Wanton Splendor

by Bobbi Smith

  Mark and Joel were frustrated and angry. Robert had just informed them that they would have to give up the search and head back to New Orleans the following day.

  "Damn! I knew it was coming, but I had no idea it would be this soon," Mark declared heatedly.

  "I know. But Robert's got a point. We've been checking the coast for the better part of four days and there's been no sign of them. Maybe they've already been picked up and taken to New Orleans," Joel said optimistically.

  "Do you really believe that?" Mark was skeptical.

  "No, but until I have proof I refuse to accept that they're really dead." Turning away from Mark, Joel stared out at the coastal shore again hoping against hope for some sign of Christopher.

  Travel had been slow the past few days, but Christopher and Katie both felt that they were making steady progress. Carrying the remnants of Katie's petticoats with them to provide their nightly mosquito netting, they had trudged barefoot ever eastward along the marshy shoreline.

  Katie, whose long ragged skirts had proven to be quite a hindrance, had torn the offending material off at knee's length so she could keep up more easily with Christopher's long strides. But now, as they stopped to rest, Christopher found the sight of her slim, wellshaped calves most distracting.

  Katie, however, was giving little thought to anything but her sore feet. Rubbing them tenderly she glanced up to see his eyes upon her.

  "I don't know how the slaves do it," she remarked.

  "Do what?"

  "Go without shoes."

  "I suppose they get used to it after a while. Just like we're going to," he grinned at her as he lifted her legs across his lap to massage them for her.

  "That feels wonderful. Thank you," she groaned, gratefully. "You know when I was little I used to run barefoot all the time. I thought it was fun, then. But in those days, I always knew what I was stepping on. Now, when I wade through that muck..." she shivered in exaggerated disgust.

  "Unnerving, isn't it?" he agreed. "It's hard to believe that Dee did this alone carrying her baby."

  "Dee? Your housekeeper?"

  Christopher nodded darkly, "Yes. She was running away from Andre because..."

  "Why?" Katie looked at him questioningly.

  Katie wondered what fate in life could be so horrible that a woman would brave the unknown of the wilderness with a small child rather than face it head on. She found running away from trouble hard to understand. No problem was ever solved by hiding from it.

  "She was the slave I told you about.. .the one he'd abused."

  "It must have been horrible for her...I mean if she chose the swamps over slavery..." Deep in thought Katie fell silent.

  "It was. Slavery is a horrible institution," he spoke his true feelings without thought.

  "But you own slaves!" Katie accused, confused by his statement.

  "That's true. Since I won Greenwood I am a slaveowner."

  "But what about Joel? He came downriver with you."

  "Pretending to be my servant," Christopher concluded for her.

  Katie was really puzzled now. "He's a free man?"

  "It's a long story, Katie, and I'm not sure you'll want to hear it."

  "Why?"

  "Because... things are not always what they seem to be." His answer was evasive.

  "What do you mean?" Katie pressed.

  "You are right. I don't own Joel. I gave him his freedom right after I bought him and took him up North."

  "Good."

  "Good?" Christopher was surprised by her reaction.

  Since Katie was the niece of Isaac Kingsford, one of the biggest slaveowners in Louisiana, he had expected her to support the Southern institution without question, just as Edward Courtois and James Williams had.

  "Mark and I were just talking about all this..."

  "You were?"

  Katie shook her head, "Uncle Isaac has a quadroon mistress named Cherie. He's been in love with her for years, but he can't marry her because she's black. So he keeps her in a house on Rampart Street and supposedly she's happy. But I wonder..."

  "It's even worse when the woman is a slave, Katie. For then she has no choice or option. The man can do as he pleases with her and no one cares," Christopher said bitterly.

  "Is that what Andre did to Dee?"

  "Yes. For over a year, until Joel and I managed to get Greenwood away from the Montards. Joel and Dee are married."

  "So you came back here to save Dee?" Katie understood.

  "And anyone else we could help."

  "How?"

  "We're working with the Underground Railroad."

  "You are!"

  Christopher nodded.

  "I am so proud of you!" Katie hugged him.

  Christopher was relieved by Katie's acceptance and admitted to her, "I was worried."

  "About what?"

  "About telling you the truth. I wasn't sure how you would react."

  `Well, there was no need to worry. My father taught us that it was wrong to buy and sell human beings. That was one of his main reasons for leaving the South so many years ago."

  "Your father was right. Too bad he didn't stay to fight against it."

  "I'll help you, Christopher." Katie waited expectantly for his answer.

  The last thing he wanted to do was to expose her to danger, but, regardless, as his wife she would be involved.

  "I could use your help." He reached out to touch her cheek gently. "We'll be good together."

  "We already are," she told him confidently as they started off once more in search of civilization.

  It was long hours later when they rounded a point in the bay and began searching for a dry, relatively safe place to spend the night. Tired and nearly famished, Katie paused by the water's edge to gaze out across the quiet blue expanse while Christopher explored farther back into the wilds.

  The cry erupted from her without conscious thought, "Christopher!"

  Thinking that Katie was in danger, he ran quickly in her direction, knife in hand. When he broke free of the trees, he caught sight of Katie and the boat at the same time. Snatching up the bundle of her petticoats, he untied it and waved the yards of white cloth in the air, desperately trying to attract their attention.

  "Look!" Joel shouted as he spotted what looked to be a white flag on a small point of land.

  "Someone's out there!" Mark took off at a run for the pilot house. "Get Robert!"

  It seemed to take forever for the ship to draw near and Katie collapsed happily into Christopher's arms as she finally recognized Mark on deck.

  "Mark's alive! And he didn't give up!" she cried.

  "Neither did Joel or Robert. Look!" They broke apart waving excitedly at the steamer.

  "It's them!" Mark shouted as he recognized his sister in the distance.

  A skiff was lowered and two deck hands rowed directly toward them, their powerful strokes sending the craft skimming lightly across the water.

  "Thank you! Thank you!" Katie hugged each of her rescuers.

  Christopher was more restrained but just as happy as they climbed into the boat and headed back toward the steamer.

  Katie was hauled unceremoniously out of the boat and into Mark's arms as the deck hands quickly secured their craft.

  "I can't believe it!" Mark was overcome with joyful emotion and kissed her repeatedly. "Do you realize that we were about to give you up for dead?"

  "Oh, Mark!" was all Katie could say as she hugged him fiercely. "I am so glad you didn't."

  Christopher climbed up on deck and embraced both Joel and Robert.

  "Thank you." His voicer was hoarse with emotion. "I don't know how much longer we could have gone on..."

  "Don't even think about it," Robert smiled, greatly relieved to find his friend alive and well.

  "You would have made it," Joel put in drily. "Katie wouldn't have let you quit."

  Katie heard him and came to kiss his cheek. "You're right, Joel."

  Smiling she greeted Robert as C
hristopher shook hands with Mark.

  "Are you hungry?" Mark finally asked as the steamer backed away from the shore and headed for New Orleans.

  Katie laughed loudly. "Hungry isn't the word for it! Do you have any idea what it's like to live on raw fish and rain water?"

  "No and I don't want to find out. Come on. I'm sure there's plenty to eat in the galley."

  Ready for a hot meal, they eagerly followed Mark inside.

  Katie knew that in all her life she'd never tasted anything so delicious as the stew the cook served her. Devouring every bite with undisguised gusto, she finally sat back contentedly and looked up to find the men watching her proudly.

  "It was good," she smiled and they laughed, appreciating her honesty.

  "Tell me," Christopher spoke up as he finished his meal, too. "How were you rescued, Mark?"

  "I was with Isaac..."

  "Uncle Isaac? Is he all right?" Katie worried.

  "He was injured, Katie. When I left New Orleans, he was in the hospital and Cherie was with him."

  "Cherie?" Katie was confused.

  "It's not a pleasant story."

  "Was Suzanne killed?"

  "Far from it."

  "Then why...?"

  "Isaac and I hung onto a board together the whole night of the storm until right before sunup, the current pushed us back ashore."

  "Thank heaven."

  "I know. But once we were on land, I found out how badly Isaac had been injured."

  "What did you do?"

  "I started walking back in what I thought was the direction of the hotel, carrying him."

  "Did many survive?" Christopher asked.

  "Quite a few, thanks to the captain of the Star."

  "You mean the Star made it through the storm?"

  "It was the only thing that did. Captain Smith and his crew spent the entire night dragging people out of the water."

  Katie shuddered in remembrance. "So what happened to Uncle Isaac?"

  "Andre found me and helped me get back."

  "Andre made it?" Christopher asked, not exactly pleased by the news.

  "Andre and Suzanne both," Mark informed him. "But when I got Isaac back to the boat, he was delirious and kept calling for Cherie."

  "Oh, no!"

  "Who's Cherie?"

  "His mistress," Mark explained. "Anyway, Suzanne was with him at the time and was completely and totally embarrassed. She stormed away from him and never came back."

  Katie groaned. "Did Uncle Isaac realize what had happened?"

  "No. He's been incoherent since we were rescued."

  "What about Cherie?"

  "She was waiting on the dock in New Orleans when we tied up and she's been with him ever since."

  "She truly loves him, doesn't she?"

  "Yes, she does, Katie."

  "So, Suzanne has left Uncle Isaac?"

  "It looks that way. She was furious."

  "Have you spoken to her?"

  "No. And I don't intend to, anytime soon, either. The La Zears have offered me a place to stay and when we get back I'm taking them up on it."

  "Who am I supposed to stay with?" Katie asked, not wanting to move back in with Suzanne.

  "You'll be getting married right away, won't you?" Mark smiled at Christopher. "Now that you've been compromised, so to speak, there's no choice but to have a hasty wedding."

  "I hadn't thought of that," she brightened.

  "It sounds good to me," Christopher agreed. "We'll make all the arrangements just as soon as we get back."

  "I still want to know what happened to you two during the storm."

  "I was unconscious for quite a while after the board hit me." Christopher touched the bruise that remained from his injury.

  "Andre wouldn't let me go to him," Katie related. "So I had to fight him off. By that time the waves were coming in and it was all I could do to keep Christopher's head above water. I don't remember too much after that. We ended up floating on some kind of timber and then the next thing I knew we were washed up back in the bayou."

  "I know I came around for a while. I think just long enough to get us up on those boards, but then I must have passed out."

  "How long were you stuck in the bayou?" Joel asked.

  "Since the Monday after the storm."

  The three rescuers shook their heads in sympathy.

  "I'm sorry we didn't get to you sooner," Robert apologized.

  "Robert, we are grateful that you showed up at all." Katie and Christopher looked at each other seriously before turning back to their friends. "Thank you."

  It was late morning when they had arrived back in the city and they had gone straight to Robert's house to freshen up. Christopher and Katie had both needed new clothes, so a servant had been quickly dispatched on that errand while another had been sent ahead to the hospital to check on Isaac's condition.

  Katie took the time alone to indulge in a long, soothing bath. Bathing was one feminine luxury that she'd never fully appreciated until she had been deprived of it for so long. Now, as she lingered in the perfumed water, she relished the silken feel of it upon her sunburned limbs. A small, impish smile lifted her lips as she thought of what Suzanne's reaction would be to her reddened face and arms. It was only the servant's knock that finally drew her from the warm comfort of the bath.

  Dressed, and once again looking the proper young miss, she descended to the study to join the men.

  Christopher grinned as he noted Katie's sunburned nose. Setting his drink aside, he went to her and kissed her cheek.

  "I must say, Katie, you look stunning," he admired her trim figure in the cool-looking muslin day-gown she wore. Then in a stage whisper, he added, "But I like the other dress better. Did you save it?"

  If Katie blushed, no one could tell.

  "As a matter of fact, I did. I thought I might start a new fashion trend. It was certainly a lot less constricting than this," she teased. Then turning to Mark, "What have you heard from the hospital?"

  "The news is not good, Katie," he informed her. "They don't expect him to hold on much longer."

  Sadness clouded her usually animated features. "We'd better go, then."

  "I'm coming, too," Christopher told her and they left the house together.

  The Adams's carriage pulled to a stop in front of the hospital. Mark and Christopher climbed down first and then Christopher turned to help Katie out. She smiled at him gratefully, for she was having trouble relearning how to maneuver in her ponderous hoopskirts. Once she was safely on the ground, he offered her his arm and they followed Mark into the building.

  They found Isaac's room easily and as usual Cherie was at his side. Katie was horrified by the change in her uncle's appearance. Gone was the robust man who loved to tease her. Now, there remained only a shell of the former man. His coloring was gray and lifeless and his features seemed somehow shrunken. Katie hesitated in the doorway, but Mark went on in. Christopher stood supportively behind her, his hands resting protectively on her shoulders.

  Cherie rose to greet Mark. "I'm so glad you're returned. The messenger you sent said you'd found her..."

  "Katie," Mark called softly, motioning her into the room.

  "Cherie, this is Katie, my sister. Katie this is Cherie Delabarre."

  Katie was all set to say the polite, correct thing to Cherie, but when the small woman hugged her tenderly, all thoughts fled.

  "He has been worrying about you since the beginning... refusing to give up hope. Perhaps now he will rest easy. Come..."

  Cherie took Katie to Isaac's bedside and touching his arm gently, she tried to rouse him.

  "Isaac, Katie's returned." When there was little response, Cherie turned to Katie. "Speak to him... Maybe the sound of your voice..."

  "Uncle Isaac," she began nervously. "Mark has rescued me again."

  The teasing note she tried to keep in her tone was almost strangled by her concern for him.

  "Katie..." When he spoke, his words were muffled and s
trained.

  "I'm right here. Mark found me." She took his hand as he tried to focus on her.

  "Are you all right?"

  "I am, now that I'm back."

  "Good." He sighed heavily and then drew a shuddering breath. "Your young man...?"

  "He's here too." She called over her shoulder. "Christopher."

  He came to stand at her side.

  "Do you intend to marry her?" His voice was suddenly more fierce as he defended his niece's honor.

  "I do, sir. As soon as possible."

  Isaac nodded tiredly in response. "See that you do. She loves you."

  "And I love her," he told Isaac seriously.

  "Mark," Isaac called him to his bedside. "Write to your father... and see that they are married right away."

  "Yes, sir." Mark smiled at the thought of his ordering Christopher and Katie to do anything they didn't want to do.

  Isaac's breathing was labored as he lay back against the pillows and closed his eyes.

  "We'd better go," Katie whispered to Mark and Christopher.

  Cherie followed them outside. "I am so glad that you are safe."

  "Thank you." Katie already liked her and she wondered briefly why Isaac had ever married Suzanne.

  "Have you heard anything from Suzanne?" Mark asked.

  "No, nothing. And at this point, it's best that she stay away," Cherie said fiercely. "I don't want to upset him."

  Katie and Mark both nodded in understanding.

  "We'll be back again tomorrow. Do you need anything?"

  "No," she responded. "No, I'm holding up all right."

  "Should you need us for anything, we'll be at Robert Adams's house tonight."

  "Thank you, Mark." Her expression was earnest and Mark kissed her cheek before following Katie and Christopher from the hospital.

  "What do you think, Mark? Do I look good enough?" Katie worried, glancing again at her reflection in the cheval glass.

  "You look beautiful, Katie," he said earnestly. "You couldn't have found a more perfect wedding dress."

  Katie wore an ivory satin gown of simple yet striking design that they had chosen that morning on a very hurried shopping spree.

  "You really think so?"

  "I know so." He pulled a jewelry box from his coat pocket. "Here, I have a surprise for you."