Ecstasy's Promise (Historical Romance) (19 page)

Edward grew impatient at the slowness of their progress. He wondered why Victoria had done such a foolhardy thing. How dare she be so careless with her own safety, when she belonged to him. He felt anger burn within him. If he could get his hands on her right now, he would shake some sense into her. No, he thought, if he found her, he would hold her to him and pour out his love for her.

Estancio checked his horse. "She got off here,
Patron,
and walked, probably to rest the horse."

Edward dismounted. He traced the tiny footprint left by Victoria's boot with his finger. She was so small, so defenseless, he thought. "Let us hurry, Estancio; she cannot be far ahead now."

They remounted and rode for another two hours. By then Edward was like a wild man. He could not reason. Horrible thoughts raced through his mind. What if they never found Victoria? Was he destined to spend the rest of his life in pursuit of his love?

Victoria awoke in darkness. She looked about her, wondering why she was lying on the ground. Where was she? In a flash it all came back to her. She had fallen from the cliff. She tried to rise and felt pain shoot through her body. Victoria knew that she had been injured badly. She looked up at the cliff from which she had fallen, and wondered how she would ever make it to the top.

She saw Rebel standing on the cliff; his black coat was hard to make out in the dim moonlight. Victoria dared not call to him for fear he would try to come to her as he had been trained to do, and be injured himself.

So, this is the way my life will end, she thought wearily. She reasoned that her grandmother would have sent out a search party by now. But would they ever find her? Victoria doubted it. No, if she was going to be saved, she would have to do it herself. Oh, Edward, she thought, I would hate it if I could never look on your face again.

With a determination that always came to her in her time of need, she made an effort to rise again. The pain ripped through her body. She cried out from the extent of it. She felt her head swim, and a dark curtain close in about her. She lay motionless.

Edward was the first to spot Rebel. He jumped from his saddle and ran toward the horse. The black stallion reared on his hind legs and pawed the air. Edward looked about wildly. Victoria had to be here somewhere.

"Victoria," he called, "answer me if you are able." He waited, but there was no response. Then
his eyes went to the cliff. He walked slowly over to the edge of it with a feeling of dread. He saw where the edge of the cliff had broken away.

In the dim moonlight, Edward spotted Victoria's still form below. Estancio was beside him holding the torch. He shook his head. "It is a long way to the bottom,
Patron.
I fear the
senorita
may be dead."

"Do not say it!" Edward told him wildly. He ran to his horse for a rope which he tied to his saddle horn. Then he quickly climbed down the steep embankment while Estancio steadied the horse.
.
"Be careful,
Patron,"
Estancio cautioned. "It is very dangerous."

When Edward reached the bottom, he ran to Victoria. He placed his ear to her chest and heard the steady beat of her heart. Thank God, he said in silent prayer.

Estancio threw a torch down to him. Edward stuck it into the soft sand and relit it. Maybe the sand had cushioned Victoria's fall. Edward examined her face and head, but found no injury. He then felt her legs and arms. They were not broken. He could find no blood, so there was no outward injury. He felt along her rib cage and she moaned. Broken ribs, he thought, hoping there were no internal injuries.

He called up to Estancio. "See if you can find a piece of wood large enough to strap her to." Edward removed his shirt and bound it tightly about Victoria's rib cage. Estancio, by now, had found a dead tree trunk, and lowered it to him. Edward carefully lifted Victoria and bound her to it, securing her with the ropes his foreman had lowered
over the side of the cliff. Then Edward removed his belt and strapped it about her and the tree trunk.

"Fasten the ropes to both horses," Edward called up to Estancio. "See that you keep them taut and go slowly." He prayed that Victoria would not regain consciousness until she was safely out of the gorge. He watched helplessly as the tree trunk bearing Victoria's limp form rose slowly into the air. When she was safely above ground, Estancio lowered a rope to Edward, and he climbed quickly to the top. His hand had a deep gash in it from the rope and blood was pouring from it, but he paid no heed to it.

Edward was on his knees beside Victoria, untying the ropes that bound her. "Oh, Victoria, my love," he said in a voice full of pain, "I have found you." His hands trembled as he brushed her hair from her face.

Estancio watched his
patron
in amazement. So he loved the beautiful
senorita.
Estancio said a quick prayer that the little
senorita
would survive.

Edward rose quickly to his feet and strapped his belt about his waist. He unsaddled his horse, and threw the saddle to the ground. Then he mounted quickly. "Lift her up to me carefully, Estancio," he ordered. "Make sure you keep her back straight. I think she has broken ribs." Estancio did as he was told. Edward held Victoria to him, careful to brace her body with his own.

"What about the horse,
Patron?"

"He will follow," Edward said. "You ride as quickly as you can for Dan; then go by and let Mammaw know we have found her granddaughter. I will take her to the line cabin, which is only a few miles from here. I do not think we should chance taking her home." He heard Estancio ride off; then urged his horse forward at a slow pace so he would not cause Victoria undue pain. He saw Rebel out of the corner of his eye. The black stallion was following at a safe distance.

Edward looked down at Victoria. She seemed so pale and helpless. He held her to the bare wall of his chest. He laid his cheek against the top of her head and smelled the familiar scent of lilacs. "I love you, Victoria," he whispered. "Oh, my love, if anything should happen to you, I would not want to go on living."

Victoria moaned. Edward watched as her eyes opened slowly. "Lie still," he ordered; "you have been injured."

"Edward," she said quietly, "is it you, or am I dreaming?"

"You are not dreaming; you are safe, Victoria."

"The pain is almost unbearable," she whispered.

"Where does it hurt?" he asked.

"My . . . ribs, I think."

"Does it hurt anywhere else?"

"I do not know. I do not think . . . so." She groaned in pain. "It is very bad. Could we not stop?"

Edward tightened his arms about her. "No, we must go on." Victoria moved slightly in his arms and caught her breath as the pain shot through her body. Edward saw tears come to her eyes. He felt her pain, as if it were his own. "I would gladly bear it for you, if I could," he whispered. Edward felt her go limp against him, knew she had lost consciousness once more, and was grateful for it.

When he reached the cabin, he eased himself out of the saddle and carried her carefully, trying to keep her back straight. She was so light. Edward wondered how anything so small could have taken his heart from him. He kicked open the door with a heavy, booted foot, and took her inside. It was dark, but he managed to find the bed, and gently laid her upon it. He felt about in the dark until he found a lamp, and lit it. The cabin was only used in the wintertime, but Edward was grateful that he had kept it stocked.

He returned to his horse and got his canteen. He noticed that Rebel was standing nearby. He entered the cabin once more, and looked about for a clean cloth, but was unable to find one, so he carefully ripped a strip from his shirt, which was still bound about Victoria's ribs. He wet the cloth, and got down on his knees and bathed her face gently.

Victoria's eyes opened slowly. They were glazed with pain. "I am thirsty," she whispered.

Edward put the canteen to her mouth. "Do not drink fast," he ordered. "There, that is enough for now.

"Rebel," Victoria said, trying to rise. She caught her breath and bit her lips to keep from crying out.

Edward forced her to lie back. "Do not move. He is right outside. Did he throw you?"

"No, I fell . . . from the . . . cliff. How did you find me?" she asked weakly. Then she cried out, "The pain is too much for me to bear." Tears were swimming in her eyes.

"Do not talk," Edward said, laying his cheek against hers. "Try to be brave just a little longer." He noticed her face was hot.

"I am frightened," she said. "Please hold me, Edward."

He slipped his arm about her. "Do not fear, my little love. I will not let anything harm you."

Victoria closed her eyes and seemed to fall into a natural sleep. Edward sat watching her for a long time. He kissed her cheek gently. After about an hour, his legs began to feel cramped. He eased his arm from about her, and stood up. It was going to be a long night.

He went outside and gathered up an armload of wood, which was stacked against the cabin. He lit a fire in the small stove and made a pot of coffee with some of the water from his canteen. When the coffee was ready, he poured himself a cup and sat down in a crude wooden chair to wait.

Victoria began to moan again. Edward went to her quickly and knelt down beside her. He felt her cheek. It was very hot now. He quickly dampened the rag and placed it on her forehead. He took a blanket from a shelf, and placed it over her. Then he sat down beside her and held her hand in his. "Try to draw strength from me, Victoria."

Her eyes became wild. "Where am I? Bess, they have killed Bess. ... I have killed a man… God forgive me." It took all of Edward's strength to hold her still. She was delirious, and was reliving whatever it was in her past that had caused her to flee to Texas. "I wish I had killed myself," she cried. "He has his dirty hands on me…Please let me die… Bodine, you have saved me…Bodine, I have burned Farraday. ... I could not let the Yankees destroy it…Major Courtney knows I am a woman… Bodine, where can we hide? … Paul, Paul, I cannot find you. ... I must tell you, I love him…Paul . . ."

Edward felt as though his love had been rejected, even before he had a chance to offer it to Victoria. He stayed by her side, wishing he did not have to hear her call out for Paul O'Brian. Finally, she became silent. Edward leaned his head over on the bed, and that was the way Dan found him when he arrived.

Edward went outside while Dan examined Victoria. Once again, he tried to approach the elusive Rebel, but to no avail. The eastern sky was painted pink. It was daylight before Dan joined him.

"She has three broken ribs. I have bandaged her and given her a sleeping draught."

"She was in agonizing pain," Edward told him, "but she was very brave."

"I told you she was special," Dan said. "Estancio told me what you did. Your quick thinking probably saved her life. She could have punctured her lungs if you had not acted as you did."

"Dan, I hope never to see anyone in as much pain as she was in again."

"What have you done to your hand?" Dan asked. "It is bleeding quite a bit."

"It is nothing, merely a rope burn."

Dan picked up Edward's hand. "It is a good deal more than a rope burn, Edward. This explains all the dried blood I found on Victoria. Wait here while I get my bag."

Dan cleaned and bandaged Edward's wound. "I will want to examine this again in a few days," he told Edward.

"Dan, are you going to move Victoria?" "No, I think it best that she remains here for a few days. You can have your shirt back now. Why don't you ride on home and get some rest. Mammaw should be here anytime."

"Dan, do not let anyone near Victoria except Mammaw and Bodine. She was delirious last night, and said some damaging things. I would not like the wrong people to hear her."

Dan looked at him puzzled. "The only thing I heard her say was Edward Hanover is a Yankee."

Edward looked at him. "She was reliving her experiences in Georgia in her delirium."

"I will restrict her visitors, of course," Dan told him.

"I will take your advice and retrieve my shirt, and then head for home," Edward said.

Edward entered the cabin and stood over Victoria for a long moment. Dan had removed her boots and shirt. They were lying on the floor with his own shirt. He could see the white bandages that were bound around her. He touched her face gently. Then he picked up his shirt, put it on, and tucked it into his trousers.

How ironic, he thought; when he found his love, she was in love with someone else. He left the cabin quietly. Dan was waiting for him. Edward mounted his horse and looked down at his friend. "I will send food, water, supplies, and clean linens. You had better have Mammaw send for Old Ned or Bodine. That horse needs attention, and he will not let me near him."

He kicked his horse in the flanks and headed for Rio del Lobo.

14

Victoria slept throughout the day. She awoke once, and her grandmother spooned chicken broth into her mouth. Then she drank a cupful of cool apple cider. Soon after, Dan gave her another sleeping potion and she slept all night. She dreamed that Edward had found her and carried her to safety on his horse. Victoria could see his face full of concern for her, and hear his voice ordering her to lie still.

She awoke the next morning feeling rested and hungry. She looked about her, noticed the crude cabin, and wondered where she was. But when she tried to raise her head, she felt a sharp pain, and did not try again.

The door of the cabin opened and her grandmother entered, carrying a pail of water. "Child, you are awake," her grandmother said. She placed the pail of water on a small table, walked over to Victoria's bedside, and put her hand to her granddaughter's forehead. "I see you have no fever."

"Grandmother, can you tell me what has happened to me?" Victoria said weakly.

"All in good time, child. Right now, I want to get some food in you." Alice Anderson picked up a bowl and spooned some of the contents from a pot on the stove into it. She pulled a chair up beside her granddaughter and fed Victoria as though she were a child.

"It is delicious," Victoria said between mouthfuls.

"Edward's housekeeper, Juanita, sent it to you. She makes the best chicken soup I have ever tasted," her grandmother said.

"How did I get here, Grandmother? The last thing I remember clearly is waking up in a riverbed."

"Edward and Estancio found you, Victoria."

"I did not dream it then. Edward brought me here on his horse?" Victoria frowned as she tried to remember.

"That is correct, child," her grandmother said. "Edward climbed down the cliff at a great risk to his own life to rescue you. He was injured, in fact."

Victoria felt fear for the man she loved. "What happened to him, Grandmother?" she whispered, her eyes wide with concern.

"He suffered a very bad rope burn. I understand from Dan that it was very deep. He will bear the scar for the rest of his life."

Victoria felt tears sting her eyes. She closed them. Oh, Edward, she thought, you already have my heart; now I owe you my life.

Her grandmother watched Victoria's face as she continued: "Edward also sent over water, food, and linens. We owe him a great deal, child."

"Will Edward be all right, Grandmother?"

"Dan seems to think so."   Alice kissed her granddaughter's cheek. "Do not ever do anything so foolish again, Victoria. I have been so worried about you.

"What is my condition, Grandmother?"

"You have three broken ribs. I feel we were fortunate; it could have been much worse. Edward thought when he found you that your ribs were broken. He took off his shirt and bound it about your rib cage. Then he brought you here, where he remained with you until Dan came."

"I remember bits and pieces of what happened, but it is all so unclear."

"Do not think about it. Let us just be grateful that it was no worse."

"Where is Bodine?" Victoria asked.

"He was here all day. He just went home to wash and shave."

"And Rebel?"

"Bodine has taken him home. You rest now, child. Dan will be back this afternoon to look in on you.

Victoria closed her eyes and tried to remember the events as they had happened, but everything was all so mixed up. She gave up trying and fell asleep.

Dan put a clean bandage on Edward's hand. "It is healing nicely. We should be able to remove the bandage entirely by next week."

"You fuss too much, Dan. I have had much worse. How is Victoria?"

"As you know, they took her home three days ago. She is mending."

"Will there be any aftereffects?" Edward asked.

"No, she will soon be as good as new. That reminds me; I have a note for you, and one for Estancio. I promised to deliver them in person." Dan drew the two letters from his coat pocket and handed them to Edward. "I must be off now. I am invited to the Nelsons' for dinner, and you know how I hate to miss a meal."

Edward walked Dan to the door, and watched soberly as he drove away. He then returned to his study and picked up the letters. One was addressed to him, the other to Estancio. Edward looked at the delicate handwriting and broke the seal:

Mr. Hanover,

My grandmother has told me of the part you played in rescuing me on the night of my accident. I am more grateful to you than words can say. If my condition were such that I could tell you in person, I would do so.

I was told that you were injured yourself. I hope your hand is healing nicely.

My grandmother asks that I add her gratitude to my own.

Respectfully yours,

Victoria Lee Farraday

He folded the letter and placed it on his desk.

It was so hot and stuffy in the house that Victoria persuaded her grandmother to let her sit on the front porch, where she found some relief from the heat. She could walk about if she took it very slowly. Her young spirit longed for the day she would be well enough to resume a normal life.

Bodine had placed a lounge chair on the front porch for Victoria to recline on. She was never alone for very long. Some of the
vaqueros
were always dropping by to pay their respects. Victoria had become a great favorite with them, and they loved to make her smile.

Old Ned's concern had been a big surprise to everyone. He came around every afternoon and chatted with Victoria, always bringing her some memento, usually something he had carved out of wood, or sometimes a handful of wild flowers. The Delgados had been over and so had Clarissa and Mrs. Patterson, as well as Charlotte Baxter. Even Estancio had brought Victoria a bouquet of yellow roses. Everyone had been to see her, she thought, but the one person she longed to see the most— Edward Hanover.

Victoria had dressed in a light-green cotton gown, and put her hair on top of her head so she would feel cooler. The bandages were much in evidence, and made her feel even warmer. She would be glad when she could be rid of them altogether.

Her grandmother had placed a pitcher of lemonade and several glasses on a small table within her reach since she had so many visitors. Now Victoria reached for a glass of the cool liquid. She heard a rider coming up the road. She looked up and saw Edward Hanover.

He pulled up his horse, swung himself out of the saddle, and walked leisurely toward her. He stopped at the top of the steps and looked down at Victoria. "You are feeling well enough to be sitting up?"

"Yes. I am practically well, thank you."

Edward seated himself sideways across the top step. "You do not want to rush things. You should take great care not to overdo."

"I assure you that my grandmother is a tyrant when it comes to my health." Her eyes went to his bandaged hand. "How is your hand?"

"It is nothing. Dan is overcautious."

"May I offer you a glass of lemonade, Mr. Hanover?"

"Yes, I would like that, but you sit still. I will serve myself." Before Victoria could protest, he had risen to his feet and poured himself a glass of lemonade. Then he seated himself on the step once more, and studied her face.

"You received my note?" Victoria asked.

"Yes," Edward said simply.

"I am so grateful you rescued me. I was sure no one would ever find me."

"You need not thank me. If I had not found you, someone else would have."

"Please do not make light of what you did, Mr. Hanover. I will always be in your debt."

"You owe me nothing, Victoria," he said angrily.

She looked at him in surprise. "Nonetheless, I am grateful to you, Mr. Hanover."

"That is not why I am here. There is an entirely different matter I wish to discuss with you."

"You have my undivided attention."

His dark eyes went to her face. He wondered how much of that night she remembered. "I know how concerned you have been about the Delgados. I just wanted you to know that I have moved them to Rio
del Lobo. They have their own house, and Manuel is doing all my leather work."

Victoria clasped her hands and smiled brightly at Edward. "If you do not want my gratitude, you are going about it all wrong. It is a wonderful thing you have done for the Delgados. You are really a kind man."

Edward smiled at her. "It was not kindness that motivated me, I can assure you."

"What then?"

"Manuel is a fine craftsman, and I was in need of someone with his talents," Edward said evasively.

Victoria felt her heart swell with love for him. No matter what his motives had been, she felt he was a good man, as her grandmother had said. "I am so pleased to know that Manuel and Consuelo will not have to return to Mexico after all."

"Victoria, are you still angry with me?" Edward asked, his eyes searching her face.

She thought for a moment. How could she be angry with him, when all she felt for him was love and gratitude. She did not say this, however. "I am reminded of a story that Bess told me when I was young. It was about a tiger that rescued a rabbit from a lion. The rabbit was very grateful to the tiger, and thanked him nicely, just before the tiger devoured the poor rabbit."

Victoria did not know why she had remembered that story. She had not liked it when Bess had told it to her; yet, now, it seemed to suit the situation. The love she had for Edward Hanover would surely destroy her if he became aware of it.

Edward rose to his feet and placed the half-empty glass on the table beside Victoria. He looked down at her for a long moment. "I guess you have answered my question. I will bid you good day, Miss Farraday."

He walked away from Victoria. If he had turned back to her, he would have seen the tears in her eyes, and the love that shone in them. He did not look back, however. He mounted his horse and rode for Rio del Lobo. If she had said that she forgave him, he had been prepared to ask her to marry him, and to tell her of his love; but now, he would keep his love for her locked in his heart, safe from the eyes of the outside world.

It was late August. The weather was hot. There had still been no rain to cool the temperature or to break the drought that ravaged the land. Mammaw's flowers were withering on the vines since she could not spare water to nourish them. Cattle were dying from lack of water, and many of the small ranches were being forced to sell off their herds at a loss to keep from losing them to the elements. Alice Anderson was among this number. She had promised a large portion of her herd to a rancher in west Texas; Bodine and most of the Anderson
vaqueros
had left, two days before, to drive the cattle to that rancher.

Victoria was feeling her old self. Dan had removed her bandages, but had cautioned her to take it easy for a while longer. She was young, however, and it was hard for her to stay about the house doing only what small chores her grandmother would allow her to do.

When Lupe answered a knock at the front door, Victoria was seated in the parlor mending one of her gowns, and wishing she could make the neat stitches that her grandmother did. Clarissa and Mrs. Patterson came bustling in.

"My dear," said Mrs. Patterson, "you look in the pink of health. One would never know you had an accident."

"I am feeling perfectly well, thank you," Victoria said. She offered them seats and asked if they would like some refreshments.

"That would be nice," Clarissa said. "It is so hot and I am parched."

Victoria asked Lupe to bring them some tea, and turned to Clarissa. "What have you been doing since I saw you last?"

"Well," Clarissa answered, "I have gone to several parties and a wedding."

"Speaking of weddings, I heard a rumor that Edward Hanover is taking a wife," Mrs. Patterson said.

Victoria felt her heart stop. "I had not heard of it," she said, hoping her voice sounded natural.

"Rumor has it that he is doing some redecorating and one of the rooms is his mother's bedroom. That can only mean one thing."

Victoria looked at Clarissa and saw a pained look in her eyes. "Do you know who his intended bride is, Clarissa?"

"No. I have been racking my brain trying to figure out who it is. I just don't know." Clarissa smiled at Victoria and changed the subject. "I have been seeing a lot of Dan lately. He is such a dear.
Do you mind, Victoria?"

"What do you mean, Clarissa?"

"I know you were seeing Dan for a while. I would not like to continue if you are interested in him," Clarissa told her.

"I am going to find Alice. Is she in the kitchen?" Mrs. Patterson interrupted.

Victoria nodded. Then she turned back to Clarissa. "To answer your question, ho, I do not mind at all. Dan and I are just good friends, and I am delighted that you and he are seeing each other."

Clarissa smiled. "I am glad you feel that way. I have done a lot of growing up in the past few months. Some of it has been painful, but I think I have benefited by it."