SEVERAL MINUTES AFTER Jacob returned to the ballroom, Rayne went looking for her husband. She found him in the library staring out one of the windows. “Sam?”
He turned and held his hand out to her.
She made her way to him. “Are you okay?”
He nodded.
Rayne smiled. “Then, why do you look like you just lost your best friend?”
“Because I believe I may have lost my sister,” he said with a frustrated sigh.
“Oh, baby, what happened?” Rayne sat in one of the chairs by the fireplace and patted the chair next to her.
Sam took his seat and relayed his conversation with Jake.
Rayne smiled gently. “Don’t think Amelia doesn’t know what’s going on, Sam.”
“What do you mean?”
“She’s the one who stopped me from introducing her to Jacob.” Rayne squeezed his hand. “I would imagine she knows more than she’s letting on.”
Sam sighed. “That’s probably true.”
Rayne chuckled. “I hate to say it, but I told you so.”
“I was hoping you might be wrong,” he admitted.
“If he’s anything like his brothers, Sam, he’ll be a good match for her.”
Sam ran his hands through his hair. “They have so much against them.”
Rayne cocked her head. “Don’t we all? If it’s meant to be, they’ll work it out.”
Sam groaned.
Rayne giggled. “I hope we don’t have girls.”
“Convents,” Sam averred.
Rayne raised an eyebrow. “Oh, really?”
“Yes.”
“You’re not even Catholic.”
Sam shrugged. “It doesn’t matter. If they look like you, I’ll send them to the nunnery before they turn five.”
“By then, we will have prearranged marriages for them with the Butler boys.”
Sam narrowed his eyes. “You have an evil streak, don’t you, Angel?”
“Only with you.” She rose to her feet. “Now, let’s join our party.”
Sam stood. “And keep an eye on Jacob Butler.”
“Whatever,” she said with a laugh. “Before that though, I need a moment to freshen up.”
Sam kissed her quickly and then opened the door. “Don’t be long.”
Quick footsteps on the hardwood floor revealed Victoria making her way toward them. “Hi, you two.”
Rayne smiled. “Going my way?”
“I’m thinking, yes.”
“I’ll see you in a moment,” Sam said and headed toward the ballroom.
Victoria and Rayne made their way to one of the rooms they had set aside for the ladies to have some privacy. The girls opened the door to the receiving room and heard a sharp intake of breath. Alice Atwood was on her hands and knees scrubbing the floor, blood running from her nose, and a fat lip that matched the color of the bruise under her eye.
Rayne rushed to her. “Alice?”
“I’m so sorry, Mrs. Powell,” Alice said in obvious fear. “I can’t seem to stop my nose from bleeding and I’m afraid I have gotten it on your rug.”
Rayne wrapped an arm around her shoulders and lifted her from the floor. “Forget the rug,” Rayne directed. “Stand up.”
Victoria handed Alice a handkerchief. “Sweetie, tip your head back. That’s right, now hold this right here.” She helped Alice position the pressure in the right place on her nose.
“Did your poor excuse for a husband do this to you?” Rayne asked.
“Oh, no,” Alice said, her eyes frantically darting back and forth. “He would never hurt me. I slipped on my way in here and fell into the door.”
“Riiiight,” Victoria said. “And the black eye?”
“I was kicked by his horse.” Alice squeezed her eyes shut. “It was so irresponsible. I shouldn’t have stood behind him. Mr. Atwood warned me.”
“Did you lean down so that the horse could reach your face?” Victoria snapped.
“Pardon me?” Alice squeaked. “I don’t understand.”
Victoria sighed. “There is no way a horse could kick you in the eye with such precision, Alice.”
“I’m sorry. I must be mistaken,” Alice said shakily. “Perhaps it was when I slipped in the foyer. I’ll just finish cleaning up and then I’ll join my husband.”
“No, you won’t,” Rayne said as she guided Alice to a chair.
“Oh, I must. He gave me strict instructions.”
“He can kiss my ass,” Rayne snapped and saw the horrified look on Alice’s face. “Sorry.” She took a deep breath and faced the girl again. “Why don’t you stay here tonight? We have a wonderful doctor who will make sure nothing’s broken.”
“I don’t think Mr. Atwood would like that.”
Victoria took Alice’s hand. Alice winced in apparent pain. “What’s wrong with your wrist?”
“Nothing,” she whispered. “It’s nothing.”
Victoria gently peeled Alice’s glove off her hand and she and Rayne gasped. Her wrist was purple and swollen.
“This looks broken,” Rayne said to Victoria.
Victoria scowled. “We need to get Stephen.”
“I must return to Mr. Atwood,” Alice said.
“You’re not going anywhere with him.” Victoria turned to Rayne. “I’m going to get Stephen.”
Just as Victoria left the room, Amelia entered it. “Oh, my word. Is everything all right?”
“Her husband appears to enjoy hurting her,” Rayne said in disgust.
“No. He doesn’t. You have it all wrong, Mrs. Powell,” Alice said. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to correct you. I should get back.”
“You need to see the doctor first. Please don’t defend your husband, Alice. You have a black eye, fat lip, and a bloody nose. Not to mention what looks like a broken wrist,” Rayne pointed out. “You cannot honestly tell me these were because you were clumsy.”
“I just don’t watch where I’m going.”
“It’s a bit difficult to see a fist coming straight for your eye, honey,” Rayne said.
Alice tried to stand, but Amelia protested. “No, please stay there.”
Alice shook her head. “I really must get back to Mr. Atwood. He’ll be angry.”
“Mr. Atwood can go to hell,” Rayne said and both Amelia and Alice gasped.
There was a knock at the door and Victoria led Stephen in. He knelt beside Alice and smiled gently. “Mrs. Atwood, my name is Dr. Paxton. I’m going to have a look at your injuries if that’s all right, and we’ll just see what we can do to help.”
Alice looked at him as though he were an alien.
“May I see your wrist?” he asked gently.
She held it out for him, almost as though it wasn’t within her control. He took it gently and felt the bone. She winced in pain and he immediately let go.
“You have a nasty break, Mrs. Atwood. It would appear that your nose is also broken. I will need to take you to a private room to set your breaks and bandage them.”
Alice shook her head. “Oh, I can’t, Dr. Paxton. I am to clean myself up and join Mr. Atwood quickly. I’m already late. He’ll be very angry.”
“Well, Mrs. Atwood, he won’t be as angry once a few of us give him a dose of his own medicine,” Stephen said with a scowl on his face.
Alice’s eyes opened as wide as saucers.
Stephen glanced at Rayne. “I’m going to get Christine and then we’ll move her to one of your guest rooms.”
“Does Sam know we’re here?” Rayne asked.
Stephen shook his head. “No, but he will.”
“Thanks.”
Stephen left the room and Rayne turned to Alice. “How old are you, if you don’t mind my asking.”
“Seventeen,” she said quietly.
“Why are you married?” Rayne snapped. The girl jumped at her tone and Rayne was immediately repentant. “Sorry.” She changed her tone and continued, “How is it that you are married so young?”
“It has been planned for a long time. He courted me for two years before we were married.”
“What kind of parent would allow their little girl to be courted by a monster?” Rayne asked in disgust.
“Rayne, this is Maryland. It’s very common,” Amelia said and then added quickly, “the young instance, not necessarily the monster one.”
“We are not wealthy. Mr. Atwood offered prestige within the community, and he said he would take care of me,” Alice said.
“When did he start hitting you?” Rayne asked gently.
“Oh, he doesn’t.”
“Alice, we know he hurts you. You can tell us,” Amelia said as she patted her hand.
Alice paused, obviously unsure how much she could say without retribution. “Our wedding night,” she whispered.
“He hit you on your wedding night?” Rayne asked. “Did he say why?”
Alice started to sob. “I didn’t know what to do and he was hurting me. He got angry when I tried to push him away. He hit me, so I tried to be quiet, but it hurt and I couldn’t stop crying. He put his hand over my mouth. He said it was so he could finish in peace.”
“Oh, honey.” Rayne gently wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “You’re safe now. No one will ever hurt you again.”
“He’s going to be so angry,” Alice said, her voice shaking.
“Let us worry about that, Alice.” Amelia pulled a handkerchief from her sleeve and offered it to Alice. “We have several protectors who will be more than happy to protect you as well.”
“You will stay with us for as long as you want or need to,” Rayne said. “We have so much room and need people to fill it.”
Alice nodded and the girls continued to whisper words of comfort as they waited for Stephen to return.
Suddenly, the door slammed open and Jimmy Atwood stood within the frame. The girls jumped to their feet in fright and Rayne pushed Alice behind her.
“You will come with me now, wife,” he bellowed.
“She’s not going anywhere with you,” Rayne said.
“I’m her husband and she will do as I say,” Jimmy seethed.
“You aren’t a husband!” Rayne jabbed a finger toward him. “You’re a disgusting excuse for a human being.”
“You uppity bitch!” He moved toward his wife. “Alice! Now!”
Rayne felt Alice shiver behind her as she started to move out from behind her.
“No. Don’t,” Rayne said.
Jimmy closed the door and locked it before pocketing the key. Unprepared for what he did next, Rayne realized they hadn’t planned this out very well. He pulled a pistol from his belt and aimed it at Rayne’s head.
“Move.” He motioned for the girls to move to the side of the room.
Rayne guided Amelia into the corner and Jimmy smiled smugly as he cocked the hammer back on the gun. “I’m going to have a little entertainment with you when all of this is done.”
“You won’t get the chance, pig,” Rayne snapped.
Jimmy smacked her across the cheek with the gun and Rayne felt the warmth of her blood on her lip and the taste of copper in her mouth. She fought the urge to pass out… she really hated blood. Amelia gasped and Rayne knew she was frightened, but she felt if she could just keep it together long enough, Sam would be there and all would be well.
“You need to learn some respect,” Jimmy raged.
“I could only respect a real man, genius,” Rayne quipped. “You, obviously, don’t qualify.”
This earned her a punch to her stomach and she doubled over in pain.
“Rayne. Stop,” Amelia whispered.
“Listen to your friend,” Jimmy warned. He grabbed his wife by her hair and pulled her out from behind her wall of protection. “I believe I gave you strict instructions on how I wanted you to handle your little accident, did I not?”
“Yes, Mr. Atwood. I’m sorry,” she said quietly.
He pulled her hair hard enough that tears streamed down her face.
“I’ll deal with you momentarily. I have business to attend to,” he said and threw her so hard into the wall that she crumpled, unconscious, to the floor.
“Rayne?” Sam called through the door as he rattled the doorknob.
Jimmy put his finger to his lips and pointed the gun at her. “You tell him you’ll be out shortly.”
Rayne scowled, but did as he ordered. “I’m almost done, baby.”
“Is Amelia with you?” They heard Jacob ask through the door.
Jimmy gave her a silent warning.
“Yes, I’m here, Sam,” Amelia called.
“Angel, is there anything you need?” Sam asked.
Rayne shook her head. “No, baby. But I do think I might have seen an aardvark scuttle through here.”
In what seemed like less than a second, the door splintered and Sam entered the room, a pistol cocked and pointed at Jimmy’s heart. Jacob was right behind him. Jimmy was quick on his feet though, and grabbed Rayne by her hair. She screamed as he pulled her to him.
“I will kill them both,” Jimmy warned as he held Rayne in front of him with one hand and pointed a gun at Amelia with the other.
“Meely, move away from him. Slowly,” Sam directed, his pistol now pointed at Jimmy’s head.
“I will shoot you if you move,” Jimmy warned her.
Tears streamed down Amelia’s face and her head darted between Sam and Jimmy, obviously unsure what to do.
Jacob had his gun at the ready. “Amelia. Look at me, please.”
She squeezed her eyes shut.
“Amelia, look at me,” Jacob repeated.
She looked up, but didn’t move.
“You are going to be all right,” he said. “I promise.”
Amelia wrapped her arms around her waist and nodded.
“Rayne?” Sam drew focus back to him. “Do you remember the prison?”
“Yes, Sam.”
“Silence!” Jimmy yelled.
“It’s going to be like that.”
Rayne closed her eyes. She sagged just as Sam got the shot off.
Jimmy’s gun popped like a blaring sign of death and Rayne heard Jacob yell just as Amelia fell. She didn’t have time to think before her husband was at her side and lifting her into his arms. “Rayne?”
“I’m okay,” she said. “What happened to Amelia?”
He turned his head toward Stephen in question.
Jamie rushed into the room. “What the hell happened?”
“Jamie, help Sam,” Stephen said.
He made his way quickly to the couple, shielding Amelia from their view. “Take Rayne upstairs and we’ll bring Amelia up shortly.”
“What’s going on?” Rayne asked.
“Sam!” Jamie snapped.
Rayne studied her husband. He had a glazed expression on his face, almost as though he weren’t really present. She cupped his face and stroked his cheek. “Sam? Baby?” It took him a minute, but he shook himself and then looked at Rayne. “Jamie wants you to take me upstairs,” she said slowly.
Sam nodded and moved to walk out of the room. Rayne was beyond confused but didn’t comment as Sam carried her up the back stairs and to their bedroom. He set her on the bed and Rayne started to remove her bloody clothes. Before she could get very far, there was a knock at the door and Sam opened it to Sophie.
“Rayne? How are you?” she asked.
“I’m fine, Sophie. How’s Amelia?”
“Jimmy’s bullet grazed her arm, but Stephen was able to fix her up.”
Sam swore and moved to rush out of the room, but Sophie blocked him. “Sam, she’s going to be fine.”
He sat down hard on the chest at the end of their bed.
Sophie sighed. “Stephen is going to want to see you, Rayne, when he’s done with Amelia.”
“Me?” Rayne said with a nervous laugh as she slid off the bed. “I’m totally fine. Jeez.”
* * *
Sam stood and made his way to Rayne’s side. “Angel? You need to sit down.”
“Why? I’m fine?”
“No, Rayne, you were hurt.”
Rayne snorted. “Please! He hit me. No big deal!”
Sam frowned as he studied the huge bruise on her cheek, swollen lip, and a cut that might require a stitch or two.
Rayne slid her bangs away from her forehead with a grimace. “Why am I bleeding?”
“He pulled your hair hard enough to make your scalp bleed,” Sam said lethally.
“Oh,” she said. “My ribs kind of hurt. I didn’t notice that before.”
“Adrenaline,” Sophie said.
“Let me see,” he ordered as he lifted her chemise. Her entire left side was purple. “Angel.” Rayne winced, and Sam groaned and pulled her robe closed again.
“I’ll be fine,” Rayne said. “Stephen will make sure nothing’s broken.”
“I’ll get him,” Sophie said as she left the room.
“Lie down on the bed, Rayne,” Sam said as his wits returned.
Rayne huffed. “You’re always trying to get me into bed… and not in the good way!”
Sam rolled his eyes. “I want to tend to your ribs, sweetheart. Would you please not argue for once?”
“Fine.” Rayne climbed back onto the mattress.
Sam poured water from the pitcher on the bureau into the bowl next to it. He rinsed a piece of cotton in the cool water and gently placed it on her ribs and then put another one on her lip.
“Will you check on Amelia, please?” Rayne asked.
Sam shook his head. “Not until the doctor has seen you.”
“Baby, I’m fine, but I can see you’re worried about your sister.” Rayne grabbed his arm. “As am I.”
“I’ll check on her as soon as I know you’re well.”
She closed her eyes. “Stubborn man.”
Sam couldn’t help but smile as someone knocked at the door. He pulled it open to find Stephen and Christine standing in the hallway.