Read Online Sea of Christmas Miracles by Christine Dorsey - Free Book Online
Authors: Christine Dorsey
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battles.”
“Mary’s fine. And what in the hell are you
talking about—her safety? The girl... hell, all of us are as safe
here as we would be in Charles Town.” Robert’s light eyes narrowed.
“I’ve dealt with those people for years. Not one of your so-called
Cherokee brothers has the guts to cause any trouble in these
parts.”
It was a taunt, and in the past, Wolf might
have responded. Trouble between the English settlers and the
Cherokee was coming, faster and harder than Wolf seemed able to
stop. But Robert was beyond enlightening, even if Wolf were
inclined to try. And besides, Robert MacQuaid’s words no longer had
the power to wound him. He didn’t care what the old man said... or
did, either, as long as it didn’t affect the Cherokee or Mary.
At least that’s what he thought till he heard
his father’s next words.
“You’re what?” Wolf turned on him so quickly
that Robert, hunched over the crutch, flinched.
“I said I’m marrying again.” Robert’s voice
was booming, defiant. “It isn’t right that I should live without a
woman. I’ve built this place.” Robert’s head jerked around to
indicate what he considered his domain. “I need someone to share it
with me. Someone refined.”
Wolf’s burst of laughter woke the old dog
sleeping on the porch. She lifted her head and sniffed the air
before settling back on her paws. There had once been someone who
loved Robert, though Wolf couldn’t understand why she had. Perhaps
she hadn’t been refined by Robert’s definition, but she had been
sweet, with a pure, loving heart. But Wolf’s mother was tossed
aside by Robert with less thought than he’d give a weed he trod
upon.
Robert puffed out his chest. “Lady Caroline
Simmons is coming from England to marry me.”
“Lady Caroline?” Wolf arched a dark brow.
“What would a titled Lady want with you?” Wolf knew what they’d
wanted with him . During the years he’d spent in England,
he’d seen the inside of more ladies’ boudoirs than he could recall.
But he’d offered them youth, and a strong, powerful body. A
body that would entice even without the added hint of savagery of
which the English gentry seemed so in awe. He was amazed how many
titled women wished to relieve the boredom of their lives with a
half-blooded Cherokee. It was as if they sensed that no amount of
silken waistcoats and lace cravats could ever tame him. As they
peeled off each layer of civilization, they searched for some
primitive passion to engulf them. Wolf had tried never to
disappoint.
But it hadn’t taken Wolf long to realize
where he stood with the fine ladies of England. Whether maid or
madam, the light of day sent them scurrying for the security of
their stuffy convention. The tedium of which drove Wolf back to his
native land.
“You find it difficult to believe that the
daughter of an earl would marry me?” Robert said. He straightened
as much as he could while forced to lean on the crutch for
support.
Wolf didn’t trust himself to speak. He’d been
told by his uncle, Tsesani, how anxious his mother had been to wed
Robert. But she’d died nine years ago, while Wolf was in England.
He hadn’t even known of her passing until he returned to his
homeland the following year. But all the while he’d known this: Her
only son, Robert’s son, carried the title of bastard.
“Wealth!” Robert’s shallow face lit up.
“Wealth will buy you anything, boy. The sooner you learn that, the
better. ’Tis the only thing that matters.”
“And how you get it is immaterial, I
suppose?” Wolf was annoyed with himself for getting embroiled in
this discussion. He knew very well how this man thought. What he
was willing to do.
“Do you think Lady Caroline cares how I
obtained my wealth?” Robert’s expression was smug.
“No.” Wolf stared at him, not bothering to
conceal his contempt. “I suppose not.” Most of the women he met in
England were vain and self-centered. If this Lady Caroline
“Mary’s fine. And what in the hell are you
talking about—her safety? The girl... hell, all of us are as safe
here as we would be in Charles Town.” Robert’s light eyes narrowed.
“I’ve dealt with those people for years. Not one of your so-called
Cherokee brothers has the guts to cause any trouble in these
parts.”
It was a taunt, and in the past, Wolf might
have responded. Trouble between the English settlers and the
Cherokee was coming, faster and harder than Wolf seemed able to
stop. But Robert was beyond enlightening, even if Wolf were
inclined to try. And besides, Robert MacQuaid’s words no longer had
the power to wound him. He didn’t care what the old man said... or
did, either, as long as it didn’t affect the Cherokee or Mary.
At least that’s what he thought till he heard
his father’s next words.
“You’re what?” Wolf turned on him so quickly
that Robert, hunched over the crutch, flinched.
“I said I’m marrying again.” Robert’s voice
was booming, defiant. “It isn’t right that I should live without a
woman. I’ve built this place.” Robert’s head jerked around to
indicate what he considered his domain. “I need someone to share it
with me. Someone refined.”
Wolf’s burst of laughter woke the old dog
sleeping on the porch. She lifted her head and sniffed the air
before settling back on her paws. There had once been someone who
loved Robert, though Wolf couldn’t understand why she had. Perhaps
she hadn’t been refined by Robert’s definition, but she had been
sweet, with a pure, loving heart. But Wolf’s mother was tossed
aside by Robert with less thought than he’d give a weed he trod
upon.
Robert puffed out his chest. “Lady Caroline
Simmons is coming from England to marry me.”
“Lady Caroline?” Wolf arched a dark brow.
“What would a titled Lady want with you?” Wolf knew what they’d
wanted with him . During the years he’d spent in England,
he’d seen the inside of more ladies’ boudoirs than he could recall.
But he’d offered them youth, and a strong, powerful body. A
body that would entice even without the added hint of savagery of
which the English gentry seemed so in awe. He was amazed how many
titled women wished to relieve the boredom of their lives with a
half-blooded Cherokee. It was as if they sensed that no amount of
silken waistcoats and lace cravats could ever tame him. As they
peeled off each layer of civilization, they searched for some
primitive passion to engulf them. Wolf had tried never to
disappoint.
But it hadn’t taken Wolf long to realize
where he stood with the fine ladies of England. Whether maid or
madam, the light of day sent them scurrying for the security of
their stuffy convention. The tedium of which drove Wolf back to his
native land.
“You find it difficult to believe that the
daughter of an earl would marry me?” Robert said. He straightened
as much as he could while forced to lean on the crutch for
support.
Wolf didn’t trust himself to speak. He’d been
told by his uncle, Tsesani, how anxious his mother had been to wed
Robert. But she’d died nine years ago, while Wolf was in England.
He hadn’t even known of her passing until he returned to his
homeland the following year. But all the while he’d known this: Her
only son, Robert’s son, carried the title of bastard.
“Wealth!” Robert’s shallow face lit up.
“Wealth will buy you anything, boy. The sooner you learn that, the
better. ’Tis the only thing that matters.”
“And how you get it is immaterial, I
suppose?” Wolf was annoyed with himself for getting embroiled in
this discussion. He knew very well how this man thought. What he
was willing to do.
“Do you think Lady Caroline cares how I
obtained my wealth?” Robert’s expression was smug.
“No.” Wolf stared at him, not bothering to
conceal his contempt. “I suppose not.” Most of the women he met in
England were vain and self-centered. If this Lady Caroline
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