He stood. “In the meantime, I’ll go apologize.”
As he loomed above her, she smiled. “Thank you.” She knew from what she saw in his eyes that he was going to kiss her. When he did, it was soft, sweet, and satisfying. He drew back and ran a bent knuckle slowly down her cheek. “Come find us when you’re done.”
When Drake entered the parlor, he saw Cole tense. “I came to apologize for my rudeness earlier. My mother raised me better.”
“Valinda said she’s looking for a cure for your pirate blood.”
Drake chuckled. “As far as the family knows, it’s incurable. She and I will drive you back once she’s finished breakfast. She’ll be with us shortly.”
“I don’t mean to impose.”
“You aren’t imposing,” Drake assured him.
Cole gestured. “Then sit, if you would. It’ll give us a chance to talk. Unless you have something else to do.”
“I don’t.” Drake sat. In a way, he envied the man for being her lifelong friend. He knew her in ways Drake might never know.
“So,” Cole began. “How long have you been in love with her?”
Caught off guard, Drake studied Cole’s lean face with its close-cropped beard and fearless brown eyes. “What makes you think I’m in love?”
“Just a guess. But what man wouldn’t be? Val’s smart, intelligent, beautiful. Has a pretty wide rebellious streak though. Never met a rule she didn’t challenge.”
“She told me her father calls her a hellion.”
“Among other things. If she decides to stay, he’ll be someone you’ll have to contend with. He’s been trying to put a bridle on her for as long as she and I have been friends. Don’t let him.”
Drake heard the undercurrent of steel in the last three words. “Did she tell you she’s staying?”
“Not yet, but I think she’s made up her mind. She’s just trying to let me down gently. She likes New Orleans.”
“We enjoy having her here. She and my mother get along well.”
“You didn’t answer my question about loving her, but that’s okay. It’s really none of my business after all. I just want her to be happy and cherished the way she deserves to be. Lord knows her father isn’t going to care about that.”
Drake hadn’t met her father, but judging by Cole’s assessment, he was already not liking the man.
Cole continued, “When he learns she and I are no longer engaged he’s going to come to New Orleans to take her home. Again, don’t let him.”
Drake nodded. “A stellar man in your eyes, sounds like.”
Cole laughed. “Does it show?”
Drake had been prepared not to like Cole Bennett. Valinda had called him a good man, and Drake now understood why. “Know that I will do everything within my power to ensure she’s safe and happy as long as she’s here.”
“I believe you. She told me about the attack and your role in her rescue. Anything happen to the men?”
“Other than my breaking one’s face, no. They’re soldiers. I know their commanding officer. Their behavior won’t matter to him.”
“Pity.”
Val joined them. “Are we ready to depart?”
Drake said, “I’ll get the buggy and meet you out front.”
Outside, Drake sat behind the reins and watched Cole lean heavily on his cane as he made his way. His wincing showed the pain he was in and Drake wondered if he’d been crippled all his life. It would be rude to ask, so he saved the question for when he and Valinda were alone.
Valinda said, “Cole, you take a seat up front. I’ll sit in the back.” The concern and worry on her face showed how close she held him in her heart. Drake tried to convince himself he wasn’t bothered by it, but he again envied their bond.
Once everyone was inside, Cole, breathing heavily from the exertion, leaned back against the seat. “On days like this, I wish I had let the surgeon take my leg.”
Drake looked over.
“I was at New Market Heights,” Cole volunteered. “The bone in my leg was shattered in the shelling.”
It was not the answer Drake had been expecting. He got the buggy moving and turned it towards the Quarter. “You men fought bravely that day,” he told Cole.
“The generals weren’t sure we’d fight, but we did and well.”
“Fourteen Medals of Honor were awarded, if I remember correctly.”
“Yes. Well-earned, but when the majors tried to reward the honorees with raises in rank, the War Department refused.”
Drake knew about the insulting episode.
“Did you fight?” Cole asked.
“I did. First Native Guard, then First Corps d’Afrique. In ’64, the Army moved us into the USCT 73rd, but by that time, maybe only 100 of the original thousand who’d volunteered were still in the ranks.”
From behind him, Valinda leaned forward to ask, “Why so few?”
“They stripped our superior officers of their rank and replaced them with Whites who hated us. Throw in bad food, terrible conditions, and many men simply left their posts and returned home.”
Cole added sagely, “But without the men of the race, the Union wouldn’t have succeeded.”
Drake agreed, and decided yes, he liked Cole Bennett, very much.
Their journey to the Quarter was slow. Last night’s rain left the roads a muddy mess, and twice Drake had to get out and push the buggy’s wheels out of the mire. As they entered the streets of the Quarter, Cole stared around at the thick traffic and the wealth of humanity on the walks. “I’m amazed at how busy it is here. I thought New York was crowded.”
“Yes. Even after the sun goes down.”
They came up on a man riding a cow, and the look on Cole’s face made Valinda laugh. Cole asked, “People ride cows here?”
Drake smiled. “They ride whatever they can.”
“Cows have been known to roam the streets back home, but no one rides them.”
They eventually made it to the Christophe.
Cole slowly descended to the walk and as Valinda got out and joined him, Drake said, “I can bring Valinda in tomorrow if you want to visit with her again.”
“I’d like that.”
Valinda flashed him a smile, letting him know how pleasing she found his offer. “How about lunch?” she asked her friend.
The two decided on a time, and Drake said to Cole, “My mother is going to want to celebrate you and Leonard being in town, so plan on staying for at least the next two days. She’ll be very disappointed if she doesn’t get to meet you.”
Valinda said, “The LeVeqs seem to celebrate everything under the sun.”
Cole replied, “Val and I talked about my staying here for a few more days and I haven’t been feted for anything lately, so I look forward to whatever your family has in store.”
Valinda said, “Go on in and rest up.” She hugged him and placed a parting kiss on his cheek. “I’ll see you and Lenny tomorrow.”
After they watched him make a slow walk to the door and disappear inside, Val rejoined Drake on the buggy seat. “I like your friend,” he told her.
“I knew you would.”
Drake turned the buggy towards home.
As they left the congestion on Canal Street, Valinda said, “Cole and Lenny are going to take over a newspaper in California.”
He listened while she shared the details. He admittedly didn’t care for the idea of her leaving. It wasn’t his place to pressure her into doing what he wanted though, so he kept his opinion to himself. It was her life.
“Are you going to join them?” he asked, hoping his concern couldn’t be heard.
“I don’t know. The thought of moving west doesn’t thrill me. Having to start over again. Finding a place to live and looking for a teaching position. Maybe I’m wrong, and everything will fall into place, but—”
“But?”
She shrugged. “I like it here.”
“Did you and Cole discuss the possibility of you staying?”
�
��We did and he’s leaving it up to me. He wants me to be happy.”
“You could always go out and visit him in California.”
“True.”
He knew she was conflicted, but he wasn’t. He wanted her to stay. With him. “If you do decide to stay, what will that mean for your engagement?”
“It would end. He and Lenny will go on with their lives and I’d go on with mine.”
He turned to her. Drake hadn’t answered Cole’s question about whether he was in love with Valinda, but he was. The possibility of her ending her engagement and being free to court and, yes, marry made him want to yell with joy. But he kept that from his face. The decision still rested with her.
“I haven’t decided yet though, so we’ll see what happens.”
Little Reba was in the kitchen when they returned.
“How’s your sister?” Drake asked.
“So-so. She fell stepping off the streetcar and twisted her ankle very badly. Doctor wants her to stay off it for a few more days. My cousin Renee is going to help out until she’s up and around.”
“Good to hear.”
Reba said, “Your friend Hugh stopped by looking for you. Said to tell you the cars are at your place.”
Drake’s eyes sparkled with glee. “Thank you.” He turned to Valinda. “I have a surprise for you.”
“And it is?”
“A surprise.”
Reba said, “Be careful of those LeVeq surprises, Valinda. Growing up, Beau brought me a surprise once. Turned out to be a two-headed frog.”
Valinda laughed and asked Drake, “Is it a frog?”
“No.” He gave Reba a look.
She laughed, and Drake turned back to Valinda. “Let’s take a ride over to my place and I’ll show you.”
“I’d like to see a two-headed frog.”
He grabbed her hand. “Come on.”
They got back in the buggy. He wondered what she’d think of the cars.
“Is seeing the house you’re building the surprise?”
“No, but the surprise is on my land.”
“You built your tree house.”
He scanned her curious face and he noted how much joy it gave him. “No, and you aren’t going to guess correctly, so just sit back. We’ll be there shortly.”
She offered a mock huff and sat back.
He smiled.
As they turned off the road onto his land, he wondered what her reaction to his house would be. When he initially gained his portion, the entire fifteen acres had been covered with trees as far as he could see: live oaks, pecans, hickory. And because of the nearby waterways, there were egrets and pelicans, turtles, frogs—none with two heads as far as he knew—a variety of fish, and, yes, alligators.
His workers were on the job. Some were putting the bricks on the kitchen, while others worked on planing and sanding the oak needed to complete the house’s floors.
“This is a pretty piece of land, Drake.”
“Thank you. I like it, too.”
He saw her viewing the men and the activity. “Would you like a tour once the surprise is revealed?”
“Yes.”
All day long he’d been wondering when he’d get to kiss her again. The quick one they’d shared earlier only whet his appetite for more. He was still grumpy about having their morning interrupted, but having gotten to spend this time with her was a boon he wasn’t going to cry over. “Will you have dinner with me this evening?”
“Depends on whether I like the surprise.”
He shot her a look.
She chuckled in response. “Yes. No matter the surprise. Dinner together would be fine.”
Were it up to him, they’d have dinner together every night, and breakfast, too, but he reminded himself that she might not stay.
Seeing his foreman, Solomon Hawk, walking to meet them, he stopped the buggy and waited for him to approach.
“Valinda, this is my foreman, Solomon Hawk. Sol, Valinda Lacy.”
“Pleased to meet you, ma’am.”
“Pleased to meet you, too, Mr. Hawk.”
Drake said, “I’m told Hugh’s been here and brought something.”
“Yes. Had him put them in the stand of pecans over there. Figured having them in the shade would be best.”
Drake nodded. “Okay. We’ll be back shortly. Thanks.”
“Nice meeting you, Miss Lacy.”
“Same here.”
Drake drove the short distance across the cleared land to the spot Solomon indicated and stopped. He came around to hand her down and said, “This way.”
He escorted her to where the cars sat under the shade of the pecans and said, “Voilà.”
“This is the surprise?” she asked skeptically, taking in the two listing, broken-down boxcars.
Drake wondered if she might think the idea insane. “I figured I’d fix them up and turn them into classrooms.”
She stared at him for a long moment, turned her attention back on the cars, and walked over to take a closer look. “How long do you think it might take to get them ready?”
“A few weeks.”
She peered inside, surveyed the interior a short while longer, and said, “This is really a good idea, Drake.”
Relief filled him.
“I could put the children in one, and maybe adults in the other. What do you think?”
“I think whatever you do will be up to you. When Hugh told me about the cars, your request for a space to teach came to mind.”
While she continued to scan them he said, “Hugh has access to more, so my plan is to use some of the salvageable wood from those to make the repairs on these. We can saw out a couple of windows in the walls, so it won’t be so dark. Add some shelves, benches for the students to sit on. Make you a desk if you want one.” He stopped. “Why are you crying?”
Her eyes were full of tears. “This is the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me.”
He eased her into his side and draped an arm across her shoulders. “Does this make up for my rudeness to Cole?”
“Yes. It makes up for everything. All the disappointments and the setbacks. I can actually teach in these.” She wrapped her arms around his waist and hugged him tight. “Thank you, so much,” she whispered. “So much.”
She drew back and looked up. “This is so much better than a two-headed frog. And you know what else?”
“What?”
“This seals my decision. I’m staying in New Orleans.”
Drake wanted to howl his joy. “Then let’s get these cars ready for your students.”
He slid a finger over her cheek then over her mouth. He kissed her slowly, fully, letting the sweetness of her fill him. That she didn’t believe in love made the prospect of courting her challenging, but he’d go slowly, even though patience was not one of his virtues. Reluctantly drawing away, he took her hand and they returned to the buggy.
Seated beside him as he drove back towards his partially finished house, Valinda couldn’t believe he’d done this on her behalf. No one had ever gifted her with something so life-changing, and she was certain it would be, not only for her, but for her students, too. She imagined the subjects she’d teach, the good she’d do, and it was all because of him. Last night, he’d treated her to passion; today, he’d set her on the path to her future.
When he handed her down from the buggy, she got her first up-close look at the house he was building. It wasn’t as grand as Julianna’s or as large as Sable and Raimond’s, but she thought it lovely. It was two stories and twin columns fronted the entrance. Large live oaks lined both sides. The roof was complete and there was glass in the windows.
“What do you think?” he asked.
“It’s lovely, Drake. I really like it.” She ran approving eyes over the structure.
“Let me show you the kitchen.”
Like many kitchens in the South, it wasn’t part of the main house. She supposed it had to do with the heat, but she’d never asked. His, like the one at J
ulianna’s, was made of brick and connected to the house by an open-sided breezeway. The kitchen was still under construction, and when they approached, the men laying the bricks stopped work and Drake did the introductions.
From there, she followed him along a cleared path through the oaks to the shed where he did his blacksmith work. Val looked around the cavernous space, taking in the large forge, and the neatly stored assortment of hammers, files, and tongs. “I’ve never seen a blacksmith work. May I watch you in here sometime? I enjoy learning new things.”
“Whenever you like.”
She took a last look around, imagining the forge filled with white-hot coals, and him in his apron and mask. “Where to next?”
“I want to show you where I’m thinking of putting the gazebo and the tree house.”
She smiled. “Lead the way.”
The spot for the gazebo was close to the house, but the land hadn’t been cleared yet. “How long will it take you to take down the trees?”
“Not too long, but I want to get the house done first. The gazebo can go in after I catch my breath.”
She thought about Julianna’s gazebo. “Are you going to put in flowers and shrubs like your mother has?”
“I suppose, but I’ll leave that decision up to whomever I marry. For now, I simply want a spot where I can enjoy a cigar and a glass of cognac after a long day.”
Holding his eyes, she thought about him marrying a woman who’d get to share all that he was—his kisses, humor, surprises. She looked away. “Where are you putting the tree house?”
“Come. I’ll show you.”
They wove their way in and out of pecans, through a small stand of evergreens, and he stopped in front of two massive live oaks that were side by side. “I’m partial to these two.”
She scanned the size and configuration of the branches. “They look a bit like the ones holding up the old one at your mother’s house.”
“You’ve a good eye. That’s what drew me to them.” He pointed out the branches he’d use to support the base and the ones needing to be removed.
“This is pretty ambitious, Drake.”
“Big ambitions, big man. But it, too, will have to wait until I get the house done.”
“How long before you’re finished?”
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