It was amazing how still the city could seem to her after the noise and clamor of the ballroom. Nothing moved along the deserted streets the only sound the dull clop of the horse's hooves and the creak of the wheels axel. Rogue wished she could allow her body to relax but every muscle was tense, always waiting for something to stop them. A quick glance to her left assured her that Rene felt the same way.
"So ya say that mah sister is gonna be leaving on a train later," she inquired, trying to break the tension, "Then may ah ask how ah am leaving? Better yet just where am ah going?"
She saw the corner of his mouth flick upwards in a brief grin before he answered, "We chere are takin'm' boat. Y' cousin Jane made arrangements for y' t' stay with y' aunt up North for awhile, dat way when de old gossips down here catch wind dat y'r gone de goin' t'ink y' ran from embarrassment for what de homme did t' y'. Y' chere are goin' be the absolut' paragon of an injured woman." He really couldn't hold back the trace of amusement in his voice.
"What about ya? Are ya going ta go?"
Turning his head slightly he met her eyes, all amusement gone. "Rene he goin' go back t' Boston as soon as he makes sure y'r safe."
It wasn't until she heard him say his name that she realized he hadn't been talking in third person since he asked her to dance. She knew Remy always did that when he was talking to someone he really cared about. She didn't know why these Cajun men did this but she knew Rene was definitely hiding how he felt towards her.
"Why are ya leaving meh?" she hadn't meant to say it but it slipped out and apparently caught him off guard for he looked quickly away.
"Annabelle we both know 'm no good for y'. Y' a lady, y' were born and bred t' be. 'm nothing but de son of a merchant, I have not'ing t' give y', not'ing I could offer. I can' even give y' me. What kinda life would y' have with a man y' can't kiss or even hold in y'r arms. Y' be miserable, and I would hate myself for makin' y' so. Y' been all this poor man has thought 'bout for weeks, ever since dat moment on de docks, it has been not'ing but torture knowin' I can never touch y'. I want t' see y' happy, I want t' see y' with someone who can give y' everyt'ing I can'. Y' deserve it."
The silence fell between them after his confession. Rogue knew she had tears in her eyes but didn't even bother to wipe them away. Everything he said, everything he felt, she thought the same things. How many times had she said the same words to Remy when he demanded to know why they couldn't be together, why she wasn't even willing to give them a try. She could feel Annabelle's spirit in the back of her mind urging her, telling her the risk she had been willing to take. The risk Remy was always willing to take for her.
"Ah don't care," she said firmly.
"What are y' talkin' 'bout chere?"
"Ya heard meh Cajun, ah don't care. Ah don' want ya ta leave meh, ah don't want ya ta walk out of mah life."
"Chere y' don' know what y' sayin'."
"Ah know exactly what ah'm saying."
"Look chere," Rene said softly, "Y' really don't know. I can' risk hurtin' y'. I already have hurt people I care 'bout."
Rogue remembered what Olivia had told her so long ago about her accident. She had mentioned a second accident, but she refused to tell Rogue at the time what had happened. "It is his secret to tell."
"Olivia said there was an accident besides her own, what happened?"
"Y' don't want t' know chere."
"Ah said tell meh or so help meh ah will knock ya right out of this cart."
She was relieved to see the slight resigned grin hit his lips for a flashing second. "Y' a bossy fille aren' y'."
He turned his head to face the road in front of him. "When I was younger, after Olivia found me and took me into raise, I met a girl. Isabella was de most beautiful girl dis homme had ever seen at de time, with golden blond hair and de most belle blue eyes. Was no more den seventeen and thought dat I knew everyt'ing. Asked her t' marry me and she said yes. Went home t' tell Liv and she was t'rilled. Few days later felt really hot, at first thought I was sick. Liv got worried and went t' touch my forehead, but her hand began t' burn. She quickly put it in a jug of milk sittin' on de table but we were both horrified. I was horrified, so I ran, couldn' understand what was happen'. Isabella was on her way t' our house t' see me, she saw me running through de streets and tried t' stop me. Her tiny hands touched my face, and de burning began. I can never forget her screams." He paused his voice choked with emotion, "Almost killed her chere. She lived but she was never de same, de accident drove her into madness. Only Liv t'hinks 'm not a monster, though don' know why. Den dere is y' who is sittin' dere, knowin' what I am capable of, tellin' me y' don' care."
She felt all his sadness wash over her, "We can find a way. Don' ah get ta say what Ah can and can't handle. Don't ah get ta choose the man ah want whatever the risks. Don't ah get the choice."
"Non, we both know it can' be. Y' will go t' y' family and I? I will go away."
She opened her mouth to argue but the words die on her lips. Something was wrong, she felt it more then saw it. She swept her gaze along the empty street they were currently making their way down, scanning for any movement. One of the shadows detached itself from the building on her right a few yards away. Two more came from the right and three from out of nowhere. They arranged themselves across the road blocking their path. As they got closer she saw that the shadows were men and each man held a rifle. Rene Pulled on the reins causing the cart to come to a jerking halt.
"Stay close," he said.
"I would suggest you stop talking to my fiancé," a voice came from a street behind them.
Rogue spun around in her seat in enough time to watch Colin materialized on the road behind them, sitting astride a big black horse.
"Now Darling," he said, addressing himself to Rogue, "Did you really think I didn't suspect you would try something like this. Both of you out of the cart."
Rene got out and gentle helped Rogue to the ground. Colin circled, motioning for his men to move closer to the pair.
"Well and what have you got here Darling? I must say, I do believe this is the infamous Mr. Laurent. My associates were very kind to inform me when you arrived back in town. I do think you have been causing me a lot of trouble as of late."
Rogue could see Rene tense his hand gently starting to remove his glove behind his back. Unfortunately Colin caught the slight movement and before either had time to react one he motioned to one of the men stand around. The man grabbed Rogue by the arm and expertly twirled her so they were back to front. Rene started forward and Rogue struggled but both froze the second the man pressed a piece of cold steel to Rogues neck. She couldn't see the blade but from the look on Rene's face it was big enough to get a dirty job done.
"Now, now lets not try anything shall we. I have been told about your little gift and we wouldn't want anything to happen to this sweet woman do we. I do have a little surprise set up for you Laurent, do as I say and she doesn't get hurt."
Rene could do nothing but nod his head.
"Good now if you would just follow these gentlemen," two men stepped up and began leading Rene back to the cart. Once he was seated and the cart began to move slowly past, Colin addressed Rogue, "As for you Darling, Simms take her to my home, tie her up, and I will deal with her later."
Rogue was dragged towards a horse. Rene had heard Colin's threat and as the cart went by struck out. His hand came in contact with Colin's face. Colin screamed as his face burned. Rene struggled with the man next to him but lost his balance falling to the ground. The other men jumped into action knocking him to the ground while still others tried to help their employer. The man holding Rogue hefted her onto the horse, settling in the saddle behind her.
"You will pay you bastard, take care of him," Colin yelled through his agonizing screams," Get her out of here now."
Rogue fought but the horse took off. Her last view of the scene behind her was of unconscious Rene being lifted into the cart then spirited away, as a howling Colin shouted curses to the sky.
A/N: Told you I couldn't make it easy. I thank all my reviewers this chapter is dedicated to all of you. I am thinking I have no more then six chapters left to write before this story is done, so almost there, It really feels good to be updating again. : )