Forbidden

by Beverly Jenkins

  “On our wedding night, I’ll please you with my tongue and kisses . . . here.” The sultry promise and the brazen way he plied the tight bud at the gate of her soul sent her over the edge and she exploded with a long shuddering cry.

  Watching her ride out her orgasm made Rhine want to settle himself between her lovely little thighs and have at her until neither one of them could breathe. The sight, coupled with the feel and tastes of her had him insane with desire. He was as hard as a railroad tie, but he wanted to wait for their wedding night before loving her completely, and he would even if it killed him.

  Moments later when she was back inside herself, he smiled down and said, “Now, I can take you home.”

  Chapter Eighteen

  At breakfast the following morning Jim dropped a stack of newspapers on the table. “You made the papers.”

  As Jim sat, Rhine sighed and picked up one. The headline read: RHINE FONTAINE—­A LIFE OF LIES. He forced himself to read the article and the accompanying editorial that denounced him for what the paper termed “a cruel and callous hoax” on the good citizens of Virginia City. The story also demanded his immediate resignation from both the town council and the Republican party. Rhine tossed the paper aside and went back to his bacon and eggs. He’d been expecting it. Even though he’d been duly elected to the council, it had been as a White man not as a man of color. Neither mixed bloods or full bloods of African descent were allowed at the table. He supposed he should be angry and in many ways he was, but to have Eddy in his life he chose to look past the petty hate and focus on the future with her instead. With his wealth behind him, he could still make the road a bit easier for his people and that knowledge eased the bitterness, too.

  A few minutes later Lyman Greer walked into the saloon. Rhine and Jim shared a silent look. Wondering what Natalie’s father wanted, Rhine wiped his hands on his napkin and stood. “What can I do for you, Lyman? How’s Natalie?”

  “As well as can be expected considering the lies you fed us,” he replied accusingly. “I’m here for the deed to my house.”

  “Do you have what you owe me in exchange?”

  “No, and I don’t plan to pay you. Not after what you told us last night.”

  “A debt is a debt, Lyman.”

  “Not when it’s owed to one of you,” he shot back disdainfully.

  Rhine folded his arms and assessed the man who’d once touted his abolitionist roots so proudly. “Your note is now owned by my brother. I sold it to him a week ago in anticipation of what last night’s confession might bring. As you know, he’s a highly respected banker in San Francisco and counts some of the city’s finest lawyers and judges among his clientele.”

  The ashen Lyman swallowed.

  “And for the record, he’s White just like you. I’ve been kind enough not to ask you for payments. My brother will not be. Expect a letter from him soon demanding you begin payments or he’ll foreclose.”

  His eyes went wide.

  Rhine asked, “Is there anything else?”

  His fury was plain. “No.”

  “Good day then.”

  If looks could kill, Rhine would’ve been dead on the saloon floor. Instead, Lyman sneered, “Nigger bastard!” and stormed out.

  Rhine looked over at Jim, who shook his head sadly and said, “I expected better from him.”

  Rhine had as well.

  Jim added, “Let’s hope he spreads the word. Save folks the pain of getting their feelings hurt.”

  Rhine had investments in many of the businesses around town, and now that Drew’s name was also on those investments, they wouldn’t be able to cheat him out of his profits or wiggle out of whatever he was owed simply because he was no longer White. Knowing how furious that would make those who’d shown their true feelings last night made Rhine’s morning seem brighter.

  Before Rhine could retake his seat, Sheriff Howard came through the door, and Rhine wondered, What now? “Morning, Blaine.”

  “Morning, Rhine. Jim. Let me start by saying, I’m just a peace officer. Got no quarrel with anybody not breaking the law—­Colored or White.”

  “And so you’re here because?”

  “Because Mayor Dudley and the town council don’t have the balls to give you this themselves so they sent me.” He handed Rhine a sheet of paper. “They want you to sign it as part of your official resignation.”

  Rhine read the top line. I, Rhine Fontaine, guilty of lying to the town council . . . He didn’t bother reading the rest before handing the document back to the sheriff. “I’m not signing it. Saying I resign is all they need.”

  “Understood.”

  There was silence as the two men faced each other. Howard said finally, “I don’t pretend to know why you did what you did last night but I get the feeling it took a lot of courage.”

  Rhine waited.

  Howard continued, “I say that to say I still consider you a good man, Rhine. One of the most honorable men I know. There are others in town who feel the same. If any of the ball-­less bigots threaten you or cause you any trouble, let me know and I’ll do my best to make sure it doesn’t happen again.”

  Rhine nodded. “Thank you, Blaine.” He stuck out his hand.

  “You’re welcome. Once all this nonsense cools down I expect you to start up the poker games again.”

  Rhine offered a small smile. “You bet.”

  Howard touched his hat, and after balling up the paper and stuffing it into his pocket, made his exit.

  Rhine turned to Jim. “Well.” That, too, brightened his morning

  “I’ve always liked him. He’s a good man, too.”

  Rhine agreed. It was heartening to hear that there were those who stood apart from the people yelling slurs at him last night, even if they never stepped forward publicly to pledge their support. “You know one of the best things to come out of all this—­besides marrying Eddy?”

  “What?”

  “I finally get to play on a winning baseball team.”

  Laughter filled the saloon.

  Over at the boardinghouse Eddy shared breakfast with Sylvia and filled her in on the events at the ball. They’d seen the newspapers. “I’m surprised no fists were thrown,” Eddy said to her. “There was an awful lot of anger in the room.” She then related Natalie’s furious reaction. “She refused to believe Rhine was telling the truth, and acted almost deranged at one point.”

  Sylvie sipped her coffee. “Learning she’d been engaged to man of color probably did send her around the bend a bit, but I’m sure she’ll get over it. Personally, I want to throw Rhine a welcome home party.”

  Eddy chuckled. “A welcome home party?”

  “Yes. In a way he’s come home, and I’m hoping a celebration will balance all the nasty reactions he’s gotten. He’s done so much to support our community. It’s our turn to support him.”

  “I think that’s a wonderful idea. When do you want to have it?”

  “Next Friday night—­Fourth of July weekend. We’ll have it here, both in the dining room and out back. That way he won’t have to close down the saloon.”

  Eddy thought that was a grand plan. Even grander was now that the truth was out, she and Rhine would no longer have to hide their relationship. They could be seen together and not worry about negative gossip—­although the gossiping about his heritage would continue for some time, it would eventually fade away. “Do you have a menu in mind?”

  “I thought we’d roast a few pigs and make it a potluck. People can bring their best dishes. That way you won’t be too tired out from cooking to enjoy yourself.”

  Eddy liked that idea, too, then something came to mind she’d been meaning to ask Sylvie about. “Why hasn’t Whitman Brown been to breakfast for the last few days?”

  Sylvie chuckled softly. “Rumor has it that he’s been keeping time with Lady Ruby.”
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br />   Eddy’s jaw dropped. “You’re pulling my leg.”

  “No, but apparently she’s pulling his, if you get my drift.”

  Eddy thought back on seeing them huddled together at the auction. “But he’s supposed to be a reverend.”

  “And she’s old enough to be his aunt. Hope he’s not planning to take her home to his illustrious mama. I don’t think that long red wig will pass the brown paper bag test.”

  Eddy laughed.

  Later that morning, Eddy had just finished washing the breakfast dishes when Rhine walked into the kitchen. Seeing him filled her with more joy than she thought her heart could possibly hold. “Good morning, Rhine.”

  “Morning, mine.”

  She laughed.

  He asked, “What are your plans for the day?”

  “Since it’s my day off, I hoped to spend it with you.” She was still simmering from last night’s steamy encounter under the stars.

  “That was my hope, too,” he said. “First though, I want to ride over to Mary’s and find out what happened with the twins. Would you like to come along?”

  “I’d love to.”

  On the way, she had him drive by the plot where the new diner would be built. They stopped and got out. There were no workers about, but piles of wood and stacks of bricks waited at the ready.

  Rhine asked, “How long did Zeke say it would take?”

  “About six weeks. When he came by the boardinghouse to show us the drawings he was very distant, but I’m hoping he’ll thaw when he hears about you.”

  “Even if he doesn’t, as long as he does a good job that’s all that matters.”

  “You sound like Sylvie.”

  There was traffic on the street and people on the walks. As he helped her back into the Rockaway, someone driving by shouted, “Nigger!”

  Eddy stiffened.

  But Rhine didn’t give the person the satisfaction of even turning to see who the culprit might have been. “When you’ve been whipped on and off since the age of ten, a word stings less than a pinprick.”

  That said, he picked up the reins and drove off, leaving her to wonder how deep his pain went and if she would ever know.

  At the orphanage, he handed her down and they went inside. The twins mobbed him excitedly while telling him about their new ma and pa.

  “Do you like them?” he asked.

  “Yes!”

  Mary came out and looked on with a smile before saying, “Boys, let me talk to Mr. Rhine and Miss Eddy in my office for a moment.”

  Micah asked, “You won’t leave without saying good-­bye?”

  Rhine said, “I won’t. I promise.”

  They seemed satisfied and scampered off.

  Inside Mary’s office, Rhine and Eddy took seats and Mary said, “I saw this morning’s papers. You’re an incredibly brave man, Rhine.”

  “I want to marry Eddy so I did what was necessary.” He glanced at Eddy.

  Mary nodded. “Had I known the truth, we might have been able to come up with a different solution for the twins.”

  “Is everything squared away?”

  “Yes. The Dresdens will come by train on Monday to take them to Sacramento. I’m sorry, Rhine.”

  “You have nothing to apologize for. They’ll be getting a home and that’s the most important thing.”

  Mary nodded her agreement. “I’d planned to send you a message this afternoon to let you know they’d be leaving, with hopes you’d stop in and say good-­bye. You’ve been a godsend to them and to the orphanage.”

  “I plan to continue to help out.”

  “And I’ll tell anyone who’ll listen that you’re one of the finest men I’ve ever been blessed to know.” She looked at Eddy. “You’re getting a good man.”

  “I know.” Eddy couldn’t have asked for a better man to spend the rest of her life with.

  Mary asked him, “Do you want to come by on Monday and meet the Dresdens?”

  “No. I’ll make a clean break and say my good-­byes while I’m here. I don’t want to interfere.”

  “I understand. In spite of their pranks and boisterousness, I will miss them dearly.”

  “As will I.”

  Eddy heard the emotion in his voice. Parting with them would be difficult.

  Mary stood. “Then let me get them.”

  The boys entered a few moments later. Eddy stood. “I’ll let you have some privacy.”

  Alone with them now, Rhine said, “I’ll miss you two.”

  “We’ll miss you, too,” Christian said. “Will you come and visit us?”

  “How about I let you get settled in first.”

  “We’re going to be real good,” Micah said.

  “No pranks?” Rhine asked.

  They shook their heads.

  “No lampblack or snakes?”

  “No,” they said in unison.

  “And you’ll be respectful and do what your new parents ask?”

  “Yes.”

  He opened his arms.

  Both boys stepped into the embrace and Rhine placed a solemn kiss on the top of each head. “I’m taking you at your word that you’ll be good.”

  “We will,” they whispered, and Christian added, “Thank you for teaching us to fly kites.”

  Voice thick with emotion, he replied, “You’re welcome.”

  On the ride back to the boardinghouse, both Rhine and Eddy were silent. She looked his way. She knew he was happy about the twins’ new life but also knew it would take time for him to get over his loss.

  He finally spoke. “We haven’t discussed this, but do you want to have children?”

  “I do. I’d put away that dream when I was back in Denver. Didn’t ever think I’d marry, but thanks to you, I’m dusting it off and shaking it out. What about you?”

  “I do.”

  “After seeing you with the boys, I believe you’ll be a wonderful father.”

  “I’d like to think so even though I’ve never had anyone to emulate. Carson was my owner. Nothing more.” He quieted for a moment as if thinking, then said to her, “Unless my sister has children, ours will be the first freeborn child in my family since my grandmother was brought here in chains. That will make him or her very special.”

  “I know. I was born free and my parents often told me how special that made me.”

  “And you are.”

  The love she saw in his eyes filled her heart. She hooked her arm into his and leaned close. “Then we should get married as soon as possible so we can start working on this special child of ours.”

  He placed a kiss on her forehead. “I love you, Eddy.”

  “I love you, too, Rhine. And by the way, Sylvie is throwing you a party to welcome you home.”

  He chuckled. “Might be the perfect opportunity to let everyone know we’re getting married.”

  “I agree. Do you think your brother might want to stand up with you?”

  “I do. I’ll wire him soon as we decide on a date. What about your sister?”

  Eddy shook her head. “No. I don’t see her coming.”

  “Still no response to your letter?”

  “No.” And that made her sad because she’d love to see her nieces. She supposed she’d just have to keep hoping that Regan and Portia were okay.

  “Well, let’s go ahead and make plans,” he said.

  Eddy agreed and so they set a date for two weeks away.

  On Sunday morning, Rhine discovered that vandals had thrown a foul mixture of black tar and paint over the front of the saloon and painted Tar Baby across the windows. Furious, he surveyed the damage.

  “They must have come right after we closed up,” Jim said. “That paint will never come off the windows.”

  They’d paid hundreds of dollars for the big windows lett
ered with fancy gold scrip, and now an equal amount of money would be needed to replace them. A furious Rhine seethed, “Cowards.” They’d attacked him verbally and in print and now they’d honed in on his livelihood. What would be next? People driving by slowed to get a good look at the damage. One or two applauded, but upon receiving the hard glares from the owners they moved along.

  “We’re going to need Zeke’s help to replace the windows,” Jim said.

  “I know.” And Rhine wasn’t looking forward to meeting with him. This would be their first interaction since the night of the music concert, and from what he’d learned from Eddy, Zeke still had a bone stuck in his craw. There were other carpenters in town, but considering how some of the Whites were responding to the change in Rhine’s racial status there was no guarantee they’d take the job. If Zeke turned him down, too, the search would have to be expanded to Reno or Silver City.

  He knocked on the door of Zeke’s room a short while later. When it opened, Zeke eyed him warily. “What can I do for you, Rhine?”

  “Need to hire you to replace the windows of the saloon. They were vandalized this morning.”

  Zeke smirked. “Folks not happy with you claiming to be Colored all of a sudden?”

  Rhine hadn’t come for a pissing match. “Will you take the job or not?”

  “Let me look at it first and I’ll let you know.” He was quiet for a minute and then asked, “So are you really Colored?”

  “I am.”

  “Why change races now? You had life by the tail. Wealth, respect, and all the privileges that go with it.”

  Rhine decided he might as well know. “So I can marry Eddy.”

  Zeke froze.

  “To have her, it was an easy choice.”

  Zeke looked him up and down. Tight-­lipped, he said, “I’ll come by the saloon in a little while.” He closed the door.

  Word spread quickly about the vandalism, and while Rhine and Jim waited for Zeke to arrive, members of the community showed up with brushes and buckets. Thanks to a tip from Doc Randolph, they used rubbing alcohol to soften the tar. Turpentine was employed to clean off the splashes of paint, but it was hard, painstaking work.