Bayou Bride

by Bobbi Smith

  Jordan was annoyed and thought he was trying to distract her, but she answered anyway. "My name is Jordan Douglas."

  "Well, Jordan Douglas, my name is Dominic Kane, and I have a bargain I'd like to offer you."

  Her eyes narrowed as she asked, "What kind of bargain?"

  "How would you like to live in a big house, have a beautiful wardrobe, have servants to take care of your every need, and be free of your indenture obligation two years early?"

  Jordan blinked in surprise, but caution showed in both her expression and her voice. "What would I have to do?"

  "Nothing illegal, I assure you."

  "Oh? What then?"

  "It just so happens that I find myself in need of a wife, and soon. Since I really didn't want to marry any time in the near future, I decided to find someone who's willing to enter into an arranged marriage, something strictly temporary. When the time comes that the union is no longer necessary, it will be immediately annulled."

  "Who's forcing you to get married?"

  Nick refused to tell her anything more. "That's a private matter. Should you agree to the bargain, I'll tell you everything you need to know then."

  "Let me understand you," Jordan repeated slowly, still a little mystified by what he'd just told her. It seemed the answer to her prayers. She was being rescued by the handsomest man she'd ever seen, and he was going to marry her and take her away from all this. It sounded like a fairy tale, and she was more than certain that it was too good to be true. "For whatever reason, you have to get married, but you don't want to. So you want to buy my papers and marry me with the understanding that it's only temporary."

  "Yes, that's exactly right," he replied, waiting for her answer.

  "At the end of whatever time you require, we'd then annul the marriage and my indentured obligation would be fulfilled." Jordan still had trouble believing it.

  "Yes, you'd then be free." Nick saw her reluctance to accept what he was saying. Thinking it was because she was concerned about the physical side of the marriage, he quickly hastened to tell her, "In case you're worried about it, this would, of course, be strictly a marriage of convenience... a marriage in name only. There would be no intimacy involved. The only demand I would make on you would be that you play the public role of my loving wife whenever necessary."

  "I see." Jordan glanced from Nick to Slater and then back again, her mind racing all the while. The idea of marrying this man, this Dominic Kane, was absolutely perfect. If anyone from England did eventually come looking for her, they'd never be able to find her.

  Jordan was tempted to say yes immediately, but the thought of Philip waiting outside stopped her. Her own safety and happiness would mean nothing if she couldn't be sure he was going to be all right, too. She knew it was probably the most brazen thing she would ever do in her life, but desperate times called for desperate measures. "All right," she began. "I'll agree to your bargain-on one condition."

  For just an instant Nick had been relieved, now the fact that she was making a demand of him put him on guard. "Which is...?" he asked cautiously.

  Jordan knew Kane's need for a wife had to be urgent, and she only hoped it was urgent enough that she could push him a little and get away with it.

  "I'll do exactly what you ask. I'll marry you. I'll play the part of your devoted wife, and I'll even agree to the annulment at the appropriate time, providing you buy not only my papers but Philip Montgomery's papers as well, and give him some position in your household," she offered shrewdly.

  An emotion Nick had never felt before and didn't understand gripped him. "This may only be a marriage of convenience, but fidelity will be vital to the charade," he snapped out the words tersely. "My family's name is too important to be linked to a scandal."

  Jordan's green-eyed regard turned icy hard as she stared at him. It galled her that he immediately thought the worst of her, but circumstances prevented her from telling him the truth. It was essential that no one find out she and Philip were related, just in case anyone from England did try to track them. Their very lives depended on it.

  "You've made all the demands so far," Jordan began, "and I have made only the one... Actually, it's not so much a demand as a request. Given the chance, Harrison will find a way to make Philip's life hell. I just want to be sure that he's safe. Is ours to be a bargain or not?"

  Nick stared at her, weighing the annoyance he felt against the need he had for a wife. His desire to please his father overruled his other emotions.

  "The bargain is sealed," he agreed less than enthusiastically. He didn't like the thought of his "wife's" lover being around, but he figured that would be easy enough to remedy. He'd surely be able to find something for him to do at Riverwood that would keep him very busy-and far away from the girl.

  "Thank you, Mr. Kane." Jordan didn't realize how tense and nervous she'd been until Nick spoke the words that saved her and Philip. She nodded and gave him an appreciative smile, but all she really wanted to do was to throw herself into his arms and thank him profusely.

  "My name is Nick. Learn to use it or we'll never convince anyone of our intentions."

  "All right.... Nick."

  Nick studied her pensively for a moment, then took Slater aside to ask him to stay with her until she'd had time to collect herself. He, meanwhile, would be on the dock concluding the deal with the agent. Slater agreed, and then with one last look at the woman he intended to buy and make his bride, Nick left the room.

  When Nick went out to find Harrison, he saw Montgomery again, and his irritation with the situation returned. The fact that it bothered him so much troubled him. Why should he care about this other man? What did it matter if the girl had had a lover as long as she played the role of his wife as he had asked? He had no answers to the questions, and he quickly dismissed them. He had business to conduct.

  Jordan was more than happy as she donned her cloak; in fact, she was ecstatic. She couldn't believe that things had turned out so well. Dominic Kane was actually going to buy Philip, too! Kane seemed a godsend, A wide, bright smile lit her face until she looked up to find Slater's eyes upon her.

  "You know, Nick is my friend, and this arrangement he's working out with you is very important to him," Slater said slowly. "I'd hate for anything to go wrong - if you know what I mean."

  Jordan heard the implied threat in his words and her smile faltered, then failed completely. "You don't have to worry," she managed.

  "I hope not," he countered. "I wouldn't want to think that I'd made a mistake in not advising him against this."

  "I gave him my word," she told him with firm, unflinching pride. "He won't regret it."

  Slater considered himself a pretty good judge of character, and he was beginning to think that Nick might have done the right thing tonight. As farfetched an idea as it had been to buy a wife, he had an inkling that his friend might have done well for himself. Though they looked nothing alike, something about her reminded him vaguely of Francesca. This Jordan Douglas was obviously well-spoken and reasonably intelligent. She was brave, too, for she'd just stood up to his intimidation better than most men. Slater respected those qualities in her, and he wondered if there was more to this woman than just a pretty face. Certainly, it would prove interesting to watch what developed over the next few months.

  Nick's stride was purposeful as he crossed the warehouse yard toward the agent, but the closer he got to Harrison the more the doubts he'd tried to ignore began to play in his mind. Would he he able to do it? Was he a good enough actor that his father would believe he was really in love with this woman? The thought badgered him.

  In love...Nick wasn't even sure what that meant. He'd had associations with many women in his life. He'd enjoyed being with them, and he'd enjoyed making love to some of them, but he'd never been "in love" with any of them. He wondered at the difference. How did a man treat the woman he supposedly loved above all others and planned to make his wife? The dilemma was still troubling him as he drew near Harriso
n, who was standing deep in conversation with a short, rather unsavory looking man.

  "Sorry, Wilson," Harrison was saying as Nick paused close by.

  "Look," the man insisted, "I know she must still be here somewhere. I got the money now, and I'm ready to buy her papers. Bring her out here." He drew out a wad of bills and held them up for the agent to see.

  "I'm not sure..." the agent hedged. "There's someone else who might be interested in her now."

  "I'll give you $500 for her right this minute! You can pocket the extra $200 yourself and no one would ever know."

  "An extra $200, you say?" Harrison wavered, greed beginning to overcome him. He was always open to a little graft.

  Nick heard the exchange, realized exactly who they were talking about and quickly broke in. "Sir, I'm ready to settle with you."

  "You want to buy her papers?" Harrison was pleased at the prospect of the two men bidding each other higher.

  "Yes."

  "Well, this other gentleman here, Mr. Wilson, is wanting her too, and he's just offered me $500.

  Nick pinned the little man with an assessing glare and understood instantly just what kind of "work" he intended to have Jordan do. Nick turned back to the agent. "I didn't know you were open to bids," he said shortly.

  Harrison smiled hungrily. "It's my job to get top dollar, and if this other gent wants to make an offer... Well, who am I to refuse?" He tried to look innocent even as he was mentally counting the profit he would make if he could get these two working off each other.

  "I'll give you $600," Nick said easily, daring the man to go higher.

  "Seven hundred," Wilson insisted. He had scrounged to get the money, and he had no intention of letting the other man have her. She was too valuable a prize. It wasn't often one like her showed up on the docks.

  Jordan, once again wrapped protectively in her cloak, emerged from the warehouse accompanied by Slater. They headed to where the three men stood, intending to join Nick. But as they came within hearing range, Jordan was mortified to find that the three were quibbling over her price. She blanched and swallowed tightly, averting her eyes from the spectacle.

  Nick was growing very aggravated. He had thought this would be easy when they'd left the tavern. He had thought he would come down here to the warehouse, find the pretty woman he'd heard the sailor talking about, and strike a deal with her. Then he would take her home and pretend to be married. Now, here he was caught up in a damned bidding war over her, and all because of his father's ridiculous deadline. He was almost tempted to forget about the whole thing and let Wilson have her for the $700, but then he glanced up and saw her. Jordan was standing with Slater a short distance away, her face pale, her hands clenched before her, looking embarrassed and disgraced by the scene she was being forced to witness.

  "A thousand dollars, take it or leave it," Nick found himself suddenly saying.

  "A thousand?" Harrison and the other man repeated in unison, stunned.

  "That's what I said," he snapped. "Do we have a deal?"

  The agent glanced at Wilson, and seeing the look of frustration on his face he quickly made his decision. "She's yours."

  "Fine." He said no more until Wilson had stalked off grumbling. "I also want to work something out with you for the man."

  "You want Montgomery, too?" Harrison was even more shocked.

  "That's what I said." Nick's tone discouraged any further interest the agent might have had.

  They came to terms, and Harrison was positively thrilled over the sale. "I'll get Montgomery for you," he offered, happily rushing off.

  Nick stood watching him for a moment, then walked over to join Slater and Jordan.

  "Well, it looks like you just bought yourself a wife. How much did it end up costing you? A mere thousand for the girl and three hundred more for Montgomery?" Slater commented with a grin that grated on Nick's nerves.

  "If everything works out, it will have been worth it," Nick growled.

  "Whatever you say."

  Nick shot him a questioning glance, but the look Slater was giving him now was purely innocent.

  "As soon as Harrison comes back with Montgomery, we'll go."

  Jordan said nothing during the entire exchange, but she was stunned by the amount he'd agreed to pay for her. The fact that he thought she was worth that much, and the relief of knowing that he'd also purchased Philip's papers, buoyed her spirits considerably. She hoped that their luck was finally changing for the better.

  The pain of the beating Philip had suffered earlier was nothing compared to the misery he had suffered as he watched and waited for Jordan to emerge from the warehouse. Once he'd regained a little of his strength, he'd tried to go after her again, but the men had done as the agent had ordered and had held him back. With each minute that had passed his torment over her safety had grown, until now it was like a knife in his heart.

  When Philip saw only one of the men come back out of the warehouse, his worries deepened. Where was his sister? What had they done to her?

  Philip breathed a little easier when he saw Jordan, accompanied by the other man, emerge seemingly untouched from the warehouse. He watched the whole scenario between the agent and the two potential buyers. The shorter of the potential buyers stormed off after what looked to be a somewhat heated discussion, and Philip waited nervously to see what would happen next. When the agent headed his way, he tensed. Something had happened, but what?

  "Montgomery!" Harrison called out to him.

  Philip moved away from the group to confront him. "What do you want?" he asked suspiciously.

  "Get your things and come with me. Hurry."

  "Why? What's going on? What's happening with Jordan?!" Philip demanded, close to panic. He wanted to know if he'd been sold, and if so, who had bought him. He couldn't just leave without knowing Jordan's fate. What if he went to claim his personal belongings and she was taken away while he was gone?

  Harrison glared at him. "Shut up and do as you're told, Montgomery, or I'll follow through with my earlier threat. The Louisiana swamps are something to behold in the summer."

  Philip was furious, but he had little choice in the matter. Only when he returned to find Jordan still there with the three men did his fury abate somewhat. Since Harrison was with her, he went directly to his sister, ignoring the others.

  "Are you all right?" he asked earnestly, his worry showing clearly in his expression.

  "Philip!" she greeted him almost delightedly. "I'm fine. In fact, we're both going to be fine."

  "Montgomery!" Shaken by the intimacy of their greeting, Nick said his name sharply, deliberately interrupting the sweet little reunion. He didn't like the way the two of them were looking at each other at all.

  Philip glanced up, but said nothing as he guardedly met Nick's hard gaze. Instinctively he knew this was not a man to be trifled with, there was something about him that was commanding and powerful.

  "I'm Dominic Kane," Nick informed him, "and I've just bought both your papers."

  "I see," was all Philip answered as he glanced quickly over at Jordan.

  Nick saw the exchange and worried that he'd been wrong in taking them both. It was obvious that they cared for each other, and he wondered if it was going to be hard to keep them apart during the months ahead.

  "About the money..." Harrison wanted to be reassured that the balance of his payment would be ready the following day, as they'd agreed. "You'll have the rest tomorrow?"

  "Check with me in the afternoon. You have the name of my hotel and the room number, right?"

  He nodded. "I'll be there shortly after lunch."

  Nick looked over at the two servants whose papers had just set him back more than a nominal sum. It irked him the way Philip stood so rotecttively beside Jordan.

  He was scowling as he grumbled to Slater, "I'd better get my money's worth out of this. Wait here. I'll get a carriage."

  As Nick walked away and Harrison moved off to take care of other business, Philip said
to his sister, "What's going on, Jordan?"

  "Not now. I'll tell you later, when we're alone," she told him in a whisper, knowing that Nick was not pleased with Philip's attentiveness.

  Philip didn't understand what was going on, but since Jordan was fine and it looked like they were going to be together for the full term of their indenture, he was thankful.

  Nick soon returned with a hired carriage and got down to assist Jordan. Giving Montgomery no chance to follow her, he climbed into the vehicle after her and sat down beside her on the hard, narrow seat. Nick intended to make his point right from the start. If she was to play the role of his beloved, she might as well start getting used to him now.

  Remembering all too well what he'd said in the warehouse, Jordan was not surprised by Nick's actions. The only thing that did surprise her was her own reaction to his nearness. While earlier his touch had been disturbing to her, the feel of his thigh now pressed tightly to her in the narrow confines of the carriage gave her goosebumps and set her pulse to racing wildly. She tried to shift away from him without drawing his attention, but there was no escape. The vehicle was just too small.

  As they waited for Slater and Philip to climb in, Jordan glanced at Nick out of the corner of her eye, wondering why this man, this stranger, could affect her so, and wondering, too, if he was feeling the same thing she was. Nick's expression was inscrutable, though, and she had no clue to what he was thinking.

  Needing to distract herself, she turned her attention out the window just as the driver took his seat and the carriage started up. As they turned a corner and the warehouse disappeared from sight, she hoped with all her might that she was leaving her past behind, this time for good.

  Nick was very much aware of the softness of Jordan's leg against his. He found it a little disconcerting that a woman he'd just met could affect him that way. He thought her pretty enough, but certainly not a raving beauty. He didn't want to be attracted to her, This was to be strictly business between them, and yet this physical reaction he was having to her puzzled him.