Fields of Fire by Carol Caldwell

there pointing the accusing finger at me.” He pointed his finger at her, to display his anger. “Don’t play me the fool, Jalene. I knew that dueling pistol wasn’t loaded, because the pair was my father’s gift to me. I never keep a loaded pistol on hand, but you didn’t know that when you fired it at me.”
    “Regardless, it was an accident. I had no intention of using it on you or anyone else.” Her words did not alter the skeptical look on his face. She threw her hands up in frustration. “Think what you will. But what are we going to do now?”
    “Aye, that I’ll do for sure and it’s not we, but me. I want to question the person who found James.”
    “That would be Tom, our maltsman, whom you’ve already met.” Thankful to change the subject, she eagerly volunteered the information and let pass his reference to handling the situation alone. She had no intention of letting him do so. “Although Tom is in charge of the malting, he also makes a final inspection of the entire operation before he retires each day.”
    “I’ll go talk with him. Meanwhile, prepare to leave for my estates.”
    Open-mouthed, she watched him strut off. He ordered her as one accustomed to having his instructions followed. Nevertheless, she ventured to oppose him, and not because she didn’t want to cooperate. She knew Margaret needed her.
    “I can’t leave Margaret alone at a time like this,” she yelled after him.
    He continued walking, leaving her to stare at his back and the arrogant posture of his broad shoulders. She glanced lower. A vision of his fuzzy, yet firm posterior came to her, and she wondered what it would feel like to ... Even as her stomach fluttered, she questioned the sanity of such thoughts, and yelled louder. “I won’t go with you.”
    He abruptly turned about and came striding across the dry yard towards her, raising dust with every angry footfall.
    She stepped backwards as he neared her with his fists clenched at his sides, and fury in his eyes like she’d never seen.
    “You may have the body of a woman ...” He eyed her up and down in both an appreciative and insulting manner, “but you’re as naive as a wee lass. Don’t you understand, your sister-in-law must leave as well? The person who killed James has no idea what he may or may not have told both of you. And you seem to be forgetting our friend Donnegan. Your very presence here puts Margaret and the twins in danger on that account alone. Use your head, woman!” He gestured to his own head and stomped back towards the malt house, with the dust cloud following him.
    She glared at his departing form until her mouth decided to work. She shouted across the yard. “That was unfair! I bet you drown kittens and kick babies, too!”
    He never glanced back, or broke his stride. In a huff, she trudged back to the house. Maybe the mighty Captain Traynor could keep his wits about him under any circumstances, but he was not going to make her feel like an imbecile for being totally engrossed in her grief. Yet, he was right about the danger, and if it weren’t for this infuriating fact, she knew his insensitive remarks concerning her mental powers would have offended her.
    The last thing she wanted was for harm to come to anyone because of her. She would talk to Margaret and see to her and the twins’ safety before leaving for Knights’ Head with Taylor. Once settled on his estates, she would use him as a means to find her brother’s murderer and achieve her goal of exonerating James and Blackwater Distillery. She smiled in satisfaction. She’d use her head all right, and more, if necessary.
     

Chapter 6
     
    From outside the carriage window, Jalene watched Margaret withdraw a handkerchief from the embroidered satchel on the seat at her side and dab at the tears that formed in her eyes. Jalene moved away from the vehicle, and felt a lump forming in her own throat.
    “Are ye ready?” the driver asked.
    “Aye.” Jalene gave one last wave to