Wanton Splendor

by Bobbi Smith

  Cursing the darkness, Andre headed back to the big house with the hounds yapping at the heels of his gelding. He had an idea where Dee was, but he couldn't find her in the blackness of the night. The search would have to wait until first light. There was no point in breaking his own neck or ruining a good horse chasing after her now. She wasn't worth it.

  Christopher, Robert and Joel heard Andre long before they saw him.

  "Andre!" Robert called, hoping to avoid a major confrontation between him and Christopher.

  "Robert?" the answering call came.

  "Yes," Robert replied, leading the way and carrying his lantern high.

  "What are you doing out here?" Andre asked loudly over the barking of the dogs.

  "The same thing you are. Trying to find the runaway. Did you catch up with her yet?"

  "No. I have an idea where she is but I won't be able to find her while it's this dark. It'll have to wait until morning."

  "Good idea," Robert encouraged. "Why don't we all head back to the house?"

  "You go on," Christopher said, glancing at Joel. "We're going to have a look around."

  "Suit yourself. But if my hounds can't find her, I doubt that you can." Andre didn't try to hide the sneer in his voice. Jerking hard at his reins, he rode off with Robert leaving Christopher and Joel alone in the woods.

  "All right Joel, where is she?"

  "By the stream," Joel rode confidently toward the water. "She's trying to hide her scent from the dogs..."

  Making their way to the stream, they rode through the water, holding their lanterns high.

  "How far do you think she's gone, Joel?"

  "Not too much farther. Watch the banks... She's probably resting somewhere by now."

  They scoured the embankments thoroughly on both sides but found no trace of Dee or Jebediah.

  "You're sure this is the way she'd go?"

  "Yes." Suddenly Joel's breath caught in his throat at the unmistakable cry of a small child. "Listen!"

  They were both mesmerized and overjoyed at the noise and followed it to its source.

  At the sound of the splashing horses, Dee gave up trying to placate Jebediah. She held him in her arms and crushed him to her chest. No longer mindful of the cutting barbs and snagging branches, she panicked and ran. Running in mindless terror, she vowed that she would never return to Andre! Never!

  Racing headlong through the low hanging branches, Dee ignored Jebediah's squeals of pain as brambles tore at his tender flesh. Hoofbeats echoed through her soul as she glanced over her shoulder. A white horseman was bearing down on her and she screamed shrilly, praying for rescue but knowing none was possible.

  Just as the white man's arm reached down to snare her, Dee tripped over a half-hidden log and fell heavily on the damp ground. The rider sharply reined the horse in, taking great care to keep the iron-clad hooves from striking her. Leaping down from his horse, Christopher approached slowly.

  "Dee? I won't hurt you," he began as Joel dismounted and ran toward them.

  At the sight of what she thought was another patroller, Dee lunged away from them, knowing death was preferable to the torture of life without her baby.

  Joel put a restraining hand on Christopher's arm as he made to follow her.

  "Dee! Stop running!" Joel called, trailing her easily, but not wanting to frighten her any worse than she was.

  The voice Dee never thought to hear again came to her through the darkness and she paused in her flight. Could it be? Or was she losing her mind? Tears streamed down her face. It had to be her imagination... There could be no other reason...

  "No!" she denied, struggling to keep going.

  "Dee! Wait! Montard's gone. "Wait!" Joel picked up his pace and caught up with her.

  Grabbing her by the arm, Joel turned her to him, but her eyes were glazed in terror. Dee was so hysterical that she didn't recognize him and she tried to fight Joel tooth and nail.

  "Ah won't go back! Ah won't!" she cried as Joel subdued her, as gently as possible.

  "Dee... Dee... Look at me, Dee."

  His words slowly penetrated the fog of horror that surrounded her and she ceased her struggles.

  "Joel..." her voice was faint as she stood unsteadily before him.

  "Christopher..." Joel took the screaming Jebediah from her arms and handed him to Christopher.

  Picking her up, Joel carried her back to his horse. She lay limply in his arms, too exhausted by her ordeal to offer any further resistance.

  "I'm here, Dee. I'm here," Joel murmured, over and over as he tried to soothe and comfort her.

  With Christopher's help, Joel mounted and held Dee across the saddle in front of him. Finally, when Christopher managed to get a tenuous grip on the wriggling tot, he too mounted and together they headed back to Greenwood and the waiting Montards.

  The Lovers

  Joel carried Dee carefully into the small shack he was sharing with T.C.

  "Joel?" T.C. was surprised by his unexpected return.

  "We just found Dee," he explained as he placed her gently down on the corn husk mattress that served as a bed.

  "She hurt?"

  "She tried to run with Jebediah," he told T.C. as Christopher entered the cabin with the child asleep in his arms.

  "They all right?" T.C. worried. "Did the hounds get l em?"

  "No, no," Christopher assured him as he looked down at the peaceful babe. "They'll be fine. They're just tired."

  "Let me take him, suh," T.C. offered. "Ah'll have one of the women keep him for the night."

  "Thank you." Christopher handed Jebediah to T.C. and then approached Joel. "She's asleep?"

  Joel glanced up. "Yes, but I don't know for how long."

  "Did she say anything on the way back?"

  "Nothing that made much sense." He shrugged. "I wonder what made her run..."

  "Look at her face," Christopher's voice was strangled with emotion. "She didn't get that way from running through the brush."

  Joel stared at her cut, swollen mouth. "Andre." The name was a curse on his lips.

  "Come on outside a minute," Christopher suggested.

  They stood together in the moonless darkness, sharing a moment of tense silence.

  "I've got to go back up to the big house," Christopher admitted reluctantly. "You stay here, out of sight."

  "I know."

  "Keep her here, too.. .until I can get rid of Andre."

  Joel nodded. Christopher was about to leave when they heard Dee's frantic cry and they both rushed back inside. Dee was crouching on the bed, her eyes wild with fear.

  "Joel!"

  "I'm right here," he reassured her, kneeling beside her.

  "Where's my chile? I want my baby!"

  "Dee, Jebediah's fine. T.C. took him for the night."

  "He's all right? You sure?" Dee calmed slowly.

  "I'm sure," Joel bent to kiss her tenderly.

  Despite the gentleness of his kiss, Dee winced as his mouth touched her injured lips. Joel drew back, his face reflecting all the concern and anguish of the past year.

  "I'm sorry, Dee," he apologized from the heart. "I wish I had been here to help you."

  Dee caressed his cheek lovingly, lost in the sweetness of having him near, "Joel, yore here now."

  "Dee, this is Christopher Fletcher." Joel brought himself back to the present with an effort.

  Dee nodded shyly to the big, handsome white man.

  "He bought me last year when I was sold in New Orleans."

  "Looks like he been takin' good care of you."

  "He did. He gave me my freedom."

  Dee's eyes widened in astonishment. "Den why you here?"

  "I couldn't leave you or Jebediah. I had to come."

  "Oh, Joel," she cried hugging him.

  He held her a moment and then drew back, explaining, "Christopher's the new owner of Greenwood."

  She looked at him speculatively and then smiled as best she could, "Good... there has been so much talk.. .Andre,
he say..." the thought of her tormentor sent a shiver down her spine. Trembling with horror, she looked up at Joel, "Andre.. .is he still here?"

  "He'll be gone soon," Christopher confirmed.

  "But he's after me!" She gripped Joel's hand in panic.

  "Not anymore, Dee."

  "He's the devil, Joel! He's crazy!" Dee grew more frightened at the thought of him. "Last night... he hurt me...he hit me. And he kept callin' me Katie... "she sobbed as Joel took her in his arms.

  "You're safe now."

  Christopher stiffened at her mention of Katie. Why would Andre call Dee Katie? Did Andre want her so badly that he fantasized about her? The possibility troubled him more than he cared to admit. If Andre was capable of such cruelty to Dee, his mistress, how would he treat Katie if she refused his advances... Worry gripped him... had Andre gone there now? He had to make sure Katie was all right.

  "Joel, if you need anything..."he said, resting a hand on Joel's shoulder.

  "We'll be fine now."

  "I'll meet you in the morning then." Leaving the reunited couple alone, Christopher headed back to the main house, his concern for Katie clouding his thoughts.

  As Christopher entered the main hall of Greenwood, he was relieved to hear Andre in the study talking with the others. Forcing himself to appear relaxed, he strode easily into the room to join them.

  "Christopher!" Robert greeted him warmly. "We'd heard that you had returned with the woman."

  "Yes, Joel and I found her. We just got back."

  "How is she?" Andre asked quickly, eager to get his hands on the bitch.

  "Do you really care?" Christopher responded sarcastically.

  "Where is she?" When he got no response, Andre headed for the door. "I'll go find out for myself."

  "You are not to go near any of my slaves. Do you understand?" His voice was deadly calm.

  "You have no right..." Andre sputtered, stiffening as he was reminded of his new status at Greenwood.

  "I have every right! In case you've forgotten, I now own Greenwood. It is my property, as is everything and everyone on it." Christopher's words were icy with disdain.

  The fury and hatred that Andre had fought so hard to control were unleashed full force by Christopher's arrogance.

  "You may think you've won it all, but you haven't!"

  Christopher snorted in derision and made to turn away as Andre continued.

  "You may have Greenwood right now," Andre faced him squarely. "But you'll never have Katie Kingsford!"

  Andre stormed from the house in a rage and, mounting his horse, he raced off into the darkness.

  After a long silence, Emil began, "Mr. Fletcher, I must apologize for my son's outburst. This has been a trying time for us..."

  "Mr. Montard," Christopher turned to glare at the older man. "Your son is no longer a boy. He is a man. It is time he took full responsibility for his actions."

  Emil was outraged, "You are..."

  "Telling the truth, Montard. The slave woman I brought back had been physically and sexually abused. By your soh!"

  "She is my property..."

  "No, she is mine! She has been since last week. Andre had no right to lay a hand on her!" Christopher was furious at the man's attitude.

  "She is only a slave," Emil shrugged.

  Christopher started toward Emil, his hands clenched, and only Robert's restraining hand on his arm prevented their coming to blows.

  "Let's see to the books now, gentlemen," Robert suggested.

  "Of course," Emil spoke smoothly. "I have everything right here."

  Christopher was grateful for Robert's interference. This was neither the time nor the place for a confrontation.

  "Robert, if you would be good enough to take care of this for me," he requested. "There is something ur gent that I must see to."

  "This is highly irregular," Emil spoke.

  "But necessary. I trust Robert implicitly," Christopher said as he stalked from the room. "I'll speak with you later, Robert. Montard...if the books are in order, I'll expect you to vacate tomorrow. I see no need to delay your departure until Tuesday. Do you? Good evening."

  And with that, he was gone.

  Katie sat in her bedroom, pleased that she'd been left behind. The Kingsfords had been invited to a soiree this evening and though she had been included in the invitation, Katie had begged off, pleading a headache. Not that she didn't have one, she did... Suzanne. Katie found the prospect of spending another evening under her aunt's disapproving eyes quite debilitating. And if she heard another comment on the advantages of marrying Andre Montard she was going to scream.

  She was musing happily on the thought of a quiet evening alone when the sound of hurried hoofbeats on the front drive drew her out onto the gallery. Leaning over the rail, she was thrilled to see Christopher dismounting below.

  "Christopher!" she called excitedly and raced through her room and out into the hall.

  He was just being admitted by a servant when she came running down the stairs to greet him.

  "I'm so glad you're here! I've missed you so!"

  "Katie." He was relieved to see her and overwhelmed by her greeting. "You're all right," he confirmed to himself, embracing her warmly.

  Katie pulled back and looked up at him questioningly, "All right? Of course, I'm all right. Why wouldn't I be?" she paused briefly, "Nothing's happened to Mark or Uncle Isaac, has it?"

  "No, no. It's nothing like that." Christopher released her slowly, his handsome features marred with worry.

  "Then what is it?" she demanded. "It must be important."

  "Is there somewhere we can talk privately?"

  "Outside?" she suggested.

  "Fine." He followed her out onto the gallery and then down the steps to the lawn.

  The night was dark but the lights of Kingsford House helped guide them to a small grove of trees midway to the landing.

  "Here, sit down," Katie invited as she located the ornamental bench in the middle of the sheltering trees.

  Christopher joined her, quite at a loss, now that he'd discovered that she was all right. The ride to Kingsford House had seemed interminable, as he'd raced to what he thought was her rescue, and he felt quite foolish. He'd acted like a lovesick knight, dashing off on his trusty steed to save the damsel yet another time. A self-deprecating half-smile quirked his lips and Katie wondered at it.

  "Well?" she questioned eagerly. "What happened?"

  He sighed heavily, "It was Andre..."

  "Andre?" She was confused. "I think you'd better start at the beginning."

  He nodded in the darkness, "I got word through a reliable source that he was going to sneak one of the Greenwood slaves off the plantation tomorrow. So, Joel and I decided to go to Greenwood a few days early."

  "I'll bet he was upset!"

  "Actually, he hid it quite well," Christopher smiled broadly, his white teeth gleaming in the darkness.

  "Amazing," she put in.

  "I know." Christopher leaned back wearily and stretched his long legs out before him.

  "So what does all of that have to do with me?" Katie was openly curious.

  "It was later, after Joel and I discovered that he'd been abusing one of the slave women that Andre lost his temper."

  "He hit a woman?"

  Christopher nodded curtly, "Yes."

  "I think I always knew he was capable of it but..." She shivered nervously.

  "Anyway," he wanted to interrupt her thoughts. "He told me that I might have Greenwood, but I would never have you." Reaching out, he took a small cold hand in his large, warm one, and marvelled at the softness of her skin. "He rode off in a fury and I was worried that he might have come here. That's why I came straight over."

  "No, I haven't seen or heard from him since the ball. Although..."

  "Although what?"

  "Well, Suzanne can't stop singing his praises. She's of the opinion that I should marry him," Katie told him. "That's why I stayed home tonight. I didn't think
I could stand much more of her `motherly' concern."

  "There's no one else at home?" It just occurred to him that they were truly alone.

  "No. They've gone to a soiree at the-um-Chenaut Plantation. Suzanne said it would be a late night."

  He sat quietly for a moment.

  "We'd better head back up to the house," he encouraged cavalierly.

  "Why?" Katie kept her tone innocent enough, but Christopher could read the invitation in her eyes.

  "Katie..." he began, wanting to give her a good reason why they should return.

  "Oh, Christopher. I love you so much!" Katie had thought of nothing else all day except being with him, in his arms, kissing him. And tonight there was no chance that they would be interrupted. "Please..." she urged him.

  With a groan, he took her in his arms and held her close. "You're so tempting, Katie. But..." he began, catching his breath as her arms slipped around his waist.

  "Christopher," her voice was throaty. Her whole body was on fire with longing. "We have to..."

  Before he could summon up a good argument for abstaining, the context of which escaped him at the moment, Katie kissed him.

  Though not experienced in seduction, Katie was naturally sensual and knew instinctively what would please Christopher. Pressing against him, she drew his hand to her breast and arched herself to fill his palm. The heat of his touch burned through the material of her dress and a thrill of excitement stirred her.

  "Katie..." he began, making one last valiant effort to stop, but she would not hear of it.

  Moving a little away from him, she unbuttoned the bodice of her gown to give him free access to her aching breasts. Christopher watched hopelessly for a moment and then surrended to the desire that flamed within him. He loved her. It was what they both wanted... why fight it any longer?

  "I want to be with you, Christopher. I love you," she told him huskily, her face alight with her love and her passion.

  Again her innocent, honest ways moved him and he stood, pulling her up to him.

  "Katie..." Christopher murmured.