Surrender (18 page)

It did not occur to her immediately that he was so like Ian, he might have been his twin. She was initially startled instead by his resemblance to
Jerome
.

Naturally, he was a McKenzie, and had to be Julian, Ian’s brother.

She tried to recover her surprise quickly—without making too much of a fool of herself or falling face downward into the dirt. He didn’t hesitate in his long-legged stride toward her, extending a hand as he did so. “Miss Magee, I’m so pleased to meet you, though I am quite sorry for the circumstances. I’m—”

“You’re Julian McKenzie,” she said, taking his hand.

He smiled, and shrugged. His handshake was warm and firm. “Yes, well, I’ve been told that Ian and I do resemble one another.”

“The name itself seems to cause a resemblance.”

“Do you think so? Well—”

“We’re not
all
alike!” a feminine voice declared, and Risa saw a woman near her own height approaching from behind Julian. “I’m Tia McKenzie, Miss Magee.”

Tia was different in appearance from her male kin. Her eyes were darker than coal, her skin fair as pure cream, and when she smiled, she possessed very feminine dimples. Her hair was dark as night. Like all McKenzies, so it seemed, she was an extremely attractive individual.

Risa was also struck by the McKenzies’ curiosity about
her. They all apparently assumed she’d slept with Ian—at some time or another. How very, very strange the truth of the matter was!

“Miss McKenzie, how do you do?” she murmured.

“Call me Tia, please. We become very informal here, working in the woods.”

“Risa!”

She was quite surprised to hear her name called by a familiar voice. She turned, stunned, as Alaina McKenzie came flying out of the tent, throwing her arms around her and hugging her tightly. She pulled back from Alaina, studying her petite, golden-blond friend, shaking her head, then pulling her back into a fierce hug again.

“I was so worried about you—” Risa began.

“Oh, well, thank God you were, you might well have saved my life!” Alaina said, then she fell silent, remembering the soldiers around them, and the fact that Risa probably didn’t want it known that she had risked her life to save a Rebel spy from the Yankees. “We’ve supper for you. The folks here have managed to hang on to a few Florida beef cows, and there’s some time before we go back.”

“We?” Risa said.

“Alaina has retired!” Tia whispered softly.

“Thank God for that!” Risa stated dryly.

“Well, I’m not suicidal, and if I didn’t change my ways, Ian would surely throttle me if the Yank army didn’t. I’m going back to St. Augustine with you.”

“I’m—delighted,” Risa said. “But—how did you get here?”

Alaina laughed softly. “Ian asked his uncle, James, to bring me to a beach south of here with letters for Julian, Tia, and their family. Captain Jennar met me on the beach and escorted me here.”

“Ian had James bring you?”

“There’s been no talk of peace yet, has there?” Alaina asked with a slight edge to her voice. Her beautiful golden eyes were glazed, as if she might have just been crying. And Risa understood. Ian had finally forced his wife to desist her activities as a spy—yet he had gone on back to war himself. It seemed the way with men. But Alaina was expecting another baby, and so she
risked the child’s life as well as her own on her dangerous missions. And it was obvious, with others around them now, that she didn’t want to say more.

“Come on—let’s eat,” Julian suggested.

The tent was set up as an amazingly fashionable dining room. As they ate, Captain Jennar explained politely that they couldn’t let Risa know exactly where they were, and so she’d be blindfolded later, taken along the river, and then exchanged. Other than that, there was little mention of the war except when Grant Jennar asked about her father.

“I have seldom met so fine an officer, and so good a man!” Jennar said with a sigh.

“Sir,” said one of his men politely, “we do have some exceptionally fine officers among our own—”

“Oh, naturally, naturally! And sometimes, a fine officer is a good man, and sometimes…well, some of them are stubborn pig heads, with no political savvy whatsoever! Diplomacy has always been a better weapon than a sword, but no matter. Angus Magee is a good man, and a smart officer, and I send him my regards, my dear, and look forward to joining him for a meal one day soon, God willing! You will convey my regards to him?”

“With pleasure, sir,” she assured him, thinking that he had remained a charming—and an honorable—man himself. Yet still, she was glad when the meal was done at last, and she found herself alone with Alaina, Tia, and Julian, in Julian’s medical office tent, sipping bitter coffee with just a wee bit of brandy. They had spirits at the moment, but Julian was very stingy with them, Tia explained, because he never knew when more supplies of drugs or alcohol were arriving.

“Doesn’t your cousin, Captain McKenzie, supply you frequently?” Risa could not help but ask.

“Naturally, he tries …” Julian said, a half smile curving his lip. “But it’s dangerous. Of all the ways to come to Florida, the St. Johns is surely the most difficult. Fernandina Beach crawls with Yankee ships. The action here revolves around the Yanks trying to stop us up. Jerome can’t risk direct contact often. He came this time because of you. I don’t know when I’ll see him again.”

Risa looked down into her cup, trying not to feel the warmth that flushed her cheeks.

“Well, it was necessary that he take the risk to bring you in,” Alaina said, rising from the camp chair she’d been seated on, and impulsively giving Risa a hug. She knelt upon the rough canvas rug at Risa’s feet, meeting her eyes, her own dancing. “Not that I’m not grateful— I am! But whatever possessed you to force Finn—Finn, of all people!—south to try to help me?”

“The thought of you being hanged!” Risa said succinctly.

Alaina smiled, yet shivered slightly.

“Well, I didn’t hang.”

“What did happen?” Risa demanded. The McKenzies looked at one another, and Risa realized that despite all that she had done, they were weighing the wisdom of sharing a family secret with her.

Alaina bowed her blond head slightly. “Ian captured the ‘Mocassin’ even as I came ashore.”

Risa groaned softly. “Yet Jerome found the two of you. But you were injured somehow—”

“I had a friend once,” Alaina began. “A man I thought to be a friend, at any rate. War does strange things to people. He seemed to have lost his sanity with it. Anyway, there was a confrontation—”

“Just tell her the truth!” Tia said impatiently. “Risa, they don’t intend to make this public knowledge, you know. The man was no friend. He meant to take Alaina and kill Ian. He hated Ian—from before the war. But the man was killed—and he was a Southern officer. Ian
and
Jerome were involved. So you’ll understand that we must be discreet.”

“Of course,” Risa murmured, staring at Alaina, who met her eyes once again. It was one thing for Ian to have killed a Southern officer. It was quite another for Jerome to have been involved.

“But you! I can’t believe that you were so wonderful, going with Jerome so willingly—and all to save me!” Alaina said.

Risa hesitated.

“She knew too much,” Julian said bluntly.

Alaina stared at her. “Ah…”

“Well, it’s over, isn’t it?” Risa murmured, not wanting Alaina to watch her too closely. She rose, looking at Julian, and to her dismay, she remembered how Jerome had taunted her that first night when she’d thought he was Ian, and she had let him hold her.
She might have bedded him for hours before realizing he wasn’t Ian, they were so much alike
. And yet how strange now, she felt nothing, and all because of …

Jerome. Time would pass. She would get him out of her mind, soul, flesh, and blood.

“Doctor!” came a call from outside the tent.

“It’s time,” Tia said tensely.

Risa quickly stood, looking at Tia and Julian. “It’s been a pleasure to meet you both—despite the circumstances. I pray the war ends soon, and that we can meet again as friends.”

Julian took her hand. “Friends remain, no matter what,” he told her earnestly.

“Even if they do have to kill one another now and then,” Alaina murmured.

“Ah, but neither blood, nor love, can be dressed in blue or gray!” Tia advised. She smiled at Risa, then hugged her tightly. “You might have been my sister; I’m so glad you are my friend.”

“Come on, we’ve got to go,” Alaina murmured.

Risa hugged Tia back. Then, even as she turned, a young soldier came into the tent. “I’m taking you both down the river. If you’ll come with me now, please.”

Their good-byes then were emotional but quick; Risa and Alaina departed the medical tent with the young soldier. They were joined outside by a cavalry escort— Captain Jennar at the helm. They came to the river, and Jennar bid them good-bye.

A soldier approached her then, a black hood in his hands. “Sorry, Miss Magee, but you are the enemy …”

“It’s fine; just do it,” she said. He slipped the hood over her head, and he led her to a small boat. She was startled to realize that they were blindfolding Alaina as well, but then, Rebel though Alaina might be, she was married to an infamous Yank, and she was going back to live in enemy territory.

It seemed that they were on the water a very long
time. Then she heard someone call out, “Halt! Who goes there? State your business, or get yourself riddled with fire!”

“It’s Johnny Reb with your womenfolk, Yank!” their escort called back. Risa could see nothing. She sat very quietly in the boat, listening, while the exchange went on. She was aware of the night sounds of the insects, of the water lapping against the boat, of the men around her, near and far.

She was aware, too, of the men relaxing their guard. “Mrs. McKenzie and Miss Magee?”

“The same. Have you our boy, Donny Murphy?”

“Right as rain. He’ll be coming to you!” the Yank called.

“Ladies,” their Rebel escort said, “you can remove your hoods. I’ll be leaving you the boat. The Yanks are ahead.”

Risa and Alaina removed their hoods. “Thanks, Allen,” Alaina said.

Their escort nodded in acknowledgment. “You take care, now, Miz McKenzie. Miss Magee,” he said, touching his forehead in a salute to Risa.

“Thank you.”

He stood carefully in the boat. “Hey, Yank?”

“Yeah, Reb?” came a return call from across the water.

“Sent you some tobacco with the ladies. Could you spare some extra coffee?”

“Thought you might be asking. It’s with the lad. He’s keeping it dry.”

“Fine. Keep your head low, Yank.”

“Yep. You keep down, too, Reb.”

Their escort hunkered down and slipped into the river. They heard him swimming away. A minute later a dark head appeared in the water, and the Yank who had been with the young drummer boy just minutes before crawled wet and dripping into their boat.

“Ladies, welcome back!” he said.

“Austin!” Risa said, pleased. She knew the man; he was a young second lieutenant who often rode the streets of St. Augustine, keeping the peace, and offering
much more diplomacy than many of the other Northern soldiers occupying the town.

“Lieutenant Sage!” Alaina said, smiling. She shook her head, looking him up and down. “What an interesting way to exchange prisoners. You must get soaked frequently.”

“Well, we don’t exchange prisoners that often, but your friend there, Johnny Reb and I, meet in the river now and then. We make offers to each other upon occasion—bring threats from the brass, and so forth.” He smiled. “Exchange coffee and tobacco. Sure hope he and I both make it through this war. I’d like to sit down to supper with him one day.”

“Why, that would be nice,” Risa said wistfully.

“Umm … Miss Magee, thought you should know, Finn made it back to the city along with a group of Union navy fellows turned off their boats by that Reb Captain McKenzie. So naturally, news of your capture raced north. I heard tell that your father is worried sick and breathing fire, and orders are that you’re to head straight home the moment you’re found. He says he’s going to blast McKenzie from the sea, and he’ll find a way to do it from his horse, and that’s a fact.”

“Oh, poor Finn! Thank God, he’s all right! And I’ll write Father immediately and tell him I’m safe.”

“Finn is fine—but I’m afraid a letter won’t satisfy your father.”

“But I’ve work to do in St. Augustine. You know that Mrs. McKenzie and I assist Dr. Percy in his surgery—”

“Dr. Percy, that wily old scoundrel, was caught running coded messages to the Rebs.”

“Oh,” Risa said, staring hard at Alaina, who flushed and looked away. “What a surprise,” Risa murmured dryly.

“Indeed,” Austin Sage continued. “I’m afraid his patients will be the men with him in Old Capitol Prison. There’s a new doc now. Thayer Cripped. Young fellow, seems able enough.”

“Then, I’m sure he’ll be looking forward to our assistance,” Risa said firmly.

Austin rowed, and took a sideways glance at her. “Perhaps. But I’ve heard tell your father just isn’t the
same, Miss Risa. Some say as how he hasn’t been as sharp in battle as he used to be. Oh, nothing to endanger the men. He commands with care. But as to his own safety …”

Risa inhaled deeply, biting into her lip. She lowered her head, wondering if she hadn’t lost her mind. Tears stung her eyes. Her father was everything to her. He’d raised her with love, taught her to think, and been proud of her accomplishments. He hadn’t raised her as a son, he’d raised her as a daughter with the same capabilities for learning and reason. She loved him dearly, and naturally, he loved her. How could she have been so thoughtless? She had to go home, see her father, and thank God that, despite the war, they still had each other.

“Forgive me,” she murmured. Alaina reached across the boat, squeezing her fingers, and Risa remembered that it hadn’t been long since Alaina had lost her own father. She smiled at her friend, then addressed Austin. “I’ll make arrangements for the first ship north—”

“There’s a ship north tonight, Miss Risa. And you’ve been booked aboard.”

“Thank you.” She looked at Alaina. There were tears in her eyes.