Bayou Bride

by Bobbi Smith

  Weddington's guess had been right, but it was almost midnight before he finally located the hotel where Jordan and Philip Montgomery were staying. He was surprised to find that she'd signed in under her maiden name of Jordan Douglas. He told the desk clerk that he had a message for her, and he was made to wait while they checked to make sure that she really wanted to see him. When word came that she would see him right away, he hurried upstairs.

  "Miss Jordan, a man came out to the house several hours ago with this letter for you," Weddington told her, handing her the missive.

  Jordan stared down at the envelope, feeling a sudden sense of enormous dread. "Thank you, Weddington. I appreciate your taking the time to deliver it to me."

  "Are you all right here? Do you need anything else?"

  "No. I'm as fine as I can be, Weddington. Thank you.

  He could tell she wasn't about to open the letter in front of him, so he bid her farewell and departed, hoping he'd done the right thing.

  Jordan closed the door and locked it before going to sit on her bed and open the letter. Her hands were trembling as she slipped the two sheets of paper out and read the message written there:

  My Dearest Jordan-

  The search has been long and hard, but at last I'v found you. Did you really think you could get away from me that easily after what you did? If you want to see your husband alive again, bring the papers you stole from me and meet me at Julian Kirkwood's house at 2700 St. Charles St. right away. I will be waiting for you. It's been a longtime-

  Luther

  Luther was alive... Luther was alive... Jordan's head was spinning, and terror unlike anything she'd ever experienced before seized her. Icy tendrils of fear crept up her spine as she read the note again, memorizing the address. She found herself shivering in spite of the heat.

  Jordan didn't know how Luther had managed to track her to Louisiana, and it really didn't matter anymore. All that mattered was that she go to him as quickly as she could. She had to help Nick. She couldn't let Luther harm him in any way. He had nothing to do with any of this. It was a personal vendetta ... something just between Luther and her.

  Jordan was so numb with disbelief that she didn't even notice Luther's letter fall to the floor as she got up and started into Philip's connecting room. She was glad Philip had gone to see Peri and her family for the evening, for she didn't want to involve him in this ugliness. His future was with Peri, and hers would now be with Luther.

  Going into Philip's room, she sought out pen and paper and wrote him a short note. She told him that she was leaving to go out on her own. She tried to convince him that it would be better if they went their sep arate ways now, that she would be fine, and that he shouldn't worry about her. She left it on his dresser where he would easily find it and then quickly hurried from the room.

  Philip stood up and shook hands with Peri's father. "Thank you, sir. I promise I'll do everything in my power to make her happy."

  "It's obvious my daughter loves you, Philip, and that's all I care about," Randall Davidson replied, his eyes warm upon Peri and the man she'd chosen to be her husband.

  "Oh, Papa..." Peri went to her father and hugged him. She hadn't known how her parents were going to react to her engagement to Philip, and she was thrilled that everything had gone so smoothly. "I'm so happy... Thank you..."

  "You're welcome, darling," he told her as he kissed her on the forehead. "As far as a job is concerned, let me make some inquiries among my banking friends. There just might be a position open that would be perfect for you."

  "I'd appreciate it, sir." Philip put his arm around Peri as she returned to his side.

  Marjorie smiled happily as she watched her daughter and future son-in-law. "This is so exciting. We'll have to start planning the wedding right away. There's just so much that has to be done..."

  "We can start first thing in the morning," Peri announced with delight, gazing up at Philip adoringly.

  "For now, though, I think I'd better call it a night," Philip said. "Thank you for everything. Dinner was delicious."

  "We look forward to seeing more of you," Randall and Marjorie told him.

  "Good night, ma'am, sir," he bid as Peri led him from the room to the privacy of the front hall.

  Before Philip could say a word she was in his arms kissing him. When they broke apart, he smiled down at her.

  "I can hardly wait to make you my wife..."

  "I can hardly wait to be your wife, Mr. Montgomery..." she whispered, pulling him down for another quick kiss.

  Philip longed to tell her his real name and confide in her about everything, but it wasn't safe yet. He wondered despondently if it ever would be.

  "I'd better go..."

  "Will I see you tomorrow?" Peri asked eagerly.

  "I think that could be arranged..." He gave her one last tender kiss and then left the Davidson's mansion in the American section of New Orleans. Hailing a cab, Philip started back to the hotel, intent on telling his sister his good news.

  Jordan kept her head held high as she knocked on the door at the address Luther had given her. Inwardly she was quaking. It devastated her to concede that Luther had won, but there could be no denying it now. He'd backed her into a corner, and there would be no escaping him this time. He had Nick, and she had to do whatever she could to save him. Jordan swallowed nervously as the door slowly opened, and she found herself facing Julian Kirkwood.

  "Well, well, if it isn't the wife of one of my investors. Come in, Jordan. It's a pleasure to see you again, believe me." He smiled widely at her, but his eyes were cold and calculating.

  "Thank you." She stepped inside the foyer. When he shut the door behind her, she felt like a fly trapped in a spider's web.

  "Right this way, please," he told her, ushering her down the hall. "There's someone here who's very excited about seeing you again." He stopped before the parlor doorway, and with a sweep of his arm directed her inside. When she'd gone in, he closed the door behind her, leaving them completely alone.

  Luther was standing by the fireplace, one arm braced on the mantel, sipping from a snifter of brandy when she walked into the room. He looked coolly composed and very debonair, but when he looked up at her, his eyes locked on her with burning intensity.

  "Hello, Jordan," Luther greeted her.

  His tone was so soft and so deadly that she held her breath. She waited breathlessly to see what his next move would be, just as the doomed fly watches and waits for the spider's inevitable attack.

  "Good evening, Luther."

  "You look very beautiful tonight, Jordan. Married life must agree with you..."

  "I didn't come here to discuss my marriage with you.,,

  "My, my, how very cool we sound," he drawled sarcaustically, moving away from the mantel to come stand before her. "Why is it I have the feeling you're not quite as sure of yourself as you sound?" He lifted one hand to caress her cheek with a single finger.

  Jordan couldn't prevent the shudder that wracked her, and she dodged away from his touch. "Where's my husband? I want to see Nick," she demanded.

  "Ali, the beloved spouse," he sneered. "Don't worry about him. I've got him safely tucked away upstairs, and you will be seeing him soon. But first I think we have to have a little talk. There are a few things we need to straighten out between us."

  "Like what?"

  "Like where are the papers you stole from my office? I want them now."

  Jordan didn't hesitate. She withdrew from her purse the damning packet of documents she'd so carefully guarded all these months and quickly handed them over.

  Luther looked through them carefully, then gave her a pleased smile. "Very good. They're all here. It looks like you finally might have learned a little bit about what it takes to satisfy me-such as total obedience to my commands."

  "You have the papers. I'm here. Let Nick go."

  "Not so fast, sweet." Tossing the packet carelessly onto the sofa, Luther snared Jordan by her wrists and dragged her forcefu
lly to him. "Do you have any idea how hard I looked for you? Do you?" His mouth descended to ravage hers in insulting domination.

  Jordan wanted to fight him, but she didn't dare. Not now. Not until she was sure Nick was safe.

  Luther lifted his head to gaze down at her. "So you really have learned to be submissive, have you?" He chuckled. "Good, very good. Then what I have planned for your husband will work quite well."

  "What do you mean?" Jordan was suddenly terrified for Nick's safety. "Nick has nothing to do with what happened between us."

  He laughed again, this time in victory. "I was right. You don't have any idea about his activities, do you?"

  "What are you talking about?"

  "Obviously you knew he had a business deal with Julian."

  "Yes, but I only found out about that a few days ago when I saw him with Julian for the first time. When Julian didn't seem to recognize me or come after me right away, I thought that Nick really was working out a shipping arrangement with him."

  "Just as I suspected. You were totally ignorant of your husband's real motive."

  "What real motive?" She eyed him suspiciously.

  "Your husband was plotting with MacKenzie to see the owners of the Sea Demon arrested and hung for their part in the murder of a shipload of slaves a little over seven months ago."

  "What?" Jordan was completely shocked.

  "Interesting that he never confided in you, since you could have been so helpful to him. I mean, after all, my dear, you and your brother are the ship's owners, aren't you?"

  "Why you-"

  "You see, your husband and his meddling friend were on board the night the ship was forced to dump cargo. He didn't like the idea, and he decided to find the real culprits, the owners who would order such carnage, and see them pay for the crime. So you see, Jordan, while he was so busy trying to track down the owners, he had the real criminal right in his bed."

  Jordan gasped at the revelation and went pale.

  "I think Kane's really going to enjoy finding all this out, don't you?"

  "Just let him go. I'll do whatever you want."

  "Oh, it's far too late for that, my dear girl. You're going to do whatever I want regardless. You're hardly in a bargaining position any more." He crushed her to his chest once more and kissed her hotly as he fondled her with open enjoyment. Her silent acquiescence thrilled him. He had tamed her, but he was not done yet. He wouldn't be completely satisfied until he'd humiliated both her and her husband.

  "What do you want from me? What do you want me to do?" she asked as he shifted to press wet, slobbering kisses to her throat.

  At her questions, Luther immediately withdrew his attentions. There would be plenty of time for that later. Right now he wanted to see both Kane and her suffer for a while.

  "We're going to go upstairs and pay your husband a visit. From what I understand, yours was a very loving marriage. I want you to convince him that I'm the one you want. That you only married him for the convenience of it. I want you to be so believable that the man will never want to lay a hand on you again. Understand?"

  She was sickened by the thought but she agreed. "Anything else?"

  "I don't think so. Once I give him my version of why you're here with me, I think my point will have been made. But remember, Jordan, actions speak louder than words. If you want him to live, you'll go along with everything I say and do. You might even be a little aggressive to make our point."

  "All right."

  "Let's go...

  Philip reached the hotel in short order. He was anxious to share his good news with his sister, but when he saw no light coming from under her door he decided she had gone on to sleep. Disappointed that he couldn't tell her right then, he went on into his own room, prepared to wait until the following morning.

  Philip unlocked the door to his room and made his way in the dark to the dresser. It took him a minute of fumbling to finally light the lamp on the dresser. When he turned up the lamp, he saw the short note she'd left there for him.

  Philip read it with a sense of growing disbelief. When he'd left Jordan earlier that evening she'd been fine. But now she was telling him that they had to go their separate ways and that he shouldn't worry about her. What could account for this sudden change?

  Philip knew Jordan was a very capable woman, but the world was a very dangerous place. He had no intention of letting her disappear like this. He charged through the door that separated their rooms and lighted her lamp so he could look around. Her bed had not been slept in, but what surprised and puzzled him more was that most of her things were still there. Wherever it was she'd gone, she'd gone practically empty-handed.

  In desperation, Philip began a frantic search of the room, hoping to find some small clue to her disappearance. He found the forgotten letter lying halfway under the bed, and he read it in utter honor. Luther had found them. He'd taken Nick hostage in order to lure Jordan to him!

  Though Philip loved Peri, he wouldn't be able to live with himself if he didn't do something to help his sister. Jordan was his own flesh and blood. He had no intention of letting her sacrifice herself to the altar of Luther's perverted lusts.

  In a rage, Philip headed for the door, ready to face down Radcliffe himself. As he was about to open it there came a solid knock that startled him. He threw the door wide in his anger and found himself face to face with Slater.

  "What the hell are you doing in Jordan's room?" Slater demanded before Philip could even say a word. He pushed past him to step inside Jordan's bedroom. "Where is she? What have you done with her?"

  "That's none of your damned business," Philip bristled.

  "Well, I'm making it my business!" Slater threatened.

  "Why? What are you doing here?" Philip demanded in return, not about to be bullied by him when Jordan was in so much danger.

  They eyed each other suspiciously for a minute like two wary beasts.

  "Weddington came by to see me tonight. He said there was some kind of terrible trouble brewing. He told me Jordan left Nick this morning and came here with you. Then he said that Nick had disappeared this afternoon and he hadn't seen him since. He insisted that I come here and talk to Jordan to see if I could find out what was going on. Since I care about the both of them, I decided I'd better do what he said."

  "There's trouble, all right," Philip confessed.

  "Like what?"

  Philip didn't say a word, but held out the letter to Slater. He took the proffered missive and read it quickly, then looked up, frowning.

  "What is this all about? I want to know the truth, and I want to know it now. What's going on?"

  Philip knew he had to have help to deal with Luther, and so he began to relate everything that had happened, hoping he would be able to trust Slater once the entire truth was out. "To begin with, my name isn't Montgomery. It's St. James, Philip St. James, and Jordan's name isn't Douglas. Hers is St. James too."

  "My God! You two are married?!?" Horrendous thoughts of bigamy raced through his mind.

  "No, we're not married!" Philip quickly denied. "Jordan's my sister!"

  "Your sister?!" Slater repeated in fascination, then gave a small laugh that sounded almost delighted when he thought of how Nick was going to react to the news. Montgomery was Jordan's brother. No wonder she acted like she loved him. She did love him-like a brother.

  Philip gave him a black look. "The situation is far from humorous."

  "Sorry, go on," he was quick to apologize. "Why all the subterfuge? Why the lies?"

  Philip began at the beginning, telling him everything-from his bad judgment in investing with Luther to the fateful night when Jordan thought she'd killed him.

  "Obviously he wasn't dead, but for all these months she's believed she was a murderer."

  "Dear God...no wonder she couldn't tell Nick the truth."

  "Indenturing ourselves was the only way we could escape. We had no money, and since we didn't want to be found, we changed our names. Then we met you and
Nick, and we thought that maybe things would work out. Everything got complicated, though, because Jordan fell in love with Nick. She'd hoped Nick would fall in love with her, but then she saw you two with Julian at the tavern. She thought Julian was tracking her down for the authorities."

  "So that's why she looked so stricken..."

  Philip nodded. "And that's why we had to leave Riverwood. She didn't want to go, but she didn't want Nick to find out the truth about her. She didn't want to bring any embarrassment or humiliation down on him."

  "If only she'd known what Nick and I were up to, she wouldn't have panicked."

  "What are you talking about?"

  "There's more to this than you know. Nick and I had the misfortune of being on the fateful voyage of the Sea Demon when they killed all the slaves. We vowed to find the ship's owners and have them arrested for their viciousness."

  "According to Luther's documents, Jordan and I are the owners."

  "Yes, but we both know the truth, and documents are easily forged." Everything suddenly came together for Slater. "How long ago did Jordan leave here?"

  "I don't know..."

  "We'd better hurry then. We don't have a minute to waste. There's no telling what Radcliffe and Kirkwood might do to the two of them. They're deadly men, Philip, very deadly men."

  "I know," he answered.

  "Do you have a gun?"

  "No."

  "Here, take my derringer," Slater slipped the small weapon out of his inside coat pocket. "It's not much, but it's better than nothing. I've still got my sidearm."

  Philip took the gun from him, and they raced from the room to save Jordan and Nick from Luther's evil designs.

  Nick came awake slowly. The room was strange and dark, and for a minute he was disoriented. His head throbbed from the wicked blow that had laid him low and from his overindulgence in bourbon. He tried to move, to right himself and get comfortable, and was shocked to find that his hands and feet were bound. Fury filled him and he fought to be free, but the struggle was a useless one. Trussed up and gagged as he was, he was as helpless as a newborn babe, and he knew it.