of her. 'What if Reeves tries to harm you?'
'I'm not his target, my dear, you are.'
'But he's crazy, isn't he? That means he's unpredictable.' Jeannie sighed. 'Why don't you come to Le Bijou Bleu with us?'
'I'm not in any danger.' Julian glanced at Sam, then shifted his attention back to Jeannie. 'I'm needed here. I still consult at the hospital, you know, as well as being on the board. And since you can't continue your work at the Howell School, I'll keep an eye on Marta and the teachers for you.' Looking over Jeannie's shoulder, he smiled at Marta, who nodded her head in amused agreement. 'Besides, I'll have to be around to oversee the work on our home. I want everything rebuilt as close to the original as possible.'
'We'll stay in daily contact,' Jeannie said. 'If you need me—'
'Take her away, now,' Julian told Sam. 'Before we're both in tears.'
'I don't anticipate any problems for you,' Sam said. 'But if there is, let me know. I'll get Hawk or Kane back down here as quickly as possible.'
Sam forcibly turned Jeannie, draped his arm around her shoulders and walked her outside to the car. When they reached the Lexus, she looked back, saw Julian in the doorway and waved goodbye.
Sam drove down highway 90, straight to the Broadwater Marina, where Jeannie's small cruiser awaited them. He had been anxious to get Jeannie out of Biloxi and away from Reeves before last night, but now, after the fire, he knew the only way to completely protect her was to keep her on Le Bijou Bleu until Reeves no longer posed a threat. And that meant until the authorities arrested him—or until Sam was forced to settle the matter himself.
« ^ »
They arrived at Le Bijou Bleu late in the afternoon, just as the August sun began its descent into the western sky. A warm, humid wind surrounded them as they disembarked. Two smaller craft were anchored snugly a few feet away from the cruiser. All three rested in their slips. An enormous brown-skinned man, his bald head glistening in the sunshine, stood on the pier.
Sam swept Jeannie up into his arms, lifting her off the boat, then turning to face Manton. Remembering only bits and pieces of his hours on this island six years ago, Sam wasn't sure what to expect from the man who had helped Jeannie save his life. What he saw was a seven-foot giant, his huge, muscular arms crossed over his wide chest and his green eyes focused on Jeannie.
When Sam took a step forward, she tugged on his sleeve. 'Put me down and give me my cane. I want you to meet Manton again, and then, after we've settled in and I've let Julian know we arrived safely, I want to show you my island.'
Sam obeyed her request, wondering all the while if Manton would have tried to break him in half if he dared disagree with her.
Jeannie walked steadily toward Manton, who didn't move a muscle until she stood directly in front of him. A wide smile spread across his face, softening his hard features and putting a sparkle in his eyes. Opening her arms, Jeannie squealed with laughter when the gentle giant lifted her off her feet and into a bear hug.
Standing to the side, Sam watched the loving exchange and saw an affection between Jeannie and Manton similar to that between her and Julian Howell. Though several years younger than the doctor, Manton was twice Jeannie's age and seemed to consider himself another substitute father.
When Manton set her back on her feet, Jeannie clutched her cane and turned her head. Smiling at Sam, she motioned him forward. 'Sam, come meet the man who saved your life six years ago.'
The two men sized each other up, taking a full inventory. Sam extended his hand; Manton saw Jeannie's happy smile and accepted Sam's handshake. Despite his size and obvious strength, Manton did not grip Sam's hand with any undue force. His handshake was firm, quick and nonaggressive.
Looking directly at Manton, Sam said, 'I owe Jeannie and you my life. Thank you.'
Manton nodded toward Jeannie, moving his hands rapidly, signing to her, then looked back at Sam.
'He's too modest to accept any thanks. He claims that all he did was help me get you to the hospital.'
'That saved my life,' Sam told him.
Manton grinned, signed again and waited for Jeannie to translate.
'He says that all the thanks he needs is for you to keep me safe.'
'I'll do whatever it takes to protect her,' Sam said.
Instinctively Sam knew that Manton understood his meaning without further words and knew, too, that this second substitute father was concerned about his and Jeannie's relationship.
He noticed that Jeannie and Manton seemed to be conversing, though Jeannie didn't speak and Manton didn't sign. They're talking telepathically, Sam thought, and wondered what they were saying.
Manton nodded, walked away and boarded the cruiser. Jeannie turned to Sam.
'He's getting our luggage.' She held out her hand, motioning Sam to her. 'Manton usually carries me from the dock to the house. It's an uphill climb from here. See the steps over there?'
Sam took note of the curving set of rock steps that led up from the beach to the hill above. From where he stood, he couldn't see the house.
'What were you saying to him a few minutes ago?' Sam asked. 'I know you were communicating with him.'
'I told him to go ahead and get the luggage, that you would carry me up to the house.'
An undeniable pleasure spread from the pit of Sam's stomach to his whole body. The sensation was ridiculous, he told himself, but he could not argue against the truth. Jeannie looked to him for care and protection. Not to Julian Howell, and not to Manton. Not any longer. The girl had become a woman, gently but firmly choosing Sam, instead of either surrogate father, to be her protector.
Sam lifted Jeannie into his arms, as he had done so many times recently, but this time the ritual was fraught with deep meaning. And they both knew it. Carrying her to the house was a symbolic giving of herself, a placing of herself into Sam's hands—not only to keep safe, but to possess, to pleasure, to love.
Sam had no idea the walk from the dock to the house would take so long. No wonder Manton had always carried Jeannie. Once at the top of the rock steps, Sam drew in his breath, an appreciative sigh escaping his lips. Green grass spread out as far as the eye could see. Live oaks climbed toward heaven, while some of the limbs curled downward and grew back into the earth. Spanish moss hung heavily on the trees, dripping almost to the ground here and there. Palm trees swayed in the summer wind. In the distance, blue sky and water met.
Sam couldn't remember anything about Le Bijou Bleu except the beach. He had no memory of the docks.
'Six years ago, I didn't wash up near the pier, did I?' he asked.
'No, I found your body on the other side of the island. Manton carried you to the boat.'
'When they tossed me overboard, I didn't think I had a prayer.' Sam caressed the top of her head with his chin, then turned his head sideways and rested his cheek against her hair.
'You have to put the past behind you,' Jeannie said. 'It can't be changed.'
Halting his steps momentarily, Sam closed his eyes. With the hot sun and warm wind on his face, he allowed Jeannie entrance into his thoughts. The moment they connected, his eyes flew open and he gripped her fiercely. It would be so easy to let her take away the painful memories, at least for a while. He wanted to forget, but how could he allow her to experience the guilt for him?
'No,' he said, mentally and emotionally withdrawing from her. 'Don't. I can handle it.'
'All right. If that's what you want. But sooner or later, you're going to have to deal with the pain you've buried deep inside you.' She touched his cheek. He flinched. 'If you share it with me, I can help you put the past to rest.'
The sound of Manton climbing the rock steps reminded Sam that he and Jeannie were not completely alone. 'Where's the house?' Sam asked.
'Look straight ahead. You can see the roof through that grove of trees.'
With Manton at his side, Sam carried Jeannie across the wide, seemingly endless stretch of verdant ground leading to the house. The two-story raised French cottage had been built on the top of a rise, giving the occupants a view of the ocean from all sides.
A menagerie of animals greeted their arrival. A half-dozen cats of various sizes, colors and ages were curled
