Chapter 12
The pounding wouldn�t stop. Oh please make it stop! She called out, but no one answered. Over and over the sound echoed in her ears as her head throbbed in excruciating pain. Moire opened her eyes to the glare of the sunshine streaming through the windows. She immediately shut them and called out again.
�Louise!� Still there was no response. She moved to sit up when pain shot through her temples and forehead forcing her back onto the pillow. With her hand shielding her eyes, she slowly opened them. The room was spinning. Closing her eyes made the sensation cease.
�Louise!� she called again. Where could she be? She needed something to ease the pain. �Louise,� she croaked as tears welled in her eyes. Protecting them from the sunlight once more, Moire opened them gradually taking in her surroundings. This wasn�t her room. She bolted upright in the bed, disregarding the torment to her head. The sheet dropped from her body and she let out a groan. Oh God, what have I done? Although it seemed as if she had slept alone, the state of her undress and her sleeping in a strange bed sent a shiver through her body. She looked about the room. It seemed familiar. She had been her before and then it dawned on her where she actually was. How did she come to be here? And what possessed him to bring her here? She noticed a terrycloth robe at the foot of the bed. There was a note attached.
�Good morning,� she read in his neat scrawl. �There is a tray of coffee and muffins on the desk along with something for your headache.� Moire glanced to see the tray set. There was even a small vase of with some wildflowers in it. �The bathroom has all you need for a shower. And I found some clothes my sister-in-law left here. I think you are about the same size.� The clothes were draped across the chair. �And I know what you are thinking, but don�t worry. Nothing happened last night. Your virtue is still safe.� The note was simply signed Brian with a small smile face below it.
Moire sat bewildered. Her head was muddled and not just from drinking too much the night before. She remembered that there had been another argument with her father. His pressure for her to seduce Brian caused a yelling match. At which she lashed out at his unsavory attacks on the landowners. He wouldn�t listen and insinuated that if Brian didn�t comply soon he could suffer the same fate as Tom Wilson. After the words were said, Colin realized what he had disclosed in a fit of anger and Moire stormed out. It was true! He had the Wilson mare killed. She had no proof but she had heard the threatening words. Colin had called after her but she took off in her car. She remembered pulling up at the small restaurant but that was all. However, considering her state this morning she must have tried to drown her sorrows. But why was she here? It was apparent how she got here but why didn�t Brian take her home?
Moire slipped on the robe and found the aspirin and a glass of tomato juice on the tray. She grinned. Brian must have been the victim of a hangover or two himself she thought as she took the pills and drank the juice. Her stomach felt a bit queasy but at the same time growled. Then Moire remembered she didn�t have any dinner. She poured a cup of coffee and sipped it. It was strong and just what she needed to set her right again. She broke off a piece of muffin and headed into the bathroom.
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Brian had a loose hold on the colt as he led him around the training oval. He talked the horse through the paces, leading only with a tug of the rope and a whip. It was late morning and he had been up since five, spending the first three hours overseeing the workout for Lyric�s Dream. The cool spell they had experience earlier in the week had been replaced with another wave of hot weather, so he had resorted once again to have all the intense training finished before the sun reached its apex. He guided the horse through the exercise coaxing him with gentle words and a strong hand. The colt showed promise. Maybe not as much as Lyric�s Dream but if trained properly he could find himself in the money in some future races.
With his prompting the colt changed his pace from a walk to a canter. Brian gave him a freer reign as the horse moved out along the fence enjoying the freedom of a quicker gait. As man and horse let the routine flow, Brian�s mind wandered. There had been only some minor altercations with Colin since his return but nothing directly at Brian. The other owners reported some destruction of property but nothing as tragic as the death of Tom Wilson�s mare. Brian continually checked feed and water for tampering and with the security system in place he felt certain his property was safe, for now anyway. All this brought Moire and her escapade of the evening before to mind. Whatever had transpired between her and Colin had definitely triggered her sojourn into intoxication. He had checked on her when he woke and then again after breakfast. She slept peacefully and his heart beat quickly as he gazed on her sleeping form. He was treading a fine line, but her refusal to go home last night, gave a little more credibility to her stance against her father.
Brian pulled on the rope and called to the colt. The horse responded by slowing down to a walk and then a complete stop. He cooed words of praise to the animal as he rubbed his face and then gave him a couple of carrots for a good workout. As Brian turned to lead the horse back to the barn for a rub down he saw Moire leaning on the fence and a small smile spread across his face. He had planned to check on her again and was happy to see her not only awake but dressed and looking fairly well considering her condition last night. He had been correct with his guess about the clothes and noticed she had on one of his UK caps to shield her eyes. As he approached the fence Moire�s lips curled in a weak smile as they eyed each other.
�You�re awake,� Brian said as he stopped in front of her. A closer look gave him a better idea of her condition. She still looked a bit peaked but otherwise none too worse for wear.
�He�s beautiful,� Moire commented as she rubbed the horse�s nose and he whinnied softly at the caress. Brian went to give him another carrot when Moire took it from him. �Here you go you beautiful boy,� she said softly as the colt eagerly took the offering from her. �You both looked like you were enjoying yourselves.�
�How long were you watching?� Brian walked towards the gate and Moire followed along.
�Long enough.� Brian led the horse back to the barn and left him with one of the hands instructing him to brush him down well and water him. Moire watched as again Brian talked softly to the animal then turned to join her.
�So,� he said as they left the barn, �how are you?� He started back towards the house when Moire stopped him.
�Brian, what happened last night?�
�You don�t remember?� She shook her head. �Come, let�s sit up on the porch out of the sun.� She followed him up the steps and they settled in the low wooden deck chairs.
�Only that I had a fight with my father and left. I doubtlessly had too much to drink, but how come you brought me here?�
�After you got sick��
�Sick? Oh my God. Where?�
�What�s the last you remember?� Her memory loss proved that her consumption was greater than he realized.
�We fought again, it was worse this time though and I stormed out. I stopped at this small restaurant to get a glass of wine but I must have had something much stronger.� She removed the hat letting her hair fall around her shoulders.
�I believe it was scotch.�
�Oh God,� she shook her head, �I hate that stuff.� She laughed at her desire to blot out the argument. �You said I got sick.�
�Uh huh. I was leaving the restaurant and you were arguing with the barkeep and you toppled to the floor. I put you in my car and about half way to your place we had to stop. You soiled your clothes and that�s when you said you couldn�t go home. I didn�t know what else to do so I brought you here.� As Brian related the incidents Moire tried to piece together the events, but her brain was still confused. �I couldn�t very well leave you on the front steps of your place, so I came home. I removed your clothes and rinsed them out but I think I may have ruined them.� He shrugged his shoulders.
�Thank you. Seems you have come to my rescue quite a bit lately.�
�Anyone would have done it. No thanks are necessary.� They both sat quietly for a few minutes and then they both spoke at once causing them to laugh. �Go ahead,� he said.
�Um, I hate to ask, but would it be all right if I stayed here for a while today. I�m not ready to go home yet.� He was not expecting her request.
�Sure, I was going to ask you if you were hungry and wanted to stay for lunch at least.� He wasn�t ready for her to leave. Her face was void of makeup and her clothes were simple unlike her usual design attire but she affected him in ways he never felt before. One could only hope it was divine providence that kept throwing them together because without the help of the Almighty they were only asking for trouble.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Moire found herself sitting once again in the small dining alcove off the kitchen sharing lunch. She insisted on helping prepare the meal, so while Brian made the more than ample sandwiches she put together a simple salad to accompany them. There seemed to be a cloud hanging over them as they ate and Moire fretted over how to explain to Brian the quarrel she had with her father the night before. She could feel his eyes on her and when she looked up he averted his gaze to his plate. Moire put down her sandwich and cleared her throat.
�Brian,� he looked up. The light was gone from her eyes. To say he wasn�t curious about what she had argued with her father about was an understatement, but he wasn�t going to force the issue. However, her silence while they ate indicated it was plaguing her.
�I know you are in an awkward position, so don�t say or do anything that you will regret later.� He picked up his fork and played with the salad on his plate.
�I want to tell you. I need to tell you.� She ran her hand along her forehead partly because she wasn't sure how to relate what she surmised and partly because her head still ached from her adolescent behavior the night before. �He wants supremacy in the valley. It�s all about the land, nothing personal against you or the others. I don�t understand him. We have more than grandfather ever dreamed, but he�s not happy.�
�Not personal,� Brian sneered as he sat back in his chair. �Tell that to Tom Wilson.� At his comment Moire�s eyes grew large. He saw the change in her and it was evident that she knew something. �What is it?� She lowered her eyes. �Moire?�
He had to know; yet she couldn�t tell him the real cause of her dispute with her father. They had reached some kind of plateau in this precarious relationship and Moire didn�t want to jeopardize whatever trust was beginning to be established. �Daddy said that if you didn�t comply to his demands that you could suffer the same fate as Tom Wilson.� Brian snarled at the revelation. He wondered what possessed Colin to admit to the demise of Tom�s mare.
�He actually said that?� Moire nodded.
�I walked out, so I never gave him a chance to explain. But there is no doubt in my mind that he was involved somehow, and it frightens me.� She pushed her plate away and stood up looking out the window. She felt Brian come up behind her and she turned to look into his gentle eyes. �I don�t want anything to happen to you.�
�Nothing is going to happen. I�ve been extremely careful and all my hands are keeping their eyes and ears open. Come back and finish your lunch." He took her by the arm but she didn�t move. He looked to see her brow furrowed worry written all over her face.
"This isn�t a game with him, Brian. He will win and I�m scared for you."
"You really are worried about me, aren�t you?" She nodded.
"I didn�t want to believe that he would take such drastic measures, but hearing his warning about you was a sign that I don�t know him any more. Watching you earlier with the colt made me realize that it�s been years since my father has actually worked with any of his horses. They are just moneymakers. He has lost sight of the fact that they are living, breathing beings." She turned back to the window. Brian understood her predicament. There was no concrete proof of Colin�s involvement with the demise of the mare, so to bring in the authorities at this point was futile. It was Moire�s word against her father�s at this point and Brian was fairly certain Colin would convince her otherwise. She loved her father, even though at this moment she was unsure what she actually felt. But no matter what her short-term feelings were, they were family and Brian knew that where family was concerned it was too hard to turn your back on them.
�What are you really afraid of Moire?� She looked up and there was a hint of tears in her eyes.
�I know he�s competitive. Winning isn�t a hope with him, but a way of life. And yet for all he�s accomplished, he�s not satisfied. He keeps saying he�s doing all this for me, but it doesn�t matter to me whether we own 50 acres or 1,000. He likes the chase, he feeds off it for some reason, and when he�s achieved his goal he has to find something new.� Moire moved away from Brian, as if by distancing herself she could keep him from feeling her father�s wrath. �I should go.� She started towards the back door when Brian stopped her.
�Moire wait.� She looked at him, his hand clutching her forearm. �I�ah heck, if you have to leave now fine, but you are welcome here whenever you want.� She looked stunned at his invitation. �I know that to pursue a relationship with you, is probably the craziest thing in the world, but I can�t help but feel that there is a greater force at work. So if you, ah, need anything�� Brian stammered over the words not sure exactly what he was trying to tell her.
�It�s okay. I understand. I may not agree with my father, but being his daughter does hinder us being even friends.� He tried to explain further when she stopped him. �Please, be careful. I just fear that he may step up his tactics.� Her worst fear was that next time it might not be a horse that died.
�I�ll be fine. Let�s finish lunch.� He coaxed her again but Moire shook her head.
�No. I�ve taken advantage of your hospitality long enough. I better go home. I�m going to have to face him sooner or later.� She shrugged her shoulders. What she would tell him Moire hadn�t decided but she didn�t want to bring Brian into it if at all possible. �If it is not too much trouble could you take me back to my car.�
�If that�s what you want, of course.� He led the way out of the house.
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Chapter 13
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~ Disclaimer ~
All the legal stuff. I don't know the Backstreet Boys or anyone involved with the Backstreet Boys.
This is fiction. Stories that were in my head that I typed out for your pleasure to read.