Lone Star Legacy: Relentless Pursuit

“I hope you do,” she said, touched again by his concern for his niece.

At the front they climbed out of the car to cross the wide porch. The massive door swung open and a butler greeted them. Ava entered a three-story-high walnut-paneled entryway where a huge French Empire chandelier hung overhead.

“Ava, meet Fred Simms. This is Ms. Barton, Fred.”

“Miss Caroline is in the library with Miss Rosalyn,” Fred said after greeting Ava.

Will held Ava’s arm. “This way,” he said. She was as aware of his fingers resting on her forearm as she was of his palatial mansion.

Ava carried two of the books, each in colorful sacks from the bookstore. They entered the library, where a child sat drawing at a table. Her nanny sat nearby, also drawing.

Pausing, Caroline turned to look at them, sliding out of her chair while the nanny came around the table.

“Look who’s here, Caroline,” the nanny said cheerfully.

Ava looked at a beautiful child with long curly black hair, thickly lashed big brown eyes and a facial structure bearing a clear family resemblance to her uncle. She was a feminine version of him.

Caroline gazed solemnly at Will in silence as he picked her up gently to kiss her cheek. “How’s my girl?” he greeted her, smiling. “I want you to meet someone.” He turned to face Ava.

“Caroline, this is my friend, Miss Ava. She’s a teacher.”

Caroline stared in silence at Ava.

“Ava meet Caroline.”

“I’ve heard a lot about you, Caroline, and I’m so glad to meet you,” Ava said.

“Ava, this is our nanny, Rosalyn Torrence. Rosalyn, meet Ava Barton.”

“I’m glad to meet you,” Ava said, shaking hands with the nanny. She turned her attention back to Caroline.

“I’ve missed you, sweetie,” Will said in such gentle tones Ava’s heart lurched. “I’m glad to be home. We’ll stay with her now, Rosalyn.”

“Thank you. If you want me, I’ll be upstairs.”

“Thanks,” he replied. As Rosalyn quietly left, he set Caroline on her feet.

Ava held out two of the sacks. “Caroline, I brought you a present.”

Caroline stared at the sacks, eyeing them and making no effort to take them.

“Look at the presents, sweetie,” Will urged

Caroline obediently took the bags and pulled out the first book, looking at it intently. “Thank you,” she whispered so softly Ava barely heard her. She pulled out the second book.

“Thank you,” she whispered again.

“You’re welcome,” Ava said, kneeling so she would be on the same level with Caroline. “I’ll read them to you whenever you want to hear them.”

Caroline nodded, looking at Will.

“You can whenever you want,” he said. “I’ll get out of the way. Want to read them now?”

Caroline shook her head no.

“I’ll go unpack then,” Ava said far more cheerfully than she felt. She was not a child psychiatrist, but it seemed to her that Will had just as big a problem as he had described. The child seemed remote, cold and unresponsive, as if she wanted to shut herself away from all human contact.

“I’ll stay with Caroline, but first,” he said, picking up Caroline again. “Let’s go show Miss Ava where she will be sleeping.”

Upstairs, they turned to the east wing and passed beautiful rooms until he led her into a suite. “How’s this?” he asked. “You’ll be near Caroline’s room.”

“This is gorgeous,” Ava exclaimed, looking around a suite lavishly outfitted with an antique rose silk sofa, Louis XIV–style furniture and a thick rug on the polished oak floor. Through the open door she could see the bedroom. “I’ll unpack, which won’t take long. I can find my way back to the library.”

“Leave your things to unpack later. C’mon. We’ll give you a brief tour so you know where you are.”

Noticing how silent Caroline was, docilely letting Will carry her without wiggling or the usual chatter of a child her age, Ava was more aware of the child than her surroundings.

“Here’s Caroline’s suite,” he said, pausing at a doorway a brief distance down the hall. “Rosalyn is in an adjoining suite, although she has a bed in Caroline’s room.”

They entered a child’s room that was a dream room to Ava. Murals of nursery characters decorated one wall. White clouds were painted on the pale blue ceiling. The furniture was painted white, or covered with pink and blue chintz upholstery. Table legs were carved as nursery characters. She couldn’t imagine the unhappiness Caroline was steeped in while living in such an adorable, cheerful room.

They left Caroline’s room, and at the end of the hall she entered a huge master suite with striking black and white decor.

“Your suite, no doubt,” she said, and Will grinned. “You’re getting to know me.” “More a process of elimination.”

They went downstairs to a playroom where Will held Caroline and read to her. Next they played a board game with her, and while she remained silent and somber, she moved her pieces to play along with them.

“Want Ava to read one of your new books to you?” Will asked when they finished the board game.

Without looking at Ava, Caroline nodded. The three of them sat on a sofa with Caroline between them while Ava read and let Caroline turn the pages.

Giving her a pleasant surprise, Ava realized Caroline was reading with her enough to know when to turn a page without being told. She looked at the child’s tiny hands, so dainty and frail. Caroline smelled sweet, something that held a hint of apples, and her hair was shiny. Ava could see why Will loved her so much and was doing what he could for her.

By the time Ava finished both books, dinner was served by Will’s chef, who then disappeared back into the kitchen.

After dinner they played more games with Caroline and then walked outside to sit near the pool.

“Will, this is grand,” she said, looking at a covered area with an outdoor stainless-steel kitchen and a patio with upholstered furniture. “You have another kitchen and living room out here. This is incredible.”

“It’s comfortable like the rest of the house,” he said. They talked while Caroline sat at a desk to paint and draw pictures. When she finished, Will praised each picture. Rosalyn arrived to get Caroline ready for bed and the two left.

“She’s precious, Will. I can see why you worry so about her.”

“She’s shut away in her own world where I can’t get through to her. No one can.”

“Why don’t you leave her in my care tomorrow?” Ava suggested. “I’ve never dealt with a child in this situation before, but I need to get to know her before I talk to the likely tutors.”

“Fine. If you’re ready for that. If you want just half a day, let me know. If at any point it isn’t going well, Rosalyn will be here, so summon her.”