Chapter Seven

The months passed by with ease, expecting a friend for the weekend Blake readied Maddi and Meela’s old rooms for their stay, when Ronald and Rachael Erickson’s coach arrived Blake and his son’s and Maddi and Meela waited to greet them. Stepping out first Rachael looked surprised to see the handsome trio and a bit annoyed to see Meela and Maddi. Rachael was a fairly pretty brunette with light brown eyes’ and painted on red lips and was dressed up like a frilly doll, Ronald followed giving Blake a bear hug.

“Damn Blake your son’s are nearly as tall as you, I guess it’s been awhile and who are these two beauties?”

Blake beamed “This is Madison Paige Stanford and this little thing is Meela Rose Porter, girls this Rachael and Ronald Erickson.”

Even though the girls were closer Rachael walked passed them and said hello to Eli and Logan first fluttering her eye lashes up at them as she spoke. “Logan, Eli it’s such a pleasure to see you both again.”

Then with a snotty gesture, she turned and said hello to the girls. “Was it Mea and Melissa? I’m not good with names?”

Neither Meela nor Maddi smiled “That’s Meela and Madison.” Rachael brushed them off with a wave of her hand “Whatever.”

Turning around she put her back to the girls and returned to Eli and Logan “My father didn’t lie, last time I visited we were eleven and you two have definitely grown up to be quite the handsome devils.”

Taking them each by the arm she followed Blake and her father into the house leaving Maddi and Meela just standing there when she reached the door she turned and gave the girls a bitchy sneer. Meela shook her head in disgust.

“This is going to be a long weekend.” Maddi nodded in agreement “Yes, it is.”

With only a few hours before dinner, Maddi and Meela headed back to their cottage to change, both wore simple yet elegant gown’s nothing too showy or sexy both wanting to look suitable for their guests. The first thing they heard when they entered the house was Rachael’s irritating laugh when they walked into the dining room all four men stood to greet them. Maddi gave Meela a knowing look when she saw Rachael sitting between Logan and Eli wearing a scarlet red gown with her breasts pushed up almost popping out of the front of it. When Eli and Logan stood to pull out Meela and Maddi’s chairs Rachael rolled her eyes at them. Before they could even take their seats, Rachael continued telling her story complimenting herself with every other word. “There have been so many parties lately. I hardly have a moment’s peace.”

Looking over at the girls she glared then stuck her nose up at them then turned and tried her hardest to flirt with Logan and Eli, “I heard you two attended The Michael’s garden party, I was out of town with daddy so I couldn’t make it but my lady friends seemed to enjoy your company they talked about you nonstop afterwards seems I missed out on all the fun.”

Logan nodded “We all enjoyed ourselves it was nice of them to invite us again this year.”

Rachael laughed “Can’t have a party if you don’t invite all the handsome single men now can you.”

Eli shrugged “I’m sure living in London you must be getting invited to parties all the time, one a year is enough for me.”

Logan laughed “I’d say that goes for me as well.”

Rachael shrugged “Well that’s too bad for all the eligible women; it’s so hard to find true gentlemen anymore especially ones as handsome as you three. I myself tend to get bored of the same old men at every party.”

Rachael smiled sweetly at them then turned and gave Meela and Maddi a dirty look. “Being country girls I’m sure you have no idea what I’m talking about.”

Having heard about enough Maddi glared at her from across the table “I’m a Stanford you idiot and my mother was a Jenkins and trust me if it’s in London I’m invited to it.”

Blake cleared his throat then tried to change the subject “So Ronald let’s get back to this business venture you have been telling me all about, we can discuss the loan later when we have some privacy.”

Rachael puffed up and got red in the face “Well you don’t look like Town to me.”

When she looked at Meela she shrugged “And who are you the bloody queen of England.”

Meela scooted out of her chair almost standing as she leaned toward Rachael and growled. “No you halfwit, I’m the Captain of the Rose a dangerous lady Pirate and if you’re not careful your worst bloody nightmare.”

The table was dead silent except for Blake and Ronald as they laughed “Do I detect some tension ladies.”

Meela could tell Blake had also noticed how Rachael was fawning all over the boys and Meela was already losing her patience “Blake would you mind opening a bottle of wine.”

Maddi smiled at Blake “I was just thinking the same thing.”

Blake nodded then got up and grabbed a bottle and six glasses. Pouring a glass for his guests first, Ronald took his glass graciously but Rachael refused “I’d rather not Blake; I’d rather keep a clear head.”

Meela laughed causing the whole table to look at her “Well then Blake pour me two because the last thing I need is a clear head right now.”

Everyone laughed except for Rachael who literally stuck her nose up at both Meela and Maddi. One glass turned to two as they sat back and watched as Rachael rubbed up against Logan and Eli giggling at everything they said, but when Rachael stuck her hand on Eli’s leg under the table Meela noticed and was more than pissed, holding herself back she tried to change the subject not trusting Rachael sleeping so close to the boy‘s she asked.

“Maddi and I have our own cottage if you would like to stay with us tonight.”

Maddi looked shocked until she realized why Meela had offered, Rachael shook her head and gave them both an evil smile “No I don’t think so, I’d rather be closer.”

Meela was about to throw her plate “Closer to what?”

Rachael wrinkled her nose at them “Closer to my old friends, of course.”

The boy’s tried to get out of the line of fire both having realized Rachael was going out of her way to upset Maddi and Meela, not to mention not taking her hands off of them. Eli politely moved her hand from out of his lap then smiled at Meela as if nothing had happened. During dinner, Rachael did her best to keep the men’s attention on her whenever Meela or Maddi was brought into the conversation she was quick to change the subject back to her and her many pleasantries. Blake couldn’t help but smile it was obvious Meela and Maddi we're way past irritated and already planning Rachael’s gory demise which was understandable since he himself was shocked by Rachael’s brazen behavior. “Enough of all this, off to bed with you and try not to kill each other on your way out.”

After their meal, Blake and Ronald retired to the study for brandy while Maddi and Meela hung back to watch Rachael as she hovered around Eli and Logan touching and rubbing all over them sticking her breasts in their faces. While rubbing Eli’s back she turned and sneered at Meela and Maddi. “Oh, Logan can’t you and Eli take me on a ride tonight?”

Eli looked at Meela and Maddi “Meela would you and Maddi like to go on a ride?”

Before either of them could answer Rachael pouted “Can’t three old friends catch up without an audience?”

Maddi moved in closer “And pray tell what would we be an audience too?”

Meela walked up and stood at Maddi’s side “And what kind of catching up requires you three being alone?”

Rachael flicked her hair back over her shoulder and straightened her clothes, “And now I’m being interrogated.”

Logan tried to smooth things over “I’m sure it’s just a misunderstanding.”

Maddi’s face got red as she approached Rachael and got in Logan’s face “A misunderstanding Logan, a misunderstanding, we understand just fine, it’s you who obviously does not understand.”

Meela walked toward Rachael and grabbed Maddi’s arm holding her back “Well Rachael it looks like you might just get that ride you’re asking for.” Rachael stood with her hands on her hips “And what is that supposed to mean?”

Meela laughed “It means you won’t need a horse for the kind of ride you’re asking for, good luck boy’s don’t go getting saddle sore, but I’m sure with the both of you it will be just fine.”

Logan and Eli’s mouth’s dropped and Maddi laughed “See Logan we do understand, come on Meela let’s go get drunk and go swimming, and can you both do us a favor and keep that tramp as far away from us as possible.”

Meela sneered “We may have held onto our tempers thus far but you may not be so lucky next time.” Rachael crossed her arms and turned away. “Is that supposed to be a threat?”

Meela laughed “No that’s a bloody promise.”

Maddi and Meela walked away and didn’t look back. After the confrontation, Logan and Eli figured Rachael would back down a bit but instead she got worse. Both Eli and Logan knew Maddi and Meela were beyond pissed off and with good reason and they wanted to clear things up. Rachael just brushed the ladies off like they were nothing.

“Most women are jealous of me and I’m sure the fact that we have such a strong connection doesn’t help much, I mean we have known each other for years. I’m sure they can sense the sexual tension between us.”

Both Eli and Logan started to laugh “What are you talking about Rachael the last time you were here Logan and I put frogs in your bed and you cried about it for three days.”

Rachael stepped in closer batting her eyelashes “Well a lot has changed since then, let’s not let them ruin all are fun.”

Both Eli and Logan took a step back “It’s getting late Rachael, would you mind if we take that ride tomorrow?”

Rachael was not happy “Fine for now, but I will see you two later.”

When she was gone Logan and Eli ran to the pond, when they got there the girls were naked and jumping off rocks laughing as they mocked Rachael “Oh can’t we go without an audience.”

Meela laughed “You should have seen your face when I invited her to stay with us.”

Maddi shrugged “Good idea though that bitch in heat will be knocking at both their doors by midnight.”

Deciding to wait to talk to them Logan and Eli sat back and listened for a while. Maddi sounded worried “Do you think Logan thinks she’s pretty?”

Meela shook her head “I don’t know, her tits are bigger than ours but so is her ass.”

Maddi laughed “That’s the truth.”

Meela swam to the water’s edge and took a drink handing the bottle to Maddi. “She sure is adamant, although I halfway throw myself at Eli and he still say’s no, hell we sleep in the same bed like two nights a week, well at least half the night.”

Logan looked at Eli with a shocked expression having had not realized they had continued to sleep together even though the girls were living in the cottage and the fact that their father was under the same roof, Eli just shrugged. It went silent a minute then Maddi asked: “Do you love Eli?”

Eli’s ears perked up as he waited for her response “Most definitely and he’s the first man I’ve ever been in love with.”

Eli breathed a sigh of relief then Meela continued “But if he touches that whore Rachael I’m out of here it’s not like I don’t still own the Rose and I know my crew would love for me to return home. I don’t know maybe I let myself fall in love too quickly, I’m not going to stay around here for even a minute if he decides to be with someone else.” Maddi sighed “It’s been a long night lets head home and get some sleep.”

After drying off and getting dressed they headed back to the cottage leaving Logan and Eli a lot to think about, neither having ever seen Maddi and Meela so upset. Both returned to their rooms unsure how the next day would turn out, Eli was so unnerved over Meela’s comments he couldn’t sleep and headed out to the stables to free his thoughts a bit. When Meela and Maddi reached their cottage it was dark and neither were tired, Meela started a fire while Maddi put on a pot of tea.

“I can’t believe I let Rachael get me so upset.”

Meela shook her head “We were right, in fact, I think we should see if Rachael goes out on the prowl tonight.”

Maddi looked excited “Hell yes, let’s go.”

Logan had only been in his room twenty minutes when there was a knock on his door. Assuming it was Eli he yelled, “Doors open Eli.”

When he turned he found Rachael seductively leaning up against his door “Hello handsome, I hope you don’t mind that I stopped by I couldn’t sleep and thought you might need some company.”

Rachel stepped inside and shut the door behind her then started to follow him as he tried to keep his distance circling his room as he backed away from her. Logan grabbed his shirt off the back of his chair and put it on “You shouldn’t be here Rachael.”

Rachael licked her lips as she moved in closer and opened her robe exposing herself to him “Don’t worry Logan it can be our little secret.”

Logan walked around her to open the door “My God woman I hardly know you and you have been throwing yourself at my brother and me all night, you need to go right now.”

Logan opened the door and waited until she was out then slammed the door behind her. After Maddi watched Rachael go into Logan’s room she waited five minutes to see if she came back out but when she didn’t she decided to leave, she couldn’t help but cry as Meela pulled her back down the hallway, staying in the shadows as they ran through the courtyard. Maddi stopped to see if Logan’s lights were on but found them off making her think the worse, Meela noticed someone in the stables, curious she pulled Maddi into the bushes as she peeked through the door. “Maddi look its Eli.”

Seeing Rachael walking toward them Maddi pulled Meela back “She’s coming this way, get back.”

Meela looked through the cracks of the stable and listened in “When you didn’t open your door I thought I might find you here, I guess you can’t sleep either.”

Eli shrugged as he continued to brush his horse “Guess not did you need something?”

Rachael bit at her bottom lip as she moved closer “Well I was hoping to get better acquainted with you, I just hate going to bed unsatisfied and you Sir are exactly what I’m having a craving for.”

Meela was ready to scream as she watched Rachael open her robe and walked up to Eli and touch his chest through his opened shirt trying to work her way down. Hearing Maddi crying behind her Meela turned and put her arm around her and whispered: “Come on Maddi let’s go I’ve seen enough.”

Walking back to their cottage neither spoke both feeling heart broken and as mad as hell, when they walked in Maddi sat down and covered her face with her hands. “I can’t believe Logan let her in his room.”

Meela wanted to comfort her but all she could think about was Rachael and her roaming hands all over Eli. Maddi stood up and went into her room when Meela went to check on her she was packing up a bag.

“You’re leaving and you’re only taking one bag?”

Maddi shrugged “I’m going away to think when I decide where I’m going I can send for the rest of my things, are you coming?”

Meela gave a weak smile “I’m right behind you sister but I need to leave Blake the money he spent on my dresses.”

After packing a few of her things and putting some food away for their trip Meela wrote Blake a letter and left him the money he had spent on her dresses.

Blake,

Thank you so much for making my life perfect for the last five months, I wanted to pay you back for all of the dresses you bought for me. When Maddi and I find our path we will send for the rest of our things. Maddi has her own reasons for leaving, I’m leaving because even though it sounds strange coming from the likes of me. I love Eli and after watching him and Rachael in the stables last night I’m heartbroken, I feel like an idiot for letting myself fall in love, I’ll miss you. Meela Rose Porter.

When they return to the stables, they were empty “I wonder what happened with Logan and Rachael?”

Meela shrugged “It couldn’t have been too much he had to have sent her away or she wouldn’t have come after Eli.”

Maddi stared off in deep thought as she saddled her mare “Either way he invited her into his room he may not have taken her to his bed but I’m sure she had her hands all over him. If she acted that way at the dinner table, I can only imagine what she did in private. Crazy as it may seem I truly thought that what he and I had was as special for him as it was for me.”

Meela felt the same “Pushy or not I can’t believe Eli let her touch him, I must admit I wish I would have waited to see what happened between them.”

It was around two a.m. when Meela and Maddi were leaving the Mansfield Estate behind them “They’ll assume we headed to London, but when I first arrived Blake told me about a cabin he owns way up in the forest, we have enough food for a few days why not cool our heels there until we figure out our next step.”

Meela agreed, it was a dark night and the tree’s thickened around them as the trail narrowed. When they reached the cabin the trees were more spread out leaving a meadow around it.

It only took Meela a few minutes to start a fire using the boards that covered the windows. The cottage was small but it fit their needs and put a roof over their heads, Meela poked at the fire as she sipped out of a bottle of red wine. “I know it’s late but there’s no way I will be able to sleep after the day you and I had.”

Maddi sat on the rug next to her and took the bottle Meela passed to her “Well then I’m glad I brought more than one bottle of wine.”

Meela walked to the window and looked up at the stars; the moon was bright casting light on the meadow around them “Sure is nice out.”

Maddi joined her and handed her the bottle “You know this is the craziest thing I have ever done, stealing away like a thief in the night, just you and I alone up here in the woods, it feels good, I feel independent like a free woman.” Meela finished off the bottle and opened another “Do you trust me?”

Maddi gave a cautious smile “Yes, why do you ask?”

Meela grabbed the bottle and opened the door “Come on.”

Maddi laughed as she followed her out into the night. “What’s going on in that head of yours?”

Meela took a big drink then handed the bottle to Maddi then started taking off all of her clothes “Meela what are you doing?”

Meela laughed “We are free women and I feel like running through this meadow with no limitations just you and me dancing in the moonlight naked with only the Gods watching us from above and below.”

Maddi smiled as she stripped “My heart is beating so loud I’m sure the Gods can hear it.”

Meela started to dance around letting her body flow freely, Maddi watched a moment then joined in unsure at first but growing bolder as she let her body move freely, skipping and jumping to the rhythm within. “This is amazing I’ve never felt so open and carefree.”

Meela stopped after a few moments and sat down in the grass, lying down she laughed as Maddi danced around her “The stars are out in fashion, come lie down, let’s finish this wine.”

Maddi joined her “I would love it if Logan was here with us; I can’t believe he would risk me for her.”

Maddi paused “Today is my eighteenth birthday, last year I didn’t celebrate it because my Dad had just killed himself but this year I’m celebrating it with you my best friend and were dancing naked in the moon light. ”

Meela smiled “Happy birthday Maddi I’m happy to celebrate with you and what better way than dancing naked in the moonlight. I wonder if Eli ended up giving Rachael that ride she wanted so badly. What I don’t get is I’ve been throwing myself at him for months and can’t get him to break, then little miss daddy’s girl shows up and he can’t wait to take her out for a ride.”

When they finished their wine, they headed back to the cottage feeling a whole lot more liberated and a lot more passionate about their futures with the Mansfield men or not. The following morning at breakfast Blake could feel the tension. Logan and Eli had both made a point to sit as far away from Rachel as possible, which was understandable since he himself had been the focal point of Rachel’s affections after running into her in the kitchen the night before. Never in his life had he been sought after so adamantly with no regard to his age. After a few minutes of waiting for Maddi and Meela Rachel sighed.

“Is there a reason why we are waiting to eat?”

Both Eli and Logan glared at her from across the table, Blake held up his hand to stop the boys before they lost their manners, along with their tempers. “We are waiting for Meela and Maddi, but I’m sure they won’t mind if you start without them, being guests here and all.”

After another ten minutes had passed Blake stood and excused himself “Ronald I’ll be right back, Logan and Eli please entertain our guests I just need to check on something.”

Logan and Eli were also very curious as to where the ladies were. Feeling something was amiss Blake rushed to their cabin to find it empty with a note and money on the table. When Blake returned to the table Logan and Eli knew something was wrong, in fact they had never seen their father so upset. Rachel was just finishing up her meal and was dabbing at the corners of her mouth with her napkin when Ronald saw Blake’s, face he frowned. “What is it Blake?”

Blake looked at Rachael with a sneer “So it must have been quite a long night for you Rachael?” Ronald looked at his daughter “What happened?”

Rachel shrugged “How should I know.”

Logan shook his head in disgust “She came in my room last night, I thought it was Eli so I yelled for him to come right in, when I asked her to leave she opened her robe to me and offered herself to me, after I put my shirt back on I opened the door and told her to leave.”

Ronald looked at his daughter with disgust “How could you Rachel, Blake’s one of my oldest friends.”

Eli pushed his chair back from the table “At dinner last night she put her hand in my lap right in front of Meela, then late last night in the stables she nearly begged me to take her, I had to push her away she threw herself at me.”

Ronald looked shocked and embarrassed as Rachel batted her eye lashes “Daddy they lie it’s just not true.”

Blake stood up “Hell Ronald she nearly chased me around the kitchen last night, you’re a good friend Ronald and are always welcome in my home but I will not tolerate such brazen behavior, I taught my boys to behave like gentlemen and all Rachel has done since she got here was start trouble with the ladies of the house and act like a whore.”

Ronald apologized again then stood up and dragged Rachel from the table kicking and screaming. When they had gone Blake sat back and groaned as he pulled out Meela’s letter and read it to them. When he was finished he sighed, Eli could feel his eye’s fill up with tears. “I have to go after her, where do you think they are headed?” Blake shrugged “They didn’t seem to take much so I doubt they headed to London.”

Logan dropped his head into his hands “Paige must think the worst of me she had to have seen Rachel go into my room, and not to mention how Rachel was acting at dinner, then when she said all that crap about wanting a ride and not wanting Meela and Maddi to come.”

Eli stood up and started pacing “Hell dad we overheard them talking last night, they said they would leave if we touched her, they were mad so we tried to give them their space, we sure are prized idiot’s aren’t we.”

Blake sat quietly trying to think “I think I know where they are, you did know that yesterday was Maddi’s eighteen birthday right she asked me not to say anything but I figured she would have mentioned it.”

Logan looked shocked “My God dad what a messed up birthday, why didn’t she say anything?”

Blake shrugged “This is her first birthday since her father’s death and after the way Rachael was acting she probably figured you wouldn’t care either way.”

Logan stood up ready to go “What have I done, it was already bad and now it’s even worse.”

Blake nodded “When I first brought Maddi here from London I told her about our cabin in the woods, the one in the meadow, it seemed to grab her interest at the time maybe we will find them there.”