Ecstasy's Promise (Historical Romance)

by Constance O'Banyon

Bodine gripped her around the waist, and rising to his feet, drew her into his arms. He felt as though history were repeating itself. He came very near losing his composure. "Maybe you had better tell me everything."

  Victoria looked up at him. "Dan thinks I should not have this baby."

  "What does Edward say?"

  "He says we will do what Dan wants."

  "Do you agree with them?"

  "No," she said calmly. "I will have my baby. Bodine, if my mother had made the choice they want me to make, I would not be here. Can I do any less than my mother did?"

  "Running away is not the answer."

  "You do not understand. Edward said if I did not agree, he would force me to give up my baby. And that's not all, Bodine." The tears she had been fighting against spilled down her face. She sobbed against Bodine's chest as she told him about Monica and Edward.

  He stroked her hair gently and let her cry until she could cry no more. "Honey, I believe Edward. Things are not always what they seem. You should know that."

  She dried her eyes on the handkerchief Bodine handed her; then she pulled away from him. "I am going home, and not you, Edward, or anyone else will stop me."

  Bodine knew her well enough to know that when she got that look in her eyes there would be no dissuading her. "He will follow you, Victoria."

  "Not if he cannot find me. That is where I want your help, Bodine. Send everyone away so they cannot see me leave. Edward will be looking for a girl. I think it is time to resurrect Charley once more."

  "When do we leave?" he asked purposely.

  Victoria's face lit up. "You will come with me, Bodine?"

  "I do not approve of what you are doing, but you know I will not let you go alone."

  "I hoped you would feel that way. We must hurry, Bodine, we do not have much time. Lupe told me Grandmother is away. I hate to go without saying good-by to her, but we must leave right away if we are to succeed."

  "I will saddle my horse," he told her simply.

  She went to the house, quickly wrote two notes, one for her grandmother and one for Edward, and placed them on the hall table. She still felt very little emotion. Her head, not her heart, was ruling her actions.

  She went into the bedroom which had been hers such a short time ago. Opening the wardrobe, she found what she was looking for—the britches that she had worn on her flight from Georgia. She dressed quickly, making sure to leave nothing behind. She slipped carefully down the stairs, not wanting to encounter Lupe.

  She found Bodine mounted on his horse, and looked up into his face. "Thank you, Bodine, for being here when I need you."

  "Mount up, Victoria, you are wasting time."

  They rode away from the Anderson ranch, not by the main road, but through the pasture. Victoria could not help but draw the comparison to that other day so long ago when she had fled from Georgia.

  They skirted Cedarville. Luck was with them, for they encountered no one they knew. Once they heard a wagon coming down the road, and hid in some bushes until it passed. Gone was the happy carefree woman who had laughed and loved such a short time ago. In her place was a woman devoid of feeling. Her eyes no longer sparkled. She felt no pain and no sadness, only determination to put as many miles between her and Texas as she could manage.

  Victoria knew she and Bodine must be clever. She knew of Estancio's ability to track, but she^ would leave nothing behind for him to find. She knew Edward would hunt her relentlessly, but he would not find her. She knew he would not let her have her baby if he found her, and that fear pushed her onward.

  They rode until long after dark. When they passed through San Antonio, the population was asleep. They found a small inn on the outskirts of town. As Victoria lay in the small, lumpy bed, she was grateful they would soon be on board a ship and she could rest.

  She thanked God for Bodine. He did not like what she was doing, but he would help her all the same. He was the only real person in her life at the moment. He and her baby. She hoped the hard riding they had done would not be harmful to the baby. She had to chance it though. She closed her eyes, wishing for the blessed release of sleep, but could only see Edward and Monica as she had found them yesterday. Was it only yesterday? Strange, she thought, it seemed a whole lifetime ago.

  When Edward returned home late in the afternoon, he was met at the door by Juanita.

  "Senora Victoria is not home," she told him. "She went to her grandmother's, but she left a note for you on your desk."

  Edward went into his study, found the note, and read it:

  Edward,

  I needed time to think. I will spend the night with my grandmother. I am sure you will understand I need this time to put things in the right perspective.

  It was unsigned. He placed the note on his desk. It was good she had gone to her grandmother. Mammaw was wise and would advise Victoria to do the right thing. After all, Mammaw had lost her daughter; she would not want to lose Victoria in the same way.

  He would bring her home tomorrow.

  It was late afternoon when Edward rode over to the Anderson ranch. He knocked on the door and waited impatiently for an answer.

  Mammaw answered the door. "This is a pleasant surprise, Edward," she greeted him. "What brings you out our way?"

  "I have come for Victoria. Is she feeling better?"

  Mammaw looked at him puzzled. "Victoria is not here. Why should you think she was?"

  Edward felt fear grip him. "She spent the night here last night, didn't she?"

  "Lupe said she came by yesterday morning, but she left. I only returned from San Antonio a short time ago."

  "I do not understand what is going on, but I will damned sure find out, Mammaw."

  He brushed past her and called for Lupe.

  Mammaw watched as Edward grilled Lupe relentlessly, but she could tell him nothing except that Senora Victoria had left two letters on the hall table.

  Edward ran into the hallway and found the two letters. One was addressed to him, the other to Mammaw.

  He handed Mammaw hers, and opened his with trembling hands and read:

  Edward,

  I find I can no longer live with you. The price is too high, and I cannot pay it, so I am going away. I see no other way to handle our problems. Do not worry for my safety, Bodine is with me. You will be wasting your time if you search for me, for I assure you I will cover my tracks well.

  Victoria

  "She will not get away with this," Edward said angrily, crushing the letter in his fist. "I will have the whole damned state of Texas looking for her."

  Mammaw had finished her letter and looked at Edward. "Maybe you had better tell me what this is all about."

  "What does she say in your letter?" Edward asked.

  "Only that you will explain, and she asks me to forgive her for what she must do. What is going on, Edward?"

  "I haven't time to explain now," he said wildly. "I have to round up some men and find her."

  "Then I will ride with you and you can explain on the way."

  Everyone was questioned at the ranch. Some had seen Victoria arrive, but none had seen her leave because Bodine had sent them all to the north ridge. Soon every available man from the Anderson ranch and Rio del Lobo was scouring the countryside, looking for Victoria and Bodine.

  Late that night Estancio reported back to Edward. "No one has seen them, Patron. It is as though they disappeared into thin air."

  Mammaw was with Edward in his study, and watched as the color drained out of his face.

  "If you did not find her, then what are you doing back here?" he raged at Estancio. "Send the men out again, and do not come back until you have her."

  Estancio retreated hastily, determined that he would find Senora Victoria. None of the men knew the reason for Victoria's flight, but they asked no questions. It was enough to know the woman they all adored had disappeared for some reason unknown to them, and each man was determined to find her. It was apparent to them that she was in some kind of danger
, and they searched throughout the night and into the next day.

  Edward paced up and down the study, stopping in front of Mammaw every so often, to ask her where she thought Victoria might be.

  She watched him for a while, and finally asked him to sit beside her. "We have to reason this out, Edward."

  He sat down by her wearily, and buried his face in his hands. "I guess I have not been thinking too clearly, Mammaw. Talk some sense to me. Help me reason," he pleaded with her.

  "All right," she said, taking command. "We have to think as they would. Let's think of the places they might have gone."

  "To Georgia," he said.

  "That is a possibility," she answered, "but I doubt it. They would know that is the first place we would think of. Where else would they go, Edward?"

  "Victoria might go to Jamaica. She is very fond of Cullem and Dorothea."

  "That is a possibility," Mammaw told him. "Bodine told me once when he thought Victoria was going to be arrested he would take her to California."

  "I think we can count that out," Edward said.

  "We cannot discount anything, Edward."

  "If we have not found them within a week, I will send Price to Georgia and Estancio to Jamaica." Edward stood up. "Mammaw, how can she do this to me? Doesn't she know what she is putting me through?"

  Mammaw stood up and slipped her arm about him. She could feel some of what he was feeling. She intended to give Victoria a good tongue-lashing when they found her.

  "Why don't you go up to your room now, and try to get some rest?" she said, concerned that he could not endure much more.

  "No," he said wearily. "I am going to ride into town. Maybe no one has thought to talk to Clarissa.

  There is the possibility that she has seen her."

  Mammaw nodded, knowing it would do no good to try to dissuade him. "I will wait here in case there is some word. There is just one thing," Mammaw said; "we cannot underestimate Bodine. If he does not wish them to be found, there isn't a man alive, not even Estancio, who can uncover his trail."

  "Why would Bodine help her in this?" Edward asked. "Doesn't he realize what the consequences are?"

  "Bodine would do anything for Victoria. It is my guess that she threatened to go alone unless he went with her. In my way of thinking, we are lucky she has him to look after her."

  "Is there any chance that Bodine will let us know where they are?"

  "No. Not a chance at all. He will do whatever Victoria asks him to."

  "Why, when it is against her best interest?"

  "Because she is his whole world."

  "I never really understood their relationship."

  Mammaw hesitated, wondering how much to tell Edward. "Bodine was my husband Robert's illegitimate son. He is Victoria's uncle."

  "Does she know?"

  "No. Bodine does not want her to know."

  "I could kill him with my bare hands at the moment."

  Mammaw squeezed his hand. "I think you should be grateful to him. He will take very good care of Victoria, wherever they are."

  29

  Georgia

  Bodine leaned against the trunk of the big willow tree and watched the workmen as they labored, rebuilding the manor house at Farraday Plantation. The building was coming along nicely; soon Victoria would be able to move in.

  Bodine sighed heavily. He had given up trying to reason with Victoria. Every time he brought up the subject of them returning to Texas, Victoria would withdraw from him and become silent. He stopped trying to talk to her about Edward, because when his name was mentioned Victoria would shut herself up in her room for hours at a time. Bodine, fearing it would be bad for her and the baby, went along with Victoria's wishes.

  As soon as they had arrived in Georgia, they had taken up residence in the town house, and because Bodine wanted to humor Victoria he uncovered the hidden gold from the swamp and hired workmen to begin construction on the manor house.

  There had been enough money left to hire field hands to plant cotton. The cotton crop was good and ready for picking.

  Bodine cursed under his breath. No matter if the house was completed and Victoria could move in—it would not make her happy. He knew she would never be happy until she and Edward were together once more.

  And what about Paul O'Brian? He had been a constant visitor at the townhouse since they had returned to Georgia. Sometimes it seemed to Bodine that Paul was the only one who could get through to Victoria. When she was with Paul she seemed more relaxed, and even laughed sometimes, though those times were few and far between.

  "Damn," Bodine said out loud.

  Paul was a good man and Bodine hated to see him get hurt by being caught between Victoria and Edward once more.

  He headed toward the house, climbed the steps, and walked through the unfinished rooms.

  Victoria had insisted that the house be rebuilt to look as much like the old one as possible, and he had taken pains to see that her wishes were followed to the letter.

  After talking to the workmen for a while, Bodine walked down by the river. Where was this all going to end? he wondered. It was only a matter of time before Edward located Victoria. Then what?

  Bodine heard a wagon coming up the driveway. He retraced his steps to the front of the house, just in time to see Moss jump from the wagon. Moss looked at Bodine with a worried frown on his black face. "It's time, Master Bodine. Miss Victoria is having her baby. Becky sent me to fetch you."

  Bodine had never felt such fear and dread as he felt at that moment. He mounted his horse and rode hard until he reached Savannah, praying all the while that his little Victoria would survive the birth of her baby.

  Time seemed to pass slowly as Bodine waited in the parlor. He sat on the couch staring off into space, took a drink from the glass of brandy, then stared at the clock on the mantel. Two hours had gone by since the doctor had sent word to him from the upstairs bedroom where Victoria was in labor. Victoria's pains had started the day before and it was almost nightfall again.

  He felt as though he were reliving a time long ago when he had sat in this very room with John Farraday and waited for Victoria to be born. He closed his eyes and leaned back in the chair. He had dreaded the time when Victoria would give birth for over six months now. In his heart he feared her fate would be that of her mother.

  There was a heavy rap on the door, and he got up reluctantly to answer it. Paul O'Brian was standing on the porch, a wild look on his face.

  "Moss told me the baby was coming! I came as fast as I could."

  Bodine opened the door wider so Paul could enter.

  "What's the news?" Paul asked, unable to tell anything from Bodine's expression.

  "No news," Bodine said. "Come into the parlor. We can wait together."

  Paul entered the small room. "Bodine, isn't it taking a long time?"

  Bodine poured Paul a brandy and handed it to him. "It has been almost twenty-four hours now."

  Paul took the brandy and sat down on the sofa. Bodine stood by the fireplace, his arm resting on the mantel.

  "What does the doctor say?" Paul asked.

  "He fears for her life," Bodine answered, the expression on his face never changing.

  The room was quiet. The ticking of the clock was the only sound that could be heard. After a while, Paul stood up and started to pace the floor. He stopped in front of Bodine.

  "Why is it so quiet, Bodine? I have heard that women in labor scream out in pain."

  Bodine emptied his glass and looked at Paul. "Victoria stopped making any noise about an hour ago.

  "Oh, God, Bodine," Paul said, his face full of grief, "that is not good, is it?"

  "Sit down, Paul. It does not help if you wear the carpet out."

  "How can you be so damned cool? One would think you care nothing about what is going on upstairs."

  Bodine looked at Paul, his gray eyes blank. "Drink your brandy, Paul."

  Just then there was an agonizing scream that came from the upstairs
bedroom. Paul's face lost its color. The hand that held the brandy glass shook. His face was wild. He turned to Bodine. "I am glad it is not my baby that is killing Victoria," he said in agony.

  Bodine walked out into the hallway and looked up the staircase. Paul followed him. They heard the cry of an infant. Both men looked at each other. They waited silently for what seemed hours, watching the doorway at the top of the stairs.

  Finally they saw Becky come from the bedroom, carrying a small white bundle. She came down the stairway and offered the tiny infant to Bodine. He took it from her and waited for her to speak.

  "Miss Victoria has a son," she said with tears in her brown eyes.

  "Victoria?" Paul said. "How is Victoria, Becky?"

  "I don't know, Master Paul. The doctor is worried about her. He don't think her chances are good." She shook her head sadly.

  Paul felt weak. He leaned against the wall for support. "Oh, God!" he cried.

  Bodine carried Victoria's son into the parlor and sat down on the sofa. He pulled the blanket aside and stared down at the tiny infant.

  "Bodine, you are the damnedest man I have ever seen!" Paul yelled at him. "How can you just sit there and feel nothing?"

  Bodine looked up at him, and Paul stared back in amazement. There were tears in the big man's eyes. Paul sat down and looked at the baby. Black hair covered the tiny head, and deep brown eyes peeped out from tiny black lashes. Bodine cradled the baby gently in his arms.

  Texas

  Maj. Ray Courtney had ridden to Rio del Lobo from San Antonio in record time. He waited impatiently for Edward in his study. Ray had seen Edward try to trace his wife and had seen him come up empty-handed. But now, there would be news for him. Ray wondered whether it would be good or bad. He took the letter from his breast pocket and stared at it.

  Edward came up behind him and clapped him on the shoulder. "Ray, I am sorry to have kept you waiting. If I had known you were here, I would have been home sooner. Juanita told me you have been here for some time."

  Ray studied his friend's face. There was a great change in him. Edward wore a haunted look about the eyes. He never smiled, and if rumors were correct, he had started drinking too much.