Catalina's Caress (37 page)

❧

Marc did not like waiting, and his dissatisfaction was enhanced by the brazen creature who sat before him, her legs stretched out before her and a drink in her hand. She wore a thin wrap that revealed an overused and dissipated body.

She had offered him a drink at first. He had refused it, and he had ignored her other blatant offers.

He could not help but compare her faded looks with the unique charms of Catalina, nor could he help but realize that this was what he had intended to do to Cat. This was the kind of future he had planned for her. That violent and ugly truth came to him, and another bitter truth followed. He never could have done it. He knew that now. He loved her. The realization exploded brilliantly within him. He loved her and he didn't want to lose her.

He sat in remote silence, unaware of the close scrutiny of the woman. Her job was to hold him here as long as she could. She found the idea pleasant. A tussle on the sheets with this handsome buck would be a pleasure, and besides, she was being well paid.

Marc's attention was drawn to her as she rose, hand on hip, a smile on her face. She walked closer.

"What did China say to you? Where has she gone and why does she want me to wait here?" he demanded.

"I dunno," she replied. "She only said fer ya ta stay until she cum. That it wuz important to both of ya."

"Just how long did she have in mind for me to sit and wait? I've a boat set to leave for Memphis in less than half an hour."

"What's yer rush?" She laughed softly. "I could make the time go easier for ya."

The more flirtatious she became, the more Marc realized what he had nearly condemned Catalina to. Feeling stifled, he decided he could stand to wait no longer. He would return to the boat and tell Cat the truth. Then he would ask her to stay with him. He prayed that the truth would set him free and give him Cat

"I can't wait here any longer," he said, abruptly pushing past her. "Tell China that she'll find me with Catalina on the
Belle
. Whatever she has to say, she can tell me there."

"But wait! I..."

He took several gold coins from his pocket and placed them on the table. Then he turned and left.

❧

China returned to the boat moments after Catalina and Shawna had gone. She had never thought they would do such a thing. The idea that Shawna would leave the boat was so remote she hadn't even considered it. When she found Shawna's cabin empty, she decided the young woman was with Catalina.

China needed to rest and to reassemble the information she had accumulated, and since the
Belle
would be leaving soon, she lay down on her bed and fell into a restless sleep.

❧

The door to the carriage swung open and Marc's feet touched the ground before it came to a halt. He tossed the driver a coin and ran up the gangplank.

Making his way to China's cabin, he entered it and found it dark. He made out her form on the bed and smiled. If she was asleep he would explain to her tomorrow. He was more than sure his change of plan would make her happy.

He would go and find Cat. He wanted to feel her in his arms again, wanted to clear up the things that stood between them. In his urgent need to get to her, he threw aside caution. His every thought was of Catalina— beautiful, loving Catalina.

He didn't bother to knock. Smiling to himself, he hoped to find her in a warm bed for he fully intended to join her there.

He swung the door open, his smile fading rapidly when he came face to face with Nina. For a moment he was surprised into speechlessness. Then he crossed the room in a few quick strides and gripped her arm in a fierce hold.

"What the hell are you doing here, and where's Cat?"

"Your precious Cat left you."

"What are you talking about?" he demanded, his heart pounding fiercely.

"She's gone ... but she left a message for you."

"With you?" he asked doubtfully.

"Why not?" Nina laughed. "She said she thought you might need another bed partner since she was tired of you and that you can do whatever you like now. She intends to marry Mr. Travis Sherman. In fact, by this time I'm sure those two are having a very warm rendezvous."

"Where?" Marc said through gritted teeth.

"Now how would I know what those lovers planned or where they're ... enjoying themselves. Marc"—her voice softened—"I only came because I thought you might want a friend to—"

Marc shook her violently, and she cried out.

"I said where did they go?"

"I don't know. Marc, you're hurting me."

Marc thrust her from him and stood immobile. It couldn't be. She was not the kind ... but was she? Was she really the deceitful creature he had first thought her to be? Had he set a trap for her only to fall into its velvet teeth himself? He spun about and walked out, leaving the door open.

Nina remained in the cabin, certain that Marc would return when he had finally exhausted all efforts to find his love. She need only wait.

Marc strode purposefully down the passageway, his mind spinning. He pushed open the door of China's cabin and entered, the noise he made abruptly waking China.

"Marc!"

"Get up," he half snarled. He had never used this tone with her before.

She swung her feet to the floor and moved quickly to his side.

"What is it, Mare? What happened?"

"Cat's gone and Nina's in her cabin." He proceeded to explain all that had happened, ending with "And Nina would have me believe that Cat, to save her reputation, has gone off to marry Travis Sherman."

"I don't believe it," China said quietly.

"Why?"

"I went ashore today to see if I could find out whether Charlene, Nina, and Willie had joined forces against you. I learned they had met and been together most of the day. I'm sure they had something to do with this."

"And Travis?"

"I don't know."

"Would she go to him?" Marc's voice was thick with pain.

China wanted to know his true feelings. She had hoped for this too long not to see it be true.

"What does it really matter, Marc? You have put her where you always wanted her to be. Now she will pay. Let her go. You know Travis is what she deserves. He probably won't marry her and she will drop to the bottom as you planned."

He turned to her, his eyes filled with pain and anger. "I can't, China." He groaned. "I can't let her go."

"Why?" she prodded. "You're finished with her, aren't you? You've used her ... now throw her away."

"Throw her away." He half laughed, half groaned. "I think," he added quietly, "I could throw away my life more easily." He went to China who stood without speaking. "I love her. I'm caught in my own trap, and there's no way out. I love her and I can't let her go."

China's eyes filled with tears as she reached out to place both her hands on his arm. "I'm glad, Marc. I've wanted so long for you to see how futile and destructive this terrible vendetta has been. I watched, and I hoped you were falling in love with her."

"And so I did," he said bitterly, "only to have her turn the tables on me and walk out of my life as if I meant nothing."

"What are you going to do?"

"Find her," he declared firmly.

"You know in Natchez-under-the-hill that is well near impossible."

"This time, China, it's important that we do the impossible. You see I can't let her be lost in that quagmire out there. I brought her here to hurt her, but I couldn't have lived with myself if I'd condemned her to that. I love her... and I have to find her. I may have to tear this town apart, but I'll damned well accomplish two things. I'll find Cat... and I'll kill Travis Sherman."

C
atalina was grateful when the carriage came to a halt. The three men that held them prisoner and Shawna's shivering terror were stretching her nerves to the breaking point. Her fear that Marc had, indeed, deserted her and so would not even look for her began to stir in her the same terror she saw in Shawna.

When the carriage halted, one man stayed behind to guard her and Shawna while the other two carried Jacob into a dark building that looked, from what Catalina could see, like a warehouse. She had no idea where she might be, only that she was somewhere in Natchez-under-the-hill.

Stories Marc had told her sent shivers of anxiety through her. There was only one reason why anyone would want to kidnap her, but why had they taken Jacob? Wouldn't they have left him behind, unless they felt Marc might follow and a living Jacob would join forces with him?

Another thought filled her with hope. If Marc would not search for her surely he would look for Shawna and Jacob. No matter what she might mean to him, Shawna and Jacob meant a great deal. He would search ... but her heart darkened at the thought that he might not have done so had she been the only one taken.

When the two men returned, Shawna and Catalina were pulled roughly from the carriage and half dragged within the confines of the nearly dark warehouse. Thrust into a small room, they were left together. Jacob lay on the floor, his hands bound behind him and his ankles bound together. He was still unconscious.

Catalina ran to him at once and knelt beside him, her cold trembling fingers working at his bonds, but Shawna cowered silently in a corner. Catalina was afraid she had lost all contact with the world about her.

The three men returned before Jacob had been freed.

"Get up from there, girl, and let him be. We ain't goin' to untie him."

Reluctantly Catalina complied. Only then did she see the ropes the men carried in their hands.

The men dragged her to Shawna and tied them both securely. Then they left and the silence magnified the dark emptiness about them. Catalina closed her eyes, telling herself that Marc would be searching, if not for her, at least for the wide-eyed Shawna who sat beside her against the clammy wall.

To Catalina it seemed hours had passed before Jacob stirred and began to regain his consciousness. Shawna had remained totally silent and Catalina feared that she was escaping into a void from which she might never return.

Jacob groaned, tried to lift his hands to his aching head, and found them securely bound. At first he was disoriented; then the memory of what had happened rushed back to him and with a mumbled curse he pulled himself to a sitting position. He looked about him wildly, finally saw Catalina and Shawna tied and sitting against the wall across the room from him.

He groaned. Then, with a gathering of strength, and despite the pounding in his head, he worked his way across the floor until he sat, panting from the effort, near Catalina and Shawna.

"Miz Cat, yo all right?"

"I'm not hurt, Jacob, but I'm scared." She tried to laugh and failed.

"Miz Shawna," Jacob whispered, somewhat awed by Shawna's condition, "she gwan ta be all right?"

"I don't know," Catalina replied honestly.

"Wha' fo' dez men do such a thing? Mistah Marc, he gwan be fightin' mad. He sho' sets store in you and Miz Shawna. He gonna cum and gib dez gentlemens some trouble."

"I hope you're right, Jacob, but I've no idea how he'll ever find us ... or how he'll get us out."

"Iffen I could get dez darn ropes off I'd beat their heads in fo' cauzin' Miz Shawna so much hurtin'. De po' girl done hab enough to handle already."

Their hands were bound behind them and Catalina wasn't sure she could do much to help, but she knew if Jacob were released, they might all have a better chance.

Before she could make any suggestions, however, the door opened and the three men returned. This time a shocked gasp escaped Cat as she looked up into the face of Travis Sherman.

Her fear fled in the face of the blazing rage that inflamed her.

"You!" she spat out. "I should have known. What is it you want, Travis?"

"You, my dear Cat" Travis laughed softly. "You and the very large fortune you have."

"You don't stand a chance. I would die before I would surrender myself or anything I have to you. When Marc finds you he's going to kill you."

"Over you?" Travis laughed aloud. "My dear Cat, Marc has no care for what happens to you. I've found out a lot about him since we came here. Do you have the remotest idea that this is what he planned for you right from the beginning?"

"I don't believe you! You're lying!"

"Am I? Well, let me tell you a little story about your beloved Marc. It seems Copeland isn't even his name, and he has a deep hatred for the Carringtons. All of this was just a little part of his vengeance. He planned to leave you here to warm a bed for the scum of Natchez-under-the-hill, in the vilest brothel he could find."

Cat wanted to lash out at him, to scream, to cry; but some inner sense told her he was only telling the truth. She did not know he would embroider it to suit his purposes.

"Let me explain something so you will have no doubts, my love," Travis said quietly. He knelt beside her and their eyes held. "He took your brother's boat on purpose. He enticed you on purpose... and he intends to destroy every Carrington. It seems, from what my friend Stanton told me, that your father and his had business dealings, and because your father forced him into bankruptcy, Marc's father committed suicide. So my dear, if you expect help from him, be assured that it will never come. In fact, he would take great pleasure in knowing you are suffering. It will be due to me that you don't, and one day we can repay his treachery."

Tears burned Catalina's cheeks as something within her crumbled. Could Marc have hated her and made love to her as he did... just to see her destroyed? Her mind was torn between disbelief of Marc's monumental treachery and vibrant distrust of Travis and all he said.

She clenched her jaw firmly. She would cry no more, nor would she beg Travis.

"Whatever it is you want from me, Travis, you will never get it."

"Will I not?" He smiled. "My dear sweet Cat, you are soon to be my very happy bride and I shall see that we spend a long and happy life together."

"You are insane! I would never agree to marry you!"

"No? I'm going to leave you alone to reconsider while I go to upper Natchez and arrange for the wedding to be held at the plantation of some friends. I want all of society to see that wedding so you cannot deny it. After that, I shall keep a very close watch on you."

"Never. I'll die first!"

"Maybe you would." He grasped Shawna's hair and shook her so violently she cried out, as did Catalina. "But would you let her and your very large friend suffer? I won't have them killed. But for every moment you resist Shawna will pay with her body in the worst way you can imagine."

"You are a foul beast!"

"Now, Cat my love, is that any way to talk to the man who will soon be your warm and loving husband?" He lowered his voice suggestively, and his words were heavy with barely controlled passion. "I have waited a long time to possess you, sweet Cat, and make sure of one thing: I will consummate the marriage soon and very often. Decide. I'll be back soon."

He rose and walked away, and again they were left in the semidarkness. Cat was aware only of Shawna's muffled tears and uncontrolled shaking. With a sinking heart she realized she could not make Shawna suffer the unspeakable things Travis had threatened. If it was true that Marc had wanted this vengeance, then he would not help them.

She was suddenly aware that Jacob had been silent for a long time.

"Jacob?" she questioned.

"Ah's all right. Now I 'members whar I saw dat man befo'. He been cumin' ta Natchez a long time. He be good friends wif de Gere's. Dat man and Simon Gere, dey sho be sumpthin' bad. Yassah, Mistah Marc he sure gwan to kill that man one day... he sho is."

"I'm not so sure, Jacob," Catalina said bitterly.

Jacob turned to look closely at her. "Don' yo start believin' dat scum,? he said. "Mistah Marc, he ain't like dat man say. He be comin' fo' yo and Miz Shawna. Dat man, he loves ya Miz Cat and doan yo go believin' nothin' else lessen ya asks Mistah Marc fo' de truth. Yo see, pretty quick he cum lookin'. He be gonna kill dat man. Lessen," Jacob added softly, "ah gets free. Iffen I does dat man sho bettah say his prayers to de lawd fo' ah'm shore gonna rip off his head fo' scarin' Miz Shawna like dat. Po' chile," he looked at Shawna who, tear stained and disheveled, was shaking like a leaf in a storm. Both Jacob and Catalina knew she was on the brink of insanity.

If Marc did come for them it would have to be soon, for Shawna could not suffer much longer. Catalina knew if she submitted to Travis, she could never again reach out to Marc. Yet, in the back of her mind, she feared Travis's words had been true.