Rescued (Flowers of the Bayou)

by Arlene Lam

  Amelia felt the heat rush to her cheeks at his touch and sent up a silent prayer to God to help her not faint. “I saw you with Melanie, I thought I would come over and say hello.”

  “You know Melanie?” Jordan questioned. Men knew Melanie, not young ladies and if they did they would be hard pressed to admit it.

  “Yes she’s an intriguing woman.” Amelia noticed him raise his eyebrow in what she assumed to be disbelief. “It doesn’t matter what everybody else might think of her, if we went around worrying ourselves about what everybody else thinks we would think nothing of ourselves. If that makes any sense.” Amelia added at her rushed words.

  “Perfect sense.” Jordan agreed “I’m glad I’m not the only one who feels that way.”

  “So where is she? ”Amelia beamed.”

  “I’m afraid you’ve missed her. But you still have me.” Jordan said delighted at the panicked look that came to her face.

  Amelia sucked on her bottom lip in response; she would look anywhere but in his face. She could feel his eyes upon her though and sooner or later she knew she would turn and look. Hearing his soft chuckle she took that as initiative and returned to their natural joking routine, “You are enjoying this. You like torturing me don’t you.” She responded in good humor.

  “How am I, as you say torturing you—have I hurt you in any way?” Jordan didn’t follow suit this time.

  “No I’m sorry I’m just not having the best of days I really should be at church not accusing you of foul play.”

  “I see so I am the scapegoat, but you know what I think, I think I make you nervous.” He teased.

  “That’s silly, why would you make me nervous?”

  “I don’t know, but I am sure I do.”

  Amelia rolled her eyes at that. Anyone could tell from the wide smile spread across his face that he knew he made her nervous, but she would swallow pig spit and give up three years of her life before she’d tell him that.

  “Can I ask you a question?”

  “Of course Mr. Bradford.” Amelia said as she rose from her seat.

  “Don’t run off I was only joking before. I can’t help but tease you. What can I say, somehow you just bring out the devil in me”?

  Amelia looked back at him. “I see.” She smiled back.

  Laughing Jordan followed close behind her retreating figure

  “Hungry?”

  “Even if I was that’s something a woman like me would never admit, and besides I can’t have lunch with you, people wouldn’t like it.”

  “People, a woman like you?” Jordan looked at her incredulous.” What do you mean a woman like you?”

  “You know.” Amelia said and motioned to her body and face.

  Jordan frowned, for the first time he realized that maybe she believed what those few said about her was true. Well he wouldn’t indulge her. “No, I don’t believe I do. Come on, even if you’re not hungry I am and you wouldn’t want me to have to dine alone.” He asked and looked at her while she battled with her options before she finally spoke.

  “It’s none of my affair if you have lunch by yourself or with dozens and though it would be nice, as I said people won’t like it.”

  “Are you not the woman who a few minutes ago stated ‘I don’t care what people think?” “This is different and you know it.” Amelia stated.

  “So you don’t want to be seen with me for your reputation’s sake?” Jordan tested which won him a small giggle from her.

  “You know that’s not true. I don’t know the first thing about you.”

  “How can you not know the first thing about me, you work for me and let’s not forget our moment at the Jackson’s.”

  “You shouldn’t mention that. It’s was a terrible mistake what happened and I’m sorry for it.”

  Jordan’s grin suddenly disappeared. “No Amelia, somehow I don’t think it was and I’m not sorry, so where would you like to eat?”

  “People won’t approve—you’re rich, very rich, and a man. You’re admired in this city, every lady is chasing after you, pretty ladies, and you should be with them not me. And I’m…I’m just …I’m nothing, just a poor black woman. Folk’s won’t approve. Lunch with you would be inviting trouble.”

  “I disagree.”

  “Then you are a fool Mr. Bradford.” Was Amelia’s response.

  “No Amelia, you are because you’re definitely someone, you could never be nothing, and I could care less what people think.”

  “Mr. Bradford I’m starting to think you would do anything to get what you want.”

  Jordan laughed. “So you’ll come?”

  “No.”

  “Fine we can just sit here.”

  “You don’t want to spend time with me.” Amelia said suspiciously. “You have the pick of the litter, you must want something, perhaps a cake or pie?”

  “Pie! Woman are you daft I just want to spend time with you, I like you Amelia.” He replied more than confident. “But you are making this hard with all the bargaining you have me going through. If I wanted to be with a southern belle I would, but I’m asking you. You make me laugh and I enjoy your company, and we are friends are we not? I’m sure that’s not a crime.”

  “It could be, and it has been. You know the rules between the races. We can’t be friends, not real ones.”

  “You’re difficult.”

  “I try not to be.”

  “You are being very difficult right now Amelia. No one cares if we have lunch we have every reason to after all.”

  “I don’t know,” Amelia gasped in exasperation but let a smile come to her face as she remembered his earlier words. “Alright Mr. Bradford but we will not have lunch in town. Let’s not be foolish.” Swinging her camisole she looked at him squarely. “You might prove to be a bad influence because you seem to bring out the devil in me.”

  Jordan couldn’t control his laughter at that. “My own words come back to haunt me.” Looking at her he watched as she fidgeted with her hands something he noticed she did frequently in his presence. “If not lunch we can go see Georgia, I know she would love to see you.”

  A beam crept across her face at the mention of Georgia; and Amelia started down the hill.

  Jordan took that as a yes and followed suit. He would question his motives later because as of now they were clouded. For now he had Amelia to himself and he would enjoy that time.

  Amelia contemplated her actions but even as she tried to force common sense to the forefront she knew it was a losing battle. What was she doing? She shouldn’t be going anywhere with him. She should be at home or at least carrying out her chores she scolded herself.

  “Amelia tell me about yourself.”

  “I’m afraid there isn’t much of a story to tell. I work for you that you know and I live across town outside the French Quarter.”

  “What do you know about me?”

  “Just rumors.” She said in a hushed voice.

  “Rumors are the best, what have you heard?”

  “Are you sure you want to know.” Amelia questioned.

  “I asked.”

  Sighing she stopped to face him. “I’ve heard that you’re somewhat of a rogue. A man who frequented more southern Belle’s beds and red light districts than even the most fiendish cad and come from a history of wealth so long it extends back to England. You have it so that all the ladies love you and all the men hate you and you’re also known to have a temper that once flared is only rivaled by a grizzly bear. I also know you were married once to an English woman.”

  “Stop.” Jordan held up his hand to silence her. “That was a most colorful description but I don’t wish to hear anymore.”

  “Well they are rumors after all.” Amelia faltered, noticing his teasing glint was now gone.

  All he gave her was his grin that seemed forced and kept walking. They stopped at the coach sitting just at the bend.

  Jordan reached his hand out to her and watched as she warily took it and let him help her in, only t
hen did he follow suit. Amelia looked out of the window painfully aware of the stares that were being pointed in their direction. “Next time let me get in myself. You must not help me, you shouldn’t have done that.”

  “Done what?”

  “Offered your hand, you’ve just dealt yourself a blow in this community.” Amelia directed him to the window where he himself could witness the cold looks.

  “Ah the mighty public opinion.”

  “You’ll never hear the end of this, you could lose business.”

  “I doubt that, I am business.”

  “Mr. Bradford.” She admonished.

  Jordan signaled the driver on. “Mrs. Morgan Hanson how do you like the ring of it?”

  At this Amelia felt ashamed. Was it a trick question? What must he think of her, knowing that she’d allowed him that kiss and was practically promised to someone else? “I’m very happy and proud to be the woman that will become his wife.”

  “Are you?” It sounded rather different to him as if she was trained to say the words that just flew out of her mouth.

  “Yes.” Amelia answered automatically. “I’m very lucky to have found a man like him that could love me.”

  “I’m sure you will be quite happy.”

  “I know I will.” Amelia lied almost convincing herself. “How did you know? I never told you.”

  “Georgia told me, when is the blessed day?”

  “They haven’t told me yet.”

  “They? There should be no they. It is your wedding isn’t it?”

  Amelia gave a low growl in response, her frustration coming to the surface. “Can’t we talk about something else.”

  “I thought a woman getting married would want to talk about nothing else.”

  “Well I am different.” She retorted.

  “As you wish, what would you like to talk about?”

  “I don’t know,” She admitted. She was still distracted by the entire situation—the staring, being with him right now. “Why haven’t you remarried?”

  Jordan looked away from her then. There was nothing more distasteful than bringing up marriage and him in the same sentence. He’d tried it once, and there was nothing in this God-given world that could force him to try it again. All he would provide her with was “I’m not the marrying type.”

  However the look on his face did not go unnoticed, Amelia took it as a sign to leave well enough alone. She let her eyes fall and rest on his lips and cursed herself for doing so. She hadn’t forgotten their kiss. She had been thinking about it the whole time. Strange how two people, who have shared something like that, could carry on, as if nothing had ever even happened?

  Smiling at her innocent glance Jordan let her continue her small inspection for a while longer before he stopped her by clearing his throat. “You did get a good look didn’t you, of course if you have some more admiring by all means please continue?”

  Letting a frown mar her features Amelia hid it quickly, he was trying to embarrass her. Allowing a wide smile to spread across her face she decided against letting him do so. She had no reason to be coy and timid around him. She was after all a grown woman. “Actually I think I have absorbed enough for the time being.”

  Quirking his eyebrow up at her Jordan rewarded her with one of his most dazzling dimpled grins. He remembered thinking not long ago that she was an interesting girl. Now it was turning into a fact. It only took a few minutes for her to catch on to his teasing and give in to some of her own. Motioning the driver to stop at the coming turn Jordan abruptly got out and went to lean against the large Magnolia tree that lay not too far away.

  Sticking her head out of the undersized window Amelia called out to him. “Why are we stopping on the side of the road? I thought we were going to go see Georgia?”

  “We are.”

  “Well last time I checked she didn’t live on a dirt road but in a house.”

  “It’s just a stop, I want to stretch my legs why are you so suspicious of that?”

  “Who said I was suspicious I simply asked you why we stopped.”

  “You didn’t have to say it it’s written all over your face.” Jordan strolled up to the side of the window and leaned his head against the top pane. “You know what I think.”

  Amelia unknowingly leaned back, caught off guard by his close presence. “No, what do you think?”

  Deliberately Jordan moved in closer seeing her retreat. He waited until he could almost touch her, then he stopped and enjoyed the look that came to her face and how her eyes rested uneasily on his mouth now barely an inch away from her own. “I think that I make you very nervous, and…” Bringing his hand up to brush away a few strands of her hair that had fallen into her face he took extreme pleasure in her sharp involuntary intake of breath. “And I think that you really like me.”

  Amelia pulled back from him immediately the spell he had cast on her now completely forgotten. “And I think you’re insane.”

  “Hmm looking at you a few moments ago would lead me to think differently.”

  “You’re a very vain man.” She accused smiling at him.

  “Why wouldn’t I be?”

  Pulling the door open Jordan took her by the arm and tugged her slightly until she stood outside with him.

  “What are you doing?”

  Her voice was no more than a whisper but he heard her clear as a Lorraine. “I’m trying to figure out something.”

  “What would that be?”

  “I’m trying to decide if you really like me.”

  “I like you well enough, I never said I didn’t like you I…I…I like you. I mean I don’t know you well enough not to like you.”

  Smiling at her rambling Jordan took her momentary pause as his opportunity to continue. “I already know you like me. I know you like me a great deal. But that’s not what I mean I want to know how much you like me.”

  “Mr. Bradford.”

  “Ms. Marriott.” He mocked. “Do you really like me?”

  “I don’t know.” She said flatly. “Stop acting so oddly.” Leaning against a tree trunk Amelia took a moment to still her heart, he had been so close she could barely see or think straight.

  “You say you don’t know me enough not to like me but you do know enough to like me.”

  “What point are you trying to prove? I like you okay I really do. Want me to scream it on top of a hill?”

  “I might.”

  Letting a very unladylike growl escape her lips, Amelia threw her hands up in defeat. “I will not argue with you, instead I will say you are right and I am all wrong.”

  “Who’s arguing?”

  “I … oh forget it.” She was quickly losing her grasp on where this strange conversation was going and her temper was giving way.

  “You know you’re very pretty when you’re mad, but I think you’re damn beautiful when you pout.”

  “What!” Amelia gasped. But then tried to invalidate the statement with one of her own, “I’m not pretty Mr. Bradford.”

  “Well no, not right now because you’re pouting and as I said that makes you beautiful.”

  “I’m not pretty or beautiful and you shouldn’t lie to me and say things you don’t mean, or believe, or even say that to me at all.”

  “I thought I had the freedom to say what I pleased, and in your mind you might not be pretty when you’re angry or beautiful when you pout but in mine it rings true.”

  “Stop this.” Amelia said irritated. “You’re behaving like a madman.”

  “I’ve been called worse.”

  “Mr. Bradford please.” She pleaded.

  “What?” He asked once again leaning in too close to her.

  “Mr.…Mr. Bradford.”

  “Ah, here we go with the formalities again.”

  “Jordan.”

  “I like the way you say that.”

  “What…?”

  “I was right.”

  “About?” She stammered, caught off guard by the intense heat coming from his
body.

  “Amelia you are in like with me.” He chuckled

  Amelia pushed at his chest and stood to the side of him. “This is ridiculous.”

  Jordan chuckled at that, he really enjoyed making her anxious. She was so pretty when she was anxious. “Amelia.”

  “What.” She nearly yelled.

  Jordan looked down at her and frowned, she was upset. That much he could tell and that had not been his intention. He just couldn’t help himself he enjoyed her company and he enjoyed wringing those sly comments from her. But not if it made her angry.

  “I’m sorry.” He offered.

  “For what?”

  “I didn’t mean to upset you.”

  “You haven’t.” Amelia said with a sharpness she really didn’t feel. She was more upset at the power he seemed to wield over her emotions than at what he had said. “No I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it to come out like that Mr. Bradford…Jordan, and I’m not upset with you.” She said and put on a bright smile to prove what she said was true.” It’s just that you astound me. The things you say and do.” She said and looked down with her last remark her thoughts drifting back to a certain kiss.

  Jordan peered down at her. He knew exactly what she had meant. “Really?” He said as he pulled her stunned frame up to his and leaned close down until the tip of his nose touched her own. “I astound you.” Jordan said to her even though he hadn’t expected her to listen.

  He could feel her heart thudding wildly, and looked down into her alluring face that now had a look of longing and distrust all mixed up in one. Gazing at her mouth he wrestled with the thought of kissing her once again and soon lost out against his better judgment. “ The same could said about you.”

  Amelia knew what he was going to do even before he did it and as soon as she felt his lips touch hers she braced herself against the hurricane of emotions she knew would soon be assaulting her. Feeling the world spin around as his soft lips delicately touched her own Amelia let her eyes flutter closed as he gently tugged and nipped at her bottom lip only to end too quickly and fall down to her neck making her go weak in the knees.