Catalina's Caress (42 page)

S
eth and Charles were both impatient to round the next bend of the river. When they did it would finally bring them in sight of Natchez.

"There it is, boy," Charles said. "Natchez-under-the-hill, one of the nastiest little places on earth, at least under the hill. Up there"—he pointed to the mansions above—"close to heaven."

"Some combination, isn't it?" Seth responded thoughtfully. "And where is my sister, I wonder?"

"We have to believe she's safe, Seth. We have to. We'll move heaven and hell to get news. Surely they stopped here, and they can't be that far ahead of us. Someone must have seen them, and will at least tell us if she's well."

"I hope you're right."

The lights of Natchez-under-the-hill greeted them as did raucous music and sounds of vibrant activity.

As they drew nearer and were about ready to dock, Seth cried out, "Charles, look!"

He pointed, and Charles could read intense excitement on his face. He followed Seth's trembling finger, his eyes widening in surprise.

"Why ... I believe . . ."

"It's the
Belle
! The
Belle
."

"By God, it is. We've caught up to them, boy. We've caught up to them."

"I hope I've really caught them," Seth said through clenched teeth. "I have a score to settle with Marc Garrison and Travis Sherman."

"First we had better find Cat, and make sure she's all right. Then we can do whatever else needs to be done. We can't just assume that she's been harmed. What will you do if you find no problem aboard the
Belle
?"

"I've had my mind set on catching up for so long, I hadn't thought about that. But you're right, Charles. Let's find Cat first. Everything depends on that."

"What do you want to do about the loss of the
Belle
if Cat is all right?"

"There is not much I can do, except stay with my original plan. Ill face my father with the truth and tell him I want to start again, if he'll let me. As long as Cat isn't hurt, I don't mind starting over."

"I'm glad to hear you talk like that, as I'm sure your father will be. All he's ever wanted is for you to straighten up your life and stand beside him in the business."

"You think he'll accept me now, since I've lost the
Belle
?"

"I think he'd be damned proud to."

"Thanks, Charles." Seth returned his gaze to the docks as the
Constitution
came to a halt and the gangplank was lowered.

Charles and Seth were the first to descend, and they made their way as rapidly as possible to the
Belle
, which they boarded quickly, well aware that it seemed to be deserted.

"Where is everybody?" Seth said. "In a town like this, surely they post some kind of guard."

"Unless the owner is well known and respected here."

"In this town? I can't imagine what kind of man would get the respect of this town. He'd have to be a ..." Seth stopped and looked at Charles; then he said softly, "Just what kind of a man is Marc Garrison?"

"Suppose we go down and face him and find out for sure."

They went to the cabin in which they expected to find Marc. It was empty, but Seth knew the
Belle
, so he moved swiftly from stateroom to stateroom, with Charles following, until he opened a door and faced a very surprised China.

It only took China seconds to put a name to Seth's face, and Seth recognized her immediately. He had only seen her the night of the game, and they had not really spoken. But they knew each other.

"Seth Carrington."

"Yes," he answered stiffly. "And you are Marc Garrison's friend, China. Just where is he, and where is my sister?"

"You have arrived at a very uncomfortable time, Mr. Carrington."

"I said where is my sister?"

"At this moment... I don't know."

"Where is your boss?" Seth demanded.

"If you're speaking of Marc, he isn't here either," China replied.

"And"—Seth laughed angrily—"I suppose you don't know where he is either?"

"Truthfully I don't."

"Truthfully? I don't think you or Marc know what the truth is."

"If you calm down and give me a chance to explain, I may be able to help you."

"I'm as calm as I intend to get," Seth declared, "so tell me whatever it is you want to say."

"Please, Mr. Carrington," China said quietly, "I know you will not believe this, but I am pleased that you are here."

"I find that hard to believe. The last time I crossed the path of Marc Garrison, two of his men tossed me in the river, after they knocked me senseless. Now you tell me you're pleased I'm here."

China knew why Seth was angry, but she was beginning to be annoyed.

"Mr. Carrington, Travis Sherman was responsible for the attempt on your life. Now, if you will be so kind as to allow me to explain, I can answer many of your questions. Time is of the essence if you're going to find Marc and Catalina."

"All right," Seth finally agreed, and Charles smiled at China's sudden exhibition of authority.

When Seth and Charles sat, China began to speak rapidly and precisely. She watched Seth's face pale, saw his jaw twitch and his fury grow.

"So you see I speak the truth when I say I don't know where either of them are."

Seth wanted to believe her, but he had run into too much deception. He had to find Marc Garrison. He stood up.

"What are you going to do?" China asked.

"I'm going to be hot on Marc's trail. I'm going to see McNally too. I'll catch both of them sooner or later."

He had started for the door, Charles behind him, when China spoke again.

"Seth?"

"What?" Impatiently, Seth turned to look at her.

"I can understand how you must feel, but..."

"But?"

"Give Marc a chance to explain, to tell you the truth, and at least try to understand. He doesn't want Catalina hurt." Her voice was gentle, and Seth gazed at her, his eyes narrowed and his brows drawn together in a frown. For a minute their eyes remained locked.

"China, what is between my sister and Marc?"

"Marc is in love with her," China replied honestly.

"And Cat?"

"I firmly believe she loves him, too."

"I suppose this is a long story?"

"And complicated."

"I think I'd like to hear this story from Marc himself. I'll have to find Cat and ask her, too."

"I know. I just want to make sure you don't shoot first and ask questions later."

"I'm not a blood-hungry fool. I just want Catalina out of this mess, and I want her to know I'm all right After all, I am the one responsible for all this."

China just nodded, hoping she could believe Seth, for she had read more in his eyes than he had voiced.

Seth and Charles left and quickly made their way toward the tavern owned by Ned McNally.

Upon entering it, both men were appalled by the atmosphere. Each silently hoped Cat had not been brought to a place like this.

They went over to the bar, and Henry approached to serve them.

"What'll you gents be haven'?"

"Some information."

"What?"

"We're looking for a man. He must have been here not long ago. Marc Garrison. He was looking for McNally."

"Yeah, there was a man here lookin' for Ned."

"Well, where is he? Did he talk to McNally? Where did he go?"

"Them's expensive questions, friend." Henry chuckled humorlessly.

Seth was about to argue that point with his pistol, but Charles placed a restraining hand on his arm. When Seth turned to him, Charles was looking at Henry.

"I believe these will cover our expenses," he said quietly, as he placed a few gold coins on the bar.

"Yeah, it just might," Henry replied. He reached out deftly, and the coins disappeared into his pocket. "The man you're lookin' for is still in the back room with Ned. He got here just before you."

Seth nodded and strode to the back. Outside the door, they paused to listen and heard the last of Marc's cold and angry exchange with Ned.

Seth burst into the room, gun in hand, just as Marc reached the door. Seth was the last person Marc had expected to see, and it took him a moment to regain his equilibrium. He looked at the pistol directed at him as if he were annoyed. "I don't have time for this. If you plan to shoot you'd best do it quickly because I'm leaving."

Seth stared at Marc blankly for a minute, astounded by his small regard for the pistol... and by the way he looked.

"I could kill you for what you've done," Seth finally grated out. "Where's Catf"

"You'd better make your choice quickly," Marc responded. "I don't have time to explain everything that's happened. I've got a good lead on where Cat is, and I'm going after her. If you want to try to stop me, you'd best do it now."

"I'm going with you," Seth replied, still not able to believe everything Marc had said. "If you're pulling a fast one this time, you won't get away with it."

Marc snorted in angry disgust. His nerves and his temper were entirely too frayed to allow him to be tolerant. With total disregard for the danger to himself, he reached out, wrenched the pistol from Seth's grip, and tossed it aside.

"Come along if you want to, but don't get in my way. Cat's life depends on me, and I'm in no mood to play games with you."

Marc pushed past Seth and Charles. Then Seth quickly picked up his pistol and he and Charles headed after Marc. They were both shocked by Marc's behavior, but Charles knew that both of them couldn't stop him.

Outside the tavern, Marc gave orders to his two men in a crisp commanding voice.

"I'm going to Lorelei's first. Go back to the boat and get more men—at least a dozen—and take them there as fast as you can. And you might as well bring China because she'll come anyway. We're going to give Simon Gere and Travis Sherman the surprise of their lives."

The men left with dispatch. Then Marc motioned to Seth and Charles to follow him as he sought a carriage to take them to upper Natchez. It would be daybreak before his men could get to Lorelei's. If Travis and Catalina were in the Gere mansion, he must try to control his murderous intent, for there would be plenty of men protecting it. Later he would strike swiftly— and with all the strength he had.

He sighed and closed his eyes, but Seth's voice broke into his thoughts.

"Now that you've got everything planned, would you mind telling me what the hell has been going on since I was tossed into the river. And where the hell is Cat?"

Marc smiled. Seth's patience was at an end, and he could understand it.

"Sit back and relax, Seth. I've a long, long story to tell you."

❧

Jacob leapt from the balcony, with Shawna in his arms. He took the shock of the fall, but Shawna was knocked from his arms as they landed.

She rose shakily to her feet, and Jacob tried to do the same. But as he pressed his hand on the ground for support, pain struck and he realized that his shoulder and arm were wet with blood.

He got up, using his good arm, and staggered to Shawna. Grabbing her hand, he began to run. He could already hear the shouts and running feet, and he knew pursuit was not far behind.

When Shawna whimpered, Jacob knew he would not move very fast that way so he snatched her up in his arms and put all his strength into running toward the trees. Once in their cover, he slowed to listen. Between each mansion was a dark area with bushes and bare spots. As Jacob looked around he figured that if he could just lose his pursuers he would have a chance to escape.

But where could he escape to?

"Jacob," Shawna cried softly, "I want to go home. I don't like this game anymore. I want to go home. Where's Marc, Jacob? You said you'd take me to Marc."

"Shh now, Miz Shawna, please," Jacob begged softly. "They ain't no mo' games, Miz Shawna. Yo jus come long wif me. Ah'm sho' gwine ta do what ah said ah'd do. Yo just be good fo' a li'l while longer and ah'll tak' yo home."

But he knew Shawna had neither the emotional nor the physical strength to reach the boat. It was a long way off even by carriage. And the way he was bleeding from what he had discovered was a shoulder wound, he wasn't too certain he could make it either. If he didn't, Shawna certainly wouldn't.

Then Jacob expelled a ragged sigh as a thought broke through his fear. Lorelei! Lorelei! Marc's sister. What safer place would there be to take Shawna than to Marc's home. That was far from them too, but not nearly as far as the boat.

Not hearing anyone follow, he was reasonably sure they had tried to second-guess him and had gone on ahead to prevent him from getting to the
Belle
. Maybe they had gone to Marc's home to prevent him from getting there as well. But he had to try, if not for his own sake, at least for Shawna's, for she was an innocent creature caught in something she had no way of understanding.

Jacob moved as fast as he could, but he couldn't lie to himself, he was weakening. He felt as though his feet were becoming heavier and heavier, and his breathing was becoming labored. Still he moved on and on and on, very deliberately taking one step after another. One more, his mind urged, one more.

He lost all sense of what surrounded him and struggled only with two thoughts, he must reach Lorelei and he must stay out of sight

By the time Jacob struggled up the drive to Marc's house he was beyond total awareness. He simply saw the lights of the house and moved toward them.