Free Fields of Fire by Carol Caldwell

as possible, but upon first seeing Taylor again, she realized it would help cool her from the flush his mere presence aroused in her.
    He frowned and crossed the floor to shorten the distance between them. “Jalene ...”
    “Ah, I see your foot is healed. I’m glad it wasn’t as nasty a fall as we thought.” She waved the fan again. “But, that’s not why you’re here, is it?” She looked him straight in the eyes, daring him to challenge her, while showing him she was prepared for his onslaught. Before he could respond, she snarled at him. “My brother’s dead, Captain. Blackwater Distillery is closed. There’s nothing more to say. Put that in your report and leave us to mourn in peace.” Having vented her frustrations and anger towards him, she abruptly turned, to head back up the stairs.
    “The bloody hell I will.” He grabbed her arm and dragged her to a parlor off the entryway. He pointed to a wing chair near the fireplace. “Sit.”
    She considered defying him, but she caught the expression on his face and decided it might not be in her best interest right now. She obediently sat.
    “Your sister-in-law told me about James, though I knew several days ago when I arrived during the funeral. Out of respect, I waited until now.” He spoke in a quiet sincere manner, yet paced the floor before her. “I am sorry about James, for I know what it is like to lose someone you love. Still, it doesn’t change the fact that this distillery may have been operating illegally. You are my charge and are to remain with me until I say you can do otherwise. I’ll not have you running off again.”
    He stopped pacing and stood in front of her with one hand on his hip and the other resting easily on the arched guard of his saber. “Besides, what are you so afraid of? That I might find your brother guilty or that the books you’ve been keeping are inconsistent?”
    “You bastard!” The curse came out, surprising even herself. She leaped to her feet and poked him in the chest with the folded fan. “You know nothing of me or my family. You throw accusations at me without the least bit of proof.”
    He reached for both of her wrists and pulled her to him. “Then work with me instead of fighting me. Show me I’m wrong. If you’re as innocent as you claim to be, what do you have to lose?”
    His grey-blue eyes gazed into hers. For a fleeting moment she recognized a glimmer of promise, but he quickly masked it. He held her wrists firmly against his chest. Beneath his uniform his heart thumped wildly as hers did. His nearness hampered her thoughts. She squeezed her eyes closed and opened them again. Why should she be afraid? She hadn’t done anything dishonest. As for James, she never got the chance to talk to him; yet, she knew in her heart James wouldn’t have been operating illegally— not willingly at least.
    “You’re right.” She tugged her wrists from his grasp. “James’s honor as well as Blackwater Distillery is at stake here. He can’t defend himself, but I can.”
    “Then I can expect your cooperation?” When she didn’t answer immediately, he lightly touched her chin and turned her face so he could see into her eyes. “Your full cooperation?”
    She didn’t like the implication in his voice, nor the suggestive sparkle in his eyes, but she needed him on her side. “Aye,” she answered without so much as a blink. That is, if it doesn’t interfere with my plans to exonerate James.
    “If you’re up to it, I’d like you to show me around the distillery. I particularly want to see where the accident happened.”
    She hadn’t been to any part of the distillery since she returned home. Somehow, the whole operation had now become something evil that had stolen her brother away from her. Sooner or later, she would have to face it; otherwise, the tragedy would continue to haunt her. An odd sensation passed over her as if James was encouraging her to act on her instincts.
    “If it’s too painful for