by Lee Taylor
Wan studied his son for a long moment. “Agreed.”
Wyatt’s knowing glance affirmed them both. He stood bowing respectfully first to Wan and then to Bai. “As do I.”
Bai stood. He bowed low to his father. Wan smiled and bowed in return. “It is as it should be.”
Bai nodded and sat back down in his chair. He leaned forward, his was expression serious, his voice commanding. “This is my preliminary plan. I asked Mr. Liang Zhao, the head of the Leong Ton, to contact Feng on my behalf. Mr. Zhao hosted the conclave for me, Wyatt. He is a great admirer of Wan Chang and has been a consistent supporter of the Brotherhood. Because the Leong Ton is the third largest Tong, with strong backing from the Triad hierarchy, he is respected by the Rongue Ri as well.
“I propose to meet with Feng and four of his top men – two of whom are informants of ours. The goal is to convince Feng and the other two that there is reason for cooperation. It is a long shot, but Feng knows that we have had the first meeting of the Brotherhood. He may see the wisdom of joining forces.”
Wyatt frowned. “It sounds risky at best, Bai. Christ, you just killed their leader. They must be mad as hell. The first and most important question is how trustworthy are the informants?”
“What you say is true, Wyatt. Not surprisingly it is not something I take lightly. We need to depend on our informants. They are the key. They will tell us if we are being set up. God forbid we are. But if something happens to me, we have a second layer of informants that the first group is unaware of. Those are the men who would help Wan avenge my death.”
“Good God, Bai…” Nianzu was horrified. Wyatt and Wan shared a concerned glance.
“We will put additional layers of support in place. But we can’t go in there with a full force or the point of the meeting is lost. I will have Nianzu, Wampo, Quitin, and Nui with me. They are all kung fu masters, of course, but in this case I am more concerned about weapons – particularly guns.”
“When do you plan to meet with him?” Wan asked.
“I have asked Mr. Zhao to schedule the meeting for tomorrow night. I have a meeting in San Francisco tomorrow morning and will be gone most of the day. That gives us today and tomorrow evening to strategize. Not to put too grim a face on it, but I want to be sure that the four of us agree on what I am calling the second stage, which is what needs to happen if I am captured or killed. The third stage, of course, is all out war between the Rongue Ri and the Sing Leon.”
They agreed that they would meet in the afternoon.
~~~
As they all stood, Bai turned to Wyatt. “Wyatt, before you leave, I had an interesting message from Sheriff Thompson concerning Clint Dunwoody.”
Wyatt took a cigarette out of his pocket, lit it, and took a deep drag. He looked at Bai through half closed eyes. “Is that so?”
“The Sheriff said Dunwoody and three of his men were found close to Carson City on the California-Nevada border. Seems they were found stripped naked, bound to cactus with rawhide tied around their necks. The Sheriff said he hadn’t seen anything like it since he came to California. He did remember it frequently happening during the Apache uprisings in New Mexico in the ‘70s.”
Wyatt looked thoughtful. “I remember those days. It’s a hell of a way to die. Slow, painful and sure. As the rawhide dries out it contracts, gets tighter and tighter. The unlucky bastards slowly strangle to death, not to mention what the animals do to them in the meantime. The Apaches used it to settle blood feuds and to send a message to other tribes or white gangs that they had tangled with the wrong Indians.”
“I guess that explains why Mr. Dunwoody never responded to my invitation to meet at the time and place of his choosing. I assumed it was because I relayed the message I intended to flay the skin off his body after I broke every one of his bones kung fu style. The rawhide is a creative concept, though – simple, but effective. It is not something I was aware of, but I will keep it in mind. I am pleased Dunwoody and his men died a slow, painful death. My only regret is the men who attacked Elena died too quickly, too painlessly. I wanted to torture them. I can now sleep more easily at night.”
“Yeah, Bai, looks like someone got to Dunwoody before you could. Seems like Dunwoody had a lot of enemies and sure as hell threatened the wrong ones. But I’m sleeping better myself these days. Christ, wouldn’t you think even someone as dumb as shit wouldn’t tussle with the Chinese and the Indians?”
“One would think so, Wyatt.”
~~~
Wyatt stayed behind to talk to Bai while Wan and Nianzu left to meet with the other Sing Leon who were going with Nianzu and Bai to meet with Feng.
“Bai, I didn’t miss your reference to Elena. Of course, I couldn’t miss her shining eyes when I saw her for a few minutes when I arrived this morning. I was glad to see the smile back on her face. In fact, I think it is the happiest I have ever seen her. She’s got a glow. Thanks for putting it there.”
Bai grinned. “To say it is my pleasure is an understatement, Wyatt. But according to Elena, I am now forever in your debt. Apparently, you gave her excellent advice on how to handle an arrogant asshole who was blinded by his pride.”
“Well, Bai, let’s just say that I’ve had a good bit of experience up close to arrogant assholes who might have thrown away lifetimes of happiness if it hadn’t been for women like Lei and Elena.”
They stood together without speaking for several moments. Wyatt took a drag off his cigarette, then asked carefully, “Bai, I’m gonna have to play the anxious father. I hope you will understand. Does Elena know about your plan to meet with Feng?”
“Absolutely not.”
“Hmm. That is going to be a problem, Bai, for me and for Wan, when he understands how much Elena loves you. I can’t tell you what to do but I hope that you will confide in her. God forbid anything happens to you. Neither Wan nor I plan to let it, but Elena needs to know about the meeting, Bai. She cares about you – an understatement. Hell, Bai. Elena has been around dangerous men and events all of her life. She can handle it.”
Bai frowned. His eyes were hard. “I am not planning to talk with Elena about this, Wyatt. I’m sorry if that puts you in a difficult position. I will remember that in the future. Please don’t misunderstand me, but I do not yet trust Elena.”
“Hmm, that is a serious problem, Bai.”
“I know that, Wyatt. But you and I both know that she has given me reason not to trust her—the prime examples being the incident at the waterfall and the one at the saloon.”
“A question to consider. Are you sure you aren’t confusing obedience with trust?”
“You must be Elena’s father. That is precisely what she asked me. But no, I do not believe that I am. I have to know that if I tell her to do something that she will do it. I have to trust in that.”
“I see.”
“You see, but don’t agree, Wyatt?”
Wyatt quirked a brow. “Putting that aside for the moment, Bai, a word from an arrogant asshole. Being in love can be frightening as hell. It requires a lot of faith and, yes, trust.”
Bai smiled. “We agree on the frightening component, Wyatt. But, faith and trust come hard to me.”
Wyatt nodded and took another drag on his cigarette, deciding to change the subject.
“I told Elena I would go for a ride with her before lunch. Will you join us? I haven’t said anything to you yet, but that grey Arabian is the goddamn most beautiful mare I have ever seen. You are a miracle worker!”
“Well, I talked with most of your contacts in the breeding world and thought I was going to have to bring one over from Persia. Luckily, you referred me to Cory McCander in New Mexico. He was the thirteenth breeder I contacted. By the way, he sends you his best, as do all the others. McCander had just shipped in four Arabians like Zhenqui, she was the only grey with blue eyes. I saw a horse like that in the Hamadan province in Persia when I was a boy. They were outfitting her for one of the royal princesses. I never forgot that horse. When I knew I
was getting a horse for Elena that is the one I wanted. I agree with you, Wyatt. She is the most beautiful mare I have seen.
“And, yes, in answer to your invitation, I will ride with you and Elena. She and I have an agreement that she will not leave the villa without me.”
“Hmm, I see. Let’s go find that beautiful daughter of mine. I think we’ll find her saddling up Zhenqui.”
“I’ll meet you in the barn, Wyatt.”
Wyatt walked out to find Elena. He was thoughtful and troubled. He honored and respected Bai, but was concerned with the conversation they had about trust. Damn, Elena is right. Bai is talking about control, obedience, not trust -- although I can understand how he sees it that way. Shit, I know he’s terrified something might happen to her. Damn, after those two incidents, I am, too. But I sure as hell don’t like knowing the dangers of the mission to meet Feng and keeping that from Elena. Maybe Wan can talk with Bai.
He continued to shake his head thinking about Bai’s assertion that Elena wasn’t to leave the villa without him. Hmm, guess not even with me… Christ, I thought I was possessive! He grinned. Good thing Elena is a whisperer. Hell, I taught her how to break a horse when she was seven years old. I can see her horse breaking skills are going to come in handy with this tough stallion. But he loves her, no question about that. And buying that particular horse for her – thirteen breeders…Phew.
~~
Chapter 32
Bai looked up from his desk when he heard the knock to see a blushing Francine in the doorway. “What is it, Francine?”
“Mr. Bai, I am sorry to bother you, but you need to come now.”
She was obviously upset and speaking in rapid French.
“Is something wrong?” He jumped up. “Is it Elena?”
“Yes, Mr. Bai. She sent me for you. She wants you to come immediately.”
“Is she hurt?” Bai’s gut clenched.
“No, no. But upset? Yes!”
Bai heard the arguing from the bathroom when he entered her chambers. He walked to the doorway to see the two young women he had brought from Madam Couchette’s standing at a distance from a very upset Elena. She saw him and rushed over to his side, grabbing hold of his arm.
“Oh, God, Bai. Thank God you are here. You two, please leave immediately. Please go out in the hallway. Now! Francine, for Gods sake, don’t just stand there. Take them out into the garden. Somewhere far away!”
Bai put his arm around her shoulders and pulled her close.
“Cherie, what is wrong? Francine alarmed me. I thought something dreadful had happened to you.”
Elena was dressed in a silk robe, still damp from her bath. She was flushed, disheveled looking, and, to Bai’s mind, gorgeous!
She threw her arms around his neck.
“Elena, your heart is pounding like a frightened little deer. What is it, ma petite fille?”
“Bai, those women are trying to do terrible things to me. And they said you told them to do it. At least I think that’s what they are saying. My God, I finally was able to make them understand that they needed to go get Francine. At least she speaks English. Those women do not! They only speak French. And…and very fast.”
“Mon dieu, what terrible things are they doing?”
She hesitated. Her face was flushed a rosy pink, her eye were wide with fear. “I…I will tell you in a minute. Oh, fine, I will tell you now. But first, close the door. Come closer. I need to whisper. I don’t want Francine to hear.”
“Elena, what is wrong? You are being silly.”
“Bai, I think those women…they think…they think I am a whore, one of your whores.”
Bai tried not to laugh, but a grin tugged at his mouth and he couldn’t hide the twinkle in his eye. “No, cherie, I am sure they do not.”
“But they work for that Madam – the one you used to see – that you will not be seeing any more.”
“Ah, oui. I believe we had that conversation. And, oui, they do work for Madam Couchette.”
“Bai, I am not one of your whores!”
“No, you are not. I thought we settled that last night? I believe you said that I no longer have whores. If I remember correctly, you said quite firmly, ‘Not any more.’
I agree. I no longer will have whores.”
He grinned. “You are not one of my whores. You are my only one.”
“Bai!!!”
“Elena, stop. It is a compliment. You are my woman. Ma femme. Mi mujer. The woman I love. You are my little girl. Ma petitie fille. But in my bed you are many things and one of them is ma putain; puta in Spanish. Come now, tell me that doesn’t excite you? You are most flushed, Elena. You look beautiful. And so desirable. Look what you have done to me already.” He pointed to his erection, clearly visible in his trousers.
Elena stared at him, looking with interest at the remarkable bulge in his trousers. She took a deep breath then said firmly, “Bai, we will have this putain, puta conversation later. But right now you have to help me. They are trying to do terrible things to me.”
“Like what, ma petite amie? What terrible things are those nice young women doing to you? ”
“They bathed me, which was lovely, and put all kinds of wonderful smelling lotions and oils on my body. And look, they did beautiful things to my fingernails and toes. I have had only a few manicures in my life, mostly when Lei and I go into Denver, but I have never had my feet done like this.”
“Why are you upset? You look lovely, cherie.”
“No, Bai, you don’t understand. Before I knew what was happening they were – Oh, God, I am so embarrassed, but they were … shaving me…”
Bai attempted to hide his grin, knowing what a wolf must look like.
“But, cherie, what is wrong with that?”
“You don’t understand. They were shaving my …my…well, see for yourself!” She blushed bright red, and then opened her robe.
“Ah, I do see -- most lovely. But, cherie, only one side of you is clean.”
“My God, Bai, did you tell them to do this?”
“Yes, I did. I want to see you, mon amour. All of you. Your beautiful chatte.”
“But with no hair? I look so bare! My God! Is this what you like? What you want me to look like?”
“Yes, Elena. I do.”
She looked like she might cry, but instead looked down and said as though considering the notion.
“Well it is interesting. I’ll give you that. Mmm, well, I guess now that they have started, I will have to let them finish. God, I don’t know if I will ever be able to take my drawers off. I won’t recognize myself. And, for sure, I can never let Francine and Angel help with my bath again. My God, I will be the talk of the kitchen!”
Bai threw back his head and roared. He was laughing so hard that he had to wipe the tears from his eyes.
“But, Bai, wait. I don’t know how to say this. It is worse. You have to help me. They – those women said they wanted to see if I have ... if … I have any hairs on my bottom -- petite cheveux – I think it means a little hair – on my bottom. And if I do, they want to use these tweezers things on me.”
She was bright red and whispering.
With a great effort, Bai forced himself to look as serious as he could manage under the circumstances.
“Bai, you don’t understand. This is not funny. No one has ever looked at me there. You must tell them they can’t do that. That you don’t want them to.”
“Cherie, it is all right. I will tell them that you are quite bare –denude en tu derriere.”
“Oh, my God. What are you saying? How do you know that? Bai! You have seen me there?”
“Elena, please. You are acting like a child. Of course, I have seen you ‘there.’ Even though we have been together only a short time, cherie, I have spent some wonderful moments, how shall I say it – between your legs.”
“Oh, my God!”
“Elena, listen to me. We are going to make love tonight. I am going to love you belle ma chérie. Look at m
e. Look what you have done to me. I don’t know if I will be able to go back to my office. I am aroused just looking at you, thinking about you. And, I will be frank -- thinking about what these women are doing to you, to prepare you for me.”
“My God, Bai. I mean…I thought putting the medicine in me was intimate, but, oh, my goodness…”
“Cherie, listen to me. You are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. And I want all of you. To see all of you. To touch all of you. Mm hmm. We agreed, remember? All of my passions, if I remember correctly? Yes?”
Elena looked serious, thoughtful. “Bai, is this how your whores prepare for you?”
“Yes. But remember I no longer have whores. We agreed.”
“Mmm.”
“That is better. Now relax. I will tell these women to finish what they started and not to worry about your rosette sur ton cul, your derrière. I will tell them it is perfect, just as it is.”
“Good God.” She stared at him her eyes wide, astonished, wondering if he had really said something about a rose on her ass. And, of course, how could she ask Francine that one?
“Elena, I know you haven’t seen your father for several days. I need to go to town tomorrow. I’ll be gone most of the day. I hoped we could have this evening together – you and me. Now that Madam Chan’s herbs seem to have done their work, I want to make love to you, my petite amour. Long passionate love. And I want to have dinner with you here before the fire and then… well, and then I want to see if these women did what I asked them to do.”