Rapture's Tempest (35 page)

The possibility of endangering his own life was enough to convince Martin to go to Marshall with what he knew. Not that he wanted to save Jim’s life, but he did need to get the most possible money with the least possible effort.

His decision made, he now had to come up with a believable story of how he had come by the information, and he also had to present himself in such a way that his approach did not sound like blackmail. Convinced that the only thing Marshall would buy was desperation, Martin knew he would have to act the part of a hunted man.

It was after nine when he ventured forth from his hotel room and made his way to Marshall’s office.

“Good morning,” Marshall greeted him.

“Marshall.” Martin was grave and a bit jittery as he came forward. Martin wondered quickly if Jim had told his brother of his involvement with Delight, but his cordial welcome belied those fears.

“What can I do for you?”

“I’d like a minute of your time. It’s important that I talk with you,” Martin said nervously, glancing about the open reception area.

Marshall, sensing an urgency behind his words, said nothing as he ushered him into the privacy of his office. “Please take a seat. Would you like some coffee?”

“No. I don’t have time,” Martin replied, looking fearfully around the room.

“What’s wrong?” Marshall urged, taking a seat behind his desk and assuming his professional manner.

“I’m in trouble.”

“What kind of trouble?”

“I accidentally overheard some plans being made….”

“Plans? For what?”

“They were talking about the gold you ship and…”

“What?” Marshall was convinced of his agitation and now understood why he was so upset.

“They know that I heard everything that was said.…And if they find out that I came here, to you…” He hoped he sounded suitably panic-stricken. “I have to get out of town.”

Marshall leaned forward urgently. “What did you hear?”

His tone reflecting his agitation, Martin rushed on. “The Rebs are going to attack the
Enterprise
.”

“When? Where?”

“I can’t be sure. I only heard them say that by tonight Jim would be dead and everything would be taken care of.”

“I have to get word to Jim right away.” Marshall stood, knowing that he had to act and act quickly. “Do you need any help getting away?”

“I hate to admit it, but I do.”

“How much?”

“What ever you think…I need to go somewhere where they’ll never be able to locate me….”

Disappearing into the outer office, Marshall returned with a stack of hundred-dollar bills.

“Here’s three thousand.” He handed the money to Martin.

“Thanks.”

“You’ll be all right?”

“I should be, once I can get out of town.” Martin stood up, stuffing the money into his coat pocket.

“What about Clara? Is she involved in any of this?”

“No. She doesn’t know anything about it.”

“Good. She’ll be safe, then.” Marshall nodded as they left.

“Do you have a back door?” Martin asked, following through with his ruse.

“Right over here.”

“I won’t forget this, Marshall.” Martin turned to shake hands before he left.

“Good luck.” And Marshall watched him disappear down the alley before turning back into the room. There was little time to waste. He rushed to get his coat, and, telling his clerks that he was leaving, he headed home.

“What do you mean, Jim’s boat is going to be attacked?” George Westlake demanded as Marshall related the whole story to his father.

“Martin Montgomery came by the office. It seems that he overheard the plans being made and the spies were after him. He was terrified, so I gave him some money to get out of town.”

“What are we going to do?”

“The only thing possible. Catch the next boat south.”

George looked nervously at his pocket watch. “I’ll bring the horses around. Martha—pack my things.”

He strode from the room, anxious that they should be on their way, and Martha followed after him, leaving Renee alone with Marshall.

He gave her a quick hug as he picked up his saddlebags.

“You’ll be careful?” she asked.

“Of course. You know I always come home to you.” He reassured her further with a passionate kiss and then started downstairs to meet George. There was no time to waste.

Jim was thankful that he awoke first. Easing himself from the bed, he quickly washed up and left the cabin in search of Mark. The sun was just breaking over the treetops as he strode down the deck and entered the Grand Salon. The sound of
voices drew him to the saloon, where he found Ollie, Mark, and several of the other soldiers already eating breakfast.

“Good morning, Captain.” Ollie was pleased to see him.

“Is there any more food left around here?” Jim asked good-naturedly as he sat down at their table and was served his breakfast.

“Are the women all right?” Mark was concerned.

Jim nodded. “They’re still asleep.”

“Delight wasn’t injured, was she?” Ollie asked.

“No. Physically she’s fine.”

“Good. I was worried, after what Mark told me.” Ollie wanted to say more, but he knew it was best to hold his tongue. Mark had explained how angry Jim was over the situation and talking about it again wasn’t going to help.

“It was a rough experience for her to go through, but things are going to work out better this way,” Jim grinned.

“Why?”

“Because, as soon as we can find a preacher, I’m going to marry her.”

Mark lifted his cup of coffee in a toast. “May you have a long and happy life together.”

Delight was already up when Rose emerged from the connecting cabin.

“Good morning, sleepyhead,” she teased.

“How are you this morning?” Rose went to her friend and hugged her.

Delight returned the embrace with deep affection. “I’m fine.”

“You’re sure?”

“Positive. I haven’t felt this good since before…”

“I understand.” Rose knew it was too soon to talk about all the ugliness that had happened. “Do you want to change into a dress? I packed a few things for you last night.”

Delight looked down at the trousers and ripped shirt she still had on. “I think I’d better. I don’t want to remind Jim of what happened last night.”

After a rather quick toilet, she put on an attractive pale green daygown with tiny pearl buttons that buttoned down the front. It was trimmed with white collar and cuffs. Brushing out her hair, she realized that they hadn’t brought the hairpiece.

“Do you suppose I’ll start a new fashion in hairstyles?”

“Well,” Rose grinned. “Shorter hair was the vogue some years back.”

Delight brushed her shining ebony locks into a mass of curls and stepped back. “What do you think?”

“If we pin the sides up it might look a bit longer.” Rose set to work and in a few moments had fashioned a style that helped to disguise the uneven layering of Delight’s hair. “How’s that?”

“It looks great. Thanks.” Delight glanced in the mirror once more before going to get her cloak. “Shall we go see if we can find Jim and Ollie?”

“That sounds like a good idea. I’m getting hungry.”

As they turned to head out the door, it swung open, and Jim and Ollie entered carrying trays.

“So you’re up,” Jim said as he set the breakfast trays on his desk. “We were wondering how long you were going to sleep.”

Delight smiled. “We were just going to try to find you.”

“We thought it might be wiser if you ate up here.”

“Thank you.”

With Ollie and Rose in the room, Jim had to resist the urge to take Delight in his arms. Lying in bed with her last night had been a test for sainthood, but this morning he found that she was even more irresistible. Restraining himself with great effort, he deliberately kept his manner impersonal as he directed her to the food.

“You’d better eat while it’s hot,” he urged, and the women sat down without hesitation. “Ollie and I will be back later. It will be safer if you stay in the cabin until one of us comes for you.”

Delight frowned, but didn’t protest as the men left. She
understood the importance of the mission they were on, and she wanted to do all she could to make Jim’s job easier.

“Do you think it’s really that dangerous, Delight?” Rose was worried.

“Yes. I do. They’re carrying Union gold.” Delight let the sentence drop as she said a small prayer for Jim’s safety.

It was near noon when Delight sensed a change in the boat’s rhythm. Opening the curtains, she was surprised to find that they were pulling into a small town on the Missouri side.

“We’re stopping, Rose,” Delight remarked as the roustabouts threw out the lines. Remembering Jim’s instructions not to leave the cabin, she stayed inside and watched as one of the soldiers hurried off in the direction of town.

“Do you want me to go see if I can find out what’s going on?”

“No. He told us to wait here. If it’s anything important, I’m sure he’ll let us know….” She sounded convincing, but in her heart she was worried. Why had the man gone into town? This obviously wasn’t one of the regular fueling stops, so why the interruption of their schedule?

Almost a half an hour later, Ollie came to the cabin.

“You’re both to come with me,” he informed them mysteriously.

“Both of us?” Rose was genuinely surprised.

“Is something wrong, Ollie?” Delight asked and when he didn’t answer, she began to worry.

Hurrying them along, he escorted them down the gangplank and up the small levee toward the town.

“Where are we?”

“Sainte Genevieve.”

“But why did we dock here? It’s not one of your regular stops, is it?”

“No. It’s not,” was all the answer he would give.

“Where’s Jim?” Delight asked, trying not to sound worried, but in the back of her mind she couldn’t help but wonder why they’d been taken off the boat.

“I haven’t seen him for a while,” Ollie said calmly, refusing to give her a clue as to what was going on.

Delight began to panic. Jim had been gone when she’d awakened that morning, and when he’d brought their breakfast to them he’d been almost distant in his manner. Had the thought of Martin’s hands on her so repulsed him that he couldn’t bear to have her near him anymore? Was he planning on leaving her here? Tears stung her eyes, but she blinked them rapidly away. Refusing to make a scene, she lifted her chin in proud defiance of what ever life would present her with next and walked on in silence.

Rose, sensing Delight’s upset, squeezed her hand in a supportive gesture, but didn’t speak. The tension grew as Ollie led them down the main street of the town.

“It’s not too much farther,” he encouraged them as they rounded a corner. “Here we are.”

The tears Delight had tried so valiantly to hold back fell freely from her eyes as she saw Jim standing on the steps of the church. Breaking into a run, she went to him and was immediately enfolded in his warm embrace.

“Delight? Why are you crying?” Jim held her away from him and lifted her face to him with gentle hands.

“I thought—”

“You thought what?” he encouraged, pulling her close.

“I thought you were going to leave me here…that you didn’t want me with you….”

“Oh, God, darling…I want you with me more than anything in the entire world.” He kissed her deeply and then whispered affectionately for her ears only, “I just couldn’t stand the idea of not sharing my bed with you again tonight….”

Delight threw her arms around his neck and kissed him again. “You’re sure you want to do this?”

“I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life. Let’s go. The minister is waiting for us.”

With Rose and Ollie following them, they entered the
church and approached the altar where the preacher stood waiting for them.

“Are you ready now, Captain?”

“Yes. We’re ready.” Jim smiled down at Delight who was glowing with her love for him.

The minister began, his wondrous words blessing them and joining them together as one in the eyes of God and man. “Do you, James Thomas Westlake, take Delight de Vries to be your lawfully wedded wife? To love, honor, and cherish from this day forward, until death do you part?”

“I do.” Jim’s bold declaration sent a thrill of pleasure through her.

“And do you, Delight de Vries, take James Thomas Westlake to be your lawfully wedded husband? And do you promise to love, honor, and cherish him from this day forward until death do you part?”

“I do,” she promised breathlessly.

“The ring?”

Jim slipped a narrow gold band on her finger, his hands trembling with emotion.

“Then, in sight of God and man, I now pronounce you man and wife.” He paused, smiling at their obvious happiness. “You may kiss your bride, Captain.”

Jim turned to her as if in slow motion and, with the most tender of touches, pulled her to him. Then, with infinite care, his lips sought hers in a devastatingly sweet kiss. His caress spoke not so much of passion as of promise; not so much of desire as of dedication. When they moved apart, they stared at each other in awe for a moment before Ollie and Rose overwhelmed them with hugs and good wishes.

They thanked the minister profusely and then hurried back to the boat. They’d lost a valuable hour of daylight traveling time, and Jim didn’t want to delay any longer.

When Mark caught sight of them returning, they made ready to pull out. As soon as everyone was on board, the
Enterprise
backed out to midstream and once again headed south.

Jim escorted Delight to his cabin before regretfully excusing himself to return to work.

“I’m sorry I don’t have time right now to…” Jim started to apologize, but Delight put a finger to his lips to silence him.

“Don’t worry. I’ll be right here whenever you can get away.” Delight smiled at him tenderly, wanting more than anything to spend the rest of the day with him, but understanding the importance of his work.

Jim had originally intended to leave her then, but when she unlocked the stateroom and gave him an inviting look, he couldn’t resist the thought of a private moment in her arms. Following Delight inside, he shut the door behind them. His gaze seared her with the intensity of his emotions, and he almost groaned as he took her in his arms.