Rapture's Tempest (13 page)

“Yes?”

“Would you please find me a pair of clean pants?” Jim ran a hand nervously through his hair. He seemed unable to do anything right at the moment.

Hurrying, she laid out his clothes and went back into her cabin while he dressed. She had sensed his discomfort with her in the room, and she thought it wiser to leave him to his own devices.

Sitting nervously on the edge of the bed, she waited until she heard his door close before venturing out. Relaxing a bit now that he was gone, Delight made her plans. She had to leave, now. There would be no time for recriminations. She didn’t want to do that to what they had shared last night. His
love had been perfect, and she wanted the memory to stay that way.

Bundling up her few personal possessions, she donned her coat and started out of the cabin. Pausing, she quickly scribbled him a short note. Leaving it on his desk, she looked once more about Jim’s stateroom, staring at the bed where she’d learned so much about giving and loving unconditionally. She closed her eyes, savoring the sweetness of the night, and then hurried from the boat. Her absence would prove to him that she hadn’t wanted to take anything from him. She had only wanted to give.

Jim sat in the saloon, listening halfheartedly to the news that Mark was imparting. His attention span was almost nil and he had to force himself to heed what his friend was saying.

“Jim, the river is frozen solid from here to New Orleans, and the army just walked across at Vicksburg and took the city. What do you think about that?” Mark said sarcastically, as he realized that Jim was not with him. “Jim?”

“I’m sorry, Mark.” Jim snapped back to the present. He had been lost in thoughts of Murphy’s embrace. “You were saying?”

“Is there something wrong, Jim?”

“No,” he denied quickly. “What makes you say that?”

“You’re acting strange this morning.”

“It was all that champagne last night. I’m afraid I overdid it.”

Mark looked at him speculatively, but didn’t push for a further explanation. He had been at the engagement party last night, but Jim hadn’t seemed all that drunk to him.

“Would you like to get together later today? Most of what I have to tell you is important, but it can wait.”

“What ever you say, Mark,” Jim replied vaguely, and Mark knew it would be better to put it off. Jim was definitely not himself this morning.

“Why don’t I meet you for dinner?”

“Sure.”

“Planter’s House?”

“All right.”

Mark gave him a puzzled look, but Jim took no notice of his confusion. He was too concerned with his own thoughts. They shook hands and agreed on a time to meet to eat and then walked out on deck together.

“Try to get some rest today. You look pretty tired,” Mark suggested.

“I’ll do that.”

“See you tonight.”

Jim was glad when Mark disappeared down the gangplank, and he hurried quickly back to his cabin. He wanted to sit Murphy down and find out exactly what was going on. Jim realized now that he had been hasty in his accusation that morning, but at the time nothing had made sense. Calmer now, and more in control of his emotions, he was ready to talk it out with her. What they had shared last night went beyond words. Something elemental had happened between them…something that he didn’t want to lose.

He had a sudden fleeting thought of Annabelle, but he pushed it aside. There would be time to consider her later. Right now, Murphy was more important.

Bolstered by his feeling of rationality, Jim entered the cabin easily, ready to talk and ready to listen.

He knew immediately that Murphy wasn’t there. There was a silence hanging in the air…a painful one. With long, purposeful strides, he crossed the room, throwing wide her door once more and staring at her deserted quarters. She was gone.

Jim was stunned by the sense of loss he felt, and he cursed Mark and Ollie for their untimely interruption. Important, indeed! A light of hope entered his mind…maybe she had
gone on to work. He was ready to rush from the cabin in search of her when he spied the note lying on the desktop. His hand shook as he reached for it. Eager, yet afraid of what the missive might say, Jim gently unfolded it.

Jim stared at the piece of paper in awestruck silence. She really had gone. Just like that. He didn’t know whether to be angry or sad. Jim felt an unfamiliar burning in his eyes, and, in a fit of uncontrollable rage, he wadded up the paper and threw it viciously across the room. Damn her!

Slumping down in his chair, he stared blindly at the rumpled bed, noticing for the first time the virgin’s blood that stained his sheets. It was only then that he began to understand the enormity of what Murphy had done. Jim groaned to himself as he realized the damage he had caused by accusing her of having some ulterior motive. He had been so selfish and so stupid….

He wanted to make it up to her, to tell her that he was sorry, to tell her that last night had meant everything to him. He wanted her to know that he had never experienced anything like it before in his life and that he never would again in his future. Thoughts of Murphy assailed him. Her quickness at learning, her good-natured acceptance of his teasing, the time they had spent working closely together. How could he have been so blind? She was a lovely woman, not a boy….

Jim looked up, determination written on his features. He would find her if he had to tear the city apart. She couldn’t
have gone too far; he’d only been gone from the cabin for a half an hour.

Standing, he started for the door. It was then that he saw it…his rumpled nightshirt…the one he had given her. With careful hands he picked it up and lay it gently on the bed. Then, retrieving the note, he smoothed out the wrinkles and folded it neatly, storing it in his vest pocket…the pocket nearest his heart.

It was late afternoon, cloudy and cold. A vicious wind whipped down the deserted streets and alleys, discouraging all but the most hardy of souls from venturing out.

Delight slowly made her way down the treacherous, icy side street. The frigid wind stung her face, chilling the tears that clouded her vision as she struggled on, heading in the direction of Rose’s house. Although Delight didn’t want to go back there, knowing that her presence might cause trouble for Rose with Martin, she also knew that she had no real alternative. Necessity was forcing her decision, for she would freeze to death if she tried to stay on the streets.

Delight thought of Jim and wondered if he’d discovered that she’d gone yet. A small, troubled sigh escaped her as she realized that all ties with him had been severed. There could be no going back.

But knowing that she’d made the right decision in leaving didn’t ease the painful loneliness that engulfed her when she thought of him. And, while it hurt that he’d accused her of using him, she still loved him with all of her heart. A lone, forlorn tear trickled down her cheek and she wiped at it sadly. It was going to be difficult, of that she had no doubt, but
somehow, in time, she would manage to put Jim and her love for him behind her and go on with her life.

Sitting under the light of the single lamp in her living room, Rose was diligently working on her mending when she was startled by a knock at the door. Fearful of who it might be, she peeked cautiously out a window. Seeing Delight, she rushed to open the door to her friend.

“Delight! Oh, thank God you’re back! I’ve been so worried!”

Embracing her with loving affection, Rose pulled her into the warmth of the small room, closing and locking the door behind them.

“Are you all right?”

“I’m fine, Rose,” Delight reassured her as she took off her coat and went to stand before the stove.

“Good. You look half-frozen, though. Make yourself comfortable while I get you some hot tea.” Rose quickly poured the warming brew and brought it to her. Sitting down with Delight on the sofa, she asked, “Where did you go? I looked everywhere for you.”

“You went looking for me?”

“I felt so guilty just letting you leave like that…I wanted to do something more to help you.”

“But you did help me,” Delight insisted, relaxing as the steaming tea warmed her. “If it hadn’t been for you, Martin surely would have caught up with me that first night.”

“Thank God he didn’t.” Rose spoke solemnly, fear evident in her voice.

“He did come here, then?”

“Yes, he came and he was so furious.”

“Did he hurt you?”

“No…” Rose paused, remembering his bruising grip and his hate-filled words. “No, he didn’t hurt me. But he would have hurt you if he’d found you that night.”

“I don’t doubt it. Have you heard anything since? How’s my mother?”

“Your mother is much better.”

“Good. But what about Martin?” Delight was ready for what ever news there was. “I need to know what’s going on at home.”

“Martin must have panicked when he couldn’t find you, because he had to explain your disappearance to everybody.”

“What did he say?” Fear struck at her again.

“Don’t get upset,” Rose calmed her. “For once the man did a good job. His lie was very logical, really. He told your mother and anyone else who asked that you had gone to help your aunt. He said that your uncle had been injured and that your aunt wanted to go to him, so you went to stay with the children.”

Delight nodded. “It certainly is believable. I have helped them on more than one occasion. Maybe his lie will work to my benefit.”

“I hope so. But where were you all this time?”

“I’ve been doing odd jobs on the riverfront.” She shrugged and changed the topic. “My mother really is better?”

“Much,” Rose confirmed again, knowing how anxious Delight must have been, worrying about her mother’s health and not being in a position to find out anything.

“Good. That means Martin wouldn’t dare come near me” Delight pondered what action to take.

“You’re not considering going home, are you?”

“I have to go back, Rose. If not today, then next week or next month. There’s nothing else I can do. The longer I stay away, the harder it will be for me to explain my absence. Martin’s story will only hold up until Mother hears from Uncle Joe or Aunt Faith.”

“That’s true enough, but do you really want to?”

“No.” Her answer came flatly, with little emotion. “I hate the thought of living in the same house with Martin again.”

“I can imagine; that’s why I left. But you don’t have to accept that behavior from him.”

“I know.” Delight’s expression hardened. “He caught me off guard. I was naive. But I’m not anymore.”

“So, what are you going to do?”

“I know it’s going to be hard, but I’m going to face him down.”

“How?”

“I’m going to tell him that if he ever comes near me again, I’m going to my mother and let her know just exactly why I left so abruptly.”

“Why don’t you tell her now?”

Delight was thoughtful. “She loves Martin, Rose. She really does. And with her just recovering from such a serious illness, I’d worry about the effect of such news on her.”

“So you’re going to give him another chance?”

“I have to, for Mother’s sake. But I won’t hesitate to tell her if he ever tries anything again.”

“But he might hurt you.”

“I doubt it. Not now that Mother’s better. Martin may not be one to forgive and forget, but he’s certainly not stupid.” Delight looked Rose straight in the eye. “And neither am I.”

Rose shivered at the intensity of feeling Delight exuded. “You’ve grown up.”

“Before I wanted to, that’s for sure. It was nice being safe and cosseted. But I doubt that my life will ever be that ‘nice’ again.”

“Surely you’ll be happy,” Rose hurried to cheer her. “Why, you’ll meet a nice young man and get married…”

A pain grew within Delight’s breast at Rose’s predictions. No, she could never marry, not after what she’d shared with Jim…not after last night.

“Well, that remains to be seen,” she returned, her voice cold and clipped.

“Do you want to go home tonight?”

“No. Tomorrow will be soon enough. We’ve some shopping to do before I can go anywhere.” Delight grinned as she thought of going home in her boy’s pants.

“You’ll need some kind of a hairpiece, too.”

“I hadn’t even thought about my hair.” She ran her hand through her short curls.

“It’s going to need something, unless you want to try to start a new rage?”

“I don’t think so.”

“How are you planning to handle Martin tomorrow?”

“First, I want you to get a letter to him for me. Do you have some paper and a pen?”

“Right here.” Rose brought her the necessary instruments.

“Thanks.” Delight quickly set to work.

A short time later, she looked up at her friend and smiled. “This should do it.”

“I’ll take it over right away.”

“No, not yet. If you deliver it now, he’ll spend the whole night looking for me. We’ll get it to him first thing in the morning. That way he won’t have time to plan anything.”

“You’re right. He’d come straight here if he thought you were back.”

“It’s still light outside; do you want to go shopping now? If I’m supposed to be returning from a trip, I’d better have some baggage with me.”

“Do you need money? I’ve got a little you can have.”

“No, I can charge everything. Do you still have my old clothes?”

“Right here.” Rose retrieved the dress and under things she had left behind the fateful night, and Delight began her transformation from cabin boy back into Delight de Vries.

Ollie looked at Jim skeptically. “I don’t believe it.”

“Believe it, Ollie.”

Their expressions were grim. “But where would he have gone.”

“I don’t know.” Jim sounded as worried as he felt. “I wish I did.”

“He’s too young to be out there all alone. Didn’t he say
anything? Did you two have a fight? He seemed fine last night.”