Free Yankee Earl by Shirl Henke

the names and duties of all his tenants. Good lord, if he indeed did become Cargrave's heir, he would have to do the same at four other estates! Just contemplating the exercise gave him a headache. He had a groom saddle Araby, who was eager for another outing after a rubdown and long midday rest. Soon they were sailing across the rolling hills through dense stands of woodland.
           Without quite realizing how, Jason found himself nearing the border with Harleigh where he and Rachel had first met with such disastrous consequences. Not that much had changed for the better on their second encounter, he thought wryly. What was it about the chit that got under his skin? He reined in Araby as he approached a small, secluded pool hidden behind a stand of elms. The stream dividing Falconridge from Harleigh must feed this small lake, he surmised.
           The enchantment of the spot led him to dismount and turn the stallion to grazing on the lush grass around the water's edge while he found a rock shaded by several overhanging branches that afforded him an excellent view of the water. Taking a seat, he stretched out his long legs and considered the enigma of Rachel Fairchild. He lay back on the warm rock's smooth surface and laced his fingers behind his head, staring up through the sun-mottled leaves at the brilliant azure of the sky.
           She was an intelligent woman, and that was good. He desired her, and that was bad. To act on such a base physical urge would lead to permanent consequences. The very thought of it made him shudder. He was certain the war between England and America would end in a year or two, but marriage with that viper-tongued wench would be akin to living the rest of his life under siege. Odd, though, for after the ball when he had intended to seek out one of the elegant courtesans of his acquaintance, the idea had lost all appeal. Instead he'd ended up gambling until dawn at Wheatie's. Why had none of the Cyprians taken his fancy?
           The thought had troubled him over the past three days. He could not seem to get Rachel out of his mind. Her transformation at the ball had certainly been startling, but she was hardly the first striking woman of good family he'd met. His mother had been playing matchmaker for years, to no avail. Of course, now she, too, was allied with his grandfather in the desire to marry him to Rachel.
           Visions of long sleek legs and masses of thick chocolate hair danced behind his eyelids as he closed them and started to doze in the afternoon heat. Suddenly a loud noise roused him. Disoriented, he sat up and looked across the water. Two huge mastiffs bounded down the hillside. Circling around the pool, they headed directly toward him at a dead run, barking furiously. Their open mouths revealed large, sharp, yellow fangs.

 
     
    Chapter Five
     
     
           Rachel had let the mastiffs get too far ahead of her. They were always boisterous and eager for a run after being confined in the Hall while she was in the city. She heard their loud baying and the sound of a man's voice and at once kicked Reddy into a gallop, heading through the woods to the pool. Good lord, they might tear the fellow into pieces if he panicked and tried to run from them!
           Of course, the interloper was most probably another pesky poacher, but she still did not want the fool's death or injury on her conscience. Rachel kneed Reddy into the water, cutting across the pool to reach the dogs before they cornered their prey. The worthless horse shied as soon as the water grew deep enough to require that he swim. She forced him to obey, but in the process he splashed her with enough water to drench her and blur her vision. “Venus! Helen! Come!” she commanded loudly as she heard the sound of the man's voice. They did not obey, which was most unusual…and ominous.
           Then she recognized that voice and almost reined in. If they did tear Jason Beaumont to