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"The cane disappeared. If I had said anything you would have demanded to see it. Then
when I couldn't produce it I'm sure you would have defended him and say I was accusing
him unfairly."
"True," admitted Alex. She brushed her hand across her skirt. Her hand trembled against
the linen fabric.
"Are you all right?" asked Trey.
"Huh? Oh, yeah. I'm fine. Just a little shook up. It's a little disconcerting to have a team
of horses running down your throat," said Alex. "I know better than to step out into traffic,
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I always look both ways. I don't know how I missed them."
"They just suddenly appeared, Alex, as fast as they moved, you wouldn't have spotted
them until you were almost half way across the street."
"If Andrew hadn't been there," Alex locked eyes with Trey. "I would have been killed."
Trey broke her gaze. He didn't want to think about that right now. He was just grateful
she was alive and well. Something he planned to show her the moment they got home.
JESSIE STEPPED out of the new barn as they alighted from the carriage. "Mister
Trey, somein' happened."
He stopped in his tracks. "Aunt Rose?"
"No sir," said Jessie, rubbing one wrist nervously. "It's Blue Thunder."
"My horse?"
Jessie nodded.
Trey strode past him, heading toward the opened doors of the barn. "What is wrong with
my horse?"
"He's dead, sir."
"Dead?" Trey started to run toward the barn.
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Alex rushed to keep up. The stench of blood assailed her when she entered the enclosure.
She swallowed hard, praying her stomach wouldn't revolt. Just thinking of what she might
see already had it rolling.
Peeking around Trey's back she gulped. "Oh God." The sight she viewed of a few
seconds would be stamped in her mind forever.
Someone beheaded the horse. It reminded her of the scene in the Godfather. Blood
covered the stall, the hay, and the saddle she saved from the fire. She noticed a slight
glimmer on the dirt floor of the barn.
No one paid any attention to her so she walked over and stooped down. It turned out to
be a piece of silver. Brushing hay away, she found another cane, this one without a casing,
revealing a bloodied sword beneath. Alex closed her eyes. She knew how Trey would react
the moment he saw it, but before she had a chance to hide it Trey turned around looking for
her.
A glint of light reflected off the blade and into Trey's eyes. "What is that?"
Alex stared down at the sword. "The murder weapon."
Trey reached her in two steps. A growl escaped his lips as he tore it out of her hands. His
anger allowed him to bury the sword deep in the dirt under her feet. "I'm going to kill him."
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Without another word he spun on his heels and strode toward the house.
Alex stared at his retreating back. "Jessie?"
"I think he's serious, Miss Alexandra."
Alex knew she had to stop him. "Jessie, he can't leave this plantation in that mood. If we
have to tie him up and throw him in the root cellar."
"Are you saying we needs to chase him down?"
"I have one idea that might work better, but I'll need everyone out of the house, and no
visitors until you hear from me. I'll have to pull out all the big guns."
"Guns?"
"A figure of speech, Jessie. It means I'll use any means to stop him from going after
Andrew." She started walking toward the house.
"Oh." A big grin spread across Jessie's face. "Oh."
He headed toward the back of the house to fulfill Miss Alexandra's request.
ALEX FOUND Trey on the porch, cleaning his rifle. "Trey."
"No. Nothing you could do or say will stop me," said Trey. He didn't look up from
working on the rifle.
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"Nothing?" she asked quietly.
Trey looked up. "Noth__"
Her dress slipped off of one shoulder. She undid most of the buttons while she walked
toward him.
He stood up to shield her from prying eyes. "Get in the house."
"Only if you will come with me." She grabbed his hand and pulled it toward her.
"Alexandra, what are you doing?" The spark of desire appeared in his eyes.
"Seducing my husband."
He pulled his hand free. "He killed my prize horse."
"And he saved my life." Alex pulled one sleeve then the other down. "I want to celebrate
that, with you, now."
"Here?" he asked, looking around.
"On the porch, why not?" She saw the spark become a fire. Ah, she just might have hit
on one of his sexual fantasies. A quick push and a rustle of fabric sent her skirt to the floor.
"Someone could see us."
She smiled at him as she worked the strings of her corset loose. "No one will catch us.
I've made sure of that."
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"Is this the same modest woman who squeals when I carry her into the house because I
want to make love?" Trey turned her around to help loosen the strings.
A faint blush filled her cheeks.
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