Cora (Southern Hearts Book 3)

by Felicia Rogers

"Yes, you can. You have convincingly lied to me all this time, I have no doubt you can lie to them for a few moments."

  "But what about Rosa?" His brows drew downward.

  "Tell them I killed her."

  "With my knife? Frederic this will never work." Josh shook his head and threw the knapsack into the back of the wagon bed.

  "And neither will racing out of here in an open wagon with you at the helm. Now go inside. Find Donnie. Wail in grief because I overpowered you and killed Rosa. Just keep them out of the barn and send them away."

  Josh acquiesced muttering under his breath as he left.

  Frederic hurried to assist Cora into the barn loft. Unbeknownst to Josh, he'd taken his pistol from his waistband. Frederic lay on his belly and looked through an opening in the upper floor of the barn, pointing Josh's weapon at the front door of the house.

  Josh strode toward the porch. He ran his hand around his belt and drew his brows together. Ah, the feeling of discovery.

  "Frederic, I know we don't trust Josh, but shouldn't we have left?" asked Cora peering over his shoulder.

  "No."

  "But Arthur and Zeke will be furious when they find Rosa."

  "Yes."

  "Then I'm presuming you have a plan?"

  "Yes," he said neglecting to look at her.

  Hooves pounded the ground and Frederic lowered his frame, dragging Cora with him. He rose and peered over the windowsill. The man from the portraits, Arthur, skidded to a halt before the porch. Zeke and the two others were with him. Together they dismounted and bounded up the steps and inside.

  A moment later, Donnie stepped onto the porch. Tears flowed along his baby cheeks and Frederic fought a welling pity. Next came Josh, who patted the boy on his convulsing back, and urged him to return inside.

  They whispered and Frederic couldn't make out what was said. Arthur punched Josh in the gut.

  "What happened in there?" Arthur shouted, his voice full of restrained emotion.

  Josh held his stomach and straightened. Winded, he said, "There was a struggle and Frederic got my knife."

  "Then why didn't he stab you with it instead of Rosa?"

  "She got in the way. I'm sorry, Arthur."

  "You're sorry!" The man paced across the yard muttering curses and other words under his breath. He lifted his hands to the sky and whooped with joy. "I'm happy! This is the best day of my life. I've been trying to get out from under that woman's thumb for years. Telling my boy I'd run off and left him because I didn't make enough money to keep her in her style. No this is the best news ever. Of course we won't have a funeral. I'll just bury her in the back yard, and–"

  Zeke exited the house and plopped onto the porch's top step. "Is it really over, Arthur? Is she really gone?"

  "Yep, she sure is. Like I said, happiest day of my life."

  "Can I go home now? Can I go home to Susan?"

  "Sure, why not? I don't plan on holding your family hostage."

  Zeke climbed astride his horse and rode off. The other two hurried to follow. Josh stared between Zeke's retreating form and Arthur.

  "Are you kidding me?"

  "No way. I didn't choose this life and of course I couldn't kill her because she was my woman and mother to my child, but I ain't going to be crying because someone did it for me."

  "I don't believe this." Josh plopped down beside him.

  "Well what did you want? Want me to turn around and stab you for your part in it?"

  "No, but I guess I'm just confused."

  "Don't need to be confused now. Just go tell your friends to get out of my barn. I have some talking to do to my son."

  Josh blinked rapidly, and Arthur pointed directly at Frederic. He stayed hidden just in case it was all a trick.

  Arthur said, "Well go ahead. Tell them they can leave. I don't care where they go just don't come back here."

  "But Arthur, someone will take over the opium ring."

  "I don't care any more. I'm sure Rosa's second is waiting in the wings to bump me off and takeover so when she sees I ain't coming back hopefully she'll forget the killin' and just step in, and that is fine with me."

  Arthur grasped Donnie by the collar and hauled him to his feet. "Come on son, we have some decisions to make."

  The boy nodded, and father and son disappeared inside.

  ****

  Bubbling laughter poured from Cora’s throat. She couldn't contain it. It just kept coming. It came so fast and hard it pulled at her stitches and she groaned in pain.

  "What do you find so funny?" asked Frederic as he turned around and laid his back to the wall.

  "Everything! Don't you find this funny?" She crossed her legs and sat in front of him.

  "No."

  "All right maybe Rosa's death isn't funny, but this is funny."

  "That man is a murderer. He won't be allowed to stay here and raise his son."

  The thought sobered her, and she sighed. "Can we leave and send someone back to deal with this situation?"

  Frederic nodded and he descended the ladder and helped her down. They boarded the wagon. Cora didn't mention Josh still sitting on the porch and neither did Frederic as they rode off the Higgins farm and headed for the nearest town. The pursuit was finally over, but Cora found it hard to relax.

  They took a room at an inn. She kicked off her slippers and stretched out on the bed. A knock resounded on the door and she leaned up on one elbow.

  Frederic opened it to find Josh on the other side. Frederic asked, "What are you doing here?"

  "What are you doing here?" asked Josh.

  "We left like Arthur said." Frederic's lips twitched as he enacted a casual pose against the door facing.

  "Yes, and you took his wagon." Josh displayed a wide grin.

  "Did he think we would travel on foot?" Frederic's belly jiggled.

  "I guess." Josh sniggered, but quickly stopped.

  "Sorry to disappoint him."

  Josh sighed. "Look Frederic, we have a problem."

  "Indeed, we do."

  "I know Rosa and Arthur have done horrible things and I know you think I had something to do with it but really I've been chasing them this entire time. I was just looking for that final blaze of glory, you know."

  Cora suspected that Frederic wanted to believe Josh, but so much had happened. With his arms crossed over his chest, he asked, "Were you the one waiting in the wings to take over the organization when something happened to Rosa?"

  "Absolutely not!"

  "But you know who is?" Frederic dropped his arms to his side and stood straighter.

  "Well–" Josh paused and ran his finger around his collar. "Is it hot in here?"

  "Come inside." Josh entered sending her a sheepish look as he settled in a chair. Frederic sat beside her. The heat from his side burned her, and she wished to hold his hand, but she kept still, waiting to see what came next.

  Frederic relaxed as he said, "Look you might as well spill it. I'm going to find out."

  "Why don't you just flirt with your girl there? Take her to Louisiana, pretend you're on a honeymoon, and just forget about all this stuff."

  "Because I'm a lawman and I can't. Not to mention you throwing us in a silo."

  "But I released you," Josh pleaded, leaning forward and clasping his hands in a begging pose.

  "And you placed Cora in danger by tying her up on a sinking ship!"

  Josh ran his hand through his hair and fell back against the chair cushion. "Have you ever loved someone so much that even when you knew their flaws you overlooked them?"

  Frederic shifted next to her but didn't answer. Cora swallowed and waited. What was going on? What were they talking about?

  "Well that is how much I love Rhonda."

  "Rhonda?" asked Frederic, blinking in shock.

  Josh waved his hands erratically. "Yes, Rhonda. I think she must have met Rosa at one of those emancipation meetings or something. Which was how I met her and Arthur."

  "Why didn't you tell me?" Fre
deric sounded shocked.

  "Tell you what? That the woman I love was second in line to run an opium smuggling ring? Sure, that sounds like a great plan."

  "Maybe I could have helped you."

  "How? Don't you think I've talked to Rhonda about this until I'm blue in the face? She doesn't want to hear it. She wants to use the drug money to free slaves. There is no changing her mind."

  Frederic leaned forward and placed his elbows on his knees. "But if she hasn't taken it over yet, and you go back and tell her that we know, then maybe she will stay away from it and she won't have to go to jail."

  "It might already be too late."

  "But–"

  "Look Frederic, I need time. That’s all I ask. I know I don't deserve it after everything I pulled trying to lead you to Rosa so this would all end, but could you just give me a couple of weeks? You can take your girl home and by the time you return I promise I'll have Rhonda out of this or I'll turn her in myself."

  Cora held her breath and waited for Frederic to answer. When he did it was just a nod.

  "Good. I'll tell Arthur I gave you two the wagon. He won't be happy, but it'll be okay."

  "I said I would wait on Rhonda, but Arthur is a different matter." Frederic sat up straight.

  Josh frowned and pinched the bridge of his nose. "You do what you have to and I'll do what I have to."

  "Agreed." They shook hands.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Frederic left Cora at the inn while he traveled to the local sheriff's office and made a statement. Letters were drafted to be dispatched to the New York City police department.

  When he returned to the inn Cora had packed and changed into the yellow dress that highlighted her fading tan. Her lightened hair hung in waves and she resembled a drooping sunflower.

  "I see you're ready."

  "Yes." She sat at a round table, her head hanging low.

  "Do you mind if we eat dinner before we set out?" Frederic ached to place a gentle kiss on her lips, but instead he didn't move. He just stood at the door with his hat in his hands and waited for her reply.

  She lifted her chin. "I had the inn's cook prepare a plate for you as well as a basket to take with us while we travel."

  "Are you that ready to be rid of me?" Frederic allowed a snicker to leave his throat, but he felt anything but funny.

  She shook her head. "Not ready to be rid of you, just ready to be home and have this misadventure behind me."

  He swallowed. "I'm sorry you've had such a trying experience."

  Tears flowed along her cheeks and she hurriedly swiped them away. Her shoulders drooped, and she bit her lower lip. She asked, "What will happen to Donnie now that his mother has passed and his father will likely go to prison?"

  "He has a grandmother who has offered to take him."

  "Oh, that's good." She studied her clasped hands.

  "If you like, we could say goodbye to him before we leave."

  "No, I don't think so. I would think seeing us would only add insult to injury. His life was perfect before we arrived."

  "Just as yours was before you met me?" he asked, leaning against the door and crossing his arms over his chest.

  "My life was far from perfect," she whispered, still keeping her head low.

  He hated to see her so defeated. What could he do to perk her up? He closed the distance between them and held out his hand. "Would you care to dine with me and tell me about yourself?"

  A spark lit her eye, and she tilted her head sideways and jumped to her feet. Arm-in-arm they descended to the dining room. She sat beside him at the oblong table. The proprietor brought him a plate and a glass of cold milk before leaving them alone.

  Frederic took a few bites hoping she would speak without making him beg, but she remained silent, sitting there with her gloved hands folded neatly in her lap and her head held downward just as she had done in the room.

  "You did indicate you would tell me about yourself, right?" he asked in between bites.

  "I didn't say I would or that I wouldn't." She looked up.

  "Well, will you?" His lips tilted into a smile.

  "I believe Mr. St. Martin that you know way more about me than I know about you."

  "Oh, so now we are using Mr. St. Martin. Well Miss Beaumont you may be surprised when I tell you that I know very little about you other than you hail from Bayou Sara, Louisiana, and you come from a home with a mother, father, and two sisters."

  "As I said, you know more about me than I do you."

  "Oh, don't interrupt. There are other things."

  "Such as?" She leaned in the high-backed chair and crossed her arms over her chest.

  "Well, I have deduced that you like to sleep on the right side of the bed. You don't snore nor do you talk in your sleep, much. You love kids and you love the church. Also you love your family enough to work several jobs to try and return to them."

  Tears pooled in her eyes and she allowed them to spill onto her cheek and dribble off her chin. She cleared her throat. "And I know you don't like to talk about yourself."

  He shrugged. "True. Although there isn't that much to tell."

  "Then on the trip home you should have ample time to share since the tale is short."

  "Indeed, I shall." She shifted and he added, "Is there a problem?"

  "No, it is just I wish to go posthaste. I don't want to be here any longer than I have to."

  "Understood."

  Frederic gathered their things, paid the inn owner, and led the way to the wagon parked in the back. The buckboard's shocks were in ill need of repair and bounced even as they rode the even streets of town. Cora landed against him on multiple occasions, apologized and worked to sit up straight. If they had to ride like this all the way to Bayou Sara, they would be sore from head to toe.

  In the next town he traded the wagon for two stagecoach tickets. They boarded the stage and settled in with the other passengers.

  "I know why you picked the stage," Cora whispered in his ear.

  "And why is that, my dear?"

  "Surrounded by others you foolishly believed you could get out of sharing your history."

  He laughed under his breath. "Believe as you will, but I thought the cushiony seats of the coach would be preferable to the hard wooden bench of the buckboard."

  She smiled and patted his hand as if patronizing him.

  Days passed and they stopped in a small town in Kentucky for an overnight rest. The inn was full and they had to share accommodations. After consuming a hearty supper, they ascended to their room.

  "I'll take the sofa and you can have the bed," said Cora, immediately settling on the furniture in question.

  "I would be a gentleman and offer to exchange, but I fear I would be on the floor rather than the sofa."

  "I believe you're right." The furniture in question was considerably shorter than he. She pointed her finger to the ceiling, a smile tilted her lips. "But before we go to sleep, you're required to tell me your history."

  Frederic laughed. "Still haven't forgotten, have we?"

  "No. I have a memory like an elephant, and until I know what I want to know I shan't forget to ask."

  Frederic rolled his eyes and she playfully slapped his arm. The touch sent tingles through his body and he hastened to the window. The cool night air struck him in the face and he drew in a deep breath.

  The innocent banter of the last couple of days, the pretending as if they were any other couple, was driving him mad. He needed things to go back to the way they had been. Him trying to gather information from her, and her refusing to give it. He needed her to be a stubborn, headstrong, cheeky woman, less than a stellar companion. All this amicable behavior was driving him mad.

  "Frederic, is everything all right?" she leaned up on her elbow.

  "Yes, of course."

  "Look if you really don't want me to know anything about your family, then you don't have to tell me. I just thought maybe there was something there that explains the way you
behave, what you've become."

  He spun to face her. "What do you mean?"

  "I mean a staunch supporter of the law, your desire to see good triumph over evil."

  "So you think there is some dark secret in my past that caused me to want good to win?"

  "Well not a dark secret, but a secret, yes."

  "I'm going to check on the departure time for the coach tomorrow. Don't wait up for me." He turned his back and stalked out the door.

  ****

  The brute! Cora rose from the sofa and dropped her gown into a heap on the floor. She lay back down, grabbed a cover, and drew it over her head. The nerve of the man! She was trying to be nice, make conversation. It wasn't fair to talk about her mishaps all the time. It was his turn.

  Cora squeezed her eyes shut and prayed for sleep. After an hour passed, she threw off the cover and slid to the floor in front of the sofa. Elbows on her knees, she studied the dying fire. Where was he?

  The door creaked open and she jumped back onto the sofa and lay down quickly. He slid inside, the soft sound of his footfalls made their way toward the bed. She could hear the shuffling of clothing, and then his body as it slid between the cool sheets. A sigh rent the air as he stretched and moved.

  Cora fought the images racing through her mind. The ones that had her next to him in the large bed, the ones where she was cuddled to his side and he lovingly stroked her hair and whispered words of love in her ear.

  She blinked back the tears. Their relationship was a farce and always had been. All he'd ever wanted was to catch the bad guy, or in this case the bad lady. Now that he knew about the ring leader, why was he still helping her?

  There was the agreement between him and Josh over Rhonda, but nothing other than that. He could have agreed to stay in New York and not say anything until after the issue was resolved. But instead he had offered to take her home. Maybe he wasn't doing it because of Josh, but because he had promised Amelia? Could that be it?

  Her heart leapt. Or, could it be? Was it even possible? Perhaps, just maybe, he did have feelings for her.

  Soft snores emanated from across the room. A chill raced along her spine and Cora climbed from the sofa and stoked the fire. A flash of light off the glass windowpane caught her attention, and she tiptoed over to look outside.