Free Petals on the River by Kathleen E. Woodiwiss Page B

motioned for the elderly vendor to bring a cup of
    cider to her.
     
    Shemaine's initial hunger and thirst had been sated before she realized
    they were attracting the attention of nearly everyone who passed along
    the lane.   Some of the villagers had paused nearby to stare in
    slackjawed wonder.   A few seemed wary of looking at all and tried to
    hide the fact.
     
    Others were nosy enough to step around to where they could get a better
    view.   A handful of British soldiers, standing some distance off,
    laughed at remarks being made by several in their number as they eyed
    her openly.
     
    It was not difficult for Shemaine to imagine what people were thinking
    or even saying.   Lacking shoes and with the stiff breezes snatching her
    tattered skirts and unkempt hair, she could believe she looked as wild
    as some red-haired heathen.   But she noticed that whenever any of the
    townspeople caught sight of her, their natural reaction was to glance at
    her escort to see what sort of person might be with her.   Facial
    expressions registering varying degrees of astonishment became almost
    predictable the very moment the onlookers recognized Gage Thornton. Just
    as the other couples who had fled aboard the London Pride, they seemed
    suddenly intent on making good their escape before they fell under his
    grim stare.
     
    Gage nodded a curt greeting to several male acquaintances, but they
    seemed almost flustered to have been caught gawking.   Without giving him
    more than a disturbed glance, they hurried on their way. Finding no
    tangible reason to challenge them, Gage settled a curious gaze upon
    Shemaine.   He was hardly surprised by the stares she received from the
    men.   They'd have to have been blind not to see the girl's beauty behind
    all the grime.   She was as delicately boned as his dead wife, but that
    was where the similarity ended.   Compared to Victoria, Shemaine was
    almost vividly hued, shorter by several degrees and generally smaller,
    except that she had more of a bosom than his wife had been endowed with.
     
    "Shemaine O'Hearn," he murmured thoughtfully, hardly realizing that he
    had spoken until she glanced up inquiringly.
     
    "Sir?"
     
    Gage could think of no credible excuse for staring at her so intently
    and harkened back to his earlier conjecture.   'Irish, eh?"
     
    The emerald eyes flashed with sudden indignation.   So!   Shemaine
    mentally jeered, Gage Thomton will be like all the rest of the
    Englishmen who detest the Irish!   Raising her chin to an imperial level,
    she replied with emphatic crispness, "Aye, sir!   The name is O'Hearn!
    Shemaine Patrice O'Hearn!   Daughter of Shemus Patrick and Camille
    O'Hearn!   Half Irish I am, to be sure, sir, and half English, if it
    matters a wit to you colonials!"
     
    The dark brows jutted upward in curious surprise.   However innocent his
    remark had been, Gage realized he had ignited that passionate spirit
    which the girl had warned him about.   "There's no crime in being one or
    the other, Shemaine, or even both," he replied, seeking to allay her
    suspicions and resentment.   "But tell me this, if you would.   Annie said
    you are a lady, and though I've seen evidence of that fact, I cannot
    help but wonder how you came to be aboard a prison ship."
     
    Shemaine's anger dwindled rapidly as she gleaned some evidence of his
    tolerance, but she was slow to answer.   It seemed she had tried a
    thousand times to convince Ned, the thieftaker, the glum-faced
    magistrate, and the gaoler of her innocence, but none had lent credence
    to her tearful supplications.   Perhaps they had been motivated by a
    hefty bribe, just as she had oft suspected.   Whatever their reasons, she
    had grave doubts this stranger would believe her either.
     
    "I didn't kill anyone, Mr.   Thornton, if that's what you're worried
    about."
     
    Gage responded with a dubious chuckle.   "I never imagined you had,
    Shemaine."
     
    His gaze was indomitable, and it was