Catalina's Caress (6 page)

O
n the ride back to her aunt's house Catalina was filled with such black rage that she was hardly aware of the distance.

She wakened the stable boy and gave him strict orders to care carefully for the horse. Then she went into the dark quiet house and silently made her way to her room.

Once inside it, she gave vent to her fury as she paced about like a caged lioness.

"He is an unmitigated scoundrel," she groaned half-aloud. She clasped her hands before her. "Whatever am I going to do? That man will ruin Seth . .. and our boat. Oh, God, I could kill him!"

Thoughts of murder and mayhem tumbled through her mind, creating a defiant shield between what she thought and what she felt.

She refused to remember that one wild moment of near surrender. It had meant nothing more to him than a point in whatever game he was playing.

Somewhere deep inside she felt there was much more to this than the problem between Seth and Marc. She had sensed a kind of vengeful violence even in his kiss. But why, she thought, why? What could she or Seth have done to him?

Whatever it was, however, that was the key to getting back the
Southern Belle
, and she had a few short days in which to find the answers.

Reluctantly, even though she knew she could not sleep, she began to prepare for bed.

She was completely unprepared when her door opened and her aunt Charlotte entered the room.

"Aunt Charlotte! What are you doing here so late?"

"I've been waiting patiently for you to get home," Charlotte said crisply. "Now, my girl, you sit yourself down and tell me just what all this gallivanting around at unheard-of hours is all about."

"Now, Aunt Charlotte. . ." Catalina gave her a pacifying smile.

"Don't you patronize me, young lady." Charlotte chuckled. "I've been wise to your shenanigans since you were in diapers. Now suppose you just start at the beginning... and tell me the truth."

Catalina sighed, but sat down obediently. She had never succeeded in outfoxing her aunt, and she was sure she wasn't going to now. She began to explain as best she could, hardly noticing the glitter of amusement and understanding in her aunt's-eyes.

Charlotte McNeil was an astoundingly vital woman despite her sixty years. Her body was still healthy and strong, and she walked erectly. Her skin, barely touched by time, still had a soft texture, and her hair, once a deep auburn, was white as snow but still thick and glowing. Yet it was the remarkable strength and understanding in her clear blue eyes that drew people to her like magnets.

The secrets of her past and the reason for her firm intent to remain unmarried had been held within her for forty years. Whatever these were, they had never defeated her. Now she saw through Catalina's words, recognized emotions Catalina would have preferred to keep to herself.

"You've told me a great deal, child. Now, suppose you tell me just why such a man would turn down the offer you made? He wants more than the
Belle
and money. What is it?"

Reluctantly and in subdued voice, Catalina told the truth.

"So," Charlotte said softly, "it's you he really wants."

"But I don't understand," Catalina protested. "I have never met him before. He has never seen me. Why would he do this?"

"Hmmm," Charlotte murmured. "It appears to me the gentleman has a secret of sorts."

"A secret. But what secret could he have that has anything to do with me?"

"That seems to be something we will have to find out You say he gave you a time limit."

"Five more days."

"Well"—Charlotte chuckled—"in five days a great deal can be accomplished. I would dearly love to get my hands on that scamp of a brother of yours. He might cast a little light on this puzzle."

"He's at Rosepoint."

"With that Travis Sherman." Charlotte looked closely at Catalina. "You haven't gone soft on that one have you?"

"No, Aunt Charlotte." Catalina laughed. "Ihaven't gone soft on anybody. It seems to me men mean a lot of trouble and grief."

"Some do and some don't. I think it's time we sought some sleep. I've some thinking to do and you look exhausted."

"I am."

"Well, climb into bed. We'll talk in the morning. Good night, Cat."

"Night."

Charlotte closed Catalina's door behind her. Then she stood in the hall for a moment. As she walked to her room, she laughed softly.

"I do believe I would like to meet this Marc Copeland," she muttered.

❧

Seth had pushed himself to the extent his body would allow. It was the reason he'd arrived in New Orleans fully three-quarters of a day before he had expected to.

He knew Catalina well and even though they had other relatives in this city he was more than certain she would go to the place where she would feel the most comfortable, their Aunt Charlotte's.

When he arrived at Charlotte's home it was very late, and he was both tired and hungry. His persistent knocking was finally answered by the disgruntled housekeeper, who resented being wakened in the small hours of the morning.

"Mr; Carrington," she said reprovingly, "it is rather late, sir."

"I know, Mrs. Tucker, and I'm dreadfully sorry. I'm looking for my sister."

'Miss Carrington has gone to bed hours ago, sir ... as most civilized people have."

Seth was amused by her pointed remark. "I suppose Aunt Charlotte has been in bed for hours too."

"Absolutely."

"Who is it, Mrs. Tucker?" Charlotte's voice came from the top of the steps. Both Mrs. Tucker and Seth looked up in surprise. Mrs. Tucker spoke first.

"It's young Mr. Carrington, Mrs. McNeil."

"Seth," Charlotte called. "Come up here, boy, at once."

Seth smiled apologetically at Mrs. Tucker, moved past her, and took the steps two at a time.

"Aunt Charlotte, I want to talk to Cat."

"Not before you've done some explaining, young man. It seems you've created a problem or two lately. Come to my room."

"But I've got to talk to Cat It's important.''

"Not," Charlotte said firmly, "until we talk."

She walked toward her room without looking back, thoroughly expecting him to follow. He did.

Inside her room, Charlotte turned to face him as soon as he closed the door behind him. He read her face quite accurately.

"Just how much has Cat told you?" he asked.

"Probably as much as she knows, but I'm sure not as much as you know."

"Then tell me what's happened."

Charlotte motioned him to a seat near her on a small settee. She explained what had transpired between Cat and Marc Copeland. Seth was enraged, but he sat quietly until Charlotte finished.

"She need not worry any longer, Aunt Charlotte. I intend to straighten this all out."

"What are you going to do?"

Seth slowly but firmly told her all, watching his aunt's face as he did. "So you see Aunt Charlotte, Copeland will not be a threat to Cat again. He won't be able to do her any harm... or me. Sweet revenge, Aunt Charlotte. He can keep the
Belle
. One way or another I'll make it up to Father, but either way it's over."

"I would say, young man, that you have grown somewhat in the past days."

"I have. I hope to change everything."

"When will you go and see this gentleman?"

"In the morning. I want to talk to Cat first though. I'll feel better if she knows she has nothing to worry about."

"Good. Now I suggest you get some sleep. You do look terrible."

"I may look it"—Seth laughed—"but I've never felt better. Can I have the old room I used to sleep in when I visited you?"

"You may."

Seth rose, kissed Charlotte's cheek and left. For some time Charlotte sat in deep thought. She had a strange feeling that the Carrington family had not seen the last of Marc Copeland. She was almost certain there was some threat behind all that had happened and it was not going to go away so easily.

She would have given anything to look into Marc Copeland's eyes. She made a decision rapidly as she always did. Then, smiling, she rose and prepared for bed.

❧

Catalina struggled up from a vague dream whose substance she had been struggling to grasp. A firm and insistent knocking on her door had aroused her.

As she sat up the door opened and a refreshed and smiling Seth stuck his head into the room.

"I've been waiting for hours for you to wake up. I'm too impatient to wait any longer."

"Come on in."

He stepped inside and, closing the door, came to sit on the edge of her bed.

"You look pleased with yourself." She laughed. "What are you up to?"

"Taking care of problems I should have seen to a long, long time ago."

"What are you talking about?"

"I've made some decisions, Cat."

"Decisions?"

"I'm taking hold of my own life," he said gently. "I'm going to Father. I'll face the music and then tell Marc Copeland he can go to hell, that he can't do any harm to us. Maybe we'll lose the
Belle
, but we're going to be all right."

"Oh, Seth." Catalina reached out to him and he put his arms around her. They hugged each other and laughed, certain this was the end of the influence Marc Copeland had over them.

"Travis gave me the money. I shall take it back to him and thank him for at least trying to stand with me," Catalina declared in a pleased voice.

"Good idea, and I'll go with you. I must thank him too. That would have been some sacrifice," Seth replied.

"I know. We both owe him our gratitude."

"Cat?"

"What?"

"You went to see Copeland?"

"Yes."

"What did he say?"

"He was crude and obnoxious, and it would give me the greatest pleasure to see his face when you tell him all his trouble has been for nothing."

"Did... did you get the feeling this was something"—he shrugged—"more personal than just wanting the
Belle
?"

"Come to think of it, Seth, I've had that impression, but I can't see what it could be. I have never met him, have you?"

"Not before this incident but... It's just a feeling."

"Well, let's forget it Well see Travis this afternoon and return his money. Then tonight you can meet with Copeland and finish this affair."

"Good. Now let's go down and join Aunt Charlotte for breakfast. You know"—he laughed—"she'll want to know everything we've been saying to each other."

"And she'll find out too, so we may as well just tell her. She has a way of getting what she wants."

"She's a lovely old girl, and I appreciate how much she cares for us."

"Let's go tell her so." Cat threw back the covers and rose. "Now get out while I dress. I'll be down in a few minutes."

❧

During breakfast Charlotte watched Seth and Catalina tease each other and laugh. When she inquired about their immediate plans, they told her they were both on the way to see Travis at his hotel

"I want to return the money to him and thank him as soon as possible," Catalina said.

"Then, after I bring Cat back from there, I'll go on down to the
Belle
," Seth added. "But I'll wait until we've had dinner."

"What will you do next?" Charlotte asked.

"Then comes the hardest part," Seth admitted.

"Your father?"

"My father. This is going to hurt, but it has to be done."

"Your father is not an ogre, Seth."

"You say that because he's never been mad at you."

Charlotte laughed. "He will get over his anger," she declared gently, "but he will never get over the renewal of his pride in you. You deserve it"

"Thank you, Aunt Charlotte. That means a lot to me."

"Well, let's send for the carriage," Catalina said. "I'd like to get this money returned."

It was a little over a half-hour's ride from Charlotte's home to Travis's hotel, and Travis was more than surprised to find both Catalina and Seth at his door. His surprise turned to well-camouflaged anger when he learned the reason for their visit. He hid his disappointment, however, when Seth handed him the satcheL

"You mean he refused all this money?"

"Yes," Catalina replied. "He did."

"He wanted more?"

"He said I didn't have enough money to buy the
Belle
. I guess it's really the boat he was after to begin with."

"What are you going to do now, Seth?" Travis questioned.

"After dinner tonight I intend to pay him a visit. It's time he was taught a little lesson. Then Cat and I are going home. My father expects me to meet him with the
Belle
in Memphis. I will go there and tell him what's happened. Whatever comes of that, the problem is finished. Cat and I just wanted to thank you."

"Yes, Travis," Catalina added. "I appreciate what you tried to do. Even though we didn't use the money, you provided it and I'm grateful."

"Cat," Travis said gently, "you know there is not much that you could ask of me that I would not try to provide. Might I join you for dinner tonight? I would like to provide the champagne for the celebration."

"I'm sure Aunt Charlotte would be pleased," Seth said, unaware that Catalina's silence indicated that she would have preferred to end the relationship between herself and Travis.

"Good. What time shall I be there?"

"About seven-thirty. Aunt Charlotte is prompt."

"And I will be."

Seth and Catalina returned to Charlotte's home only to find that Charlotte had been driven into town. She had left a message which said she had some business with her banker and that she would return later in the afternoon.

Seth went to his room to lie down for some much-needed rest and Catalina went to hers, assuring Seth she had the same intention. But she did not touch her bed. Instead she went to the window and looked toward the docks, wondering if she truly had seen the last of Marc Copeland ... and why she still couldn't wipe the ghost of his touch away.