“Maybe you could show me after lunch, with your Mother, of course?”
“Mama?”
“That would be up to Glenn,” she replies with a smile.
“That sounds fine. I have work on the south fence, Dad can help you.” Anika smothers her disappointment and listens as Delaney talks excitedly about the horses.
“Sounds like you have a budding racer on your hands, Mrs. Coltrane,” Dayton says.
“I’m afraid you may be right,” she replies with a laugh.
“It would be a good idea for you to see Starlight stretch her legs, Dayton. Why don’t we all go?” Allen suggests.
Glenn clears his plate and carries it to the kitchen leaving the family to finish up.
Savannah watches her brother leave with a frown and looks at Anika who is watching Glenn’s retreating back. Anika covers the disappointment quickly and returns to the conversation as Savannah watches and wonders if all men are stupid or is it just her brother?
“Lead the way, Miss Delaney,” Dayton teases after lunch is over.
“Delaney runs almost as fast as Starlight does,” Allen teases.
“Savannah, are you coming?” Anika pleads silently with her eyes.
“Of course, I wouldn’t miss Delaney showing off.”
Dayton walks ahead opening the door for the ladies and joins Allen on the walk to the barn. Anika turns twice to look for Glenn, only to have to hide her disappointment. Savannah nudges her, and she realizes Dayton was speaking to her.
“Have you been away from Virginia long? What is your family name?” Dayton asks as he slows down to walk beside her.
Anika wraps her arms around her midriff and looks at him. “I have. My Father was Thomas Bowden.”
“Thomas Bowden, the attorney general for Virginia?” Dayton asks stunned by the new revelation.
“You knew him?” Anika eyes him in shock.
“Of course. I had the pleasure of meeting him in Washington.” He also remembers a mention of his death in the newspaper. “I'm so sorry for your loss.” His voice holds true compassion, and Savannah wraps an arm around her shoulder in comfort.
“Thank you. We have good friends here, but I do miss home.”
“Perhaps you could visit sometime for a race, I mean all of you, of course,” he quickly corrects himself.
“Oh, I don’t know,”
Savannah interrupts her, “I don’t know if you know it or not Dayton, but our winters are intense. It makes travel almost impossible.”
“Of course, the races are not until spring,” he responds looking to Anika to answer.
“I should go check on Delaney,” Anika starts to say, but once again Savannah interrupts.
“I will go help her saddle up,” Savannah turns and leaves without waiting for a response.
Anika almost snaps at her but holds her tongue.
“Forgive me if I'm being to forward, Anika. I understand if you aren't interested in seeing a race.” He looks away, disappointed but understanding that it is an awkward position to be in. What doesn't make sense to him is why the Attorney General's daughter has to work as a nanny to survive.
“How did the daughter of the Attorney General end up as a nanny? Didn’t he leave you an inheritance?”
Anika stares at him in shock. “That’s none of your business, Dayton.”
“I'm sorry, I spoke too quickly. I was surprised, forgive me.”
Anika stares at him and avoids his hand when he reaches for her. He’s handsome, kind, well off, possibly attracted to her. It is only fair that she be honest with him. “Of course, Dayton. It’s a long story and to be honest, we were not speaking when they passed.”
“I see. I hope you don’t hold my big mouth against me and will consider coming to Virginia.”
“To be completely honest with you Dayton, I'm in no position for a suitor as I'm under contract for two years for this family. If they chose to come to see a race, I would love to visit.”
He smiles revealing a dimple in one cheek, and she is surprised to find that she likes him. “I guess I will just have to work extra hard to make sure you all come visit in the spring. Until then, could I write to you?”
“Why?” Anika asks.
Dayton laughs, “I like you. I see a beautiful, mature woman, with similar interests and I’d like to get to know you better. Is that so wrong?”
Anika blushes and looks at him, “Dayton, surely you have a string of young women beating down your door. I ... I’m not looking for another husband.”
“What about a friend?” He asks turning his hat in his hand. Her relief is instant, and her smile quickly follows.
“A friend would be nice.”
The rest of the afternoon passes in excitement. Dayton is thrilled with the way Starlight performs and leaves promising to return in a few months to see how she’s progressing. Anika waves as he rides off and turns to Savannah with narrowed eyes.
“What was that?” she snaps.
Savannah shrugs her shoulders, “He only had eyes for you, besides he’s handsome, rich and very kind. You could do worse.”
Anika stomps up the porch steps, “I’m in no position to leave the boys, Savannah.”
“True, but a real man would be willing to wait.”
“It’s not him, Savannah,” Anika whispers, stopping in the hallway upstairs.
Savannah sighs and hugs her. “I know, but a girl can never have too many friends. Besides a spring race would be fun to go to.”
“That’s true.”
“We would need new dresses for the races. Mrs. Flannagan will be thrilled,” Anika teases.
“True, there is that to look forward to.”
“Until spring, then” Savannah teases.
Glenn works until the sun sets on the fence. His feelings for Anika grow stronger with each passing day. He's just not sure what to do about it. She deserves someone clean, and his soul is tainted with the blood of the dead. They haunt him day and night. If only
