Hey! I got a new computer desk! No more typing from the floor.
Deeper Secrets chapter ten: And the winner is...
At least half of the race was over. There had been many difficult obstacles already and Remy knew they would probably get worse. He could feel the want in Ace to just break out and run. He wanted that, too, but knew better. So they paced themselves. They were already in fifth place. 'But fifth place won't get ya da money, mon ami.' So they urged on.
Post riders had come in various times to tell what was happening at their point in the race. In the latest news, a miller's kid was in front, the town's drunk's boy was next, two more fought for third and fourth place, and Remy, the stranger, was in fifth. Ro kept praying Remy would jump the course and ride away. That meant she wouldn't see him again. But he would be alive. She thought she could probably handle that. Maybe, if she didn't think about him.
Another post rider came in. The last leg of the race. The hardest part. 'The part that got Joseph killed. It can't claim Remy, too.' she thought. The new positions announced by the rider put Remy in fourth place. Ro continued in her prays.
Remy had just moved up to fourth when he noticed a rider, one who hadn't been in the race, speed off. This leg of the race was very difficult. Several more obstacles stood before them. He was starting to feel the physical strain to his body. That's when he felt it. The scarf Ro had given him. It was pressed hard on his neck and chest, held on by his sweat. The thought of her, those green eyes beckoning him, empowering him. He felt the strength seep into his veins. "Hsk," he urged the white stallion on. They had to win, even if by finishing this race meant placing himself in Normington's hands, then so be it. He was doing this for Ro.
With thoughts of her filling his head, he didn't even notice as Ace flew over the obstacles, one with several sharp limbs. One more jump. They cleared it, and pulled away from the rest. An open stretch. Perfect. At that moment Remy let Ace go, let all of the fire that burned in his veins, pushing every limit. Remy held on and hoped that it would be enough.
Seconds later, Remy, in a cloud of dust, crossed the finish line with Ace. The crowd cheered, other riders crossed, and when the dust enveloping the street cleared, everyone could see the mighty white Stallion, his rider, and neither at a worse for wares.
Ro saw him, and thanked the heavens that they had brought him through safely. Breaking out of Normington's hold, she ran to him, tears in her eyes. Seeing this, Remy leapt from the saddle and embraced her in the deepest hug he could muster. She had gotten him through this, and feeling her in his arms now gave him the strength to go on, through anything. Softly in her hair, next to her ear, he whispered, "I'm not leaving, chere. I'm not leaving."
She pulled back slightly and he noticed her tears. "Remy, ya have t'leave. Run. You can't stay."
"Chere, I'm staying, an' nobody or nothing's gonna keep me from you. No one 'cept you." He looked down to her and smiled.
At that moment Normington with his men came up. "Captain LeBeau, it's good to see you again. We've been looking for you."
"General Normington," Remy greeted in a voice Ro had never heard before. "All this way just for me? I didn't know you cared." His voice, the use of correct speech, educated; it all shook Ro. Her third person speaking stranger was not only a captain in the Confederate Army, he could actually talk proper. Was ut just something he did around his superiors, had she met the real Remy LeBeau, or had she fallen in love with a false cover? Her thoughts didn't matter now, she wanted to hear what they were saying.
"I don't care about you, Captain. I care that you are taken back and tried for your crimes." Normington took another pair of irons. "Now, if you would turn loose of Miss Ro, we can give you matching irons."
"Matching?" He hadn't noticed the irons on Ro's hands. All he had cared about was holding her. "Let her go, Normington. She knew nothing. She didn't know I was...am a deserter."
"And why should I? She withheld information of your location when she learned of who you are. Can she not be arrested for that?" There was an evil smirk on his face.
Remy stood straight next to Normington, chest high and proud. "Please, Normington, let her go. I'm begging you. Don't make her pay for my sins." The begging was in his voice and eyes, and it made Ro want to cry even more.
Normington stood silent for a moment. "Gerald, release the lady. Escort Miss Ro home."
"No. Ah'm not leavin' Remy," she cried and clung to Remy's arm when the chains were off.
"Chere, ya can't stay wit Remy anymore. He told you it weren't safe." The old Remy was back, but only for a second. "Shouldn't have. I told myself I shouldn't have."
As she was being led away she asked, "Shouldn't have, what?" And as he was led into the jail house he replied. "Gotten close."
That was the last thing she heard him say. The Roan and Ace were led over to her by one of Normington's soldiers. "I was told both of these are yours."
"Yes." She took the reins of both horses.
"We're to be off now, Miss Ro." So both mounted up. The soldier on his own brown steed, and Ro, finding the strength, climbed onto Ace's back. It had been a long time since she had rode the large white stallion. Settled in, the two rode off.
Once inside the jail house, Normington forced Remy into a cell, checked him for any weapons, finding none, then undone his wrists. He walked over and laid they keys on the desk and sat down in the chair.
"Don't get too comfortable, Captain. We'll only be here tonight." The general leaned back, placing his boots atop the desk, his hat blocking the light from his eyes.
"Why do you keep calling me 'Captain' if I'm a deserted?" Remy asked, every word pronounced right.
"Because, Captain, you won't have that title much longer. I thought you should hear it before it's taken away." Normington went back to silence.
"What about the money?" Remy asked patiently.
"Well, I didn't know there was a reward for you, Mr. LeBeau. Or is it your other half, the killer Gambit, you're referring to?"
"I'm talking about the money from the race. The ten thousand dollars I won."
"Now what are you going to do with that money in prison?"
"That money is for Ro," Remy spat out shaking the bars with his hands.
"That's up to the mayor or whoever puts on this race."
"Jakes Carpenter's father," Remy whispered. "I need to speak with Jakes Carpenter's father."
"And why should I let you?" Normington smarted off.
"We were friends once, John. I saved you life. You owe me this." Normington remained quiet.
He remembered the time when both young men had been fighting, as privates. Bullets filled the air and everyone around them were falling, dead. A union soldier had sprung up out of nowhere and leveled his gun on John. Fear-stricken, he had froze. Remy, from somewhere, had jumped and pushed him out of the way, taking the bullet instead. That had caused a connection between the two and they had fought side by side ever since. Up until...Remy had always had a high tolerance for pain, but Normington could tell that something about this woman caused Remy some kind of emotion, some kind of pain. He walked over to the cell, reached in and pushed Remy's work shirt open, revealing the scar from a bullet on his right chest.
Thinking of that scar and what had caused it made it hurt every time, but he'd had to use that card. It was the only thing in his deck. Normington pulled his hand back, gave an indignant snort and ordered a man to go get the livery master. When the soldier had left, Normington looked back to the cell. "We're even, Remy," and then silence.
Ro and the soldier rode on towards the plantation. When they had reached it Ro noticed that the others had made it safely. The soldiers who were ordered to leave with the others rode to the front, gathered the rest of the men that had escorted Jeffery and the rest home, and rode away. Nothing else said.
Will helped Ro put Ace and the Roan in the barn while Jeffery and Jerome gathered wood and water, and Sarah started on a meal. When the chores were through, all four remained in the kitchen, waiting for Sarah to finish. Remy was right. Too much silence and your ears would pop. She knew she had to explain, she just didn't know where to start. So Will did it for her. "What did dose men want wit Remy?"
"As it turns out, Will," she said looking around the table at all, "Remy was...is a captain in the Confederate Army, and has deserted." She didn't know how to say it so she just did. "Ah don't know the specifics, bet he deserted and they say he shot a man. One of his own." A sad expression swept onto her face. "He's to be taken to stand trial. We'll probably never see him again." Ro had her hands in front of her, chin rested in the palms, fingers templed. She sighed heavy and said. "In the morning Ah'm going t'tell everyone that something in town caused him not to be able to come back, ever. They don't have to know everything. They thought too highly of him."
"Here, Miss Ro, have some soup," Sarah said placing a bowl in front of her and Jerome.
"No thanks, Sarah. Ah'm not hungry right now. Think Ah just wanna get outta these clothes. Night ya'll." They said their good nights and she left. In truth, she didn't want out of these clothes. They still smelt like him. Instead of going to her room, she automatically went to his.
When she entered, she sat down on the bed, looking around her. He hadn't changed anything in the room, but she could feel his presence here. How long had he stayed here? And when had she lost the war and fallen in love with him? She didn't know, or didn't care, but she had. She may be able to make it if that presence remained.
Her eyes dropped to the dresser. She went to it, and opened the second drawer. All of his clothes. She took out a white shirt, the one he had worn when she met him, and draped it over her arms. It felt good. Slipping her arms into the sleeves she closed the drawer and opened the top one. Inside were knick-knacks, stuff most would consider junk. On her knees she shifted through it.
There were at least three decks of cards, some change of a different currency, a couple books, all in Cajun French, and something metal that caught her eye. She picked it up and flipped it over. A tin-type from when he first entered the army. Him in his uniform, with his gun and sleep pouch. Defiantly younger, but by his eyes and strong jaw line she could tell it was him.
She stared at it longer, then felt something behind it. Another picture. Two men. One defiantly Remy, a little older, and another man, same outfit. This man was older, but not by much. His fair hair and light eyes and proportional nose seemed familiar. She looked closer at it. 'Normington!'her mind screamed."They use to be friends?" she questioned out loud and looked at it again. Defiantly Remy and defiantly Normington, but together? And she would never get the chance to ask him. Returning the picture of both men, she took the other, curled up on the bed, and fell asleep in his shirt, the scent of him all around.
End chapter 10. 11 coming.
