Surrender to the Fury (30 page)

“Is there someone at Tall Oaks to care for your child in your absence?”

Aimee nodded, suddenly fearing Savannah’s response when told she was going to work in a whorehouse. “My old nanny. Savannah loves Brand as much as I do.”

“Then it’s all settled, honey. You can sleep undisturbed here tonight. Tomorrow you’ll go home with supplies, and when you return, I’ll groom you to take your place with my girls. Don’t worry, honey, you’ll do just fine.”

“You’re what!” Savannah looked at Aimee as if she’d just told her the world was going to end tomorrow. That at least would have been easier to accept.

“I found a job, Savannah; what difference does it make what kind of work I’ll be doing? Miss Mona is a good person. She gave me all this food to bring to you and trusts me to return to Atlanta.”

“You ain’t gonna do it.” Savannah’s dark eyes glinted dangerously.

“This discussion is unnecessary, Savannah. I’ve
already given my word. I’m returning to Miss Mona’s.”

“Over my dead body.”

Aimee sighed wearily. “I’ll bring out additional food whenever I can get away. And more medicine. Miss Mona sent me to her doctor, and he gave me medicine for both you and Brand. I have a debt to repay, and my honor demands that I return to fulfill my promise.”

“How can you talk about honor when what you’re doin’ is dishonorable? Why, if Captain Drummond knew about this, he’d—”

“Savannah! I’ll hear no more about Captain Drummond or what he would do. He’s not here, and we’re unlikely to see him again, so it can’t matter to him what I do or don’t do. You’ll just have to accept the fact that I’m determined to save you and Brand no matter what it costs in terms of pride.”

“I hate it, chile, I surely do, but if you’re dat determined, den dere’s nothin’ I can do to stop you. I’ll take good care of Brand for you. Ain’t nothin’ gonna happen to dat child while you’re gone.”

“I’ll come back often, Savannah. As often as I’m allowed,” Aimee amended.

“Take care of yourself, honey,” Savannah sobbed as she turned away. “It just ain’t right. A fine lady like you shouldn’t have to lay with Yanks for money.”

Unable to come up with a response that would placate the old woman, Aimee turned to leave. “I’ll say good-bye to Brand before I leave. I love you both, Savannah.”

N
ick stepped off the train to a scene as desolate as any he had ever seen. Except for bluecoats, few people were out on the streets of Atlanta. Much of the railroad station had been demolished, and Nick noted that workers toiled to repair the tracks leading out of town. An occasional painted whore drove by in a buggy, alone or accompanied by a Union protector, but even though some civilians had begun returning to their homes, few were in evidence.

The trip from Washington had been a tedious one, delayed by work crews repairing tracks that had been destroyed by Rebs. Sherman had decided to abandon the railroads and its supply lines, placing Union General Thomas and his sixty thousand men in charge while he marched to the sea, smashing everything along the way. It seemed as if nothing could stop Sherman’s relentless pace of a dozen miles a day. Georgia militia wrecked bridges, burned provisions, toppled trees, and planted mines on the roads ahead of the Yankees, but this accomplished little except to make them more vengeful.

The cold temperatures and blustery winds of
only days before had suddenly warmed into Indian summerlike weather, and Nick welcomed the change from the winter he had left behind in Washington. He made his way directly to headquarters, requesting billeting for a few nights. He was given a room in a hotel that was being used by the army to house its men. Since he hadn’t slept well on the train, he lay down to rest for a few minutes, and instead fell into a deep sleep. When he awoke, it was too late to start out for Tall Oaks, so he decided to check on his horse. Sergeant Jones had promised Nick he’d see that Scout was taken care of at the livery, while Nick stayed in Washington.

Nick indeed found Scout well cared for. He paid the livery owner for Scout’s keep but left him in the man’s charge until morning, when he planned to leave for Tall Oaks. He ate dinner at the officers’ mess and declined an invitation to visit Miss Mona’s, the best of the local whorehouses. Making love to any woman but Aimee did not appeal to him. Instead, he downed a stiff whiskey and went directly to bed, dreaming of his reunion tomorrow with Aimee.

Would she be glad to see him? he wondered anxiously. Or was she still angry with him? Had she and Brand been getting enough to eat, or would he find them starving? Tomorrow couldn’t arrive soon enough.

It was an exceptionally warm December day when Nick mounted Scout and rode off in the direction of Tall Oaks. Stuffed in his saddlebag were treats for Brand, a colorful embroidered shawl for Savannah, and a length of silk for Aimee. He knew an embroidered shawl and length of silk
were frivolous gifts, but practical ones would come later. He wasn’t a poor man, Nick reasoned, and he could well afford to give the woman he hoped would be his wife some pretty things.

Since his father had died nearly ten years ago, Nick had been the head of the family, acting as sole support of his mother and sister, until his sister’s marriage several years ago. His father’s munitions plant had always made money—more so now than ever. When he went to war, he left Cliff Wayland, his sister’s husband, in charge, and the man was doing an excellent job of running the family business in his absence. So good, in fact, that Nick seriously considered selling it to Wayland, taking the money, and investing it in some other enterprise more to his liking.

Nick turned off the main road and nudged Scout down the long avenue of oaks toward the house. His eagerness must have been catching, for Scout danced beneath him excitedly. It was as if the horse recognized the path down which they traveled and was eager to return home.

Home.

Strangely enough, Nick had come to think of Tall Oaks as home. He had grown to love the place nearly as much as Aimee did. Nick pictured how it would be after the war, assuming help could be hired to run the vast acres. He envisioned it in all its former glory, with ripe cotton waving in the breeze, their pods bursting and ready for harvesting. He saw animals grazing on the hillsides, and the orchards producing bumper crops of fruit.

When he came within sight of the house, Nick saw only the tall front pillars left unscathed by the fire. Nothing seemed amiss. But that initial impression
was shattered when he noticed the charred, blistered walls and remains of the roof fallen in upon itself.

“Sweet Jesus, no!”

Leaping from the saddle, Nick ran toward the gutted wreckage of the house, sobbing and calling Aimee’s name. His answer was an ominous silence. Like a madman he began tossing aside boards and charred debris until his hands were bleeding and he was grimy and blackened with soot. When he realized that the house had been burned weeks ago and was unlikely to yield a clue to Aimee and Brand’s fate, he sat down on a stump and stared dazedly into the rubble.

Were Aimee and his son alive? he wondered bleakly. Or had they perished in the fire? What about Savannah? Had the house been burned by Union soldiers or Reb deserters? When he learned who was responsible for such wanton destruction, he’d personally see that the men were punished.

“You’re too late, Captain Drummond.”

Leaping to his feet, Nick spun around. He had recognized Savannah’s voice immediately, and relief surged through him. Until he considered her words. “What are you talking about? Why am I too late?” Lord, don’t let it be what I think, he fervently prayed.

“Aimee’s gone.”

“Oh, God, no.” The cry ripped past his lips, the agony tearing him apart. Without Aimee, life wasn’t worth living. And then he remembered Brand. Had his son perished also?

“What about Brand? Is he—is he …”

“Brand is just fine. We’re livin’ in one of de
slave shacks out back. It ain’t much, but it keeps us warm and dry.”

“Oh, God, I’m so sorry, Savannah, so damn sorry. How long ago did it happen?”

“Right after dat woman took you to Atlanta.”

“Thank you for keeping Brand safe for me. It couldn’t have been easy. How did you manage?” He didn’t want to think about Aimee. Not now, not when the pain was still so raw.

“We used up de money you left, and when dat was gone …” She grew quiet and lowered her head to stare at a big toe peeking out from the rags she had tied around her feet when her shoes wore completely through. “It ain’t right, Captain, it ain’t right dat my chile should suffer.” He thought she was talking about Brand.

“You need worry no longer about Brand, Savannah; I’m taking you both back to Washington with me, where you’ll be properly cared for. Though Aimee has never admitted it, I know Brand is my son.”

Suddenly Savannah turned belligerent. “I ain’t goin’ nowhere without Aimee, and neither is Brand. She’d have my hide if she knew you was takin’ Brand away.”

Tears gathered in Nick’s eyes and he hastily brushed them away with the back of his hand. “Aimee wouldn’t want her son to starve. I loved her, too, Savannah, but we must think of Brand. Somehow we’ll survive.”

“We’ll survive, but I ain’t so sure about Aimee,” Savannah replied glumly.

Her remark stymied Nick. He thought about it for a few seconds before her meaning became clear. His heart leaped in unfettered joy and he
grasped Savannah by the shoulders, the intensity of his green eyes frightening her.

“What are you saying, Savannah? I thought you said Aimee was dead.”

“Dead? Lordy, no.” Her eyes rolled heavenward until only the whites were visible. “She ain’t dead, Captain, just gone.”

“Gone where?” His hands tightened, making Savannah wince in pain.

“To Atlanta. I done told her there was no work for her in Atlanta, but she couldn’t let us starve, could she? It ain’t like she’s doin’ it ’cause she wants to. Or dat she enjoys it We was all starvin’, Captain; it was de only way.”

“What in the hell are you babbling about?”

“Nick! You’re here! I knew you’d come, but Mama said you’d never return to Tall Oaks.”

Nick caught up the little boy as he leaped into his arms. He groaned in dismay when he felt the lad’s thin frame beneath his hands; he could count every rib beneath his narrow chest. With a pang of guilt Nick imagined all the suffering and hardships they had been forced to endure in his absence. He vowed then and there that neither Aimee, nor Brand nor Savannah would ever experience hunger or deprivation again. And as soon as he learned where Aimee was working, he’d make it all up to her.

“Where is your mama, son?” Nick asked, setting Brand down on his feet.

“In Atlanta. She brought us food and medicine and left again.”

“Were you sick?”

“He had a congestion in de chest,” Savannah replied.
“Aimee couldn’t bear to see him suffer. Dat’s why she did it.”

“Did what?” Nick was becoming more impatient by the minute.

“It ain’t for me to say.”

“Just tell me where to find her.”

“She’s at Miss Mona’s,” Brand piped up. “I heard her telling Savannah that she was going to work in a warehouse.”

Nick nearly choked. “She what!”

“Oh, Lordy,” Savannah moaned, shaking her head in dismay. “Aimee would have a fit if she knew Brand was listenin’ to our conversation.”

Nick’s face was like thunder. Never had Brand seen him so angry, not even when Aimee had run away from Tall Oaks and was locked in her room as punishment. His small face screwed up as he bravely fought back tears.

“Did I say something wrong?”

Nick bent and scooped the lad up in his arms. “No, son, you didn’t say anything to make me angry with you. I’m just worried about your mama. Why don’t you look in my saddlebags; I’ve brought you some gifts.”

“Gifts? For me?” His eyes danced with curiosity. “I can’t remember when I last received a gift. I know, I think it was that horse you carved for me.” Bursting with excitement, he squirmed out of Nick’s arms and bounded over to Scout, where he proceeded to dig into the saddlebag. While he exclaimed over the treasure trove he found stashed inside, Nick conversed quietly with Savannah.

“How long has Aimee been at Miss Mona’s?” His voice sounded as if it were stretched taut.

“A week.”

A soft groan slipped past Nick’s lips. “Have you heard from her since she left?”

“No. She brought enough food to last us two or three weeks and said not to expect her for a while.”

“Why in the hell didn’t you stop her?”

“I tried. The good Lord knows I tried, but you know how stubborn Aimee is.” He did indeed. “She hoped to get respectable work, but dere wasn’t none available. She couldn’t let Brand starve, and dat’s what would have happened if she hadn’t gone to Miss Mona’s.”

“Pack up your things and Brand’s. I’ll be back.”

His face a mask of fury, Nick turned abruptly and walked over to where Brand was still rummaging around in his saddlebags. The lad was sucking on a peppermint stick. Never had Nick seen an expression of such delight on the face of another human being.

“I have to leave, son, but I’ll return soon with your mother. Then we’ll all go to Washington.”

“Leave Tall Oaks?”

“For the time being.” He turned to Savannah. “Take care of Brand, Savannah.” Then he remembered the gift he had for her, removed it from his saddlebag, and tossed the package to her. She caught it neatly. “This is for you.”

“Don’t you be angry with Aimee,” Savannah warned, shaking a finger in his face. “She done what she had to do.”

Nick mounted up. “Don’t lecture me, Savannah. Aimee is the one you should have scolded. When I find her I’ll try to contain my anger. If it’s any consolation, be advised that I won’t harm her.”

As he rode off, he wasn’t certain he could live
up to that promise. He was angry enough with Aimee to wring her beautiful neck. Imagining her spread beneath men who would use and abuse her rattled him so badly, he couldn’t think straight. Even though he knew she was doing it for Brand’s sake, the knowledge still threw him into a rage. He loved her, for God’s sake!