Catalina's Caress (45 page)

❧

The
Belle
raced up the river. The boat ahead of them, like an elusive wisp, staying just beyond his reach.

Marc cursed, paced, and glared at
The Royal
as if he could will it to slow down.

Between his mumbled words, which Seth felt he really didn't want to hear and the way Marc occasionally struck the rail with a clenched fist, Seth felt he'd best keep his observations to himself, though he feared they wouldn't catch up with the boat ahead.

But the
Belle
was a magnificent performer, built to master the swift current of the Mississippi. She was expertly shaped, and Marc seemed to be aware of that. He had placed his hopes on the
Belle
's ability to outrace any other boat that had a head start.

Seth remained silent, and after a while he began to realize that they actually were lessening the distance.

Slowly, ever so slowly, they began to close the gap, until after another hour of traveling they were only half as far from
The Royal
as they had been at the start.

Closer... closer they came, until there was no more than a hundred feet between the
Belle
and
The Royal
.

"Marc," Seth said quietly, "we're going to catch her! We're actually going to catch her!"

"You should have had more faith in her, Seth," Marc replied. "She's a lady that knows when she's needed and she responds like the marvelous thing she is."

"I guess you've developed quite a feel for her."

"I've grown fond of her," Marc admitted.

"You've grown fond of Cat, too," Seth declared. "God, I'm sorry for all this."

"You're not to blame for it. Old Simon would have arranged it some other way if you hadn't fallen in with his plan."

"Well, at least I'm grateful for one thing that came out of this."

"Grateful?"

"You and Cat. It's because of me you met in the first place. I hope she's as grateful when we catch up with her and is able to forget that I got her into this mess."

"We'll worry about Cat's gratitude shortly because I think we're about to catch up with her."

The boat before them seemed to have reached her maximum speed. She was fast... but not quite fast enough to beat the
Belle
.

Nearer and nearer they drew, until all the details of
The Royal
could be clearly seen.

It was then that they noticed the figure that appeared on the second deck. Catalina. Marc knew it at once, just as he knew she was being pursued. He clenched his teeth and gripped the rail as he peered at
The Royal

Catalina ran from the second deck, up the stairs to the top deck. It was an act of desperation and he was afraid she might decide to jump.

He watched her leave the front rail and head toward the back. Marc knew the instant she saw him. It happened in the same moment Travis appeared on the top deck and Catalina turned to face him.

At that same moment the
Belle
came abreast of
The Royal
, and Marc ran to the rail and climbed upon it, his body precariously balanced when he did so.

Seth watched in total awe as Marc stood as though transfixed while he carefully judged the distance between the two boats.

He knew that if Marc failed to make it to
The Royal
all would be lost for him and for Cat.

After a heart-stopping moment, Marc leaped.

W
hile Marc was poised on the rail, Catalina watched in utter fascination, unaware that Travis was on the upper deck now and moving rapidly toward the rail. Her heart leaped when she turned and saw him withdraw a pistol from beneath his coat, then aim it at the unarmed and totally helpless Marc. Catalina moved swiftly, sure that Travis was concentrating on Marc and had temporarily forgotten her.

She was right. Certain that Marc was vulnerable, Travis did, for a few seconds, concentrate all his attention on aiming at him. It was his fatal mistake.

At the moment when Travis pulled the trigger, Catalina shoved his arm with all her might The bullet sang by Marc, only inches away, and he landed on the deck of
The Royal
, then raced for the steps to the upper deck.

Travis pushed Catalina aside and prepared to meet Mare with his pistol. But she ran to him and again gripped his arm. This time he spun from her and jerked his arm free.

Swinging his hand, he caught Catalina on the cheek and sent her stumbling back just as Marc reached the deck and flung himself onto Travis. Both men tumbled to the deck.

Travis fought with desperation, but Marc's fury was momentous. His rage had built until there was no room in him for anything else.

Travis was in his hands, and the past hurts to him and his family were magnified by what Travis had meant to do to Cat... and the painful guilt that he carried.

They rolled across the deck, each man searching for a hold. Catalina stood near the rail as she watched them struggle.

They were nearly matched in size and weight, Marc being slightly larger. But Travis was less driven than Marc. Travis wanted to survive; Marc wanted to kill.

As they struggled like two Goliaths, Catalina soon became aware that Marc intended to kill Travis. Desperate, she sought some way to end the battle. She had run from Travis, but she now knew he could hurt her no more. She and Marc would be free .. . but not if Marc killed Travis.

Then she saw the pistol that had been torn from Travis's grasp when the two men had come together, and had fallen to the deck. She started to make her way toward it, skirting the thrashing figures.

Meanwhile Marc and Travis struggled to their feet, and Travis pushed Marc away from him. What happened next was like a darkest macabre. Her eyes on the pistol, Catalina was not concentrating on Travis or Marc. She dashed just too close to Travis who had caught on to her plan. He leaped toward her and the pistol, taking Marc by surprise for he had expected an attack. Travis came up with one arm about Catalina and the other holding the pistol, a look of triumph on his face.

They all stood frozen for a minute; then Travis let out a soft, very pleased laugh.

"Too bad, Garrison," he said. "It seems your heroics are for nothing. Would you like to say a word to your lady—or should I say my lady—before I shoot you?"

"You're a damned lying coward, Travis." Marc sneered. "Come out from behind her and fight me."

"Now why would I be fool enough to do that when I can just shoot you and then do exactly what I planned?"

"I'll tell you something," Marc said calmly, his eyes holding Gat's, "I'm coming to get you. So you'd better shoot very straight. You see with the boat moving like it is, I don't think you stand a snowball's chance in hell of hitting me dead center. And"—his voice was . deadly—"if you don't, I sure as hell am going to kill you when I get my hands on you."

Marc seemed like a devil from the deepest pits of hell. His hair was disheveled by the wind and his face was bearded. His green eyes glowed.

Travis's smile faded, for he realized Marc meant exactly what he said. Catalina could already visualize Marc being shot.

None of the three had taken Seth into account. During the whole confrontation, he had racked his brain in desperation, trying to think of a way to help Marc. He decided it would help if Travis lost his footing... a bump....

Seth smiled and ran for the wheelhouse of the
Belle
. This would be a fine opportunity to prove to Marc that he was a good river man, too.

Seth edged slowly toward
The Royal
, maneuvering the
Belle
closer and closer until there were only inches between the boats. Then he turned the wheel and braced himself for the solid bump he knew was coming.

The shock reverberated through
The Royal
, knocking all on board from their feet. Marc had been knocked to his knees, and Catalina had been torn from Travis's grasp and thrown to the deck. But Travis had been knocked backward with such force that he had broken through the rail and had tumbled into the rapidly flowing river. Due to the speed the boats were making and the swift current flowing away from their sterns, Travis was immediately lost from sight.

Marc leapt to his feet and ran to Cat, who was staring in shock at the broken rail.

He reached down and pulled her up, and when her eyes lifted to his, he heard his name softly spoken. Then she was in his arms and he was crushing her to him, his mouth taking hers in a kiss that melted their souls.

He could hardly stand to release her, but there were a lot of things he had to say. He wanted to tell her the reasons for what he had done. Though doing so might end their chance of future happiness, he could no longer live with the guilt.

"Oh, Marc." Catalina laughed and cried in this breathless moment. "I thought I would never see you again!"

"Don't ever believe that, Cat. I will never let you go. I happen to be very much in love with you."

Catalina's laugh was almost triumphant. "Those are words I never expected to hear from you."

"Cat," he said seriously, "there are a lot of things you must hear—and you must hear them from me."

"Nothing can be as important as what you have just said. It's enough to make everything else—"

"No, we'll talk, but first, there's something on the
Belle
you should see. It will be a happy surprise and might make everything else a little easier."

"What?"

"Come on, let's slow this boat down and go over to the
Belle
." He drew her into his arms to kiss her again, hunger for her building inside him again. He hoped she would be able to forgive him and to forget that he had nearly destroyed her life.

Catalina suddenly tightened her arms about his neck and pressed her body to his as if she wanted to mold them into one. Her lips were warm and searching as she returned his kiss with a passion he'd remembered and often longed for.

❧

Seth slowed the
Belle
to match the speed of
The Royal
, and soon the bows of the two boats neared the shore and, as it is with steamboats, touched the land without going aground.

The captain of
The Royal
, knowing it was futile to search for Travis in the powerful Mississippi, listened to Marc's explanation. Then he decided to just put the pair ashore and keep as much distance between himself and Simon Gere as was possible.

Taking Catalina by the hand, Marc started toward the
Belle
.

"Marc, what is so exciting?" Catalina laughed as he dragged her along behind him.

"I've no intention of telling you"—he chuckled— "because you might not believe me, and besides I want to see your eyes when you come face to face with my surprise."

Ignoring her questions, he led Catalina up the gangplank of the
Belle
, and then she looked questioningly at him. She had prepared herself for almost anything except the sudden appearance of a grinning Seth.

At first she could not believe her eyes. Her jaw dropped in open-mouthed shock. She had been told that he had died. Then joy suddenly filled her as Seth laughed and stretched out his arms to her. With a cry, she ran to him and he caught her to him in a fierce hug. They were both laughing and crying at the same time.

"Seth! Seth! My God, I thought you were dead. Oh, Seth my dear."

"Cat, the Carringtons are hard to kill, but my story is a long and complicated one. I think we'd better get the
Belle
back to Natchez, then pick up Charles and get home before Aunt Charlotte thinks we're all lost."

"You must tell me what happened that night when you didn't come home."

"I will, I will." Seth laughed. "You have not changed one bit. You're still the bossy sister."

Catalina gazed up at Seth, suddenly aware of the changes in him.

"But I've a feeling you're not about to be bossed anymore," she said thoughtfully.

"Well, maybe a little now and then. I've grown so used to it I think I'd miss it." He looked quickly at Marc, then back to Cat. "I think you and Marc have a lot to discuss. I'm going to get the
Belle
turned around. Later tonight we can talk."

Catalina nodded, and when Seth had headed toward the wheelhouse, she went to Marc, put her arms around him, and stood on tiptoe to kiss him. When his response wasn't what she expected, she looked up questioningly.

"I think it's time we went to my ... your cabin and talked," Marc said seriously.

Catalina didn't realize that his seeming coldness was due to fear that he could not control himself in her presence. He wanted her in his arms so badly, his need for her was like pain, but the truth had to be spoken first.

"I love you, Marc," Catalina said softly, hoping her words would ease the barrier between them.

She watched his green eyes warm. "And I love you, Cat," he replied. "I love you so much that it scares me."

"Scares you? To love me?"

"No, to think of losing you."

"After all we've faced, how can you think we would lose each other?"

"Cat, don't make this any harder than it is. Come below with me... where we can talk."

"On one condition," Catalina said firmly. She smiled at his very serious, inquisitive look. "I'll listen to whatever you have to say, but you have to promise that afterward you'll listen to me."

"All right. I promise."

Catalina walked ahead of Marc to the cabin in which they had met... and had first made love. Once there, she turned to Marc. It was the first time, in her relief at having found him again, that she had really looked at him. Now, in this poignant silence, she realized how truly troubled he was.

"What is it?" she asked.

Damn, he thought, has she ever looked more beautiful, more desirable than she does now? Why can't I just tell her I love her and let everything else go? He knew the answer, and slowly he began to tell Catalina everything. She made no effort to stop him as he explained his anger and grief, all his misunderstandings from the moment of his father's death. When he had finished he waited for condemnation, for a look in her eyes that would end everything.

All the pieces were now in place in Catalina's mind. In fact, she knew answers even Marc didn't know.

"If you have finished," she said quietly, "it's my turn."

He was momentarily surprised by her lack of emotion. But his surprise grew by leaps and bounds as she began to talk.

Catalina described Simon Gere's visit to her and the terrible things he had said. "But what he had made clear, Marc, was that you were not guilty. You, me, and all the others in his plan were only actors playing parts he had written."

"I intended to hurt you in a way you can't even imagine," Marc declared.

Then Catalina went to him. She put her arms about him and smiled up into his eyes.

"Shall I tell you about intentions, Marc?' she asked softly. "Did you ever wonder why I didn't go, why I chose to be your mistress? Did you think the
Belle
was what held me? No, my love, I wanted much more than that. I wanted you."

"Cat—"

"No, you will listen. You promised."

"Go on."

"I love you, Marc. I love you so deeply that it's hard to believe I existed before I knew you. I wanted to capture your heart. I came to you on your terms because I thought I could change them to mine. I wanted you ... and I still do. I want only to hear you say I love you. Don't you see, Marc, you are all I ever wanted? Money, the
Belle
, anything I had I would have sacrificed if you had said you loved me."

Marc gazed at her for a moment in silence. He found his good fortune hard to believe, but the love in her eyes and the feel of her in his arms slowly made him realize the truth of her words. He smiled, and his arms tightened about her.

"And just when did you decide our future?"

"Oh," she replied mischievously, "about the first time you kissed me. I have you trapped, my dear," she added softly, "so why don't you surrender and ask me to marry you? Or must I do the proposing?"

"Don't worry, Cat"—he laughed—"I know when I don't stand a chance. A good gambler never draws to an inside straight—especially when the lady he's looking for is the queen of hearts. Catalina Carrington ... will you be my wife?"

"It's about time," she whispered as she drew his head down to hers and their lips met in a kiss of promise.

He bent to lift her in his arms and carry her to the bed upon which they had begun their passionate journey. Then, slowly and gently, he undressed her, savoring each moment, each touch. Meanwhile, her restless hands could not resist reaching for him to remove the last barrier that stood between them.

For a while they lay close to each other, tasting the brilliant newness of their declared love. Marc caressed the silk of her hair, catching it in his hands and burying his face in it to inhale the sweet scent of it. He savored the heated giving of her parted lips.

With agonizing slowness he denied himself the pleasure of possessing her quickly and fiercely. He had dreamed of this moment too long, fantasized about having her in his arms too often to let the wonder of these moments slip away.

They laughed softly together, and whispered words of passion as if the world of love had just been opened to them.

He traced the lines of her slim body with sensitive fingertips, heard her whisper his name, felt her warm breath against his throat His lips worked magic as they followed the tingling trail of his fingers.

They explored, tasted, and knew joy in each other as they melded to find, at last, the total possession only a boundless love can give.