The Widow of Rose Hill (The Women of Rose Hill Book 2), стр. 57
“Please, Cousin Eunice,” Natalie said, exasperation echoing in the firm words. “Now is not the time for a story about the judge.”
Eunice’s eyes widened with indignation. “Well, how do you like that? I am simply trying to help, but I can see I am not wanted here.” She shot a glare at Levi and marched into the house.
Natalie closed her eyes for a long moment. “I’ll apologize to her later. For now”—her gaze held Levi’s—“I’m frightened.”
Her vulnerability tore at Levi. Throwing caution to the wind, he reached for her. Without hesitation, she folded herself into his embrace.
“I won’t let him hurt you or Samuel,” he said, smoothing her hair as her cheek rested against his chest. “If he is anywhere near Rose Hill, we’ll find him.” Although Eunice’s suggestion to use the patrols and their dogs wasn’t how Levi would like to handle the situation, it might be the only option. Jezro needed to be found before he hurt anyone else.
“Will someone tell me what the devil is going on here?”
Levi and Natalie sprang apart, startled to hear Alexander Lopez’s angry voice. The man sat astride his huge mount, immaculately dressed, glaring at them.
“What are all these soldiers doing at Rose Hill,” he said, leveling a threatening look at Levi, “and why is my fiancée in the arms of another man?”
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Alexander’s loud voice drew the attention of everyone in the yard, much to Natalie’s dismay.
“Your fiancée?” Levi’s gaze shot to her, confusion in his voice.
Frustrated, she turned to the man on the horse. “Alexander, you and I are not engaged. We simply—”
“I asked you to be my wife, and you agreed to consider it. Surely an understanding such as ours would prevent you from seeking the attentions of another man.” His cold eyes grazed Levi. “Especially one who was so recently your enemy.”
A gasp from the open door revealed Eunice had returned. She sent Natalie a reproachful frown. “You didn’t tell me Señor Lopez proposed.”
She had no time for Eunice’s pouting. “Colonel Maish was comforting me, Alexander. We have experienced a number of upsetting incidents over the course of the past twenty-four hours.”
“Oh, Señor,” Eunice said, barreling between Levi and Natalie, forcing them to step farther apart. “You have come just in time. We are desperate for one of our own men to protect us.”
Alexander dismounted and joined them on the porch, his face a dark scowl. “You are in danger?” He glanced at the soldiers.
Eunice nodded enthusiastically. “As you recall me saying, Señor, the Yankees burned us out down in Shelby County, and I had to flee the only home I’d known since I was a young bride. The judge … er …” She glanced at Natalie, seeming to remember her recent reprimand, then continued. “Well, never mind that. We have had a fire here, Señor. The grain barn was destroyed.” Her glower found Levi. “I felt sure the Yankees had something to do with it, but as it turns out, one of the Negroes they hired is responsible. He attacked poor Natalie and nearly killed our Samuel, too.”
Alexander turned his startled look to Natalie, obviously astonished by the tale he’d just heard, while Levi stood silent, hurt and uncertainty in his dark gaze. Cousin Eunice appeared poised to launch into another speech, which Natalie simply could not endure.
“Please, everyone.” Natalie closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “The fact remains that Jezro must be found. That is most important.” She looked at Levi, wishing she could explain the situation with Alexander, but this was not the time nor the place.
After a long moment, he acquiesced. “I will have my men begin the search immediately.” With a slight bow, he turned to descend the steps. His voice had held none of the warmth from minutes ago.
“Natalie, my dear,” Alexander said as soon as Levi joined his men in the yard. “Please, tell me all that has happened.”
She allowed him to lead her to a wicker sofa, where she explained about finding Jezro in her bedroom, the fire, and nearly losing Samuel, keeping her eyes averted when she described Levi’s heroic rescue of her son. She didn’t want anyone to guess her love for the colonel. “So you see, Alexander, we are very grateful for the soldiers. We might have lost all the barns had we not had their help.”
“That may well be,” he said, frowning at the group of men in blue uniforms receiving instructions from Levi. “But wasn’t it the colonel who chose the new workers? He should have taken more care in who he allowed onto a plantation where a widow and her small son reside.”
Levi’s own admission of that very thing echoed in her mind. “No one could have predicted something like this would happen.”
“I daresay an officer in the Union Army should have,” Eunice said, adding a firm nod to punctuate the forceful words. “That man is too arrogant for his own good, and now that arrogance put you and little Samuel in danger. As your mother’s dearest relative, I advise you to end your agreement with the army posthaste before something else happens.”
“I must agree with your cousin.” Alexander exchanged a satisfied look with Eunice. When he met Natalie’s gaze again, his face turned grave. “I have learned some troubling information about Colonel Maish. In fact, that is the very reason I came this morning, as it is rather alarming.”
Natalie stared at the man. “What sort of information?”
“The kind that leads me to believe you are in far more danger with that man on Rose Hill land than you were with a former slave who turned out to be a thief.”
She stood, angry that he would say such a thing. “Alexander, Colonel Maish has been nothing but a gentleman in the time I’ve known him. He risked his life to save Samuel. I doubt anything you might have learned through gossip is even true.”
Carolina and Corporal Banks rounded the corner of the porch, their