Moontide Embrace (Historical Romance)

by Constance O'Banyon

  Gustave was tiring, so Gabrielle excused herself to go upstairs with him, and Liberty went out onto the gallery. Weary of the gaiety, she was searching for a quiet place to be alone. A painful lump formed in her throat. She was hopelessly in love with Judah, and he still thought of her as a child — his little one. She had come to the heartbreaking conclusion that no matter what she did, Judah would never think of her as a woman. She has seen him watching Bandera, had realized he cared about her sister.

  Liberty heard someone come out onto the gallery, and she flattened herself against the iron rail, hoping to go undetected. Her heart skipped a beat when she saw it was Judah. He was the last person in the world she wanted to see.

  "I know you are there, Liberty. I saw your shadow as I came out. Why do you hide from your old friend?"

  She stepped into the light, embarrassed at having been caught hiding like a child. "We are not old friends," she said evenly. "To tell the truth, we hardly know each other."

  Judah whistled through his teeth. "I would say something has you in a spin. Care to tell me what it is?"

  "I just do not like men," Liberty announced breezily. "I find them very tedious." She made a wide sweep with her hand. "I am bored with all this."

  His laughter was amused. "When one is so worldly as yourself, other, less astute people tend to bore one."

  She drew in her breath and straightened her shoulders. "I am wise enough to know when I am being made sport of. I do not care for your humor, Monsieur Slaughter. I never have."

  He reached out and cupped her chin, studying her face in the soft moonlight. "I would never make sport of you, Liberty. Of all the people I have met since coming to Bend of the River, you are the most memorable."

  "You talk as if you are going away, Judah."

  He smiled. "Are we back on a first-name basis?"

  "Are you going away?"

  "Soon. The Winged Victory will be docked at New Orleans. I will be leaving then."

  Pain cut through Liberty's heart like a knife. How could she live if she never saw Judah again? Tears she could not stop flowed from her eyes. She turned away not wanting him to see her cry.

  Judah gripped her shoulders and turned her to face him. With his thumb, he wiped a tear away. "Little one, are those tears for me?"

  "Will you not stay?" she sobbed, burying her face against his chest. Judah gathered her close, feeling anguish at her tears. He was besieged by a flood of emotions he dared not put a name to, and there was a sudden emptiness in his heart at the thought of never seeing Liberty again. He would like to be around to watch her grow into a woman.

  "I cannot stay, Liberty. My life is not here."

  She shrugged his hands off and turned away. If her heart was going to break, she certainly was not going to allow Judah Slaughter to watch. Running back inside the house, Liberty made her escape. Hearing Judah call out to her, she ducked into the empty library and sank down in a window seat, where she lost herself to total misery. She wished Bandera would tire of the ball, so they could go home.

  Judah glanced at the clock on the mantel and saw that it was five minutes until the appointed time he was to meet Bandera. Pushing Liberty to the back of his mind, he left the house and walked in the direction of the barn.

  Perhaps Bandera had decided she loved him and was willing to go away with him after all.

  When Judah entered the barn, it was pitch-dark inside. He called out. "Bandera, are you here?"

  "I am at the end of the stalls," she called softly.

  Judah thought the whole situation was odd, but he made his way slowly toward the back of the barn.

  Sebastian was hidden in the loft. As he heard Judah approaching beneath him, he removed the small flintlock revolver from his breast pocket and fired.

  Judah saw a flash of light, felt something hit him in the chest; then he knew agonizing pain. For a moment he was too stunned to react. His hand went up to his shirtfront and he felt something warm and sticky oozing from his chest. It was blood —his own blood. He had been shot!

  With a gasp, he crumpled to his knees as pain drained him of his strength.

  In the pinnacle of light that came from the loft, Judah watched a shadowy figure materialize from the darkness. His face showed his confusion when Sebastian bent over him, gun in hand.

  "I don't understand, Sebastian," Judah gasped out. His head was swimming, and blood now covered his whole shirtfront. “ . . . Why, Sebastian?"

  Sebastian's face was drawn up in anger. "Don't you know? Haven't you guessed?"

  Judah tried to stand, but there was no strength in his limbs and he fell back to his knees. "Yes, it must be because of Bandera. You . . . found out . . . that I was to meet her here, and you are jealous." Sweat had popped out on Judah's face and he felt as if the barn were spinning. He watched helplessly as Sebastian hastily reloaded the gun and pointed it at his head.

  Sebastian's laughter was threaded with hatred. "I have nothing to be jealous of. You can come out now, Bandera. I believe Providence has smiled on us tonight, ma chere. Judah fell for the oldest trick known to man. He allowed a woman to lure him into a trap."

  Judah watched in disbelief as Bandera stepped out of the shadows. He was dazed and his thinking was unclear. "Bandera, help me," he said, reaching out to her.

  For a fraction of a second there was pity in her eyes, until she remembered that Judah Slaughter stood between her and all that she desired. Lifting her skirt, she stepped over him, and stood beside Sebastian.

  The harsh taste of disillusionment filled Judah's mouth like bitter wine. Bandera read the contempt in his eyes, and raised her chin to hide the shame she felt.

  "What are we going to do now, Sebastian?" Bandera asked, in a calm voice that surprised her.

  Sebastian glanced at his cousin while he took aim with his pistol. "I'll tell you what we are going to do, ma chere. I heard you scream and ran to investigate. I found my cousin dragging you into the barn, and before I could prevent it, he had practically ripped your gown off. Alas, I had to shoot him to get him away from you. It took two shots."

  "No!" Bandera cried, looking at Judah. "We cannot get away with this. I will not be a party to his death. You said we would only dishonor him."

  "Perhaps you are right. We do not want him dead, at least not yet, Bandera," Sebastian said in a silky voice. "If you back my story, we will have Bend of the River in the palm of our hands."

  "I do not-"

  "You must back me up in everything that I say. Is that clear, Bandera?"

  "I- no."

  By now they could hear voices in the distance. Several people from the house had heard the shot and were coming to investigate. "Hurry and make up your mind, Bandera. There isn't much time. If you want to be mistress of Bend of the River, I suggest you do exactly what I say."

  Bandera glanced back at Judah, who was lying in a pool of blood. He was having trouble focusing his eyes, and he was so pale. It appeared that he was already half-dead. "Oui, I will do what you say."

  Sebastian startled Bandera when he grabbed the neck of her gown, and with a swift jerk, ripped it to the waist. She tried to cover her nakedness as Sebastian turned his attention back to Judah. "You see how it is, cousin. You tried to rape Bandera, and I had to stop you the only way I could."

  Judah slowly turned his head and stared at Bandera. He was too heartsick to care what they did. When he saw her lower her lashes to keep from meeting his eyes, he realized what a fool he had been. Bandera had only used him. He should have seen through her, but he had been too blinded by her beauty. Apparently she would lie, cheat, and even kill to get her hands on Bend of the River.

  "I am sorry, Judah," Bandera whispered. "You see how it is."

  "I do now," he said, trying once more to rise, but falling back in pain. He was grasping for breath and his voice was no more than a whisper. "I was once . . . told if you lie with pigs . . . you pick up the smell. I would say . . . you have lain with Sebastian many times before, because I smell the . . .
stench."

  Sebastian's eyes contracted as fury overcame his reason. He delivered a powerful kick to Judah's head, then kicked the wounded man again and again. Blood ran into Judah's eyes, while pain and agony pinned him to the ground.

  "You bastard," Judah said between clenched teeth. He cursed the weakness that kept him from rising, but he knew he had been a fool, and deserved anything that happened to him.

  With a strength that surprised Sebastian, Judah managed to pull himself up to his knees by using the stall door. Blood was oozing from the gash on his temple, and his head was swimming drunkenly.

  "Don't bother getting up any farther," Sebastian said through gritted teeth. "You can die on your knees."

  Bandera grabbed Sebastian's arm. "Do not kill him. What good would he be to us dead?"

  Sebastian nodded as his reasoning powers returned. "She is right. As much as I would like to see you dead, I believe I would rather see you disgraced in my uncle's eyes. I will like watching his newly acquired grandson fall from grace right before his eyes."

  Slowly Judah rose to his feet. "I'll see you in hell first." Leaping forward, he grabbed for Sebastian, just as the gun exploded. Pain tore at his arm but he managed to take a step before he fell to the ground. This time he did not try to rise, because he was unconscious.

  Suddenly they were surrounded by people who had come from the house. The men were trying to hold the ladies back so they could not see the ghastly sight.

  Liberty refused to be restrained. She elbowed her way through. She was confused when she saw that Bandera's gown was torn. "Give me your coat," she said to one of the men. When he obediently handed it to her, Liberty placed it around her sister's shoulders.

  "In God's name what happened to you, Bandera?"

  Before anyone could speak, a moaning came from the shadows. Liberty spun around and saw a man lying on the ground. His face was all bloody and he was not moving. Everyone was talking at once and there was mass confusion.

  "What happened here?" Liberty demanded.

  "Judah Slaughter," Bandera murmured, pointing at the body on the ground. "He may be dead!"

  "No, no!" Liberty cried, dropping to her knees beside Judah.

  Bandera played her part convincingly. She was trying to pull her torn gown together, and while tears made a path down her face, she sobbed in a broken voice. "Sebastian has saved me. Judah Slaughter went crazy. He dragged me in here and ... he ... he would have ... It was awful!"

  Several men tried to pull Liberty away from Judah, but she pushed their hands away. In a haze of confusion and fear, she felt his warm breath against her hand and knew he still lived. She quickly examined his head and saw that the wound was bleeding profusely. Fear for his life caused her hand to tremble when she pulled his shirt aside and saw the bullet hole in his chest.

  Liberty paid no attention to the commotion that went on around her. "Judah, dearest, Judah," she whispered as she tried to wipe the blood from his face with her handkerchief. "Why have they done this to you?"

  Liberty fought Sebastian when he gripped her shoulders and pulled her up beside him. "Let me go!" she cried, struggling with him. "I will not leave Judah. You cannot make me."

  "Get a grip on yourself, Liberty. Think of your sister and what she had been through," Sebastian demanded. "I will tend to Judah."

  Sebastian pulled her away from Judah, but she spun away from him.

  "I am not going to leave Judah," Liberty declared stubbornly.

  Bandera saw that Liberty was intent on making trouble, so she clutched her arm. "Help me up to the house, Liberty. Judah tried to ... he attacked me. I feel faint."

  "No! I will not leave until Judah's wounds have been tended." The girl looked around at the people who were supposed to be her friends and neighbors. "What is the matter with everyone. Can you not see Judah needs help? He is bleeding. Someone carry him to the house. Get a doctor." She saw doubt and uncertainty on the faces around her, and knew she would get no help from them. "What is the matter with everyone? Don't you know Bandera is not being truthful."

  Liberty softly touched Judah's face. Her heart was breaking; she wanted so badly to help him. "He will die if someone does not help him," she pleaded.

  "Perhaps it would be a mercy for him if he did die," Sebastian declared. "It would be cruel to patch him up for the hangman. How my cousin must hate me to brutally attack my fiancée."

  "You lie!" Liberty cried. "Judah would never have done what you accuse him of."

  Bandera knew she had to do something quickly or her sister would spoil everything. She grabbed Liberty, dug her fingernails into her arm, and dragged her to her feet. "Make my sister come with me, Sebastian. She is becoming hysterical, and making a spectacle of herself."

  Before Liberty could protest, Sebastian gathered her in his arms, and carried her away. Liberty kicked and squirmed, but Sebastian merely tightened his grip. Bandera clung to Sebastian's arm. She couldn't get away quickly enough to suit her. The onlookers moved aside to clear a path for them, shock and disbelief on their faces.

  Every instinct Liberty had cried out for her to stay with Judah. "I do not know why you and Bandera have lied, Sebastian. Judah would never have done such a thing," she cried, trying to make sense out of what had happened. "He-"

  Bandera clamped her hand over Liberty's mouth, while Sebastian held her arms. "Be quiet, you little fool." The more Liberty struggled, the more Bandera tightened her grip and cut off her breathing.

  Finally Liberty stopped struggling, knowing it was getting her nowhere. If only her father were here—he would believe her—he would help Judah. She wondered why Judah's mother and grandfather didn't come forward to help him. Then she remembered that they were upstairs and probably didn't know what had happened. If she could only get free, she could make her way upstairs and tell them.

  Sebastian must have read Liberty's thoughts, because he tightened his grip on her. "Don’t even think about warning my uncle, Liberty. You would not even make it as far as the house."

  By now they had reached the buggy of one of the guests and Sebastian placed her inside. "Mademoiselle Liberty is overwrought," he explained to the driver who was standing nearby. "I am sure your master will not mind if you drive her and her sister home. Wait here while I get something to calm her down."

  Liberty lunged at the door, but Bandera caught her and dragged her back. "Where do you think you are going, little sister?" she asked between clenched teeth.

  "I am going to tell Judah's mother and grandfather about the lie you and Sebastian are spreading. I do not know why you are doing this, but his grandfather will believe me."

  "What makes you think he is innocent?" Bandera asked pointedly. "Anyone with eyes could see that Judah Slaughter has been panting after me for weeks."

  "He would never attack you."

  "And I say he did," Bandera snarled, baring her teeth. She grabbed a handful of Liberty's hair and jerked with all her might. "Take warning, little sister. If you keep your mouth shut, Judah may get out of this. If you do not, Sebastian will see him dead!"

  Again Liberty tried to free herself, but Bandera was too strong for her. She fell back against the cushioned seat, overcome with pain. "Surely you do not think I will stand by while you lodge false charges against Judah," she managed to say. "I will tell everyone what you and Sebastian are trying to do."

  Bandera's nails dug into Liberty's shoulders. "You do, and you never see Judah alive again. Do nothing, and in a few days, this will all blow over and you can have your precious American if he wants you." Bandera's features were distorted, and her eyes gleamed maliciously.

  "Judah is not my American," Liberty said, jerking free of her sister's grip. "It is you he loves. How can you repay his love with betrayal? How can you prefer Sebastian to Judah?"

  Bandera smiled, reminding Liberty of a predatory cat ready to strike. "I would do anything—betray anyone—to be mistress of Bend of the River. Sebastian is my only hope of fulfilling that goal."

  "
But Judah-"

  Soft laughter rolled off Bandera's lips. "I do not know why you are so loyal to Judah. He doesn't give a fig for you. No man will ever want you. Look at yourself. You remind me of a homely little mouse."

  Bandera's cruel words pierced Liberty's heart. Even though the night was warm, she shivered with cold, and was hardly aware that Sebastian appeared beside her. Obediently she took a drink from the flask he held to her lips, without question swallowing a fiery liquid that burned a trail down her throat. Almost immediately her head became fuzzy and she had to grasp her sister to keep from falling. It had not occurred to her that Sebastian had put something into the brandy flask to make her sleep.

  "Relax, little sister," Bandera said in a silky-smooth voice. "I will take you home. Tomorrow will be soon enough for you to grieve about your lost love."

  As if in a dream, Liberty heard Bandera talking to Sebastian. "What have you given her? I will not allow you to harm my sister."

  "I merely gave her a dose of my mother's laudanum. It should keep her from making trouble until morning." He leaned closer and caught Bandera's chin in a hard grip. "You had better see that she does not spoil our plans. We are both in this together. If I go under, I take you with me."

  Sebastian thrust the flask into Bandera's hand. "When you think she is regaining consciousness, give her another drink of this."

  "What will you say to Judah's mother and grandfather? They are not fools, you know."

  "Leave it to me. Can you handle your sister?"

  "Oui. I want it understood that I do not want any harm to come to Liberty; after all, she is my sister."

  "As you wish," Sebastian said, glancing down at Liberty and seeing that she had fallen into a drugged sleep. Taking Bandera's hand, he raised it to his lips. "I believe we have won, Bandera. You and Bend of the River will soon be mine. My uncle will turn his back on my cousin, because he cannot tolerate disgrace."