Destiny's Captive (24 page)

Noah made it through the first four nights, but Pilar worried. When he wasn't lying as still as a corpse, he was moaning, crying out, and thrashing around. During one of the violent episodes, Drew, in an effort to keep him calm, took a fist in the jaw.

“I think he's having one of his nightmares,” she said as Drew tenderly worked his jaw to make certain it hadn't been broken.

“What nightmares?”

“I don't know what they are about, but he wakes up shaking.” And angry, she reminded herself.

Drew eyed his now calm but still fretfully sleeping brother. “Has he told you he was shanghaied?”

She nodded. “But only that it happened. He hasn't offered any details.”

“I wonder if the nightmares have anything to do with that time. Something terrible must have happened, because he was so different when he finally returned to us.”

Pilar couldn't say.

“Let me get some ice for my jaw. I'll owe him one for this when he's up and around again.”

“I refuse to believe he won't recover.”

“He will. Noah's too ornery to die.”

She smiled for what seemed the first time since finding him facedown in the road.

“You love him, don't you?” Drew asked her quietly.

She didn't hesitate. “I do with my every breath.”

“He loves you, too. It'll take more than a couple of bullets to keep a Yates man from his wife.” Drew gave her a kiss on the cheek. “Hang on. And by the way, if anything like this ever happens to me, I want you standing right next to my Billie.”

“I promise.”

“Good.” And he left her sitting by Noah's bedside.

Drew's prediction was right. On the morning of the fifth day, Noah opened his eyes. Pilar wanted to shout with joy but held it in so as not to scare him into a relapse. “Good morning.”

“Where am I?” he asked groggily.

“In a bedroom downstairs. You were shot by one of Gordonez's men.” She placed her hand on his forehead. It was still feverish but not as skillet hot as it had been.

“I remember you and Mama, but not much else.” Then as if his mind finally allowed the memory to form, he went still. “I remember the pain in my back. I was shot, wasn't I?” He looked to her as if seeking verification.

“Yes. One high, the other lower, and one in your arm.”

“Where's the man, now?”

“In jail, along with Gordonez and Miss Lavinia Douglas. She was in on the plot as well.”

“Good, then I won't have to hunt them down. Poor Walt must be devastated by her complicity.”

Pilar was sure he was, but she was happy. The family prayers had been answered. Noah would live.

N
oah's recovery was slow, so slow that by the end of the first week, he was growling like a tiger at anyone close enough to be a target—except his mother, his wife, and Dr. Lloyd, none of whom paid any attention to his demanding to get out of bed, ride his horse, or take the train to San Francisco to begin running his business.

His brothers, on the other hand, tried reasoning with him in an effort to make him understand why he was restricted to bed rest.

“Look,” Drew said to him that morning. “Your bad mood isn't going to help you leave the bed any earlier, so you may as well play along with Pilar and the doctor. I took care of the package you were after the day you were shot. Inside were your copies of the paperwork from Walt's lawyer. He wired me two days ago to say your foremen are running the shipyard in your absence and doing just fine without you.”

Noah bored with him a hostile glare. If he had to stay in bed one more day he was going to go mad.

Logan added. “And were you a better patient we might throw our weight behind you to try and get you a reprieve from the wardens but you aren't ready. No sense in letting you up just so all those stitches can break free and you wind up flat on your arse for another two weeks. Stop being such a baby.”

“Get the hell out.”

“Gladly!” Drew and Logan said in unison.

Alone, Noah blew out a breath. No, he wasn't being the best patient, but were they in his shoes, or bed, they'd be no better. He was being forced to use a bedpan, for heaven's sake. Where was the dignity in that? So, because he knew he was right and they were wrong, he sat up. His back protested but he paid it no mind. Breathing through gritted teeth and ignoring the sweat suddenly drenching him, he swung his legs to the edge of the bed and sat for a moment to try and catch his breath. Fueled by stubbornness and sheer will, he haltingly stood on legs that had not been consulted beforehand and they promptly gave way.

Pilar entered the room carrying a tray and found him lying on the floor. Rather than be concerned she set the tray down. “How's the ceiling look from there,
querido
?”

He growled.

“No cracks or signs of water damage?”

She walked over and stooped down beside him. “You're an idiot, do you know that? And if I didn't love you with all my heart, I would let you lie there for oh, three or four hours just to teach you a lesson.”

His startled eyes met hers. “You love me?”

“Of course, why else do you think I haven't gone back to Florida? You've been rude, short tempered, and impossible to be around.”

He smiled. “I love you, too.”

She leaned over and kissed him. “Good. Now, I'll go and get your brothers so they can help you back to bed. Their ridicule alone should make you never attempt to do this again until Dr. Lloyd says you are ready. Are we agreed?”

“Agreed.”

And because he kept his pledge, one week later he was able to leave the bed. He couldn't do much more than walk to the water closet, which pleased him immensely, and out to the room's verandah to take his meals and bask in the sunshine and fresh air, but each day he got stronger.

Another week of resting allowed him to attend Naomi and Eli's wedding. He still tired easily so they left the reception early. As they got ready for bed, he said to her. “I'm ready to make love to my wife.”

Pilar, wearing one of the nightgowns he enjoyed removing, sidled close. “Are you sure you're up to it? Think how embarrassing it would be if I had to go get your brothers to put you back in the bed, with us being nude and all.”

That earned her a swift but playful swat. “A wife is supposed to revere her husband not poke fun at him.”

“Then you can poke me as punishment,” she took him by the hand. “Come on.”

He was very much up to it, and when they were done, she drifted off to sleep in his arms and with a smile on her face.

A
s October arrived, the time came for Pilar's mother and sister to return to Florida. They'd extended their stay to help Pilar and Noah through the crisis.

“I will miss you, very much,” Pilar said through her tears as she hugged her mother at the train station. She'd become so accustomed to having them in the house when she awakened each morning, it was going to be a difficult adjustment knowing they were no longer there and thousands of miles away again.

“I'll miss you, terribly, too, Pilar, but we'll return, and Noah has promised me you will come and visit us.”

She turned to him with surprised eyes. It was the first she'd heard of this.

He explained, “Since your uncle and I remain business partners, I'd like to go down and look over the operation once I get caught up at the shipyard, and since Drew and Logan have invested, too, maybe the entire family will want to go, and we can chip in for a private car so we don't have to ride with the pigs.”

Pilar thought that a grand idea. That he'd not said anything to her beforehand didn't upset her. She was glad he'd made the pledge.

Her next hug was for Doneta. Her she'd miss the most. Billie and Mariah were wonderful sisters-in-law and she loved them dearly but her love for Doneta held a special place in her heart. “Going to miss you, too.”

“I'll stay longer next time and maybe we can find me a husband like Noah,” Doneta said, hugging her tightly. Christopher hadn't worked out. At some point during the aftermath of the shooting, he'd gone home, but Pilar had no idea when and Doneta hadn't wanted to talk about it.

Pilar kissed her cheek. “You have a deal.”

The train chugged into view, spitting smoke and brimstone from its stack. Pilar was glad to see her mother throw her arms wide for a hug from Noah and he stepped forward without hesitation. “Take care of my daughter,” she said.

“Always. Travel safe.”

He and Doneta shared a hug as well.

The conductor announced it was time to board. With her tears running freely now, Pilar watched them disappear inside. Soon she saw both faces in a window and then their waves. The whistle blew shrilly and the train began to move. As it chugged away, Noah slipped an arm around her waist as if he knew she needed his solace. “I will miss them so much.”

He kissed her forehead. “We'll see them soon. I promise.”

Pilar was a bit melancholy for the rest of the day and that evening, as she stood outside watching the moon come up, she hugged herself in response to the chill. “How much colder is it going to get?” she asked Noah as he stepped out to join her and fit himself against her and circle his arm around her waist. “Just a bit.”

She twisted around to look into his face. “Is that the truth?”

“No.”

She playfully jabbed him with an elbow.

“But as I promised, I'll keep you warm. In fact, how about I take you inside and warm you up right now. Give you something else to think about besides missing your mother and sister.”

“You'd do that for me?” she asked, turning fully this time to face him.

“For you, I'd be willing to make any sacrifice.”

“I'd like a nice soak in a warm tub. Do you think you can sacrifice enough to join me?”

He made a point of thinking it over. “Yes, I believe I can do that.”

She eased herself closer and purred, “Thank you. And for being such a wonderful husband you get to choose what you want me to wear after we're done in the tub and remove it when you're ready.”

“Have I told you I love you today?”

“Not sure but you can tell me while we're getting warm.”

I
n the weeks that followed, Noah threw himself into his job as the new owner of the Douglas Shipyard and looking for a house. Noah planned to keep Walt's name on the sign out front in honor of his passing away right after the attempt on Noah's life. He was certain Lavinia's involvement stole the last few precious moments her father thought he had left, but his death spared him having to witness his daughter's trial. The man she and Gordonez sent to kill him was given immunity from prosecution in exchange for his testimony and was promptly deported back to Cuba. On the last day of the trial, Pilar and Noah sat in the courtroom as Lavinia and Gordonez were sentenced to life in prison.

“They got what they deserved,” Pilar remarked as they sat in the buggy he'd rented for their stay. They planned to return to the ranch the next day. “And in a way my father received justice today, too. My mother will be pleased.”

“I'm sure she will.”

“We've all waited a long time to see Gordonez being taken down, too bad you almost lost your life.”

“But I've recovered and that's a blessing. And speaking of blessings I have a surprise for you.”

“What is it?”

He chuckled. “Why do you always ask that?”

“Because I always want to know.”

He leaned over and placed a quick kiss on her forehead before returning his attention to the thick afternoon traffic. “I think I may have found you and that horse of yours a perfect house.”

“Really?”

“Do you want to see it?”

“Now?”

“Yes, my love. Now.”

“I do!”

And it was perfect. It was outside of the city but there was plenty of room for Titan and the edge of the property fronted the waters of the Bay. “I love this, Noah.”

“It's a former horse farm.”

“I can already see Titan running through the fields.” The property had been cleared but tall trees ran across the back acreage.

He drove them through the wooden fence and up the lane to the house. “It's big,” Pilar said noting the windows on the first and second floor. Of course, it wasn't as large as Alanza's but how many homes were?

“It needs a new roof and some other work,” he added. “But that's why we have Max.”

She grinned. “Can we go inside?”

“Not yet. I wanted you to see it and get your approval before I make my bid to the bank.”

“You have my approval and my love, Titan's love, too.” Her stallion was trained well enough now to ride and she couldn't wait to mount up and explore their new home when the time came.

“So, do you think you'd like raising a family here?”

“I would. Thank you for finding this place, Noah.”

“For you, the world. How about some dinner before we go back to the hotel?”

“That's a great idea.”

They had a wonderful dinner to cap off a wonderful day. As they left the restaurant, Pilar hooked her arm in his. “You know,” she began to say, but her words faded when she realized he'd stopped and was staring ahead. His scarred jaw throbbed and his eyes blazed. She saw an old man approaching. By his rough attire and cane, it was apparent that he'd seen better days. When he came abreast, he stopped and smiled smugly.

“Well, if it ain't the pretty Mr. Yates. How are you, boy?”

“Why do you care, Simmons?”

His cackling laugh brought on a coughing spell and he spit the phlegm onto Noah's boots. “Still mad, are ya? Don't know why. If it weren't for me and that island you'd still be a mincing little fop sucking on your mama's teat. I made ya a man!”

Pilar felt Noah stiffen and she urged softly, “Come on, Noah, let's go.”

The man turned rheumy eyes her way. “Aren't you a pretty little thing. He bugger you the way I heard the boys used to bugger him?”

Noah's fist erupted in the old man's face and it knocked him down. Grabbing him by the lapels Noah dragged him up and rained down blow after blow.

“Noah!” Pilar screamed. “Stop!” She pulled at him. “Stop it! Noah! You'll kill him!” He paused and turned but he was not the man she loved. The seething eyes holding hers were feral, maddened, frightening. Then they cleared and he dropped the man to the pavement. He stared down emotionlessly as the old man lay moaning, with blood streaming from his mouth and nose.

“He needs a doctor,” Pilar said urgently.

“Yes he does.” He dragged him to the nearest doorway and tossed him inside. “This man need a doctor!” That done, he turned to her. “How's that?” And he started up the street again as if he didn't care whether she followed or not.

He didn't speak to her for the rest of the evening and she was awakened much later by his shouts and cries as he wrestled within the throes of a nightmare. It was the most awful night of Pilar's marriage.

Or so she thought.

He had very little to say on the train ride back to the ranch. When they returned home, Drew was the only one in the house and in response to his normal questions about the trip, Noah was aloof. Then as if he'd wanted nothing else to do with them, he left the parlor without saying a word. Pilar dropped into a chair.

A visibly stunned Drew asked, “What happened?”

She related the details of the fight.

“What did the old man do to deserve such a beating? Who was he?”