Mystic Mountains

Englishman for? You know as well as me that I wouldn't give him the time of day."
    "Bella, Bella." He drew in a long sad breath then let it out slowly, touching her cheek with a finger. She backed away and he swore under his breath. "I 've got eyes in my head. I've seen the way your eyes follow him around. Seen the way you wait for him to throw you a kind word or a fleeting look. I'm surprised you didn't jump at the offer to go with him to the ball; you've been begging him to look your way."
    "You 're mad." Cheeks glowing, she pushed at him with both hands. "I don't know where you get your ideas. Just because I can't have deeper feelings for you, you think I hanker after him."
    "I 'm no madder than you. An' let me tell you this, Bella, don't expect me to be here to pick up the pieces when you fall apart."
    Rarely had she seen him show anger. The veins in his temples stood out and his thick neck was taut. Isabella pushed past him and fled to the privy. What had come over Dougal? Her dear friend was turning against her.
    In her room she pulled on her nightgown, then restlessly prowled about. Perhaps what annoyed her most about Dougal's outburst was the grain of truth in his words. She hadn't wanted to upset Dougal. Why did he have to be so possessive? He would always hold a special place in her heart, but she could never see him as a lover, could never see herself spending the rest of her life sharing heartaches and precious moments with him. No, when her mind recklessly allowed itself to wander down forbidden paths, the shadowy figure who always shared her most intimate thoughts, yearnings and hopes had a mane of gold and flashing eyes the color of the same precious metal.
    "Idiot!" She pulled the pins from her hair and began to brush it. With a sensuous movement she lifted it from her shoulders and let it slide through her fingers. Funny how the length of one 's hair had such a remarkable effect on how you felt. For the first few months here she'd felt no different from the boy she knew she resembled with her cropped hair and bony figure. Now she imagined herself to be almost voluptuous, with her rounded shape and her longer tresses. Her hair shone as it never had. Taking a clump she touched it to her lips, loving the silky slide of it over them.
    With an impatient shrug she tossed the brush on the bed and threw her hair back. Dragging in a long breath she went to stare into the speckled mirror on the small bedside chest. Plain, was what she was. Why fool herself, she would probably end up with Dougal, for he was the only man who would ever spare her the time of day, apart from those who only had lustful thoughts and would try to take any female they could. Tiger Carstairs was heading for the top of the social ladder. Likely she would do the same in his shoes.
    The others were right, she was ungrateful. Any girl in her right mind would take Dougal and thank their stars they had a good man who worshipped them and was willing to do anything for them. But deep down she kn ew if she gave Dougal what he wanted, the day would come when he would hate her.
    It was stifling in here, the ceiling and walls closing in on her. She'd never felt less like sleep in her life. Some strange emotion ate at her, making her restless and dissatisfied.
    Easing the door open she went into the dim kitchen. It would be nice to go outside, to walk in the darkness alone, but Dougal would see her, and she had no desire to meet him again this night. And even after nine months in this new land she still had a fear of the many odd creatures roaming here. Only last week Tiger killed a snake that found its way into the kitchen, petrifying her and Thelma.
    Standing near the window she stared out at the big white oval of a moon. It sent eerie shadows slanting over the yard, turning the familiar garden into a place of mystery.
    Sighing, she rubbed her hands up and down her arms, then went to sit in the chair Tiger had made his own. Smoothing her palms over the armrests Isabella pulled her feet beneath her and rested her head back. She yawned, then closed her eyes. Beneath her dropped lids she imagined his strong body beneath hers, could almost feel his muscled arms about her as he cradled her close to his hard chest.
    Isabella jerked her eyes open, wondering what had woken her. Tilting her head, she heard one of the dogs softly whining outside the door. Better get to her room. The last thing she wanted was Tiger coming in to find her in his chair.
    She