Bayou Bride

by Bobbi Smith

Nick took her hand and slowly slid the ring on her finger. Jordan's hand was trembling as she stared down at the delicate keepsake.

  "It's lovely..." She lifted her gaze to his, and doubt was reflected in the sparkling emerald depths. "Nick... are you sure about this?"

  "Yes.. .yes, I'm sure," Nick said slowly, unable to look away from her. She was sitting there gazing up at him, looking so absolutely desirable that it was all he could do to keep from embracing her. He wanted to hold her and touch her and possess her completely.

  It was then, while he was waging war within himself whether or not he should give in to his passion and touch her, that Peri's intrusive voice rang out from her secondfloor bedroom window high above the garden.

  "Go on, Nicky! Kiss her! It's not every day you give your fiancee her engagement ring!"

  "We have an audience," Nick murmured, needing no further encouragement to draw Jordan to him.

  They both went perfectly still, shocked by the current that passed between them as they stood so close together. There was nothing gentle or sweet about what they were feeling. It was elemental and near violent in its intensity. Nick's lips found Jordan's with unerring accuracy, and his mouth claimed hers with passionate dominance. His kisses were hungry, devouring all she could give him and demanding more.

  Jordan found herself rising up on her toes and looping her arms around his neck to fit herself more tightly to him. His arms couldn't seem to hold her close enough, and she was aching to get nearer.

  At her unspoken invitation, Nick boldly deepened the kiss. Thrusting his tongue between her parted lips, he sought her own in a sensual, rhythmic imitation of love's most intimate dance. Jordan shivered with delicious delight as she returned his fervid embrace.

  When they finally broke apart, unable to stand the nearly unbearable tension of their desire, she whispered his name in a helpless plea. "Oh, Nick..."

  "Congratulations, you two!" came Peri's teasing call, convinced by their performance that their love for one another was very real. "Imagine! You've got over three whole weeks to wait!"

  "Three weeks?" Jordan looked up at Nick, uncertain what Peri was talking about.

  "Our wedding, my love. If it's agreeable to you, the banns will be published starting this Sunday, and we'll be married the Saturday after the third set."

  Jordan was certain that he was mocking her, that his interest in her opinion was only for Peri's benefit. Though she'd been momentarily caught up in the power of her attraction for him, the truth of Nick's game returned with a vengeance. She kept her voice cool as she replied, "Yes. Yes, of course. You know whatever you decide is fine with me."

  The wildfire of desire that had possessed Nick flared and died at her composed answer. He realized that her response to his kiss had simply been for show. Montgomery was the man she loved.. .the man she wanted. Stepping away from her, he offered her his arm.

  "Shall we go in for breakfast?"

  Jordan nodded.

  "Wait for me in the dining room! As soon as I finish getting dressed, I'll be down!" Peri announced happily. "Then Jordan and I can start making all the plans!"

  Peri wasted no time in throwing on her clothes, and she hurried downstairs. She found the two of them settled at the table, enjoying the bountiful meal of fluffy scrambled eggs, thick slices of ham, and hot biscuits and honey that the cook had prepared.

  "It looks and smells delicious," Peri said as she slid into the chair across from Jordan and began to help herself. Weddington appeared, bringing her a glass of cool, sweet milk, and she thanked him profusely for remembering her favorite beverage. After he'd gone, she asked innocently enough. "Where's Uncle Charles?"

  "I guess he must be a little extra tired this morning. There was a lot of excitement yesterday," Nick offered, though he, too, wondered at his absence. Nick knew his father was no longer keeping to his rigid work schedule, but before he'd left for Mobile he'd still been getting up early every day. Nick decided that he'd finish his breakfast and then go check on him before relaxing with a cup of coffee.

  "That's true enough. My showing up was a big enough surprise for him, but then when you came home with Jordan, he was really excited. Have you told Jordan what we talked about last night, Nicky?"

  "Yes, we've already discussed the wedding date?"

  "And I'm in complete agreement," Jordan put in, giving Nick a look that could only be interpreted as loving. "It's just too bad it couldn't be sooner."

  "Don't worry, Jordan. We've got so much to do, you'll soon be wishing we had more time instead of less." Peri pointed out, mentally drawing up a list of the multitude of tasks they faced. "First, we have to arrange for the banns to be posted and engage the priest."

  "I'll take care of that today," Nick volunteered.

  "Good. That's one less thing we'll have to worry about. What about a gown?"

  "I don't have anything suitable," Jordan replied, glancing at Nick.

  "Then we're going to have to order one for you right away. I'll make all the arrangements there. You don't mind if Jordan and I travel into New Orleans for a few days, do you?" Peri asked.

  "Not at all. Get whatever you need and charge it to our accounts."

  "Fine. Now, Jordan, what do you think about styles?"

  As the two women began to discuss fashion, Nick excused himself to go check on his father.

  Peri watched out of the corner of her eye until Nick had gone from the room, then asked her newfound friend, "Jordan, tell me...What do you know about Philip Montgomery?"

  "Philip?" She was caught off-guard by the question. "Not a whole lot, why?"

  "I don't know..." she hedged, then confessed all. "Actually, I thought he was very nice and very handsome. You've been around him for a few days now, what's he like?"

  Jordan quickly recovered from her mistake as she realized the direction of Peri's thoughts. "Yes, well, I've been around him for more than just a few days. We traveled all the way from England together."

  "And?"

  "He's very much a gentleman and quite well-educated. I enjoyed his company."

  "I'm glad you think so too. I really enjoyed talking to him at dinner last night."

  Jordan liked Peri a lot, but she wondered at the wisdom of encouraging her to think about Philip in a romantic way. "Do you think your family would approve of your being interested in the hired help?"

  Her question took Peri by surprise. She had never suspected that Jordan would be the type to be concerned with someone's social status. "You sound just like my parents. They're always trying to pick out the perfect man for me."

  "Did you ever think that maybe they might be right?"

  "I know what I want in a man. They don't have to tell me. I haven't married yet because I haven't found him yet."

  "Tell me about your ideal man."

  Feeling a growing kinship with the other young woman, Peri opened up to her. "He'll be tall and handsome and very gentle. He'll have to like children and animals. He'll be smart and he'll be honest."

  Jordan felt her heart sink. A few months ago, before all their trouble started, her description fit Philip per fectly, but now..."He sounds wonderful... almost too good to be true."

  "He sounds just like Nick and Uncle Charles," Peri said ruefully. "I swear, if I wasn't a relative, I'd be madly in love with both of them. You're a very lucky girl to have caught Nicky. A lot of the eligible women around here have been trying to get him to the altar for years, and not one of them even came close before you."

  "I'm glad," Jordan responded, meaning it.

  "So am I." She gave her a friendly smile. "And like you found Nick, I'm going to find my dream man. I know he's out there somewhere."

  "I'm sure he is. I'd almost given up completely on the idea of falling in love and getting married when Nick came into my life. He was a godsend, I'm sure of it."

  "I just want you to be very happy together. Uncle Charles loved my Aunt Andrea so much... It was a terrible thing when she died. I really don't think he's ever gotten o
ver losing her. A love like theirs doesn't happen often. I hope you and Nick have that kind of devotion. It's a beautiful thing to see."

  "I know I do," Jordan said softly, admitting out loud for the first time the depth of her caring for him.

  "You can be sure Nick does, too. He's never been one to be halfhearted about anything. If he loved you enough to propose, then I'm sure he's wild about you, and that's why we have to make sure this wedding goes perfectly. Nick's only going to marry once, and I want it to be special for him."

  While Jordan and Peri discussed all that needed to be done, Nick was in the upstairs hall, knocking lightly on his father's bedroom door.

  "Are you up yet?"

  Until that moment, Nick had only been mildly con cerned about his father's failure to appear for breakfast, but when there was no answer to his knock, he knew a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach. He remembered how tired his father had looked when he'd retired the night before, and he grew terribly worried. He tried the door and was glad to find it unlocked. Nick let himself in to find his father fully clothed, lying very still in his bed. He rushed to his side, thinking the worst.

  "Dad! Are you all right?"

  "Nick?" Charles awoke slowly, blinking in confusion to find his son bending over him with a terrible expression on his face. "What's the matter? Is something wrong?"

  There were no words to describe the feeling of relief that washed over Nick as his father came awake. "You were just sleeping..."

  "Of course I was sleeping... What made you think... What time is it, anyway?" Charles fussed, feeling at a distinct disadvantage as he realized he was still dressed and lying on top of the covers.

  "It's going on nine."

  "Is it really?" He was surprised by the news, for though he'd gotten a lot of sleep, he did not feel rested. "I guess I was more tired than I thought."

  "Do you want to rest some more?"

  Charles felt so weary that he elected to stay in bed. "I think I'd better. I'll just lie here for a while. You go ahead and take care of business. I'll be down some time before noon."

  "All right."

  "How are the girls this morning?"

  "They're fine. They're planning a trip into town for a few days to get what Jordan needs for the wedding."

  Charles nodded. "You just make sure that there's someone with them... someone watching over them."

  "Don't worry. I'll send Miss Layton along. Nobody gets past Miss Layton. Nobody."

  "So you tried, did you?" His father picked up on what he didn't say.

  Nick grinned. "With a woman like Jordan, what man wouldn't?"

  "She is a beauty, but you behave yourself," Charles scolded lovingly. "Your mother and I waited for our wedding night. It was difficult, but definitely worth the wait."

  Nick's expression didn't change. "Three more weeks is a long time."

  "You'll manage. Jordan is a lady; treat her like one."

  "I will."

  "I know. I felt the same way about your mother. There's nothing I wouldn't have done for her. I would even have died for her-if I could have." He let his gaze drift to Andrea's portrait for a moment, then he looked back at the man who was his son. "Now, go on and get out of here. I need some rest if I'm going to keep up with the three of you for the next couple of weeks."

  "All right, I'm going. I'll see you later on."

  Nick acted as if nothing was wrong as he left the room, but as soon as he'd closed the door, he slumped against it. His father had looked terrible. His coloring was gray and there had been little spirit in him. It was almost as if his very life was draining away, and there was nothing that could be done to stop it. Nick ran a hand over his eyes as he tried to pull himself together. The unfairness of it all weighed on him again, and he once more affirmed his determination to do everything he could to see that his father's last months.. .or weeks.. .were happy ones.

  Nick pushed away from the wall and made a conscious effort to straighten his shoulders. He strode off toward the staircase, clearing his throat as he went, for he didn't trust his voice right now.

  The next three weeks passed in a blur of activity for Jordan. Between the trip to the city, the sending of the invitations, the fittings for the wedding gown, and a myriad of other wedding-related tasks, she had little time to think about anything else.

  It seemed to Jordan that she only saw Nick to speak to him at breakfast and dinner. He was always on the move, riding the fields, dealing with the overseer, or meeting with agents from New Orleans regarding the sale of the crops. She missed him, and she found herself watching for him, hoping to see him. Whenever she was able to catch a glimpse of Nick riding off on his sleek black stallion to take care of plantation business her heart beat a little faster.

  What free time Jordan did have, she spent with Charles. She had loved the older man from the moment they'd met, and that affection had only grown deeper. Sometimes they took short walks in the garden together, and other times they would just sit and talk. He often entertained her with tales of Nick as a boy, and she loved hearing them.

  It pained Jordan to admit it, but she couldn't deny any longer that his health was failing. She had the terrible feeling that Charles was only fighting to stay alive because he wanted to be there for their wedding. She'd hoped she was wrong, but when she'd accidentally overheard a conversation between Nick and Dr. Williams the week before the wedding, her horrible suspicions had been confirmed. The physician had been on his way out when Nick had stopped him in the hall. Jordan had been in the parlor with Peri and they'd heard every word.

  "How is he? Is he showing any improvement?" Nick asked the physician.

  "Nick, I'll tell you honestly," the physician said, "I don't know what's keeping him going any more."

  "Then...

  "It's just a matter of time now."

  "But how long does he have?" Nick pressed for an answer.

  "I don't know, Nick. I wish I could be encouraging, but I can't. The only thing positive I can tell you is that his spirits have lifted since you came home with your lovely fiancee."

  At this news, Peri had taken Jordan's hand and held it tightly. Their eyes met, and they shared the agonizing sorrow of knowing someone they loved was going to die.

  "I had hoped meeting Jordan would help," Nick was saying, distractedly.

  "It has. He's very happy now that he knows you're going to settle down with a wonderful girl, but while his spirit may be willing, his body is growing weaker by the day."

  "Thank you..." Nick accompanied the doctor outside to bid him good-bye.

  Jordan and Peri said nothing as they sat, hands clasped in the sudden silence that followed the men's departure from the house. Their expressions were raw with emotion as they were both lost deep in thought.

  Nick's voice had been choked with grief, and Jordan realized then just how much he really did love his father. The truth struck her a painful blow. All this time she'd harbored distrust toward Nick because she believed he'd only become engaged to her for his inheritance. Now she knew that he'd gone to all the trouble to buy her papers and transform her into his "fiancee" not to get the money but to please his father. The love Jordan harbored for Nick grew even stronger as she faced the truth about him. They might be deceiving Charles, but it was a loving deception. Jordan was suddenly glad that she'd agreed to go along with his plan, even though she knew it would mean heartache for her in the end.

  "Uncle Charles is dying..." Peri said numbly as tears fell unheeded down her pale cheeks. She'd known he was ill, that he hadn't really been himself lately, but she'd had no idea before now that he wasn't going to recover. "But how? Why?" She looked to Jordan, her distress very real.

  "It's his heart," Jordan offered.

  "Why didn't they tell me?"

  "I don't think Charles wanted anyone to know."

  "But I could have done something..."

  "What could you have done? The doctor said there's nothing any of us can do," Jordan told her gently.

 
"Oh, poor Nick.. .This must be so hard for him. He loves Uncle Charles so much. They've always been so close..."

  "I know," she sympathized in full understanding now.

  "Jordan... you'll have to excuse me now. I've got to be by myself for a little while. Don't worry, though, I won't let on that I know..."

  "I wasn't worried, Peri. You love him just as Nick does ... and as I do."

  Peri gave a tight nod as she hurried from the room. She fled the house through the French doors and didn't allow herself to lose control until she was deep in the gardens, far out of earshot. Miserable, she sank down on the stone border of a flower bed and gave vent to her heartbreaking sorrow.

  Philip was working on the books in the office allotted to him in the small outbuilding that housed the overseer's office and quarters when he heard the sounds of someone crying. He didn't pay much attention at first, but when it continued unabated he grew slightly annoyed. After a few more minutes of trying to ignore the woman's misery, Philip cast his pencil aside and went to see if he could help.

  The weeks here at Riverwood had been lonely for him. Kane had seen to it that he'd been given quarters far away from the main house, and so in all the days since their arrival, he'd been able to speak with his sister only once. She had been with Peri, so there had been no chance to say anything personal. Jordan had looked fine at the time, and he could only hope that she was doing all right.

  Philip thought of Peri then, and of how beautiful she was. From the moment he'd seen her that first day here at Riverwood he'd been smitten. She was like an elusive butterfly, lovely to look upon but difficult to catch. Every time he'd seen her she'd been laughing and happy and full of energy. Where he was quiet and reserved, Peri was open and eager for life. He had never met anyone like her before, and he doubted he ever would again. She was one of a kind.

  Philip followed the sound of the crying toward the garden that bordered the big house. He knew Nick didn't want him anywhere around, but the abject misery of the woman's weeping drew him on. He entered a narrow, shell-lined path that led into the thick greenery, and had only gone a short distance when he saw her.