Finding Love the Hard Way
Page 12
As the heavy woman saw Constance safely into a Hansom cab, she told her, "Now you don't be fooling about with no man like that no more, ya hear?"
Constance gave her a thankful smile and handed her a paper dollar from Calvin's money. The woman waved her money happily as the driver whipped up the horse. Settling back, Constance couldn't believe what had happened to her.
Nate. Oh, Nate... What am I to do now? She'd found a man who she could love and... Oh no! I do love him. The realization hit her as the carriage drew up near the private pier where the Lady Freedom was moored. She sat, lost in indecision.
"We're here, Miss," the driver called to her as he hopped down and opened the door.
"Thank you," she vaguely responded and passed him several bills. "Would you wait for me, please?"
"Yes'm, I'll be here."
Constance walked on unsteady legs down the narrow wooden planks and reached the bell outside the Lady Freedom. She lifted the small hammer, but stopped as she heard angry voices, one sounding very familiar, from on board. Constance tiptoed to the gangplank and made her way onto the deck of the yacht. No one guarded the entrance. She heard a sound, as if flesh struck flesh, and then a muffled groan from below deck. Easing near the hatchway, she stopped to listen.
"I'll not tell you where she is. She's safely out of your grasp and that's all you—" Nate's angry voice was cut off by the sound of another blow.
"Did you tell her about me?" A male voice impatiently demanded. "How much does she know?"
"She knows enough to hang you if the President is killed, you filthy turncoat. You'd do better to turn yourself in and throw yourself on his mercy – oomph!" Again, a blow cut off his words.
Nate had been after the assassin too. Where was Thaddeus? Had he been killed and his boat taken over?
Constance looked around for a weapon. There, lying near the Captain's wheel, was a pistol. She crept over to grab it and prayed it was loaded. The thought of saving Nate gave her courage as she drew back the hammer, then held the gun in front of her, clutched in both hands.
Nate was taking a beating as she tiptoed down the stairs. She stopped behind the two men bent over him. One shouted questions while the other hit him. "Stop or I'll shoot," she insisted in as deep a voice as she could manage.
The men stopped, sharply turning to face her.
"Constance, put down the weapon," Thaddeus insisted. "We've caught Nate. The trouble is over, my dear."
"No, it isn't. Stop where you are, Thaddeus. I don't want to shoot you, but I will." Her voice shook almost as much as the hands holding the pistol. Thaddeus, a traitor? Her mind could not absorb the fact.
"They'll hang you for working with him, Constance. What is all this? Did he charm you and turn you to his way of thinking?" Sir Kenward wasn't ready to give up yet.
Constance ignored him. "Nate, are you all right?" She needed his assistance as she didn't know how long she could hold the heavy pistol pointed at the two men. And she wasn't sure she could shoot them if they tried to jump her.
"I'll live, love. I'm trying to get out of these ropes."
"Untie him. Not you," she told Thaddeus, "You." She indicated the other man with the end of the gun.
Nate rubbed his wrists, stood, and then slammed his fist into the man's temple. The man dropped like a stone. "I'll take that now, love." He took the heavy weapon from her hands and turned it toward Thaddeus. "Why, Kenward? Why assassinate President Johnson?"
Sir Kenward shrugged, then his shoulders drooped in defeat. "We need a strong leader. Even Lincoln didn't want Johnson, but accepted him to mollify the South. Had Lincoln lived, things would have been fine. But Johnson is giving it all back... All the hard-won lands, the harbors, everything we fought so hard to take. He's keeping the country from moving ahead. Can't you see?"
"I see a man who will hang when I return to President Johnson with this news. Sit down behind the desk." Nate waved the gun toward the chair.
Sir Thaddeus Kenward straightened his coat and took his seat at the desk. "You understand don't you, Constance? We fought so hard... The North won. He shouldn't just give it all back..."
Constance sadly shook her head. "He can't give it all back, Thaddeus. He'll never be able to give back all those who died like my daddy, my brother, or my husband. But we can heal and we need a man like President Johnson who is willing to bridge the gap and give to both sides."
Nate un-cocked the pistol and wrapped an arm about the shoulders of his Lady. "She's right, Kenward. Our country needs President Johnson, but we don't need another scandal. As a gentleman and a patriot, you know what is expected." Nate laid the pistol in the center of the desk and led Constance up the steep stairs onto the deck.
They almost reached the carriage when they heard the shot. Constance flinched and tried to turn back.
Nate stopped her. "No, it's better this way, love. He would have hanged and the trial before that would have created even more division and scandal. Let it end here, knowing he did the right thing."
Chapter Seven
Constance Teague Ashmore Weston woke beside her new husband, nestled deep into a feather bed in the fabulous Grand Hotel de Louvre in Paris, wearing nothing except a smile. She stretched and then let her fingers play among the dark hairs covering his chest.
She laughed as his hand grabbed hers and carried her fingers to his lips. He proceeded to kiss and nibble on every one, then bite gently on the fullness beneath her thumb. Her moan of pleasure encouraged him and he placed more kisses along her arm to her shoulder. Not one to be bested, Constance allowed her other hand to follow the dark arrow of hair down his stomach and beneath the sheets.
"My, there seems to be something alive under here," she said as she giggled. "Shall I swat it?" she teased.
"I do believe my intelligent wife knows what to do with such a creature." He lifted his head from her breasts long enough to retort. Then he returned his eager mouth to its previous pursuits.
She reacted by tossing away their covers, running her hands up his bare chest, and planting a moist kiss on his firm lips.
Before he rolled her beneath him, she pushed against his chest. "Nate, wait... There's something I've wanted to...to tell you..." She hesitated.
He saw a pretty pink blush stain her cheekbones. "What is it, love? What's wrong?" Concerned now, Nate raised up on an elbow and looked down at her, one dark brow arched in question.
"Nothing's wrong. Do you remember when we were on the balcony...? Uhm... When we escaped the maid and Colonel Dempsey?"
"I remember that very well. It was the first time I really kissed you. What of it?"
"I loved you even then, and I...I wanted to be with you, like this. To learn all the things you've shown me...and more. Does that make me totally wicked?"
"The wickedest Yankee spy ever, my darlin'. But it will remain our secret."
Constance had yet another secret to share with him, but it would wait until they were back home at Teague Oaks, after this honeymoon provided by a grateful President Johnson. She smiled and ran a gentle hand across her own tummy as her husband nuzzled her earlobe.
~ The End ~
About the Author
Rebecca J. Vickery has been married to the same very patient man for quite a while now. She has one son, a special daughter-in-law, and three wonderful grandchildren.
She enjoys the challenge of adding a special twist to her stories of romance. Usually they involve the paranormal, mystery, adventure, suspense, or a bit of fantasy along the way to a happy ever after or happy for now ending.
You may visit Rebecca at these sites online:
rebeccajvickeryauthor.com
www.facebook.com/rebeccajvickery
rebeccajvickery.blogspot.com/
Other Works by Mrs. Vickery
~ Novels ~
Surviving With Love
Looking Through the Mist
Following Destiny
Seeking Shelter
~ Novellas ~
Clint's Cho
ice
Rena's Summer Vacation
Love Kills
Lady Constance Yankee Spy
Christmas Tears
Night of the Blue Moon
Dad's Favorite Holiday
Raising the Lost
A Haunting Love
The Trouble with Fishing
The Rescue
I Love God's Creatures
~ Collections ~
Becca's Paranormal Collection: Book 1
Carried Away by Love ~ Sweet Romance Collection: Book 1
Finding Love the Hard Way ~ Sweet Romance Collection: Book 2
~ Non-Fiction with Co-Authors ~
Color With Taylor – Book 1: Variety
Madi's Secret Color Garden – Book 1: Land and Sea Creatures
~ Flash Fiction ~
Releasing the Beast
Cappuccino and Christmas Snow
~ Available in Audio ~
Looking Through the Mist
Following Destiny
Seeking Shelter
Christmas Tears
Lady Constance Yankee Spy
The Rescue
A Haunting Love
Raising the Lost
The Trouble with Fishing