Guardian Angel - Garwood Julie - Страница 53

Colin didn't seem to have the strength to go on. He sagged against Caine, giving him most of his weight. Caine continued to hold him close while he waited for his brother to regain his composure. "Take your time, Colin," he whispered. "Just take your time."

When Colin nodded, Caine stepped back to have another look at his brother. The dimple was back in Caine's cheek and tears had formed in his eyes. "Colin, you look like a pirate, too," he announced.

"Your hair's as long as Pagan's," he added with a nod and a scowl in Nathan's direction.

Nathan scowled back. "I haven't told him anything, Colin," Nathan said. "But your astute brother has it

all figured out. He knows I'm Pagan and I sent my little sister to whore for me."

Jade wished the floor would open up and swallow her whole. Her face felt like it was on fire. "Nathan,

if Caine doesn't kill you, I very well might," she threatened.

Colin was staring at her. When he started laughing, she knew exactly what he was thinking. "Didn't I tell you…" he began.

"Colin, do sit down," she commanded. "You must get your weight off that leg. It's too soon for you to

be walking."

Colin wasn't about to forget Nathan's horrid comment. "I knew you and Caine would…" He let out a sigh. "I did warn you, didn't I?"

"Colin, I don't want to hear another word about Caine and me," she shouted. "It's over, finished. Do you understand? Where is Winters?" she added in a rush, hoping to turn his attention. "The physician should be at our side."

"Winters was with you?" Caine asked.

"Pagan convinced him to take care of me aboard the Emerald," Colin explained. He hobbled over to the settee and sat down. "He was a little resistant at first, but Pagan can be very persuasive. And in the end,

I think Winters had the time of his life."

"Well, where is he?" Jade asked.

"We let him go home," Colin answered. "Now quit fretting. It's just going to take time for the leg to heal."

Jade pushed a pillow behind Colin's back, then propped his feet up on a large round footstool.

"I believe I will order some refreshments for you, Colin," she said. "You look too pale to me. The walk from the drive tired you out, didn't it?"

She didn't give him time to answer, but picked up her skirts and started for the drawing room doors. Caine blocked her path. "You aren't going anywhere."

She refused to look up at him as she tried to move around him. Caine took hold of her arm. The grip

was stinging. "Sit down, Jade."

"Jade?"

Colin said her name in a surprised whisper.

"I have allowed Caine to call me by my given name."

"Allowed?" Nathan asked.

"What do you call her?" Caine asked his brother.

"She has several nicknames," Colin answered. "I call her Red most of the time, don't I, Jade?"

When she nodded, Colin continued on. "Nathan calls her Brat all the time. He has a particular fondness for that nickname."

His slow wink increased Jade's blush. "Black Harry calls me Dolphin," Colin went on to explain. "It's meant as an insult, too."

Nathan shook his head. "Dolphins are gentle, Colin. It wasn't meant as an insult."

Caine let out a weary sigh. "Who is Black Harry?"

It was suddenly hitting him full force, this amazing miracle. He found his strength deserting him. Caine dragged Jade over to the wingback chair that faced the settee, sat down, and forced her with his hold to sit on the arm.

He stared at his brother all the while. "I still cannot believe you're alive," he said.

"You have Pagan to thank for that," Colin replied. "And I can't believe you're so calm. I was certain you'd go into a rage when you found out I made Jade promise not to tell you. Caine, there's so much

I have to explain. First, however, I do believe Nathan's sister has something she wants to tell you."

Jade was shaking her head vehemently. "I have nothing to say to him, Colin. If you feel like enlightening him on all the facts, do so after I've left."

Caine wasn't paying any attention to her rantings. He let go of her arm, leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees, and said, "I want you to tell me who did this to you. Give me the name, Colin. I'll do the rest."

Jade took advantage of Caine's inattention. She once again tried to leave. Caine never took his gaze away from his brother when he grabbed hold of her hand. "I believe I mentioned that you aren't going anywhere."

Nathan looked incredulous. "Why haven't you put your knife through him yet?"

She shrugged before answering. "Colin would have been upset."

"What's taking Black Harry so long?" Nathan asked Colin then. He strolled over to the settee, took his place next to Colin, and propped his feet up on the same wide stool.

"He'll be a while yet," Colin explained. "He lost his spectacles."

Both men started laughing. Jade was horrified. "Black Harry's here? In England?"

Her voice shook. Only Nathan seemed to understand the reason for her distress. "He is," he announced

in a hard voice. "And when I tell him…"

"No, Nathan, you mustn't tell him anything," she cried out. She tried to get out of Caine's grasp. He tightened his hold in reaction.

"Who is Black Harry?" Caine asked, ignoring Jade's struggles.

"He's the uncle," Colin answered. "He took care of Jade after her father died."

Caine was trying to filter all this information through his mind. The way Jade had reacted to the news

that Harry was here indicated she was afraid of him.

"How long was she with him?" he asked Colin.

"Years," Colin answered.

Caine turned to Nathan. "Where the hell were you when she was growing up? Out robbing people blind?"

"Damn it, Colin, a man can only take so much," Nathan muttered. "If he keeps it up, I'm going to kill him, even if it means losing your friendship."

Colin was still too exhausted from the walk to take part in the conversation. He wanted to rest for just a few more minutes before he started his explanation. With a loud yawn meant to draw attention, he said, "No one's going to kill anyone until this has all been straightened out." He leaned back against the cushions and closed his eyes.