Forbidden Ecstasy

by Janelle Taylor

  As Alisha leisurely walked away, Hiram was perplexed by the pensive way in which Jeffery Gordon was watching her retreat. When he finally noticed Hiram’s alert eyes upon him from across the way, he flashed him an engaging grin and nodded civilly. Hiram returned the nod and then walked back into his store, acutely aware of Jeffery’s more than amicable interest in her. Even through a soiled glass, his possessive look could be easily detected.

  “She’s very beautiful, isn’t she?” Celeste noted to Jeffery as she moved to stand beside him near the window. Her hazel eyes enviously trailed Alisha’s progress down the narrow, dirt street until she reached the Horne House and disappeared inside.

  Her suspicious gaze returned to Jeffery’s pleased, arrogant expression. “She’s more than an old friend, isn’t she, Jeffery?” she declared peevishly, pursing her rose-colored mouth into an unattractive, sullen pout. “She didn’t seem too happy to see you the other night. She doesn’t like you very much if you ask me.”

  Jeffery was not a man who tolerated interference with his personal affairs. His blue eyes darkened and narrowed, vividly warning Celeste she had struck a raw nerve. Before she could defensively apologize for her rash comments, he had seized her arm in a painful grasp. Slowly increasing the pressure upon it with each word he gritted out between his tightly clenched teeth, he spat, “Alisha Williams is a private matter. If you so much as mention her name to anyone, you’ll rue the day you were hatched, my feather-brained Celeste.”

  Trying to salvage her position as his companion, she sought to use her feminine wiles to gloss over her untimely mistake. Before she had half of her excuse out of her ruby mouth, Jeffery’s chest was vibrating with sardonic, taunting laughter.

  “Come now, Celeste,” he scathingly chided her. “You forget to whom you’re speaking. I know you too well, remember? There hasn’t been a female born yet who could outwit, entrap, or deceive Jeffery Gordon. Save those girlish charms and ridiculous guiles for some dolt. Fact is, you’d best be looking for some simpleton to take care of you this winter. You’ve exhausted my interest in your numbered charms. I find you an insult to my breeding.” He calmly and callously dismissed her as if she were merely his chambermaid.

  Celeste stared at him in frightened discomposure. “Surely you’re teasing me, Jeffery! That’s very cruel of you,” she whined.

  “Actually,” he sneered, “you bore me to tears, Celeste.”

  Seeing he was serious, she exclaimed, “There’s no one here who could afford to keep me like you do! Please don’t send me away!”

  Jeffery chuckled capriciously, enjoying his cruelty. With Alisha’s arrival and unavoidable capitulation, he no longer needed to suffer Celeste’s annoying company and constant demands. He had simply tolerated her company and low breeding because she had been the town’s loveliest available woman. Now that Alisha was here, Celeste was like a glass bead placed next to an exquisite diamond. He no longer required Celeste’s presence in order to protect his manly image and to conceal his unmentionable problem…

  “Count yourself lucky that I have supported you for this long,” he told her. “I have had my fill of your illbred, ignorant conduct! You possess no manners or intelligence. You’re crude, boring, and cheap,” he relentlessly criticized.

  Celeste saucily exclaimed, “You mean compared to that prissy brat who just strutted up the street! What does that sweet snit have to offer over me?” she snapped venomously.

  “See what I mean about ignorance? You don’t even recognize class and quality when you see it! Alisha has breeding and refinement, things you know nothing about. She’s the kind of female Jeffery Gordon deserves and demands. I can promise you she’ll be at my side within a week’s time,” he boasted arrogantly.

  “Ha! You haven’t even seen her since she got here. Even you can’t work such magic so soon. You said she is smart and respectable. How are you going to win her over? I doubt she’ll grant you a second look from the snippy way she acted the other night!”

  That evasive, confident smile which Celeste had come to know so well flickered across Jeffery’s devilishly handsome features. Her heart fluttered with wild desire for him. She had done everything within her power to become his mistress, but he had steadily ignored her forward flirtations. She had let it be known that she was available for any purpose he desired, but privately, he had kept her at arm’s length. In public, he behaved as if she were his property. He flashed her heated looks and caressed her in subtle ways which nearly drove her crazy with lust. Yet, she would later go to bed aching with frustration. It was a good thing Jeffery went downriver on business every few weeks, for those were the times when she would secretly entertain lusty trappers who were passing through town. If not for those frequent releases of pent-up passion, she would surely be devoured by the flames within her fiery body.

  “No need to fret over my problems, Celeste. Rest assured she is mine for the taking right this very minute,” he stated matter-of-factly.

  Then, turning to her with a threatening scowl, he continued, “Just a word of caution: not a single word about me or my affairs! If your tongue does get reckless, you won’t live to know it. Be forewarned: I always pay my debts to friends and to foes. It would be wise for you to keep your voice mute and your ears deaf where I’m concerned. A sharp hunting knife could ruin what few looks you possess. Understand?” His blue eyes burned with cold honesty. He twisted her arm behind her back to emphasize his potency.

  “All right!” she cried out in great pain. “I won’t say anything to anybody, Jeffery. I promise.” she wept. When he did not ease up on his brutal torment, she shrieked, “You’re hurting me, Jeffery! Please stop,” she whimpered pitifully, drawing laughter from his black heart.

  He released her so abruptly that she fell back against the wall. He instantly seized a handful of her blond hair. Yanking her head backwards, he forced her panicked eyes to meet his truculent gaze. He growled, “Just remember what I said, Celeste: one word from this sulky mouth of yours, and it will be your last. Just to make sure you behave yourself, I’ll have Slim keep an eagle eye on you.

  “That isn’t necessary! If you wish to end our affair, then say so. You don’t have to threaten me or hurt me.” She lowered her wet lashes and entreated, “Could you give me some money to live on until I work something out? It’s winter, Jeffery! Where can I go? Hinkley won’t let me stay here without payment. You can’t just have him throw me out in the cold, not after how close we’ve been.”

  He chuckled derisively. “I find your snivelling company depressing and irritating. I have already spent a small bundle on you, despite your many indiscretions with other men! I suggest you sell some of those clothes and trinkets which you so sweetly wrangled from my good-natured heart.”

  Celeste’s face went ashen as she realized what Jeffery implied. She stammered, “You know everything about me? You never said anything! All this time you’ve been spying on me!”

  “Yes, my pet,” Jeffery said as evil lights flickered in his eyes. “Nobody fools Jeffery Gordon. Not you—and certainly not Alisha Williams!”

  Hurling her from him, Jeffery stormed from the room.

  As Celeste crumbled to the floor, she recklessly vowed, “It will be a cold day in Hell before you lie next to Alisha Williams instead of me, my dashing lieutenant. Whether you know it or not, you are mine. She’ll never have you while I live and breathe, never! As for that lusty brother of hers, in the throes of passion, many secrets come out….”

  Chapter Twelve

  “So you see, Paul, we have only enough money to make it through the winter,” Alisha solemnly stated, finishing her distressing report to Powchutu concerning their financial predicament. “Mr. Bigsley was very kind and helpful. At least he did have the foresight to prevent a total loss of Uncle Thad’s savings.”

  “Don’t worry about it, Alisha love,” he encouraged her. “Even a small amount of money is better than none. If we hadn’t stopped at Joe’s, we wouldn’t have known about it. Stop frettin
g. We’ll work it out. Surely there’s something around here I can do.”

  “You’re right as usual. We should be grateful for all we have. It’s just that Joe’s news was so wonderful and timely. For once it seemed we were making some progress. Every time we attempt to stand up, something comes along and slaps us back to the ground. I had hoped this money would solve all our problems. Now, it’s nearly worthless,” she declared dispiritedly.

  He smiled and caressed her cheek. “We’re free, love, and we have each other. We’re alive and well. That’s all that counts. Everything else will work out. Mark my words: we’ll make it this time.”

  “You’re like warm sunshine on a dismal day. What would I ever do without you? You’ve always been there when I needed you. We do have everything that really matters. I’ll try not to worry so much. It’s just…” she halted and cautioned herself to prudence. She quickly altered her words, “It’s just that you’ve already tried to find work for several days without success. What if neither of us can find work to see us through to New Orleans? What if we get stranded here?”

  “If necessary, we can return to Joe’s. He offered to let me help him with his trapping this winter, then split the profits down the middle in the spring. If worse comes to worst, we’ll head back to Joe’s. Satisfied, little sister?” He playfully teased a smile from her soft lips.

  “I had forgotten about Joe,” she lied convincingly. How could she tell him that Jeffery would never permit her to leave? “In that light, we have nothing to worry about,” she stated with confidence she did not feel, hoping Powchutu could not read the doubt and anxiety in her voice and eyes.

  He did, but failed to realize the meaning behind them. He simply assumed she was disappointed and apprehensive about the news which Hiram had just given to her. Knowing she had not seen Jeffery since that first afternoon of their arrival, he dismissed him as a possible cause for her worries. He announced his plans to continue his search for work that very afternoon. He suggested she get some rest while he was gone. Placing a light kiss upon her forehead, he turned and left her alone with her pensive thoughts.

  Alisha prayed Powchutu would be offered a job in the nearby wilderness. She hoped he would ask her to remain where it was safe and warm. While he was away, she could work out her situation with Jeffery. If he could not be put off, she could marry Jeffery before Powchutu’s return. However, the best solution was for him to head back to Joe’s for the winter. She would subtly suggest this to him at the right time.

  For the next two days, Powchutu did exactly as promised. He would spend each day seeking some type of work, each day branching out further and further from the settlement in his avid search. Yet, each night he would return without success. Not wishing to overly concern Alisha, he did not relate his increasing fears to her. He refused to discuss his return to Joe’s at this early stage. At night, he would joke and talk with her over a delicious dinner or during their evening stroll. He craftily managed to display confidence and optimism when in her presence. Yet, his male pride and selfassurance were taking a beating. He had already let her down once when those men attacked them; he resolved to do anything necessary to prevent her loss of faith in him.

  Alisha’s days varied greatly from his. She spent much of her time reading several newspapers from back East, supposedly sent to her from Hiram. The news was obsolete and distressing. Evidently the costly war with her native country was still in bloody progress. She was not surprised to learn of the Colonies’ declaration of independence from her beloved England back in July of this year. She made a mental note to send this particular news on to Joe.

  She studied the stories numerous times. She could not deduce the real facts from the colored ones. She failed to understand why the Americans continued to claim the victories when Admiral Howe and General Howe were creating such widespread havoc in the northern section of the country. If one sifted through the facts and figures, England seemed to have the upper hand until September. Such news was still depressing and alarming; brothers were fighting against brothers.

  When she was not scanning those papers for some missed fact, Alisha would rest or would take care of her personal chores. Mary seemed only too pleased to assist her with her laundry and to spend time in her company. Although she appeared friendly, Alisha instinctively feltuneasy around her. It was not due to her muteness; it came from the furtive way the strange girl watched her. She gave Alisha the weird sensation that she could see right into her mind. Her intense scrutiny would frequently give Alisha uncontrollable shivers. When noting this disquieting effect upon Alisha, Mary would hastily glance away.

  To apologize for her unkind reaction to Mary would only bring it to light and place more importance than necessary upon it; therefore, Alisha tried to suppress and to ignore it. To lighten the heavy atmosphere when they were together, Alisha would chatter freely about life back East or in England. Mary would politely listen, then smile cheerfully and thoughtfully. But no matter what she said or did, she remained uneasy around Mary O’Hara.

  Several times Mary had surprised Alisha by bringing hot tea and warm muffins to her room. She would timidly hand them to Alisha, then scurry away with a bright smile upon her angelic face. When Alisha mentioned these strange awkward feelings about Mary to Powchutu, he smiled and told her not to concern herself over the girl’s obvious admiration of her. Having no better argument to disprove his assumption, Alisha reluctantly accepted it for the time being.

  The following morning was Sunday. Alisha informed Powchutu that she had decided to attend the religious service which was held at the far end of town in a small, wooden structure. Hiram told her about the meetings which were conducted twice monthly by a travelling minister from Ste. Genevieve. He invited them to accompany him and to meet some of the nearby townfolk.

  Powchutu considered her intention for a few moments, debating whether or not he wanted to go along. Finally coming to the conclusion it would make him uncomfortable, he declined to go with her. “In heart, I am Indian. The Great Spirit holds my fate and my trust. I cannot worship him inside a closed building. I must be outside with Mother Earth. I must be surrounded by the creations of the Great Spirit. I will wait for you here. Hiram will see to your safety. Does that displease you, Alisha?”

  She smiled brightly. “Certainly not. Each person must worship as he chooses. But who is to say that both Gods are not one in the same? Who is to say that Christ did not come in different forms to different peoples?” she teased him cheerfully. “Besides, I am not so certain I will gain anything from this travelling preacher. From what I gather, he isn’t much better than his sinful flock. You know what, Paul, I haven’t been inside a real church in almost two years…” Anguish filled her as she recalled that last time too well: her parents’ funeral back in the Pennsylvania Colony.

  Yet, another bittersweet memory returned to haunt her. Alisha closed her eyes and pictured a stirring scene which she had witnessed many times in a past existence. Each morning, Gray Eagle had faced the East and chanted to the Great Spirit in his compelling, husky voice. She had watched the handsome lines of his face and the mighty stance of his body as the warm sun had caressed him. Would his voice and image forever return to torment and inflame her? She shook her auburn head to clear it of Gray Eagle’s entrancing memory.

  To make this outing easier for Alisha, Powchutu ordered her early morning meal to be sent to her room. Mary seemed only too happy to comply with his request. Powchutu was slightly taken back by the teenage girl’s provocative smile at him before she turned and raced merrily down the staircase. And Powchutu could hardly trust his eyes: Mary boldly flirting with him! He shook his head to clear it, then returned to his room.

  A soft tapping upon her door awakened Alisha early Sunday morning. She roused herself and called out, “Who’s there?” No one answered. Once again the light, almost timid, tapping sounded.

  Alisha threw aside the covers, immediately chilled by the cold room and her thin gown, and made her way to the do
or. She pressed her ear to the wood surface and listened for any suspicious noise. Once more the light, but persistent, knocking came upon her locked door. Startled, she jumped. “Who’s there? I will not open this door until you answer me!”

  Still no reply, just another knocking. Alisha called out in annoyance, “Answer me or be gone!”

  A raspy, masculine voice called out shortly, “Miss, it’s the girl Mary wanting in. She can’t talk.”

  “Mary?” she repeated in surprise. She stepped behind the door and cautiously slid the bolt aside. Slowly she opened the door and peered around it. Her eyes settled upon the rustic, elderly piano-player from the dining room. “What is it, Zeb?” she asked.

  He moved back to allow Mary to slip into her room, arms laden with wood and kindling. “Morning, Miss Williams,” he stated politely, then disappeared down the dim hallway.

  Alisha slowly pushed the door shut, then turned to stare at Mary in puzzlement. “What are you doing here so early, Mary?”

  Mary beamed with undisguised joy. She motioned for Alisha to return to her warm bed until she had the fire going. “You came to fix a fire?” Alisha quizzed, rubbing her sleepy eyes.

  Mary smiled once again and nodded agreement. “But it’s so early, isn’t it?” She stifled a yawn with her hand.

  Mary shook her head no. She took Alisha by the arm and walked her to the window. She pulled back the curtain and pointed down the dirt street. Alisha leaned forward and followed her line of direction. Still confused, she glanced back at the grinning Mary. “What are you trying to tell me? What’s down there?”

  Mary giggled silently. She took the table and placed it before her. She stepped behind it and assumed a stern, serious look. She put her hands in the position of holding a book. She then began to mutely mimic a preacher giving a sermon. Afterwards, she reverently lowered her head as if in prayer. She then returned to the window and pointed down the street.