Laura woke to a bright, sunlit sky - not a sign of a cloud. So why wasn't she happy? she wondered. It was her *birthday*. But her father wouldn't be here- and Felicia would. Harry was just coming from his room as she opened her door. He grinned.
"Happy birthday," he said.
Laura turned her back on him, heading toward the stairs. "Isn't it a little early for you to be up?" she asked. "Considering how *late* you came in last night."
He frowned, confused. "You sound a trifle- upset," he commented.
"Next time you bring a friend home at three in the morning, *try* to remember that *some* people may be trying to get some sleep."
Understanding dawned. "I'm sorry if we disturbed you."
Laura shrugged. "Makes no difference to me, you understand. I don't really care what you do-"
Harry sighed. "In case it escaped your notice, Laura, it was raining last night. Felicia had a bit too much to drink. *She* suggested that we stay in town at her place, but I wanted to be *here* this morning. So I drove us back here and decided that it would be best if Felicia stayed - in another guest room - until the storm passed and she was sober and could drive home safely." His jaw was set as he tried to fathom his reasons for explaining himself to this girl. Laura started down the stairs, and Harry suddenly understood the reason: he would do almost anything to keep Laura from being hurt. Catching up with her at the bottom of the stairs, Harry grasped her arm, turning her to face him. "Laura, she left an hour ago - after the storm passed." He reached out to touch her cheek with the back of his hand. "Do you really think that I care so little for you that I would allow her to stay and ruin your birthday?" he asked softly.
Laura looked up into those blue eyes, trying to see the truth in his words. Finally, she smiled and slid her arms up to his shoulders. "Thank you for the birthday wishes," she said, giving him a quick kiss.
Harry pulled back. "If you don't behave yourself," he warned, "I might decide to administer the traditional birthday spanking."
Laura grinned, showing her dimples before she turned toward the dining room. "Might be worth it if you were doing it."
Harry shook his head, wondering where this was all going to end as he followed her.
Daniel was already sitting at the table and smiled as they entered. "Laura. And Harry. Good morning," he said brightly.
Laura's eyes widened as they saw the four packages beside her plate. "What's this?" she asked as Harry held her chair for her.
"I believe it's traditional to receive gifts on one's birthday," Daniel pointed out.
Laura picked up the first one, reading the card that revealed it was from Mary. That woman was standing in the kitchen door, watching as Laura tore into the wrapping paper with enthusiasm. Inside, she found a handkerchief of the finest Irish linen, her initials embroidered on one corner. "Did you do this yourself, Mary?"
"Aye, that I did, lass. Needlework keeps my old fingers nimble."
"It's beautiful," Laura told her. "Thank you." She glanced at the name on the next package, the smallest one of the four. Her smile turned into a frown. "From - Daddy?" she questioned.
Daniel explained softly. "Mitchell picked it out the day that Flynn kidnapped the two of you. I found it in his things the other day. He wanted you to have it."
Her hands shook as she removed the paper to reveal a small, square velvet box. Nervous, she opened the lid and gasped at the diamond tear drop earrings she found. Holding one up, she gazed at it. "It's not- really a -"
"A diamond?" Daniel finished. "It is. Half a karat each."
She touched the other one with her fingertip, tracing its outline. "I told him the first night we were here that I wanted some like this. I never expected -" her eyes were bright with unshed tears.
"Aren't you going to open the other two?" Harry asked. As she reached for the larger one, he grabbed it away. "Daniel's first."
Laura gave him a confused look, then turned to the long, flat package. Inside was a box of the same soft blue velvet. Seeing it, Laura looked across the table at Daniel. "Daniel, I-"
He smiled encouragingly. "You need something to go with those earrings," he told her.
Laura opened the lid and shook her head at the fine gold chain on which was suspended a diamond teardrop that was an exact match to the other two. "It's beautiful, Daniel," she whispered. "But I really shouldn't accept it. It's too expensive -" she fell silent as a thought occurred to her, her eyes meeting his.
Daniel easily read that gaze, smiling indulgently. "I can assure you, Laura, that I obtained it legally. I can even show you the bill of sale, if you'd like-"
She felt guilty for suspecting him of such a thing. "No. That won't be -" She smiled. "Thank you." Her eyes turned to Harry, who was still holding the last package. "Well?"
Looking decidedly uncomfortable, Harry held the gift out to her. "It's not much," he warned. "I couldn't think of anything -"
As she took it, she noticed that he lifted his gaze toward the ceiling, as if suddenly interested in the architecture. "Oh, Harry," she said, looking at the sketch of Thunder, the horse she'd been riding. Her brow furrowed. "When did you do this? I never saw you working on it."
"I worked on it at night," he told her. "I only finished it this morning. As I said, it's not much-"
"It's *wonderful*," she assured him, rising to give him a chaste, innocent kiss on the cheek before doing the same to Mary, and then hugging Daniel in the bargain. "Thank you," she said, including all three of them Mary sniffed suspiciously and turned toward the kitchen. "I've got something in the oven t'see to."
Daniel returned Laura's hug. "You're quite welcome, my dear." As she returned to her chair and picked up her fork, he asked, "Have you thought any further about calling your mother?"
"I told you, Daniel, I'm not-"
"Laura, if it was up to me, you'd be more than welcome to stay here. But it's not."
"It's *my* decision," Laura began, only to fall silent as Daniel's dark eyes told her otherwise.
"With your father dead, your mother is your legal guardian. For another year, at any rate. Even if we could overcome the fact that this isn't exactly the proper environment for a young lady -"
"I don't think you have to worry about corrupting my morals, Daniel," Laura said.
"And the fact that Harry and I are away more than we're here-"
"Mary would be here to keep an eye on me," Laura reminded him calmly.
Daniel decided to take another tack. "What about your dream to become a private investigator?" he asked.
Laura shrugged. "I can pursue that dream here as well as I can in Los Angeles," she pointed out.
Ignoring the amused gleam in Harry's eyes, Daniel pressed on. "*If* we could overcome all of those, we would still have the problem of your mother, Laura."
"I told you that I won't go back there," she said again. "I don't want to leave the two of you," she explained quietly.
Harry reached out to take her hand in his. "It wouldn't be forever," he said. "We could write to each other, talk on the telephone- perhaps Daniel or I might pay a visit to Los Angeles -"
"You'd have to get past the Dragon Lady first," Laura muttered darkly.
"Dragon Lady?" Daniel asked.
"My mother."
Daniel watched her for a long moment. "All I want is for you to talk to her, Laura. Tell her about your father. Perhaps you'll find some common ground."
"Yeah. A *battle* ground," Laura commented. "Daniel, if I call her, she'll insist that you put me on the first plane back to Los Angeles."
Daniel sighed heavily. "Laura, look at this from my point of view. If you *don't* tell your mother that Mitchell is dead, and she discovers later that you've been staying here- she *could* make things rather- difficult for Harry and me."
Laura chewed her lower lips. "I guess I hadn't looked at it that way," she admitted. "All right. I'll call her tomorrow."
Daniel smiled. "Good. And if- after you give it your best shot - you still can't come to terms with her, I'll so what I can to convince her that you would be happier here."
"It's a deal," Laura agreed, returning his smile.
"Eat your breakfast," Daniel told her. "And then- how would you like to spend the day at the carnival?"
"The carnival?" Laura repeated, her eyes shining with excitement. "I didn't really have a chance to look around the other evening -"
"Well, you shall today. After breakfast, you and Harry will go over there - "
"Daniel," Harry tried to interrupt, but Daniel pressed on, ignoring him.
"And this evening, we'll all go out to dinner."
Laura frowned. "Go out? But, I thought-"
"You need somewhere to show off those new baubles," he teased.
Harry's gaze was narrowed. "And where are *you* going to be while Laura and I are enjoying the dubious charms of that carnival?" he asked.
"I have some business to attend to," he explained.
As if on cue, Mary entered the room. "You asked me to remind you of the time, Daniel."
Glancing at his watch, he rose. "Thank you, Mary. You two enjoy yourselves," he said, exiting the room.
Harry caught up with him as he was putting on his coat. "Daniel - the carnival? I mean, couldn't you think of something else?
"It's Laura's birthday, Harry, my boy. Come now, she couldn't ask for a better companion. Think of all the behind the scenes information you can provide for her."
"But-"
Daniel paused. "Make sure Laura wears a jacket. There's a bit of a chill in the air." he left, leaving a frustrated Harry behind.
He was still standing there when Laura spoke. "If you don't want to go to the carnival, I can go by myself," she offered.
"No, I'll go. Maybe you can explain what is it about the things that you like so much. Go get a a jacket." When she showed signs of refusing, he said, "Daniel's suggestion. Not mine."
As he watched her climb the stairs, Harry sighed. A carnival. What next? A full blown circus? God, he hoped not.
**********
Laura opened the front door several hours later using her free hand, then stepped aside to let Harry enter the house, carrying the larger of their booty from the carnival booths. She laughed as some of the stuffed animals fell to the highly polished floor. "Stop laughing," Harry warned, "or I'll drop them all right here and *you* can carry them upstairs."
"Who's laughing?" she asked, stooping to retrieve the stuffed toys. The drawing room door opened and Daniel came out, smiling as he saw Harry's predicament.
"Looks as if the two of you had a profitable day," he commented.
"More Laura than me," Harry told him.
"Don't let him fool you, Daniel," Laura said, picking up another toy as it fell. "We'd better get these upstairs, Harry."
"I just hope I don't break my neck on the stairs," he mumbled, moving to follow Laura. "Can't see where I"m going."
"When you've gotten them all put away," Daniel called, "we've company."
Harry stopped, looking toward the closed drawing room doors. "Company, Daniel?"
"Company," Daniel repeated. He watched them disappear up the stairs, Laura stopping every few moments to pick up another animal. Turning back toward the other room, he was smiling.
**********
Fifteen minutes later, Laura and Harry descended the stairs and entered the drawing room, both having changed clothes. Daniel was standing before the fireplace, talking to a blonde haired woman. She was sitting on the sofa, her back to them, but Laura stopped in her tracks, causing Harry to run into her. "Laura?" he asked, concerned about the way the color had drained from her face.
"Ah, here they are. I was about to go upstairs and fetch the two of you," Daniel said.
The blonde woman turned and rose to her feet an uncertain smile on her pleasant face. "Hello, dear -"
Laura swallowed heavily. "Mother." It came out as a high-pitched squeak, and Laura's eyes narrowed. Her gaze moved to Daniel, her expression accusing. "You called her, didn't you?"
"Yes, he did, Laura," Abigail Holt said. "And at least Mr. Chalmers - Daniel," she paused to smile at the man, "was responsible enough to call."
Meaning *she* wasn't responsible, Laura realized. "I just wasn't ready to call, Mother," she said. "Daddy's death was so sudden -"
"So Daniel told me." Abigail came around the sofa to approach her daughter. Laura considered backing up, but Harry was still there. Her mother gave her a perfunctory kiss on the cheek. "Happy birthday, dear."
Laura's eyes met Daniel's once again, this time filled with the promise of retribution for this little *surprise*. Daniel merely smiled and lifted his glass in silent acceptance of her anger.
"At least now we know where Daniel was this afternoon," Harry commented, drawing Abigail's attention.
"And you must be Harry. Daniel told me that you were keeping Laura busy today so she wouldn't find out that I was here too soon."
Daniel opened his mouth to deny her words as Laura turned to look up at Harry, suspicion flaring. "Did you know about Daniel's little surprise, Harry?"
"No, Laura. I swear to you, I had no idea -"
"Perhaps I misunderstood," Abigail said. "Anyway, I want to thank you both for taking care of Laura for the last few days."
"It's been our pleasure," Daniel assured her. "Laura's a remarkable young woman -"
Abigail turned back to her daughter. "Can you be packed by tomorrow morning?" she asked.
"Packed?"
"Because you can't continue to impose on Daniel, Laura," Abigail explained. "And I need to get you back home so you can get back into school. I know your father let you run wild, but -"
"Daddy did no such thing," Laura insisted. "And I'm *not* going back with you, Mother," she said.
"Really, Laura. I don't think you have any other choice in the matter," Abigail said, giving a long suffering sigh. "You're my responsibility, and you'll do as I say. I *knew* it was a mistake to let your father take you with him. But he convinced me that you'd be happier -."
"But *my* happiness doesn't matter to you, does it, Mother?" Laura accused, "All you care about is how things look. Well, I can't go back to that, Mother. And I *wont*!" she declared, then turned and fled the room, leaving the house.
Abigail turned to look at Daniel. "You *do* see what I'm talking about, don't you, Daniel? She's totally unmanageable."
Harry started toward the door, but Daniel stopped him. "You stay with Abigail, Harry. I'll go and find her."
"She's probably in the stables," Harry informed him.
"That was going to be my first choice."
"She's always done things like this," Abigail said. "Running away. When she was little, she lost her temper and disappeared for hours. We searched the entire neighborhood before we discovered that she was hiding in the laundry hamper."
"I'll be right back," Daniel promised Harry as he saw the expression on the younger man's face. "Why don't you pour Abigail another drink?"
Harry refilled Abigail's glass, then made a drink for himself. He had a feeling he was going to need it.
To Be Continued------