Siren's Song

by Constance O'Banyon

  He glanced down at her and their eyes locked.

  "You could always turn me Over to them again," he suggested.

  She glared at him in anger, wishing she could damn him to hell. With amazing control, she pushed such thoughts aside. "What a tempting notion."

  Before he could reply, she turned away and moved down the slope at a steady pace, and he hurried after her.

  When they reached the horses, there was a man waiting for them. He was an older man, and his eyes were less than friendly as he looked at Judah.

  "You will not remember my friend," Dominique said, "but he knows you. He will ride with us until we reach the swamp, then he will take the horses away with him."

  It had not escaped Judah's notice that she had failed to introduce the man to him, so he took matters into his own hands. "I do not know your name, sir."

  "Names are not important," Dominique intervened, saving Bartrand the trouble of answering. "But time is. We must be away from the high road before the sun is fully risen. I suggest we ride fast."

  Judah knew how a fish felt out of water. Give him a ship and a battle and he would fight it and win. But he did not know this island and he did not know friend from foe. He gnashed his teeth, gripped the reins, and mounted his horse, riding to catch up with Dominique and her silent friend.

  They galloped down the road with only the slight lightening of the eastern sky to guide them. Judah used this time to think about his situation. He had already decided that Dominique and her friend were not taking him to the French, or else they would not go to all this trouble.

  He was equally certain that Dominique had helped the French capture him the first time. That was something he could never forgive, no matter how she tried to make up for it now by getting him off the island.

  The sun was well up when they turned off the main road onto a trail, without slackening their pace. They dismounted once to rest the horses, and Judah reached into the canvas bag and took a chunk of cheese, which he washed down with cool water from a waterskin.

  Nothing would have induced him to admit to Dominique that he was ravenously hungry—he would not give her that satisfaction.

  He felt her hand lightly touch his shoulder.

  "Here, Judah," she said, handing him dried meat and fresh fruit. "You will need more than the cheese."

  He couldn't bring himself to meet her eyes, but he noticed that there was not even a glint of mockery in her voice, only concern.

  He took the offering and devoured it greedily.

  Soon they were mounted again and riding down the incline through a heavily wooded area.

  Judah saw vast banana trees, mango trees, and the distinctive scarlet blooms of the flame trees. They left the flat lands and were riding through gentle rolling hills, where a profusion of wildflowers sweetened the very air he breathed. He glanced up at the dazzling azure sky and thought this was surely how paradise must have been.

  They had now reached a valley that was dotted with fields of sugarcane, tobacco, and some other crops that he could not identify. The practical side of him, because of his family's export business, could see the fortune that was to be made in transporting those crops to an insatiable Europe. He could better understand why the French and the English coveted these islands.

  They walked the horses for a while to rest them, and Judah followed Dominique, watching her hips sway gracefully and her dark hair ripple in the slight breeze. Every muscle in his body was tense and there was no denying he wanted to make love to her. It nettled him that he had to rely on her to get him off this cursed island.

  He stumbled and caught himself, thankful that she had not noticed. He had to concentrate on keeping pace with Dominique; she was like a healthy young mare, strong and persistent. And damn it, he was not her equal in this land that was so foreign to him.

  25

  It was late afternoon when the weary travelers reached the edge of the swamp.

  Dominique dismounted and went to Judah. "Are your wounds paining you? If you do not feel well, there is a hidden glade nearby where we can rest for the night."

  Although he was in pain and he could not recall ever being so weary, he shook his head. "I can go on as long as you can."

  Silently, she turned from him and he watched her approach the older man. Judah wondered what Dominique's relationship was with the Frenchman. It had become apparent throughout the day that the man was no mere guide—he was a born gentleman.

  Dominique watched Bartrand dismount and begin unfastening the ropes that held the supplies she and Judah would need on their trek. When he placed them on the ground, he turned to her.

  "Are you certain you are well enough for this, Dominique? I still say you should have given yourself more time to recover."

  She smiled, taking her index finger and rubbing it across the tarlike substance on his face. "My worst concern is what this concoction will do to my skin."

  "This is no jest, Dominique." There was a slight rebuke in Bartrand's voice and more than a little irritation. "I could lead him through the swamp."

  "You are dear, Bartrand, but we both know that you would be hopelessly lost within an hour. You do not know the swamp as well as I do."

  He conceded with a stiff nod. "I will go to the rendezvous and warn Captain Gallant's men that the meeting place has changed. Have a care and be alert at all times. I will expect you to meet us in three days."

  She picked up one of the packs and strapped it across her back, then handed the reins of her horse to Bartrand. "I will be there."

  Bartrand rode up to Judah and watched him dismount. He could see by the grimace on the young captain's face that he was still in great pain. He had to admire him, though, because he had not once complained.

  As he handed Judah a pistol, he stared long and hard into his eyes. "Take care of her. She has suffered enough on your account."

  Without waiting for Judah's reply, Bartrand yanked the reins from his fingers and rode away, leading the two horses.

  Only after the man was lost from sight among the foliage of the thick fern forest did Judah turn his attention to Dominique. He saw her push a pistol through the belt around her waist, then she caught his eye.

  "We can rest awhile before we enter the swamp, if you would like."

  He looped his fingers around the pack on the ground and drew it up to his shoulder, feeling the pain in the weight of it, but not letting it show. "I am ready to go on if you are."

  "Captain Gallant," she said, her expression unreadable behind the thick repellent she had smeared on her face, "you are a commander of men, and strike terror in the hearts of your enemy. But be warned, you are in my world now. If you want to stay alive, you will do just as I say."

  She seemed so small, so vulnerable as she stood there, her courage like a beacon across a darkened sky. It entered his mind that his life had been dull and uneventful until he met her. "I will do as you say," he answered. "You lead and I follow—for now."

  It was damp and hot in the mangrove swamp with its uneven and inhospitable terrain. Judah walked along on spongy ground, leaving pooling footprints behind him. The swamplands, while treacherous, were also a thing of beauty. The fragrance of brilliant colored flowers in every hue of the rainbow sometimes dominated the decaying, rotting smell of the stagnant swamp water.

  Dominique turned to him for a moment. "At this point, step in my footsteps and nowhere else."

  He had to lessen his stride to match her small steps, and he was again reminded how vulnerable she was. She stopped once and shifted her pack from her left to her right shoulder.

  "Let me take that," he said, reaching for it.

  "No," she answered. "We will each carry our own. It is a rule my grandfather taught me."

  Judah had learned that it would do no good to argue with Dominique. He wondered vaguely if her grandfather had taught her stubbornness and defiance as well.

  Once she stopped and held up her hand, waving him quietly around a clump of needle-sharp grass.
>
  He placed his hand on his pistol and she smiled, shaking her head. "No need for that. It is merely a bird nest filled with hatchlings. I did not want to disturb them or their mother will desert them."

  He mumbled under his breath and she turned to look at him. "What did you say?"

  "Translated, I said how can the same woman who can help fire a cannon in a sea battle have the gentleness to care about some damned baby birds?"

  She looked at him, puzzled. "What has one to do with the other? One was war, the other is respecting other species that we share the earth with."

  "I know, I know. Your grandfather taught you that."

  "Yes, he did. No matter how we might like to believe that we are the most important species on earth, we do have to share it with others." So saying, she moved away and he had to hurry to catch her.

  After what seemed a lifetime of trudging in the water-land, they emerged into a magnificent meadow surrounded on all sides by steep volcanic cliffs.

  "There is a waterfall that pools into a river just ahead," Dominique told him. "It is suitable for bathing, if you are of a mind to."

  What he wanted to do was fall on the cool grass, close his eyes and sleep. He dropped his pack and sat down to catch his breath.

  "It is not usual for you to walk, is it?" she asked with sympathy.

  "Why should I?" he growled. "I have a ship."

  "And no doubt a horse and carriages, when not at sea."

  "Of course. I live in a civilized part of the world, where everyone has one form of transportation or another." He waved his hand to indicate the rugged terrain. "It's not like this."

  She decided not to argue with him. No doubt he was weary and hurting from his injuries. She would try to be tolerant. "Today was difficult, but tomorrow will be even more trying. We will have to climb that cliff." She nodded in the distance, and he looked at the sheer rock face.

  "That's impossible!"

  "I can assure you it is not. I know a trail, but it will be steep, with deep drop-offs."

  Judah stood and stared down at her. "If you will point the way to the waterfall, I would like to bathe."

  She was unloading her pack. "Follow the sound of the water and you cannot miss it."

  He clamped his jaw together tightly. He had not even heard the sound of water until she called his attention to it. Grudgingly, he admired her. She was strong of will and body. He'd had a damned hard time keeping up with her today, although he would never admit it to her.

  As Judah walked away, Dominique watched him out of the corner of her eye. He had been in a lot of pain today, she knew that. But she had to push him hard and get him off this island where he would be safe.

  After Judah had bathed in a shimmering pool fed by a waterfall, he felt better. His muscles ached and his ribs were troubling him, but it felt wonderful to wash the sticky repellent off his body.

  Being a seafaring man, Judah was accustomed to the sun lingering on the horizon, but here, sunset came with a suddenness that took him unawares, leaving him with only a quarter moon to light his way back to camp.

  When he arrived, he found a campfire glowing and food arranged upon a clean white cloth. A thick blanket had been laid out for his bed. Dominique straightened from where she was spreading her own blanket on the opposite side of the fire.

  "You are just a wellspring of competency, aren't you?”

  He meant it as a compliment, but she had grown accustomed to his criticism and shrugged.

  "We all do what we must." She moved to stand over him. "You had better let me put ointment on your wounds and rebind your ribs."

  He nodded, having nothing else to say. Her hands were gentle as she applied the medicine. But she tugged hard and tightly wrapped his ribs. When she had finished, she stood away from him.

  "I know today has been difficult, but I would not have pushed you so hard if it weren't important."

  "I know."

  "You should eat now. I am going to bathe."

  Judah managed a smile. "I would rather go with you."

  She merely shook her head, and he watched her until she disappeared behind the thick foliage that screened his view.

  Dominique purposely waited until she thought Judah would be asleep before she returned to camp, and he was.

  She lay down on her blanket and stared up at the stars. In two more days, Judah would be reunited with his men and she would probably never see him again. That thought made her very sad, but they were never meant to be together. Too much had been against them from the beginning.

  The burn on her leg had been hurting her all day, but now it throbbed and ached. She was afraid the pain would keep her awake, but, exhausted, she soon fell asleep. She was up the next morning before Judah awoke, so she would have time to apply the hideous repellent to her face. Not that it was necessary now that they were away from the swamps, but she still didn't want him to see her scars.

  "Good morning," Judah said, coming to his feet and staring at Dominique's blackened face. "Nothing will induce me to smear that stuff on myself again."

  "It is your decision," she said, pushing the stopper into the bottle. "I laid out your breakfast." She looked apologetic. "I'm sorry that you have to eat dried meat and cheese again."

  He sat down beside her and took the water she offered him. "I have seen times when I would have welcomed such a meal as a feast."

  "When you were at sea?"

  He nodded. "Once off the coast of Panama a storm came up and blew us off course. It was the worst storm I had seen, then or since. It didn't let up for six days, and when it was over, we were a long way from land and weak and exhausted from fighting to keep the ship afloat. Our food was all but gone and our fresh water was depleted."

  "What did you do?"

  "Just when we had given up hope, we spotted sails in the distance."

  "American?"

  He took a bite of dried meat and chewed and swallowed it before answering. "English."

  Her eyes showed her eagerness. "Did they give you food and fresh water?"

  "Let's just say we took what we needed, and let it go at that." He crumbled a bit of cheese in his hand and studied it for a moment. "I might add that they had pressed twenty Americans into sea duty, and we took them away with us."

  Dominique gathered up the remnants of food and stuffed them into the canvas bag. "I have seen the ruthless side of you and I have seen your gentleness. Which, I wonder, is the real Judah Gallant?"

  "Which would you expect?" he asked, tossing the bits of cheese to a brightly colored bird that was trilling in a nearby bush. "I am a black-hearted pirate."

  Dominique would not tell him that she knew he was nothing of the sort, and that she knew he was working for his country's government. "We had better leave. Already the day is hot."

  Judah made certain the campfire was out and soon they began the steep trek up the volcanic cliffs. Once they climbed across a place where the cliff had broken away and there was a sheer drop-off to the crashing waves below.

  They traveled until noon, and then Dominique suggested they find shelter beneath an overhanging ledge. She offered Judah the waterskin, but he pushed it back to her, indicating that she should drink first.

  She raised the water to her lips and drank deeply. He smiled when she wiped her mouth on the back of her hand, forgetting she had the repellent on her face.

  "Dominique," he said, taking the waterskin, "you do not need that repellent. I have not been bothered by insects, and I don't have it on me."

  "1.. . It will keep my face from becoming sunburned."

  "I see. I forget that women go to great lengths to keep their skin pale. I had noticed on board ship that you had a sprinkle of freckles across your nose." His eyes met hers and his voice became deep. "I found the freckles most intriguing."

  She leaned her head back and closed her eyes, basking in his nearness. How would she bear it when she had to watch him leave? She needed to know more about his life, so she could imagine what he might be th
inking and doing when he was gone.

  "Tell me about your wife."

  "Mary was pink-cheeked and blonde, with lovely brown eyes. Her mother and mine grew up together. They had always planned and hoped that we would one day marry."

  "Did you marry to please them or yourself?"

  Judah was surprised to find that he could now talk about Mary without guilt. But he did not want to. He wanted to know about Dominique. "I would rather speak of you," he said, artfully turning the conversation in her direction. "Are there many beaux that pay homage to your beauty?"

  He watched her take a deep breath and look past him at the shimmering sea. "As I told you before, too many to count."

  "What will you do when I am gone?"

  She was glad he could not see the pain she felt at his words. "I have not thought that far."

  "Will you go home?" He tried to imagine what her life had been like before he'd met her. She was still a mystery to him, and he wanted to know more about her. "You do have a home, do you not?"

  She decided to answer him evasively. "Guadeloupe has always been my home."

  "Were you happy here?"

  She smiled, remembering her grandfather's gentle teachings and his firm guidance. "I had a wonderful childhood."

  "And you left this island to go to Tobago to work in the Blue Dog Tavern?" There was doubt in his tone, and accusation in his eyes.

  Dominique stood. "I believe we should leave now. I know a place we can stay that will be far more comfortable than where we spent last night."

  She noticed he was slow in rising and realized he was still in pain. Even so, they had to hurry. "We must walk fast so we can be there by early afternoon," Dominique told Judah. "Then you can rest."

  26

  The sun made shimmering spears of light through the graceful flame trees that arched down the long avenue. As weary as he was, Judah paused, struck by the beauty of this tranquil setting. Off to his left was a pond spanned by a wooden bridge, and black swans drifted lazily on the mirror-bright water.

  "What place is this?" he asked, turning to Dominique, who stood beside him, her eyes moving almost caressingly over the scene.