Conjuring Sight (Becky Jo Chronicles Book 1) (29 page)

“Do not let them into the parameter!” he orders.

Something whizzes by my ear. I duck behind a wikiup.

Suddenly, the gunshots silence.

“They have gone,” Gabe says loudly.

“Hold your positions!” James orders.

A deep rumbling breaks the momentary silence, echoing through the night. It is loud and full of wickedness. I cover my ears and close my eyes, but I can’t shut it out.

“SHAMAN,” it groans. “WE HAVE NO FIGHT WITH YOU. GIVE US WHAT WE DESIRE, AND WE WILL LEAVE IN PEACE.”

Everyone pales at the sound of the voice, but no one is affected like I am. I curl in a ball, fighting the desire to vomit. The diamond around my neck feels like it’s on fire.

“I am simply a medicine man,” White Cloud yells in return. “I am not the leader of this group.”

“WHO?” the voice demands.

“I am, you evil creature!” James fiercely shouts. “What is it you want?”

“THE GIRL, GIVE US THE GIRL, AND THIS BATTLE WILL END!” the voice rumbles and it feels as though the very earth is shaking.

“I do not know who you are talking about!”

The rumbling grows louder. “WE WANT THE ONE WHO IS A STRANGER AMONG YOU!”

James’s eyes narrow in the moonlight, understanding fills his face. He knows they’re asking for me.

“If you want her, then come and get her, but our bullets will be waiting for you!” he screams.

Chaos erupts. Shadows dart around the Mansion. Bullets chase them. I lay on the ground, paralyzed by the evil. The feeling I am not going to survive my journey to 1875 overwhelms me. I do the only thing I can, my mind repeats a prayer of Henry Francis Lyte’s,
Abide with me; fast falls the eventide; the darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide; When other helpers fail, and comforts flee, help of the helpless, O abide with me.

I don’t know how long I have laid there when soft hands touch my face.

“Oh, Rebecca,” Clara says, picking me up. “You should have stayed inside.”

“Take her inside and guard her door,” White Cloud tells her, shooting his rifle in rapid fire succession.

Clara is a strong woman. She carries me all the way to my bed before tucking me in the blankets.

“What’s g-going on?” I say behind shivering teeth.

“They fear you,” she answers, taking a defensive stand in front of the door.

The very idea is ridiculous, but I am too exhausted to argue. I fall asleep to the irregular beat of gunfire.

Friday, March 19, 1875

“Coyotes, my ass!  What in the hell is going on?” James yells, waking me. I open my eyes to find him pinning White Cloud to the wall.

I get out of bed and dash to them, putting myself between the two men. “James, let him go.”

He releases White Cloud and protectively wraps his arms around me. “I want answers!”

White Cloud straightens his shirt.

“And answers you shall have,” he says, glancing at me. “However, now is not the time. There are wedding preparations to be made. After you and our Miss Harris are joined in holy matrimony, I will tell you all you desire. If you will please excuse me, I have much to do.”

James watches him leave. “That Indian is almost as infuriating as you are!”

“What have I done, now?”

“I saw Clara carry you back to the Mansion! Imagine my fear as I watched my future wife being carried away from a battlefield.”

“How can you expect me to stay in bed when you and all my friends are at risk?” I retort.

He picks me up and takes me to the bed, climbing in with me. “I expect you to stay in bed because this is where you belong on a cold night.”

“I belong at your side on a cold night!” I object. “The other women were helping!”

“You are not like other women,” he says, kissing my neck.

“What is that supposed to mean?” I angrily cross my arms.

He slides the nightgown off my shoulder, kissing the exposed skin.

“It means you will stay in my bed, and I will protect you,” he says with a naughty grin.

“This isn’t even your bed. It’s mine.”

He sits up, pulling me into his arms.

“You are correct on that matter.” He goes to the door, taking me with him.

“Put me down!”

He goes into his room, placing me on his lion bed.

“That is better,” he says climbing into the blankets with me in tow.

“Colonel Blair, I must object!”

He forcefully puts his lips to mine. I melt in his arms. We kiss for several minutes, until he places a hand on my butt.

“Whoa!” I try to push him off me. He holds on tighter, helping himself to the other cheek. I kick him. “You need to keep your hands to yourself!”

He laughs with delight. “Only for one more day!”

I get out of the bed, shooting him a really dirty look. I storm out of the room and down the stairs.

“Rose, do you know what Colonel Blair did this morning?” I ask as I stomp into the kitchen.

“No, but I be grateful you finally gonna put da poor man outta his misery and make beautiful babies with him,” she retorts, stirring a pot on the stove.

He smiles victoriously while following me into the kitchen. “As I have said before, we are going to spend our lives together. I’m hoping to make you with child the first time I bed you, like my father did my mother. We are going to immediately start a family.”

This is another thing guys in my time would never say, further proof we are worlds apart.

“James!” I swat at him, mortified to be having this conversation with him, especially with Rose listening.

He smiles slyly at me. “I am nearly twenty-seven. It is time I settled down. Besides, if you are expecting, you cannot leave.”

I put a hand on his cheek, knowing he just doesn’t understand. He thinks I’m like the girls in his time.

“James, I love you,” I say softly. “But nothing can keep me here.”

His smile doesn’t fade. “Rebecca, we
will
spend forever together.”

*     *     *

When I return to my room, I find a warm bath waiting by the fireplace. I don’t waste any time getting in the water. I wash my face and body while sitting in the little tub. I am working on washing my legs and feet when there’s a knock at the door behind me.

Thinking it’s Clara or Ida I call, “Come in.”

“Are you dressed?” James asks, walking in. I quickly move a washcloth, strategically covering myself. He stops dead in his tracks when he sees my bare back.

“Obviously I’m not dressed,” I say.

He swallows laboriously, but he doesn’t avert his eyes.

“Is there a problem?” I question. I don’t know why he’s acting so strange. He lives in a city with scantily dressed prostitutes. Surely he’s seen a little leg and shoulder before.

“My uncle is here,” he blurts out. He clears his throat, regaining control of his mind. “Uncle Samuel has just arrived. Please join us for breakfast.”

My first instinct is to tell him to forget it. I’ve already had my fill of Samuel, but I’ve got to keep an eye on the nasty man. I put a fake, beauty queen smile on my lips.

“I will be there as soon as I dress.”

He nods, still staring. “I will send Clara and Ida to assist you.”

The door quietly shuts behind me.

My friends make short work of dressing me. Before I know it, I’m dressed in my everyday dress, and my hair is elegantly piled on my head. I glance in the mirror, satisfied I look the part of a nineteenth century lady before I go out the door.

“Old friend!” Henry cheers when he sees me emerge from my room.

“Henry!” I enthusiastically hug him. “What are you doing?”

“Helpin’ old friend down da stairs,” he explains. “Massa James be sayin’ it important job.”

“Does he now?” I smirk, linking my arm with his. We start down the stairs. “What have you been doing today?”

“Feedin’ horses,” he answers. “Dey be eatin’ a lot.”

“I’m sure they do,” I reply as we reach the bottom step. “Have you had your breakfast?”

“Yes, Old friend, with Rose.”

“I wish I could have eaten with you and Rose,” I lament.

He laughs. “You done dress slow.”

“I guess I did, but now I need to get to work.” I give him a hug. “I will see you later.”

When I walk into the dining room, James immediately puts out his pipe before standing. I frown at the pipe, and he smiles impishly. Samuel also stands but with an air of self-importance. His top lip rises slightly as though snarling like a wolf. I smile sweetly at both of them.

“Good morning, James and Mr. Blair. I trust you slept well.” I say, walking to James. I kiss him.

“Good morning, my dearest,” he returns the kiss before we all take our seats. “I slept exceptionally well, thank you.”

Samuel frowns deeply. “I’m sure you did,” he grumbles under his breath.

I turn my attentions to him. “Mr. Blair, you are rather quick to tarnish my reputation.”

“Miss Harris, it is not your reputation I wish to tarnish. My nephew has had the unfortunate fortune of being born to less than ideal breading stock. A man such as he cannot be expected to behave with any sort of self-control.”

“Says the man who consorts with prostitutes,” I snap.

He shrugs his shoulders. “I am a fallen man. I do not attempt to hide this fact. However, my nephew professes to be something he is not.”

“And what is that?”

He smirks as though he knows something I don’t. “You should ask him?”

“I believe Uncle Samuel is referring to the fact that my mother was an octoroon,” James says with a wave of the hand.

“Really?” I pretend awe. “That must be the reason you are so very handsome. I have heard they are considered among the most beautiful women in the world.”

Samuel’s eyes become venomous. “My brother was an idiot and went and fell in love with one of them, and now you are making the same mistake!”

“I don’t understand?” I know exactly what he is talking about, but I go along with it.

“James’s mother was a
nigger
,” he venomously spits the words. “Oh, she passed for white because her father was white, but her mother was a nigger which made her a nigger and James one, too. Why do you think my brother came west? He wanted to be somewhere where his nigger son could live like a white man. If you need proof, just look at James’s other uncle. Gabe is no white man. James is not what he pretends to be!”

“He is not pretending to be anything. He is just minding his own business and living his life. If anyone is pretending to be something they are not, it is you. You pretend you’re rich, but you’re actually in debt. You pretend you’re important, but you live a lazy, worthless life. You hold tightly onto your racism so you can try to raise yourself above other people. The problems you have with black people do not have anything to do with them – they have everything to do with you.”

“So, the rumors are true! You are actually planning to marry the mutt!” Samuel’s lips pull back into a snarl. “If you go through with this, I will tell everyone the truth! You will both be the laughing stock of the city! If the citizens of Virginia City knew the truth about James, they would shun him and his claims would be transferred to George O’Malley.”

James sucks in a breath of air. He’s worried about losing his fortune and my reputation.

“Do you think anyone will actually believe you?” I laugh merrily. “You’re a drunkard who socializes with prostitutes and gambles away your nephew’s fortune. Why would they believe you? Besides, Colonel Blair’s skin is lighter than yours. One glance at Emily and John Blair’s portrait and no one would ever believe you. Emily had lighter skin, hair, and eyes than your brother. If you allege Colonel Blair is a mulatto, it would be assumed the black linage came from your side of the family, not his mother’s. This would hurt your own reputation.”

“Rose and Gabe will collaborate with me!” he yells.

“We don’t know what you be talkin’ about,” Rose says from the doorway. “Massa James’s mother done been a true southern belle.  I should know; I done serve her for many years.”

“And I have proof.” Gabe holds up portrait of a gorgeous woman with dark hair and blue eyes. “James’s white heritage is more secure than your own.”

Samuel glares at the painting. “Emily’s light eyes and skin prove nothing! People will listen to me!”

“Not with me as Colonel Blair’s wife,” I say. “Can you just imagine your nephew’s blond-haired, blue-eyed children? Just seeing Colonel Blair and me together will solidify his whiteness in the mentality of Virginia City. You can say whatever you wish. In fact, I hope you do because someone will have you committed as a raving lunatic. Furthermore, if the mining claims were transferred to George O’Malley, you would no longer benefit from them. Only a fool would do such a thing, and you do not strike me as a fool.”

He frowns, mulling my words around in his mind.

“Miss Harris, I fear we have gotten off on the wrong foot,” he says, feigning repentance. “It is not my purpose to cause strife.”

I put a beauty queen smile on my lips. “That is good news because I am famished.”

Samuel crossly picks up his fork and tears into his meal.  I’ve won, for now. Apparent from the concentration on his face, the man isn’t taking my victory lightly. He is already plotting his next move. Gabe and Rose both take seats in the room, watching the vile man.

I turn my head and find James staring at me. I don’t know what his problem is. Ignoring him, I pick up my own fork and break apart a biscuit covered in sausage gravy. I put a forkful of the fattening food in my mouth, worried about how tight my corset is going to be if I keep eating this way.

“I have business to attend to in town,” Samuel says, putting down his fork. He rises to his feet and strides out of the room without a backward glance.

With the despicable man’s sudden departure, I want to make some snide comment about Samuel to James. I bite my tongue. He has to know his uncle is a dreadful human being; anyone with half a brain knows that. However, he has a family attachment I must respect. I go on eating my breakfast, wishing for some healthy shredded wheat while eating Rose’s delicious food.

I nearly jump when James’s hand rests on my knee under the table. I give him a dirty look and immediately push it away. He smiles faintly as his hand returns to my knee.

“James, kindly remove your hand,” I demand.

“Rebecca, I did not think it was possible, but my love for you deepens and grows each day.”

“Then send Samuel away,” I plead.

“James, I agree. You need to send that man away!” Gabe gets to his feet.

Rose adds, “He ain’t up to no good!”

“I will after the wedding.” Colonel Blair continues to hold his hand on my knee.

“You shouldn’t wait,” I tell him.

He shakes his head. “Samuel is my father’s brother. I will show him respect, even if he does not deserve it.”

*     *     *

“Miss Harris, Colonel Blair!” Julia hurries to greet us as Gabe stops the carriage. “I barely slept a wink. We received Colonel Blair’s message you were coming to visit this morning.”

James walks around the carriage and helps me down.

“Mrs. Whitaker, you may be the first to congratulate us,” he says with a smile. “Miss Harris has agreed to become my wife. We wish to be married tomorrow.”