RICHARD POURED WINE, but only two glasses. Sophie pointedly ignored Richard’s childish act and handed her glass to James before turning back to Richard. “Richard, what can I get for you?”

“Before all of that, I need to speak with you privately about something. Would you join me on a little walk?” Richard stood.

“Now?”

“Yes, please.”

“All right,” she said cautiously and then looked over at James and mouthed ‘sorry’ to him.

James shook his head, and Richard helped her stand. Sophie followed Richard toward the lake. Sophie crossed her arms and tried to keep some kind of distance between him.

Richard smiled. “Over these past few months, I have developed a deep affection for you. I would like to explore a closer relationship.”

Sophie took a deep breath. “Richard, please. I have said more than once that I can’t commit to anything more than friendship.”

“Sophie, you’re all alone. I want to take care of you. What will you do without a man to provide for you?”

“You can’t be serious. Didn’t we just have this discussion? I have never needed, nor wanted, a man to provide for me.”

Sophie moved away from him, but he took her arm to keep her from leaving.

“I could make you happy.” He turned her to face him.

“Richard, I don’t want a relationship. I’m sure that whomever you choose will be a lucky woman, but it won’t be me. I can’t just forget Jamie and everything that we shared. You need to forget about me, and move on.”

Richard pulled her to him and kissed her. She frantically pushed at his chest, but he just held her tighter. “Richard, stop it. You’re drunk.”

* * *

James jumped up from the blanket, and began to make his way over to them.

“Relax.” Richard bent to kiss her again. Sophie slapped him. Hard.

“Hey!” James yelled.

I’m going to kill him.

“Please, Richard. Stop. I don’t want this.” She backed away, visibly shaken.

“Has he already taken from you what should be mine?” Richard seethed.

Her head whipped up. “What are you talking about?”

“It’s the lieutenant, isn’t it? He didn’t waste time getting to you, did he?”

“You’re crazy.” Sophie turned to walk away from him.

Richard reached for her, but James moved in between them and stood nose to nose with him. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

“She’s mine, Lieutenant,” Richard fumed.

James pushed at his chest. “I believe she has made it perfectly clear that she is not yours. You keep your hands off her from now on, or you’ll have to deal with me.”

Sophie stalked back towards the stables.

“Sophie Ford, don’t walk away from me,” Richard yelled.

Sophie turned. “Ford, Richard! Remember that. I am Jamie’s and no one else’s.”

Richard let out a string of curse words.

“Leave me alone!” she shouted.

“Sophie, get back here.” He tried to walk toward her, but James kept himself between them.

“NO! Just go home Richard.”

Richard turned to pack the supplies back into the carriage, and James waited until he was well on his way, then mounted his horse and took off after Sophie.

* * *

Fuming by the time she reached the stables, frustrated by how things were just getting more and more complicated, and growing angrier by the second, all Sophie wanted to do was kick something, or someone, as she made her way over to Samson’s stall and peeked inside. He wasn’t there.

Great. What am I going to do now?

Within minutes, James entered the barn, pulling his hat from his head and heading straight for her.

“I’m really sorry you were witness to that display.” Sophie wrinkled her nose and sat back down on the bale of hay. “I don’t know what came over him. He’s never acted that way before. Lately, he’s been getting really possessive and aggressive. I just can’t seem to make sense out of anything right now.”

James sat next to her and cocked his head in question. “What do you need to make sense out of, Sophie?”

Surprising even herself, she told him about Jamie and how much she missed him. She told him how much seeing him confused her. As he tenderly put his arm around her shoulders and let her vent it out, the smell of horse and leather strangely intoxicating. Laying her cheek on his chest, Sophie relaxed into his side.

“Better?” He swept her hair gently from her damp cheek.

“I don’t know yet.” Smiling as she took a deep breath, she realized her palm was squeezing his very muscular thigh, so she pulled her hand away and stood.

James leaned forward, his arms braced on his knees. “What can I do to help?”

“Talking helps.” Sophie leaned against the wall. “Although, I think I’m letting my frustration overtake me.”

James stood and walked over to her, laying his hands on her shoulders before gently lifting her face to look at him. “You have every right to be frustrated.” He lowered his head and gently placed his lips on hers. She responded immediately, grasping his jacket and opening her mouth to allow better access. All too quickly, he pulled himself away. “I apologize. I shouldn’t have done that. You’ve had a rough day and here I am adding to it. It won’t happen again.”

Sophie ran a finger over her still tingling lips, her stomach somersaulting. “Honestly, James, I hope it does happen again.”

He smiled and took her hand, kissing her palm.

“May I ask you a personal question?” she asked.

“Of course.”

“What the hell is going on here?” Richard’s voice came from the doorway.

Sophie and James jumped apart like a couple of guilty teenagers.

“Richard,” Sophie growled.

“You certainly didn’t waste any time, did you?” Richard accused.

“Richard, you need to leave.” James pointed to the door.

“Sophie and I have more to discuss.”

“Like I’m going to let you get within a hundred feet of her.” James stood in front of Sophie, his arms crossed, legs braced. Ready for a fight.

“You’ve been here less than a week and you have the nerve to steal her out from under me. I won’t allow it.”

Sophie let out a squeal of frustration and approached Richard. James laid a hand on her arm and pushed her behind him again. Sophie wouldn’t be silenced, and although she stayed behind James, she stepped sideways. “First of all, I was never yours to steal. Second, you have no right to say what is allowed, and what is not. Get it through your thick skull, Richard. I don’t want you. Never have, never will.”

Richard stalked her, his hands fisted at his side.

James stepped in front of her again. “Richard, I’m losing patience with you. You need to leave.”

Richard attempted to push James aside but he grabbed Richard’s hand and pinned his arm behind his back, rendering Richard immobile. “I told you to leave.”

Sophie stared in shock at the classic martial arts move.

James pushed Richard out of the barn. “It stops here. If Sophie feels uncomfortable around you, or if you touch her again, I’ll deal with you on my terms. Do I make myself clear?”

“You bastard.” Richard took a swing.

James deflected the fist and swept his leg across Richard’s knees. Sophie watched the fight from just inside the barn and her hand went to her mouth as Richard fell on his backside, unhurt but humiliated.

“Richard, just go,” Sophie said as Richard scrambled to his feet. He finally strode off towards the arena, hands fisted once again at his sides.

“Where did you learn those defense moves?” she asked.

“I have no idea.” He stroked her arm. “I seem to have always known them.”

She knew now, without a doubt he was Jamie. She just needed proof.

Before she could ask, he took her hand. “Why don’t I escort you home? I’d feel more comfortable if you and Richard were distanced a bit.”

Sophie sighed. “Yeah, that doesn’t always work.”

“I noticed.” James grinned. “I’ll walk you back now and then we’ll figure out what to do going forward.”

“All right. Thank you.” James slipped her hand into his arm and they began their slow walk back to the house.

“What happened to the soldier?” Sophie asked when she noticed him scan their surroundings.

“Which soldier?”

“Seriously?”

James adjusted his hat but didn’t answer for several seconds. “He was shot.”

“Nice try. Tell me what happened.”

Before he could answer, and before Sophie could ask her very personal question, Christine came rushing out of the house. “Sophie!”

“Hi, Christine.”

“Is everything all right? You didn’t return from lunch and didn’t retrieve the buggy.”

“Yes, I’m fine, Christine. It’s been a rough afternoon. I’ll tell you all about it later if that’s okay? I just want to curl up and take a nap.”

Christine smiled. “Well, then you should.”

Sophie nodded as the three made their way into the house and then turned to face James. “Thank you for everything, I’m so sorry you got caught in the middle.”

He took her hand and kissed it and Sophie made her way upstairs and flopped onto her bed. She let out a sigh when she heard a quiet knock at her door. “Come in.”

“Sophie? I have some food for you.” Christine stepped into the room.

Sophie sat up and raised an eyebrow. “How did you know I was hungry?”

“The lieutenant said you didn’t eat.” Christine sat on the bed next to Sophie. “Now, tell me what’s going on. You look as though the world is coming to an end.”

“I’ve made a mess of everything.” Sophie took a bite of chicken and sighed in pleasure, even if it was short lived. “Richard is the biggest di-I mean, jerk! I’d have never guessed he could be so abusive. I have forced James in the middle of my fight with him and some very strange things are happening.”

“Like what?”

“He kissed me.”

“Richard?”

“Jamie.”

“Sophie,” Christine said sadly.

Popping a grape to her mouth, Sophie groaned. “He’s Jamie. I know he is, I just don’t know how to prove it without getting his clothes off.” Christine let out a choking sound and Sophie sighed. “Well, it’s true, Christine.”

Sophie continued to eat and gave Christine a minute to compose herself.

“I don’t understand what’s going on with Richard,” Christine whispered. “He’s never acted this way before. His actions simply don’t fit the man I know. I’m sorry, Sophie, I know you two were getting close.”

“I have no idea if we can salvage our friendship but right now, I don’t want to see him. As far as James is concerned, all I want to do is spend every waking moment with him. There’s something not quite right going on, and I feel like I need to figure it out and quickly. I’m sick of being confused.”

They continued to talk until it was time for Christine to leave for home.

* * *

Once Christine left, Sophie made her way to her favorite spot in the library and curled up with a new book. Only a few minutes passed when she heard someone whisper her name. Peeking around the chair, she saw James standing in the doorway and jumped up, excited to see him.

“I don’t want to intrude. I just came by to see how you were.”

“I’m much better, thank you. What time is it?” Sophie slid a lock of hair behind her ear.

“It’s almost five-thirty.”

“Oh! I thought it was much earlier.” Sophie chewed her thumbnail as an awkward silence settled around them. “Thank you for telling Christine I hadn’t eaten today. That was very thoughtful.”

James smiled. “You’re welcome. Now, I should probably get back.”

Sophie walked over to him and put her hand on his arm. “Do you have to go? Can you stay for dinner?” She didn’t want to beg, but she didn’t want to miss time with him either.

James chuckled. “I’m done with the training for today, so yes, Sophie, I can stay if you like.”

“I’d like.” He took her hand and Sophie could barely think straight. “How was it after I left? Was Richard a bear?”

He ran his thumb along her knuckles. “He disappeared. I haven’t seen him in the past few hours and I have to admit, that’s one of the reasons I came by so early. I wanted to make sure he wasn’t here. I hope that’s all right.”

“Yes, it’s fine.” Sophie sighed in resignation. “I don’t know what to do about Richard. He lost his ever-blessed mind today. I don’t understand it.”

“Lust can do strange things to a man.”

Sophie snorted. “What makes you think Richard lusts after me?”

“Have you looked in a mirror?” Leaning down, he gently kissed her, and she slid her hands up his chest and linked them behind his neck. He broke the kiss, seemingly unable to catch his breath. “Sophie, we should talk.”

“About what?”

“I can’t sleep.”

“You can’t?”

“No.” James raised his open palms to his temples in a circular, frantic motion. “Thoughts of you constantly run through my head.”

“Really?”

James sighed. “Really.”

“Well, what should we do then?”

“I’d like to spend time with you, privately, if you would be open to that.”

Sophie grinned. “I’d love to spend time with you. Privately or otherwise.”

The flitter of shallow footsteps sounded in the hallway, and Betty pushed the door open. “Dinner is almost ready, Miss Sophie.

“Thank you, Betty.”

Sophie led Jamie to the dining room. It was empty, so the couple moved on to the parlor.

Nona and Michael were in the midst of an intense conversation with Richard. When Richard saw Jamie, he bellowed, “Get out!”

“Richard,” Nona admonished.

“What the hell are you doing here?” Richard snapped.

“Richard, calm down. I asked James to stay for dinner,” Sophie said.

Richard took a deep breath. “I require a private word with you.”

“That will never happen,” James said from behind Sophie.

“Sophie, there are things about this man that you don’t know. Things I’m certain he hasn’t told you.”

James scowled. “What haven’t I told her?”

Sophie stood between the two men and rolled her eyes. “Please. You two are snorting like a couple of angry bulls. Let’s step outside. I’d rather not do this in the doctor’s house.”

Sophie turned and moved towards the foyer and out the front door. James and Richard followed her onto the porch and Richard reached over to take her arm. James quickly inserted himself between the two of them. “Don’t touch her.”

Sophie faced Richard. “Richard, I have nothing to say to you. I don’t even know why you’re here. I asked for space.”

“I know. I’ve made a mess of everything. Sophie, please forgive me.”

“Richard, this isn’t a forgiveness issue, it’s a boundary issue. I can forgive you for trying to force yourself on me, but I need to know it’s not going to happen again.”

“You don’t seem to have any boundary issues with the Lieutenant.”

“This is exactly what I’m talking about. You’re sulking like a little boy who didn’t get his way. I’m sick of it. The relationship I have with James is separate from the one I have with you and quite frankly, it’s none of your business.”

“You don’t even know this man, Sophie. There are rumors that he is married and has abandoned his wife. Are you willing to test that?”

James clenched his fists and stepped forward. “I’d never abandon a wife.”

Sophie placed a hand on his chest to keep him from hitting Richard.

“You should just leave and let her get on with her life!” Richard snapped.

“Richard, do you have proof that he’s married, or are you simply trying to get rid of him?”

“Make him show you the wedding rings he wears around his neck and ask him why he keeps them hidden.”

Sophie turned back to James. “Is that true?”

“Why don’t you show her, Lieutenant? Put it to rest once and for all,” Richard challenged.

James looked confused, but pulled the silken rope from around his neck and handed it to her. “I don’t know who they belong to, Sophie.”

Sophie inhaled sharply. “Where did you get these? They’re mine!”

“What?”

“This is my engagement ring and this is the anniversary band you gave me on our fifth wedding anniversary!” Sophie’s world began to spin as she stroked the New Zealand bone carving Emma’s best friend, Hannah, gave Jamie for his birthday three years prior. “And this...” she held up the ring, “...is your wedding ring!”

“It can’t be. If you were my wife, there’s no way I’d forget you. There must be some mistake. Perhaps I found it somewhere or purchased it from someone.”

Sophie closed her fist around the treasures in frustration. “No. You’re Jamie.”

Jamie shook his head. “I don’t think that’s possible.”

“I designed this ring and gave it to you on our wedding day. I have the identical one. Look.” She held her right hand out to him. A thinner version of his wedding ring was on her right ring finger. “See?”

He shook his head and turned away from Sophie. “I can’t do this.”

“What do you mean you can’t do this?”

Turning, James mounted his horse, and galloped away, leaving Sophie dumbfounded on the porch.

“Sophie.”

“Not now, Richard.” She ran into the house and up to her room. Throwing herself on her bed, she used one of the pillows as a punching bag.