Legacies by Janet Dailey Read Free Book Online Page A

smile he sent Lije.
    Lije watched him leave, then turned back to the table and encountered Sorrel's gaze, dark with accusation. "Mama had tears in her eyes when she left."
    "I know." He sat down in his chair and retrieved his fallen napkin. The omelet on his plate now looked cold and singularly unappetizing. He laid the napkin across his lap and picked up his fork.
    "Why did you make her cry?" Sorrel demanded.
    "I didn't mean to."
    "You aren't nice at all." She scrambled out of her chair and faced him, her chin quivering and her eyes stormy. "I wish you had never come back. I wish Alex was my brother, not you!"
    She ran from the room. Lije sat for a long moment, then pushed his plate away and turned sideways in his chair, hooking an arm over the back of it and sighing in regret. Regret for the hurt he had caused his mother and little sister. But Lije knew the hurt would be even greater if the feud erupted again. And if it did, he was determined to be in a position to know about it almost immediately—and to act on it, within the law. He would not stand by helplessly a second time. That "was his primary motive for joining the Light Horse, one he knew he could never share with his parents.
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    The Blade found Temple in the parlor, pacing back and forth, pushed by the rawness of her anger and pain. She wheeled around and glared at him.
    "Men." She snatched a pillow from the sofa and crushed it in both hands, her fingers curling into its plumpness. "None of you care anything about the distress you cause others."
    "You know better than that."
    Abruptly, she turned and crossed to the ornately carved walnut-framed fireplace. She stood before it, her gaze fixed on the intricate design of its brass fire screen.
    "Of all the choices he had, why did Lije have to pick this one?"
    "Because he believes it's the best one for him." The Blade walked over to her.
    "It isn't fair," she said stiffly.
    "I know." He smoothed his hands over her rigid shoulders and onto her arms. She tensed at his touch, then relaxed, muscles sagging as a lost and lonely sigh rushed from her.
    "Every time I think back to those days in our homeland when you first advocated a treaty of removal, I remember the menace I felt when those men surrounded our house—the times your life was threatened, the times you were ambushed, wounded." Her voice was tight, on the edge of breaking. "And later, when we settled here—when Shawano and the others were assassinated and you went into hiding, I remember what it was like." Pausing, Temple turned to face him. Her eyes were dry, but it made the starkness of their pain all the more tearing. "The fear I felt every time a rider approached, certain he was bringing word you were wounded or dead. For so many, many years, I was afraid every time you left the house. Even now, my heart freezes a little when you are away and a rider comes. Moments ago, our son announced he wanted to join the Light Horse and apprehend criminals, people who may be desperate, violent men."
    "I know, Temple." Reaching up, he stroked his fingers over her cheek in a tender caress.
    "Do you?" She captured his hand and pressed her cheek against it. "The only thing worse than losing you would be losing our son. I don't think I could stand it"
    "There would be no greater pain than that," The Blade agreed, "but I know how strong you are, Temple. You would endure it because you must. As we all must."
    She drew back, her look determined once more. "But you could speak to him, persuade him—"
    "I won't even try to change his mind. Lije must follow his own path. How can you expect him to choose the safe and easy way when he is our son?"
    "I don't want Lije to have the life we had. I want something better for him."
    "That isn't ours to choose."
    "Why must you always be so reasonable?" She spun away and folded her arms tightly in front of her. He chuckled, and Temple grew testy again. "I'm glad you find me so amusing."
    "I was remembering the way Lije stood