by Leanne Tyler
“It’s them,” he shouted. He ran into the street with Buford and Rory on his heels.
The commotion brought people pouring out of the shops lining the street. The horses raced by, but the riders slowed them and came back, stopping in front of the men. Rebecca sat in front of Rufus with a burlap sack over her head, her hands bound by a rope.
Jared gripped the gun tighter and found it difficult to breath.
“Are you going to give me the money now, Rory?” Rufus sneered. He yanked the sack off of Rebecca’s head and cupped her face with his hand. “Or do I get the pleasure of her company.”
Jared’s heart lurched. The sight of his beloved’shair unkempt from the sack and her face pale with fright, started a rage pounding behind his eyes. Only the thought of them not having a future together kept him from shooting the bastards who held her from their horses and damn the consequences.
“Let her go,” he demanded, raising the shotgun to his shoulder, grateful for His West Point training. It was all he could do to restrain himself from shooting Rufus off the horse.
Rory and Buford raised their weapons as well.
“Do what he says, Rufus,” Buford advised. “Judge Templeton will take your cooperation in this matter under advisement when he charges you both.”
“Uh, Rufus,” Amos said, his horse dancing in place.
“What is it now?” Rufus growled.
“There’s two of ’em.” Amos motioned with his head toward the grim faced Rory and the sheriff.
“What?” Rufus turned his head and seemed to see the other men for the first time. “This some kind of tom foolery?”
“Hello again, Rufus,” Rory said. “Now put the lady down off the horse, gentle like, and no one will get hurt.”
Rufus grunted. “Not until I get my money.”
“You want your money then you’ll have to let Rebecca go first.”
Rufus sat on the horse without moving for a long moment. “Fine,” he spat. “But if you try anything, I’ll shoot her in the back.” He shoved Rebecca off the horse, and she fell, landing on her hands and knees in the dirt.
The crowd gasped, and Jared tossed his gun to Rory. “Cover me,” he ordered as he closed the short distance to Rebecca.
He gently picked her up and led her away from her captors, tossing a direct order to his cousin over his shoulders. “Shoot them.”
Rory laughed.
Once they were safely across the street he took out his pocket knife and cut the rope away from her bound hands. “Did they hurt you?” he whispered against her hair, crushing her to him.
She shook her head and flung her arms around him. “No. But I’m so glad to be away from them. I want to go home. Please take me home, Jared. Take me to Oak Hill, now.”
He nodded and brushed kisses along her cheek and her neck, stopping at her ear. “Of course, darling. I’ll take you home as soon as the next train will get us there.”
Chapter Twenty-One
It was early evening and the sun dipped low in the hot summer sky when the train from Grenada pulled to a stop in Jackson. Jared still found the new knowledge about Rory remarkable as he helped Rebecca off the train. His beautiful and strong Rebecca, he thanked his good fortune that Mitchell had asked him to be her escort or they might not have met. She’d withstood so much since then. Some of the danger was her own making while the other was unnecessary because of Rory.
Rory. It would be a long time before he could forgive Rory. Not just for putting Rebecca in danger, but for all the trouble he had caused.
“Should I hire a horse and ride on to Oak Hill?” Rory asked walking a few steps behind them, carrying their bags. “I can send Higgins back with the carriage and Mary can have a proper wedding supper prepared by the time you arrive.”
Rebecca stopped and tucked a stray tendril behind her ear. “After today’s events, I’d prefer a hot bath and to retire early tonight. Perhaps we can have a celebration tomorrow and invite a few friends?” She looked to Jared for his approval.
He nodded. “Anything you like, my love.”
Rory stepped between them. “I’ll still send Higgins to fetch you.”
“Have him call on us at the Bakersfield Hotel.” Jared instructed.
A sly smile formed at Rory’s mouth. “Can’t wait until you arrive home, Cousin?”
Rebecca’s cheeks flamed at his words, but she continued to smile.
“We’re going to see her aunt and tell her the news,” Jared explained. He fought the urge to grab Rory by the collar and throttle him for his crudeness.
“Beg your pardon,” he said with a grin.
“No harm done,” Rebecca assured him, touching his arm. “Thank you again for your aid today. You didn’t have to come in search of us, but you did, and for that I’m truly thankful.”
Rory half-bowed and flashed a smile. “It was the least I could do. You did marry my cousin and for that I’m eternally grateful. Perhaps now he’ll be less cross with me.”
Jared grimaced at his cousin’s attempt at charm. “Get going.”
Rory sauntered a few steps ahead, but turned back. “I’ll get rid of Delaney if he should be waiting around Oak Hill. After all, I instructed Mary to be cordial and offer him a room if he wished to wait for my return.”
“How very hospitable of you,” Jared grumbled.
Rory shrugged. “He does believe the place mine, so why shouldn’t I be generous?”
Rebecca remained quiet until he’d left them. When he was out of hearing, she turned to Jared. “You don’t think Delaney is waiting for Rory at Oak Hill, do you? Surely if Mary paid him the debt, he’d take the money and leave.”
Jared sighed and offered her his arm. She placed her hand on it and they began walking toward the main street. “It’s hard to predict what a gambler will do, and after meeting Delaney, I could see him wearing out his welcome.”
“I can’t take Lucas to Oak Hill until I know Delaney is gone.” Her brow creased with concern. “Maybe I should…stay in town…tonight while you make sure he has?”
“No.” Jared’s stomach tightened in frustration at the thought of another night apart from her. Damn Rory and his interference.
“We both should stay in town?”
“Yes. We are married now. Don’t you think we should stay together?”
A wicked grin lit up her face. “And as your cousin has reminded us, we haven’t had our wedding night yet. Besides, you did promise to kiss me soundly each morning when I wake.”
“Yes. Yes I did. And I can’t very well do that if you are in town and I am at Oak Hill. It just isn’t a way to start a marriage.”
He slowed their pace and turned to face her. “However, as much as I detest the idea of being apart from you, I can wait for our wedding night, if we must. And I can stay at Oak Hill alone tonight if you desire. But if we stay apart I promise to arrive early to keep my word and to bring you home to Oak Hill.”
She smiled. “Darling, there is no need for us to stay apart. I want to be with you tonight and I can bear to be away from Lucas another night to ensure he’s safe from Delaney. I will ask Aunt Josephine to bring him out tomorrow. Besides, we will need time to prepare him a room before he arrives.”
Jared cupped her cheek in his hand. “The nursery is already furnished. It only needs to be cleaned, and I’ll set Mary on it first thing tomorrow, but I think you will find it sufficient for his needs.”
Rebecca blinked and her green eyes glistened. “Oh Jared. The room that was meant for your son? Are you sure you want my Lucas to have it?”
“Our Lucas,” he corrected.
Her eyelids fluttered and a lone tear rolled down her cheeks. “Our Lucas,” she whispered. “I like the sound of that.”
“For now and for always.”
She nodded and he brushed his lips against hers, not caring who might see them. They were married now.
They began walking again. “It’s such a beautiful evening. I wonder what your aunt will say about our ne
ws.”
Rebecca laughed softly. “She’ll be pleased. She thought we were eloping and that was the reason behind my going to Memphis so suddenly anyway. I assured her it wasn’t, but you changed that.”
“I’m glad I did.”
It wasn’t long before the Bakersfield Hotel came into view. From behind the doors, gay music could be heard. “They must be having another extravaganza in the dining room,” Rebecca said. “I wonder what the theme is tonight. Aunt Josephine and Doctor Gordon went to Italian night together.”
Jared smiled, recalling the morning after Mrs. Paxton gave birth and the good doctor and Miss Davis drinking coffee at his table. Rebecca had confided in him that the pair had been flirting. “Do they spend much time together?”
Rebecca nodded. “They meet at the corner every day and walk to noon Mass together. They’re both devout Catholics.”
He slowed again, considering her words. “And being such a devout Catholic do you suppose she will mind that we were not married by a priest?”
“We were married by Parson Ben. She will not mind one bit about that.”
As they drew closer to the music, laughter and voices could be heard. Rebecca squeezed his arm. “It definitely sounds like a party.”
Jared pointed at the carriage. “That’s Mitchell’s. Do you suppose he and Elizabeth have returned from their honeymoon tour and have come to call on you?”
“Now she’ll be the one cross with us for eloping.” Rebecca picked up the skirts of her dress and hurried up the steps into the hotel lobby. Jared followed.
“Ah, Miss Davis. It’s so good to have you return. You have been missed.”
“Thank you.” The clerk’s greeting surprised her. “Is my aunt in?”
“I believe she is in the dining room with a few other guests.”
“Thank you.” Rebecca turned to Jared and held out her hand. “Shall we go in?”
He took it and felt her hand tremble. He squeezed it to reassure her, but her cheeks paled and she bit her lower lip. Where had the strong woman he knew gone to so quickly? Was she suddenly afraid of her aunt or Elizabeth’s reaction?
As they walked into the room, he spotted Mitchell and Elizabeth seated at a large table with her family and Doctor Gordon, Miss Davis and Charlotte holding Lucas.
“Miss Rebecca!” Charlotte exclaimed. The music stopped and the chatter ended as the people turned to look at them.
Josephine rushed to hug Rebecca. “I’m so glad you are here,” she exclaimed. “I have so much to tell you.”
Rebecca returned her embrace. “I’m glad to be home. I have something to tell you as well.”
Josephine stepped back and looked at Jared. “Mr. Hollingsworth? What brings you here tonight?”
He bowed. “Miss Davis.”
“What do you have to tell me?” Josephine asked, glancing back to her niece.
Rebecca took Jared’s hand again. “We’re married.”
Josephine clapped her hands together, smiling as tears ran down her cheeks. “How wonderful. Simply wonderful news.” She turned toward the group of people. “Ancil darling, did you hear? My Rebecca and Mr. Hollingsworth have eloped.”
Elizabeth squealed and rushed across the room pulling Mitchell behind her. “Eloped? But I had hoped to plan your wedding.”
“Don’t be too upset. We didn’t want to wait,” Rebecca explained. “I’m so glad you’ve returned.
Mitchell shook Jared’s hand. “Congratulations. I heard in town that you found Rory.”
Jared nodded. “Yes and he’s taken care of that matter I spoke to you about.”
“Excellent news. So there was no need to…” Mitchell glanced at Rebecca and smiled. “Yet you did anyway?”
“Did what anyway, darling?” she asked, slipping her arm around his waist.
Jared lovingly glanced down at her and caressed her cheek. “Marry again.”
A chill ran down her spine. Had Mitchell wanted him to marry for the dowry a new wife could bring? She swallowed hard and tilted her head, recalling the carriage ride when he’d first asked her to marry him. He’d told her about how Oak Hill was in ruin and how he had no right to ask her to marry him until he could save the plantation. Thankfully that hadn’t been needed. He’d wanted her regardless of the security her dowry could bring him, even if she had offered to cover Rory’s markers if necessary.
“Yes, Rory is paying his debt to Delaney and Oak Hill will be safe once again,” she said.
Josephine’s happy expression vanished. “Did you say Delaney?”
“Yes, but don’t worry. Jared and I married to give our son protection.”
“Your son?” Josephine’s eyes widened and pulled Rebecca further away from the others. “So you told him? He knows about Mariah?”
Rebecca nodded. “I had no other choice after Delaney mistook me for her. I never thought we looked much alike as sisters. Nothing like Jared and Rory do as cousins, but Delaney saw it.”
Doctor Gordon left the table and joined them. “Congratulations, Rebecca. I know you and Jared will be most happy together.”
“Thank you, Doctor.” Rebecca looked past him to where Charlotte stood bouncing Lucas. “How’s my boy been while I’ve been gone?”
“Perfect. He’s been absolutely perfect.” Josephine looked over at him too. “There’s something I need to tell you Rebecca. Can Ancil and I steal you away from the party for a few moments?”
Her aunt had called the doctor by his Christian name twice that evening without blinking an eye. The doctor had also looked at her aunt fondly. Both looked utterly happy together and Rebecca began to wonder what had transpired in her absence. “Certainly. Let me tell Jared…”
“Perhaps he should come too,” Doctor Gordon suggested, slipping his arm around Josephine’s waist.
Rebecca noticed his action and she bit back a smile, wondering what they wanted to speak to her about.
Josephine nodded. “Yes, please ask him to join us upstairs in our suite.”
“If you like. We’ll be right up.” Rebecca waited until the pair left and went to speak to Jared. They made their apologies to Elizabeth and Mitchell before leaving the dining room.
Upstairs Rebecca found her aunt pacing while Doctor Gordon begged her to sit down beside him. “What’s wrong?” she asked.
Doctor Gordon stood and went to stand beside Josephine. “First off, your aunt and I have news of our own to share, Rebecca. I’ve asked her to marry me and she has agreed.”
“Married?” Rebecca gasped. “You’re getting married? Oh Aunt Josephine I couldn’t have hoped for better news. But what is wrong? Why are you so nervous?”
“Congratulations to you both,” Jared said.
“Thank you,” Doctor Gordon replied, leading Josephine to the sofa. “Sit, dearest,” he said gently. “You’re going to wear yourself out.”
She sat, but fidgeted, bunching the material of her skirt with her hand. She shook her head before she finally spoke. “I beg you to forgive me, Rebecca. I beg you to forgive me for what I’m about to tell you.”
Rebecca went to the fainting couch and sat on the edge. Jared moved to stand behind her. “What could you have possibly done that you should beg my forgiveness?”
Tears running down her face, Josephine took a deep breath. “There is something you need to know about Mariah. There is no easy way to say it other than to be blunt. She wasn’t really your sister. Your parents weren’t her parents. She…she was my…daughter. Your parents agreed to take her as their own since I was unwed and alone. They raised her and only gave her back to my care when they died. Yet I failed her again. I wasn’t able to protect her from the likes of Stuart Delaney. I blamed myself. I blamed her, but mostly I blamed me for my weakness.”
“No.” Rebecca shook her head. “This can’t be true. I remember when—”
“It is true, dear.” Josephine cut her off and took another jagged breath. “We were in Europe and you were very young.”
“I remember.” Reb
ecca stood. “But you blamed Mariah for Delaney. You were so cruel to her. If she were your daughter how could you—”
“Yes. Yes I did. I blamed her for being so foolish that she found herself pregnant and alone just like I did. My Charles took ill and died, but I was still alone and unwed. I sinned and I was punished for my transgression. And in the end I lost my Mariah just like I lost my Charles.”
A heavy silence fell over the room and no one moved or spoke for several long minutes. Finally, Josephine smoothed the wrinkles from her dress. “I can’t change the past. I tried so many years to atone for my transgression. I threw myself into work for the church. But it didn’t cover the sin I had committed. I still carried the guilt inside me until I allowed myself to love again.”
Rebecca slowly sat down again.
“And the hardest part of confessing my past to you is now I find myself wanting Lucas. I want to raise him as my own, but I know I can’t. I have no right to him. He’s yours. You’ve cared and loved him from the day he was born.”
Rebecca swallowed, unable to take her eyes off Josephine. It was several long moments before she was able to respond. “This explains so much. I can understand why you said the things you did about Mariah dying for the sin committed. You weren’t talking about hers, but yours. Don’t you think you’ve punished yourself enough? You were young and in love.”
Josephine broke down crying. “You don’t hate me?”
“How could I hate you?” Rebecca went to Josephine and knelt before her. She hugged her.
“Not even for my wanting Lucas?”
“Not even Lucas.” Rebecca took the handkerchief Doctor Gordon offered and dried Josephine’s face. “He’s your grandson and I understand you wanting him with you now. Just because he will be living with me and Jared at Oak Hill doesn’t mean you can’t visit him or he visit you when he’s older. He needs grandparents as much as parents.”
Josephine gave her a wan smile. “I didn’t think you’d give him up and I didn’t want to ask you to either. I never expected to feel anything for him like I do.”
The suite door opened and Charlotte came in with Lucas. Seeing Josephine, he held out his arms to her. “Ma-ma. Ma-ma,” he called.