Ecstasy's Promise (Historical Romance) (22 page)

Victoria looked into his shiny blue eyes, eyes that spoke of his love for her. "Not so bad; Bodine took care of me," she told him.

"How is Bodine?"

"He is fine. He has been in the western part of the state for some time. We expect him home any day."

"How is Rebel?"

Victoria's eyes lit up. "He is still as unpredictable as ever, not allowing most people to come near him."

Paul smiled. "I told him before I gave him to you, that he must keep all other men away from you," he teased.

Victoria's laughter rang out. "He has obeyed your orders." Then she became serious. "How are your mother and father, Paul?"

"They are well. They send you their love."

"Have you seen Farraday Plantation?"

Paul's hand found Victoria's and he clasped it tightly. "I cannot tell you how grieved I was when I saw your beautiful home in ashes. Do not worry, Tory, you have my promise that I will rebuild it for you one day."

His eyes were so honest. This was her Paul, the man she was to marry—safe, gentle Paul. Victoria wanted to hear him assure her that things would be as they once were between the two of them before Edward Hanover had come into her life and changed her forever.

"I do not know, Paul; perhaps it will be as you say. I hope so."

Edward finished his drink, and Mammaw poured him another. He was silently brooding. He wanted to leave, but he could not.

"I have so many messages for you, Tory. Moss moved back to Farraday Plantation. He is staying in one of the cabins. He keeps the lawn clipped and the hedges trimmed. He even planted a garden. His message to you is, Tell Miss Victoria I's gonna keep things running 'til she come home.'"

"I can see him doing just that. How is Becky?"

"She is with Moss. She swears she will take on the whole Yankee Army if her baby is not returned to her unharmed." At the word Yankee, Victoria looked at Edward. He glared at her, and she looked quickly back to Paul.

"How are they eating, Paul?" Victoria asked.

"You need not concern yourself about their welfare, honey. After much persuading, my father convinced Moss to slaughter one of the hogs Bodine had penned in the swamps. They have the garden, milk from the cow, and Becky told me that Moss
fishes in the river."

Victoria sighed in relief. "I am so glad. I have been so worried about them, but was helpless to do anything. I might have known that your father would help them. He was always such a caring man."

"You are going to be his daughter soon, honey. It is only natural that he would look out for your interests. Everyone is curious as to what became of you, Tory," Paul said, turning the conversation. "All the men are especially interested."

"You have told no one?"

"Of course not, Tory. Especially not the men," Paul teased.

Victoria laughed delightedly.

Paul, being a gentleman, realized that he had been very rude to Victoria's grandmother and Mr. Hanover by not including them in his conversation. All he really wanted to do was to be alone with Tory. She was so lovely, and he had waited so long for her. "Mrs. Anderson, Mr. Hanover, I hope you will both forgive my bad manners," Paul said. "It is just that seeing Tory again has wiped every other thought out of my mind. You must think me very rude."

"Not at all, Paul," Mammaw told him. "I know how hard the separation has been, for you as well as Victoria."

"Yes, ma'am, it sure has." Paul raised Victoria's hand to his lips and kissed it tenderly.

Victoria smiled at him, feeling uncomfortable under Edward's scrutiny. Why did he keep staring at her?

Edward's eyes were burning. He felt as though a part of himself were dying—and he was helpless to
prevent it.

Mammaw watched; her shrewd eyes missed nothing.

Dinner went better than Mammaw expected, knowing the undercurrents felt by two of the young people. Edward did not join in the conversation, but sat watching, listening; he hardly touched his food. When dinner was over, they returned to the parlor, and made polite conversation for a while.

Paul clasped Victoria's hand in his. She smiled at him. Edward and Mammaw were sitting on the couch. Paul turned to Edward, feeling he should include him in the conversation. "Mr. Hanover, you have a ranch nearby?" Paul asked.

"That is correct, Mr. O'Brian."

"I confess I know very little about ranching, Mr. Hanover. You raise cows, do you not?"

Edward scowled at him. "Cattle, Mr. O'Brian," he corrected rudely.

"Mr. Hanover also raises horses, Paul," Victoria told him, trying to cover up Edward's rudeness. "I have been told," and she smiled at Edward, "that you have some very fine thoroughbreds."

Edward looked at her coldly. "Nothing that would compare with your Rebel," he said.

"Paul," Mammaw asked, "do you find my granddaughter much changed since you saw her last?"

Paul smiled at Victoria. "She is more beautiful, Mrs. Anderson, if that is possible."

"Thank you, Paul," Victoria said, her eyes shining.

Edward spoke before he had time to think: "I thought you did not like compliments, Miss Farraday."

Victoria looked at him haughtily. "I believe I told you, Mr. Hanover, that I did not mind if they were sincere and from the right person."

Edward scowled; Paul looked puzzled; Mammaw smiled.

Paul looked at Victoria. "Will you do me a favor, Tory?"

"You know I will, Paul. What would you like?" she asked.

His hand closed over hers. "Please play and sing for me, Tory. The thought of you playing the piano and singing got me through some pretty tough times. I remember one night outside of Vicksburg. There had been fighting all day. The sight of the wounded and the dead was all about me. I lay down on my blanket and tried to shut it all out. There was a lilac bush growing nearby. I thought of you, sitting at the piano, singing for me, and was able to get through that awful night."

"I will play for you, Paul," Victoria said, misty-eyed. She looked at Edward. "You do not mind, Mr. Hanover?"

He frowned at her. "I would be enchanted. It seems there is no end to your accomplishments," he said sarcastically.

Paul took Victoria by the hand and led her to the piano. She seated herself on the bench and ran her fingers over the keys. Paul leaned on the piano and smiled down at her.

"You know what I want to hear, Tory."

She started singing in a beautiful soprano voice and was joined by Paul's deep baritone. Their voices blended sweetly:

Blue grow the lilacs around my front door, Music and laughter are with me once more; My love is returning, he'll leave me no more. Blue grow the lilacs around my front door.

The war called my true love;

He left me alone.

He has now done his duty;

He's coming back home.

I hear his footsteps;

I call out his name.

He holds me closely,

And nothing has changed.

Edward rose to his feet. "I find that I cannot stay any longer," he said to Mammaw. "You will tell them I said good night?"

Mammaw walked him to the door. Maybe she had been unwise after all. She saw the naked pain in Edward's brown eyes. He kissed her on the cheek and left without a word. As Edward rode into the night, he could hear the voices singing:

Blue grow the lilacs around my front door, Music and laughter are with me once more; My love is returning, he'll leave me no more. Blue grow the lilacs around my front door.

Edward rode toward town, digging his heels into his horse's flanks. He would get drunk, he thought. The new singer at the saloon was pretty enough, and after all, underneath, one woman was much the same as another.

Bodine was tired. He looked forward to sleeping in his own bed tonight. He would just stop by the saloon for a quick drink, he thought, before he rode home. The room was smoke-filled, and the music was too loud. Bodine stepped up to the bar and ordered a drink. He looked about him, swallowed his drink, and paid the bartender. He was about to leave, when he spotted Edward Hanover. He strolled across the room, and stood beside Edward's table.

"Mind if I join you, Edward?"

Edward looked up at him. "Sure, it is a free country," he said, slurring his words.

"They say it is not good for a man to drink alone. You can get drunk that way."

"I will be a hell of a lot drunker before I am through."

Bodine smiled. "And have a hell of a hangover in the morning."

"What's it to you, Bodine?"

"It is nothing to me," Bodine answered, turning the chair backward and straddling it. "Maybe you would like me to take you home?"

"What I would like is another drink," Edward said.

A pretty saloon girl came up beside him. She smiled seductively. "Edward, honey, how about you and me having a nice time?"

Edward fumbled in his pocket, and slammed a wad
of bills on the table. "I told you no before. Here," he said, shoving the money toward her, "buy yourself a drink and leave me alone."

"Edward," she soothed, "come with me and I will put you to bed."

Edward grabbed her by the arm. "I would like to oblige you, but your eyes are the wrong color. Her eyes are blue as the summer sky, and they haunt me wherever I go. Take the money," he said hotly. "I have no need of you." The woman scooped up the money and left in a hurry. Edward laid his head on the table. "Damn you, Victoria, damn you."

Bodine frowned. "Shut your mouth," he ordered. "You will not bandy her name about in this place."

Edward ignored him. "Paul O'Brian came today and acted like he owns her, but she is mine."

"I told you to shut up," Bodine hissed, but he saw that Edward was past reasoning with. He rose and pulled Edward to his feet. "I am going to get you out of here, before you make me really mad, Edward." He supported Edward's weight and led him across the street and to the hotel.

"Help me get him upstairs," Bodine ordered the desk clerk. Between the two of them, they managed to get Edward up the stairs and onto the bed.

"I never saw Mr. Hanover like this before," the desk clerk said, shaking his head. Bodine thanked him curtly and he left quickly. Not bothering to light the lamp, Bodine removed Edward's boots.

"Your eyes promise much, Victoria, but you give nothing," Edward said.

Bodine sat down in a chair and propped his long legs on the side of the bed. He would not see his own
bed this night. He would stay with Edward.

The music from the saloon drifted across the street and in through the open window. Edward's voice continued: "You are mine, Victoria. Your sweetly curved body can drive a man out of his mind. I was so sure you would belong to me. I never respected a woman as I did you. How could you let Paul O'Brian touch you when you belong to me? Don't you know that I love you?"

Bodine listened to Edward's drunken words. So Paul had come. Bodine would have killed a man for a lot less than what Edward was saying; but deep down, he had a gut feeling that Victoria's happiness lay with the man on the bed, and not with Paul O'Brian.

16

Victoria awoke with a feeling of excitement. She hurriedly dressed and ran downstairs to find Paul and her grandmother already having breakfast. Paul rose as she entered and kissed her.

"I still cannot believe you are here, Paul. Maybe it is a dream and when I awake, you will have disappeared."

Paul smiled. "I assure you that will not happen, Tory. I never intend to let you out of my sight again."

Victoria returned his smile. "Have you been getting acquainted with my grandmother?"

"Indeed I have, honey."

Victoria turned to her grandmother and kissed her. Paul pulled out a chair so Victoria could join them, and Mammaw handed her a plate filled with eggs, ham, and a hot buttered biscuit.

"Grandmother, I declare you want me to get fat," Victoria said.

"You do not eat enough to keep a bird alive, child," her grandmother replied.

"I will eat the ham and biscuit, but I promised myself some time ago that I would never eat another egg again."

"And why is that?" her grandmother asked. "I know that every morning I have Lupe prepare eggs for you and every morning they go uneaten."

"When Bodine and I were on the road," Victoria told her, "we had to eat a lot of eggs. I grew very tired of them, that is all."

"Well," Mammaw said, "we will just have to find a substitute then."

"Oh, Grandmother, I promise you I will not die of malnutrition."

Paul looked at Victoria with concern. "You do look thin, Tory."

"Oh, please, not you, too, Paul," she declared. "Look, I will eat all that is on my plate except for the eggs. Will that please you?"

Both pairs of eyes watched her as she started to eat.

"Paul has been telling me of your life in Georgia, child."

Victoria reached over and squeezed Paul's hand. "It is so wonderful to have you here and to know that you have suffered no ill effects from the war."

"Well, this is a happy-looking group I see sitting around the table," Bodine said from the doorway. Victoria flew out of her chair and threw herself into his arms. He laughed at her good-naturedly. "I am mighty gamy, Imp."

"I do not care. I am so glad to see you anyway, Bodine."

"Yes, and I am too," Mammaw added. "This ranch does not run itself, you know."

"Oh, I do not know about that, Alice. You did fine for   twenty   years," Bodine   told   her.   Then   he
extended his hand to Paul. "How are you, Paul? It is
good to see you."

"Just fine, sir, now that I have found Tory." Paul returned the older man's handshake.

"Sit down, Bodine," Mammaw told him. "Here,
have some eggs and ham."

"Let me wash up; then I will join you. But no eggs, please," Bodine said, smiling at Victoria.

Later, the four of them sat around the table and discussed Bodine's trip to west Texas.

"What were our losses on the cattle drive, Bodine?" Mammaw asked.

"Less than twenty head. I expected worse, but
once we got past San Angelo, there was ample water
and grass for grazing."

"Did you get a fair price?" Mammaw asked.

Bodine grinned. "I got six bits more a head than we expected."

Mammaw smiled, relief on her face; then she
looked at Victoria. "See why Bodine is indispensable
to me? You have earned a bonus, Son."

"That will not be necessary, Alice. You pay me too much already."

Bodine and Mammaw looked into each other's eyes. "I could never begin to pay you your worth," Mammaw told him.

Bodine turned to Paul. "Are the authorities searching for Victoria and myself?"

Paul hesitated. "Not for you; but they are looking for Tory. The blue coats have not left a stone unturned. They do not know about your part in it, Bodine. They think Tory killed both
of the Yankees."

"Maybe if I turned myself in and told them that
I
killed both of the Yankees," Bodine said, "they would let Victoria go free. This Corporal Fish did not actually see her shoot anyone."

Victoria jumped to her feet. "No, I will not have it! I promise you if you do anything so foolish, Bodine, I will tell the truth." She looked at him angrily.

"Sit down, Imp. Do you never tire of bullying me?"

"Just as long as you understand me," Victoria said defiantly. She was trembling, and Bodine pulled her to him.

Paul shook his head, then pulled a handbill from his pocket and handed it to Bodine, who unfolded it and read:

"WANTED: Victoria Lee Farraday for al
legedly KILLING TWO UNION SOLDIERS."

It went on to give a description of her and offered a two-hundred-dollar reward for aiding in her capture. After Bodine had read it, he passed it to Mammaw. She read it and handed it to Victoria.

"I wish I could have kept this from you, Tory," Paul said, "but you can see it is just not safe for you to return to Georgia at this time."

"Have your mother and father been questioned about Victoria?" Bodine asked.

Paul nodded. "Yes, many times. That is why they have not written to you, Tory. They did not want anyone to intercept the letters. There has even been a Pinkerton man nosing around."

Victoria's hands trembled as she read about herself. "They make me sound like a monster. Oh, Bodine, what am I to do?" she cried.

Bodine put his arms about Victoria. "You are safe here, honey. They will never find you." Then he turned to Paul. "There is no possibility they followed you, is there, Paul?"

"No. I was very careful. I rode out at night and instead of taking a ship from Savannah, I rode to Jacksonville and boarded one there."

"Good," Bodine said. "Now, none of this can go outside this room, is that clear?" Everyone nodded in agreement. Bodine, trying to think of some way to distract Victoria, suggested that she take Paul to the barn and show him Rebel.

After they had gone, Bodine and Mammaw sat back down at the table, both of them at a loss as to how to help Victoria.

"If this man, Fish, had told the truth, he could have cleared Victoria," Mammaw said.

Bodine shook his head. "It appears he has not done so. There is always the chance they might trace her here. If they start nosing around, I could always take her to California."

Mammaw shook her head. "That child cannot spend her life running. It just breaks my heart the way she has suffered and must go on suffering."

"Yeah," Bodine said, "I am afraid that is not all, either. Paul has his mind set on marrying her, and she will probably say yes to him."

"He seems a fine man, and he does love her," Mammaw said.

"They don't come any better than Paul, but she does not love him, though I don't know if she is aware of it yet."

Mammaw's shrewd eyes looked at Bodine. "She is in love with Edward Hanover."

Bodine grinned. "Did she tell you?"

"No. I am not sure she knows it herself."

"You don't miss much, do you?" Bodine asked.

"Not much," Mammaw told him. "But how did you know?"

Bodine leaned back and studied Mammaw. "Just years of anticipating what Victoria is going to do before she does it."

"Well, Bodine, I will tell you something that you do
not
know. Edward returns her love. I saw it last night when he watched Victoria and Paul together."

Bodine smiled at her. "You are wrong, Alice. I do know. I spent most of last night wet-nursing him."

He told Mammaw what had occurred at the saloon.

"This gets worse as it goes along." Mammaw sighed. "What are we going to do? Even if she and Edward did find each other and get married, it could come out someday about her past."

"Yeah," Bodine said, "and what if she marries Paul?"

They both sat silently lost in thought.

"Maybe we are underestimating Victoria," Mammaw said after a while.

"Maybe," Bodine agreed. "I know we are underestimating Edward Hanover."

Victoria and Paul walked hand in hand into the barn. When they were safely inside, Paul swept her into his arms. "Alone at last. I have thought of nothing else but you for so long, and now I have you in my arms."

Victoria smiled into Paul's handsome face. "It is so wonderful to see you, Paul." She rested her head on his shoulder.

"Honey, everything will work out in the long run; you will see. It is hard for me to think of anything but you when you are in my arms. I love you, Tory, and I have missed you more than I can tell you."

Victoria looked into his face. His eyes were soft, and she never doubted the sincerity of his words.

"I have something for you, Tory." He pulled a small case from his pocket, opened it, and took out a ring. "Will you wear my ring, honey?"

Victoria smiled. "I would be honored to wear your ring, Paul."

He slipped it on her finger; then he took her in his arms once more and kissed her softly. It was not a burning, all-consuming kiss as Edward had given her, but a soft, sweet kiss, one that restored her self-confidence and demanded nothing from her. When Paul raised his head, Victoria noticed the hand he brushed across her face was trembling.

"When can we be married, Tory? I want you to be my wife as soon as possible. Please do not make me wait much longer."

Victoria frowned. There was so much to decide. If she married Paul, would it be fair to him to ask him to remain in Texas? "Give me a little time, Paul. The news you gave me today was quite a shock. We will have to decide what to do now that I cannot return to Georgia."

"I will give you all the time you need, honey. You will find I am a very patient man where you are concerned." He smiled at her. "You will soon belong to me." He kissed her cheek, then he looked at her, a serious frown on his face. "If you knew how much I want you, it might frighten you."

She sighed contentedly and rested her head on his shoulder. "I feel so safe with you, Paul."

Edward walked downstairs. The plush red carpet cushioned his footsteps on the staircase. He could hear the sounds the workmen made as they labored, redecorating the bedroom next to his own. How sure he had been, when he had commissioned the redecorating, that Victoria would occupy that room. His house seemed empty; he felt such a loneliness. Here, among all his wealth and splendor, he had a longing for more. He wanted Victoria.

Try as he might, he was unable to get her out of his mind. It had been two weeks since he had delivered Paul O'Brian to the Anderson ranch—two weeks of hell for him. Edward wondered why he still allowed the workmen to continue redecorating the upstairs bedroom.

The sounds followed him out the front door. He walked down the brick walkway toward the stables. He passed a crew of gardeners who were busy clipping the lawn. Edward acknowledged their presence with a curt nod. He noticed Dan's buggy as it pulled into the circular driveway. Edward retraced his steps as Dan jumped from the buggy and waved to him.

"You are a bit late, Dan, if you came for lunch," Edward told him coolly.

"For your information, I have already had lunch. I ate with Mammaw," Dan said, grinning.

"How are things at the Anderson ranch?" Edward asked dryly.

"There is a lot of excitement and preparation going on over there today. I got myself roped into helping Paul hang paper streamers."

"They are planning a celebration?"

"Indeed they are, and the whole county is being invited."

Edward's face was grim.

"I have an invitation for you, as a matter of fact. When I told Victoria I was coming to see you, she asked if I would deliver it to you."

"I do not want the damned invitation, Dan. You can save us both a lot of trouble if you ride back to the Anderson ranch and tell them I have no intention of attending."

Dan reached into his buggy and withdrew an envelope that was lying on the leather seat. He grinned as he handed it to Edward. "That is a pity. Mammaw will be disappointed."

Edward ignored the invitation. "Victoria is crazy if she thinks I am going to watch her become the wife of Paul O'Brian."

Dan laughed out loud. "Here, open it," he said, offering Edward the invitation once more.

Edward took the envelope from him, tore it open, and read:

Your presence is requested to celebrate the birthday of Alice Anderson at the Anderson ranch at 7 o'clock on the night of September 30. No gifts, please.

It was signed:
Victoria Lee Farraday.

Edward looked at Dan; his eyes were blazing. "Don't say a word, Dan. I don't care to hear anything you have to say. You let me carry on and act the fool. You could have stopped me, you know."

"I cannot stop you from playing the fool, Edward;
it is a part you play so well lately."

"I have things to do, Dan. If there is nothing else you want, you will have to excuse me."