Cera's Place (21 page)

Lewis pointed the shotgun at her and laughed. “Better drop that peashooter, sweetheart, before somebody gets hurt.”

“No.” Standing with legs wide, she aimed the Derringer at the man’s heart. “You’d better drop that scattergun before
you
get hurt.”

“How about this?” Quinn sat up. “You drop your gun before
she
gets hurt.” He pointed his pistol at Hu’s head.

“Do you think I came alone to rescue these girls? You’re surrounded. Now, put down your guns.”

“You hear that, Quinn? We’re surrounded. Well, then, have your friends show themselves.”

“Dammit, Lewis! Why’d you use my name? Now she knows who I am!”

“You idiot, why do we care? She won’t tell anyone once she’s dead.” Lewis took a step toward Cera. His eyes roamed over her half-clothed body. “But first, maybe we should have some fun with the bitch—seeing that she’s dressed for whoring anyway.”

The sound of an owl hooting came from the trees where Jake had disappeared with the horses. Praying it wasn’t a real owl, she steadied her hand and squeezed the trigger. Less than a split second later, two more shots rang out. Both men fell dead.

Jake ran into the clearing from the trees. “Is anyone hurt?” He pointed his gun back and forth between the dead men, as if daring them to move.

“I’m fine. Are you girls all right?” Cera picked up the knife from the ground.

“Yes’um,” Sadie confirmed. “I’m so grateful y’all came. Those men are pure evil.”

When Hu didn’t answer, Cera grabbed her by the shoulder to sit her up. Her hand came away sticky and wet. “Oh God, I think Hu’s been shot!”

Jake grabbed the knife and finished freeing Hu. He pulled her closer to the fire, ripping open her shirt. “Look through their saddle bags for some more whiskey. Let’s hope they didn’t drink it all.”

Cera found a bottle in the third bag she dumped. “Here…” She thrust the bottle into his hand. “Hurry, Jake!”

Hu protested in Cantonese, as he washed the wound with the liquor and then examined the bullet hole. “Looks like it went clean through her shoulder, but she’s losing blood. Did you see anything in their bags that I could use to bind the wound—preferably something clean?”

Cera pulled off her shirt. “Take this. I don’t want anything of theirs touching her.”

Jake finished dressing the wound and then surveyed the campsite. Looking at the two dead men, he admitted, “Well, that didn’t go quite like I had planned.”

“They left you no choice,” Sadie said in defense.

He nodded but then his face darkened with anger. “Cera, why the hell wouldn’t you take care of their horses? Those men could have killed you.”

“Because I couldn’t do it,” she answered matter-of-factly.

“What?” Jake’s brow furrowed. “I don’t understand.”

“I knew if I went near them, they would sense my fear and make noise. If you went, they’d be calm and quiet.”

“So, you’d rather take your chances with a couple of murdering thugs than a few horses?”

She shrugged. “It seemed like a good decision at the time.”

Jake shook his head in exasperation. “All right, I’m going to bury the bodies.” He held up a hand when she opened her mouth to object. “It won’t take long and it will buy us more time in the long run.”

She gestured at Quinn and Lewis. “Do you want some help—with them?”

“No, just try to make Hu comfortable. The ride back isn’t going to be easy on her.”

As Jake bent down to grab the legs of the nearest man, Cera placed her hand on his arm. “Thank you. It could have gone much worse.”

“I don’t like killing.” He straightened, rubbing a hand over his eyes. “I hoped I was done with that business.”

Cera nodded in understanding. She had pointed her gun often enough, but had only killed once in her life. Feeling sick to her stomach and shivering, she thought she might be violently ill.

“You must be freezing.” He took off his duster and put it around her. “Go sit with Hu and Sadie by the fire. I won’t be long.”

*****

Jake cradled a semi-conscious Hu in his arms, doing his best to keep her comfortable as he battled his own mutinous body. The killings had affected him more than he let on to Cera. Worried he might pass out before reaching the campsite, he fought the oncoming black headache with every inch of his willpower. Clenching his teeth, he cursed his weakness.

When they arrived, their companions bombarded them with questions. Jake ignored them all, handing Hu off to a relieved Li before collapsing on his bedroll. Ginger rushed to his side, yelling for whisky and water. She lifted his shoulders off the ground and braced him against her chest. Taking the bottle of whiskey from Mary Beth, she held it to his mouth. He half-heartedly tried to push the bottle away, but she held firm.

“Come on, honey,” she urged. “We can do this the easy way—or the hard way. It’s up to you.”

Jake gave in and took a long swallow, waiting for the alcohol to numb his pain. Ginger eased him back down on his bedroll, and then picked up a canteen and poured water on a cloth. When she wiped his brow, he sighed with relief.

A few minutes later, he smelled Cera beside him and then felt her cool hand on the pulse point of his neck. “Go lay down and try to get some sleep, Ginger,” he heard her whisper. A rustle of skirts told him the redhead had obeyed.

He wanted to ask about Hu, but couldn’t find the strength. It took all his energy to keep his eyes tightly closed against the pain attacking his head. Cera brushed his hair back from his face and snuggled closer, laying a protective arm across his stomach. Before passing out, he hoped his dreams would be kind, but his wish wasn’t granted.

Chapter 12

Day two on the road began as a quiet and solemn affair. Yesterday, Cera and her friends pretended to be traveling on holiday, but last night’s events brought back the reality of their situation. After packing up the supplies, they continued their journey, but not even Mary Beth could think of anything to chatter about. Hu sat huddled in a corner of the carriage, weak from infection, while Jake pulled his hat low over his eyes, trying to hide the remnants of last night’s pain.

Around noon, Isaac announced they were getting close to Tessa’s winery. They had already passed several farms since leaving the forest and could see mountain ranges in the far distance. Isaac led them off the main road and up a side lane that climbed uphill to an arched gate. Across the top, ornate letters in iron grillwork spelled out Buena Vista Winery.

Cera drew in a sharp breath as they passed through the gate. Laid out below them, a white stone mansion with a red stucco roof stood, surrounded by elaborate gardens and rows of trellised grape vines as far as she could see. Ionic columns adorned the front porch and in the middle of the one-story square building, a courtyard had been cut out.

A lone woman sat rocking in a chair near the front entrance. Isaac kicked his horse into a fast trot, separating himself from the group. The woman rose as he dismounted, quickly closing the distance between them. Though their embrace was brief, it was the most passion Cera had ever seen Isaac exhibit in public.

Several servants appeared to take control of the horses and luggage. Cera used the commotion that followed to discretely appraise Isaac’s friend. Tessa wore her salt and pepper hair piled high on her head, exposing a long, regal neck. A gold cross necklace lay on the bodice of her lace dress, reflecting the noonday sun. Though she was slim and small boned, “delicate” wasn’t a word that came to Cera’s mind. The woman’s ramrod posture and composed expression hinted at physical, as well as emotional, strength.

Isaac took the older woman’s arm. “Everyone, I would like you to meet our hostess, Madame Contessa Rocchelli.”

The woman smiled warmly at the group. “Welcome, friends of Isaac,” she said with a faint accent, “but please call me Tessa.”

Cera stepped forward. Suppressing an urge to curtsy, she held out her hand instead. “It is a pleasure to finally meet you in person, Madame Tessa. Thank you very much for opening your home to us. I’m Cera Cassidy, and these are my friends, Ginger Crawford, Mary Beth Edwards, Sonya Petrov, Sadie Freedom, Hu Wong, Li Chan and Jake Tanner. You probably already know David?”

David stepped forward and bowed. “It is good to see you again, Tessa.”

“And you, David,” Tessa replied as she reached up and kissed both of his cheeks. “Well, I’m sure you are tired and hungry from your journey. We’ll get you settled in your rooms so you can rest and freshen up. We can meet in an hour’s time for lunch on the veranda.”

The group obediently followed Tessa and Isaac into the foyer of the house. Though they had stepped inside, it seemed as if they hadn’t left the outdoors. Beyond the foyer, a large room ran the width of the mansion. The floors were of highly polished planks of wood, broken up occasionally by a slab of smooth granite that reminded Cera of stepping stones in a river. Dozens of plants were scattered about the room, sitting on tables and in corners, with some growing within inches of the ceiling. Natural light lit up the room, streaming in from numerous full-length windows and skylights in the ceiling. Small groupings of furniture were strategically placed, making the large room seem intimate.

Ginger gasped in appreciation. “Why I haven’t seen a house this exotic since I visited New Orleans!” Admiring a yellow hibiscus in full bloom, she added, “You certainly have a way with plants, Madame Tessa.”

Tessa laughed. “I hope so, dear, but come. There will be plenty of time later for a tour of the house and grounds. Your comfort is more important right now. Please follow me to your rooms.”

She led them toward the left side of the house to what Tessa referred to as the guest wing. Cera counted twelve doors, six on each side of a long hallway. Beyond each door was a small, yet comfortable, bedroom furnished with a full canopy bed, dresser, and nightstand. A padded rocking chair sat in a corner next to a table with a reading lamp. Each room also had a glass door leading out to either a patio or a courtyard depending upon which side of the wing the room was located.

Cera chose her room and immediately walked outside. Breathing in the scent of wildflowers and grapes, she willed the knots in her stomach to untie. A cool breeze touched her skin and the faint tinkle of wind chimes echoed in response.

Hearing footsteps on the stone patio, she turned from the beautiful scenery and smiled as Jake joined her.

“How are you?” His eyes searched her face.

She took his hands and kissed him on the lips. “I should be asking you that. Your color is better, but you look worn out.”

He shrugged aside her observation. “I’ll be fine, but I don’t know about Hu. Our hostess snatched her up as soon as she saw Hu was hurt. Something about some ancient Mexican poultice for infection that one of her workers could cook up.”

Cera managed a small laugh. “I’m sure Hu is in good hands…” She looked at the distant mountains and frowned.

“But?”

“I’m sorry we have brought trouble to Madame Tessa. She seems like a kind lady—with an emphasis on ‘lady.’ She doesn’t deserve us showing up on her doorstep wounded, for God’s sake, and running from outlaws. I need to talk to Isaac. I think we should leave.”
“And go where? Back to San Francisco? I don’t think so. Besides, the impression Madame Tessa gave me was of someone who if she didn’t want us here, would have told us at the front gate instead of greeting us like old friends.”

She nodded in response but then turned away.

“Don’t.” He pulled her into his arms, kissing her on each cheek. “Let’s rest awhile, get some food into our bellies, and then figure out our next move. Things will look better when you feel better, I promise. Come on.” He walked her back inside and over to the bed.

“Fine, but keep your hands to yourself. It’s resting time, not romancing time.” She forced her lips to smile.

“You have my word,” Jake promised with a sly wink.

Cera sighed, exasperated. “Now, how can I trust you? Maybe you should go back to your own room. I don’t need to embarrass myself in front of our hostess the first day I meet her.”

“All right, we’ll lie here with our clothes on, nothing more.” He stretched out on the bed.

“Good, but I’m warning you. One wrong move and you’re gone.” She pointed at the door for emphasis before lying down stiffly beside him. When he didn’t make a move to touch her, she relaxed and closed her eyes. Within minutes, they were both sound asleep.

*******

In the near distance, the rebel cannons roared as they bombarded the line of Union soldiers. Jake moved through the smoke, searching the ground before taking each step. Silence and stealth determined life or death. His fingers tightened around his rifle while his ears strained to help his watering eyes see what was in front of him. In the suffocating heat of the night air, sweat ran down his back and his lungs pleaded for fresh air.

The dozen men he led were counting on him to get them safely through the mission. He had done it before. He had to have faith in himself that he could do it again. Something wasn’t right, though. If the map of the rebels’ encampment was even remotely accurate, they should have reached their target already. However, the armory was nowhere to be seen. Without warning, the man to his left screamed in pain and fell dead. Then, two more joined the first, as the seemingly invisible bullets cut them down where they stood. Too late, Jake turned to the men behind him, yelling for retreat while the rebels swarmed around them.