Catalina's Caress (44 page)

❧

When Marc's men arrived, he quickly explained what he planned. Then he told China she must wait for him with Lorelei. This was hardly agreeable to her, but she could see that Marc was in no mood for an argument. As the men prepared to leave, Jacob joined them.

"You've been through too much already," Marc said to him. "You'd best go upstairs and get some rest."

"Mistah Marc," Jacob declared solemnly, "ah's gwine wif yo ta gets Miz Cat Ah done promised yo ah'd tak' care of her, an' ah done promised Miz Shawna she'd he all right Ah just cain't go to sleep. Ah axes you Mistah Marc, doan tell me ta do dat. Sides ah gots a score ta settle wit some of doz men."

Seeing the determination in Jacob's eyes and his need to salve his manly pride, Marc could only nod his head. Jacob's smile was broad as they left the house and started toward the mansion of Simon Gere.

It was not a long way from Marc's house to Simon's, but en route there was total silence among the men, who were reflecting the serious moods of Marc, Seth, Charles, and Jacob.

Marc was deeply involved with thoughts of Cat and he was reexperiencing his vivid sense of loss. Terrified that he might be too late to halt the enactment of the ugly things he had once planned, he was lost in a morass of guilt Catalina was paying the price for his need for vengeance, and he was tasting bitter regret The possibility that he would never see her again, never be able to ask her to forgive him or to tell her of his love, ate into him like a destructive parasite.

Seth, Charles, and Jacob read him well, and they knew no words could ease his pain.

When they stopped in front of the Gere mansion it too, was disturbingly silent and frighteningly unguarded.

"There isn't a soul around," Seth declared.

"Yes," Marc said softly, "and that's enough to scare you, isn't it? This man is like a spider ... and I think he wants us to walk into his web. I have a feeling he expects us."

"How could he?" Charles asked. "And what are we going to do?"

"We"—Marc smiled again—"are going to walk into his web ... because Catalina is in there. We're going in—and we're not coming out without her."

Marc descended from the carriage, and the others followed. He did not bother to knock, but, with a well-placed foot, slammed the door open and charged in, expecting resistance and finding none. He and his men then stood in the entrance hall and looked about. There was no sign of anyone.

A moment later a door opened—it led to a library— and Simon Gere appeared, a look of mild shock on his face.

"My, my," he said softly, "wouldn't it have been much easier to knock? This is a surprise visit, but I would have most certainly invited you in."

Marc's face was a study in controlled rage as he walked slowly toward the man, but Simon's innocent smile remained intact

"Where is she?'

"She? Who?"

"Don't play games with me, Simon." Marc waved his hand toward Jacob. "One of your prisoners escaped and made his way back to me. Now tell me where she is or I'll take extreme pleasure in blowing your head off."

"Prisoner? Good heavens, what a delightful imagination." Simon laughed, a rough cackling sound. "I suppose a court of law would be amused. In fact, my dear Marc Garrison, you would be laughed at. My word against that of a black and an imbecile girl. Truly your charges are amusing."

Marc's cold smile made Simon's fade momentarily.

"I said nothing about a girl, Simon. Why do you mention her if she wasn't here?"

"You are quite free to search my house if you care to. I have nothing to hide."

Marc stared at him, an icy feeling climbing his spine. Then he turned to his men. "One of you stay with him. If he so much as bats an eye shoot him. I'll answer for it later."

Simon chuckled again, but the malevolent look in his eyes could have burnt Marc to a cinder.

With Seth and Charles close behind, Marc raced up the stairs, and the three of them checked the rooms above while some of his men went through the downstairs.

When Marc entered the room in which Cat had been held, he surveyed it and was about to make a quick inspection of the closet when he suddenly stopped. He had sensed it first; then the subtle touch of her perfume had touched him. He moved closer to the bed and sat on its edge, his hand reaching out to trace the slight indentation in the pillow.

He picked the pillow up and lifted it to his face. The scent of the perfume he remembered so well assailed his senses, leaving him weak with the knowledge that Cat had lain here, lain here knowing that he was responsible for all she faced. A new anger filled him, and he rose, tossed the pillow aside, and then left the room.

He returned to the library, where the others had congregated, bringing with him the few men and servants they had found in the house.

"Where is she, Simon?" Marc said coldly. "I know what room she was in, I can still smell her perfume. Now, where have you taken her?"

"I have taken her nowhere," Simon proclaimed, his eyes denying his innocence and revealing his horrible amusement.

Marc gritted his teeth. If he could not trace Catalina from here she might be irretrievably lost. He surveyed all present, then his eyes stopped on a man whose dark eyes glittered with fear and whose face was wet with sweat. The man licked his lips as Marc looked at him. It was then that Marc smiled.

"Take him to the other room," he said coldly as he pointed to the trembling man. "We will see how much he can take before he decides to reveal the truth."

Simon glared his hatred as Marc left the room.

T
he man was pushed roughly into a chair. The grim air and the silence of his captors heightened his terror.

Mare had chosen two of his men to help with the questioning. The others had stayed with Simon in case some of his men attempted to rescue him. Marc didn't know that Simon's men were not held by loyalty to the man, but by greed. He had told them to leave, and so they did not even think of returning.

Simon had not counted on a weak link in his chain. He had often used fear to get what he wanted. He had not thought the same tactic would be used against him.

Marc stood in stony silence while the man, who could not seem to take his eyes from him, was tied firmly to the chair. Then, as if he were going to indulge in casual conversation, Marc dragged a chair toward the prisoner and straddled it. He folded his arms comfortably across the back, and remained silent for so long the man began to shake.

Marc's green eyes were now filled with the fanatic's glow, and in them the prisoner could not see one bit of mercy.

"My friend," Marc said in a deceptively soft voice. "You have some information I happen to want very badly. I want—"

"I don't know nothing," the man squeaked. "I ain't important around here. They don't tell me nothing!"

"Ah now." Marc's smile was colder than his eyes. "I have a feeling you aren't being quite truthful with me. That upsets me. In fact it upsets me so much I feel I must insist on the truth. I do not have much time, my friend, and I warn you, if they get away from me you are going to be a dead man. Let me tell you how you will die. First I will take you to my boat—I wouldn't want any interference from your friends—and when I get you there I'm going to tie you to the paddle wheel. Then I'm going to leave Natchez and head for Memphis. Tell me, just how long do you think you can manage to stay alive?"

The man gulped and his eyes grew wide. This cold-faced Garrison meant to do what he threatened.

To hasten his decision, Marc sighed and rose. "Bring him along, boys," he said as if believing in the man's reluctance. "I'm afraid he needs a little proof."

"No! Wait!" the man cried as they reached for his bonds. "She's gone to
The Royal
with Travis Sherman. They're leaving for Memphis!"

"Untie him!" Marc commanded.

"You're not gonna kill me? I told you what you wanted to know."

"I wouldn't waste the energy," Marc snapped. "Take him and the others to the authorities. Tell them we'll send Charles Dante down to confirm the charges. We ought to be able to put this bunch away for a long time."

When Marc finished instructing his men, he ran back to the library. "Seth, come with me. I'll explain on the way. Right now we've got to hurry. Charles, will you see to the charges? I'll be back as soon as I can."

"You needn't hurry." Simon smiled. "The authorities here will do nothing to me. Some of my men might be inconvenienced temporarily, but we'll survive. Remember that I'll still be here."

Marc knew Simon's power, and he feared the man was right. But he could not waste anymore time in the race to get Catalina.

"You are something I should dispose of by stepping on, but now I'm going for Cat. Remember something, though—I have no intention of forgetting you ... not for a minute."

As Seth and Marc left, Simon chuckled softly and then settled into a comfortable chair. Charles watched him intently, a smile on his own face.

"You find something amusing?" Simon asked.

"You are, as Marc said, a malignancy that ought to be exorcised. I have a feeling, if I use the power the combined Carrington and Garrison wealth will provide I might just begin to dig up your past, Simon old boy. I might just dig until I find out all about you. Somewhere along the line you've made a mistake or two, and believe me," Charles said softly, "I'll find them."

Simon glared at him... but somewhere in the depths of his soul he was shaken.

❧

Marc cracked the whip over the rumps of the racing horses, while a pale-faced Seth clung to the side of the carriage.

"Where are we going?" Seth shouted over the racing wind.

"Back to the docks!"

"What for?" Seth heroically held on despite his somewhat shaky stomach, as they took a bend so sharply the carriage nearly overturned.

Marc was standing now, holding the reins in one hand while he cracked the whip with the other. He looked like a maniacal giant, strong and broad shouldered, braced against the wind. Seth was convinced he wouldn't want to be in Marc Garrison's way this night.

They drew to a sudden halt near the
Belle
, and Seth heard Marc laugh as he leapt from the carriage and ran down the dock, searching for the boat he wanted. Following after, Seth nearly collided with Marc when he stopped without warning.

"Damn!" Seth cursed. Then he looked at Marc's face and saw utter dismay written there. He followed Marc's gaze to the receding lights of a boat.

"Cat," Marc whispered softly. Seth could hear his anguish.

"Come on," Marc said.

"Now where?"

"To a race." Marc ran past him, and Seth could do little but follow. He soon realized they were on their way back to the
Belle
. Obviously Marc intended to race after
The Royal
. Catalina's life hung in the balance.

Marc was already shouting orders while he ran up the gangplank. As his men scurried about, Seth decided they had been well trained. He realized Marc was a better master of the
Belle
than he would ever be.

Steam was built up and soon the
Belle
was moving away from the lights of Natchez.

Now all Marc and Seth could do was wait for the
Belle
's speed to increase.

"Will we catch them, Marc?" Seth asked quietly.

"We'll catch them," Marc responded grimly. "We'll catch them." He turned to look at Seth, his eyes cold, his brutal intent evident. "We're going to do two things. We're going to get Cat back ... and we're going to make sure Travis Sherman causes no more problems."

❧

Catalina watched Travis walk toward her, feeling helpless because her hands were bound behind her. At the instant Travis drew close to her, she felt the boat lift and realized steam was building and they were beginning to move.

She looked at Travis, mustering all the defiance she could, though she wanted to scream out the disgust she felt for him.

He smiled and stopped within inches of her. Then he reached out and removed the cloak from her shoulders, tossing it onto the bed. After which, to her surprise, he took hold of her shoulders and turned her around so he could untie her.

She faced him and rubbed her wrists, but didn't take her eyes from him. What little trust she had ever had in him was long dead.

"You're a fool, Travis," she stated coolly. "We'll be followed."

"By whom, Cat?" He laughed. "Who will tell your friends where you have gone? You seem to find it very difficult to understand that the game is over."

"I repeat, you're a fool. You don't really believe Simon Gere intends for you to get your hands on my money, do you?"

"Don't try that with me. Playing one of us against the other won't work. We planned this well, and you just can't get away with it."

"He planned it well, Travis, not you," she threw back at him. "Do you want to know how I know?"

"How?" he asked, trying to appear disinterested.

"He told me."

"I don't believe you," Travis declared. "You have no idea just how much Simon Gere hates women do you? He would as soon kill you as explain his motives to you."

"Say what you like, Travis. He came to my room just before dawn. He was gloating over how well he had used you and how soon everything would be his.''

"Stop it, Cat. It won't work."

"Travis, if you let me go, I'll forget all this ever happened."

"Of course, just as your friends will. I'm not fool enough to let a fortune slip through my fingers. I've worked too hard to get hold of it... and you, sweet Cat, and you."

"That will never be," she replied as she backed away from him. "For heaven's sake, listen to me. Simon Gere is an expert at deception. He has duped everybody, but especially you. There's no reward in this for anyone but Simon Gere. When you reach Memphis his men will finish what you started. Can't you see? He doesn't need you anymore. You're a liability. He thinks I can be forced to lie with any man, any man of his choosing!"

Travis reached out and gripped her shoulders, pulling her against him.

"Well, it won't happen that way, Cat," he said softly. "I have no intention of stopping in Memphis. Do you really believe I'm such a fool? We'll go beyond Memphis... and we will be married. I have friends to help me with that. I'm going to have you—and the money."

"There won't be any money. My parents will never pay you."

"Again you underestimate me. Do you think I didn't check on all the trusts that had been set up for you? With your own little hands, Cat my love, you can reach out and pluck over three-quarters of a million dollars. That will be fine for a start. But I don't doubt that your parents will pay well to have you safely returned to them. So don't play with me. Besides"—he smiled—"I have other plan for our travels."

He kissed her with a subdued violence, and he seemed to have forgotten the first time he had thought he had Catalina trapped. The feel of her in his arms, the taste of her mouth, sent a surge of passion through Travis. He had wanted her for too long, and he was not about to deny himself any longer. That she was unable to escape him excited him, for he enjoyed his women helpless and frightened.

But Catalina was beyond fright. She had been through too much. Now she was determined and angry.

She lashed out with her doubled fists and caught Travis on the temple. When he staggered back from her in surprise, she kicked out, catching him on the thigh and provoking a cry of pain and a curse.

He lunged for her again, catching the sleeve of her dress and ripping it from her, but she spun away from him, leaving the piece of material in his hands. He threw it aside as he charged for her.

The cabin was not really big enough for her to escape him for long and they both knew it. She saw a satisfied glow in his eyes as he drew near.

She backed away again, desperately seeking some weapon of defense. Her hands reached wildly about, and as she backed against a wall, they found a square wooden box.

She gripped it firmly and flung it, catching Travis on the cheekbone. As he dropped to his knees, she dashed past him to the door.

Flinging it open, she ran down the passageway to the steps that led to the next deck. Once there, she ran for the steps to the upper deck. There she might have a moment to think. When she reached the upper deck, she looked over the rail at the rapid flowing river beneath her.

The current was amazingly swift, and fear gripped her. If she jumped, she stood very little chance of surviving the leap or the swift dark river.

Tears of desperation came to her eyes. She thought of Marc and of their lost chance for happiness. At this moment she wanted him more than her own life.