As soon as their craft was hidden among the undergrowth, Judah followed Liberty's lead. He was amazed by her ability to find her way through the swamp. She took twists and turns that would confuse the most brilliant mapmaker.
As the day wore on, and the afternoon sun beat down on them, Liberty felt she couldn't take another step. They had chopped and hacked their way through the rozo cane, which made a thick barrier through the swampland. The musky scent of alligator was thick in the air, and pesky insects buzzed about, sparing neither man nor beast from their sting. Trickles of perspiration rolled down Judah's face, soaking his neck and drenching his shirt.
At last Liberty stumbled and fell. Judah dropped the machete and scooped her into his arms. Sitting down on a fallen tree, he held her tightly to him. "What kind of a monster have you married that he would push you past all endurance?" he asked in a choked voice.
She closed her eyes and rested her head against his shoulder, too weary to answer. "We will rest for a while," he told her. "Will we be out of these swamps before nightfall?"
"I don't know," she said weakly. "I hadn't thought we would meet the British at every turn. If we can avoid being captured, we will come out several miles below Chalmette."
Judah felt her go limp in his arms, and he knew she could go no farther. Exhaustion had taken its toll on them both. He decided it would be wise to camp for the night, where they were.
He held her to him, while he unfolded the blanket Zippora had provided for them and spread it over the grass. Carefully, so he wouldn't awaken her, he placed Liberty on the blanket. He stared at her for a long moment, loving her in the very depths of his soul. Then he smiled. Mud was smudged on her cheek, and she looked so like the little girl he had first met.
Wearily, he lay down beside her and pulled her into his arms, certain that if the enemy came upon them, he would not have the strength to fight them off.
Liberty stirred, and her eyes fluttered open. For one breathtaking moment, she stared into turquoise eyes that seemed to shine with endless depths. She didn't know how long Judah had been watching her, but she felt self-conscious, knowing she must look a fright.
"What time is it?" she asked, upon noting that the sun had sunk low in the west. "I am so sorry I fell asleep."
He touched her cheek. "We both slept. I doubt that either of us could have gone much farther. I have decided we should rest here tonight."
She was conscious that his hand moved down her mud-streaked cheek and he softly cupped her chin, bringing her forward, within a breath of his lips. "My lovely, lovely, wife. Will you hide your beauty under the guise of a young boy?" A smile curved his lips. "Such a waste."
Liberty was trembling by the time his mouth settled on hers. He moved her trouser-clad body tightly against his, and her blood flamed when she felt the swell of his desire. The evening sounds of the swamp faded as he whispered her name in a passionate voice. She was almost mindless with need when his hand moved to her shirtfront and pushed the rough material aside to reveal her satiny breasts. Dipping his head, he pressed a kiss into the valley between them.
"Not what I had in mind when I promised you a wedding night," he told her, brushing a curl from her face and looking deeply into her eyes. He was quiet for a long moment, then the ghost of a smile flickered on his lips. "I must say, Liberty, we do seem to make love in the most unusual places."
"You aren't . . . you wouldn't be considering . . . not here in the open?"
Deep, amused laughter issued from his mouth. "I believe that is exactly what I have in mind. When I am near you, all I can think about is taking you to me."
Suddenly the laughter left his eyes, and his fingers traced a pattern down her neck and across one breast. He looked up, saw the uncertainty in her eyes, and said, "I want you, Liberty. I will always want you."
Her heart cried out, for she was yearning to hear him speak of love, not want. But already her body was reacting to his touch. His lips robbed her of any protest she might have made as his hands were pushing the trousers down over her hips.
Judah kissed her until she felt drained of strength, all the while he was undressing both of them. Liberty now boldly sought his lips and welcomed his thrusting tongue. She felt a painful ache start in her stomach and spread throughout her entire body. She did not heed the cool air that touched her now-naked skin.
His wonderful, magical hands slid over her breasts, then glided down her stomach to softly caress her inner thighs. She threw back her head and bit her lips as he plunged his finger into her warm softness.
Judah's heart was pounding in his ears. For the first time he was able to see Liberty as he made love to her, and it took his breath away. Her golden hair was spread across the rough blanket, and her satiny skin had taken on the silvery glow of the setting sun. Feverishly he tried to reason past the trembling of his body. Liberty made him feel so alive.
The old imitator, a mockingbird, stationed itself in a cypress tree and serenaded the lovers. Its high trilling songs intermingled with the gentle breeze. Soft grasses cushioned their bed, and the dying sunset splashed brilliant colors across the sky. From somewhere, deep in the swamp, came the haunted cry of a whippoorwill.
Liberty's breath was trapped in her lungs as Judah gently slid into her body. Both of them were so overcome with earth-shattering emotions, they did not move at first, but remained locked in a tight embrace, fitting together in perfect unison.
As Judah moved ever so slightly inside her, he felt her hot silken skin caress his throbbing manhood. A kaleidoscope of feelings dominated his mind: feelings of death and rebirth, of eternal life and wisdom, and of such a strong love that he could not speak of it.
Then savage joy tore at Judah's heart as his sensuous movements brought Liberty to him in sweet union. She clasped him to her, knowing that if she died tomorrow, she would live fully on this night. And her love for this man was so strong that she would gladly give her life for him.
A tear slid down her cheek, and Judah gently kissed it away, feeling its saltiness on his lips.
Both of them trembled as Judah plunged deeper and deeper into her softness, and Liberty moaned and dug her nails into his shoulders as tremor after tremor shook both their bodies.
Judah had never felt so satisfied when he, at last, drew Liberty's head against his shoulder. Neither of them spoke as they stared into the ebony sky and watched the stars come out one by one. Gently Judah stroked her hair.
"I feel we are the only two people on earth, Liberty. It seems, if I wanted to, I could reach up and pluck the stars right out of the sky."
She wondered what thought he was trying to convey to her. It didn't matter. She had never known such happiness. For the first time in her life, she really belonged to someone. She was Judah's wife, and there was such comfort in that thought. She dared not ask if he loved her, for the moment it was enough to know he desired her. She knew he had been as moved by their lovemaking as she had been. But was that enough on which to build a marriage? Would the day come when he would feel for her what he had felt for Bandera?
"Are you hungry?" he murmured against her ear.
"Out"
He sat up and gathered her clothing, dumping it onto her lap. "We had better get dressed first." He chuckled deep in his throat. "I suddenly feel the cold."
They dined on dried meat, bread, and apples. Not daring to light a fire, Judah pulled the blanket over them both and they enjoyed the close companionship that seemed to knit them together.
"Why did you do such a foolish thing, Liberty?" he asked at last.
She gave him a pixyish smile and asked innocently. "What foolish thing are you referring to, M'sieu? Marrying you?"
He hugged her to him and laughed in amusement. "That's not what I was asking, and you know it. I wanted to know why you came along with me as a guide."
"With all due modesty, I was simply the best person for the task," she said. "I believe you will have to admit I have gotten you through the enemy lines thus far."
"What then?"
"You are my wife, and I do not fancy my wife running through the swamp, in the middle of a war, and looking like a bedraggled young boy."
Laughter bubbled up in her throat. "It was not a boy you held in your arms moments ago."
He flashed her a smile. "You little devil. You do try a man's patience. What am I to do with you?"
"I'm sure I don't know. I will probably always be a trial to you. I have that reputation. Perhaps you should treat me like the fish that are too small and throw me back." Her eyes sparkled with laughter.
"I cannot throw you back," he said, straining to pull her more tightly against him. "I seem to need you with me."
Again he was drawing her under his spell. Regardless of the hard ground and the chill night air, Liberty could not imagine a more perfect wedding night.
Later, both of them slept snuggled beneath the blanket of stars, warmed by a closeness of body and soul.
* * *
The clicking of the hammer on a gun awoke Judah. When he could focus his eyes, he found a rifle pointed at his head. "Get up real slow, mister, and don't bat an eyelash," the man with the gun warned.
Judah glanced at Liberty. She must have heard the man before he came up, because her hat was in place and she looked like a young boy again.
"Who are you?" Judah asked, coming to his feet and offering Liberty his hand so he might pull her up beside him.
Now they were joined by three other men wearing rough buckskin. Judah was almost certain they were Tennesseans, but he couldn't be sure. There was a chance they might be spies for the British.
"You ain't in no position to be asking questions, mister. It seems kinda strange to find you sleeping out here in the swamp. Are you British or what?"
Judah decided, by the manner of their speech, that the men had to be from Jackson's troops. "No man can ever accuse me of being British," Judah stated flatly. "I am on an important mission for General Jackson."
The man with the gun let out a long stream of tobacco juice. "Now is that a fact? Well, I say you are a spy and you got lost in the swamps."
Liberty spoke up. "We are not spies. This is Captain Judah Slaughter of the Winged Victory and I am ... I am his guide."
The man smiled and pulled at his beard. "This here young one's a Frenchy. Now I ain't heard tell of no Captain Slaughter. Suppose we just take you back to camp and see if you are lying."
"We will go peacefully, since that is where we were headed anyway," Judah said, reaching down and picking up the blanket.
"If you are on a mission for General Jackson, you must have met him," the man said, still suspicious.
"Yes, I have," Judah told him.
"Then, if that's so, mayhap you could tell me what color his eyes are."
"They are blue."
"Anyone could know that," one of the other men put in. "Ask him the address of Andy's headquarters. No one could know that unless he's been there."
"That's easy," Judah said, hoping he could remember. "It is on Royal Street."
"He's right. A smile spread over the men's faces. "Sorry about the rough treatment, but one can't be too careful with them English milling around everywhere. I heard tell they have a few American spies helping them."
"What is the news of last night's battle?" Judah asked. "Did we win?"
"Well, we didn't 'zackly win, and we didn't 'zackly lose. I'd say it was kind of a standoff." He patted his gun. "We introduced them British to the long rifle last night, and they ain't anxious to renew the acquaintance."
Judah smiled at the man's colorful speech. "What is our position?"
"Now that's the problem. It's one of them damned French-sounding name, like De la . . . something or the other."
"De la Ronde?" Liberty supplied.
"Yep, that's right. We got separated from our outfit last night and can't find our way out of this damned swamp. Even if you was spies, we couldn't have taken you prisoner, 'cause we don't know where we are."
Liberty laughed and started walking in the direction of the boat secured nearby. "Follow me M'sieus, and I will have you out of here in no time."
With four more people to take turns in rowing the boat, they soon left the swamps behind and moved down a wide bayou. Luck was with them because they did not encounter any English troops, and by noon they stepped ashore and were greeted by Jackson's army.
Judah and Liberty were immediately escorted to Andrew Jackson's headquarters. When they entered the tent, the general was bending over plans that had been spread before him. He looked up, and his eyes moved from the young boy to Judah.
"What happened to you? You look like you spent the night in the swamp."
"I did," Judah admitted, pressing Liberty down on a campstool so she would be less conspicuous. "It wasn't as easy as I thought to bring the cannons downriver. We were forced to take a back way."
"I didn't expect it would work, but I must try to acquire guns and ammunition from any source I can. Too bad you lost your cannons. We could have used them."
"Oh, the cannons are safe, sir. I can bring them to you right away."
Jackson's voice thundered out. "By, God, you did it, son. We need all the weapons we can get our hands on. For a while last night I thought all was lost. Now I realize we scored a decisive victory. Had we not struck the enemy when we did, they would have pressed their advantage and would probably be dining in New Orleans tonight."
Judah smiled down at Liberty. "I couldn't have done it without this lad, sir. He guided me through the swamps and helped me evade the British."
The general stared at the lad. "Good. Have him-report to my orderly. We can use him."
Judah shook his head. "Not this lad, sir. He is going home, where he belongs."
Jackson again scanned the young boy's face with the practiced eye of an old solider. He was taken aback when he saw that this wasn't a boy at all, but a girl! "Perhaps you are right, Judah. Why don't you see h —See the lad home and then report back to me as soon as possible with those cannons. We have desperate need of them."
Liberty caught the smile that etched the rough planes of Jackson's face. "Thank you for all your help, lad. We could sure use more like you."
Judah pulled Liberty to her feet and pushed her out of the tent. With long strides, he led her toward the boat. He was going to get her way from there before anything else happened.
When they were in the boat and moving with the current, Liberty tapped Judah on the back. "I will have to take you back to Zippora's cabin. You will never find it on your own."
His jaw clamped shut, and he suppressed the angry words that came to his mind. "I suppose you will have to do that. But then I want you to go home and stay."
She laughed at his anger. "General Jackson knew I was a girl."
"Yes, I know. It would seem I am the only fool around."
"Oh, I don't know," she mused. "Those Tennesseans didn't know I was a girl."
With the map Liberty had drawn for him in hand, Judah and his three crew members pulled away from shore. Liberty watched him depart, hoping he would look at her, but he didn't. How could he so easily dismiss her from his mind? she wondered. Her heart ached for him already and he wasn't even out of sight.
"Judah Slaughter has changed," Zippora observed. "It would not be easy for a man to get the better of him now."
"Oui. He is master of himself and of every situation he comes up against."
Zippora chuckled deep in her throat. "I do not believe he has yet mastered you, ma petite."
Liberty turned worried eyes to her friend. "Zippora, Judah and I are married."
"Ah, so it has begun. I thought this might happen." Her laughter filtered through the air. "That is why his blood burns. I saw that he could not take his eyes off you."
"I wish that he loved me, Zippora. I want his love more than I have ever wanted anything."
/> The wise yellow eyes sparkled. "Sometimes when one is in the middle of a thing, one cannot see it clearly."
Liberty shrugged her shoulders. "Sometimes one cannot see because one does not want to."
"That is so, ma petite. That is so."
Liberty watched the pontoon boat disappear around the bend, wishing she could have gone with Judah. There was such an emptiness in her heart, such a loneliness, that she wanted to cry out in agony.
Zippora took Liberty's hand. "It is not long until dark. I am going to get you home so you can rest. You look ready to collapse."
Obediently, Liberty got into Zippora's boat and leaned her head back. Yes, she was weary. When Reuben scampered into the craft, Liberty made room for the boy beside her. Sleep, she needed sleep, she thought wearily. She could only imagine, how exhausted Judah must be.
When Zippora let Liberty off at the pier of Briar Oaks, she waved to her and paddled swiftly back toward the swamps. Liberty's footsteps were heavy as she made her way toward the back of the house, hoping she wouldn't meet anyone.
Oralee met her at the back door and helped her out of her coat. "I saw you coming, and am preparing a hot bath. Go to your room and strip those filthy clothes off. I will bring you something to eat." Oralee asked no questions, but there was concern in her soft brown eyes.
"Do not tell my sister or Sebastian that I have returned, Oralee. I am too weary to deal with them."
"They are not here, ma chere. Your sister cried and carried on so, M'sieu Sebastian agreed to take her and his mother into New Orleans."
"What about the fighting? How did they get past the British?"
"I do not know about such things, but I heard M'sieu Sebastian tell his mother that he had a pass for safe conduct from the British."
Liberty stared at Oralee. "How can that be?"
"I do not know."
Liberty drew in a deep breath and made her way slowly up the stairs. She was glad everyone was gone —now she wouldn't have to deal with any questions —but it nagged at the back of her mind that Sebastian had a pass from the enemy.
Moontide Embrace (Historical Romance) Page 30
