Midnight Flame (50 page)

“They want you to release me. Why don’t you listen to them?”

Moving closer to her, Seth’s breath fanned her face. “You think I’m stupid or crazy, or both, don’t you? I’m not. You’re mine now, Laurel, and I don’t mean to give you up to Duvalier. I’d rather see you dead first.”

He continued to listen to the sounds he heard coming from the rock, and Laurel heard them, too—groaning, queer sorts of sounds. Her heart raced with fear, not from the sounds, which she knew couldn’t hurt her, but because of Seth, a man who would.

Laurel’s chance for freedom came in the unexpected form of a falling star, gliding through the heavens and disappearing beyond the dome of the boulder. She watched as Seth stood transfixed, then slowly began to climb up the side of the smooth, bald stone. He seemed to have forgotten her, to be more interested in the star and the groaning voices that called to him from the top. As he made his way upward, he became a silhouette in the moonlight. Hurriedly she pulled off the ropes around her wrists and untied her feet, which had long ago gone to sleep. When she attempted to stand, she fell and had to wait for the blood to rush into her toes again before taking the tentative and necessary steps to restore her circulation. She then ran in the opposite direction.

She didn’t look back as she made her mad dash for freedom. In fact she had no idea which way to run, having become disoriented because of the dark, but it didn’t matter the direction she took. All she wanted was to get away. Her breath came in little spurts, and her lungs felt about to burst with the fear and panic of being caught. The cold night air wrapped around her, but Laurel didn’t feel its sting, so intent was she on escaping into the countryside and the hope that someone would aid her.

Making her way along the base of the rock, she stayed in the darkness, frightened that Seth would see her. Her heart hammered out the words running through her head. “Get away. Get away. Get away.” But which way to go?

A noise nearby startled her, and she nearly screamed into the face of a fawn, who seemed just as frightened as she was. The small animal lifted its tail and scooted away into the night. Knowing that she was so easily spooked gave her the courage to run. She found herself streaking across a rolling landscape, her boots kicking rocks strewn in her path. At one point she fell, twisting her ankle but stood up despite the pain to continue onward. She had no idea how far she had gone but guessed not far enough. She almost imagined she could hear Seth calling her name, and she stood still to catch her breath, to listen a second. It was then she heard the pounding of horses’ hoofs coming her way. ,

Her first inclination was to rush toward the sound and flag down the riders, but she hesitated. Suppose it was Ortega and his men? Immediately she fell to the ground and crawled to a large rock that gleamed like a bastion of safety in the moonlight.

The riders came nearer. Two men were silhouetted against the horizon, growing larger and larger, the sound of their horses racing toward her growing louder and louder in her ears. It was almost as if they saw her and knew her hiding place. Her heart thumped painfully in her chest and felt about to explode. Fear pumped through her, and her legs felt as if they were about to give out beneath her. God, help me, she prayed, help me…

“Laurel!” the voice of one of the riders called to her. “Laurel!”

She jumped up, waving her arms. Tears slid down her cheeks. “Tony! Tony!”

Making a move forward, she found herself suddenly pinned against Seth’s chest and heard his venomous voice beside her ear. “Shut up, or I’ll shoot your loving husband and Castille down now.”

Before she could utter a word, Seth grabbed her by the arm and pulled her with him into the darkness. The barrel of his rifle nudged against the small of her back and felt frigidly cold. Laurel could see that Tony and Jim had instantly stopped and waited about five hundred yards away. So close and yet so far!

Seth screamed, his voice piercing the quiet night. “Come any closer and she’s dead, Duvalier!”

No sound issued from the two men. Laurel glanced one more time at them before Seth dragged her over the path she had come earlier. Within minutes she was by the rock, towering over them like a foreboding dragon in the darkness.

“Let me go,” she pleaded with Seth. “You can’t escape. Tony will kill you. I can talk him into—”

“Into what!” He cut her off and sneered at her as he pulled her up the side of the rock. “Into being merciful to me, sparing my wretched life? No, thank you. I’ve had people’s pity all my life. You think it was easy being the son of poor German parents? It was hell. We had nothing. Even my own uncle pitied us. He gave my mother a job in his bakery. He could have done better by her, but he didn’t. She never complained and was grateful for each and every thing she got, and it wasn’t much. Arthur married her and gave us a home. I worked like a dog to please him, and what did he do? Huh?” He kept pulling her up the smooth granite surface with him as he spoke, not allowing her to rest. “He left the ranch in your care until the new owner took over. Your husband, I might add. Why would he do that? Why?”

“Seth, please.” Laurel tried to twist out of his grasp, but Seth was too strong. Her arm felt as if he were pulling it from its socket.

He continued as if he hadn’t stopped speaking. “He did that because you’re family. The old man never considered me his son. No. He was mouthing off words all the time. I never forgave him for that. I’ll never forgive you for not wanting me. You could have given me the money I needed, you could have agreed to marry me, but you didn’t. All you ever wanted was Tony Duvalier! You were right about Simone and me and our plan to break the two of you up. I’m glad you lost your baby, because I was determined that Duvalier’s kid wouldn’t come between us. Now, he’s going to suffer for coming here and making you forget me. I’m going you kill you both!”

“Seth!”

A deaf ear was turned to her plea. The long climb up left Laurel winded and weak. When they reached the top, Seth pushed her down on the smooth surface and threw himself on top of her. His hands tore at her blouse until her breasts broke free and gleamed like fine porcelain.

“Duvalier and Castille can’t get up here. Only one path leads up here, so I’ll shoot them before they see me. But from the bottom, they can look up here and see me violate the haughty wife of a Cajun bastard before I kill all of you.”

Laurel struggled as his hand snaked out and whirled over her breasts. “You can’t do this! No!”

She pushed at him but Seth wouldn’t budge. Seth’s mouth quirked in an evil smile that chilled her to the bone.

“I’ll do what I want!” He turned and called out, “Duvalier, do you hear me?”

From below came Tony’s agonized voice. “Don’t hurt Laurel!”

Seth laughed confidently. “I’m going to make her unfit for you before I kill her. I’m going to make you wonder what I’m doing to her before I toss her over the edge. Then I’m going to shoot you and Castille down like two wild dogs!”

Laurel wondered if she should fight Seth. Perhaps her struggles only enraged him and made him more determined to hurt and then to kill her. She realized that Tony and Jim could shoot from below, but that they were afraid of hitting her instead of Seth. Everything was up to her. She had to find a way to stop Seth.

A low moaning sound came from somewhere within the rock itself. Each evening and all through the night strange sounds had issued from within the rock. Somehow Laurel knew the sounds had to do with the rock’s settling after a warm day, but Seth’s ears perked up as this sound rolled over them.

She knew now what she had to do.

“I hear your mother calling for you, Seth. She’s calling for you.”

“You’re lying!”

“No. Listen.”

Somehow, when Seth quieted and listened, the moaning sound that swept over them did indeed sound like a woman’s voice. Chills coursed through Laurel, but a weight was lifted from her when Seth stood up.

“Mother,” he called softly and moved to the sound, completely forgetting about Laurel.

This was her chance. Swiftly she sat up and just as quickly she backed away toward the path that led down to the base of the rock. The whole time she kept her gaze on Seth, who appeared dazed. Standing up, she made a move to run down the path just as Tony’s shout echoed up to her.

“Renquist!”

Seth turned at the sound, startled, not quite certain which voice to listen to. Instantly his brain seemed to clear, and he raised his rifle in Tony’s direction. He was too late. The nighttime stillness reverberated with the double crack of gunfire from below the rock. Laurel watched in horror as Seth bent forward, falling onto his face. She tried to scream but was able to make only a small cry.

His face was turned toward her. His usually cold eyes now contained a strange warmth, and he smiled at her.

“Mother, it … is … you.”

Then he spoke no more.

Laurel turned and flew down the side of the rock, slipping and nearly tripping over her own feet in her haste to get to Tony. When she was nearly to the bottom, she saw Tony and Jim. With arms outstretched to her, Tony dashed forward. Within seconds, Tony held her, shivering and crying, in his arms.

When she lifted her face to him, his arms tightened protectively about her. They gazed into each other’s eyes as Jim silently stole away. At that moment, no words were needed between them.

Scooping Laurel into his arms, he carried her to his horse. When dawn broke, they reached the Little L where Lavinia, crying tears of happiness, embraced her sister.

Petit Coteau, one year later

Jean lifted the champagne glass in a toast. “To Jean Antoine Duvalier, the heir to Petit Coteau.”

Tony, Laurel, and Denise acknowledged the toast with their own glasses while the rest of the guests in the parlor followed suit. The clink of fine crystal sang through the room, and merry, animated voices drifted on the air.

The only person who wasn’t too pleased was Jean Antoine himself. In Gincie’s arms, the two months old infant let out a lusty cry that Laurel immediately recognized.

“What a, way to behave at your christening party,” she softly scolded and took the baby from Gincie. “Let’s go upstairs and feed you.”

With a bright smile for her guests and a secretive wink to Tony, she and Gincie then went upstairs.

Jean patted Tony on the back. “How does it feel to be a papa now? Your son is a healthy little fellow and will do you proud. As his godfather, I shall see that his errant father doesn’t teach him bad habits.”

“And as his godmother,” Denise chimed in, “I shall make certain that his father and godfather don’t spoil him unbearably.”

“If I know you, Denise, you’ll do all the spoiling.” Tony smiled into his pretty cousin’s face. Denise fluttered her fan.

“That might be rather hard. I think his mother has first priority. All the child does is whimper, and Laurel is there to take charge of him. I have a feeling that you’ve been displaced in her heart,
chéri.”

“We’ll see about that.” Tony made a grand display of pretending outrage, but when he left his guests and bounded up the stairs, his face was wreathed in a tender smile. Upon entering the nursery, he was engulfed by warmth at the sight of his child suckling at the breast of the woman he loved more than life itself.

If possible, Laurel, dressed in a gown of yellow and green silk, was more beautiful now than on the day he had met her. Her bodice was pulled low over her breasts as she fed the hungry baby. A sweet smile touched her lips when Tony came and knelt beside the rocking chair.

“He’s nearly asleep,” Laurel said, gazing upon the child with love in her eyes.

“Jean Antoine is a lucky fellow,” Tony remarked, his eyes resting on the lushness of her bosom.

Laurel reached out and stroked Tony’s chin. “It’s been a long time since we made love.”

“Exactly three months, seven days, and eight hours.”

“Tony! How can you remember such a thing?”

“Does a hungry man not remember the last time he ate?”

Laurel laughed. “You’re a devil, you know that.” They sat in contemplative silence and gazed in adoration at the infant in Laurel’s arms. “I received a letter from Lavinia today,” Laurel said. “She and Jim are planning to visit us next month. She said she adores being an aunt and can’t wait until her own baby is born.”