The Bride Star

by Piper Davenport

  “Ma’am?” Sam made his way to the cell.

  “Why does everyone keep calling me ma’am? It’s starting to piss me off.” She stood angrily and walked to the bars. “Oh, God, I’m going to be sick.” She found what looked like a bowl and leaned over it.

  “Ma’am?”

  “Stop calling me ma’am!”

  Sam reached out toward the woman. “Ma’am, you may not want to use—”

  “Stop calling me ma’am! Can’t you see how sick I am?” she interrupted as she leaned over the porcelain bowl.

  Sam frowned as he watched her sit up again and lean back against the cot.

  She rubbed her head. “Why am I in jail?”

  “You were drunk and disorderly, from what I’ve been told.” Sam leaned against the bars of her cell.

  “I’m not drunk.” The woman dropped her forehead onto her raised knees. “I was drugged. There’s a difference.”

  “There is the prostitution as well,” John provided.

  “John.” Sam scowled.

  “Prostitution?” she squeaked, and scrambled onto the mattress. “I’m not a prostitute.”

  “But you’re dressed like one.” John shifted from one foot to the other.

  Sam stepped in front of John in silent rebuke.

  “I am not! I had a concert tonight and this is what I wore to perform.”

  “A concert, ma’am?”

  “Oh, my…,” she groaned. “Stop calling me ma’am.”

  Sam smiled gently. “What should we call you?”

  “You could use my name.”

  “Which is?”

  “Seriously? You don’t know who I am?”

  Sam cocked his head to the side. “I’m sorry? Have we met?”

  “No.” Confusion flickered over her face. “My name is Rayne… Green.”

  “All right, Miss Green. Do you know who drugged you?”

  “Yes. Jared Weber. He put something in my water.” Rayne shook her head. “I should have listened to Shaye.”

  Sam raised an eyebrow. “Who’s Shaye?”

  Rayne dropped her face into her hands. “My best friend, but that’s beside the point!”

  “Who’s this Jared Weber?” Sam wrapped long fingers around the cell bars. “Where can we find him?”

  “He’s a student at DePaul, but he took me to an abandoned building in downtown Chicago.” She shivered.

  “Chicago? Are you certain?”

  Her head whipped up. “Hel-loh! Isn’t that what I just said?”

  “That would be impossible,” John interrupted.

  “Why would it be impossible?”

  Sam realized she might be somewhat addled. “You’re currently in Washington, ma’am.”

  Rayne’s eyes widened. “State?”

  Sam shook his head. “D.C.”

  “Who are you?” she rasped. “Where have you brought me?”

  John cleared his throat. “Ma’am, you were found on the street… close to the other women like you.”

  Sam glared at John, angry with the man, but not entirely sure why. He felt an odd connection to the woman, which made no sense.

  Rayne ran her hands through her hair. “I can’t be in D.C.”

  Sam watched her closely as she put her hand to her forehead as though to jog her memory. Just then, he heard the rustling of skirts and turned as Victoria Butler walked in the room.

  “Rebel, sweetheart, slow down,” Quincy said from behind her.

  “What are you doing here?” Sam turned in surprise.

  Victoria walked over to the cell and gasped. She turned slowly and glared at Sam. “Unlock this door, right now, Samuel Powell. I know this woman and she is no prostitute.”

  Rayne frowned. “I don’t know you, do I?”

  “How do you know this woman?” Sam narrowed his eyes.

  “This is Rayne Green.” Victoria stared pointedly at her. “She’s a friend of a friend.”

  Rayne stepped toward her. “Oh, right! Yes. Don’t you know... um... Shaye Montgomery?”

  Victoria nodded. “Yes, Shaye. Exactly. I’m Victoria Butler. I think we met at that party a few months ago.”

  Rayne raised an eyebrow. “The party. Right.”

  Victoria glanced back at Sam. “Let her out, Sam. She’s coming home with us.” Quincy started to protest, but Victoria stopped him. “She’s like me, Gus.”

  Quincy’s eyes widened. “Yes, Sam, she’s coming home with us.”

  “What made you think to follow me?” Sam asked.

  “When John mentioned shiny breeches, I knew something wasn’t right,” Victoria said. “Rayne has been known to wear them, so I deduced it was her.”

  “Where’s my backpack?” Rayne asked.

  “Did you have it with you?” Victoria asked.

  Rayne nodded. “Yes.”

  One of the guards retrieved the bag and handed it to Sam. Rayne let out a hiss. “Why are you giving it to him?” Before he could respond, though, she made a run for the bowl.

  “Rayne, no!” Victoria warned, and Rayne paused. “Don’t touch that.”

  Rayne groaned in agony. “I’m going to be sick.”

  “Okay, but don’t use that.” Victoria stood away from the door. “Get her out, Sam. Now, please.”

  Sam unlocked the cell and stepped aside so that Rayne could exit. She moved toward the door and then suddenly grasped his arm. “I don’t feel so good.”

  Sam caught her as she dropped. Lifting her into his arms, he drew her close and felt an overwhelming need to protect her.

  Victoria rushed to Rayne’s side to feel her forehead. “She doesn’t have a fever, but she’s definitely out cold. And look at her lip! It’s swollen and bloody.” Turning to John, she waggled a finger at him in accusation. “Did one of your men do this?”

  “No ma’am. Jimmy found her that way.” John backed up slightly.

  “Why didn’t you treat it?” Victoria laid her hands on her hips. “Fresh water at the very least. She’s a lady in distress and has obviously been ill used by someone!”

  John frowned. “We thought she was a prostitute.”

  “So?” Victoria snapped. “She still deserves medical attention.”

  John lowered his head and wisely kept his mouth shut.

  “Did she say what happened?” Quincy asked as he flattened his hand on Victoria’s back.

  Sam appreciated Quincy’s apparent attempt to calm his wife and save the jailer from her barrage. Sam tightened his arms around his burden. “She said someone drugged her.”

  Victoria stared at Rayne in concern. “Well, let’s get her home so that we can tend to her.”

  “Where’s Crow?” Sam raised an eyebrow.

  “He’s at the house.” Quincy rolled his eyes. “Victoria threatened him with death if he left.”

  Victoria’s head whipped up. “I didn’t threaten.” Quincy smiled at her. “What? I don’t threaten!”

  Sam chuckled quietly. “We have never known anyone like you, Victoria. Crow is not certain how to handle it.”

  Rayne started to stir. She opened her eyes slowly and looked up at Sam. “Hi.” She winced and put her hand to her mouth. “Ow.”

  Sam smiled down at her.

  “Wow,” she whispered. “You’re a hottie.”

  Rayne once again drifted into oblivion. Victoria giggled.

  “What does that mean?” Sam asked her.

  Victoria shrugged. “I’m certain I have no idea.”

  Sam grunted.

  “Let’s get her home.”

  Sam followed the couple out to the buggy. He decided to go with them, not wanting to stop holding his vision in black. He pulled her close and marveled at her scent. He knew without a doubt she was not what she seemed and he intended to find out everything he could about her.

  THE GROUP PULLED up in front of the townhouse and Victoria smiled in relief to find Hannah waiting for them at the front door. Sam carried Rayne over the threshold.

  “I have a room prepared for her.
” Hannah gasped when she glanced at Rayne. “Is that Rayne Green?”

  Victoria nodded.

  “You know her?” Sam asked.

  Victoria frowned at Hannah, tilting her head toward Sam.

  Hannah’s eyes widened. “Holy shit.”

  Victoria giggled. “I know, right?”

  “Who is she?” Sam asked.

  “Never mind.” Hannah stepped aside so he could enter. “Follow me.”

  Sam followed Hannah up the stairs. He gently laid Rayne out on the bed and then Hannah and Victoria shooed him out of the room.

  “We’ll take it from here, Sam,” Victoria said. “Go downstairs.”

  Sam stepped into the hallway but shook his head. “I’ll stay here, thank you.”

  Victoria narrowed her eyes at him, but he crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow. She closed the door with a determined click and made her way back to the bed.

  Hannah rolled Rayne over. “Let’s get her out of these clothes.”

  “This is the most awesome outfit, don’t you think?” Victoria whispered.

  “I know. Especially these boots.”

  Victoria chuckled. “Hooker boots.”

  “Totally!” Hannah grinned as she unzipped one of them.

  They heard Rayne groan.

  “She’s been feeling sick.” Victoria reached her hand out. “Can you grab that bowl, please?”

  Hannah took the bowl from the bureau and set it on the bed.

  “Rayne? Wake up. You’re safe now.” Victoria grasped her hand.

  * * *

  Rayne swam through the fog and forced her eyes open. “Where am I?”

  “Let’s save that for when you’re feeling better,” Victoria’s southern voice crooned.

  Victoria’s lavender gown looked like something out of Gone with the Wind, and Rayne’s heart beat rapidly as she tried to bring her confusion and fear under control. “I feel like sh—,” she grumbled. “Sorry.”

  “We’ve heard worse.” A tiny brunette with a strange accent leaned toward her.

  “You’ve said worse,” Victoria retorted.

  Rayne narrowed her eyes. “Who are you?”

  Victoria’s deep-violet eyes crinkled with mischief. “Well, I’m your long-lost friend and this is Hannah Butler.”

  Rayne rubbed her eyes. “You’re sisters?”

  Victoria smiled. “In-law.”

  “Can you remember what happened?” Hannah stood at the bureau and rinsed a washcloth with water.

  Rayne took the washcloth from her and placed it on her lip. “I’m pretty sure I was drugged.”

  Victoria raised an eyebrow. “What were you drinking?”

  “Just water.” Rayne grimaced as she dabbed at her lip. “But after a few sips, I started to feel kind of dizzy.”

  Hannah frowned. “Do you know who gave you the water?”

  “Yes. This old friend from high school, at least I thought he was a friend. Jared. I think he tried...oh, God—” Rayne covered her mouth with her hand in an attempt to control the bile threatening to fill her throat. “He tried to rape me.”

  Victoria wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “Did he succeed? Should we get you a doctor?”

  Rayne shook her head. “No, I kicked him… uh… really hard before he could.”

  Victoria stroked her back. “What do you remember?”

  “I was doing a show at the Allstate. Jared showed up and wanted to show me this old abandoned building. He said it was haunted and that two women had disappeared from it.”

  Victoria and Hannah glanced at each other.

  “I got locked in the stairwell and then walked into this really old room.” Rayne pinched the bridge of her nose. “That’s all I remember… until I woke up in a jail cell.”

  “Where was this old building?” Victoria made her way to the bureau and pulled out a nightgown and robe.

  “Downtown Chicago.” Rayne rubbed her temples. “First Street, I think. It was an old brick building.”

  Victoria slammed the drawer shut and turned, her mouth a thin line.

  “What?”

  Victoria shook her head. “Never mind. We’ll talk in the morning. You need to rest. Here’s a nightgown you can wear for now.”

  “No, we’ll talk now.” Rayne tried to slide off the bed, but Victoria laid a hand on her arm. Rayne scowled. “Who are you and what do you want with me?”

  “We’re no one, Rayne. I promise. No one here wants to hurt you. If you just lie down, you’ll feel better and then we can fill you in on the rest.”

  “I don’t want to lie down. I want some answers.” Rayne pulled her arm away. “After I use the restroom.”

  “Umm…” Victoria stammered.

  “What?” Rayne snapped.

  “We don’t actually have a toilet,” Hannah said.

  “What do you mean you don’t have a toilet?”

  “I guess you could say…” Victoria squeezed her eyes shut briefly, “… it’s broken?”

  “Broken?” Rayne repeated, unbelieving.

  Victoria knelt down and pulled an ornate bowl from under the bed. “I’m afraid you’re going to have to use this.”

  Rayne jumped off the bed, regretting the sudden movement. “You want me to pee in a fucking bowl?” Her nerves got the better of her and her voice shook. “Who the hell are you people?”

  Victoria grimaced. “I know this all seems really weird right now, but you’re safe here.”

  Rayne tried to put distance between her and the women. “Because you say I am?”

  “We should tell her,” Hannah said.

  “Tell me what?”

  Victoria sighed. “Something has happened to you and it’ll be really difficult to believe or understand.”

  Rayne inched toward the door. “Okay.”

  “Did Jared tell you anything else about the building he took you to?” Victoria asked.

  “Just that people said it was haunted because two women disappeared from it.”

  Hannah nodded. “A dancer and a photographer, right?”

  “Yes.” Rayne looked up. “How did you know that?”

  Victoria took a deep breath. “We are the women who disappeared from that building.”

  “What?” Rayne squeaked out.

  Victoria sighed. “I’m the photographer. Hannah’s the dancer.”

  “How the hell does that happen?” she asked, grabbing a brush. She wasn’t sure if she’d need it for protection.

  “What do you mean?” Victoria asked.

  “How does the guy that just drugged me coincidentally know everything about your story?”

  “I don’t know,” Victoria said.

  “I’m sure this is all confusing, but if you just trust us, we’ll do everything we can to fill you in,” Hannah said.

  Rayne set the brush on the bureau, then reached behind her and felt for the doorknob. “I think I’d like to go.”

  Victoria held her hand out. “You can’t, Rayne.”

  “Who’s going to stop me?” Rayne ripped open the door and fled.

  She didn’t get far.

  Two steel arms wrapped around her and held fast. “Shhh. I’ve got you,” the low deep voice crooned.

  Rayne pounded her fists against the chest that felt like a brick wall. “Let me go!”

  “Sam, she’s frightened.” Victoria laid a hand on Rayne’s back. “Don’t hurt her.”

  “I’m not going to hurt her, Mrs. Butler.” He sounded offended, and Rayne couldn’t stop herself from glancing up at him.

  She tried to break his hold. “You’re like a freakin’ cage. Let go of me!”

  His face softened and he smiled gently. “What’s happened?”

  Rayne shuddered and she shook her head. “Nothing. I need to leave. Let me go.”

  He shook his head. “You can’t go out in weather like this, dressed so inappropriately.”

  Rayne shoved at his chest. “Hadn’t realized you were my father.”

  “Sam, let her go.” Victor
ia pried Sam’s arms from Rayne’s waist. “Rayne, you need to come back into the room. We’ll explain everything. But I really need you to come with me. Please. Trust me.”

  The earnestness in Victoria’s voice made Rayne pause. She didn’t know what was going on, but she knew Sam was right about the fact she couldn’t go out without shoes and warm clothing, so she reluctantly followed Victoria back into the bedroom.

  Rayne sighed. “Tell me what the hell is going on.”

  Victoria closed the door and leaned against it. “You’ve been transported back in time.”

  “Like as in, time travel?” Rayne let out a nervous laugh.

  Hannah nodded. “Yes, time travel. You’ve been sent back in time.”

  “Funny… I didn’t see a Delorian parked outside.”

  Hannah giggled. “Think Kate and Leopold, rather than Back to the Future.”

  “Riiight.” Rayne crossed her arms. “What’s the date?”

  “October 1864,” Victoria said.

  “What?” Rayne shook her head. “This is a weird practical joke, right?”

  “I know it’s a lot to take in, right now, but it’s the truth,” Hannah said gently.

  “You people are insane.” Rayne moved toward the door again. “Let me out of here.”

  Victoria shook her head. “We can’t. I’m sorry, Rayne. You really need to trust us.”

  “You tell me I’m in the middle of the eighteenth century and you want me to trust you?”

  “Nineteenth century,” Hannah corrected. “Civil War.”

  “Seriously? A history lesson? Now?” Rayne let out a litany of curses.

  “I’m so sorry.” Victoria rubbed her forehead. “I wish there was a way to ease you into this information, but if you don’t stay here, you could get hurt. If you could just give us until tomorrow, you’ll have had a chance to rest and then we can talk about it with a little more rationality.”

  “Rationali—” Rayne cut off her words with another curse. “You expect me to be rational about this?”

  A knock at the door elicited a grunt from Victoria.

  “Mrs. Butler?” Sam called through the door. “Is everything all right?”

  Victoria grimaced. “He’s like a freakin’ bodyguard!”