Golden Torment

by Janelle Taylor

  “I’m not going to spy on your wife,” he defied Landis’s words.

  “I meant, keep an eye on her safety,” he snapped.

  “But that’s all I’ll do,” Trace persisted stubbornly.

  Kathy left the stage and walked over. “I believe that’s my seat, Mr. Jurrell,” she sweetly informed him as he arose.

  Landis seated her. “Have a pleasant evening, Kat. I’m enjoying your performance,” he murmured into her ear, his double entendre clear.

  “I’m not enjoying yours,” she objected softly, glancing up at him.

  “Can I help it if my wife has me so smitten I hardly know what I’m saying or doing these days?” he teased her, hands on her shoulders.

  “I know. And you have a strange way of revealing your affections. Would you excuse me; I’d like to rest my throat.”

  “Of course.” He turned and sat down beside her, their chairs touching. Dismayed, she stared at him. He flashed her a beguiling grin.

  “Did you pay for that table?” she whispered.

  “You don’t expect me to miss your finest act? You’re like a pesky mosquito, always buzzing around and biting, but impossible to quash,” he whispered in her ear to unnerve her.

  She puffed up. “I can promise you, you’ve cruelly swatted me numerous times. After our last meeting, I wisely gave up my greedy appetite for your distasteful blood,” she whispered in return to mock him.

  He placed his arm along the back of her chair and leaned very close to murmur softly, “I guess I’ll just have to find some way to return your lost appetite. What do I have to do? I find myself missing you something fierce,” he hinted.

  She glared at him. “You’re wasting your time, Jurrell.”

  “Am I?” he challenged unflinchingly. “As far as I can tell, you’re still locked in with me.” Their gazes fused and clashed.

  She turned her back to him and lifted her glass of wine. Landis tapped her on the shoulder. He touched his glass to hers and murmured, “To my golden torment, may she cease to resist and torture me.”

  Kathy seethed at his conceited determination. She touched his glass and toasted frigidly, “To my tarnished knight, may you never gild yourself again at my expense.” She drained her glass, her stormy eyes never leaving his obscure ones, wanting to remove his searing arm.

  “You really hate me, don’t you?” he questioned.

  “Whyever would you think such a terrible thing, dear husband?”

  She turned her back to Landis. Trace was grinning playfully. “Tell me what you’ve been doing since our suspenseful adventure,” Kathy forced her attention on their friend. Landis Jurrell was like a perpetual tide, always coming in and out of her life. No, he was a stormy wave, cruelly tossing her around and threatening to drown her.

  “Just trying to keep the peace. Seems like all the excitement is around here. Perhaps I should stop in more often.”

  “I wish you would. It’s good to see a friendly face.”

  Trace winked at her, then mischievously said, “We did spend several days and nights in Pete’s cabin. I didn’t know it was so nice to have a woman around. If I’m not careful, my days in service are numbered. Some lucky lady might trap me into marriage. Despite the tales of us dedicated Mounties, we aren’t unattainable. A woman like you comes along rarely. Landis is surely a lucky devil.” Trace wanted to enlighten his friend to his good fortune and perilous position if he didn’t change his tactics. They were a perfect match; sadly Landis didn’t know how to treat a good woman.

  “I have to perform again, Trace.” She went to the piano and played a provocative and amusing ballad, her hypnotic eyes on Landis’s broad back.

  I came to a land with dreams in my heart;

  I met a true love who wasn’t so smart.

  I gave him my love, but he sent me away;

  Choosing his freedom for another lonely day.

  His hair was like deerskin, so sleek and brown;

  His eyes blue as heaven as he left me for town.

  Denying all else, I flew to his side;

  Casting away modesty and even my pride.

  He gazed into eyes with love all aglow;

  Seeing his loss as cold as the snow.

  Taking my hand, he dropped to his knee.

  My love’s yours forever, if you’ll marry me.

  So I ask you, my friends, isn’t he so smart?

  To take me to wife, and give me his heart.

  Landis turned to watch her. When she finished, she sent him a taunting smile. His face was stern and his eyes turbulent. He downed the glass of whiskey and left. Kathy watched him swagger out, suddenly feeling very empty and sad. She finished her night and was escorted over to Paradise House by Trace. He bid her goodnight and left.

  She spoke to the guard. Tom nodded and returned his gaze to the yellowed paper he was reading. Kathy walked to her room, unlocked the door, and went inside. She closed and leaned against it, sighing in fatigue and loneliness. First she tossed the cape over a chair, then she slipped out of her gown and shoes and followed them with her undergarments.

  Standing naked by her chest as she retrieved her flannel gown, a soft chuckle came from the shadows of her bathing closet. She whirled in fear to confront her unknown threat, holding the crumpled gown before her. “Who’s there?” she asked in a quavering voice, her gun out of reach.

  Landis casually stepped into the light of the fire. “I wanted to talk, Kat, alone. We have an unsettled matter or two.”

  “Get out of my room,” she scathingly warned, cautiously holding her voice low. If caught, how would she ever explain this? Landis could ruin everything with his arrogant meddling! “I’ll call the guard.”

  Before she realized what was taking place, he had struck as lightning: gagging and binding her, crushing her in his steely arms. He lifted her squirming body and tossed her on the bed. When she attempted to jump off, he pinned her down with a knee in the small of her back. With speed and agility, he was out of his clothes and boots. He turned her and pinned her beneath his naked body. Her gaze burned with leashed anger and passion.

  He chuckled in amusement. “I’m not going to ravish you, Kat. I’m going to free you and remove the gag. Considering how we’re dressed,” he hinted roguishly, “if you scream, youll create an embarrassing scene. Aren’t you forgetting we’re married? Just a lonely husband visiting his beautiful wife after a lengthy separation? Before you seek help, I would think about the consequences.” He removed the gag and untied her hands. He captured her wrists as she attempted to slap and claw his mocking face.

  “You had everything planned, didn’t you? Say what you must and leave me alone.” She struggled to pull free from his painless grip.

  He released his hold, but kept her imprisoned beneath him. “Get off of me,” she seethed quietly. “Put your clothes on. I’ll hear you out.” She didn’t like the intoxicating sensation of his burning flesh against hers. It stirred too many yearnings and memories to life, and she was much too conscious of his stimulating sensual prowess.

  “Not until I’m finished. That way, I can trust you to keep your word. You wouldn’t want anyone to catch us like so,” he gestured to their position. “This is a complex predicament.” His finger toyed with a curl as his burning gaze flickered over her, his face close to offer safe communication.

  “Spit it out, Jurrell. I’m very tired. If it’s about those damned reports again, I’ll scream,” she vowed in frustration, his virile body warm against her chilled one, his manly odor assailing her warring senses.

  She was stunned when he calmly agreed. “I believe you, Kat. In fact, I think you’ve told me the truth all along. I want to apologize for the way I acted in Skagway. I know my behavior was unforgivable. I’m sorry for hurting you.” His hand drifted to her cheek, caressing it ever so lightly. His fingers trailed over her lips, inspiring tremors.

  His touch and actions disturbing, she slapped away his hand. He chuckled, not the least put off. “I’ll never forgive you. An apol
ogy is nothing but empty words, like you. I detest you and all you’ve done. Leave.”

  “Not so fast. You don’t know what you’re risking. Soapy is deadly. It’s time I put some sense into that lovely, stubborn head.”

  “You think you’re the one to do it?” she scoffed.

  “I care about you, Kat, more than you realize. I know I’ve made plenty of mistakes where you’re concerned. You’ll get hurt, Kat. Believe it or not, I want you safe and happy. Why are you here?”

  “I don’t believe anything you say, even on a stack of Bibles.”

  “Are you doing this to spite me?” he ventured.

  “No. As soon as I’ve earned enough money, I’m going home to America,” she said. “If you try to stop me, I’ll kill you. You have no right to hold me here.” She grimaced in torture as he shifted, their bodies gluing together.

  “You might try, but I’d have to stop you. I couldn’t have you going to jail for slaying the man you love in a vengeful fit of rage.”

  “I’m positive they’d believe me justified,” she snapped, failing to deny his mention of love. She bravely and rashly locked gazes again.

  As his finger began to draw tiny circles on her neck and chest, he asked, “Tell me something: why is Soapy throwing you at me?”

  She inhaled sharply. How did he know? All she needed were more suspicions to ruin her scheme! “What are you jabbering about? Your imagination is wilder than mine. Throw a wife on her own husband? I don’t trust you, Jurrell.”

  He misread her reaction; he assumed she was shocked at that fact, or she truly doubted his conclusion. “I depend on my instincts every day, Kat. For some reason, which I haven’t deciphered yet, he’s using you to get to me. I think he might want to persuade you to spy on me,” he surmised aloud, his hand stopping all movement as it cupped her chin.

  “Keen instincts and sharp wits, yet you view me a thief and worse? Your logic baffles me. Get you? I already have you. Stay away from me; Smith thinks we’re separated and I’m leaving Alaska. Since you two are enemies, it seemed best to play the wronged wife to work here. What could I possibly learn from you that would interest Smith? No,” she quickly declared. “Don’t say anything. Then, you can’t accuse me of dropping any innocent slips. Do you think I’m working with Soapy against you?”

  “Not yet, but you might be enticed to go along with this new scheme, just to avenge yourself.” She gaped at him; he looked serious.

  “Since he doesn’t know I have reason to spite you, where would you get this ridiculous idea? I told him we’d married too hastily, and we’re planning to correct our mistake. I’ve played the perfect married lady here.” To rankle him, she tenderly cuffed his chin, then smiled.

  “Don’t let him use you. It’s a deadly game,” he warned gravely.

  “Like it was for your precious Michelle?” she sneered coldly.

  “You’re partially right. She was feeding information between us. But she was spying on him for me, not the other way around. Just for your information, I’ve never slept with her. To clarify that, I’ve never made love to her. We pretended to be fond of each other to cover our meetings. She was working for the Mounties. I was her contact with Bill Thomas. Another thing for the record, it wasn’t my idea. She went to Bill with it, and I agreed. Soapy knows the Mounties. She hoped her aid would make me indebted. I didn’t love her or want her, Kat. This is my first visit to this bed.”

  Kathy was skeptical of those admissions. “Is that why she met with a fatal accident? When her ruse failed, she was going to tell Soapy about you two?”

  “If you’re asking me if I had anything to do with her death, the answer is no. It’ll be proven Soapy killed her. When she kept telling him I wouldn’t drop any hints, he realized she was making a fool of him. She was after his personal papers. The Mounties were going to take her to safety and pay for her help, give her a new beginning. I don’t want you getting involved. He could kill you, too. Damnit, I can’t allow you to get hurt!”

  “Then why are you here? If he discovers you were here tonight, he’ll think I’ve lied, that I’m spying on him. If you were concerned about my safety, you wouldn’t be endangering it,” she sneered, then revealed Nelle’s statements and the words overheard in Soapy’s office to prove he should stay away.

  “He’ll smugly think his plan is working. I had to see you, Kat. I needed to explain. Trace said there wasn’t any news about your father yet. I’m sorry. I have been looking for him, like I promised.”

  “Is that why you came? To beguile me into locating Jake for you, or to spy on Soapy? Why are you and the Mounties so intrigued by my father? You haven’t changed. You’re still trying to use me. It won’t work. Aren’t you afraid I might tell Soapy about you and Michelle?”

  “No. If I can trust you, that means he can’t. People he can’t trust get themselves killed.” He dropped a kiss on the tip of her nose.

  “I can take care of myself. I’ve changed a great deal recently. But you have a point,” she reluctantly agreed.

  “Has he said or done anything else which might sound suspicious?” She told him about the confrontation tonight over Trace. “What about Trace, Kat? Are you falling for him?”

  Surprised, she gaped at him. “Don’t be silly. We’re just friends.”

  “It didn’t sound like it earlier,” he reminded her of her deceit.

  “I did that just to pique you. He knew I was only teasing.”

  “You’re a prize, Kat. Don’t play with his emotions. He’s a fine man. Lonely men get crazy ideas when you’re around. I should know.”

  “I’m not leading him on. That’s the first time I’ve seen him since Pete’s cabin. I’m not cruel and heartless, Jurrell.” She then responded to his questions about her hazardous trek to Dawson. “Surely you aren’t jealous?”

  “Damn right, I am. I shouldn’t have driven you away, Kat. Is it too late to change things?” he boldly ventured, capturing her head between his hands and forcing her to look into his eyes. “Ben said I’d be sorry,” he added, to test her reaction to Ben’s name. If she heard him, she ignored it.

  “I’m going home soon, and I hope we never meet again. So if you’re here to coax my help, you’re wasting your time and energy. Have you learned anything about the missing reports?” she inquired, praying he would say yes and she could end this precarious act.

  “No. But I think Soapy’s in on it,” he rashly remarked.

  “So, that’s it! You want me to check, then recover them? You utterly astound me. I’m almost tempted to work for you, just to find those papers and end all contacts between us. But I’m not eager to get killed to appease you. Even if I miraculously succeeded, you would probably think I had them all along. Please feel free to search my room before you leave. As you can see, I have nothing to hide. Let me up; I’m freezing.”

  He chuckled, then pulled the covers aside and eased them under the blankets and quilt. He pulled her into his arms and murmured, “Is that better? Nothing like shared body heat. And I’ve sorely missed yours.”

  “You’re despicable. Please, Landis; I’m so tired. Won’t you leave now?” she suddenly pleaded, even as she automatically gravitated to his warmth. This contact was agonizingly sweet.

  “I’ve really messed things up for us, haven’t I?” he pressed, caressing her cheek, strong fingers roaming across her silky arms and back.

  She looked up into his somber gaze and replied sadly, “Yes. You very successfully ended all hopes of us staying together. Relax, Jurrell, your priceless survival has been safely insured at my expense.”

  “It does have a price, Kat, a costly one. That’s the problem. I want you and what I have now. But I can’t have both, and you’re demanding a hasty choice. You have no idea what I must sacrifice to keep you.”

  “You needn’t concern yourself over a decision which no longer exists. I forbid you to come near me again. You’re quite safe and secure in your mysterious world. But one day, it’s going to get awfully cold and loneso
me there. Maybe another Michelle will come along, one a little brighter and less greedy.”

  “I’m going to do anything necessary to hold you, Kat. When the time comes, you’ll understand everything,” he mysteriously hinted.

  “No, Landis, I won’t ‘understand everything.’ I won’t be around. You’ve had plenty of time to make a decision. I offered you everything I possessed, and you struck out at me as if I were your worst enemy. Too much happened. I can never forgive you or be your wife again.”

  He rolled to lie half off her body, holding her gaze. “You’re saying, even if I tell you everything, you still won’t change your mind? You won’t give me a chance to earn your love and forgiveness?” he challenged, relieved he hadn’t said, even my real name. She was driving him wild.

  She fought to restrain her tears and cravings. “Love and forgiveness can’t be earned like money, Landis. Like you once told me, everything has its price. I can’t afford yours.”

  “But, Kat, I had reasons for what I did,” he argued in self-defense. But how could he make her understand without telling her the whole truth? For once, Landis was unsure of himself, cursing his secret Mounty code which was wreaking havoc on their lives.

  “You can justify or excuse your behavior all you wish, and it changes nothing. Let me go, Landis; it won’t ever work between us.”

  “Why?” he coaxed, seductively pressing his taut frame to hers.

  “I loved you and trusted you. You betrayed me and what we had shared. All for some stupid papers I never saw! Maybe they are critical. Maybe you did have reason to suspect me. Maybe you wanted to hurt me so deeply you would be safe from being attracted to me. I don’t want to know why. Let it be, Landis; it’s over.”

  “But I need you, Kat. Maybe I was striking out in self-defense. But I was attacking my own pain and disillusionment, not you.”

  “You’re wrong, Landis. If you loved me, you would trust me. You had to despise and mistrust me to do what you did that night. I saw the look in your eyes; I heard the tone in your voice. I’ll never forget them. You don’t want or need me, Landis; you want Jake and Soapy. If you have any decency or conscience, you’ll leave me alone. You said you wanted to protect me enough to share your name. If you do, then you’ll want what’s best for me. That isn’t you, Landis, and we both know it.”