Eden

by Bobbi Smith

  "She is-and you would know." At his brother's questioning look, he explained, "She was the woman on the Bayou Belle who went to your aid."

  Braden was amazed by the coincidence. "You did very well for yourself, Brother. The woman who helped me on the steamer was beautiful."

  "Yes, Eden is very beautiful." There was sadness in his tone. "But I'm sure she hates me now.

  "Has she told you so?"

  "No. I haven't seen her since I left her the night of the warehouse raid. I didn't go back to confront her. I left to come after you immediately after talking to Talbott."

  "Maybe it won't be as bad as you think." Braden tried to be encouraging.

  "It will be. I'm a Yankee," he said flatly.

  "But if you love each other-"

  "Eden loved Reverend Logan. Not me."

  Logan fell silent. He'd faced many dangerous situations as an operative, but none had challenged him the way Eden did. He knew she would believe that everything he said and did now was a deception. Somehow, he had to convince her of his love.

  The time had come.

  Darrell's wounds had healed enough to make travel possible. Eden had secured a mount for him earlier in the day, and as the midnight hour neared, he was preparing to disappear from New Orleans.

  With Forrester and the others all in jail, there was nothing to hold Darrell there-nothing except the feelings he'd come to have for Camille. He was tempted to stay, but he wasn't sure if the Yankees had learned his identity. It was best that he go.

  The knock sounded at the door to his attic room, and Camille entered at his bidding.

  "So you're ready," Camille said in a soft voice, her gaze hungry upon him as she realized he really was leaving her.

  "Yes." It wasn't often that Darrell found himself at a loss for words, but this was one of those instances. He hadn't understood until that moment just how much Camille meant to him. Not only was she the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen, but during this time he'd spent recuperating under her roof, he had come to eagerly anticipate her visits and companionship.

  "You'll be careful," she urged.

  "I will."

  "I'm going to miss you," Camille admitted, unwilling to let him leave without telling him how much she'd come to care for him.

  Her simple confession was all the encouragement he needed. He moved solemnly toward her, his gaze trapping and holding hers.

  "I'm going to miss you, too."

  The moment was magic as they stood staring at each other. They were tempted by their attraction, yet hesitant to reveal what they were feeling.

  Darrell realized he might never see her again, and unable to resist, he bent to her and claimed her lips in a flaming exchange. It was a kiss that left them both breathless in its intensity. The power of it surprised Darrell, and he broke it off and deliberately moved away from her, needing to put a distance between them if he was going to keep to his plan and leave.

  Camille opened her eyes to stare up at Darrell. She couldn't believe the shivers of delight that had coursed through her at the touch of his lips.

  "Don't go," Camille pleaded in a voice barely above a whisper.

  He was tempted, oh-so-tempted, to stay, but he couldn't, no matter what his heart told him. "I want to stay with you, but I can't, Camille."

  "I may never see you again!" she protested.

  "You'll see me again. Don't worry about that," he promised.

  "When? How soon?"

  "As soon as I can arrange it and make sure that everything is safe for you."

  Camille wanted to launch herself into his arms and hold on to him and never let him go, but somehow she controlled the need. She had to be strong for him.

  Francene came through the door right then, wanting to make sure everything was all right. "You're ready to go?"

  "Yes, ma'am, and I wanted to thank you both for all you've done for me," Darrell told her.

  "We were glad we could help you, Darrell. Be careful on your travels, and Godspeed." Francene went to him and gave him a warm hug.

  "Tell Eden I said thank you, too."

  "We will," Francene promised.

  They left the attic and made their way outside where the horse was tied, saddled and ready for him.

  He mounted, then looked down at Camille. The tears he saw in her eyes touched him. "Good-bye, Camille. Mrs. LeGrand."

  "Take care," Francene said, wishing him safe passage.

  "Darrell." Camille said his name gently. "I'll be waiting for you."

  He nodded. Without another word, he rode off into the night.

  "He's one very special young man," Francene said to Camille, her tone soft in understanding as she gave her daughter a gentle smile.

  "Yes, Mother, he is."

  "Miss Eden?" Connie called out as Eden passed by her table at the noon meal.

  "Yes, Connie, what is it?" Eden stopped to speak with her.

  "Have you heard anything from Reverend Logan yet?" she asked hopefully.

  Eden smiled sweetly at Connie even as her heart was breaking. Every day the little girl asked about Logan, and every day Eden had to give her the same answer. "No, I haven't heard from him yet, but I'm sure I will soon."

  As always, Connie's expression turned to one of deep disappointment. "I miss him, Miss Eden."

  "I know."

  And Eden did know. For all that she kept her self busy by day, at night she lay alone in her bed at the Haven, arguing with herself about her conflicting feelings for Logan. There were moments when she missed him and longed to be in his arms. The memory of their first night of passionate lovemaking in that very bed taunted her and would give her no rest. Yet as soon as she allowed herself the luxury of remembering how sweet his loving had been, thoughts of his betrayal returned and vanquished the memories.

  "When do you think hell be back, Miss Eden?" Paul asked from a table nearby.

  "I'm not sure. It could be any day, or a month. There's no way of knowing."

  The boy nodded and seemed to accept her answer. She was glad when he didn't ask any more questions, for she truly didn't want to think or talk about Logan. It hurt too much.

  New Orleans.

  It had been a grueling trip, but they'd made it! Sam wished them good luck and left the group soon after they reached the city. Danner went off to report in to headquarters and tell them of their escape from the prison camp. Braden planned to report in, too, but first he wanted to make sure that Taylor was taken care of.

  "Where are we going?" Taylor asked.

  "I have an apartment here. I thought we'd go there first," Logan answered.

  Since Adrian had been arrested, he was certain that Eden was spending most of her time at the Haven. It would be safe for them to go to the apartment and get cleaned up before they decided what they were going to do. They reached the building and went in.

  As Logan opened the door to the apartment, a part of him wanted everything to be as it had been before he'd left. But when he walked in and saw his Bible and the note he'd written Eden lying discarded on the table,, he knew. He checked the bedroom and had his suspicions confirmed. All of Eden's things were missing. Eden was gone.

  The men decided to get cleaned up first and then Braden would go and buy Taylor some clothes while Logan went to find his wife.

  "So Eden is your wife?" Taylor asked. The two men had not spoken of Eden before in front of her.

  "Yes. She's probably been staying at the Homeless Haven with the orphans since I've been gone."

  "I'm sure she'll be glad you're back," she told him.

  Logan wished that were true, but he knew better.

  Logan and Braden bathed and changed clothes, then went to join Taylor in the sitting room. Her eyes widened a bit as she saw Braden coming toward her. She had always thought the lieutenant nice-looking, but now he appeared most handsome. That realization startled her.

  "You look like a regular gentleman, Lieutenant."

  He grinned at her. "I won't for long. As soon as I report i
n, I'll be back in uniform."

  "Should I report in, too?"

  "No. I'll take care of things for you. Right now, though, I'm going to go out and get you some clothes. I'll be back as soon as I can."

  "But I don't have any money to pay for anything," Taylor said, embarrassed.

  "That's all right. My brother's buying," Braden said, still smiling at her.

  "I'll pay you back," she promised Logan.

  "There's no need for you to pay me anything. You helped Braden when he needed it. This is the least I can do for you."

  She was touched by his generosity and kindness. "Thank you."

  "Will you be all right here by yourself?" Logan asked, for he was ready to leave and find Eden.

  "I'll be fine."

  "If there's anything you need. Help yourself."

  Logan and Braden left the apartment, each one a man on a mission.

  As soon as they'd gone, Taylor got fresh water and treated herself to her first bath in what seemed like forever. She scrubbed herself until her skin was rosy, wanting to feel clean again; then she washed her hair, too. She realized after she'd dried herself that she had nothing to put on except her dirty uniform, and there was no way she was going to don those filthy garments again. Logan had told her to help herself if she needed anything, so she wrapped herself in the sheet from the bed and lay down to await the lieutenant's return.

  Braden had been gone longer than he'd intended, but at last he made it back to the apartment with clothing for Taylor. He was surprised when he entered the apartment and she didn't come to greet him immediately. He saw the closed bedroom door and knocked.

  "Taylor, I'm back and I've got some clothes for you."

  "Oh, thanks. Just leave them outside the door, please."

  He did as he was told and went into the kitchen to wait for her to come out. As he was sitting at the table, he saw the door open a crack and a bare, slender arm reach out to grab the bundle of garments.

  Braden had always wondered what took women so long with their toilettes, and he was wondering anew as he sat there. He hoped he'd gotten something that would fit. He hadn't been sure of her size, and so had simply eyed the garments hoping they would fit her. After quite a while, he heard the bedroom door start to open and he watched with interest as Taylor emerged-no longer the army private.

  Taylor found for some reason that she was very nervous as she left the bedroom to face the lieutenant for the first time as her real self. It had been a long time since she'd felt like a woman.

  Braden's eyes widened in startled appreciation when he saw Taylor. She had washed her hair and, though short, it crowned her head in a tumble of soft curls. The dress he'd bought her was a sedate daygown, and she filled it out perfectly. He noticed, not even meaning to, that the bodice was a bit tight on her. The discovery amazed him. She was beautiful, and yet she had lived among the men as one of them and no one had noticed.

  "How do I look?" Taylor asked quietly, unsure how to read the look on his face.

  "You look wonderful," he told her, his voice deep and sincere.

  She almost sighed out loud in relief.

  "There is one other thing."

  "What?" She feared she'd forgotten something.

  "I know the guard broke your chain, so I bought you a new one." He presented her with a small jewelry box.

  Deeply touched by his thoughtfulness, she hurried back into the bedroom to retrieve the cross and broken chain from the pocket of her dirty pants. Braden followed her and, taking the cross from her, threaded it onto the new chain. When she presented her back to him, he fastened it for her. Taylor touched it reverently as she turned to smile up at him.

  "Thank you."

  "You're more than welcome, Tay - No, you're not Taylor anymore. You're Miranda now.

  "It's been a long time since anyone called me that."

  "Well, I don't think anyone will ever forget again. Not looking as pretty as you do right now," he complimented her. "I went to headquarters and told them everything. You have no obligation to the military anymore. Do you know what you want to do? Where you want to go?"

  "I'm not sure. My family's all dead. I guess I'll have to find a job of some sort to support myself."

  "I'm being stationed here in New Orleans because I haven't fully recovered from the wound yet. I can ask around and see what I can find for you. Until you're financially able to take care of yourself, I'm sure it will be all right with Logan if you to stay on here."

  "Oh, but this is his home-"

  "He may not be moving back in," he said, but did not explain further. "So you would be welcome to stay here."

  "Thank you, Lieutenant."

  "Since I'm no longer your commanding officer, I think you can start calling me Braden," he teased her.

  Miranda smiled, truly smiled for the first time. "Yes, Braden."

  Something about her smile touched the very heart of him, and Braden knew he would stay in New Orleans for as long as he could to keep watch over Miranda.

  The children were in class with Jenny upstairs, and all was quiet in the Haven. Eden decided to take advantage of the lull in activity and go outside for a few minutes. Things had been so complicated since Adrian's arrest that she hadn't had any peace. She sought that now, going alone out to the garden so she could lose herself in the heavenly scent of the flowers for a little while.

  Wandering slowly along the path through the flowering shrubs, Eden closed her eyes to savor the solitude. She paused as the memory returned of the time Logan had kissed her there in the garden. A great sadness filled her at the thought of all that had been lost. Disturbed by memories of Logan, the peace she'd longed for proved elusive, so Eden went back inside to lose herself in her work.

  She was pleased that things were still quiet inside. She walked straight into the office, only to come to a complete stop at the sight of Logan standing there before her.

  "Hello, Eden," he said quietly.

  The sound of his deep voice sent a thrill coursing through her, but Eden fought to deny it. She fought to deny, too, the part of her that longed to throw herself into his arms. She stiffened, her gaze hardening as she stared at him.

  "What are you doing here?" she demanded, her tone cold as she circled around him to go and stand behind the desk. For some reason, she felt safer having the desk between them.

  "I came to see you," he answered simply.

  "Well, I could say it's a pleasure to see you again, but it's not."

  "Did you get the note I left at the apartment?"

  She gave him an icy smile. "I found your note, and I found your Bible, Reverend."

  "You're my wife, Eden."

  "Our marriage was a farce from the very beginning. It was meaningless. You only married me so you could get close to Adrian!" she challenged.

  "If our marriage was a farce, why are you still wearing your wedding ring?"

  Eden looked down at the ring on her hand that marked her as Logan's wife. "I wear it for the children. They don't know anything about what happened-not about Adrian and not about you! I kept it all from them, and if you leave right now before anyone sees you, we can continue the charade until I can find the right: way to tell them the truth."

  "What will you tell them? That I was a government agent who came to New Orleans to try to find my brother? The same man you helped to save on the Bayou Belle." His gaze caught and held hers.

  "You know-"

  "Thank you, Eden. I wanted to thank you before, when you talked about what happened that night, but I couldn't-not until now. Braden's here, Eden. I want you to meet him."

  "No. I don't want anything to do with you or your brother. You lied to me! You betrayed me! Everything you ever told me about yourself is probably a lie. Is your real name Logan Matthews, or are you somebody else?"

  "I am Logan Matthews, and you are my wife," he said slowly, then added in a more conciliatory tone, "Eden, I had a job to do. I had to get my brother out of the prison camp."

  "Goo
d for you," she said coldly. "You saved your brother's life. You came here to rescue him and you did. So now you can leave! Go on! Go!"

  Pain stabbed at Logan. "If that's what you want, Eden, I'll leave. I have to report in, in St. Louis, but I want you to come with me. You're my wife, and I love you."

  "I don't want to cross the street with you, let alone go to St. Louis with you!"

  Her words spurred him to action. He wanted only to prove to her that what they'd shared was real; he strode across the room and took her in his arms and kissed her. His kiss was a hot, passionate possession that told her without words how he felt.

  Logan ended the kiss abruptly and stood looking down at her. "I'm going now, Eden, but don't think for a minute that this is over between us."

  Eden's emotions were in complete turmoil. The power of his kiss had ripped away any shred of pretense that she wanted nothing to do with him. He had only to touch her and any thought of hating him vanished. Eden was furious and humiliated. She glared up at him in defiance and turned her back to him, standing rigidly, wanting him to go.

  Logan stood there for a moment longer. He wanted to take her in his arms and tell her of his love. He wanted to somehow find a way to erase all the heartache he'd caused her and make things right between them again. But he couldn't change the past. He could only control the future. Without another word, Logan left Eden, hoping and praying that he could find some way to reach her.

  Eden heard him leave the room and close the door behind him. She had been crying silently as he'd stood behind her, and once he'd gone, she wiped angrily at the tears that revealed her true torment.

  She loved him.

  But how could she love the man who was her sworn enemy?

  Eden stared down at the ring on her hand. She had told Logan that she'd continued to wear it because of the children. The truth was, Reverend Logan had placed that ring on her finger and made her his wife, and she had never thought of taking it off.

  Early Summer, 1865

  Logan was tense as he reined in before the Haven and dismounted. He started up the walk to the front door, ready for the confrontation to come. The long months he'd been apart from Eden had taken their toll on him, but the war was over now. He had resigned from his job with the government and had returned to New Orleans with only one thing on his mind: He was going to find a way to win over his wife. The battle was about to begin, and he had no intention of being defeated.