Catalina's Caress (38 page)

❧

When Travis left Catalina he took a carriage to upper Natchez and stopped it in front of one of the most luxurious mansions there—the home of Simon Gere and of his sons: Stanton, James, and Holland.

He rapped on the door and was admitted by a butler who took his hat and gloves. There was no need for the man to guide Travis to the library; he had been a guest here often.

When Stanton Gere and his father Simon rose to greet Travis, his satisfied smile told them of the success of the plan they had laid together so many years before.

"So I take it you have the girl safely tucked away?" Stanton sneered.

"I do, in a place Marc Garrison will never find, at least until it's time to bring her here. By then it won't really matter what Garrison finds out. It will be too late."

"Well''—Simon chuckled evilly—"I think we must prepare for a wedding."

"Yes, and make sure only the right witnesses are invited. I don't want word to get to the Garrisons until it's over. I'll have a boat ready, and by the time Marc learns of this, Cat and I will be gone."

"Where do you intend to take her?"

"To Europe, of course. I have friends there who will keep her under control until I milk her family dry."

"Friends?" Simon leered. "Friends who might want a taste or two of your bride."

"They can have her. By then I'll be tired of her anyway. It's her wealth that's important to me. Her family will pay for a very long time."

"Marc Garrison is still not aware of how he's been duped into believing the Carringtons are responsible for his father's demise? I cannot believe he got back on his feet as he did, but there are still ways to destroy him and the rest of that family," Simon grated out, his voice thickened by his abiding hatred.

Travis knew Simon had hated Marc's father. That hatred had fit into his plans so he had nurtured it until it could be used.

"Marc knows nothing except that Cat chose to leave him here in Natchez. He will, of course, hate the Carringtons even more now. Who knows?" Travis laughed. "I may send her back to him one day—when I've finished with her."

"That should prove interesting," Stanton observed.

"Marc has walked to our music all this time. I expect at the final blow, when she is discarded a few years from now, he will see the truth."

"Oh, he may blame Catalina for what will ultimately happen to his friends."

"You plan to get rid of them?" Simon questioned.

"I don't see what other choice I have. They're a nuisance, and I only need them until Catalina is safely married and we're on our way."

"Marc Garrison," Simon said softly, his gaze introverted, as if he were seeing beyond that time and place to another. "I have finally evened the debt, finally seen them fall as I swore I would. Once we have finished him"—his voice became a malevolent whisper—"I will have his sister at my mercy. The Garrisons will be no more—no more."

The pall of oppressive hatred was so thick in the air that for a moment everyone was silent.

The entire plot that had enmeshed Catalina and Marc had been the product of the mental deterioration of Simon Gere. Because of old hatreds he was purposely destroying the lives of many.

Even Travis, degenerate that he had become, was speechless before the black power of Simon. For one heartbeat, one fragile moment, even he felt the touch of fear. This man had a blacker soul than any other he had known.

Travis had done many things in his life that needed to be hidden, like arranging for the murder of Seth Carrington, but he himself did not have the stomach or the courage to do them. Simon Gere did, and there was no limit to his evil. Travis suddenly was glad that he was going to take Catalina and be gone. He shuddered to think of what would happen to Marc and his friends.

❧

Marc was frantic. As the night slowly eased into pale gray dawn, he returned to China's cabin only to find her in very nearly the same state. China, always his calming conscience, was in tears. That startled Marc out of his own hell for a minute.

He had spent the night turning Natchez-under-the-hill upside down, but at dawn there was no sign of Catalina. So he had returned, weary and spent, and for the first time in his life afraid.

Fear pierced him now as he looked into China's tear-stained face.

"Someone's found her," he said in an expressionless voice. "She's dead." He felt life draining from him like sand from an hourglass.

"No, Marc. I've heard nothing of Catalina. But after you rushed out I remembered something."

"What?"

"I thought she was supposed to be with Shawna. When I remembered ... well I became frightened. I looked for Shawna. I've searched the boat from top to bottom—Shawna is gone and so is Jacob."

"Shawna would never leave the boat of her own free will!"

"I know," China said softly.

"And Jacob would not abandon his duties without telling me."

"I know that, too."

They looked at each other, horror dawning in them.

"They might have left here together, but only for one reason," he whispered raggedly.

"Catalina." China answered his fears. "They would both go to help her. If she was taken by someone instead of leaving on her own—"

"My God, it will kill Shawna."

"But she would have gone if she thought she had to."

"Yes, she would."

"And so would Jacob."

"I've got to find them," he said desperately, "but... I don't know where else to look. In Natchez-under-the-hill I get blank stares and negative answers."

Marc started toward the door.

"Where are you going?"

He turned, his face revealing both doubt and grim determination.

"If I have to rip this town to shreds, if I have to pound a few heads and pay a fortune in bribes—no matter what it takes—I'll find them. And whoever's got them had better move fast, because if one of them is hurt there won't be a place far enough from me."

"Marc."

He had turned away from her, but she could see the knuckles of his hands grow white as he clenched his hands in an attempt to regain control of himself.

"I've got to find her, China." His voice was soft "I never told her. . ." He stopped and sucked in his breath. "I have to find her."

"I know, Marc, I know."

He turned to face her, his obvious grief making her shiver.

"Do you know, China," he said quietly, "if it hadn't been for me and my need for revenge, she wouldn't be where she is. She'd be safe in her own home. If something happens to her it might just as well happen to me. I think I can stand a whole lot of things ... but not losing her, not losing her while she still doesn't know that I loved her—that what we shared was more important than anything else."

"But you've got help—me and your friends. You can't do it alone."

"There's so much I don't understand. Why would Shawna and Jacob go with her if she was running from me? She's never been in Natchez before, she told me so herself. Where would she expect to run to? There's just too much that doesn't make sense. And I found no sign of Travis either. Just what kind of a hole did that snake find to crawl in? It's damn well hidden, and it's in Natchez-under-the-hill."

"Let us take a moment to think. We must plan what we will do, think of those who will help. You and I both know some well-placed money might just bring us some answers. Someone might have seen them." She went to him. "Marc, if it turns out that no one has seen any of them in Natchez-under-the-hill, then maybe you're looking in the wrong place. Maybe she's somewhere else."

Marc turned to look at her again, his eyes glittering green crystals as new hope brightened them.

J
acob kept his eyes on Shawna who was lost in an intense nightmare. She tossed her head back and forth, as soft moans escaped lips drawn back in a grimace of pain. He did not know where her mind was, and her state terrified him. It also stirred his fury and his desire to take Shawna from this evil place. But he believed that Marc was the only one who could reach into the depths of hell to rescue her.

He looked at Cat, whose eyes were on Shawna. With a sinking heart, he saw the pity and fear in them. He knew that Cat would sacrifice her life for him and for Shawna, and he felt an overpowering need to help her. He gritted his teeth in frustration; he had never felt so helpless in his life. He strained against the bonds that held him, to no avail. So he decided to contain his fury and wait... wait for one slip, one mistake.

Cat sighed and tried again to move so she could keep her blood circulating. Cramped and sore, she closed her eyes and sought to hold on to her courage which had begun to fail. Tears came to her eyes, but she refused to surrender to them for she knew there was no way back if she did.

"Jacob?" she called softly.

"Yassum?"

"When... when Travis conies back I will tell him—"

"No! No, Miz Cat! Doan yo do dat! Doan yo let dat man hab his way. Yo gots ta hold on. Mistah Marc, he come."

"Jacob"—she sobbed—"I can't let her be hurt anymore; or you. I can't let them kill you. I've got to do something."

"Yo jus' hang on. Ah ain't afeered fo' me. I kin take whatever dey wants ta do. Doan do nuthin'."

"I can't, Jacob! I can't. Look at her. Don't you see she can't take much more of this?"

"Miz Cat, Miz Cat"—he groaned—"what's Mistah Marc gwine ta say iffen he comes an yo gone. He gonna skin me fo' sho' fo' lettin' yo'all get into dis mess."

She almost wept at his words. His hope in Marc had not waned. He still believed Marc would come.

She was about to assure him that Marc would not come for her, but before she could speak the door was flung open and Travis entered, accompanied by two other men.

Catalina watched him stride forward and kneel beside her, calmly ignoring both Jacob and Shawna.

"Well, Cat, I've given you adequate time to think my proposition over. You need only say the word, and once the wedding is over and we're on our way to sea, they'll be set free."

"How can I believe you?" she cried. "You lie. You'll kill them anyway."

"I'll let you write a letter and you can make sure it's delivered before we leave. That way your friends will be found."

She gazed into his eyes, her every sense screaming out a denial. But she had only to look at Jacob and Shawna to know she was defeated.

Travis knew the moment her decision was made, before she put it into words.

"All right," she whispered. I'll do what you want."

"Very smart, Cat." He rose and turned to his men. "Make sure you're not seen. Get those two up to Gere's. Don't worry about her; I have my own carriage. I'll take her with me."

"No!" Catalina cried. "How do I know you're not going to kill them?"

"They'll be where you are. You'll see them before and after the ceremony."

Catalina protested no more. She watched as Jacob was hauled out. Then one of the men came back and pulled Shawna into his arms.

"Don't hurt her!" Catalina cried out.

Travis motioned to the man, who smiled and carried Shawna's inert form out Then, turning to Cat, he knelt and cut the bonds on her ankles.

"I'm going to release you. Just remember who pays if you do anything foolish. I won't hesitate to kill Shawna and the black. Is that clear?"

She nodded, unable to put into words her intense anger. Travis smiled, then cut the ropes about her wrists.

For a moment she wanted to cry out from the pain as blood circulated anew in her hands and arms.

Travis put an arm about her waist and drew her against him.

"Ah, Cat, it's time you learned to whom you will belong. You made a very foolish mistake in believing Marc really wanted you. But I'll forgive you. You'll see. I intend to be a very devoted husband, and you'll soon forget him in my bed."

He bent his head and took her mouth in a kiss meant to subdue, ravaging her lips until he was satisfied she would resist no more. Then he looked at her, and she held his gaze.

"Take me wherever we're going. I want to see that Shawna is all right."

"Still the tigress, still fighting." He laughed. "But don't worry, soon... very soon, my sweet, you will lose your defiance."

He pulled her along beside him, out the door and into a carriage. Then they rode in silence for some time.

When the carriage door was opened and Travis urged Catalina out, she was shocked. She knew she was in upper Natchez, and she recognized the house Marc had pointed out to her. What was the name he had mentioned? Gere! Simon Gere. Why would a man of such great wealth be involved in such a thing as this? Surely not for money. What did he have to gain? She must see if she could find the answer... or some means to get help.

Travis took her through a side entrance and up a long flight of steps. When they came to a closed door, Catalina turned to him.

"Where are Jacob and Shawna? I want to see them."

"You'll see them within the hour. Now get inside before I lose my patience."

He pushed her into a remarkably beautiful room, then pulled the door shut. She heard a soft click and did not have to try the handle to know the door was locked.

She walked to the window and found it impossible to open. Then she returned to the bed and sat down to wait. Unless she saw Jacob and Shawna with her own eyes, she would not go along with Travis's devious plan.

She tried to figure out his ultimate goal, but she couldn't so she waited ... and waited ... and waited.