by Bobbi Smith
“Not in detail, no.”
“They ambushed us at the wooding station. They must have planted explosives on board, because just as we were pulling out there was an explosion. Jim was blown overboard by the blast, and I was buried under some timbers. Jim managed to rescue me and the others, but there were sharpshooters up on the hillside, and as my men tried to escape they cut them down.” Mark’s tone was bitter, and George offered him the whiskey bottle. After taking a deep swallow, he went on. “There was nothing more we could do there. The Rebs had gotten on the ship and stolen the gold. So when I was able to find the horses, we went after them.”
“But there were only two of you,” Marshall argued. “Didn’t you realize that you were hopelessly outnumbered?”
“Yes, but it didn’t seem to matter at the time. My men were all dead. And I thought if we could catch the guerrillas by surprise, we might have a chance to get the gold back.”
“If it hadn’t been raining, it would have worked,” Jim added. “But it was too hard to track them in the mud. We were right on top of them and didn’t even know it…not until it was too late.”
“You’re just lucky you’re still alive,” George told them. “Those Rebel sharpshooters don’t usually miss.”
“I know. Our horses shied…that’s the only thing that saved us,” Mark explained.
They were silent for long minutes.
“Tomorrow, Mark and I will go for help,” George began. “I want to arrange for a wagon to come back for you. You shouldn’t use that leg at all until we can get you to a doctor.”
Jim nodded his agreement. “You won’t get any argument out of me on that.”
“Good,” George smiled. “It shouldn’t be too far to New Madrid. We can book passage home from there.”
“The sooner we get back, the better. Mother, Dorrie, and Renee are probably going crazy by now,” Marshall added.
“I’ll send word upriver when we get to town tomorrow.” When no one had anything else to offer, George said, “Well, let’s get what sleep we can. I want to head out at first light.”
Delight sat quietly on the floor at Jim’s side as the men settled in and one by one fell asleep. She had thought Jim was asleep too, but when she shifted stiffly, trying to find a comfortable position, he took her arm in an easy grip and pulled her up next to him.
“I didn’t know you were awake,” she whispered in surprise.
“Shh…” Jim said, sensing her discomfort. “Lie with me. Let me feel you against me.”
“But your leg…” she protested quietly.
“If you lie still, it’ll be all right,” he encouraged her.
Delight was tempted, for she wanted nothing more than to spend the night in his arms, but she was very conscious of the other men in the room.
“Your father,” she whispered, embarrassed.
“I assure you, he’s asleep, and even if he wasn’t he wouldn’t mind.” He grinned roguishly at her, and her resistance faded. “You are my wife, you know.”
Smiling, she carefully stretched out beside him. “I know.”
When she lay, not touching him for fear of hurting him, Jim drew her closer, pressing her head down on his shoulder. “That’s better.”
She sighed, at peace for the first time that day. “I love you, Jim. I don’t think I could live without you.”
His hand lifted to caress her cheek, and he paused when he felt the dampness of her tears. “You’re crying? Don’t.” His voice was soft and hoarse with emotion.
“I’m sorry.” Delight raised her head to really look at him. “I’m just so relieved that you’re all right…” She studied the male beauty of him, his firm features, his dark eyes warm now with his love for her, the overnight growth of beard that added to his total masculinity.
Feeling the depth of her love, he pulled her toward him and kissed her, but as he tried to nestle closer to her soft, womanly curves he forgot about his leg and the pain exploded in a white-hot flash. “Damn!” He hissed under his breath as he released her abruptly.
“What’s wrong?” Her eyes widened with worry.
He chuckled softly, lying back in agony and ecstasy. “You’re so totally captivating that I forgot all about my damn leg.”
“Did you hurt it again? Should I check the bandage?” She started to panic.
“No, it wasn’t that bad. But why don’t you bring me the whiskey?”
Delight hurried to get the bottle, and when she gave it to him, he took several big gulps.
“I thought you didn’t like whiskey,” Delight remarked, keeping her voice low as he swallowed the burning liquid eagerly.
“I don’t like it, but believe me, it takes the edge off my leg.” He grimaced, handing the liquor back to her. When she’d put it away, she wasn’t certain whether she should lie down by him again. “Come on,” he coaxed, patting the blanket next to him.
“Are you sure?” Delight sat on the edge of the bed.
“I’ll try to control myself, but for some reason when I get this close to you there’s only one thing on my mind.”
She smiled as she lay beside him. “Think of me as only your cabin boy.”
Jim stifled a laugh. “I’ll try.”
“That was a wonderful night…” she sighed.
“Tease. It’s not fair to tempt me with memories like those when I’m not in a position to do anything about it.”
Delight grinned. “As long as you don’t forget.”
“Ah, my love. If only we were alone…” Knowing that he would not enjoy the pleasures of her body this night, he held her as close as he could. “Now go to sleep.”
“Yes, Captain,” she murmured, safe in the haven of his arms. “Good night.”
Chapter Thirty-six
Renee was home alone when she received word that the Enterprise had been destroyed by a Rebel attack and that the survivors had just returned to town aboard the Belle of Memphis. Without a second thought, she called for the carriage to be brought around and rushed down to the levee. She located the steamer without any trouble and immediately went on board in search of Jim, Mark, and Ollie.
“Excuse me.” She stopped one of the clerks. “I was wondering if you could tell me which cabin Captain Westlake is in.”
The man looked at her questioningly. “There was no Captain Westlake traveling with us this trip.”
“Surely there must be some mistake. He was on the Enterprise.”
The clerk gave her a pitying look. “It was a terrible tragedy, ma’am. All those people killed…”
Renee was growing more upset by the minute. Surely, Jim couldn’t have been hurt. “What about Captain Clayton? He’s a Union officer.”
“No, ma’am. We picked up the survivors, but there weren’t any soldiers with them.”
She paled at the news. “Where are they?”
“On the promenade deck. The first eight staterooms as you come out of the companionway.” He pointed her in the right direction.
“Thank you.” Renee held her breath as she went in search of the survivors. No Jim and no Mark! Surely nothing could have happened to them. They were so young…so vibrant…so alive.…She fought down the painful possibility that they could have been lost. She wouldn’t think of that now. Steeling herself, she headed up the companionway, grateful that Dorrie and Martha weren’t with her.
Rose was just coming out of Ollie’s stateroom on the promenade deck when she saw Renee, and she rushed to her.
“Mrs. Westlake!” Her call immediately drew Renee’s attention. “Mrs. Westlake, I’m Rose O’Brien.” She introduced herself, but when she saw no flicker of recognition, she explained further, “I work for Delight de Vries.”
“Oh.” Renee was instantly contrite and took her hand in a warm gesture. “Rose. Of course. I’m sorry. I was just so worried…I’m trying to locate the people who were on the Enterprise.”
“I know…Ollie’s right in here.” She ushered Renee toward the cabin.
“Were you on boar
d?” she asked, surprised.
“Yes, I was. Delight, too.”
“Delight? I didn’t know she was going to travel with Jim….”
“It was a spur of the moment decision,” Rose answered.
“Where is she? She wasn’t hurt, was she? And what about Jim and Mark Clayton?” Renee demanded, pausing outside Ollie’s cabin door.
“They’re all fine,” Rose assured her. “At least, they were the last time I saw them.”
“You mean they didn’t come back with you?”
“No. Jim and Captain Clayton took off after the Rebs. They wanted to try to get the gold back.”
“Oh…and Delight?”
“She stayed with me and helped me with Ollie until your husband and father-in-law showed up. Once they got everything all straightened out and the rest of us on our way back home, she rode with them to find Jim.”
“Marshall took Delight with them?” Renee was amazed.
“Yes. She went along.”
“But what was she doing on this trip to begin with?” Renee was confused. The last she’d heard Jim was making the run and Delight was going to wait for him at home.
“I don’t know if I should be the one to tell you all this…”
“I won’t repeat anything, Rose. I just want to know what happened.”
From all that Delight had told her about Renee, she knew she could trust her. “Did you know about Delight’s disguise?” she asked.
“I did,” Renee confirmed.
“Did you know why she did it?”
“No. Jim never told us the real reason.”
As delicately as she could, Rose explained. “Martin Montgomery wanted Delight for his own….”
“Her own stepfather?!” Renee’s outrage was real.
Rose nodded. “She ran away from him that first night and knew that she had to hide. That’s why she dressed like a boy.”
“If she knew that’s what he wanted, why did she go back?”
“She thought she could keep him at bay by threatening to tell her mother the truth. And it worked, for a while, but Wednesday night Martin tried to force himself on her again.”
“She wasn’t hurt, was she?”
“Not physically. Clara stopped him in time.”
“Oh, no!” Renee gasped sympathetically. She knew how much Clara had cared for her younger husband. “Poor Clara.”
“I wouldn’t feel too sorry for her. It’s a good thing she found out the truth about him. Anyway, she sent us to find Jim, because she knew Delight would be safer under his protection.”
“Good. I’m glad she’s safe. But something’s not right here….” Renee frowned.
“What do you mean?”
“Martin is the one who warned Marshall about the plan to attack the Enterprise.”
Rose looked surprised. “That doesn’t sound like Martin Montgomery…unless…did he demand any money?”
“No…but he did say that he had to get out of town because the spies were after him.”
“The weasel! He only needed the money because Clara threw him out.”
“But how did he find out about the attack?” Renee looked at her worriedly.
Both women fell silent for a moment as they realized that Martin might have been a spy.
“How is Ollie?” Renee finally asked, breaking the tense silence.
“He’s much better now. I have to admit I was worried. He was unconscious for quite a while.”
“Well, let’s get him back to the house and taken care of.”
“Are you sure?”
“Of course. Ollie’s family. Do you have a place to stay?”
“I can go back to Clara’s, since Martin is gone.”
“All right, but why don’t you come with me for now? We can get in touch with Clara later.”
“I’d like that.”
Renee followed Rose into the cabin then, and she gasped when she first saw Ollie. He still lay in bed, his head swathed in white bandages.
“Ollie?” At the sound of Renee’s voice, he opened his eyes and smiled at her, and her fears dissolved.
“Renee. Did Rose tell you what happened to the Enterprise?” he asked.
“She did. It must have been terrible.”
“I wish I could have done something to save her….”
“Don’t worry about that, Ollie. The important thing is that you’re alive. Do you feel up to moving?” Renee asked, wanting to get him settled as soon as possible. “I want you to come back to the house with us so I can get the doctor to take a look at you.”
“But I’m fine, now,” he protested.
“I’ll believe that when the doctor tells me so.” She would brook no argument from him, and he gave up gracefully.
“Is Rose coming, too?” he asked quickly.
“Yes. She is,” Renee assured him.
“Good.” He was glad that Rose had not been forgotten in all the hubbub over his own injuries. Swinging his legs over the side of the bed, he rested a minute before getting slowly to his feet. Rose helped him with his coat and put an arm around him as he stood. “I guess I’m ready.”
“The carriage is right at the foot of the gangplank, so you don’t have far to walk.”
“You haven’t been up very often since the accident, so we’d better take it nice and easy,” Rose told him as they started down the deck to the companionway.
They made it to the coach without mishap, and after Renee spoke briefly with Walter they were on their way. Once they arrived back at the house, Renee took Ollie into one of the guest bedrooms and with Rose’s help quickly got him into bed. She sent a servant to bring a doctor and then settled in the parlor with Rose to relax and have a soothing cup of tea.
It was there that Dorrie found them a short time later when she rushed into the house, crying.
“What’s wrong?” Renee rushed to her side.
“I just heard about the Enterprise…and Mark and Jim didn’t come back….”
Putting a comforting arm about her shoulders, Renee hugged her sister-in-law. “No they didn’t, but it wasn’t because they were killed. They went after the guerrillas to get the gold back.”
“So, Jim and Mark were both all right?” she needed to hear the words again.
“Yes, they are. Marshall and your father, too.”
Dorrie pulled herself together with an effort. “I was so upset….”
“I could tell. Sit down with us for a while. Do you know Rose?”
“No. I don’t believe so….”
“Rose is Delight’s friend and companion. She was on board with Delight.”
“I didn’t know that Jim was planning to take Delight along.”
“It was a last-minute thing.” Rose avoided repeating the tale of Martin and Delight. “I meant to tell you, Renee…they got married in Sainte Genevieve.”
“They did?!” the other two women chorused. “That’s wonderful!”
“What’s wonderful?” Martha Westlake asked as she came in, having just returned from her afternoon outing.
“Delight went with Jim this trip and they were married in Sainte Gen!”
Martha smiled. “I’m so glad, but I wish they could have married here in town….” She gave Renee a stern, yet teasing look. “Both my sons are married now, and I haven’t been at either of their weddings!”
“Don’t worry, Mother,” Dorrie told her lightheartedly. “Pretty soon, you can come to Mark’s and mine.”
Martha looked troubled for a minute. “How did you find all this out about Jim and Delight? They’re not back, are they?”
“No…” Renee stumbled for the right way to tell her. “Have you met Rose, Delight’s friend?”
“Yes, we met before at Clara’s.” Martha sat down as she still tried to figure out what was going on.
“Well, Rose was with them when they got married.”
“But how did she get back here so fast?” Sensing Renee’s hesitation, she guessed what had happened. “It’s the Enterprise, i
sn’t it? Did the Rebs attack?”
“A little north of New Madrid,” Rose supplied.
“And Jim? ”
“He’s fine, Mother. Mark and Delight, too.” Dorrie hastened to confirm that bit of good news.
“Where are they?”
“They went after the Rebs to try to get the gold back. Marshall and George went with them,” Renee told her.
“I see.” Martha looked troubled and was about to speak when someone knocked at the door.
“It’s probably the doctor.” Renee hurried out into the hall to answer it and admitted Dr. Freemont. “He’s upstairs, Doctor.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Westlake.” He followed her up the stairs. “I’ll check back with you before I go,” he told her as he entered Ollie’s bedroom.
“I’ll be in the front parlor,” Renee said as she headed back to join the others.
“Why is he here?” Martha asked when Renee returned.
“Ollie was hurt, and I thought it would be best if the doctor checked him over.”
“You’re right, of course,” Martha sighed, settling back in a chair. “When was the attack?”
“Thursday night—late.” Rose told her.
Martha was pensive. “It could be quite a while before we hear anything more. We’d better pray that they’re all right.”
“I know,” Renee and Dorrie each said, worrying about their men. They knew the hours would pass slowly until they had word from them.
Dr. Freemont came down a short time later.
“How is he?” Renee inquired, meeting him in the hall and drawing him into the parlor where the rest of the family waited.
“He’ll be just fine, Mrs. Westlake. Good afternoon, ladies.” He was cordial as he joined them for a cup of tea. “You did an excellent job of nursing him, Miss O’Brien.”
“Thank you, Doctor.” Rose was glad Ollie was going to be all right.
“Just keep him quiet for a few days…don’t let him get too active. Within a week, he should be back to normal.”
“That’s good news.”
Annabelle and Nathan were sharing a relaxing lunch when Wade burst into the house.
“Where are you?” he called excitedly from the front hall.
“Wade?” Annabelle rose quickly. “We’re in the dining room. What’s happened?”
