A/N: I wanted this up sooner, but writer's block happened. I'm still not 100% sure exactly what all is going to happen while they're lurking around in Charleston so suggestions are welcome.
Tonight on Bonanza, Annie and Candy are still in Charleston wrecking havoc on Beauregard Legare's life and it seems that they've fooled everyone, but are they really in the clear? And just how long can they maintain the charade before someone slips up and all is revealed?
Thanks for the recent reviews and favorites! As always, I only own my OC and unique plots. Enjoy!
May 15, 1871, Charleston, South Carolina
"I've never been to New Orleans, but if the weather is as oppressing as this, I'm rather glad I haven't had the opportunity." Annie fanned herself with a small hand fan, blowing wisps of hair away from her face in the sticky heat. She'd donned the lightest dress she could find in the wardrobe but it was still unbearably hot. How did anyone live here in the summer?
Hattie placed a tray of water glasses on the parlor table and Annie smiled in thanks before claiming a glass for herself and offering them around to the trio of hard eyed women gathered in the upstairs drawing room.
It certainly hadn't taken long for the gossiping vultures to descend.
The cat-eyed blond she was sure was the "spiteful war widow," Amelia that Hudson had initially gotten his information from, Mary, the dark-haired spinster was her new "sister," and the third woman, another delicate blond with pale blue eyes, was the sister's best friend Rose.
"Everyone knows the Legares are cash poor," Amelia whispered under her breath. "Is it true he needed your money?" Her eyes were gleeful at the prospect of confirmed rumors, despite the fact a member of the family was sitting right across from her. Annie forced a giggle.
"Darling, my father may have owned a ranch before he died, but we weren't as wealthy as all this." She waved a hand around at the carved moldings, ceiling medallions, and heavy silver on the sideboard. "Besides, it's none of my concern what Beau does or doesn't do. He handles the finances, after all. I was married in the church and that's all that matters." Eyes widened and the newcomers looked at each other.
"But unless he found a judge willing to grant a divorce –"
"As I said, that's none of my concern." Annie sipped her water and caught Hattie's eye, indicating with a slight nod to serve the rest of the refreshments. The sooner these two were headed home, the better.
"Sister!" Teddy and Griff appeared in the doorway, visibly out of breath. Annie set her water down.
"What?"
"We were out riding and guess what?" He didn't give her a chance to reply and rushed on. "We saw an alligator in the river!" Amelia gasped. "Uncle Beau shot it and Moses said he'd have it ready for supper."
"I'd never seen one before," Griff added, eyes bright with excitement. "It looks like a giant lizard!"
"And it's going to be served for supper?" She wasn't normally picky about food, but a lizard …
"Tastes like chicken," Candy said as he sauntered past the boys. "Ladies, sister." He nodded at the guests and came over to kiss her cheek. "Wife."
"Husband." The visitors gawked, mouths hanging open, and she wondered just how reserved Charleston men usually were if a simple kiss in one's own house shocked them. This could almost be great fun if it weren't for the life or death consequences riding on their performance. "Mother has a headache, Sophie is with her."
Annie doubted the headache was real, more likely a thinly veiled excuse to avoid seeing the scattered handful of callers who had dropped by since their "return" from the west.
"I saw Caroline in the garden the other day," his sister's friend Rose said softly. "She hasn't left the house but once to attend church on Sunday. I hear her poor mother has taken to her bed with the shame, she won't even consider receiving callers."
"I heard there was talk of the convent," Amelia hissed in spiteful glee. Mary gave a tiny whimper and the blond scoffed. "What else can she do? It's not like she can just up and remarry, Mary." Green eyes flitted over to Candy. "Unlike some people."
"Ladies." Annie set down her glass. "I heard a rumor at the station that hoops may be making a return for the fall, have any of you heard anything?"
"Well, I should hope not, the current fashions are much more pleasant," Amelia insisted. Mary cocked her head with a tiny frown and Rose shook her head.
"Oh, I hope they do return. These newfangled bustles just feel so … indecent," she finished in a hushed whisper, face flaming as she glanced at Candy and the boys. "The way they accent … well … certain things."
"Why Rose Marie, they are not!" Annie breathed an inner sigh of relief as the three women were off and running. Candy chuckled and held out his hand.
"Ladies, if you will be so kind as to excuse us, I wish to take a turn about the gardens with my wife before supper. Mary, if you could take over?"
"Oh, of course." Annie rose and smoothed her skirts as he lead her from the room, a chorus of well wishes echoing in their wake. He jerked his chin at the boys and they followed them out like puppies. They were outside in the sprawling gardens before he dropped the facade.
"All the butter in their mouths melted the second we were out of earshot." Annie hummed agreement and reached out to stroke a delicate rose as they passed.
"It's the nature of the species," she said softly, gaze skimming the gardens for anyone who might be in hearing range. Even out here they couldn't be too careful. "How is everything, boys?"
"It's alright," Griff said after a moment's thought. "Sure is fancy."
"Nothing from Uncle Jim," Teddy added. Then, after a pause, "What did they mean by a convent?"
"Her family would send her off to become a nun," Annie said shortly. Most likely giving her no say in the matter. A pang of guilt struck her, as it was entirely her fault the possibility existed.
No, no. It was Legare's fault. If he hadn't robbed the bank … led them on a merry little chase across the west … antagonized her to the point of leaping without thinking … if he'd stayed in Charleston where he belonged none of this would have happened.
His wife would be better off without him, anyway. Once he was dead, she'd make sure the truth made its way back to Charleston, giving Caroline a way out of the convent if it even came to that. Because sending her away would indicate there was a scandal to hide in the first place. As long as Candy said nothing one way or the other, they'd be fine.
"Oh." The boys went quiet.
"I don't like it either," she continued softly, "but we can't turn back now. We have to draw him out. Besides, we won't be leaving everyone worse off."
"Kindness hidden in spite," Candy mused as they wandered through the hedges of a maze-like English style section of the gardens. "We have to make a move soon, though." He glanced around before continuing, "is there some fella my sister …?"
"I don't know," Annie said softly. "She's hardly going to spill her secrets in ten days and to a complete stranger at that." She sighed. Her plan had seemed so much easier when developed in the heat of the moment beside the river. "But I'll find out."
When they returned to the house, Amelia and Rose had just left and Mary was watching their carriage from the front hall. "Sister." She turned at Candy's call, her face carefully composed.
"Yes, brother?" Annie watched her, but couldn't figure out what was up; something had been said after they left, she was sure of it. But what?
"Is something wrong?"
"Why would it be?" She gathered her skirts. "Excuse me, I should check on Mother." Heels clicked on the polished floor as she hurried up the stairs without a backwards glance.
"Because her face says it is," Teddy whispered.
"You don't think …?" Griff shut up like a rabbit with a hawk overhead when Candy sent him a look she was sure her pa had used. It had always shut Joe up, too, now that she thought about it.
"If Mary refuses aid, then so be it," her husband snapped in a snotty tone. "Wash up for supper, now." The boys turned tail and hurried away. From the corner of her eye, she noticed Hattie lurking just inside the library doors, watching them, and her heart skipped a beat.
Had something gone wrong? Did they make a mistake, say something wrong? Had Candy eaten something Legare never would? Were they caught out? Was that why Mary had looked at them like that – did she know? Was the sheriff on his way?
Annie drew in a breath and forced herself to calm down. Worrying accomplished nothing. She adjusted her arm threaded through Candy's and smiled up at him as if they didn't have a care in the world. He patted her hand and guided her down the hall to the dining room. The table was unoccupied, but already laid for supper, heavy china and gleaming silver neatly placed just so to pass the widow Legare's demanding inspection. Candy led her to her seat and pulled out the carved chair. Annie gathered her skirts and settled into her seat, spine perfectly straight to avoid touching the chair back. He moved to take his place at the head of the table and her heart squeezed.
This should be real.
Only ten days and it was nothing to assume the places that rightfully belonged to others.
She wanted it to be real: this life untouched by tragedy and lies waiting for them each morning. If she hadn't been so stubbornly blind for so many years maybe it could have been.
Annie snatched her napkin almost indecently fast and spread it in her lap. Julia hurried forward and filled her water glass from a crystal pitcher. "Thank you." The woman nodded and moved on to fill Candy's glass, having learned that lesson the first and only time she served him first.
Heels clicked on the hardwood, heralding the arrival of his mother and sister. Both women had their noses in the air as they took their seats. His brother was noticeably absent, having returned to his own home in disgust after their arrival, unable to play lord of the manor now that the older brother was back. Teddy and Griff arrived seconds later. Candy waited a beat after they sat before he nodded to the butler who motioned to the waiting servants. One by one, they brought forward heavy platters and tureens loaded with food for the family to make their selections.
She wasn't very hungry and only took some green beans and a small pork chop swimming in sauce with a biscuit, purposely avoiding the golden-brown, perfectly fried chunks of alligator meat resting on a large platter, The widow Legare watched every bite she put in her mouth with a critical eye, but at least it wasn't Candy she was watching like a hawk. Annie's stomach twisted and she laid her napkin on the table and motioned for Julia to take her plate, then reached for her water and took a slow drink.
"Is she with child?" His mother's voice cut through the silence like a dagger. The cut glass tumbler slipped through her fingers and shattered on the floor. The woman sniffed. "I couldn't abide the smell of pork when I was carrying you. If I get a grandson out of this mess, I suppose it will be somewhat worthwhile." Annie barely heard her through the roaring in her ears, her mind flying as it counted weeks and months since …
Six. Maybe seven. Her hand drifted to her stomach, imagining it swollen with the child they'd never know, and her throat closed. Candy's fork hit the plate and the boys traded nervous looks. Face like a thundercloud, he pushed back his chair and stood, looming like a menacing shadow over the table.
"Shut your damn mouth this minute or get out of my house." Blue eyes chilled to a blizzard blowing down out of the mountains they'd left so far behind. "Now." The widow Legare's mouth hung open. Mary's eyes were as wide as the saucer her tea cup sat on.
"How dare –"
"You. Know. Nothing," he snarled, and Annie was taken aback. She only thought she'd seen him mad before; looking into those eyes, all she could hear was Padre Javier whispering from the past, "… his kind are hard, dangerous, men …" and in that moment, she knew what he had seen that night when Walker's man made his threats. Candy threw his napkin onto his plate and stormed around the table. "Supper is over, clear the table, Julia." He took her arm gently and led her from the room, rubbing her arm as they climbed the stairs, Annie fighting tears. She held them at bay until the bedroom door closed behind them and she collapsed against him.
"I wish I was," she choked past the lump in her throat and Candy stiffened. "It – it never mattered … before … but now … you deserve to be a father."
"Hey, shh." he tipped her chin up and wiped at her tears with his thumb. "There's still time, we're not dead yet, sweetheart."
"Don't say that!"
"Wasn't it your pa who said the pair of us was equal to a squad of cavalry?"
"What does that have to do with anything?" He held her gaze, thumb brushing over her cheek.
"How many times have we failed?" She frowned. "Somehow, we've always come out on top, Annie, and we'll do it again. It'll happen when it's supposed to." He kissed her cheek and she threw her arms around his neck. "We'll win, and we'll go home to ride on the shores of Lake Tahoe, down Main Street in Virginia City, and across the Ponderosa every day for the rest of our lives."
"But what if I can't –"
"I promise."
"But –"
"Have I ever lied to you before?"
"No." He kissed her lips and sighed, letting their foreheads touch.
"Padre Javier is convinced there's a plan behind all this and damned if he doesn't have me thinking it too." His hand came up, cradling her cheek. "God alone knows why, but we've made it this far, sweetheart, and we can make it home. As long as we've got each other, everything else will sort itself out." Tears spilled over her lashes.
"Hold me, Candy, just hold me."
Sophie stopped outside the closed door, hand raised to knock, when sounds from inside the room froze her hand in mid air. She clutched her skirts to keep them from rustling and backed away before turning and hurrying back downstairs.