The Bargain Read Free

Narvel. The baby hasn't turned."
    The blank veneer of his face slipped. His clear blue eyes hardened. "That's it?"  
    She nodded.  
    "If that's your only caution, dismiss it. There's still plenty of time. The babe will find the right way."
    Precious chewed her bottom lip. She was a guilty coward for making him feel unwanted and not telling him how she felt. She tugged on her collar and straightened. "No one listened to me when I said Miss Eliza was in trouble. I'm telling you that baby should've turned by now."  
    A harsh sigh blasted from his flared nostrils. He looked to the ceiling and whipped a hand through his thick hair. "I've checked on her. The babe and Mrs. Narvel will keep until I get back in a few days."
    He was going away, and not for just a couple of hours. Did rejection push him out of his wits? Did he want to make a wife out of Precious that much?

    Gareth stared at the most frustrating woman of his acquaintance and counted the shallow breaths filling her bosom. Goodness, why did she have to be so stubborn and beautiful with that flared nose of hers? Those full lips tucked into a dot. She needn't make herself ill over Mrs. Narvel when there were other things like the Xhosa tribe pushing everyone into the bay cutting the life out of Port Elizabeth. Those were things to fear.  
    He sighed, spread his legs apart and held to attention, as if he addressed an admiral. "I have to leave. I will return in three days."
    "Three days." Her eyes grew big like saucers. They showed fear, an emotion he didn't think the brave girl possessed.  
    What was going on in her head? Gareth had never understood Eliza or any other female. He shrugged and rotated to the door.
    She sped her steps behind him. Her fingers clasped onto his rapier slowing his exit. "No, don't go. I…We need you here."
    He half pivoted as he slid her palms from the fennel of his blade. "What are you doing?"
    She shook her head hysterically, but that wasn't Precious. "You are not listening."
    Tapping away her fingers, he almost smiled. Maybe he wasn't listening. It was hard to do as he watched the same lips that had turned him away. "You don't touch a man's greatest weapon, unless you're prepared to use it."
    Those eyes, lovely and dark, swirled and popped wider. She pulled her hands back and tucked them beneath her grey shawl. "Babies don't follow a schedule."  
    "Then you will know what to do. You've told me again and again you don't need me, Precious Jewell. Why start now?"
    Her voice sounded strangled. "So now you are leaving me just like you did with Eliza?"
    Oh, the girl knew how to throw a dagger to the heart. Maybe he should just give her his rapier too and let her finish him. He pushed at his hair and tried to come up with a softer way to reply. This could be their last meeting. Anything could happen in the wild. He opened his mouth, but the pout hanging on her frowning lips stripped away his caution. "Woman, this isn't the same. I've a colony to save. And why would Port Elizabeth matter to you? Eliza only cared because she was my wife. What is your reason?"
    Her gaze lowered. "Because I do, and I want to help you. But stay. Let's keep Mrs. Narvel safe then—"
    "No. Not good enough. I'll see you in three days."
    She sprang forward again and clasped his arm creasing the sleeve of his blue jacket. "Where are you going? At least tell me that."
    "To the blacksmith now and then off to the inland settlements. The chief's daughter is part Dutch. They may be hiding there."
    She nodded, grasped him by the coat lapel. Face to face, gaze to gaze, he saw fury and hurt and something else in those magical irises of hers. Breathing heavy and long as if he'd stolen the air from her lungs, she crossed the inches that separated them and kissed his cheek. Turning, she fled and almost tripped as she ran up the stairs.  
    With a shake of the head, he trudged out of the house and stood on the short portico, if one could call it that. He rested his hand on the thin