassment. Sam didn't miss Jason's mother's smirk of laughter barely covered by a hand and a cough.
Obviously neither did her son because for an instant Sam caught a teasing glimpse of humor in the sky blue eyes that matched his mother's. Mother and son understood each other very well despite their years apart. If Sam hadn't been staring at him, she might have missed that bit of softness in his otherwise steely façade and that definitely would have been her loss.
"Forgive my brother's manners," Beth called out as she walked around the table wiping her hands on a towel. She gave her older brother a playful elbow to the side and grinned. "Jase has always been a bit of a jackass."
"Neither of my children have manners," Maggie May sighed sadly. Beth looped an arm through Jason's, leading him over to sit and very pointedly away from Courtney. "Sam, Courtney, you'll have to excuse them."
"Certainly ma'am," Courtney allowed graciously, "I suppose my words were rather rude."
"Nonsense," Beth snapped back smartly, "It's always polite to inundate the siblings of your guests with the rumors and innuendo spread through town. Now, I'm going to the barn to get the kids for supper, Sam, if you'd be so kind to round up the others so that we can sit."
"It's no problem," she always knew Beth had a sharp tongue hidden beneath that layer of kind generosity. It was always interesting to see the results of those whipcord lashes on it's victims. Usually that sting was reserved for when she was especially riled and given Beth's considerable dislike for Courtney, Sam wasn't surprised when Beth let loose on the unsuspecting woman.
After a blessing from Luke, everyone dug into the delicious meal, laughter and conversation filling the air with the occasional burst of laughter from the children. Courtney was silent, still seething over her altercation with Beth, probably trying to figure out a way to retaliate without ruining her precious mask of femininity. In her own quiet way she tried to dominate the male focus of the table, which Lucky seemed more than happy to accommodate.
Dusty kept sparing her several concerned glances, but Sam could care less about the attention Lucky was fawning over the woman. The more he was entranced by Courtney, the less likely he would look in her direction. Then Lucky wouldn't notice Jason looking in her direction and how she desperately tried not to appear like she was not looking at Jason.
Part of her wanted to demand he turn that pointed gaze elsewhere. Except that would raise suspicion and Jason would most likely bring up the topic of conversation that she was trying to avoid. The last thing she wanted him to mention was exactly where he had seen her before. If wallowing in denial was the way to do so, so be it.
"I think it's wonderful here in Redemption, it will certainly be a shame when we head back East. Wyatt, I think you're going to enjoy Boston. The architecture and society. Schools for a better education-"
"Back East," Wyatt paused with a fork of mashed potatoes halfway to his mouth. "What are you talking about? I'm not going anywhere?"
"Why of course you are," she smiled as if he were a silly child, "Why Father and Mother will be so ecstatic to meet you, now that we've found you. That's why I journeyed all this way. To take you home."
"This is my home," Wyatt's cold response wasn't missed by the other members of the Morgan-Spencer-Alcazar clan. Only by Miss Matthews. If Sam hadn't known that Jason was absent from Wyatt's upbringing for many years, she would swear the boy had inherited that steely tone from his father.
"Nonsense," Courtney waved away his feelings, "You're my nephew, and my sister would certainly want her son raised with the comforts and privileges she had as a child. You can always visit the rest of your family here in Redemption. Perhaps once a year? During summers maybe, after school."
A frown creased her face as she shook her head, "No Father likes to take the family to the country during the summer months. I'm sure something can be arranged."
"Is that what you really believe?" Beth demanded, but Lorenzo gently grabbed her arm before she could really get worked up. Maggie May and Luke looked like they were going to explode at any moment at the nerve of the young woman discussing their Grandson as if she had every right to swoop in and take him away. Wyatt was near fury, held down only by the tight grip Luke had on his shoulder.
"I'm sorry, is there a problem? Wyatt is a Matthews and will be raised as such. There is nothing wrong with Redemption, it's very," Courtney barely resisted turning up her nose, "Quaint, but nothing compared to the life he would have in Boston with the rest of the family."
"You're forgetting one small thing," Jason finally spoke up; the first words from him since they sat down to eat.
"And what would that be?"
The cold deadly expression on Jason's face was enough to run a shiver of dread down her spine. If Courtney had any sense, she would fear this man. This Jason looked capable of every rumor and story spread about him. Ironically, a smile spread across Maggie May's lips.
"Wyatt is my son. A Morgan. And you're not taking my son anywhere."
ooXXoo
"That couldn't have gone better if I had planned it myself."
Maggie May settled onto the rocking swing across the yard into the loving embrace of her husband and tried not to grin like a Chesire cat. It was unbecoming. Instead she enjoyed the laughter of the children and their pleasure with the horses and thought more on those eye opening seconds that passed between her son and the lovely Ms. Samantha McCall. It would be interesting to witness the attraction unfolding between the two. She had seen enough mating dances to note the beginnings of one.
Part of her worried that Wyatt wouldn't be enough to keep her boy in Redemption. She wasn't as blind as he might have wished. For Jason to have returned there was trouble following him. Her heart refused to acknowledge that he just might have come home only to say good-bye. Jason would be confident that Wyatt would be taken care of in his absence. He might even be foolish enough to believe that Wyatt would be better off without his presence.
No, this little spark of interest in the fiery brunette coupled with his son's affection just might be the salvation of her boy.
"If I didn't know better, I would swear you had," Luke murmured before pressing a kiss to her temple. "Still, I have to wonder what game Ms. Matthews is playing."
The tense silence that followed Jason's declaration hovered in the air for the remainder of the meal. Every so often Maggie May would catch Wyatt watching Jason with a mixture of awe and curiosity. She could only imagine the feelings coursing through Wyatt at the power behind Jason's words. To know that his father would fight for him, and obviously cared for him was probably everything he had ever dreamed of.
Courtney on the other hand looked less than pleased with the response. She bid everyone a very false farewell, deciding to forgo dessert and return to her hotel claiming a return of travel fatigue. Lucky offered to escort her back, then looked torn at leaving Sam here with Jason. Whatever his feelings, Lucky must have felt Sam would be safe enough surrounded by the family even if Jason was still here.
Fortunately, or unfortunately depending on the way she chose to look at the situation, the remainder of the time was much more enjoyable after their departure.
"I wondered if age had finally caught up to my darling husband's sensiblities." Maggie May thread her fingers into his and grinned.
"Goodness no. The manure that girl was shoveling was sharp enough to fertilize the south forty back at the ranch. I have to admit, she's good."
"I think it's funny how Cassie never mentioned a sister. Or this prominent family back in Boston. I wouldn't believe Courtney if she didn't look so much like her. And if didn't have the pictures of the two of them together."
"She certainly covered herself well. It makes me wonder if Cassie was running from something, or if Courtney is looking for a hand out."
That raised one of Maggie May's brow, "She has to know it would take nothing more than hiring a Pinkerton to discover everything there is to know about her. And no court in the country would dare take Wyatt away, despite Jason's reputation."
"We'll just keep an eye on her for the time being," Luke reasoned, "Make sure she doesn't sink her claws into either of my boys. I'm getting too old to bury bodies."
Her burst of laughter, beautiful and melodious, drew her family's eyes but they merely attributed to the loving relationship between her and her husband.