Forbidden by Susan Johnson (good books to read for teens .TXT) 📕

the right to grant him that permission. I'm thirty years old, Father. I'll make up my own mind about what I want to do. I'll make my own decisions on courtship, which is a damned old-fashioned term anyway. How could you, Father, discuss me like a commodity for sale!"

"The Duc was simply being polite. His request isn't any more than a formality. You can do as you please, you know that," her father quietly said. "We just don't want you to be unhappy."

"He's going to change that?"

"It's up to you."

"And everyone else who feels they can interfere. Don't, Father, I mean it. Don't interfere. Tell him, Blaze. He doesn't seem to understand." She stood abruptly, the high-backed chair tumbling over at her sudden movement. "Don't you think I'd like everything to work out perfectly? So I could be ecstatically happy everyday? Well, it won't. Because he has his life and I have mine and both lives are too damn busy to cavalierly toss aside, like some frivolous plaything turned dull. So I would appreciate it if everyone would leave me the hell alone!"

After she'd stalked from the room, Blaze turned to her husband and softly said, "That judgment call went awry, darling."

Leaning his head against the upholstered brocade back of his chair, Hazard exhaled softly. "I debated about being honest or opting for the diplomacy of omission. Hell and damnation," he went on, a grin forming on his lips, "she must have her mother's temper."

"Sweet-tempered man that you are, right?"

"You don't think she inherited that unbridled temperament from me?"

"As I recall, Dawn Light was a sweetly passive woman, capable and self-reliant. But inclined to use persuasion in achieving her goals."

Fleeting memories of the summer they'd spent together came to mind. Dawn Light was definitely persuasive or he wouldn't have stayed with her so long. He'd been young then and not inclined to permanence in his relationships. "Humpf," he muttered.

"She's very much her father's daughter, darling. And that's a positive statement. So don't worry about Daisy. She'll get over her temper just as you always do. And I think the Duc de Vec's temperament will figure rather largely in the outcome of this contretemps too. He looks like a man who's used to getting what he wants."

"You think so?" Hazard sat upright, his mood moderately relieved.

"He's very much like you, darling. I don't know how you can be unaware of that. Yesterday you were so evenly matched, Iwas afraid you'd both gasp your last breath on that polo field. He wouldn't have given up any more than you."

"You think so?" Hazard said again.

"I'd bet my new sapphires on it."

"That much." Running both hands through his hair, Hazard relaxed in his chair, sliding into a comfortable sprawl. "Is this woman's intuition?"

"Woman's perception. You just listened to Daisy's words. You didn't watch her face when the Duc spoke of Hector."

"I didn't miss either of their expressions, though when he spoke of the weather warming. As a matter of fact," Hazard said with a grin, "it brought back fond memories of that cabin on our first mining claim."

"Those are fond memories," Blaze agreed, her voice husky with emotion.

"I want Daisy to be as happy," Hazard simply said. "Is that too much to ask?"

"Give her time."

"She's turned down so many suitors I've lost count. And now when she obviously cares about this man, she's going to walk away because of some… I don't even understand to be perfectly frank. She doesn't care about the divorce. I sure as hell don't. Maybe the Duc does. He's been reared in his religion, I suppose. And as far as their two different lives, I already told him we've plenty of railroads out West if Daisy wants to stay."

"That's the problem. She does. Your vision for your people is hers as much as yours. She was almost grown when she came to live with us, as trained as her grandmother in the ways of a medicine woman. I don't always understand when you talk to your spirits or fully comprehend the supernatural powers that guide you, but Daisy does and I don't think she can walk away from your sense of destiny and duty anymore than you can. Your talisman, your protective vision, the powerful medicine that guides you, is inherent in both your natures."

"Would I be interfering if I bought de Vec a railroad?" Hazard's smile was pure boyish mischief.

"I'd say Daisy might put that in the category of interference."

"That leaves out kidnapping him."

"I'd say so."

"Would she send him back do you think?"

"Probably out of spite."

"Intractable girl."

"You're obliged to relinquish your managerial role, darling. I'm sorry."

"You mean we just have to sit here and wait for something to happen or be resolved?" He was restive like a young child curtailed from his normal activities.

Blaze smiled benevolently. "Probably not for too long from the look of things over breakfast."

Hazard sighed. "I hope you're right. At least he's not Martin Soderberg," Hazard added, his face brightening at the thought. "That man was a by-the-numbers martinet." Pushing his plate away, he set his napkin on the table. "Well… if I'm not allowed to meddle, I'm off to see to my ponies. Nadine spoke of coming here to look at some of the stock we have in Frank's stables. Trey can deal with her. Nadine is too damn breathless for my taste. Oliver must have married her purely for her well-kept body."

"You noticed her body?" Blaze sweetly inquired.

"I didn't notice." Hazard grinned. "I think Kit mentioned it. Maybe it was Trey. I've no idea what her body looks like—word of honor. Do we have to see all those people again tonight?"

"What would you rather do? Are you sure?" she added with a small pique of jealousy, half teasing, half real. Nadine was undeniably voluptuous.

"I'd rather be with you and, darling, I'm not even sure of the color of her hair," he wisely replied.

"Good. Where would you like to go?"

"Anywhere, as long as I can hold you and there's not a milling mob