Rescued (Flowers of the Bayou)

by Arlene Lam

  Jordan was already stripping away his shirt and it was falling to the floor as soon as he entered the ill lit room. “I’m so tired Princess if only you knew.” Kicking off his boots Jordan waited for a reply and sat down hard on the edge of his bed removing the other heavy leather boot. “Amelia.” He called to her reaching over he found nothing but empty space.

  Standing Jordan turned up the oil lamps to reveal nothing more than an empty room. Feeling a vicious headache creep into his skull and a slight pang in his chest, he couldn’t hide the dark scowl that came to his features upon spotting not only the necklace in its open case but the folded piece of paper on the side of it with the distinctly feminine script displaying his name.

  Scanning the words Jordan found himself crumpling the item in his fist and once again donning boots and white linen shirt.

  *

  It wasn’t common for the loud booming of the grandfather clock to wake Jasper or Margaret so used to it they had become, it was even less common for it to disturb them once in a deep sleep so when the dings of three o’clock had been accompanied by the odd slamming of their bedroom door the duo both groggily though quickly awoke from their slumber.

  Even stranger to Jasper was the damn image of Jordan standing steaming at the edge of their bed. “Do you realize what time it is?”

  “Yes I damn well realize what time it is.” Jordan launched the piece of paper at his friend hitting him square in the forehead.

  “Jordan what’s wrong?” Margaret asked sleepily. “Did something happen to Georgia?”

  “Read it.” Jordan demanded.

  Pulling apart the crumpled mess of paper, now fully awake and anger slowly building in him by the fact he’d been so rudely awakened, Jasper did just that, as his wife turned up the oil lamps of their bedroom. Upon finishing the letter the feeling soon seeped away. “What did you say to her?” Jasper whispered to his wife.

  “Say to whom?” Margaret was still much too tired to comprehend the chaos around her right now.

  Thrusting the note into his wife’s hand Jasper began to climb out of bed. “Read it.”

  Margaret squinted her eyes trying to adjust to the odd lighting and finally started to make out the words.

  For reasons beyond the obvious I am leaving. Do not try to find me because I do not want to be found and cannot see you ever again. Please understand I only want what is best and will love you for the rest of my life.

  Amelia

  “What did you say to her, why has she gone?” Jordan demanded. When he received no answer he yelled to his cousin. “Margaret what did you say!”

  “I certainly didn’t tell her to leave.” Margaret defended herself. “How long ago did you find this?”

  “Hours ago.” Jordan said hating the waiver in his voice. “I’ve been looking for her for hours.”

  “She could not have gone far Jordan.” Jasper advised. “We will find her.”

  “Margaret please, just,” Jordan put a shaky hand in his hair. “Tell me what you said to her.”

  Margaret looked to her husband who nodded his head in secret meaning. “I told her to tell you she was having your baby.” There was no need to beat around the bush because there would never be a perfect way to tell him.

  Jordan found himself stuck in mid-stride. He tried to move again but couldn’t. Luckily he found his lips still functioned. “Come again?”

  “She’s pregnant Jordan. I overheard her today talking and I told her that you had to know too.” Margaret walked over to Jordan and took his large hands in hers. “Jasper said to give her more time, but I just couldn’t wait. I must have scared her off Jordan I’m sorry.” Margaret went to embrace her cousin never having seen him so distraught but he turned away.

  Jordan dropped her hands from his and stared almost blankly at his cousin, his head filling with memories of a time not too long ago.

  Margaret stared into his eyes reading his thoughts. “She’s just scared of what might happen. She wouldn’t do anything to harm herself or the baby.”

  “She would never have told me.” Jordan let the thought take hold of him and feelings of hurt, betrayal and anger mingled into one. “She would have never told me about my child just run off and left.” He finished.

  “You don’t know that.” Jasper tried to ease the tension, the look on his friend’s face a familiar one.

  “Have you looked for her at Nina’s” Margaret asked, hoping that once he found her the light would come back to his eyes replacing the darkness.

  “No.” Was his icy reply as he turned on heel and out of the couple’s bedroom.

  “Wait I will come with you.” Jasper was half dressed yet he still trailed down the long corridor behind Jordan.

  They walked in silence Jasper not knowing what to say and Jordan choosing to say nothing. Jasper’s thoughts ran the gamut. He didn’t know how he’d react in the same situation, if Margaret was pregnant and ran off. It was a chilling thought.

  Jasper had just managed to shrug on a shirt by the time they reached the stable and Jordan was pulling out Colossus and Zeus. Giving his horse a pat Jasper jumped on and followed behind Jordan and Colossus, still in silence.

  They went along in the same manner the whole way in the dark night the only sound being either crickets or the crinkling of rocks and dirt under the horses’ hooves.

  It was a long way to the weaver Nina’s house but in the late of night it seemed like an eternity. It was by God’s good grace Jasper was sure they finally came across the humble structure in the dim night after going along on the rugged trail for so long. Jasper was beginning to think they had lost their way. “So you will just knock on the door this late at night?”

  “I will.” Jordan replied already jumping from his horse, hand poised in position.

  Jasper caught his falling fist before it rattled the door. “Don’t beat it down for God’s sake, what if she’s not here, what if no one answers?”

  “I did not ask you to follow me, if she isn’t here I will look until I find her and if they don’t answer I will tear the door down”

  With an annoyed look Jasper dropped his hand and let it fall heavily on the door again and again. It took several minutes before the slight creaking of the door could be heard and seen and as it opened.

  Jordan sized up the dark man before him and frowned. “Where is Amelia?”

  “Who are you?” Cole barked angrily. “It’s the dead of the damn night.” Cole would have slammed the door in the man face, but a force kept it from closing. Pulling the door back once more he revealed the outstretched arm of the man again. “Look here, this is my house.”

  “Then make things easy for both of us because I am not leaving without her.” Pushing past the smaller man Jordan stood in the house now casting daggers at the poor soul who looked downright offended.

  “Please excuse my friend he’s gone a little mad.” Jasper tried to offer up an excuse. “Come out of the man’s house Jordan.”

  “Jordan.” Cole uttered, newly shocked. Amelia had come to them not to long ago from the man’s house. He knew she did not wish to see him. “Better do what your friend says white boy.” Cole said angry. Unable to believe that he had the nerve to come for her after all he’d done.

  Amelia would be married by now if not for him, and sure as hell not in the family way struggling to get by. She had been crying so much that even when Nina lay her down on the cot she didn’t stop until exhaustion won out.

  She cried for her baby, she cried for the hurt she caused Lorraine, for the embarrassment she would soon cause everyone and hard times. Still most of what she cried for was this man Jordan. Devastated for leaving in the way she had, more devastated at the thought of leaving him forever.

  Cole had tried to comfort her when his wife could not but the more he heard the more he ended up wanting to go the white man’s house, wrap his hands around his neck and strangle him.

  He couldn’t understand why a man with so much would toy with a woman with so little.
Take away all that she had and make it his. “Get out of my house.”

  “Tell her to get her things and I will.” Jordan refused to back down.

  Jasper tried the more polite approach. “We just would like to know if she is safe here with you.”

  “Sure you do, two white men worried about a colored woman in the middle of the night, more like Klan business you’re worried about.”

  “Where the hell is she?” Jordan had now lost all patience.

  “Safe from you.” Cole stated angrily, fists clenched at his sides. “She doesn’t want you around, didn’t you pay attention when you were told the first time?”

  “Well she doesn’t have a choice.” Pushing past him again Jordan started searching for Amelia it wouldn’t take long in so small a dwelling. The open space scattered with a few cushioned chairs and a bookshelf delivered nothing and neither did the tiny kitchen.

  Spying the only two doors left Jordan pulled one open to reveal a startled raven haired woman but it was not Amelia, shutting it just as abruptly as he’d opened it, Jordan stepped to the next door and before he had the chance to snatch it open, it did so from the inside.

  “I told you not to look for me.” Amelia spoke up to him. Stepping out the tiny sewing room she stood face to mighty chest.

  Jordan snatched up her arm and pulled her behind him not waiting for any more of her talk. He managed to give the man he’d been arguing with a deadly look as he looked to want to stand in his way, but decided against it.

  Once out in the night air he finally took the sight of her in, then knowing she was alright he found his voice. “I want to hear it from your lips.”

  “Why did you tell him?” Amelia asked of Jasper who stood off to the side knowing instantly he knew about the child she carried.

  “We had to.” Was all Jasper could come up with.

  “Tell me, I want to hear it from you.”

  “You already know.” Amelia knew she sounded defeated. Casting her eyes down to her bare feet she waited for his response.

  “Were you going to get rid of it?” He had to know. “Were you going to run off and take potions to poison my child, do you hate me so much.” Jordan held his breath unknowingly and waited for her to say something.

  “How could you say such a thing?” Amelia was truly shocked, and the fury in his face was alarming.” I love this child more than I thought possible to love anything.”

  “Liar!” Jordan yelled. “You would have run off to the woods without a word to me.”

  “Jordan stop this.” Jasper stepped in between the two. “Stop living in the past. Amelia would not do that and you know it.”

  Jordan pushed past his friend and grabbed her arm harshly. “You’re just like the rest of them a whore to the core.”

  Shutting her eyes against the sharp blade in her heart, Amelia willed back the fiery tears that threatened to fall.

  “Leave her be” Cole came out to stand between the man and his friend knocking away his hold on Amelia who he hugged to him in protection.

  “I swear if you don’t crawl back into the hovel of a home the next words you dare to speak will be your last.” Jordan warned.

  Cole had had enough, balling up his fist he lunged at the taller man and might have connected if the man hadn’t sidestepped him and landed a solid punch to his ribs and robbed him of his breath.

  “Stop it!” Amelia screamed and knelt down next to her friend.

  “I should have known you’d choose him.” Jordan hollered back. “Whores always jump from bed to bed it’s how they make a living.”

  “What?” Amelia stammered confused. Never had he spoken to her in such a way.

  Jasper stepped in then—Jordan had the right to be upset but he’d gone too far. “You apologize to that woman.”

  “She is nothing to me or you, just a tramp.” Jordan spurted so angry that he didn’t see the hard fist coming in time to duck and soon was lying flat on his back in the dust.

  Jasper hadn’t wanted to do it but the man had gone stark raving mad. “Shut the hell up Jordan before you make even more an ass of yourself than you already have, if that is even possible.”

  “Damn it.” Jordan grumbled from his position on the floor head and knuckles throbbing.

  “What’s going on here?” Nina herself had now joined the scene, recovering from her rude awakening and all the noise in her front yard. Wrapping her robe tightly around herself, she spotted her husband hunched over and ran to his aide. “What did you do?” She asked heatedly of Jordan who was rubbing his temple gingerly. Protectively she placed herself in front of her husband who was just now beginning to stand upright again rage still intact.

  Jasper could have kicked the fool he saw on the floor but decided against it after all it wouldn’t be honorable. Instead he went to the hurt woman who even now went over to Jordan trying to offer up some comfort and was roughly turned away. Taking her hand in his Jasper lead her away from Jordan. “You know everything will be all right. He will come to his senses and one day you might forgive him and everything will be just as it should.”

  Amelia could hold back her tears no longer and a deep sob escaped her throat and she let Jasper hug her tightly.

  Jordan on his feet now stared at her back and how it shook with her violent wails, he fought the urge to go to her instead he walked over to his horse and just as silently got on and began to ride away.

  “How could he says those things to me? I love him more than life itself. I love my baby, why did he say those things to me?” Amelia begged Jasper to tell her.

  “Amelia listen to me, now you will fret and you will pout but eventually this too will pass.”

  “No.” Was Amelia’s reply and she stepped from him. No amount of time could ease the suffering in her heart. “Nothing will ever be the same.”

  “It will,” Jasper tried to assure her. “Believe it or not you’ve become that man’s heart.” Taking her chin in his hands he forced her to look at him. “A man cannot live without his heart.”

  Shaking her head Amelia found her eyes faceted on the ring on her thumb and slowly removed it. “Please, will you give this back to him.”

  Picking up her hand in his, Jasper kissed her palm. “Everything is going to be alright, if you need anything come to me, anything at all.”

  “I could never do that.” Voice crackling Amelia started toward the house.

  “You are family now if you like the fact or not, why the baby you’re carrying will be my little nephew or niece. Call on me if you need anything besides if you don’t I’ll hear about it because I sure plan to call on you.” Jasper tried lightening the mood. “Amelia I just want to make things right until that idiot realizes what a mistake he’s made.” His heart went out to Amelia. Jasper watched as Nina finally came up behind her best friend.

  “Honey lets go inside its cold.”

  “She is right Amelia remember what I said.” Jasper told the girl before saddling up.

  “Goodnight to you sir.” Nina cut him off angry and ushering Amelia over to Cole he led her inside, leaving Nina and Jasper in the cold.

  “What has just happened here?” Nina needed to know.

  “The biggest mistake of one man’s life.” Jasper offered, tired beyond reckoning. “Let her know I’ll be around soon.”

  “That will not be necessary sir.” Still confused, Nina too headed into the house and let the blonde man disappear in the darkness.

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  Margaret tiptoed her way around in the musky room stealthily avoiding the empty bottles of wine and bourbon. The drapes had been drawn tight and only hints of light filtered in.

  Nearly tripping over a broken glass Margaret decided to flood the room with sunlight by snatching the curtains apart. Then just as suddenly she lifted the windows hoping to rid the room of the dank smell of alcohol and smoke.

  After being utterly vulgar to any and everyone for two months, Jordan had then decided to lock himself away in the dark cave of his room
for three weeks now and enough was enough as far as she was concerned. Inclining her head toward the bed Margaret kicked aside a pair of russet trousers and tore off the blanket that covered him. “Get up.” He didn’t budge. Bending over Margaret placed one slim finger under his nose to make sure the cad was still breathing, confirming that he was she took the same finger and flicked him hard on the head. “Wake up, you ass.”

  Grumbling incoherently Jordan rubbed at his eyes freeing them of the silt that blurred his vision. Still finding it hard to focus especially with the iron sledgehammer banging in his skull, Jordan closed droopy lids and rolled over offering Margaret his back. “Not now.”

  “Then when?” Haughtily Margaret flopped down hard beside him and slapped him on his back. “Get up Jordan.”

  Groggily Jordan rubbed the sparse piece of skin he could reach that burned from her assault. Rising up on his elbows Jordan turned to Margaret. “That hurt.”

  “You smell of bourbon.” Margaret leaned away from him. “Have you even bothered to bathe?”

  “The ladies like my masculine scent.” He sniggered at Margaret.

  “What ladies? It seems to me that you’re all alone.”

  “Not for long.” Rubbing the rough stubble of his grubby beard Jordan climbed out of bed nearly falling flat on his back.

  “It’s nice to see you’re still drunk cousin, I’m sure you will be most sensible.”

  “I find it helps my disposition.” Chuckling loudly Jordan forced himself into a shirt from the floor. “Tell me Margie dear what brings you here today?”

  “Your lack of common sense, drunken behavior, oh let’s see there was more, the fact that you barely leave this room and apparently refuse to bathe and wait I’m sure there was one more very important things. Oh that’s right Amelia and your baby.”

  “In that case woman you can go home.”

  “Did you know that your sister has been with Jasper and I for the past eight days.”

  “How could I not, it’s been quiet.”