Read Online Christine Dorsey - [MacQuaid 02] by My Heavenly Heart - Free Book Online Page B

his people. Logan had never seen him outside the dark confines of the Council House. Yet here he was after climbing the west trail not even breathing hard and staring at a point near Logan’s left shoulder.
    A glance behind him confirmed Logan’s fear. She no longer stood behind him, but had moved to his side. And she seemed either unaware, or unconcerned that the corset, though untied at her waist, pushed her breasts up enticingly. She paid no heed to his glare.
    “I’ve come to make talk with your woman,” Lone Dove raised his arms, lifting the feather-adorned cape like wings.
    “She’s not my wom—”
    “You may present your friend to me, Mr. MacQuaid.”
    She stepped forward and lifted her hand as if she expected the chief to drop to his knees and kiss it. For all that she wore only a silky shift and corset, she held her head high and her shoulders straight. Logan watched the breeze shift the golden curls along her narrow back a moment before letting out his breath. She didn’t seem the least concerned by the old man’s birdlike mask.
    “Lone Dove this is Rachel Elliott.”
    “Lady Rachel Elliott,” she corrected. “I’m one of Queen Charlotte’s ladies in waiting. She’s King George’s wife, you know.”
    Logan tried to catch the holy man’s eye but he stared only at Rachel, which probably wasn’t that difficult to do. Logan had been hard pressed not to look at her when she came out of the cabin. Yet he wanted to do something, give some sort of signal to let Lone Dove know that she was not to be believed.
    But the Adawehis had taken her hand, and though he didn’t kiss it, he did envelope her dainty fingers in his. “I have not met your King George, but my mother’s brother traveled across the big water to his home.”
    “Oh, of course, I remember, the king met with several of your people at St. James Palace last summer. Your relative was all the rage.”
    “He enjoyed seeing for himself the things told to him by the Little Carpenter and other of our brothers who visited your land before. The large tower where enemies are imprisoned, the large stretches of land used for riding and visiting.”
    “Ah, yes I do believe they strolled through St. James Park. London is so lovely.” Rachel sighed. “Sometimes I miss it terribly. Perhaps you can visit me there. I could show you the Queen’s House. The park there is so beautiful. Her Majesty had a charming pavilion for the king’s birthday. And I could introduce you to King George. I’m sure he would—”
    “For God’s sake, Rachel.” Logan had heard enough of this. What if Lone Dove believed what she told him?
    “I beg your pardon.” She fixed a look on him that would make a lesser man, or one who didn’t know she was making the entire tale up, quake in his boots. Logan simply returned it.
    “I am old and fear it is too late for me to make such a journey. But I have come to talk with you. Come, we shall go inside.”
    Logan watched as she smiled up at the old man, a dazzling smile that lit up her face. Then together they entered his cabin and shut the door, leaving Swift Fox and him outside.
    He stood there a moment scratching his chin, then his eyes sought Swift Fox. “What the devil is going on here?”
    His friend only shrugged. “Lone Dove insisted he must come to this place to see her.”
    “Who? Rachel? But why?”
    “That I do not know.” Swift Fox squatted and reached out to scratch the dog’s head. True to form the animal rolled over, offering up his speckled stomach to be rubbed.
    Logan rolled his eyes heavenward before bending to retrieve his shirt. He yanked it over his head, pulling his hair from the collar and prying the axe from its notch in the block before turning to the young Indian. “What did you tell Lone Dove about her?”
    “Very little.” An insistent whine reminded him he’d stopped his petting. “I said the woman had appeared from nowhere.”
    “Ah, shit, Swift Fox.” Logan swung the axe, cleaving a