All the Wrong Reasons

Part 31

Chapter 31

Cassie bit her lip and pulled the letter back.  “Father does not need to know. Nothing has really happened.”

Ramsey snatched the letter from her hands and sent her a glare.  “Getting shot is nothing?”

“Fine,” she replied while rolling her eyes, “being shot was something, but that happened a week ago.  Nothing has happened since then, if you eliminate the letters.”

“Is she always like this?” Colin asked in frustration as he watched the two pull the letter back and forth.

Ramsey glanced over at him and nodded.  “With her own safety, yes, she is like this.  If it was someone else who may be in danger, she would ride to her father herself and ask for help.”

“If it was an important matter,” she huffed while trying to grab the note once more, “I would send for him.  My father is getting old; worrying him is not good for his health.”

Ramsey handed Colin the letter before Cassie could get grip on it.  “Uncle is the healthiest man I know.  I would not be surprised if he outlived us all.  Now, Colin will give the letter to one of the workers to bring to your father.”

Colin nodded at Ramsey and began to walk off, but a hand on his arm stopped him.  Looking over into his wife’s pleading eyes, he sighed.  How was he supposed to resist her now that he knew he loved her?  Love seemed to do an outrageous thing to him.  It made him want to make her happy.  Colin had never wanted to make anyone but himself happy, but here he wanted to please his wife.

“Please, I beg you do not send the letter,” she whispered.

His resolve was weakening.  Think, he told himself, what would make her see reason?  A sly smile wanted to cross his face, but he kept it away.

“Cassandra, think about the harm this person could cause the others.  If you are not worried about yourself, think of Cooper.  What if the man did something to Cooper?”

Her eyes widened.  “You do not think he would do you?”

“I do not know, and that is the problem.  We do not know who this person is or what they plan on doing.  The fastest way to find out that information would be to enlist your father’s help.”

“You are right,” she said with unmistakable reluctance.  Colin watched the play of emotions flicker in her eyes and flash on her face before she settled on a grin.  It was not a pleasant smile one would send another.  This was a grin that sent chills down his spine. 

“What is it?”

Her eyes darted towards Ramsey.  “Do you really think that allowing one of the workers to bring the letter to Father would be a good idea?  We do not know who the man is; he could be a worker.  I think we should send someone who we trust.”

Colin saw the humor in her eyes and quickly caught on to what the little minx was doing.  She was suggesting that Ramsey take the letter, knowing that the boy was deathly afraid of horses. 

“You’re right,” Ramsey told her.  “Peirce would be the best bet.”

Cassie shook her head with a helpless expression Colin knew was false.  “He is the only one who can cook.  Without him, we would starve.”

“Then who shall we send?” Ramsey asked and Colin almost felt sorry for the lad.

“You, of course.”

Ramsey’s face paled as he shook his head vigorously.  He glanced towards the stable and shuddered.  “I think Cassie is right.  The letter is not important.”

“No, Ramsey.  The letter needs to be sent.  Think of the wellbeing of all these people,” Cassie said with a tiny smile.  “You would not leave them to their own devices would you?”

Ramsey sent another look towards the horses.  “I-I can do it.  I’m taking Dread.”

“I would love if you took Dread, but you cannot.”

Colin bit his cheek to keep the laughter in.  What excuse would his wife use this time to get Ramsey to ride not only a horse, but the worst horse imaginable?

“Why can I not?  The stallion is a fine beast; healthy too,” Ramsey said in protest.

“Do you remember last time you tried to leave with Fury’s stallion?”

“Yes,” Ramsey grumbled.  “This means I will have to take the devil itself to give a letter to your father, who may take his anger out on me.  You know what they say about the messenger.  What are you trying to do, Cassandra, get me killed?”

“It would save me from having to do it,” she told him with a nod.

Colin shook his head at the two’s antics and stepped forward to hand the letter to Ramsey.  “Peirce should be right out with any supplies you may need on your journey.  Keep the letter safe, please, and do not worry about your fear of horses.  This is the perfect opportunity to rid yourself of it.”

“Yes, Ramsey, Colin makes a point.  What better way to ease your fear than to spend days alone with the beast?”

“Cassandra,” Colin chided while pulling her towards him, “leave the man alone.  What he is doing is noble.  I do not think I would be so calm if my fear came true.”

She looked up at him and smiled.  “What is your greatest fear?”

Colin’s breath caught in his throat.  If someone had asked him what his greatest fear was only weeks earlier, the answer would have been easy.  That was before he had met Cassandra; it was before she had changed his life.  Taking a deep breath, he replied, “Losing you.”

He watched her amused features turn serious and tears water her eyes.  Leaning up, she pressed her lips to his.  Colin immediately shifted his body to face her and tightened his grip.  She kept it chaste while he wanted to deepen it.  Frustration coursed through him.  Why wouldn’t she let him in? 

A throat cleared.  “As much as I find this sight adorable,” a voice said with sarcasm coating every word, “I would prefer not to see my cousin being groped, especially in front of all the workers.”

Colin jerked back from her expecting to be admonished, but she just smiled at him.  “If only we were alone,” she whispered while turning to face Ramsey.

As she tried to pull away, Colin shifted her closer to his body.  There was no way he was letting her move from her spot.  He hadn’t found the kiss embarrassing, but if she moved, the men would find out his reaction to one simple kiss. 

“Y-you should be on your way,” Cassie stuttered sounding flustered.

Ramsey looked at the two of them in suspicion before nodding his head.  “I shall get the supplies from Peirce and be on my way.  If you do not mind me asking, what will the two of you do while I am gone?”

Colin opened his mouth, but Cassie did not give him a chance to answer.  “We will be working on the manor.  The men seem to have the village under control.  Colin and I will clean and sew.”

“Sew?” Colin mumbled.  “You expect me to sew?”

“I forgot.  It is only women who can do those things.  Men do not have the skill.”

Ramsey shook his head at them and walked off.  Colin turned their bodies and began walking towards the manor with his arms still wrapped tightly around her.  “Men can do anything women can.”

She smiled at him.  Her eyes twinkled with happiness.  “Prove it.”

“I will,” he promised while placing a kiss on her forehead.  “Just wait, I will prove to you that I can do anything you can do.”

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