Rescued (Flowers of the Bayou) (6 page)

Walking past the library he stopped, the cook or maid or whatever her title, was coming toward him thoughtlessly ready to collide into him. He swore the woman had to be a walking calamity. "Amelia—" He started in warning, and wished he'd thought better as she jumped a mile high. "I didn’t mean to startle you." He apologized. Steadying her quickly Jordan bent down to pick up the tin dustpan that she dropped.

Stilling her nerves Amelia almost laughed. After all she was becoming somewhat comical. "Thank you Mr. Bradford I swear I need to be more careful I don't know what's gotten into me." Taking the pan from him Amelia let her eyes linger on his body for far too long. She could not help it but any woman would understand, there was no stopping it, one couldn't help it.

For a moment more she indulged the wicked side of her nature and explored him all the more. Then abruptly tore her gaze away painfully aware that the suddenly struck by stupid expression upon her features must be alarming him because he was giving her the most perplexed look.

"Are you alright" Jordan couldn't hide or help the slow smile that suddenly graced his lips; her brown cheeks all of a sudden seemed to be aflame. Looking into her eyes it only broadened. She had extraordinary eyes; they were gold not a light brown like he first thought but true golden pools and at the moment they held nothing but wide eyed surprise.

She nodded a silent yes and turned to leave, a frown marring her face. "Thank you again, and sorry.”

"You're welcome, and no apologies, just be careful I'm beginning to worry" Jordan commented from behind her.

Amelia briskly walked into the kitchen. Flushed and flustered she hacked into the apple on the counter with a knife then took a big bite out of one of the halves she had made.

Knocking the carved-out core to the floor she reached down to retrieve it when she noticed the small wet spots marking the floor. Walking around the table she let her eyes follow them as they made their way to the door and out to the other side.

Hands on hips she retraced the marks following them all the way into the foyer where she found a very angry Vivian who stood tapping her foot in frustration, while Amelia looked at the muddy mess in pure disbelief.

Paw prints led from the freshly waxed marble floor all the way into the recreation room into the large office and up the carpeted floor and for each of the four muddy prints the creature left there was two small matching little human footprints. "I'm going to spank her hide." Vivian stated.

"Where would she get a dog?" Looking around her Amelia couldn’t help the small giggle the escaped as she looked at the mess, little prints here and there.

"It's not funny Amelia and I suggest you stop laughing." Vivian said her own smile threatening to show.

"We have to forgive her." Grabbing the large towel Amelia quickly dropped to her knees followed by Vivian.

"Just look at this mess. Let me help you." Vivian grumbled. “That girl—sometimes I think she deliberately goes out of her way to be defiant, but that’s the least of my problems"

"What is the matter?" Amelia asked smiling—for all of Vivian’s complaining, she wouldn’t take Georgia any other way.

"Well for one I need to know where the dog is?"

"I think you need a break, go have some lemonade it’s fresh. I’ll go find Georgia, see about the mystery dog and clean up in here." Wiping at her face Amelia smiled at her friend.

“Where would I be without you child?” Vivian questioned.

“Completely lost.” Amelia joked. “Go on I promise I’ll take care of everything.” Rising from the floor she watched Vivian’s retreating figure and set out for the task at hand.

Georgia wasn’t that hard to find, all she had to do was follow the little muddy prints until she made it outside in the back of the house, where she was greeted with the picture of the culprits near the water well.

"Just what do you think you're doing?" Placing her hands on her hips she almost laughed as the girl jumped in surprise.

Georgia tried to hide the bucket behind her, mindless that her little legs were brown from now-dried mud. "I found him." Pleased with her answer, she continued on "I was just going to feed him and give him a bath he was awful dirty you should have seen it. He's ten times cleaner than he was before."

"Is that so, you didn't have him in the house did you?"

"I didn't bring him in the house at all."

Amelia caught herself before she laughed. "Odd, because there were these little footprints all over that lined the house and a few paw prints that look like they could belong to your friend."

"It's not my fault." Georgia looked up at Amelia. "On our way home he got all muddy and so did I, and I was going to wash him but the only way to the back is through the front."

"I see." Reaching out to the girl Amelia wiped a smudge of mud from the child’s cheek. “You need to apologize to Vivian she was beside herself.” Amelia instructed.

“You’re not mad at me though are you?" She was more concerned over Amelia’s disappointment than Vivian’s.

"Oh I am mad, but I can't stay mad at you for too long so go on get inside and tell Vivian you’re sorry. Then I want you to change. I’ll clean up this mutt of yours since I assume you plan on trying to keep him. That being said you need to ask your brother what he thinks."

"His name is Jasmine."

"Why Jasmine? That's not very fitting for a boy."

"Well I figure that Georgia's not much of a girl's name either so together we’ll make the perfect pair."

"Georgia is a perfectly fitting name for a girl. Do you know any men named Georgia?"

"It's a name of a state and is a fitting name for nothing else."

"You go on now." Amelia dismissed the young girl as she marveled at her wit. Walking over to the brown mess Amelia started with the task of cleaning the new addition and clearing her mind. Otherwise it was going to get real hard working in the Bradford house.

CHAPTER FIVE

It was hot and apparently it planned to stay that way for awhile. Jordan’s room was stagnant and moist. Opening the window, Jordan closed it back feeling the equally warm air filtering in. Pouring himself a glass of water he sunk back into the large bed careful not to disrupt the sleeping form next to him and grateful that at least someone could get some sleep tonight.

“Aren’t you tired?”

Looking down at the redhead, Jordan pulled her to him. Apparently she was a victim of the heat as well, contrary to his prior beliefs. “No, not yet at least.”

“You look tired.”

“Between Georgia, business and you I think it might be possible, seeing how you and Georgia especially, are all things that can make an old man tired.”

“Old? Thirty two in my book is ages from old.” Laughing she kissed him on the forehead settling against the satin pillows. “How is Georgia? I’ve only seen that girl once when you were away and I swear she hated me on sight.”

Jordan moved over to the bed. “She’s smart and rambunctious, she’s really taken to Vivian, and the maid.”

“Vivian hates me as well. Get rid of her I might visit you more often. I’ve meet your maid a few times, I don’t mind her at all, so her you can keep.”

Jordan only nodded. He really didn’t want to talk about his sister with Melanie; he just prayed she would catch on to the fact.

“She’s a sweetheart your maid. We’ve met a few times before and she’s always treated me like a real southern belle instead of a street tramp like everybody else.”

Chuckling Jordan kissed her deeply. “Aren’t you forgetting someone else? You’ve always been a lady in my eyes.”

“You may not treat me as a tramp… but you sure as hell don’t treat me like a lady.” Vivian giggled. “But honey I don’t want you to.”

Furrowing his brows Jordan feigned hurt and ignored her last statement. “You’re smart, you could do anything you wanted if you’d just leave New Orleans.” He told her.

“Whatever would I do if I left? New Orleans it’s my home. Besides without you I’d never be content.” She purred.

At this Jordon gave a real frown. “You’d manage as would I.” He despised when Melanie linked him with her future because he could never give her what she wanted.

Sensing her folly Melanie buried the lump of pain in her chest and gave a laugh. “I was joking; no need to tuck tail and try to send me away, besides it too early to smuggle me out.” Wrapping her arms around him Melanie released a breath she didn’t know she’d been holding when Jordan relaxed into her. “You know I could never belong to just one man.” She fibbed.

“That’s why I adore you, because we understand one another, because you know I could never belong to just one woman.”

Melanie smiled despite her irritation, if Jordan was anything it was honest, he was telling the truth.

Downstairs Amelia cursed the weather along with the rest of the house as she tossed and turned in the small bed. It was in the middle of January but yet and still she could have sworn they had entered summer months. Throwing back the worn sheet and pillow she was determined to get to sleep.

Closing her eyes Amelia found that far too easily her mind found its way to her employer Jordan. She’d been nervous and jittery ever since he’d come home. She couldn’t count how many glasses and vases she’d broken when he was around. He no doubt thought she was worthless as a maid and cook and would let her go soon enough if she didn’t manage to pull herself together.

The problem of course was that she just couldn’t function when he was anywhere near. It was as if her whole body shut down and the only thing that was still going was her heart, and even it could do nothing more than pound wildly in her chest.

Cursing herself she rolled over once again. She would just have to stay away from the man as much as possible. She needed to focus on her own man. Things had been rocky between Morgan and herself. Most of the troubles they had were her fault. Sometimes she just wanted to scream at the man. Others she just refused to let him touch her, not even hold her hand. Of course that only led to yelling on his part and bruises for herself.

That would have to change, she needed to commit to the idea of being a wife because she was going to marry Morgan and become Mrs. Morgan Hanson sooner rather than later, even if she’d give her left arm if it were later. Frustrated with the heat and her life Amelia pounded her pillow. “Damn it’s burning up.” She swore.

Rising from her bed and draping an old quilt about her shoulders Amelia crept quietly into the long hall. Only halfway down, the sound of footsteps met her ears. Conflicted between pressing on and turning about to seek better attire for her endeavor the latter won as Amelia turned around not willing to take the risk—what if it was Mr. Bradford, she didn’t want him to see her like this, not when she was wandering his house in her nightdress and a blanket.

He’d surely let her go. What would he think of her? Upon hearing humming and recognizing the voice Amelia was relieved to find it was no more than Vivian.

“This balminess must be getting to you too?

Vivian felt her hand fly over her chest on its own accord. “Goodness sweetheart what are you trying to do, scare me half to death?”

“Sorry”

“It’s alright.” Vivian took in a settling breath

“I was a little scared to; I thought you were Mr. Bradford.”

“Mr. Bradford is otherwise engaged this evening.” Vivian felt her cheeks warm at her words.

“At this hour, poor man should really try to rest.” Amelia thought aloud

“Don’t be dense” Vivian scolded while at the same time smothering a laugh soon after at the realization the younger woman truly didn’t catch her meaning. “Amelia think about it.” She prompted and soon Amelia too was flushed.

“Oh!” Amelia yelped.

“I hope your face changes back to its regular color you’ll get quite a few stares if it stays that red.”

Amelia felt a strange combination of distaste, curiosity, and jealousy all in one at the revelation. She wanted to be rid of them. “Are you going to head back to bed.”

“I doubt it will be possible in this heat. Are you alright?” Vivian questioned running her hand through her pale tresses.

“Yes, it’s just I’m not sleepy in the least.” Amelia confessed.

“Let’s stay up for a spell then. Come on with me.” Vivian stated taking Amelia’s hand in hers and leading her to the large veranda outside. “We’ll be cooler out here than in that oven of a house.” She joked.

CHAPTER SIX

Where was her green dress? Turning around in circles Amelia was sure she’d laid it at the foot of her cot, but of course it wasn’t there. Vivian took it a week ago. It had needed to be taken in but had returned it to her just this morning.

Sitting on the edge of her bed she spotted a white box peeking out from under the bed and hurried over to retrieve it. Pulling the top off she revealed a pale blue dress that had almost been forgotten. She had saved for nearly half of the year to buy it and the dress was the only readymade item she owned.

It was pretty with small purple flowers embroidered along the bodice. Opening the back she carefully stepped in pulling it over the slew of ruffles that were part of the crinoline Margaret had passed down to her.

Looking in the mirror she let a small frown cross her features. It was tight but not overly and if she was truthful with herself she’d admit the snug fit was more flattering than anything and she liked the way the layers of the soft silk cascaded down in the back like a waterfall.

Another weekend was upon her and if she was going to spend it with Morgan she needed to feel good about herself. She might even have a good time since Georgia was coming along. Vivian was visiting her sister Elena in Houma so Mr. Bradford had asked that Amelia look after Georgia. He needn’t have asked. She would have seen after her anyway.

Grabbing the brush Amelia pulled it through her hair until it was smooth enough to pull back with her blue ribbon and then dashed to the foyer where she had instructed Georgia to wait. “Are you ready?”