She woke up, shaking. Putting her hands to her sweat-damp cheeks, she drew in a trembling breath. Little pieces of the nightmare floated back. The man with her father. She was certain she knew him, but his identity remained locked behind the door of her mind. She suddenly remembered her sister being in the dream, too. Caroline had been seated high in the boughs of a live oak, watching with tears in her eyes. Leaving the bed, Val walked into the bathing room, splashed water on her face, and took in another deep breath. She crawled back into bed but lay awake until dawn.
Chapter Nine
When Val came downstairs to the table for breakfast, her disturbing night must have shown on her face because Julianna asked, “Did you not sleep well?”
Val told the truth. “No.”
Drake, who was at the table, too, viewed her with concern.
“I can send Drake for the doctor if you’re ill. Do you want to spend the day in bed?”
“No. Sable is coming to get me later. I’m just a bit sleepy. I’ll feel better by the time she arrives.”
Neither LeVeq appeared convinced, but she ignored that and silently added the breakfast offerings of sausage, eggs, and grits to her plate. As Drake continued to assess her, she said, “I’m fine, Drake.”
“You wouldn’t lie about being ill, would you, cheri?”
The gentle sincerity in his tone knocked down another one of the barriers she had in place against him. “No. I had a bad dream. That’s all.”
She could tell he had more questions, so she tried to reassure him. “There’s no need to worry. Please, eat your breakfast, I’ll be fine.”
He observed her for a few more seconds, then complied.
To change the subject, she asked Julianna, “What time will your husband be arriving? Does Little Reba need my assistance with any of the preparations?”
Julianna shook her head. “No. It will just be family, so she won’t need any additional help with things. He’s scheduled to arrive by boat at one. Mr. Doolittle and I will meet him at the docks. So excited to have him home again.”
“What time is dinner?” Drake asked.
“Seven at the latest. What are your plans for the day?”
“Working on my house.”
“Can you save Sable a trip and drop Valinda off at her place on your way? I’m sure Sable would appreciate not having to drive over. Is that okay with you, Valinda?”
Val swore Julianna was subtly trying to put them together, but she was too polite to voice the accusation. “As long as it doesn’t take Drake out of his way.”
“It won’t.”
“Then, thank you in advance.”
“You’re welcome.”
After breakfast, Drake said to her, “I’ll saddle my horse and meet you outside.”
Once he’d departed, Julianna asked, “Did your intended say where he would be staying when he and his partner arrived?”
She’d shared the wire with Julianna. “No.”
“I suppose his early return means you won’t be able to teach Sable’s children.”
“I’m hoping to convince him to start his newspaper here in New Orleans.”
“You don’t want to return home?”
She shook her head.
“Do you think he’ll agree?”
“I’ve no way of knowing.”
“And if he says no? Then what?”
“That’s something I’ve been asking myself.” And she still had no answers. All she knew was she didn’t wish to return to New York. By staying in New Orleans, she could continue to aid the freedmen, and although her stay these past few weeks had been challenging, being on her own allowed her to test the waters of independence. The plan to marry Cole would offer her a modicum of freedom from society’s expectations as well, but would it be enough? Or would she spend the rest of her life haunted by what she might have accomplished had she chosen to remain unmarried or courted by Drake? a tiny voice whispered.
Julianna’s voice was sympathetic. “Life can be trying. If I can help in any way, let me know.”
“I will. Thank you.”
Outside, she met Drake who stood waiting beside his large mahogany stallion. “Does the stallion have a name?” she asked.
“Havana. Rai purchased him there as a colt for my birthday, a few years ago.” He patted the horse affectionately and asked her, “Are you ready?”
She nodded. Before she could blink, he lifted her and set her sideways on the horse’s back, then mounted behind her. The heat of his big body made it difficult to breathe.
“Problem, cheri?”
“I’d rather walk beside you.”
“Rai and Sable live almost two miles down the road. I want to get there before tomorrow.”
“I think your pirate blood is taking advantage of the situation.”
“No pirate worth his salt would let a beautiful woman ride on a horse’s rump. Your bruise is better.”
The abrupt subject change threw her. She brought her hand up to the spot on her cheek. “Your mother gave me something to help with the healing.”
“Is it still tender?”
“A bit.” The thought came to her that no man had the right to be so handsome, observant, or have the ability to charm her so effortlessly. Yet, here he was.
“Lean back, so we can go. I’ll be on my best behavior.”
Every inch of her longed to experience his nearness, if only for the short two-mile ride, and in the end, the longing won out. She leaned against his strong chest and prayed her clothing didn’t catch fire as he urged Havana forward.
“Comfortable?” he asked while keeping the stallion to a walk.
Val looked up. “I thought you wanted to get there in a timely manner?”
“I do, but I also want to enjoy your company.”
His overpowering nearness and clean male smell played havoc with her senses, making her vividly aware of him from the top of her head to the tips of her toes. To distract herself, she tried picking out landmarks in case she needed to make the trip to Sable’s alone someday, but all she could focus on was the measured pace of the horse and the brick-hard chest of the man sheltering her so protectively. “I received a wire from Cole yesterday. His ship’s docked in Maryland. He’s back early and should be in New Orleans in a few days.”
“I’m assuming that wasn’t why you had the bad dream.” He looked down, and gave her that smile, and she couldn’t respond any other way except in kind.
“It was not.”
“Good. I don’t need more reasons to run him off.”
“Promise me you’ll be respectful when you meet him.”
“I’m a pirate. We lie.”
“Drake?” She punched his arm playfully.
“Ow! Just being truthful. Pirates can be bribed however.”
“I’m not letting you kiss me.”
“That isn’t what I meant, but good to know you have kissing me on your mind.”
“I don’t.”
“Are you part pirate, too?”
Embarrassment heated her cheeks.
“Do you like his kisses?”
“That’s none of your business.”
“Before he arrives, maybe you’ll have a chance to compare.”
“You’re supposed to be on your best behavior.”
“I’ll be on my very best behavior, when I kiss you, cheri. Promise.”
Thinking she may swoon, she wondered how serious her injuries might be if she fell off the horse. “You’re outrageous.”
“No. I’m a son of the House of LeVeq.”
She chuckled. “Tell me about your house. What will you be working on today?”
“The ironwork for my gazebo. It will resemble Mama’s, but I may put on an iron roof instead of the wooden one she has on hers.”
“Where did you learn your skills?”
“Originally from an African man who’d been sold into slavery here. His master let him hire himself out and he eventually made enough money to buy his freedom. I was his appr
entice for two and a half years.”
“How old were you when you began the apprenticeship?”
“Twelve. I lived in his shop for the first year, but he didn’t let me near the forge for the first six months. Instead, I fetched and carried, swept up, and watched while he worked. In the evenings after the shop closed for the day, he’d lecture me on the things that went into being a smith: the African traditions, different methods of working the iron, how to vary the temperatures of the fire. Once he was convinced I had the necessary reverence and knowledge he began my lessons.”
She glanced at his scarred hands and ran a finger over one of the larger scars. “Is that where all this comes from?”
“Some. Some come from carpentry. Others are simply from being a LeVeq with five brothers.”
She smiled his way.
He met her gaze and said, “If you do leave New Orleans, I’m keeping your smile so I can pull it out and look at it whenever I think of you.”
Val scanned his face, expecting to see teasing amusement. Instead, his solemn eyes met hers for a brief heart-piercing moment before turning to the road.
When they reached the tall iron gate that led onto his brother’s property, five smiling children came running to meet them, shouting, “Uncle Drake! Uncle Drake!” Having met Sable’s children at the Christophe, Valinda assumed these were some of the orphans. They appeared to be no older than seven years of age and their beaming smiles showed Uncle Drake to be a favorite acquaintance. He greeted them each by name and asked how they were faring. They replied with tales of tadpole catching and who won the footrace yesterday and being allowed to stay up late last night to look at the moon.
“Who’s she?” a little boy with missing front teeth asked, while he and the others walked happily beside the big stallion.
“This is Miss Valinda.”
“She your lady?” one of the girls asked.
He laughed. “No. She’s going to be your new schoolteacher.”
Val saw the young faces evaluating her in light of the new information.
“Are you mean?” a boy asked.
“No,” Val replied.
“Good. Uncle Rai made a teacher leave because he yelled at us all the time.”
“I promise not to yell,” she reassured him.
“She’s pretty, Uncle Drake,” one of the girls pointed out.
“You think so?” he asked her.
She nodded.
“I do, too,” he replied.
Flustered by the compliment, she turned her attention to the large two-story home. It was made of wood and painted white. There were graceful staircases on the left and right that led up to a second-floor walk bordered by a wrought-iron grille. She wondered if it and the house were more of Drake’s handiwork. Sable stepped out onto the porch with her daughter in her arms. Her hair was hidden beneath a green patterned tignon, and she was wearing a simple white blouse and gray skirt. She greeted Valinda’s arrival with a smile.
Drake dismounted, and before Valinda could react, his strong hands effortlessly lifted her free and set her gently on her feet. Hoping her face didn’t reveal how breathtaking she found him, she walked with him towards the porch. The children followed.
“Good morning, Valinda,” Sable called. “How are you?”
“I’m well. How are you?”
“I’m well.” She then said to her brother-in-law, “Drake, I could’ve ridden over to Julianna’s to fetch her. In fact, I was just about to leave.”
“Mama thought this might be easier since I’m on my way home.”
Desiré’s chubby little brown arms reached out for Drake and he took her gently from her mother. “Morning, sweet Desi. How are you? Are you keeping Papa in line for me?”
“Yes,” the toddler said proudly.
“Good girl. Can I get a kiss?”
She pressed her lips to his cheek.
“Thank you. Don’t ever let a boy kiss you, okay?”
“Okay.”
He handed her to the amused Sable.
Val continued to be amazed by his antics.
Drake said his goodbyes. “Enjoy your day together ladies. I’ll see you at dinner.” He looked down at the adoring children and asked, “Who wants to ride the bear back to his horse?”
They all screamed, “I do!”
“Get on then.”
And to Valinda’s amazement, some scrambled onto his broad back, while others latched onto his big arms and large legs. He growled, and with the laughing children hanging on, he roared again, and slowly made his way to the waiting stallion.
Sable said, “They love him so much. I think they know that in his heart, he’s really one of them, only bigger.”
Valinda watched as the bear reached his mount. After freeing himself of his young barnacles, he got back in the saddle. He offered a departing wave to Valinda and Sable and headed for the gate while the laughing children ran beside him.
“Come on in,” Sable said.
Valinda took a last look at Drake galloping away from the gate before following Sable inside. Sable gave Desiré to the smiling housekeeper and led Val into the parlor. The room was beautifully appointed, with fine furniture and lamps. A large oil painting of Sable in a beautiful emerald gown hung above the fireplace. Valinda took a seat and said, “It appears that I won’t be here long enough to teach the children.” And she told her about Cole’s wire and the debate she’d been having with herself.
“If the decision were entirely yours, would you stay?”
“I would, but I made a promise to Cole.”
“Is it a love match?”
Val paused, looked into the waiting green eyes, and shook her head. How many more times would she be asked that question? “No, but we do care about each other a great deal. I’m not convinced love is needed in a marriage.”
“If you’ve never known love, I suppose it isn’t, but I’d be lost without Rai in my life. Granted there are times when I want to hang him on a clothesline because we’re both opinionated and stubborn. In fact, I’m pretty upset with him even as we speak.”
Valinda was surprised by the confession and wanted the details but knew it would be rude to ask.
At that moment, Raimond LeVeq walked into the parlor. He was wearing a dark suit that seemed to accent his build and handsomeness. “Morning, Valinda.”
She nodded, noting the way Sable eyed him with displeasure.
“Still angry I see,” he said to his wife.
“You can’t go around punching people in the nose, Raimond.”
“The little runt deserved it, ma reine.”
Val didn’t understand the French but by the soft intonation, sensed it was an endearment.
Sable’s response was just as soft. “Stop trying to sweet-talk me.”
“Is it working?” he asked. The amusement in his eyes was very reminiscent of Drake’s.
Valinda cleared her throat. “Um. Maybe I should leave you two alone.”
Raimond shook his head. “Not necessary.” He then turned to Sable. “Bijou, when you have a wife that you absolutely adore, and are constantly challenged by a runt calling himself a poet who keeps declaring his love for the wife you absolutely adore, you can choose not to punch him in the nose. I chose differently. Be glad I only broke his nose.”
Sable shook her head in response to his defense.
He asked quietly, “Did you hear the part about how much I absolutely adore you?”
“Aren’t you late for a meeting?” she asked, looking partly skeptical and partly amused.
“They’ll wait. How about after we come home from Henri’s dinner, I get down on my knees and—beg your pardon.”
She met his eyes, and said to Valinda, “Be glad you’re not marrying into the House of LeVeq. The men are incorrigible.”
Rai walked over to where his wife sat. “Would you like that? Me, on my knees?” he asked again.
A blush bloomed over Sable’s golden cheeks. “Go to your meeting, Rai.”
&
nbsp; “You’re going to be very pleased when I’m done begging your pardon.”
She pointed to the door and a laugh slipped free. “Out, outrageous man.”
Grinning malely, he leaned down and kissed her so softly and thoroughly, she melted into the emerald settee. Valinda tried not to stare.
He straightened and, after slowly tracing his thumb over her bottom lip, said, “I’ll be back around six.”
He headed to the door. “See you this evening, Valinda.”
After his departure, Sable said, “As I was saying, a clothesline.”
But Valinda knew she didn’t mean it. She also knew she’d just witnessed something she’d never seen her parents share; something she and Cole would never share, either. Passion.
Val spent the balance of the morning with the children, which freed Sable to handle some business in her office. They read to her and she read to them. She joined them in a rousing game of tag, searched the edge of the pine forest for colorful rocks and insects, and sat with them at the trestle table to eat lunch. It was fun and made her think back on the conversation she’d had with Drake. It had been years since she’d played and she had to admit all the laughter and being so carefree lightened her spirit and banished her nightmare.
After lunch, it was quiet time. Some of the younger ones napped, while the older ones read, painted pictures, or simply lay on their backs outside in the field and contemplated the clouds—an activity a young Val had loved to do.
Val and Sable took their quiet time on the back porch.
“How long will they rest?” Val asked.
“An hour or two. Thanks so much for your help today. Your being here allowed me time to write letters for some freedmen to their kin. I’m way behind.”
Sable must have seen the confusion on Val’s face, so she explained. “I began writing letters for those who couldn’t read or write when I was in the contraband camp where Rai and I met. Now I do the same for the freedmen here in New Orleans.”
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