Rapture's Tempest (34 page)

Rose paused in her work and quickly poured a bowl of water for her at the washstand. “Use this for now. We’ll get you a real bath on the boat.”

“Yes…on the boat…” Delight said, slightly reassured. “We have to hurry.”

“I know. You wash and I’ll pack. Here, wear this.” Rose handed her the other boy’s shirt that she owned.

In less than five minutes, they were ready to go. Descending the staircase, they heard the sound of voices in the kitchen.

“Delight, you wait here. I’ll tell your mother we’re going.”

Delight nodded, not wanting to face Martin again.

“Clara, we’re ready.”

Standing in the kitchen with the gun still pointed directly at Martin, Clara answered, “Fine. The carriage is out in front. I want her safely on that boat, Rose.”

“I’ll take care of her.”

Clara nodded, and Rose hurried from the room, anxious to be away from Martin’s vicious presence.

Clara focused all of her attention on her husband once she heard the carriage drive away.

“I want to hear what you have to say for yourself,” she demanded, never wavering in her purpose.

“I have nothing to say. You’ve already convicted me in your mind.”

She looked at him, smiling thinly. “You’re right. I convicted you a long time ago, when I found out that you were sleeping with Sue, but I gave you the benefit of the doubt. Until tonight, that is.”

“Sue?” He hadn’t known that she’d been aware of his activities.

“Of course. Did you think I was so stupid I wouldn’t find out?” When he didn’t respond, she continued. “Just one question, Martin. Why?”

He looked up at her, regretting that he’d been discovered. She had been a generous wife, and he wondered quickly if he could salvage any of their relationship. “Sue offered.” He shrugged. “Surely I’m not the first master of the house to take advantage of a willing wench?”

“I could care less what you do with her. I’m talking about my daughter.”

“She’s gone now. Let’s forget about her….” He thought he’d made progress, for he saw a softening in her expression, but when he started to stand, she lifted the gun toward him again.

“It would be that simple to you, wouldn’t it?”

“Why not? It was a mistake. It won’t happen again. You can get rid of Sue, too, if you want. Then it will be just you and me. Like it was before Delight returned.”

Clara saw him for what he was, then. An opportunist. “No. I’m afraid that won’t happen. If you’d really cared about me, you wouldn’t have needed other women. Especially my daughter. What you’ve done is unforgivable. I want you out of here, now.”

“But darling—” he began, as his hopes faded.

“Out, Martin. Or I’ll use this gun on a part of your anatomy that you’re exceedingly proficient with.” She lowered her aim and gave a grim laugh as he headed quickly upstairs.

Taking time only to get the money he’d hidden and his clothes, Martin prepared to leave the house. Clara was standing in the front hall when he came down on his way out, but neither spoke. There was nothing left for them to say. When he closed the door behind him, she stared at it for a long time before heading back up to bed, knowing that she wouldn’t sleep that night.

Mark arrived with the gold right on schedule. It was loaded onto the
Enterprise
with no problems, and the guards settled in as the boat made ready to get underway for its long journey
south. Mark met Jim in the pilot house, where they were going over last-minute details when the shout of one of the soldiers drew their attention to the dock area.

“Captain! There’s a carriage coming at full speed…it might be trouble!”

Mark and Jim raced down the companionway so they could get a better look at what was going on. With their sidearms drawn, two guards left the boat to approach the vehicle that was now stopped at the foot of the gangplank. They exchanged a few words with the driver before taking a cursory look inside. Then one of the soldiers came back on board and headed up to where they stood.

“What is it, Corporal?” Mark asked.

“It’s two women, sir. And they said they need to speak with Captain Westlake immediately. Some sort of emergency, sir.”

“Delight—” Jim glanced at Mark worriedly before hurrying below. Dodging soldiers and freight, he ran full speed down the gangplank.

Rose saw him coming and opened the carriage door to climb out. “Jim—”

“Is she hurt? What happened?”

“It was Martin….” Rose started to tell him, but the look on his face was so fierce that she thought better of it. There would be time for that later.

“No—” He brushed past her to reach Delight. “Darling?”

Delight sat in the shadows, still tormented by what had nearly taken place. She had been so sure that she’d be able to handle Martin, and he had overpowered her so easily….

“I’m sorry…I didn’t want to worry you….”

“It’s all right, love. You’re coming with me.” He lifted her lithe form in his arms and carried her quickly on board.

Delight clung to him, secure at last in the haven of his strong embrace. Jim took her directly to his cabin and laid her down on the bed. Helping her with her coat, a cold rage grew within him.

“Montgomery did this to you?” His voice was taut with anger as he saw the bruises Martin had inflicted on her.

“Yes…he cornered me in the kitchen when I got back…I tried to get away from him….”

Jim sat down next to her and pulled her across his lap as she sobbed out her whole story, telling him of the helplessness she’d felt when Martin had forced her back against the wall. With a gentle touch, Jim smoothed her hair back from her face and pressed a soft kiss on her brow.

“It’s all over now. You’ll never have to go back,” he reassured her calmly as he felt her shivering slowly stop. “Never.”

Finally calming down, she looked up at Jim, her eyes luminous with her love for him. “Thank you.”

He kissed her then, reminding her of all that they meant to each other, and sat holding her close and cherishing the feel of her against him.

Filled with a primitive fury, Jim wanted to track Martin down and strangle him with his bare hands. The bastard had actually laid his hands on her…he’d hurt her…Jim tensed as he fought to control himself. The mournful whistle from the pilot house broke through his thoughts, giving him an element of stability to hang on to.

“I need to speak with Mark; it’s time for us to shove off. Will you be all right alone for a few minutes?”

She nodded.

“I’ll be right back.” Against his better judgment, he left her, knowing that the pilot was awaiting his command to leave port. He found Rose and Mark standing anxiously outside his cabin.

“How is she?” Mark inquired with great concern. He’d seen how pale she’d looked when Jim had carried her on board.

“I think she’ll be all right. She just needs a little rest right now. Rose, could you stay with her while I go up to the pilot house?”

“Of course.” Without further words, she entered the cabin and closed the door behind her.

Mark and Jim headed for the pilothouse to supervise their leaving.

“What happened? Can you talk about it?”

Jim hesitated, wondering whether to tell him the whole truth, and then decided that it was time. “Delight’s stepfather tried to force himself on her.”

“Martin Montgomery?” Mark was stunned.

“That’s right, the bastard…if we didn’t have to pull out right now, I’d track the son of a bitch down and kill him without a second thought.” Jim’s voice revealed the agony of his position…his desire for revenge thwarted by his duty not only to his job but to Delight, as well. He knew that she needed him now, more than ever. There would be a time and place to seek his revenge on Martin, but this was not the night, no matter how badly he wanted to see the man suffer.

“Easy…” Mark tried to calm him.

“I know. I’m under control, but just barely…the thought of what he almost did to her….”

“But he didn’t succeed. She’ll be fine, right?”

Jim sighed as some of the tension left his body. “Right. It’s just that I feel so responsible.”

“You? Why?”

“I knew about Martin and I let her go back there.”

“How could you have known?”

Jim looked at Mark quickly, “I might as well tell you everything, so you can understand. Martin tried to take her once before, but she managed to get away. She disguised herself as a boy and…”

“Delight?”

“That’s right. Remember Del Murphy?”

“You’re not serious?” Mark was astonished.

“I am. Do you realize she lived with me for all that time and never once did I guess….”

Mark smiled at the thought. “How did you finally find out?”

“Suffice it to say that on the night of my engagement party to Annabelle, Delight revealed herself to me. And then the next morning she fled. I didn’t know her name; all I knew was
that she was the most perfect woman in the world, and I wanted her for my own.”

“When did you find out who she really was?”

“The night of the Montgomerys’ party.”

“I wondered why you broke off with Annabelle so quickly.”

“I didn’t love her. Not like I did Delight. She’s the only woman I’ve ever really needed.”

“But why did she go back home? Surely she knew she wouldn’t be able to stop Martin. Not if he really wanted her….”

“She threatened to tell her mother everything if he didn’t stay away from her….” Jim paused. “God, Mark…if I ever find him…”

“I know.” He clasped Jim on the back sympathetically as they entered the pilot house.

They fell silent then as the pilot skillfully backed the huge steamboat out into the current and swung her around to head downstream. The lights of St. Louis were fading behind them as they once again went back out on deck.

“Did you ever hear anything from Sam Wallace?” Jim forced himself to think of other things as they walked down the deck to the passageway.

“Not a word.”

Jim just nodded. “Well, at least we got away without any trouble.”

“I just wish I knew what happened to Sam.”

“So do I. I’d rest a lot easier if I knew for sure that MacIntosh was clean.”

“You’re not the only one.” They paused at the railing. “You’d better be getting back to Delight.”

“I know. Are you set for the rest of the night?”

“Sure. And if I do need anything, I’ll just find Ollie.”

“Good. I’ll be in my cabin.”

Jim moved slowly down the texas deck to his room and went in quietly. Rose had turned the lamp down and was sitting at his desk.

“She’s asleep,” Rose said softly.

Jim nodded, going to stand beside the bed. Curled on her side, Delight looked very young, and he was touched by the innocence of her beauty. “Are you tired, Rose?”

“A little.”

“Why don’t you use Delight’s bed in the connecting room.” He indicated the door.

“Thanks. I will.” Rose went on to bed then, leaving Jim alone with Delight.

He stood hesitantly for a moment in the middle of his stateroom as he realized that he’d just set himself up with a chaperone. All he had thought about was lying down with Delight and holding her through the night. He wanted to soothe away her fears, but now, with Rose so close at hand, he had no such freedom.

Cursing under his breath at his own stupidity, he slumped in his desk chair and opened the bottom drawer to pull out his oft-used bottle of scotch. Tilting it to his lips, he took a long drink of the strong whiskey. Leaning back, he propped his feet up on the desktop and tried to relax.

So much had happened so fast. Jim let his gaze roam over Delight as she lay sleeping in his bed. He regretted deeply her abuse at Martin’s hands, and he would see that the man paid in full for his attempt. Actually, he was glad that she was here with him. Now he would know for certain that she was safe at all times.

Bracing his shoulders against the back of the hard chair, he shifted himself lower in search of comfort. It was going to be a long, lonely night, and he knew he should try to get some rest while he could.

Delight stirred as vivid memories of the evening just passed haunted her. In her dream, she was running…trying to get away from Martin, but he was always close behind her, grabbing at her and trying to pull her down.…With a soft, wild cry she came awake, her breathing labored, her eyes wide with the stark terror she’d felt in her dream.

“Jim!”

The sound of her voice woke him, and he moved quickly from his seat to the bedside. “Are you all right?”

Delight held her arms out to him in a silent plea, and Jim, not caring that Rose was in the next room, slid into bed next to her and held her close.

“Rest, love. I’ll keep you safe from now on.” He felt her sigh as the tenseness left her, and in a few minutes she’d fallen back asleep. Jim sighed, too, but for very different reasons. There he was with the woman of his dreams sleeping peacefully in his arms, and there was nothing he could do. He was fully dressed, fully chaperoned, and fully miserable. Resigning himself to a night of complete frustration, he kissed her brow gently and then closed his eyes.

The sun was just streaking the horizon with its golden promises when Martin emerged from the saloon. After leaving Clara, he’d taken a room at the Planter’s Hotel and then spent the evening trying to devise a plan that would set him up for the rest of his life. Though he was in no danger of financial embarrassment at the present time, Martin definitely needed more money. He’d become accustomed to the good life, and he wanted to maintain that standard of living.

Taking a deep breath of the crisp morning air to clear his head, Martin headed back toward his hotel. He had made many decisions out of necessity before, so he didn’t resent the position he now found himself in. The only thing that bothered him was the fact that he had never made Delight his own. But it was too late to worry about that; Delight had made her choice to go with Westlake, and Martin knew that she would get what she deserved. Right now, his own survival
was all that mattered to him, and Martin fully intended to come out of this awkward situation in good financial shape.

As he saw it, he had two opportunities—he could go to Nathan and threaten to expose their involvement in the upcoming robbery unless they paid him more money; or he could go to Marshall Westlake and warn him about the planned attack. Though either plan might pay off handsomely, they were both fraught with risks. Nathan and his group just might turn vicious and try to silence him permanently, while the Westlakes might not believe what he had to say.