Southern Beauty (4 page)

D

avid wrapped Johanna’s dress around her, picked her up in his arms and brought her to the c
ottage. 

“What’s wrong with her?” 
Preston inquired with a look of confusion that matched Jacob’s. 

“She passed out. Could you guys go get some wood for the fire?”  David asked without looking at them. 

Following orders both men abruptly left the cabin.  David laid her on the abandoned bed.  He gently stroked her long dampened hair.  Trying to coax her awake, he whispered softly in her ear, “Miss Lee, can you hear me?” 

Her swollen eyes opened enough to see David’s golden face.  She felt worse than she had ever felt; she was hungry, weak, and humiliated. 

“You’re going to be all right my Southern Beauty,” he continued to whisper, “I will never let anything happen to you.”  Johanna heard him but she was powerless to sleep and she again belonged to the void of darkness.

That night, Johanna awoke to see the cheery face of
Preston as he held tight her hand.  Alcohol reeked on his breath and before she could speak, his coarse lips came down hard upon hers.

“Get away from her
, Myers!”  David fiercely called out as he gripped Preston’s hair tightly between his clenched fingers, pulling him away from the frightful Johanna.

“Sorry about that, he had a little too much whiskey.  He won’t bother you again,” David reassured the frightened Johanna.  She fell back into her deepened slumber, forgetting about
Preston’s advances.  She only dreamt of what she felt in her heart, a love for the man who sat by her bed, jealous stricken of Preston’s affection toward her.  His hidden rage kept secret with his flaming desire for her. 

Throughout the day, David would barely talk to her let alone look at her.  She was surprised how easily it was to befriend Jacob.  He seemed more like a friendly butcher than a soldier.  They talked of books and of family.  With an occasional added word from David like, “hmmm.” 
Preston spent most of the day outdoors scouting and gathering firewood, which suited Johanna just fine.  She felt very uncomfortable when he was around.  He would stare at her with eagerness as he lurked in the dark corner of the room.  He seemed almost like a black cat ready to pounce on its prey.  She tried not to notice him staring at her when he thought no one was looking.  His sinister manner only intensified when she found him hovering over her while she slept. 

David tried to keep
Preston’s advances at bay, especially when he had found him smelling her hair.  Without warning David lunged at him and threw Preston against the wall.  Preston, who was caught off guard, had suddenly felt the sting of the wall on his back with a powerful force that sent him straight to the wooden floor.  

“Keep your hands off of her!”  David warned in a protective tone.

“Oh, I see you are saving her for yourself?”  Preston questioned David and laughed as he rubbed his cheek and picked himself up.

“Just knock it off or I will report your insubordination to our commander,” threatened David.

“Come on McPherson I was just having a little fun,” Preston tried to laugh it off.

“Keep in mind we have a mission.  Let’s stick to it.  We are not here to have fun,” ordered David.

As Preston walked out of the cabin to retreat from the situation, he leaned into Johanna and whispered,” You won’t always have McPherson to protect you.”

“Protect me from what
, pray tell.” Johanna boldly stood her ground unaffected by his warning.

Preston
did not answer her question, turned and exited.

After David protected her Johanna noticed him in a different light.  Throughout the day his manner became more relaxed and he almost seemed friendly.  She watched him as he bantered with Jacob to everyone’s amusement.  She even once found herself laughing out loud and had to cover her mouth to be discrete.

That evening, David read a few lines out of her magazine as they all sat by the fireplace. 

“Is this collection about romance?”  David asked her.

Embarrassed Johanna covered, “It’s more about family,” she took it out of his hand “I think that is enough for today thank you.”

“Those are Miss Austen’s writings?”  Jacob asked.

“Yes,” said Johanna.

“Oh Emma loves her stories.  They are all about romance and love.  It’s a girl thing David,” Jacob said.

“Now I am curious,” David asked Johanna scratching his unshaven chin. “How much do you know about it?” 

“Know about what?
”  Johanna asked confused.

“Know about romance and love?” David smiled teasing her.

Johanna refused to answer his question and put her magazine away. Jacob grinned at David’s question while David smirked at her uncomfortable reaction. 

Afterward David taught Johanna a card game in which she played quite well.  She promised to teach him backgammon some day, and quickly retracted in embarrassment of the situation. 

“I guess I forgot for a second where I was,” she said.  They all laughed. 

During the two days she was held captive, they secretly watched one another when they thought neither was looking.  It didn’t go unnoticed by Jacob.  He began to feel fondly toward Johanna and actually felt obliged to remind David that there was no way it would ever work out between them. 

“What are you talking about Jacob? I feel nothing for her,” said David.

“McPherson, just remember what you are here for. Besides, could you imagine…” Jacob said.

“No, I cannot, and I would not,” interrupted David.

“Just don’t get involved in something you are never intending to finish. I have spent time talking to her, she reminds me of my own niece.  She doesn’t deserve your false advances,” said Jacob.

“I have no intentions of any kind, she is a Southerner, Lee’s niece, and a royal pain,” proclaimed David.

“Are you falling for her?” questioned Jacob with a look of concern on his face.

“Are you insane? Are you listening to anything I am telling you?” David asked in denial. “If she needs a companion, Preston can have her.”

Jacob eyed David not believing him, “If you haven’t fallen in love with her, leave her be, it will only end in heartache for the both of you!”

“Fallen in love with her?” David repeated. “That’s absurd!  You seem to be the only one enticed by her beauty. I am about done with this, this mission and this conversation.”

#   #   #

In the dusk of the early morning amidst their slumber, Johanna awoke and scanned the room.  She saw Jacob and
Preston asleep across the room slightly snoring.  She quickly sat up and thought in a brief instant she should try to escape.  The idea was quickly extinguished when she realized David lay on the floor beside her fast asleep.  She tried to get a better look at him, so she leaned over a bit too much and then she fell right on top of him.  Johanna could feel his fiery breath upon hers though he did not make a sound.  Her body froze, though it was inflamed with fireworks that exploded a thousand times inside her.  She wanted more.  She longed for his touch.  Did he have any idea she had fallen upon him?  Or fallen for him? 

David had been afraid to fall asleep since the last episode with
Preston.  He stayed by Johanna like a watchdog.  He couldn’t sleep anyway.  He had been going over in his mind what he whispered to her at the river.  He was appalled that he felt that way toward someone so difficult and proud.  Her attitude toward them insinuated that they were beneath her.  He didn’t know why he wanted her. What she needed was to be put in her place.  He eyed her in the dark when he noticed movement above him. When she leaned over to get a closer look at him he saw her falling and immediately braced himself for the impact.  He was going to scold her back into her bed, but something happened when their bodies touched.  Johanna’s warmth enveloped him.  His very soul steamed with fire.  He wanted to wrap his arms around her, embrace her, and love her.  He couldn’t open his eyes it was too much.

Johanna, inches away from his tempting lips, slowly came down to touch them gently with her own.  Breath to breath, lips barely touching, Johanna hoped for some tender response to her closeness.  David began to snore.

“You Yankee fool,” Johanna whispered as she picked herself up off of him and made her way back into bed. 

David covered his laugh with a cough. He turned over so she could not see his face.  Again without knowing it, she made him laugh.  What made him do such a thing?  David pondered this until the sun rose.   Holding the lovely Johanna in his arms was the only thing he could think of since they met.  Was it his devotion to his mission?  No, the mission could not be further from his thoughts.  It’s only Johanna that he wants or ever wants.  She was right he was a fool.  They both stared into the night waiting for the morning to arrive thinking only of each other and the missed opportunity of passion. 

#   #   #

To Johanna’s relief, morning finally came. 

“Where are you going?”  Johanna whispered to Jacob as he started toward the door. 

“Well, good morning Miss Lee,” surprised to see her awake he asked, “Did you sleep well?” 

“I guess
, the best I can under the circumstances,” she shrugged with a half smile.

“I am going to get wood, would you like to join me for a walk?” He asked cheerfully as he held the door open for her. 

Tiptoeing past David, she shook her head in disappointment.  She followed Jacob out the door and they both disappeared into the woods.   

“Are you married
, Mr. Evans?”  Johanna asked.

“Yes, my wife is in
Harrisburg waiting for my return,” he answered not noticing the set of footprints that lay on the muddy ground next to their own. 

“Is that where we are going?” Johanna asked.

“No.  We are headed to New Orleans.  We need to get out of enemy territory,” he answered.

“Isn’t
Louisiana on its way to succession too?” she asked.

“It isn’t yet.  We have a contact there.  We must be meeting them soon,” Jacob looked at Johanna who seemed confused.  “I am not sure what David has planned for you.   Don’t worry though, I know him, and he would never jeopardize your safety and I will make sure of it.”  He smiled and looked down at her in a fatherly sort of way.

“Oh, you don’t need to worry about me.  I can take care of myself,” she insisted.

“Yes, I could confirm that,” h
e said and they both smiled.

“Are we waiting for my uncle?” she asked.

“I am not sure what we’re doing to tell the truth.  This is McPherson’s show,” explained Jacob.

“Oh, he can sometimes be so difficult.  Is that a Northern thing or does he not have a mother to teach him manners, especially around ladies?” asked Johanna.

“Ah, he’s not so bad once you get to know him.  He has a great Christian family actually.  And to tell you the truth they would be appalled he is treating you so unkindly.  I am hesitant to go on any further, Miss Lee,” he paused for her attention, “he is like a brother to me.” 

“I’m sorry.  I spoke out of place,” she agreed.

Jacob smiled at her, “I’ve never seen him act this way before and we have been friends for a very long time.”

“Whatever do you mean?” Johanna asked with much interest. 

Jacob didn’t want to say anymore for he knew David felt more than he was letting on.  “He is generally the perfect gentleman, ladies love him, men respect him, and well, ever since we met you, he has been, let’s just say different.” 

“I see
,” Johanna didn’t know what to make of this. 

“Don’t take him too serious
ly.  He likes to antagonize you,” Jacob said in a whisper.

“I got that
,” she said.  “I think he needs someone to teach him a good lesson.”

“Would that be you?” he asked in a laugh.

“Is he married?” asked Johanna ignoring Jacob’s questioned.

“Not yet, but his mo
ther is trying to marry him off,” Jacob explained.

“Marry him off?”  Johanna’s heart sank and
yet she didn’t know why she even cared.  So what if he was to marry. “Who is she trying to have Mr. McPherson marry?”  Forcing a smile, Johanna swallowed hard.  She felt a bit weak and she began to feel a cold sweat tingle her body.  She looked up toward the pale gray storm clouds that began to form and tried to stop her eyes from tearing. Why it was affecting her was perplexing.

“
Kathleen? She is a friend of the family.  She has had feelings for him since they were kids. Maybe someday he will settle down and have a family, although he proclaims he wants to go where he pleases without any ties, any responsibilities to anyone,” announced Jacob with a slight grin.

“That sounds like something
he would say,” Johanna said with a harsh tone, lifting her head in a prideful stance.