Southern Beauty

by Lucia, Julie

  Johanna whispered to David, “darling note you left me in my locket.”

  David smiled. “At least I didn’t steal your locket.”

  “No, I guess I have to be thankful for that,” she frowned. “Why do you think you have stolen my heart?”

  “I did, didn’t I?” he smiled, not really looking for an answer.

  Johanna ignored his insinuation, “And the telegram? How cryptic can you get, ‘you’re in danger, all will reveal itself in dew time,’ silly don’t you think?” she asked him.

  “What telegram? I didn’t send you a telegram.” David insisted.

  “Then who tried to warn me?” Johanna asked.

  “I wonder,” David seemed to know, but wasn’t ready to tell Johanna quite yet. “How is it you seem to get yourself in to so much trouble all on your own?” David asked her. Johanna wondered the same thing herself.

  “I am curious, why did Malcolm think it was quicker for you to take a merchant ship to Virginia instead of the train? It takes weeks longer.” He asked trying to get her to wonder too.

  “Oh. I might know,” she said sheepishly. “He wanted me to marry him. I think he was planning on having the captain marry us on board.”

  “And you agreed to this?” he asked carefully.

  “I said I would think about it,” she answered softly.

  “I see.” He wasn’t sure what to say. He felt a little betrayed by her.

  “Where’s Preston?” Johanna asked now realizing that he hadn’t been around and quite relieved.

  “I don’t know. He hasn’t reported in since yesterday when I asked him to do me a favor,” David answered. “I fear we have lost him. He does love New Orleans.”

  “It is a magical place,” she smiled thinking of all that she had encountered since being there.

  # # #

  “Well Miss Lee, we are at our destination,” Jacob took her hand and they departed the carriage.

  “I can’t believe I have finally made it home,” Johanna said smiling. “I bet my Aunt Mary will have the biggest feast tonight celebrating my arrival.” She smiled thinking about her aunt’s kindness and astounding hospitality to friends and strangers alike. “It will be so nice to see my cousins once again.”

  “Don’t forget our agreement,” David reminded her.

  “You won’t let me,” she said.

  They were awed by the Custiss-Lee House that sat on a grassy hill, pillars stood tall in front giving it a powerful majestic feel characterizing its owner. Johanna noticed something startling and familiar. No one was tending the gardens or milling around. It seemed to be strangely abandoned. Her heart sank when the door was opened by David who had come from the rear of the building. He saw the shock and disappointment in her face. All Johanna could see while she searched the first floor was white linen covering up furniture. The blur of white everywhere made her feel sick. She continued up the stairs alone. David tried to follow her but Jacob held his arm.

  “Let her go,” Jacob said.

  Johanna ran through the bedrooms same white linen covered beds and tables. She entered one room realizing the bed had looked slept in. She stepped towards it confused and the door behind her closed. Johanna turned.

  “Malcolm?” she was surprised to see him and suddenly felt afraid and wasn’t sure why.

  He smiled at her but it didn’t look sweet anymore, it seemed more cunning and his eyes red and baggy, his face pale, as if he hadn’t slept in days.

  “I found you,” he said in a whisper.

  “What happen to you? Is everything all right?” she asked now noticing the revolver that he held in his grip.

  “It is now. I have been riding for days riding ahead of your train. I only made necessary stops so I could save you,” he whispered while he advanced toward her. He leaned in close to her and caressed her hair and then smelled it as if it were a sweet perfume. “Did you miss me?” he asked her.

  “Yes,” Johanna afraid of what Malcolm might do with the gun. “What happened to you?” she asked eyes still watching his trigger finger.

  “When I met my contact he let me know what Myers was planning, but by the time I came back to save you, you had already escaped. I barely made it out alive,” he now whispering in her ear. “I am so glad you are safe.”

  “Did you send the telegram to warn me of danger on the ship?” she asked him.

  “What telegram?” he questioned her.

  “Who could of it been from?” Johanna’s mind raced trying to think of who would have known of her impending danger.

  Johanna didn’t know if she should try to run or run away with him before Jacob and David came looking for her. He continued to caress her. His lips now came gently on her forehead and then her cheeks. It seemed to her he had taken with whiskey, but it wasn’t on his breath. She stood still not making any sudden moves still watching his hand now noticing it shake as if he was shivering from cold. He tried to kiss her lips before she turned her head towards the door, not sure of what to make of the new situation she was in. Malcolm grabbed her chin with his free hand making her look at him.

  “Malcolm, what are you doing, you’re hurting me?” she questioned his roughness toward her.

  “You have something that belongs to me and I need you to give it to me now,” he stared her down.

  “Well, that you will have to wait until we are married,” she came out from his grip.

  Malcolm laughed. “I need those military strategies and the map your uncle had you keep for him. I only have three days to return it. Your uncle needs it, its very important.”

  “I know Malcolm. You don’t have to worry, I have it here in the house, I brought it,” she felt a little more reassured by his odd behavior. “Where is my uncle? Did he leave word to where I was to go, now that Aunt Mary has left,” she asked worried about her future.

  “You have the map too?’ he asked her ignoring her questions.

  “Well, I don’t have it on me. Someone else does,” she announced, “And by the way, we have guests downstairs.”

  Chapter 21

  “S

  he is taking too long,” David looked at Jacob annoyed.

  “She is very upset,” Jacob said, “give her time.”

  “I think something is wrong,” David said and then heard a muffled cry from above. David took off. He skipped stairs while his adrenaline flowed, thoughts raced of what was happening to her. He smashed through the door and Malcolm had his arm around Johanna and a revolver at her temple.

  “Let her go Malcolm. This is between you and me,” David insisted.

  “Oh yes, this has been about you and me, you and her, her and me,” Malcolm said as he swung the gun back and forth toward Johanna and then at David. “It’s a bit of a lover’s triangle wouldn’t you agree?” he leaned into Johanna kissing her silken hair while keeping the gun pointed now at David.

  Johanna mortified by the predicament she found herself in stood in shock.

  “I see you have met my fiancée,” he smiled at David. “I know you are familiar with what a fiancée is, right David?”

  David stared him down waiting for an opportunity to distract him and grab the revolver out of his shaking hands afraid for Johanna’s safety. She stared at David with fear in her eyes. It affected him more than he realized.

  Jacob then entered the room startling everyone. David didn’t hesitate and tackled Malcolm to the floor pushing Johanna away from him. The revolver tumbled out of Malcolm’s hands. David’s adrenaline skyrocketed as he grabbed Malcolm and kept punching him thinking about how he could have hurt Johanna. He didn’t stop until he heard Johanna pleading for him to stop from behind.

  Jacob ushered Johanna out the door when she began to cry for David to stop hurting Malcolm, taking the revolver that Malcolm had with him.

  “Are you okay?” Jacob asked her as they descended the stairs and headed toward the drawing room.

  “I am fine thank you, Mr. Evans,” said Johanna still a little shook up by the unpleasant i
ncident.

  David grabbed Malcolm and headed for the first floor where Johanna was catching her breath. He looked at her with concern and then stared down Malcolm who was sitting on the floor with a gun now pointed toward him battered from the confrontation.

  “Johanna, it seems your fiancée hasn’t been quite honest with you,” David said, “Malcolm why don’t you tell her. Let her know what filth you really are,” David accused Malcolm.

  Malcolm wiping the blood from his lip, looked at Johanna and then to David, “I don’t’ know what your talking about.”

  “Let’s see, you are actually a Union spy, not a loyal Southerner. You have been not only deceiving Johanna but also her uncle.” David continued. “You knew all along about the papers she had in her possession which you failed several times to get from her.”

  “I will tell her no such thing,” Malcolm still refused to admit his wrong doing.

  “Yes, it is true. I am sorry to say he has deceived you Johanna. The pirate at the St. Charles Hotel, that was all him. He set it all up, paid handsomely for your capture. It backfired on him though; Rene saved you before he got the map. And at the steamship, he was supposed to come in like some hero and save you, but I got to you first. You were never really in danger,” David explained to her.

  Malcolm staring David down gritted his teeth, “I am not the only one who has betrayed you. McPherson here will do anything to get his hands on the map, including kissing Clarice on the balcony and making her believe he loved her while the whole time he has been betrothed to a girl from his hometown. Kathleen is it?” Malcolm asked. “Aren’t you getting married in a week?”

  David stared him down, but did not deny it.

  “Did he make you believe he loved you too, Johanna?” Malcolm smiled knowing the damage he was doing. “He is a master of deception.”

  Johanna swallowed hard. Jacob held her arm and squeezed it for support. She couldn't hide the disappointment in her face or the tears that welled up in her eyes. She didn't know which was worse of the betrayals.

  “That is enough,” Jacob said interrupting their confessions.

  David watched tears slowly creep down Johanna’s soft cheeks. It broke his heart to see her in pain in which he caused. He started toward her, “you have to let me explain.”

  Malcolm used this moment to his advantage and he grabbed the revolver from David’s hand. He pointed it toward them still sweating and shaking.

  “It appears I am now in control of this situation. Miss Johanna, give me Lee’s papers and I will not kill your precious David.”

  “Don’t listen to him. He is not giving it to your uncle. He is going to sell it to the highest bidder,” David tried to persuade her.

  “I don’t care anymore,” she pulled out the cigar box hidden in a pocket she made in her dress and handed it to Malcolm.

  David and Jacob looked at each other realizing they were conned by her. It was in her possession the whole time. The sad part about it, David did have the cigar box, but thought they were just cigars and gave it back to her at the Beauregard House, trying to gain her trust.

  “What is this?” Malcolm asked.

  “The plans are hidden inside. Please just go,” whispered Johanna sad that it had come to this.

  Malcolm looked at her and then looked at David. “The map, I believe it is in your possession.”

  David stared him down not moving.

  Malcolm pointed the gun at Johanna. “I said I want the map,” he asked David once again.

  “Don’t hurt her,” David pulled out the map. “It’s here, just don’t hurt her.” He slowly gave Malcolm the map.

  Malcolm watched how David looked at Johanna. He stared them both down, and then “Bam!” Malcolm shot Johanna.

  “I believe now I have gotten what I came here for, my revenge on you,” and he took off into the night.

  “Should we let him go?” asked Jacob.

  David didn’t hear Jacob’s questioned. He had already run to Johanna’s side.

  “She is bleeding, it’s everywhere Jacob,” cried David. He held her head in his lap. Tears had had already glossed his blue eyes, they slowly trickled down his unshaven face.

  Jacob came to his side and leaned over Johanna inspecting the wound.

  “It’s okay David,” Jacob assured him. “She’s going to be okay.”

  “I can’t lose her, Jacob,” said David in shock. “I just can’t.”

  “I know,” said Jacob as he grabbed a white linen cloth that had covered a chair nearby and laid it over Johanna’s now shivering body.

  David thought he was going to be sick. The linen looked more like a burial shroud. He prayed silently it would not turn into one.

  Jacob put his hand on David’s shoulder for support, “we need to get her a doctor.”

  David couldn’t move. He was angry with himself for putting Johanna in danger and simultaneously filled with undeniable fear of losing her.

  “I did this,” said David. “I put her here. I as much as shot her myself.”

  “You can’t blame yourself, David,” said Jacob.

  “I knew what Malcolm was capable of, I just didn’t know he would go this far,” David’s voice cracked as he held back his tears.

  “We will deal with Malcolm later, but now we need to get her some help,” insisted Jacob.

  “Okay,” David wiped his tears. “Tell me what you want me to do?”

  Jacob looked at his distraught friend. It broke his heart to see him in such turmoil.

  “Why don’t you stay with her,” said Jacob realizing David wouldn’t want to leave her side. “I will try to find a doctor.”

  David looked up at Jacob in desperation; tears filled his eyes once again, “please hurry.”

  “I will my friend,” said Jacob. “You just keep her warm.”

  “David?” Johanna tried to whisper. Her eyes barely opened. Her face was paler than usual and her red lips seemed to be losing their color.

  “I am here,” he cradled her even more. “I am here.”

  Chapter 22

  “A

  re you feeling better?” Emma Evans asked Johanna with a warm smile. “It’s great to see you awake and out of danger.”

  “I am fine. Thanks to the both of you,” she smiled up at Jacob and Emma.

  “How’s your shoulder?” asked Jacob.

  “A little sore,” she smiled. “I just can’t believe I have no recollection of the past week.”

  “You don’t remember anything?” asked Emma.

  “Not really,” said Johanna trying to recollect the last several days.

  “You don’t remember the doctor in Arlington or the train ride?” asked Jacob.

  “Or David not leaving your side?” added Emma with a smile and a wink.

  Johanna looked around the room, “where’s is Mr. McPherson?”

  “He had something he needed to take care of,” Jacob said.

  “Right,” his betrayal came rushing back. “It’s just as well. I don’t really want to see him.”

  “He didn’t leave your side for a week,” Jacob defended David.

  “Jacob, could you check on Daniel for me?” Emma cut in.

  “Sure dear,” Jacob was thankful for his wife, she would be able to get through to Johanna.

  “I am so glad to finally meet you, I have heard so much about you,” Emma smiled at Johanna.

  Johanna smiled back, “Jacob and I have been praying for you and Daniel’s health. I am so happy to meet you finally too.”

  “You have caused quite a stir being here,” Emma handed her a cup of tea.

  “I am sorry, I never meant to be anyone’s inconvenience,” Johanna frowned.

  “You are not at all. I just meant…” Emma tried to say.

  “You mean being Lee’s niece,” Johanna finished her sentence.

  “That, and well, coming back with David,” Emma added.

  “I didn’t come here with him; it’s complicated,” Johanna didn’t know what to sa
y.

  “He is supposed to be married tomorrow,” said Emma. “Did you know this?”

  Johanna’s heart sank. It was true. “I knew he was to marry,” she admitted.

  “Does this bother you?” she asked.

  “Not in the least,” Johanna lied.

  Emma eyed Johanna. “How about if I say I don’t quite believe you? I think there is something between you and David,” she said.

  Johanna didn’t deny it. She carefully watched Emma not knowing where she was going with this conversation.

  “I think if you stay here, there won’t be a wedding,” she admitted.

  “Then all the more reason I need to leave,” Johanna said feeling devastated and still sore from the gunshot wound.

  “You don’t have to leave, you can stay as long as you like,” Emma insisted.

  “I am not a prisoner?” asked Johanna.

  “Not in the least,” Emma smiled.

  “I appreciate your kindness, but,” she looked at Emma desperately, “I need to leave.”

  Emma smiled warmly, “I understand.” She hesitated and then said thoughtfully, “If I know anything, I know that God always has a plan. It will all work out, Miss Lee.”

  “Sometimes, I wonder after all I have been through, for who will it work out.” Johanna’s voice cracked while she held back tears that began to form.

  Jacob interrupted with a slight clearing of his throat, “I have a letter for you Miss Lee.” He handed it to her.

  “It’s from my aunt,” Johanna said surprised. “How did she know I was here?”

  “She doesn’t. It was left by a servant from the Custiss-Lee Mansion addressed to you. You were too out of it to give it to you earlier,” Jacob answered while Johanna read the letter.

  “There was a meeting my uncle attended at the Virginia secession convention. There were several decisions to make, she’s fled to Ravensworth. She wants me to meet her there,” Johanna said relieved she no longer had to bear being in David’s hometown when he was getting married.

  “Yes I know,” Jacob said sadly.