by Kitty Margo
“My love, no one else has a mind as demented as Suzanne’s. Only she would assume something so preposterous, so put your mind to ease and think nothing else of such nonsense. Jasmine would be the first to remind you that worrying is not good for the baby.”
But her mind was far from easy. “Do you think you should sail to the island and see that Rob is well? After all, he is alone and anything could happen to him. What if he’s been bitten by a snake or wild animal, or takes fever, or suffers from any other number of maladies? And he must be lonely on the island with no one to talk to. I have no doubt that I would have gone completely mad without him to keep me company.”
“Rob is fine, Lynna.” Joshua promised, soothing her worried forehead with his finger. Scooting past the picnic leftovers that littered the blanket his lips grazed her cheek as he sought to calm her. “I cannot think of anyone, man or beast, who would be so foolhardy as to go up against that goliath. Trust me, I speak with the wisdom of one who did.” Joshua rubbed his jaw thoughtfully and grinned. “My jaw still aches when I remember those meaty fists connecting with it.”
“But Joshua, I cannot help but worry knowing if he were sick or injured, heaven forbid, there would be no one to care for him.”
Joshua finally confessed what Lynna had suspected all along. “I have to admit that I think often of Rob as well. You are in no condition to travel, and I certainly will not leave you. So there is no recourse but to wait until you deliver our child. When your body has healed and the babe is up to her first sea voyage, we can take her to meet Rob.”
“Him.”
“Her.”
“As enormous as I’m getting it could be both at the same time.”
“Double the pleasure.” Joshua was lowering his mouth toward her tantalizing lips when they heard thundering hooves approaching at an alarmingly high speed. He glanced up as Suzanne came charging from behind a copse of trees and brought her horse to a grinding halt not ten feet away kicking dirt on them.
“Have you lost your ever loving mind!” Joshua stormed when the dust settled, leaping to his feet with his hands clenched tightly at his side to keep from jerking her from the horse and throttling her. “Do you realize how dangerous that was? What if you couldn’t have stopped the horse in time?”
“But I did stop in time, didn’t I?” Suzanne huffed. “So there is no call for you to sound so maudlin.”
“You fool! You could have run us over!” He turned toward Lynna anxiously, concerned that she might be terrified out of her wits by the close encounter. Instead, she eyed Suzanne with disdain.
“Sorry,” Suzanne mumbled, smoothing her skirt and not seeming the least bit concerned by the near tragedy or Joshua’s show of temper. Calmly removing her bonnet she finger combed the tangles from her hair, shaking it loose behind her. “Goodness gracious, I didn’t even see you there.”
“You mean to tell me you didn’t see the huge tree we are sitting under?” he snapped, incredulously. “Are you afflicted with blindness as well as stupidity?”
“Oh, for crying out loud. I said I was sorry. There is no call to get so worked up over something so simple, Joshua. I didn’t run you over, did I?” Her words were tinged with exasperation as she crossed her arms over her nonexistent chest. “You always were too high strung.”
“High strung!” He could only stare at her, at a momentary loss for words caused by her profound ignorance. “Can you imagine what might have happened to Lynna and the baby if…” Unable to finish the horrible thought he paused midsentence. “Just leave, Suzanne.” Joshua was well aware that he did not have the patience to suffer this fool today and he still had a strong desire to yank her from the steed and smash his fist into her grinning face. “Neither Lynna nor I have anything to say to you. Nor do we care for your company.”
“Well!” Suzanne cried indignantly, incensed that he would speak to her so, especially in front of his whore. “When did you become so ill mannered? Your father would be appalled to hear you treat a lady so.”
“My father would agree that Lynna is the only lady present.”
Although the insult infuriated Suzanne, she wouldn’t give either of them the satisfaction of knowing it. Instead, she changed her tune without a moments pause. “Can’t we just let bygones be bygones?” she pleaded, slipping from the saddle and tethering her horse. “I was lonely at Cedar Hill. Can you believe there has not been a single visitor to cross the threshold since the Harvest Ball?” Peeking at them from beneath lashes brimming with tears she simpered, “You two are always together. Daniel spends every spare second with Malinda. Samuel and Beth are practically joined at the hip. What am I supposed to do?”
Joshua’s voice was hard as steel. “Trust me when I say that I could care less what you do, where you do it, or how many you do it with.”
Suzanne cringed at Joshua’s cruel words, but was quick to notice a flash of sympathy shining in Lynna’s eyes. I could always count on you to be gullible to a fault. “Lynna, can I ask how you and the baby are faring?” She pretended to stifle a sob as a tear slid unchecked down her cheek.
Joshua sighed loudly. “Suzanne, would you perchance be referring to the child Lynna carries of, according to you, questionable lineage?”
“Oh, that.” Suzanne giggled as she waved a dismissive hand in the air, attempting to brush away his words. “Why, you all know I didn’t mean anything by that. I was only teasing.”
Joshua exhaled an irritated breath. “That was not the impression I, nor anyone else in the room, was left with.”
Ignoring him, Suzanne turned back to Lynna. “I think of you often, of how close we were before this mess,” she whispered as the tears began to flow in earnest. “I am so ashamed of my part in it and hope someday soon that you, that both of you, might find it in your hearts to forgive me. Until then I will pray for a safe delivery for you and the baby.”
“Suzanne, have you ever given thought to joining the theater?” Joshua laughed bitterly. “I fear the stage is being denied a truly remarkable actress.”
Lynna couldn’t help but grin at her husband’s scowling face. Then she erased the grin from her face and turned Suzanne. “Thank you, Suzanne. I appreciate your concern and both the baby and I are well.”
“Yes, your concern is touching.” Joshua all but snarled the words, irritated that Lynna seemed to be falling for Suzanne’s absurd charade. “We must be going.” Folding the thin blanket with the leftovers inside, he stuffed it back in the picnic basket. “Good day, Suzanne.”
Suzanne dried her eyes and watched as Joshua gently lifted the slut into the carriage. She would love nothing better than to pick up a rock and bash Lynna’s stomach until it was flatter than a pancake and watch her life’s blood drain from her body. But there were other sweeter ways to get her revenge. On both of them.
On the ride home Lynna was deep in thought. “Joshua, is it possible that Suzanne could be trying to make amends for her outrageous behavior?”
“No.” Joshua turned sideways in the buggy to look at her with disbelief written all over his face. “She asked if you had any notion of who fathered your bastard. Does that sound like someone trying to make amends, Lynna? You, more than most others, should see Suzanne for who she truly is and not allow yourself to be fooled by false tears. The girl is nothing more than a charlatan.”
“I suppose you’re right,” Lynna replied, dejectedly. “I just wish everyone could be as happy as we are.”
“Suzanne brought her misery on herself. The way I see it she deserves to wallow in it. I have no sympathy for her whatsoever.” Putting his arm around his adorable wife he pulled her close, brushing his lips across her temple. “Now shall we choose a more pleasant topic?”
“And what would that be, pray tell?
“How about a name for our daughter?”
“Or son.”
Later that evening Joshua dipped a serving spoon into a bowl of turnip greens swimming in fat back grease, just the way he liked them. He added a mound of frie
d potatoes, two chicken legs, and two butter biscuits to his plate. Everyone at the table was watching him curiously.
“Is something bothering you, son?” his father asked with a puzzled frown.
“No. Why would you think something was?”
“Because normally when you eat everything in sight you have a worry on your mind.” Jeremiah chuckled, thinking his son would never change. “But never mind me. Go ahead and eat before your food gets cold.”
“Joshua had words with Suzanne earlier,” Lynna supplied for the occupants of the table.
“I see.” Jeremiah was spreading honey on a buttered biscuit. “Don’t let the vixen bother you overmuch son. It’s what she thrives on. For some people even the worst kind of attention is better than no attention at all. Remember my words the next time she baits you. You have a beautiful wife and your child will soon be delivered into the world. What does she have?”
“I know your words are true, father. But still…”
“No buts about it, son.” Jeremiah interrupted. “Suzanne should be returning to Magnolia House soon and will no longer be around to try your patience. Just do your best to keep out of her sight for the next few days. Her parents have already been plagued enough by that foolish girl. I have the utmost sympathy for both of them.”
“Her brother is another subject entirely.” Malinda beamed. “In fact, I have invited Daniel to supper tomorrow night.”
“Have you now?” Joshua was determined to make one point perfectly clear. “Please advise him that the invitation is strictly for him alone, and not his sister.”
“Joshua, be reasonable.” Malinda sipped her sweet tea and glared at her brother across the table. “Daniel is well aware of Suzanne’s past history with you. He would never bring her here.”
“Just make sure that he doesn’t,” Joshua insisted.
Twenty four hours later, Joshua stood with his hand resting on the back of Lynna’s chair staring, speechless, as Daniel entered the parlor followed closely by a radiant Suzanne. She wore a buttery yellow, daringly low cut confection trimmed in delicate ecru lace. He could hardly believe the temerity of the girl to actually come into his house. And smiling! Like she was an invited and welcomed guest.
Suzanne moved immediately to Malinda and swooped in for a hug. “Malinda, thank you so much for your gracious invitation. I was telling Daniel just this morning that if I didn’t get out of that house soon I wouldn’t be responsible for my own actions.” Leaving Malinda with her mouth gaping open, Suzanne laughed gaily, then moved to hug Patricia and Jeremiah. Squatting down in front of Lynna she practically purred, “And how are you feeling today, Lynna? Are you and the baby well?”
“Yes, we are both well.” Lynna placed her hand over her husband’s as his fingers tightened on her shoulder.
Suzanne stood slowly with her gaze locked greedily on Joshua, unable to disguise the lust that smoldered in her eyes. “Good evening, Joshua.”
Joshua didn’t so much as bat an eye. The menacing look he gave Suzanne was filled with the contempt that he didn’t even bother to hide. Then his gaze shifted to Malinda, letting her know he would deal with her later.
Apparently the foolish and infatuated girl had allowed her heart to override her common sense. She knew how Suzanne felt about Lynna and would do anything in her power to hurt her. And yet she had gone so far as to invite the harridan into their house?
“I believe dinner is served,” Joshua announced stonily. Moving around to take Lynna’s hand, he made to escort her into the dining room. “Allow me, my darling.”
Suzanne fumed with embarrassment at being so patently dismissed and her hatred of Lynna grew tenfold in mere seconds. Without even thinking she turned her body to appear as if she were moving away from Lynna, but stuck her foot out behind her just as Lynna stood to take her first step.
Lynna cried out and would have fallen headfirst if Joshua hadn’t been near enough to catch her. “Lynna, darling, are you hurt?” Hurrying around the chair, he clutched her to his chest, issuing a silent prayer of thanks that an accident had been so narrowly averted.
“No… no, I am fine. I don’t even know what I tripped over,” she whispered. Her quivering voice sounded anything but fine. “I guess my own two feet. Clumsy me.” Laying her head on her husband’s broad chest she drew deep calming breaths trying to steady her racing pulse.
“You really should try to be more careful. And yes, you always were exceedingly clumsy,” Suzanne mumbled, aggravated beyond reason that Lynna hadn’t fallen on her protruding belly, or the nearest sharp object, and squashed it flat. But she immediately regretted having said the words out loud.
Still holding Lynna against his chest, Joshua waited until the others had left the room before he leaned toward Suzanne, sure that she was somehow responsible for Lynna’s misstep. “And you should learn not to tread into the den of your enemy, Suzanne. You are not welcome here and I will be watching your every move. You would be well advised to keep that in mind and remember what I told you the night of the Harvest Ball.”
“Why, whatever do you mean, Joshua?” Suzanne did her best to appear insulted. “Surely you cannot blame me for Lynna almost falling on her face. For crying out loud, she herself admitted that she has been forever clumsy.”
“And you have forever been a thorn in the side of anyone who made the mistake of trying to befriend you, so what is your point?”
“The point is you are being a complete boor.” Suzanne smoothed the wrinkles from her skirt, while at the same time tugging her bodice down to reveal another inch or so of creamy bosom. Let Joshua view her slender figure next to his fat cow and eat his heart out. “Now, if you are quite finished hurling your nasty insults at me, I really am famished.”
“Go to the dining room, Suzanne. Or, better yet, to hell.” Joshua’s eyes blazed. “Rest assured the latter is preferable to me.”
“My, my, Joshua. How heartless you have become. Why, I can hardly believe my own ears.” Suzanne glanced at Lynna with every bit of the disgust she felt for the tart shining in her eyes. “And you were such a happy and gallant young man when we first met. Why, marriage does not seem to agree with you at all.”
“I am perfectly agreeable when not forced to share your company.”
“Joshua,” his mother called from the dining room. “Dinner is getting cold.”
Joshua took his wife’s arm holding her close, as if she might break if he released her, leaving Suzanne alone in the parlor with intense hatred fueling the fire in her blood.
“Joshua,” Daniel was saying when Suzanne composed herself and finally entered the dining room, taking her seat, “the day after tomorrow several of Samuel’s neighbors are coming to Cedar Hill to discuss what should be done about the fools in the North. Have you ever heard anything so ludicrous as freeing our slaves?” He chuckled, shaking his head as if the mere suggestion was comical. “How could we provide the amount of cotton we do for all their fine garments were it not for slave labor? Sounds to me like they are trying to cut off their noses to spite their ugly faces.”
“I’ll ride over and see what all the commotion is about,” Joshua promised.
“Lynna, you should ride over as well,” Daniel suggested. “I know Beth would love for you to visit.”
“I would enjoy that…” Lynna began, but Joshua’s laughter caused her to pause.
“Lynna, my love, if you recall Jasmine had a conniption fit when you rode in a carriage to the Harvest Ball. Were I you, I would not temp fate by repeating the same mistake twice.”
Lynna knew sound advice when she heard it. “Joshua is correct. And Jasmine has promised to visit us before she returns home to Magnolia House.”
“Give Beth our sincerest invitation to visit whenever she pleases.” Joshua added. “And speaking of Magnolia House, how long will you be visiting, Suzanne?”
Daniel spoke for the both of them when Suzanne hesitated. “Only another couple of days before we must return home.” His eyes searched for Ma
linda’s across the table. “But we have promised to return for the holidays.”
Suzanne’s eyes twinkled merrily, alerting one and all that she was up to no good. “Yes, but before we go, Lynna, I am just dying to hear about your adventures on that awful pirate ship and then on the island with that simply hideous slave man. I shudder to think of the unspeakable degradation you must have suffered at his brutish hands.”
Lynna bristled at her words. “Rob was in no way hideous, Suzanne, nor did I suffer anything even vaguely similar to any form of degradation. In fact, he saved my life. He is the most kind, generous and caring man, of any color, that I have ever had the pleasure of meeting.”
Joshua added to his wife’s glowing commentary of Rob. “In fact we both pleaded with him to return home with us, but he steadfastly refused. I owe the man a debt of gratitude that I will never be able to adequately repay.”
“A debt of gratitude?” Suzanne’s maniacal laughter echoed around the room. “Surely you cannot mean that. How could you owe anything to a slave? Why, you would make it sound as though you believe a slave could almost have human qualities.
“Not almost.” Joshua was past the point of caring about Daniel or anyone else’s feelings, except his wife’s. “Rob is as human as you are, Suzanne.” He speared a succulent piece of venison swimming in gravy and paused with his fork in midair. “Possibly even more so.”
“How patently absurd.” Suzanne laughed cruelly. “Why, they are nothing more than chattel, human property. Rob was but a possession of his owner to work, beat, and breed as he saw fit. And if you were a respectable gentleman you would have turned him over to his legitimate owner, as would have been the proper and legal thing to do.”
Joshua never once looked up from slicing the tender venison. “It never even crossed my mind.”
Suzanne lifted a flaky buttermilk biscuit from a steaming linen covered basket and passed it down the table. “Well, it certainly should have,” she spluttered. “If you will recall, Joshua, the Fugitive Slave Act was passed in 1850 making it unlawful for any person to aid a runaway slave or provide food or shelter for one. It declared that all runaway slaves were to be returned to their masters immediately upon capture.”