Cajun Fire

by Cheri Valmont

It frightened Lizabeth. “If things are going to go anywhere?”

  “You have to trust me, baby. And I want to trust you. Now explain what happened.” Jubal instructed her, but put his arm around her to pull her close to his body.

  He made her feel safe, as if she could tell him anything. Lizabeth snuggled into his side and began her story. She told him everything, from her escapade over the weekend, until her meeting with Daniel today.

  “I’m glad I punched the fucker,” Jubal said after she’d finished speaking, especially after she told him of Daniel’s ultimatum. “I’m not too happy with your real mother either.”

  “No matter how it began, I was happy to find out Ben Dugas had wanted to be part of my life, but Jonas and Nikki refused.”

  Jubal’s face shuttered when he heard her words. “That’s his side of the story, Lizabeth. It’s only fair you give your parents a chance to tell you their side.”

  Lizabeth searched his features. “Are you telling me you think it was right for them to keep this secret all these years? I had a right to know!”

  He met her questioning gaze, lifting her chin gently with his left forefinger. “I’m not saying what they did was right or wrong, but for all the love they’ve given you over the years, they have a right to be heard.”

  Lizabeth felt her lips harden. Jubal actually smiled when he saw the stubborn set of her lips.

  She tore her gaze away from his. “It was all a lie!”

  “Was it really a lie that they loved you? Brought you up in their family as their oldest daughter?”

  Lizabeth threw him a resentful look. He was on their side! Jubal himself had told Lizabeth that Jonas wouldn’t be happy about their involvement; why would he defend their actions?

  Holding her loosely in his embrace, Jubal bent his head to steal a kiss from her mutinously set lips; against her will she let her lips soften.

  “Don’t look at me like that. You know what I’m saying is true. This was all going to have to come out eventually, Lizabeth, except you were going to have to do the telling. Now what are you going to do?”

  What was he asking her to do? “I don’t know.” And she honestly didn’t know what she was going to do.

  Jubal must have sensed her complete confusion, because he pulled her closer into his arms, giving her comfort by his closeness. “I’m torn,” Lizabeth admitted.

  “I know you are, baby.” Jubal leaned down and kissed her face with loving tenderness. “Everything you’ve come to know and believe has been thrown out of whack.” His hands came up to cup her face so he could look her directly in the eyes. “Remember, though, Lizabeth, I love you. And in your heart, you know Jonas and Nikki love you; your brothers and sister love you. Is what this man offering you anything to equal that love?”

  When Lizabeth saw the heat of his love burning in his eyes as he gazed at her, she couldn’t help herself, she burst into tears.

  “Oh, God, you’re right! I’m just stunned by everything that’s happened so quickly,” she said, rubbing her face against his lovingly familiar chest. “He doesn’t even know me. He’s never been there during the years, when I was sick, unhappy, happy, and loved. He thinks just because he’s offered me everything he has in the world, it will make up for that.”

  “And it doesn’t, does it? You don’t strike me as a girl who would put material things before love and happiness.”

  Lizabeth leaned up to kiss his lips. “No, it doesn’t. I think I have Momma and Daddy to thank for that. I’ve always yearned for someone who would show me the love they show to each other every day.”

  “You’ve found him, baby girl.”

  “Oh, Jubal!” Lizabeth launched herself into his arms.

  Jubal laughed with joy and grabbed her to him. The living room was quiet for several moments as they kissed each other with yearning passion.

  “So it doesn’t matter to you if I’m an unemployed ex-soldier still looking for himself?” Jubal asked as he looked down into her face.

  Lizabeth scooted over to crawl into his lap, lying there as she had earlier that morning. Just the thought of their sweet interlude had Lizabeth squirming. “No, absolutely not. I feel you, Jubal Horville, you’re gonna be somebody.”

  “I’m glad you think so. But now it’s my turn to be honest. I’m not poor, Lizabeth. My family owns several paint and body shops all over South Louisiana. When my dad decided to change his ways he did it in a big way.”

  “Really?”

  “Yes, really, now come here. When we get back to Jonas and Nikki’s place we’re going to come clean and tell them everything.”

  “We are?”

  “Yes, we are. Now give me a kiss, you sweet thing.”

  Gladly, Lizabeth kissed Jubal with all the love and desire she felt for him.

  They tore away from each other when they heard loud voices coming from somewhere in the house.

  “Oh, my God, what’s going on?”

  “I don’t know; but we’re going to find out, come on.”

  Jubal pulled Lizabeth behind him as he rushed out of the living room. The voices rose higher the closer they got to the door of the room that she’d met that bastard Gary. Daddy? Lizabeth recognized Jonas’ voice demanding her whereabouts.

  “Where the hell is she, Breaux? If you’ve so much as touched a hair on her head, I’m gonna kill you!”

  Jubal must have decided it was best they make their appearance before things got out of hand. He opened the study door without knocking. Everyone turned at Jubal and Lizabeth’s appearance in the doorway.

  “Oh thank God!” Nikki cried when she saw her daughter.

  “Now, you see, Horville, she’s safe and sound,” Gary Breaux said in a mocking tone.

  “No thanks to you, I bet.” Jonas’ rage receded but he still didn’t sound happy. Lizabeth felt her parents’ questioning gaze.

  “There now, Horville, Lizabeth came to meet the father you’ve kept from her all these years,” Ben Dugas reminded Jonas.

  “Kept from her?” Nikki looked at Ben Dugas as she asked.

  “It’s true!” Ida Mae finally piped in.

  “That’s a lie, Ida!” Jonas bit out.

  Lizabeth couldn’t believe all this was going on. Now that her parents stood before her, she couldn’t believe she’d ever doubted their love for her.

  “Please!” Lizabeth cried. “Stop this, all of you. It’s time for honesty. That’s all I want.”

  Lizabeth felt Jubal’s proud gaze watching her. “Now, Mom and Dad why did you keep his existence a secret?” When all four of her parents looked to her, she grimaced. But Jonas and Nikki knew she was speaking to them.

  “Lizabeth honey,” Jonas told her, “we were afraid you would feel like an outsider in your own family if you knew the truth too soon. Maybe we were wrong about that.”

  Nikki walked over to stand near her, taking one of Lizabeth’s hands in hers. “We knew we couldn’t keep it from you forever, but we hoped you would feel truly loved and one of our family before you found out. We love you, honey.”

  Nikki and Jonas’ explanation touched Lizabeth’s heart. Their words rang true to her. And they had proved their love time and again over the years.

  “That’s a load of horse manure,” Gary Breaux informed the room.

  “Shut up, Gary!” Everyone in the room gazed in surprise at Ben Dugas’s enraged comment.

  “What the he—“Gary began.

  “I said, shut the fuck up, Gary.” Ben Dugas said in a tone heavy with weariness.

  “Ben how cou—” Ida Mae’s astonished voice started.

  “I’m tired of the games. I want to say my piece.” Ben looked toward both Lizabeth and Nikki. “I lied to you, Lizabeth. I never tried to see you over the years. I was ashamed of myself. I won’t go into why. Maybe when I’m gone your mother, Nikki, will tell you what kind of selfish bastard I’ve been.” Ben held up his hand when Nikki opened her mouth to say something.

  “Please, Nikki, let me say what I need to say bef
ore I lose my nerve. I could try to blame it on old age, but my reasons were again, purely selfish. I was afraid of dying alone.” This time it was Ida Mae who meant to interrupt. “No, Ida Mae, if you’re going to tell me you would never leave me. I know why you and Gary have stayed with me these many years. I may be old, but I’ve never been a fool. Both you and Gary are here for what I have, and not for some misguided feelings of love. I can’t blame you; I feel the same toward the two of you. I’ve only ever loved one woman.”

  Lizabeth heard Nikki make a gurgling sound in her throat. “Ben don’t,” Nikki implored the old man.

  He looked toward Nikki, his eyes alight with unshed tears. “I won’t,” he told her.

  Lizabeth felt Jonas’ rage emanating from his body. “What do you want from Lizabeth?”

  “Want? All I want is to get to know her. I thought to turn her against you two, I’d already started sowing the seeds, but now I’ve realized I was a fool. She loves you. She would never give you up, no matter how much I tempted her with all my worldly goods.” The man actually looked at Lizabeth with a hint of pride. “I can admit now that I’m glad she turned out the way she did. And I also have to admit to the two of you,” he looked between Jonas and Nikki as he continued, “I was wrong to try to keep you apart all those years ago. I’m not being a hypocrite when I say that. I mean it.”

  Both Jonas and Nikki looked perplexed. “What are you up to, Dugas?” Jonas asked with suspicion in his voice.

  Ben sighed. “I deserve your censure, Horville. I made you and Nikki’s life hell all those years ago. But you have to admit, I kept my distance from you and your family. I may have acted like an asshole then, but in my way, I did want my daughter to live a happy life, which is why I never tried to gain custody of her. With my money it would have been very easy.”

  “You’re right,” Nikki admitted. “Thank you for leaving us alone.”

  “This is just too pathetic for words,” Gary Breaux said finally. “Are you two really going to believe that clap trap?”

  “Shut the fuck up, Breaux!” And with that, Jonas slammed his fist into Gary Breaux’s beautiful face.

  “Stop!” Ida Mae screamed and rushed over to Gary’s side.

  Gary had staggered back onto the mahogany desk. Ida Mae glared at Jonas with a hatred of many years burning in her eyes.

  “I hate you, Jonas Horville. You superior bastard. Why don’t I tell Lizabeth about her perfect Daddy?”

  “Ida Mae, shut up!” This came from Ben. Lizabeth knew had Jonas told her the same thing she would have gone on with her words.

  Ida Mae glared at Ben. “How can you want to protect him,” she looked over toward Nikki with loathing, “and her?”

  “That’s enough, Ida Mae,” Ben warned her. “If you keep it up, I’ll cut you off completely, whether Lizabeth wants to give you any money or not.”

  Jonas and Nikki looked at Ben in question. Ben Dugas nodded his head. “Lizabeth is going to get everything.”

  Gary sat forward on the desk. “What the fuck are you talking about, Ben?”

  “I can’t take this charade anymore, Gary. I want you and Ida out. You can keep your cars and any clothes and jewels I’ve given you over the years, but I want to live the rest of my life in peace. Not as a third wheel.”

  “How can you do this to me, after all the years I’ve let you sweat and grunt over me!” Ida Mae cried.

  “You’ve been well paid for your sufferance, my dear,” Ben Dugas returned. “But as I said earlier, if Lizabeth decides to be generous to you, I’ll not discourage her. But neither you nor Gary need get any ideas about Lizabeth, either. If anything happens to her, my money goes to charity. You’ll never see a penny then.”

  “You old bastard,” Gary said.

  “Now, now, Gary, you’ve been paid well also. I’ll make a few phone calls to see you find another position. Of a professional and romantic kind, if you wish.”

  Lizabeth, her parents, and Jubal stood silent as all the drama unfolded before their eyes.

  “No thanks, I can find both on my own.” Gary turned to Ida Mae. “Ida Mae, you can make your own way as far as I’m concerned.”

  “What are you saying?” Ida Mae threw herself at Gary’s feet, pleading, “I can’t live without you, Master!”

  “Ida Mae, you simpering bitch, I only let our relationship go on because you were married to Ben and the two of you were my slaves, but I have other plans now.”

  Lizabeth watched as Ida Mae crumpled before them, weeping.

  “You cold hearted bastard!” Lizabeth snapped at Gary.

  Gary looked toward Lizabeth. “Do you honestly feel sorry for her? She doesn’t give a damn about you. The only reason she agreed to this was because I told her to go along with it to keep Ben happy.”

  “Shut up, Gary,” Jonas warned him.

  Gary laughed at Jonas’ attempt to shield Lizabeth from her real mother’s indifference. “He can’t hurt me, Daddy,” Lizabeth told Jonas.

  “Shall I tell them about what happened earlier, Lizabeth?” Gary threatened her.

  “I wouldn’t if I were you,” Lizabeth warned him.

  Both Jubal and Jonas’ attention snapped back to Lizabeth. “What happened earlier, Lizabeth?” Jubal asked her.

  Stupid bastard! Lizabeth thought about Gary. If she told them that he’d tried to rough her up, they would probably beat him within an inch of his life. Did he want that? Maybe Gary finally realized that also, because he slid off the desk as if in preparation to make a quick exit.

  “Now’s not the time to discuss it.” When it looked like Jubal meant to protest, Lizabeth shook her head, “I promise I’ll tell you all about it. Later.”

  Gary Breaux didn’t waste any more time, nor did he say a word in parting to anyone before he slunk from the room.

  Ida’s weeping turned into wailing at Gary’s desertion. Ben looked down at her in pity. “Come on, Ida Mae. He’s not worth it.” Then he looked between all the other occupants of the room, before saying, “Lizabeth, I hope you see it in your heart to forgive me and visit me every so often.”

  “I can’t make any promises, but I’ll try.” What else could Lizabeth say? She had a lot of soul-searching to do. Jonas, Nikki, Jubal, and Lizabeth had a lot of talking to do, also.

  As Ben Dugas escorted the inconsolable Ida Mae toward the door, he looked to Nikki and said, “I know you can see yourselves out.”

  “We will,” Nikki said.

  Once the door had closed behind Ben Dugas and the weeping Ida Mae, Jonas looked at the occupants left. “This has been an eventful night.”

  “I’ll say,” from Jubal.

  Lizabeth turned to give Nikki a hug. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell Lauren where I was tonight.”

  Nikki patted Lizabeth’s head buried against her. “I’m sorry we didn’t get this all out in the open years ago.”

  “I second that,” Jonas came over so he could pull his wife and daughter into his embrace.

  When they pulled away from each other, Lizabeth turned to hug Jubal.

  Jubal pulled her into his arms with feeling. Lizabeth could hear the cough Jonas gave. Oh, Lord! They hadn’t told her parents about them.

  She pulled herself away from Jubal with reluctance and looked at her parents.

  “I have something I would like to say,” Jubal announced, causing everyone to look his way. “Jonas, Nikki, since everything is out in the open, I feel I need to own up to my own actions.”

  “But Juba—” Lizabeth began.

  “I have to do this, honey,” he interrupted, before continuing, “Jonas, Nikki, I want to marry Lizabeth.”

  “Are you sure this is not just an infatuation?” Jonas asked. He was taking this much better than Lizabeth thought he would.

  “All I can say is, I never felt this way about a woman before. She’s what I’ve been searching for all my life. If that’s not love, I don’t know what is.”

  “Oh, Jubal!” Lizabeth cried, and threw herself back into his a
rms.

  “Oh, my goodness!” from Nikki.

  Lizabeth looked up into Jubal’s determined face. There was no doubting his intentions. Obviously, Jonas thought so too.

  “Jubal, you know how I feel about her getting her education.” Oh, God! Was her father going to refuse?

  “I do, Jonas. I have no problem with her going to college after we get married.”

  Jonas was silent for a moment, and then he looked over toward Nikki. “Well, honey?”

  Nikki looked at the beaming Lizabeth and determined Jubal. She shrugged. “Who are we to stand in the way of true love?”

  “Oh, Momma!” Lizabeth cried and rushed over to hug Nikki again.

  “Well, now that we’ve gotten all this out of the way. I say we go home,” Jonas suggested.

  “I’ll second that,” Nikki said and they all laughed.

  * * * *

  Jubal watched as Lizabeth crept into his room. Since it was so late, once again, Jonas and Nikki graciously offered their guestroom for the night. And Jubal’s mission was accomplished now. Jonas had finally met their father. If his father was meant to die soon, at least he could die in peace, knowing he’d asked forgiveness from the son he’d abandoned all those years ago. Although Jubal knew it would take Jonas a long time to work through his feelings about the old man, it was a start. Now he had other things on his mind, like the angel making her way to his bed.

  “Honey, you’ve got to stop doing this,” Jubal insisted with a chuckle.

  “You want me to go?” Lizabeth said, and made as if to turn away.

  Jubal grabbed her hand. “Not on your life. Come back here.” Then pulled her down into bed with him.

  He couldn’t believe everything had gone so well with Jonas and Nikki. She was his. And soon she would be his wife.

  Jubal let himself drown in Lizabeth’s kisses as she let her soft lips nibble up his neck to his face. He let his hands roam her body. She wore a silky baby doll gown that reached just to the level of the top of her thighs. Letting his hand slide over her bare legs, he felt her shiver in response to his caressing hands.

  When Jubal let his hand caress up her thighs to her naked backside, he groaned. “Oh, God!”

  Lizabeth raised herself on her elbows on either side of his face to look down at him. “You don’t like?” she asked in a teasing tone.