Southern Beauty

by Lucia, Julie

  Turning to Jacob once again, she asked in almost a whisper, “Does he love her?”

  “McPherson? Ah, he loves every woman and they love him too,” said Jacob. He noticed her emerald eyes had now turned glossy as if she were about to cry, even though she tried desperately to hide it. Jacob sighed and then rested his hand on her shoulder. “Is he getting to you? Are you actually beginning to care for David?”

  “Oh no, absolutely not, I don’t care in the least. I have much higher standards, Mr. Evans. Besides he is so, so, difficult,” She stated as she gained control of her emotions once again.

  “And you are not?” Jacob laughed.

  Rain began to sprinkle down on them and Jacob and Johanna continued their trip back to the cabin.

  “And where the hell have you two been?” David asked angrily in a way that made them both feel like they were kids being scolded by a parent.

  “We went to gather wood for the fire.” Jacob answered quickly before Johanna could speak.

  “Do you have a problem with that?” Johanna glared.

  “As a matter of fact I do,” he scowled, “there are footprints outside that do not belong to any of us. Someone knows we’re here we need to leave immediately.”

  David grabbed her arm forcing her towards him and stared down at her. “Listen little girl, you could be in danger, you need to stop acting like a child, and listen to me for once.”

  “No, you could be in danger. Let go of my arm.” Johanna said gritting her teeth and pulling away. “I’m tired of you treating me terribly. Don’t touch me, don’t talk to me, and don’t even look at me.” Johanna reached for the doorknob.

  “Where do you think you’re going?” David yelled after her as if she were a child being scolded.

  “Out!” she screamed back, slamming the door behind her, thunder cracked adding to the drama, and she stepped into the pouring rain which now fell like autumn leaves in a gusty breeze.

  “It’s raining; you’re going to catch the death of yourself.” David bit his lip. “I guess I better go get her, you’ll never know what kind of trouble she’ll get herself into.” He left without looking at Preston and Jacob’s blank expressions as they watched the scene before them unfold.

  Johanna’s silken body was now drenched, the dampness had cooled her hot head and she raised her hands above her head to feel the freedom she felt out in the open. The heavy beats of the rain pounding the ground drowned out David’s voice calling for her. When she finally did hear him, she ducked behind a tree so he’d pass.

  “Johanna?” he yelled again this time in a concerned and frantic tone. The rain now poured harder, but beyond the splashing rain he heard a faint giggle. Turning he saw the most beautiful woman he had ever laid eyes on. Her golden hair clinging to her face, dress and petticoat beneath stuck to her so tightly it showed her full figure, and that smile, that teasing smile, seductively invited him to her.

  David grinned taking a closer step. He lifted his hand to her cheek and pulled away her wet hair that hid her emerald eyes. What was it about her that made him feel so alive? He felt anger and passion at once. She was a child but everything about her was a woman.

  “Do you really hate me?” David asked her with a slight grin.

  “No, I do not,” she admitted and then held her breath. Her gaze locked on his. She wanted desperately to remove herself from his powerful presence. He had an undeniable power over her that made her want more of him. She hated him for it. It was hard for her to swallow. His handsome face gazing upon hers made Johanna tremble. The look on his face made it even harder for her to turn away. He looked at her with wonder as if he had never seen her before.

  “Do you treat all your prisoners like this, Lieutenant?” asked Johanna, trying desperately to break their intense moment.

  “Only the ones who are defiant,” said David. “Of course, until they are broken.”

  Johanna stared him down. “Are you saying that I am a horse or child?” she asked.

  “Does it matter?” he asked.

  Johanna was so furious with David she could actually feel her blood pressure boil, and her face burn with anger, but she could not make any words form. She stared at him. Watching him laugh at her was painful. She had let down her guard for some odd reason. Why she did continued to perplex her.

  Johanna turned in anger and tried to step away from him to head back to the cottage. Before she took another step, David grabbed her arm and turned her toward him with a jerk.

  They were now face to face again, staring in each other’s eyes, inches from each other. Another crack of thunder and a flash of lightening outlined their circumstance. A small stream began to form nearby that had been created by the downpour of rain.

  Johanna tried to push him away although he was too strong for her. His fists wrapped around her wrists, she tried to struggle, but her heart wanted to give in. David whispered her name calming her. “Johanna,” he whispered.

  Her face felt hot again but it wasn’t because of anger. She froze and looked up into his handsome face.

  He whispered her name again, “Johanna.”

  She was entranced, it was as if the whole world had stopped, became motionless, as if there was no rain, no war, and no cares. Time had held on and wouldn’t tick to the next second.

  David’s mind couldn’t comprehend what he was seeing. Even wet with the rain pouring over her, Johanna was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. He whispered her name as if it was a heavenly secret he unveiled.

  “Johanna,” he said once again. She wanted him even though she struggled, he knew. He could see it in her eyes. He felt it he was consumed by it, by her. She was intoxicating. He had lost. He could not pretend anymore. He had to have her. He would never be the same again. It was then, in that moment, that space in time that the revelation came. Lieutenant David McPherson knew that he loved her.

  David’s eyes traced Johanna’s lips, he wanted to taste them, feel their warmth, their tenderness. His hands shook as they began to touch her silken face. He feared if he touched her, she’d disappear into the night as if in a dream. He could not wait any longer he had to kiss her, and with a powerful embrace, his lips collided with hers.

  Chapter 6

  A

  fter that day Johanna couldn’t remember much about the incident with David. The moment they had shared together was a blur. It seemed more like a dream. She could hardly remember when Private Graystone whisked her away from David. They were interrupted by unexpected arrival of Malcolm. He had knocked David out with his revolver with one swift blow. David had no idea what hit him until it was too late.

  David and Johanna didn’t hear Malcolm approach them from behind with the downpour of rain and the crashing thunder. As David fell to the ground it was there in that instant, Malcolm took her. He grabbed her, covered her mouth, and before she could scream, he whispered in her ear.

  “Colonel Lee has sent me,” said Malcolm. “I am here to save you. Please don’t scream or there will be blood spilled this night.”

  That was enough for Johanna. She never said a word. And they rode back toward Charleston and she never looked back, not once. A blur, her time with David was something that changed her. But it was just a blur.

  Private Graystone and Johanna didn’t speak until arriving at her home where her uncle had sent soldiers to keep watch. She entered, bathed, changed clothes, and went down into the dining room where Malcolm and dinner sat waiting for her. There were also at least a dozen servants she didn’t recognize milling around.

  It was hard for Johanna to smile, but she knew that the soldier was doing his job. She couldn’t be angry with him.

  “Thank you,” she forced a smile, “you saved my life.”

  “Miss Lee, I was sent to take you to Arlington. I don’t really know what happened when you were abducted,” Malcolm looked at her with concern, “I know that Union soldier tried to force himself on you out there, and I am sorry that I wasn’t here sooner. I will never forgive my
self for staying at the inn and not coming straight here.”

  Johanna looked up at him with confusion and then frowned. “I just want to forget all about it,” she lied.

  “On Sunday, I will take you to Arlington as planned. In the mean time, your uncle left word that he would like us to stay and meet him at the Beauregard’s party in two evenings from now.” Malcolm smiled. “I would love to take you.” He asked in a charming plea even Johanna couldn’t turn down.

  “I thought he couldn’t meet us?” questioned Johanna.

  “A change of plans,” answered Malcolm.

  Johanna couldn’t think of anything she would rather not do, but she half smiled back and said, “That would be nice, thank you Mr. Graystone.”

  “Please call me Malcolm,” he noticed her somber tone and put his hand on hers. “Cheer up Miss Johanna, it will be fun, I promise.”

  The next day she spent in her room with thoughts of David and how she began to notice his kindness more during their time together. She was confused by her feelings. He was her captor, he was arrogant, yet, he made her feel an unbelievable shock to her heart every time he would lay his eyes on her or touch her. She was torn between hate and love. One second she despised him and the other she didn’t know how she would go on without him. It was ridiculous. She was being ridiculous she thought. How could this infatuation be good? It was not like her to feel such emotions. She must be coming down with something. She felt her face. Oh yes, it was flushed, she must be ill. Maybe she would lie down some more she thought.

  “Stop thinking about him,” she angrily whispered to herself. She tried to read and then realized she left her magazine with the Union soldiers. She was heartbroken. How could she get it back?

  She could not live with knowing that they had something that was so precious to her, unfortunately, they were long gone. They had what they needed. She knew they must have found her uncle’s cigar box with the plans inside.

  Then she smiled to herself and put her hand on the locket that caressed her neck. She was able to save one page of her uncle’s plans, the map. They might have some of it, but they didn’t have all of it.

  “Now go back to your regiment and see if your big heroes!” She actually had a twinge of sadness for them. They would look like idiots with half of a plan. She could hear someone at the front door. She hid her locket back in her dress and looked once again in the mirror and dashed down the stairs to see who had visited her.

  # # #

  “Damn!” said David punching the ground. He was angry and humiliated by his surprised blow to the head. It took him awhile to awaken when Jacob called his name and helped him off the ground.

  “Are you okay?” Jacob said helping David with a hand up. “That bump on your head looks painful.”

  “She’s gone,” David said as he felt his goose egg. His gaze directed past Jacob, looking in the direction Johanna had disappeared. There were footprints in the mud that lay before them. It had proven she had not escaped on her own.

  “I know. I think we need to reevaluate what we are going to do. We have to get out of here before recruits come,” said Jacob. “You know she has the map with her, don’t you? Preston was admiring her locket earlier and she refused to let him look in it. It must be in there. The good news is we still have the cigar box we found in the liquor cabinet. I think it’s more important than just a bunch of exquisite cigars.”

  Preston finally joining them with one of the cigars in his mouth, “Yeah, these cigars are going to determine who wins the war,” he laughed.

  David still looking around as if Johanna was going to appear out of the woods ignored the men, “I blew it. I stopped thinking about the mission for one second. I know better. I have to get her back,” said David.

  “What do you mean? Have you gone mad?” asked Preston.

  “Yes...” David hesitated and then caught himself, “no, I just mean, we need to get that map from her.”

  “Right, how do you suppose we do that?” Jacob asked.

  “I don’t know yet,” said David still rubbing his head.

  “Well, I am in, whatever you decide,” said Preston.

  “Thanks, I appreciate your support,” said David.

  Preston laughed, “No, it’s not that, I am just amused by the effect Miss Lee has on you.”

  # # #

  When Malcolm met Johanna at her door to escort her to the Beauregard’s ball, she was surprised to notice how very handsome he was. He had a boyish charm about him that made a girl’s heart skip a beat in his presence.

  “You look lovely,” he smiled at her and helped her into the carriage. “It’s hard for me to take my eyes off you.” Johanna blushed not used to the attention. “What, you don’t believe me?”

  “Thank you. It’s been a long time since anyone has noticed,” smiled Johanna still blushing.

  “I find that hard to believe. You are the most beautiful woman I have ever laid eyes upon.” He continued with his compliments.

  “Be careful Mr. Graystone, I might skip the ball and take you straight to church,” smiled Johanna.

  “Only if it’s for our wedding,” he said with a grin. They both laughed. Johanna slightly embarrassed.

  Johanna looked out the carriage window smiling and thinking how she couldn’t wait to see the look on Clarice’s face when she walked in on the arm of a handsome man that Clarice hadn’t yet had her hands on.

  Johanna had history with Clarice Beauregard. They unfortunately belonged in the same society. Johanna had to be exposed to her for teas, dinners, and of course for balls. Johanna found her to be mean and manipulative. Normally Clarice didn’t bother her in the least, especially because her family most of the time resided in New Orleans.

  But when circumstance would have it and Johanna had to see her, she would make every effort not to encourage Clarice’s manner. She wasn’t worth the effort.

  Clarice was the model of what every man wanted. She was beautiful, seductive, and charismatic. Johanna had to learn this lesson first hand. She was in the wake of Clarice’s power she held over men. One young man Johanna thought had potential to be a suitor was ruined by Clarice. More like ruined him. She set her sights on him and devoured him with one swift blow. Johanna was in the crossfire and was also burned. From that day on, Johanna vowed to never ever be involved with any man that Clarice had encountered. It was a no win situation. He would forever be regretful of losing Clarice or regretful of never getting the chance.

  Johanna sighed with a heavy heart. Just a small glimpse of heartache always brought Johanna to that place where she felt that pang of deception. The carriage listed to the right and with it brought Johanna out of her sharp and painful past.

  “Are you all right?” Malcolm questioned her hardened look.

  “Oh yes. I am not quite enthusiastic for parties they give me a bit of anxiety.” She answered.

  “Well, there is nothing to fear. I shall not leave your side.” Malcolm smiled.

  Johanna smiled a not so convincing smile back.

  Chapter 7

  E

  ntering the ballroom took Johanna’s breath away. She had been to parties before and they always made her gasp. The scene was a portrait picture of beautiful ladies dressed in their best gowns for the sole purpose of impressing the handsome Citadel cadets that filtered the room. Her senses were bombarded with the smell of tobacco and perfume and music that filled the air. While the musicians played she watched gentlemen approach ladies for their hand at a dance.

  “This is how gentlemen treat ladies,” she whispered to herself but aimed at David. She had to smile. This was what the South was all about. What made Southerners complete, what they prided themselves on, hospitality, celebration, and enjoying ones company, she thought to herself. Except, Clarice was here, the evil Clarice, and to top it off, it was her family’s ball.

  “I’ll go get us some drinks to cool us off,” Malcolm smiled at her and disappeared into the scenery. Her eyes searched the room for her uncl
e. She could hear the conversation next to her.

  “Can you believe it? Rene Beauregard is here and so is the cadet that shot at the Star of the West, George Edward,” said a young lady to her friends.

  “Rene is so handsome,” said another.

  “Oh, this is the best ball ever! Look at all the handsome cadets,” said another giddy young lady.

  Johanna decided to remove herself from the gossiping girls into another room which seemed to be abandoned of party goers. It was the Beauregard’s drawing room. She noticed a painting on the wall and out of curiosity and boredom decided to examine it closer.

  “That was my grandmother’s from Paris,” Johanna surprised by the intrusion, looked in the direction of the speaker.

  “Oh, Mr. Beauregard, you startled me,” Johanna said.

  Please call me Rene,” he said with a slight bow.

  His smile and his presence were a powerful combination, the effect it had on Johanna made her slightly blush.

  Johanna had never been introduced to Rene. He had always been shielded by Clarice and away for schooling. She definitely understood what the fuss was all about. He was tall and extremely handsome. Maybe too handsome, she thought to herself. She slightly smiled and looked around the room, realizing they were now alone.

  “I fear I do not know who you are, and I thought I knew all the beautiful ladies in Charleston,” said Rene in his charming Cajun accent.

  “You mean you courted every beautiful lady in Charleston,” said Johanna, not ready to smile yet.

  This made him laugh. “I am not that bad, New Orleans maybe. Are you friends with Clarice?”

  “Hardly,” she whispered. I am here for my uncle.”

  “And who pray tell is your uncle?” asked Rene intrigued.

  She scanned the room once again nervously. “I should go.”

  He followed her glance. “Oh, you don’t want to be caught seen with me,” he asked.