Lady in the Mist - Laurie Alice Eakes [91]
She wished she could lean back against him. She couldn’t, not with so many people in front of her appearing ready to accuse Dominick of something.
“There was a snake,” she said. “A water moccasin. He killed it.” She gestured down the beach to the lone basket remaining beside a triangular dark blot—the snake’s severed head. “It was in my basket.”
“Tabbie.” Raleigh surged toward her, head forward, rather like the snake had done. “Come home with us. Momma will make you a dinner. You”—he glared at Dominick—“can go back to your master.”
“Only if Tabitha tells me to.” Dominick’s arm tightened around her. “Otherwise, she and I have matters to discuss.”
One or two onlookers remained beside the tide pool. The rest had wandered down the beach to inspect the snake’s head. Someone exclaimed, “A clean cut.”
Tabitha shivered to think that the hand resting on her right arm, just below her shoulder, had held a knife that could sever the head of a human without much difficulty. A good man to have as one’s friend, as one’s protector.
A dangerous enemy, bondsman or not.
“Does your master know you carry a knife capable of cutting off the head of a snake?” Raleigh demanded.
“I can’t see where it’s any of your concern,” Dominick drawled. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’d like to retrieve my basket, our crabs, and my coat.”
He strode off down the beach toward the jetty and the larger crowd. Tabitha felt cold where he’d been close to her, despite the blazing afternoon sun. She wanted to watch him, ensure that no one annoyed him or caused him trouble. But she sensed he had deliberately left her alone with Raleigh, and for that she loved him more than ever.
“How did a snake get into your basket?” Raleigh asked.
“I have no idea. It was covered.” Tabitha glanced at the others nearby. “Good afternoon, Mr. Parks. How’s that new grandson of yours?”
The middle-aged gentleman beamed. “He’s right fine, Miz Tabitha. My boy’ll be proud when he comes home.”
“If he comes home,” Raleigh muttered.
Tabitha shot him a warning glare.
“We need to be honest about this with men like him around.” He jutted his chin at Dominick. “He struts about like he’s the mayor instead of a slave. Who else would be causing trouble for men in these parts?”
“Raleigh, stop it.” Tabitha cast an anxious glance at the onlookers then Dominick.
She desperately wanted to believe Dominick was not an English spy come to cause trouble in the seaboard states to foment war. No one else seemed to think ill of him at the moment. Someone had picked up the snake’s head, and others gazed at it and Dominick with admiration. As for Dominick himself, he was smiling down at Phoebe Lee. Her laughter rang up the tide line, and the ruffles on her pink parasol fluttered in the breeze.
The idea of that elegant young lady a midwife made Tabitha curl her lip.
“Think it’s more like trouble for the females in these parts he’s causing,” Mr. Parks said with a chuckle. “That’s the parson’s niece. She’s quite a flirt, even for a widow.”
“He’s just trouble all around.” Raleigh’s jaw muscles bunched. “Please, Tabbie, will you come up to the house?”
“Is your head bothering you?” She circled him to inspect the bandage. It was clean and secured in a band around his head.
Her action drew attention to Raleigh. Several people surrounded him, asking him what happened.
Tabitha slipped away with a quiet, “I’ll visit tomorrow,” and made her way down the beach to Dominick’s side.
Phoebe turned her attention to Tabitha. “Miss Eckles, so good to see you again. Have you thought any more about my question the other day?”
“No,” Tabitha said a little too crisply.
“I see.” Phoebe’s face fell.
“I mean, no, I haven’t thought about it,” Tabitha hastened to add, “not no, I won’t do it.”
Yet the idea made her feel hollow inside, as though she had already lost the only man she wanted to marry and provide with daughters—and sons.
“Do please take it into consideration.” Phoebe ducked her head. “I’m quite