Dark Rider Read Online Free PDF Page B

days of rage and conflict. Poor Lani—she had to fight not only Clara, but Cassie as well, who was as rebellious as an imp of Satan. In time a guarded peace was established, but Lani had been forced to make compromises. Charles Deville would seldom support either Lani or Cassie against Clara. After Cassie’s mother’s death Clara had become the housekeeper and had dominated everyone in the family. Deville’s solution was wonderfully simple and comfortable: he was just not there. It was rare indeed when he was at the cottage for more than one week every month.
    “Hurry,” Lani urged. “Her anger will only grow as time passes.”
    Cassie pulled on her other boot, gathered her hair in a bun on top of her head, and rose to her feet. “Go back to the house. I have to take Kapu to the stable.”
    Lani shook her head. “Tie him to the tree. You were supposed to be on foot. I’ll come back for him while you’re talking to Clara and put him in his stall.”
    Cassie tethered Kapu and started up the path toward the cottage. “Wait!” Lani hurried after her, plucked the ginger flowers from her hair, and dropped them to the ground.
    Cassie looked down at the flowers. She felt a pang of sadness as she remembered the feeling of freedom and happiness she had experienced when she had tucked those blooms into her hair earlier in the day. It should not be that way, she knew. Beauty should notbe ground into the earth or hidden like something foul and forbidden. “This isn’t right.”
    “No, but it’s necessary.”
    “It shouldn’t be necessary.” She whirled on Lani. “Why do you stay? You’d be much happier back in your village. There’s nothing for you here.”
    “There is you.” A radiant smile lit Lani’s face. “That is much. And there is your father.”
    “Who is seldom here, and when he is, he uses you and then leaves you to face your problems alone.”
    “That does not matter.”
    “It
does
matter. You should leave him.”
    Lani’s brows lifted. “If he’s so terrible, why do you not leave him? Why do you not take your fine horse and go live in the valley on the other side of the mountain, as you’re always telling me you’re going to do? What of the herd of wonderful horses you’re going to breed?”
    She lifted her chin. “I will do it.”
    “When?”
    “I need a mare to equal Kapu.”
    “And are you going to find her in this cottage on the hill?”
    “Of course not.”
    “Then why don’t you leave this terrible man you call Father and go make a life of your own?”
    “He’s
not
terrible. He’s just—it’s not the same. You’re not bound to him as I am.” She burst out, “He
needs
me.”
    “And you love him,” Lani said gently. “It’s easy to love Charles. He is gentle and kind, and it’s not his fault that he was not given the will to withstand adversity. It’s very hard to walk away from a man who needs you, isn’t it?”
    “Is that why you stay?” Her brooding gaze went tothe cottage on the hill where Clara waited. “Because he has need of you?”
    “It’s a strong bond. I’m a woman who must be needed.” She touched Cassie’s shoulder with a loving hand. “Fulfilling that need enriches me. I feel blessed that I was allowed to come here.”
    Cassie blinked back tears. “You have no sense.” She went into Lani’s arms and gave her a hug. “We’re the ones who are blessed. We don’t deserve you.”
    “That is probably true,” Lani said serenely, then laughed. “Particularly if you cause me more trouble with the old one this night.”
    “I’ll be good.” Cassie stepped back and moved quickly up the trail. “I’ll be no trouble at all. I promise you.”
    “You’re always good.”
    Cassie snorted. Nothing could be less the truth. Even when she tried to school herself for Lani’s sake, she nearly always failed. “Is that why I ran away today and left you as my father always does?”
    “I know you could not stand it any longer. I could see it seething