Deeper Secrets chapter eight: Dread and Danger
When Ro woke the next morning she was freezing cold. She opened her eyes and found that she was in the tub, not in her room. 'How did I get here?' she thought. 'And what is this on the back of my neck?' She reached up and felt the calloused palm of a man's hand. Then she felt that her right hand was collapsed in the man's right hand. Even before she saw his face, she knew. Remy. He was holding her head up and her hand in his. He was asleep, his cheek laying on the side of the tub.
She took the hand that wasn't trapped in his and stroked the long bangs of his hair, getting them wet. She tried to knock the water off when she accidently splashed his face. She stifled a laugh and noticed him stir. He raised his head, eyes blinking open. He couldn't feel his arms except for the stinging numbness. Shoulders hurting, he looked around spotting Ro in the tub and realized where he was. He didn't even notice the water dripping from his face. She was awake. The fever had let go of its grip on her. She would be fine. "You're going t'be jus' fine, chere. You're going t'be jus' fine," he mumbled, almost incoherently.
"No, Remy," she said sitting forward, hiding herself. "Ah'm already fine. Thanks to you." She flashed a beautiful smile at him. That was the hardest moment for him. The urge to kiss her was so consuming, so powerful he didn't realize when he had taken both hands, cupped her face and brought it towards him, softly placing a kiss on her red lips. She didn't pull away, but she didn't urge it on. This felt too good to be real, and too real to be good. She shouldn't be feeling this way. He was only passing through, and would probably be gone in a few weeks. That thought scared her. He had been here no more than two weeks. She would have to be without him for the rest of her life. That was too long to be a lone.
The kiss, though short, and feeling like it lasted half of eternity, ended and both came up for air. He rubbed a calloused finger tip over her lips, feeling where he had just tasted. Her eyes were sparkling, no, dancing. Something he hadn't seen the first week he had met her. He took her right hand, still in his and placed soft kissed in the palm. She used this to pull him closer and place another soft kiss on his bottom lip.
"Thank you," she finally said against his lips, still parted, still wanting.
"No problem, chere. Gambit jus' glad you're a'right." Then she heard him swear under his breath.
"Remy, why did you call yourself that? Who's 'Gambit'?" He had released both of her hands now and was sitting back on his knees.
"God, why did I have t'say dat name? Why now?" His hands came up to his forehead in fists and he was about to beat himself up when she reached out and held his hand. "Listen, chere. 'Gambit' is something you should forget. I didn't mean t'say it, an' I don't want t'talk 'bout it. Let's jus' leave it 'lone. 'Kay?"
"Okay, Remy. If that's what you want. Ah jus' wanted to know, is all." He stood to full height.
"It's not something ya should know. It's too dangerous! I've put you in way too much danger as it is."
"How, Remy? How have you put meh in danger?" He sighed deep and painfully.
"By knowin' me, chere. By knowin' me." With that he walked out, leaving everything in the room.
After dressing in her own room, Ro had gone down to the kitchen to eat a hearty breakfast. What he had said to her, that he had put her in danger, still haunted her. What danger? The danger of losing her heart? It was too late for that. She might not know much about his past, but she knew good and well one thing, Remy LeBeau was a thief and he had stolen her heart.
After finishing her breakfast, Ro talked and thanked Sarah. She told Ro she should take it easy for the day. So, that advice in mind, Ro got out the roan stallion, placed the bridle on his head and went for a ride. She went around, looking at the fields, surveying for the next year. She stopped at the unplanted field and wondered what could be put there. That's when she noticed something.
Remy, riding Ace, was in the field using it as some kind of obstacle course. He had built up mounds, dug ditches (she wasn't too pleased with that), and had laid logs and brush all over. The pair were working hard, and you could tell by the amount of sweat on both man and beast. 'He's improved.' she thought after he had completed a brilliant jump that led into a tight circle back around the jump. After the circle, they cleared another jump and came to rest fifty feet away from her and the Roan, facing them. "Hi," he said sliding from the saddle. He threw the reins over Ace's head, held them in his left hand and used the right to stroke the mount's neck.
"Hi yourself." She walked the Roan closer to him and Ace. "What're ya doin'?" she asked, still seated on her mount.
"Jus' practicin', is all." He smiled, lying.
"This looks like a tougher course than for 'jus' practicin'. Seems like you're pushing yourselves harder, too." He was now standing below her, the hand with the reins resting on the Roan's shoulder. "What's going on? He's still my horse, and Ah'd like to know what's going on with him."
"Dere's a big race in town. I signed Ace and myself up. I tink we can win."
"Remy, this course is nothing like the race! There are more twists and turns than a barber's pole. Jumps that are unimaginable. Please, Remy. Don't run in the race." Tears were threatening to fall. "Not with Ace."
"But, chere, the purse is ten thousand dollars. Dat can really help your farm." His eyes still didn't hold the sparkle they had that morning waking up in the tub. 'I put you in danger. By knowin' me.' Those words still stung, and that with the possibility of her past repeating itself was almost unbearable. He had pushed her away this morning. Well, she would push him away now.
"Remy, if you want to ride in that race, fine. If you want to ride Ace, you can buy him and ride him. But Ah will not watch you get yourself killed just for money."
"Ro, I'm going to win and give that money to you. I want..."
"No, Remy. Ah won't take it. Pay through the week then pack your bags and leave. You've been here long enough." The tears were on the brink of falling.
"Ro, chere, what are you going to do for money?"
"Ah don't know. We got by without you before."
"Chere," he placed his hand on top of hers. "Why do you ride the Roan and that chestnut? Why don't you ride Ace? He's your horse."
He had no idea what he was saying. Didn't know that at this point in time he had not only punctured her heart, leaving it to bleed itself to death, he had totally ripped out her soul as well. "Remy, you don't know anything about me, Ace, or this farm. Jus' leave well enough alone."
"There's not'ing 'well enough' to leave alone. I might not know everything 'bout you, Ace or da plantation, but I know dis; you got da land from your father, you've worked it 'lone with jus' Jeffery an' the others, you were engaged t'dis Joseph fellow, he died and something wit his death is connected t'dis horse. Which is why you won't ride him." He dropped the hand that had been pointing and holding the reins. "What happened t'cause you not to love this horse?"
Through tears and gritted teeth she said, "Tell my your past, Ah'll tell you mine."
"I can't do dat, chere," he said regretfully.
"Than Ah can't tell you either." Tears blurring her vision, she rode away, fast, and didn't look back. Remy stood there, the reins still clenched in his hand, watching her go; a pain growing deep in his chest. "Tink it be too late, mon ami?"
End chapter 8. 9 coming.
