Southern Beauty (10 page)

Chapter 1
2

J

ohanna felt the rush of adrenaline as she made her way through the cobblestone streets of
Port of New Orleans.  The French Quarter was a surprising place to be.  The sounds of trombones and saxophones came out of every corner bar, the smell of incense and tobacco filled the streets, and candles flickered highlighting the drunken soldiers and sailors standing on the sidewalks talking to scanty clothed women.  She tried not to notice any of this.  She was determined to meet Malcolm and begin her trip to Virginia, to family once again. 

Louisiana
had just passed the vote and the state had now officially seceded.  People were celebrating anyway they knew how.  Fireworks filled the evening sky while people cheered at the sight.  She couldn’t even remember which side she was on or supposed to be on. She thought about David.  How long would he be on her side?  If Virginia seceded, they would forever be at odds.  Right now they were both from the Union.  How long would that last, days, weeks, or months?  How long did they have? 

She wondered how far north she would have to travel to be an ally of his.  Why she was thinking of him again in a loving way perplexed her. 

The St. Charles Hotel was connected to small shops and apartments.  She couldn’t quite make out the figures standing overhead looking out balconies and whistling and laughing while she grasped the door of the hotel to enter.  She refused to look up and acknowledge their misbehavior.  She hesitated and took a deep breath and opened the door. 

“Excuse me, I am looking for someone I am supposed t
o meet here,” Johanna asked a hotel attendant who happen to be walking by her as she entered. Johanna was about to describe Malcolm when he grumbled.

“Try over there,” he pointed t
oward a table where a man sat, it appeared the hotel attendant was too busy to be bothered. 

The man who
he pointed to sat at a small table alone, glasses barely fit on top of his nose.  He seemed to be trying to read scraps of paper that lay out in front of him, he was mumbling to himself.  Johanna started toward him when a woman with a hooded cloak interrupted her path. 

“Please come with me,” she ordered Johanna. 

No words were spoken between them as they walked silently toward the hotel’s cellar steps.  A light flickered from below as they descended.  Before Johanna reached the bottom stair, a feeling of uneasiness pricked at her, but it was too late to turn back. 

“I am looking for Mr. Graystone,” she tried to ask the woman whose face was still covered by her cloak. “Have you seen him, Private Malcolm Graystone?”

The woman made no reply until they reached the end of the stairs. Lantern lights flickered in the dark exposing a single door at the end of a hallway.

“The one you seek may not be the one you desire,” she smiled pulling her cloak off her head. 

Johanna was surprised to see a beautiful young woman with dark features her Creole accent only enhanced her beauty. Johanna watched the woman walk gracefully toward the door and knocked once and then twice more.

The door opened and Johanna was pushed through a darkened room that was only lit by a small candelabrum which sat alone in the center of the room.  Johanna focused on its light.  Then she noticed the shadowy figure that ominously sat behind it.   

“Welcome, Johanna Lee,” a rough voice came out of the darkness.  Each candle flame swayed with each breath he took.  Johanna continued to focus on the candles, their wax melting and slowly cascading down making a shape she could not place. 

“Do I know you?” she asked
with fear in her voice.

“I don’t think so,” he laughed.  “But you will get to know me soon enough.” His men laughed.

“Do you know where I can find Mr. Graystone?” she asked ignoring his insinuation.

“Yes and no.” he came out of the darkness. 

Johanna gasped.  She knew who he was.  He was Captain Darren Myers.  But, he wasn’t a captain, more like a pirate.  He stole cargo ships in harbors and kidnapped women in ports. 

“Ah, you recognize me from the wanted
posters,” he grinned with excitement. 

Johanna
still speechless stood still.

“They don’t do me justice.  I think I am much more handsome in person
,” he laughed. “Don’t you think?”

Johanna step
ped backwards.  The room had now brightened and she now could see Myers’ men blocking the stairs to her exit.  The lamps they held flickered casting shadows about the room.  Johanna noticed the woman who had led her into danger had now vanished.

“What do you want?” she asked with more courage than she actually had.

“You are in possession of something that is very valuable.  It will come in handy as a bargaining tool for my freedom,” Myers grumbled.

“
I have nothing in my possession,” she replied.

“Oh but you do, my sweet,” h
e said.

Johanna stared him down
, “I am telling you, I have no jewelry or anything of value on me.” 

Captain Myers laughed and his men followed.
Shadows continued to dance around the room, giving it a haunted feeling. 

“Jewels and money I have plenty of.  Th
at is not what I am speaking of,” Myers continued.  “Freedom is what I seek.”

“There is no way anyone would give you pardon for what you have done.  Not even
for all the riches in the world,” Johanna said in frustration.

“No, but for winning a war, there are those who would sell their souls,” Myers said.

“You must be mistaken,” she said.  “I do not have anything in my possession worth any value.” She again surprised herself with her lack of fear.       

“Oh,
I think you do pretty lady,” said Myers.  “There is a rumor that your uncle is friends with a balloonist.  He made a secret map for him, an original.  It is a treasure many men will pay for and even die for, and many women too.” 

T
he men in the room laughed.  There were more than she first thought.

“I am sorry you must be mistaken.  I have nothing, and if I did, I still wo
uld not give it to you,” she boldly declared.

“
Oh, I do like feisty women,” Captain Myers laughed. “It’s a shame I have to let you go.”

“You will let me go?” she asked.

“As soon as I get what I want from you,” Myers explained.

“I have nothing
, I tell you,” Johanna repeated.

“Yes, you said that.  Maybe I should have my
men search you?” he asked. “I know they would enjoy that immensely.”

The men in the room laughed and
cheered in agreement.

“You wouldn’t?”
asked Johanna now frightened.

“Maybe
, I will keep you instead for my collection,” he stared her down. “I bet I could get a pretty penny for you.”

“You can’t keep me here,” warned
Johanna who was now frightened.  “I am in the care of the U.S. Army and they know where I am.  If you take me, they will hunt you down like the dog that you are.”

“It se
ems you have forgotten who I am,” Myers laughed at her courage.  “I have many friends and family that are hidden in the deepest, darkest shadows, Miss Lee.” 

“
I’m not surprised,” Johanna said under her breath.  “What do you want from me?” she asked.

“I will give you until dawn to retrieve my items
,” said Myers.  “We will find you.  Remember any inquiries from the local authorities and you will not live to see another sunrise.”

“By dawn, is that a joke?  I don’t even know if I will ever see him again,” Johanna frustrated now being threatened once again. “And besides, that’s only a few hours away.”

“Then you better hurry,” said Myers grinning.

Suddenly
to everyone’s surprise, a hidden door behind Johanna suddenly slammed open.  Johanna, caught in the door’s path, was knocked to the ground. With no time to brace herself, she hit her head hard onto the basement floor.

Men she didn’t recognize rushed through the secret door, their guns in hand.  Myers’ men who had been taken by surprise, found themselves surrounded now by a new set of men who had descended the basement steps from behind.   

Before everything went black, Johanna saw a figure of a man standing in the doorway.

Johanna t
eetered in and out of consciousness.  She tried desperately to keep her senses.  She had now become aware of the extreme ache that pounded the back of her head. Even with her vision blurry, she tried to focus on the men who fought before her.  Their confrontation seemed to escalate with angry words but they seemed too far away for her to comprehend what they were saying.   

“Your business here has ended,” said a voice.  “I suggest you leave the premises immediately. The authorities are on their way.”

“We don’t want any trouble,” said Myers raising his hands in defeat. “We will leave.”

“She must be quite a handful if you need all these men
here,” mocked the man.

“Yes, she is quite captivating.  Don’t you think?” asked Myers.

“Absolutely,” he answered.

Captain
Myers nodded to his men to halt their brawl and leave.  Before he followed, he leaned down near Johanna who still lay motionless on the cold basement floor.

“We will meet again, my lady.  That you can count on,” he warned Johanna.
 

Johanna tried to respond, but no
words would form on her lips.  A dark shadow of a man stood tall over her, but before she could recognize him, darkness enveloped her.

“
Bonjour, ma chérie,” he said looking down on Johanna.  “It seems we meet again.”

Chapter 1
3

“I

found her,” said
Preston, putting his hand on David’s shoulder.

“You found her? Where is she?” asked David.

“Well, I know where she was,” Preston added.

“And where was she?” David asked feeling like they were finally getting closer.

“She was at the St. Charles Hotel down in the French Quarter, but it seems there was an incident,” said Preston.

“An incident, what do you mean by that?” asked David.

“She was introduced to some pirates,” Preston smiled. “I guess she was meeting Malcolm there and instead found herself in the hotel’s basement being harassed.”

“Did they hurt her?” David asked now sick to his stomach.

“Well, yes and no.  It seems they were being paid to get information from her.  They didn’t touch her if that is what you mean,” Preston said.

David’s fear subsided but was still concerned.  “What happened then?” he asked.

“There was a scuffle and she got knocked out.  It got hazy from there.  No one is sure who actually took her after that,” Preston said.

“Someone took her?” David asked now horrified.

“It wasn’t the pirates,” Preston assured him. “The townspeople refuse to give me any answers.  I think they know but wouldn’t tell me. 

“Then the
St. Charles Hotel is where I am going,” David said determined to get to the bottom of Johanna’s disappearance. “I am going to find someone to give me some answers.”

#   #   #

“Johanna, are you okay? Can I get you anything?” 

“Mr. Beauregard, what are you doing here?”  Johanna rubbed her aching head.

“I pay a lot of money to keep me posted on everything that happens in my hometown. Nothing gets by me.”  He handed her a glass of water.  “I am sorry you were put in this predicament.  You are safe now.”   

“Where am I?” Johanna just now realized she was not at the St. Charles Hotel any longer.

“Miss Johanna,
welcome to the Beauregard House,”  Rene smiled his most handsome, charming smile.

“I am so confused.  How did I get caught up in pirate affairs?” she asked him.

“I have an idea, but we need not think about that right now.  Let’s just be thankful you are safe,” said Rene with a look of concern on his face.  “I have let Mrs. Jenkins know you are safe and will be my guest for the night.”

“Oh, thank you Mr. Beauregard.  I appreciate your kindness,” Johanna smiled and winced from the pain in her head simultaneously. “I don’t want to be any trouble.” Johanna tried to sit up but felt nauseous and had to lie down once again.

“Nonsense, you are no trouble at all,” Rene smiled.  “Let’s get you a cup of tea.  We can discuss how you are going to return my kindness in the morning.”

Johanna
tried to laugh at Rene’s insinuation, but she fell asleep instead.

Rene covered up his sleeping guest and leaned in and gently kissed her on the forehead.  His eyes traced Johanna’s beautiful face and he smiled thinking about how lucky he was to find her and save her once again. He was enjoying his new role saving the damsel in distress.  She was what he had been looking for.  She was feisty and charming, and what he loved the most, she wasn’t going to make it easy for him.  Johanna was going to take some real finessing to fall for him.  It was a challenge he was willing to take on. He blew out the lamp light before he left the room smiling to himself as he thought of his new conquest. 

#   #   #

“Where is she?  What have you done with her?”  David grabbed Malcolm by the shirt and slightly lifted him up.

“I don’t know.  She was supposed to meet me here last night,” Malcolm pulled himself away from David. “I got delayed and she never showed up.” 
             

“Where is she staying? Have you tried there?”  David continued to interrogate Malcolm.

“I did.  They said she never showed up last night, her friend is very concerned about her safety.” Malcolm said as he straightened his overcoat that David had now let go of. 

“If anything has happened to her,” David didn’t finish his sentence.  He glanced at
Preston.  “Preston, could you go there and wait to see if she shows up.”

Preston
nodded in agreement and left hastily out the St. Charles Hotel door.

“This seems to be about a lot more than just some military plans to follow her here, should you let me in on the secret?” Malcolm asked David.

David looked at Malcolm with contempt and never answered his question.

“What kind of escort are you?  Why did you bring her to
New Orleans?  You know the Colonel would never step foot here.  Unless he wants to leave the Union and that is not happening while Virginia is still part of it.” David asked.

“I only follow orders and Lee said to bring her here.  What does she have in her possession that you didn’t get from her in
South Carolina?” asked Malcolm.

David considered telling Malcolm hoping he would just leave her alone once he got the map from her.  David knew that Malcolm wouldn’t stop especially if he could hurt David in any way. 

“This telegram just arrived for you,” the hotel attendant handed it to Malcolm.

“Thanks,” he read it and then smiled at David.  “I guess I will get to her first,” Malcolm tipped his hat.  “Good day.” 

As Malcolm left the hotel David turned to Jacob.  “Jacob, follow him, I have to find out what happen last night. I need to know if she is safe.”

#   #   #

“What is she doing here?” Clarice asked Rene. “Are we taken in strays now?”

“Miss Lee is here as my guest, and I advise you to keep your voice down, she should be coming in any time now.”  Rene ignored his sister’s question.

“Please tell me you’re making jest.  You aren’t seriously into her?  You can do so much better, you have many times.”  Clarice continued.

“Oh Clarice, don’t be vulgar,
” Rene snapped.

“
Do I have to remind you her parents fled to Paris in financial ruin and left her here alone, destitute,” Clarice recapped.

“All th
e more reason she needs friends,” Rene defended her.

“Friends, please Rene, you can’t be just friends with women.  Especially that one!  She is a Lee.”

“Her uncle is well respected, a West Point graduate,” explained Rene.

“And a Union one, she is a traitor!  We have a traitor in our home,” announced Clarice. “I won’t have it.  I want her out by morning.”

“We only left the union a week ago,” said Rene with one raised eyebrow at his sister’s ranting.  “Clarice you are being emotional. What do you have against her?”

“What do I have against her you say?  She ruined all my plans for engagement to the most handsome man I have ever laid eyes upon.  He left my party looking for her.”

“Such nonsense from you, you couldn’t be engaged as much as I,” laughed Rene.  “We are alike Clarice.  There is no one that could entice us enough to only want one lover forever.”

“I thought maybe he could be,” she laughed, “well at least he could be fun for awhile.”  They both smiled. 

“Well, maybe that is how I feel about Johanna,” said Rene. “I am actually having fun trying to win her heart.”

“Why do you care to win her heart?” asked Clarice curious now.

“She is mesmerizing.  I can’t seem to get her out of my mind,” confessed Rene.

“Rene, I am not wasting another minute talking about someone who won’t matter to you by tomorrow,” Clarice ignored his comment.  “Listen, my soldier has sent me a telegram and is coming here today, I need her to be out of the house, and I don’t want her to distract him from me.”

“How could anyone be distracted with you in the room?” asked Rene.

“Well, I am sure she will find a way,” said Clarice pouting.  “She is a devil that one.  She just wants to hurt me.” 

“She has too much class to worry about you.  She is an angel,” Rene exclaimed sighing.

“Oh Rene, I hardly thinks so,” said Clarice surprised by her brother’s new infatuation.  “You need to get her out of here.  I don’t want her here, understood?”

“Okay, I will take her out for the day, but she is staying as my guest for as long as I want,” explained Rene.

“Fine, just don’t be here when he gets here,” said Clarice frowning as she thought about them together and left the room.

Johanna approached Rene missing Clarice all together.

“Good morning, I pray you slept well.” Rene said as he sat at the breakfast table holding a chair for Johanna. 

“I did, thank you Mr. Beauregard,” she smiled. 

“Oh, are we using formal names ag
ain?  I thought we were friends,” Rene asked a bit disappointed.

“Do you have any idea how I can get in touch with my uncle?” she ignored his comments.

“Actually I sent a telegram this morning to my father letting him know that you were my guest and to contact Colonel Lee.,” replied Rene.

“Oh, thank you
, Mr. Beauregard,” Johanna said relieved.

  “It is my pleasure to serve you
,” he smiled delighted he could make her happy.  “What happened to Malcolm? I thought he was escorting you to Arlington?”

“He was, I was supposed to meet him at the
hotel, he never showed up,” explained Johanna as she took a bite of her biscuit.

“Wel
l that’s no way to treat a lady,” Rene said.

“No it’s not,
” Johanna concurred.

“Why were you in the basement of the
hotel anyway?” Rene asked.

“I
thought Malcolm was down there,” said Johanna.  “I was led by some woman dressed in a cloak.”

“You followed a woman
in a cloak to the basement in a hotel?” Rene questioned Johanna’s sanity.

“I know. 
Not a very intelligent decision,” she slightly laughed.  “I guess I just got caught up in all the cloak and dagger secrecy stuff. My uncle insisted I not trust anyone.  I had to learn this lesson the hard way.”

“Well, you can trust me,” Rene smiled and Johanna returned the smile.

“Now that I am here in New Orleans, I don’t know how I am ever going to get to Arlington?” said Johanna.

“Don’t worry.  We will think of something, even if I have to take you myself.”  Rene reassured her as he patted her hand.  “Meanwhile, let’s have some fun today. How about I show you around my city?  Have you ever road a street car before?”