Southern Beauty (16 page)

Chapter 21

“S

he is taking too long,” David looked at Jacob annoyed.

“She is very upset,” Jacob said, “give her time.”

“I think something is wrong,” David said and then heard a muffled cry from above.  David took off.  He skipped stairs while his adrenaline flowed, thoughts raced of what was happening to her. He smashed through the door and Malcolm had his arm around Johanna and a revolver at her temple. 

“Let her go Malcolm.  This is between you and me,” David insisted.

“Oh yes, this has been about you and me, you and her, her and me,” Malcolm said as he swung the gun back and forth toward Johanna and then at David.  “It’s a bit of a lover’s triangle wouldn’t you agree?” he leaned into Johanna kissing her silken hair while keeping the gun pointed now at David.

Johanna mortified by the predicament she found herself in stood in shock. 

“I see you have met my fiancée,” he smiled at David. “I know you are familiar with what a fiancée is, right David?” 

David stared him down waiting for an opportunity to distract him and grab the revolver out of his shaking hands afraid for Johanna’s safety. She stared at David with fear in her eyes.  It affected him more than he realized. 

Jacob then entered the room startling everyone.  David didn’t hesitate and tackled Malcolm to the floor pushing Johanna away from him.  The revolver tumbled out of Malcolm’s hands. David’s adrenaline skyrocketed as he grabbed Malcolm and kept punching him thinking about how he could have hurt Johanna.  He didn’t stop until he heard Johanna pleading for him to stop from behind.

Jacob ushered Johanna out the door when she began to cry for David to stop hurting Malcolm, taking the revolver that Malcolm had with him. 

“Are you okay?” Jacob asked her as they descended the stairs and headed toward the drawing room. 

“I am fine thank you, Mr. Evans,” said Johanna still a little shook up by the unpleasant incident. 

David grabbed Malcolm and headed for the first floor where Johanna was catching her breath.  He looked at her with concern and then stared down Malcolm who was sitting on the floor with a gun now pointed toward him battered from the confrontation.

“Johanna, it seems your fiancée hasn’t been quite honest with you,” David said, “Malcolm why don’t you tell her. Let her know what filth you really are,” David accused Malcolm.

Malcolm wiping the blood from his lip, looked at Johanna and then to David, “I don’t’ know what your talking about.”

“Let’s see, you are actually a Union spy, not a loyal Southerner.  You have been not only deceiving Johanna but also her uncle.” David continued.  “You knew all along about the papers she had in her possession which you failed several times to get from her.”

“I will tell her no such thing,” Malcolm still refused to admit his wrong doing.

“Yes, it is true.  I am sorry to say he has deceived you Johanna. The pirate at the St. Charles Hotel, that was all him. He set it all up, paid handsomely for your capture. It backfired on him though; Rene saved you before he got the map.  And at the steamship, he was supposed to come in like some hero and save you, but I got to you first.  You were never really in danger,” David explained to her. 
              Malcolm staring David down gritted his teeth, “I am not the only one who has betrayed you.  McPherson here will do anything to get his hands on the map, including kissing Clarice on the balcony and making her believe he loved her while the whole time he has been betrothed to a girl from his hometown. Kathleen is it?” Malcolm asked. “Aren’t you getting married in a week?”

David stared him down, but did not deny it.
 

“Did he make you believe he loved you too, Johanna?” Malcolm smiled knowing the damage he was doing. “He is a master of deception.”
      Johanna swallowed hard. Jacob held her arm and squeezed it for support. She couldn't hide the disappointment in her face or the tears that welled up in her eyes. She didn't know which was worse of the betrayals. 

“That is enough,” Jacob said interrupting their confessions.

David watched tears slowly creep down Johanna’s soft cheeks.  It broke his heart to see her in pain in which he caused.  He started toward her, “you have to let me explain.”

Malcolm used this
moment to his advantage and he grabbed the revolver from David’s hand.  He pointed it toward them still sweating and shaking. 

“It appears I am now in control of this situation. Miss Johanna, give me Lee’s papers and I will not kill your precious David.” 

“Don’t listen to him.  He is not giving it to your uncle.  He is going to sell it to the highest bidder,” David tried to persuade her.

“I don’t care anymore,” she pulled out the cigar box hidden in a pocket she made in her dress and handed it to Malcolm. 

David and Jacob looked at each other realizing they were conned by her. It was in her possession the whole time.  The sad part about it, David did have the cigar box, but thought they were just cigars and gave it back to her at the Beauregard House, trying to gain her trust.

“What is this?” Malcolm asked.

“The plans are hidden inside.  Please just go,” whispered Johanna sad that it had come to this.

Malcolm looked at her and then looked at David.  “The map, I believe it is in your possession.”

David stared him down not moving.

Malcolm pointed the gun at Johanna. “I said I want the map,” he asked David once again.

“Don’t hurt her,” David pulled out the map.  “It’s here, just don’t hurt her.” He slowly gave Malcolm the map.

Malcolm watched how David looked at Johanna.  He stared them both down, and then “Bam!”  Malcolm shot Johanna. 

“I believe now I have gotten what I came here for, my revenge on you,” and he took off into the night.

“Should we let him go?” asked Jacob.

David didn’t hear Jacob’s questioned.  He had already run to Johanna’s side. 

“She is bleeding, it’s everywhere Jacob,”
cried David.  He held her head in his lap.  Tears had had already glossed his blue eyes, they slowly trickled down his unshaven face.

Jacob
came to his side and leaned over Johanna inspecting the wound.

“It’s okay David,” Jacob assured him.  “She’s going to be okay.
”

“I c
an’t lose her, Jacob,” said David in shock. “I just can’t.”

“I know,” said
Jacob as he grabbed a white linen cloth that had covered a chair nearby and laid it over Johanna’s now shivering body.

David thought he was going to be sick.  The linen looked more like a burial shroud.  He prayed silently it would not turn into one.

Jacob put his hand on David’s shoulder for support, “we need to get her a doctor.”

David couldn’t move.  He was angry with himself for putting Johanna in d
anger and simultaneously filled with undeniable fear of losing her.

“I did this,”
said David. “I put her here. I as much as shot her myself.”

“You can’t blame yourself, David,” said Jacob. 

“I knew what Malcolm was capable of, I just didn’t know he would go this far,” David’s voice cracked as he held back his tears.

“We will deal with Malcolm later, but now we need to get her some help,” insisted Jacob.

“Okay,” David wiped his tears.  “Tell me what you want me to do?”

Jacob looked at his distraught friend.  It broke his heart to see him in such turmoil. 

“Why don’t you stay with her,” said Jacob realizing David wouldn’t want to leave her side. “I will try to find a doctor.”

David looked up at Jacob in desperation; tears filled his eyes once again, “please hurry.”

“I will my friend,” said Jacob.  “You just keep her warm.”

“David?” Johanna tried to whisper.
Her eyes barely opened.  Her face was paler than usual and her red lips seemed to be losing their color. 

“I am here,”
he cradled her even more. “I am here.”

Chapter 22

“A

re you fee
ling better?” Emma Evans asked Johanna with a warm smile.  “It’s great to see you awake and out of danger.”

“I am fine. Thanks to the both of you,” she smiled up at Jacob and Emma.

“How’s your shoulder?” asked Jacob.

“A little sore,” she smiled.  “
I just can’t believe I have no recollection of the past week.”

“
You don’t remember anything?” asked Emma.

“Not really,”
said Johanna trying to recollect the last several days.

“
You don’t remember the doctor in Arlington or the train ride?” asked Jacob.

“Or David not leaving your side?” added Emma with a smile
and a wink.

Johanna looked around the room, “where’s
is Mr. McPherson?”

“He had
something he needed to take care of,” Jacob said.

“Right,” his betrayal came rushing back. “It’s just as well. I don’t really want to see him.”

“He didn’t leave your side for a week,” Jacob defended David.

“Jacob, could you check on Daniel for me?” Emma cut in.

“Sure dear,” Jacob was thankful for his wife, she would be able to get through to Johanna.

“I am so glad to finally meet you, I have heard so much about you,” Emma smiled at Johanna.

Johanna smiled back, “Jacob and I have been praying for you and Daniel’s health.  I am so happy to meet you finally too.”

“You have caused quite a stir being here,” Emma handed her a cup of tea.

“I am sorry, I never meant to be anyone’s inconvenience,” Johanna frowned.

“You are not at all. I just meant…” Emma tried to say.

“You mean being Lee’s niece,” Johanna finished her sentence. 

“That, and well, coming back with David,” Emma
added.

“I didn’t come here with him
; it’s complicated,” Johanna didn’t know what to say.

“He is supposed to be married tomorrow,” said Emma.
“Did you know this?”

Johanna’s heart sank.  It was true.  “
I knew he was to marry,” she admitted.

“Does this bother you?” she asked.

“Not in the least,” Johanna lied.

Emma eyed Johanna.  “How about if I say I don’t quite believe you? I think there is something between you and David,” she said.

Johanna didn’t deny it.  She carefully watched Emma not knowing where she was going with this conversation.

“I think if you stay here, there won’t be a wedding,” she admitted.

“Then all the more reason I need to leave,” Johanna said feeling devastated and still sore from the gunshot wound. 

“You don’t have to leave, you can stay as long as you like,” Emma insisted.

“I am not a prisoner?” asked Johanna.

“Not in the least,” Emma smiled.

“I appreciate your kindness, but,” she looked at Emma desperately, “I need to leave.”

Emma smiled warmly, “I understand.” She hesitated and then said thoughtfully, “If I know anything, I know that
God always has a plan.  It will all work out, Miss Lee.”

“Sometimes
, I wonder after all I have been through, for who will it work out.”  Johanna’s voice cracked while she held back tears that began to form. 

Jacob interrupted
with a slight clearing of his throat, “I have a letter for you Miss Lee.” He handed it to her.

“It’s from my aunt,” Johanna said surprised.  “How did she know I was here?”

“She doesn’t. It was left by a servant from the Custiss-Lee Mansion addressed to you.  You were too out of it to give it to you earlier,” Jacob answered while Johanna read the letter.

“There was a meeting my uncle attended at the
Virginia secession convention.  There were several decisions to make, she’s fled to Ravensworth.  She wants me to meet her there,” Johanna said relieved she no longer had to bear being in David’s hometown when he was getting married.

“Yes I know,” Jacob said sadly. 

“Will you stay a little longer?” Emma asked.

“Yes, you no longer have anything we need in your possession.  You are not a prisoner but our guest,” Jacob tried to say politely. 

“Jacob,” Emma whispered in an accusing tone.

Johanna smiled
, “I know what you meant, but I cannot,” Johanna’s eyes began to tear and she held them on Emma.

Emma’s concerned look on her face turned to a smile
.  “Miss Lee would you like to meet our son, Daniel?” she asked.

“Would I ever,” she smiled.

#   #   #

“David, you brought Lee’s niece here? If he knows this he will send troops to retrieve her,” Mrs. McPherson warned her son.

“Mother, I thought she was dying.  I didn’t know what to do,” David answered.

“You must have her return to her family.  You can’t put us all in danger,” said Mrs. McPherson.

“I know, but there is a problem with that,” said David.

“And what is that, pray tell?” she asked.

“I am in love with her,” David confessed.

“David, you are to marry Kathleen tomorrow,” she said in shock.

“I don’t want to marry her
.  I can’t marry her.  I was never in love with her.  You thought it would be a good fit and I just never disagreed,” David now feeling sick about all the people he was hurting.

“I see. You have definitely put yourself in an awful predicament.  How do you think this is going to work out between you
and Miss Lee?” Mrs. McPherson now concerned for her son.

“I don’t know, but I know
if I don’t find out I will always regret it,” he said.

“Will you too regret that you broke an engagement to a lovely woman who has loved you since childhood?” she asked.

“My only regret would be if I married her under false pretenses.  I don’t love her,” he insisted. “I never did.”

“You will cause quite a scandal for this woman?” she asked.

“I would die for her,” David confessed. 

“That is extreme,” she said.

“I know, I just can’t live with out her,” he admitted.

“
Oh, it must be love then,” she smiled.

David smiled back, “I know you will love her too.”

“I am sure I will,” she said.  “Son, I encourage you to pray about this decision you are making.”

“I do every day,” he smiled at her.

“That’s my boy,” she smiled back at him. “If this is God’s will then surely he will move heaven and earth for you and her to be together.”

“So, you are okay with this?” he asked.

“I just want you to be happy, that is all a mother can ask for,” she smiled.

“That I am,” he answered.

“I can tell,” she laughed. “You know what a scandal this is going to be among my friends?”

“Can you handle it?” he asked.

“Oh, I look forward to it!” she smiled.

“Thank you,” he smiled and kissed her on the cheek.

“You have one difficult task ahead of you,” she said.

“
And what is that?” he asked still smiling.

“You must go and tell Kathleen,”
insisted Mrs. McPherson insisted.

David’s smile disappeared.  He sighed, “I know.”

#   #   #

“Are you sure you want to leave?” Emma questioned Johanna while they were alone. “I so much enjoyed your company.”

“You are such a dear friend.  I am so thankful to you,” smiled Johanna. 

“I am sorry David hasn’t come around.  I don’t know what could keep him,” she tried to make Johanna feel better.

“He has no reason to come here now.  I have nothing he wants,” Johanna frowned. “I have nothing to offer him.”

“Oh, I don’t believe that is true,” Emma smiled.  “Jacob told me how much David cares for you.  He didn’t have to tell me though I saw it for myself when he was at your bedside.”

“That was probably led more by guilt than anything for putting me in this situation in the first place,” Johanna frowned.

“It seemed more to me,” Emma insisted.

“I think I am just causing too much controversy being here.  I don’t belong here, I really must leave,” said Johanna.

Emma and Johanna were interrupted by a knock at the door.  When Emma opened it a young lady stood with a basket of pastries and smile. 

“Oh Rebekah, it is so nice to see you,” Emma hugged her.

“Mother asked me to stop by and give you some pastries and welcome your new guest,’ she said as she handed Emma the basket with a big smile toward Johanna.

“Thank you.  This is
Miss Johanna Lee,” said Emma introducing them.

“It’s nice to meet you,” Johanna smiled back unsure of the
ir new guest.

“Oh, it is so nice to finally meet you,” Rebekah said enthusiastically surprising Johanna with a friendly hug.

Johanna was awed by Rebekah’s excitement and hugged her back without any reservation.

“
How is Daniel doing?” Rebekah asked.

“Oh, he is doing just fine, t
hank you for asking,” said Emma with a smile.

“
I must go,” she smiled brightly again at Johanna. “I have so many things to prepare for you see.”

“Thank you for the pastries,”
said Emma. 

“Oh, you are very welcome.  I look forward to meeting you again very soon,” Rebekah said only looking at Johanna.

Johanna smiled, “as do I.”

They watched Rebekah leave with a bit of a skip to her exit.  Emma closed the door and looked at Johanna with a huge grin upon her face.

“Well, she was easy to befriend,” Johanna said to Emma with a grin.  “She was the sweetest girl I have ever met.  I have never seen anyone overflow with that much joy.  I wish I could keep her near at all times.”

“Interesting you say that,” said Emma.

“Why is that?” asked Johanna.

“Because Rebekah
is David’s sister,” smiled Emma.