CHAPTER 14
It was amazing that they were all still alive, bruised and sore, but alive. Cara had gotten the worst of it. Thick cords of black and blue laced around her throat. Jimmy had a cut lip and bruised face. The rest of them had some bruises from when they hit the floor, but it was far better than most of them had hoped for. Then there was Louise. It had been hours since she had collapsed; still she slept.
Jimmy did not leave her side. He did not let anyone else touch her, wanting to be the one to carry her to her room, put her to bed, wipe the ash from her body. He was so proud of how she had fought. And so scared of how she had cried for Alex at the end. He just wanted, needed for her to wake up.
When he wasn't sitting by her side, he was looking around her room. He didn't mean to snoop, but he was desperate for anything that would tell him about the months she had been missing. Tomasi had recruited the others to help search the house for any valuable information about vampires, but he only cared about Lou. He cared about what she kept closest to her, in this room.
Looking around it was obvious she had all the trappings of wealth. The room was enormous, at least compared to anything Jimmy had ever known. Currently, Louise was laying in the center of a king-sized four poster bed. It dwarfed her already small size. The bed itself was made of thick, shiny mahogany. It held a feather mattress made up with quality linens and silken pillow cases. French doors lead out to a private balcony that overlooked the garden. A walk-in closet was stuffed to the brim with fancy dresses and a vanity that held Louise's personal items. He imagined her sitting here to brush her hair, it had grown so long. He sat down, his fingers tracing over the various combs and cases. He began opening drawers and sucked in his lower lip when he found them stuffed with lacy undergarments of various colors. He could not help himself from touching them, feeling the soft fabric and imaging Lou's soft skin and pliant flesh beneath it. A thought occurred to him and he dug under the panties and camisoles, feeling for the bottom of the drawer. There was nothing but more lace.
He scanned the rest of the room. It was more like four rooms in one. She had her own desk and a sitting area and her own modern water closet. The desk was disorganized. The top was strewn with sketch books, pencils, novels, sheet music, gloves, and discarded corsets. How did one woman need so much underwear?
He started with the items on top, sorting them. Clothes went into one pile and he flipped through the other items. The sketchbooks held more drawings of Jack and the sea, sketches of Cara, and home. It wasn't anything specific but could have been any meadow or mountain range that they'd all passed a hundred times on their routes. It was all landscapes and sometimes horses but never any people. The only people she drew were Jack and Cara. He took some time to look at this man that had loved his Lou, bedded her and got her pregnant. He wanted to hate him but looking through these images he realized he had been a respite from this nightmare. That and her time with Cara seemed to be all she had outside of Grayson. He stacked the books back on her desk and placed the pencils back into their box, hoping she would not be upset that he had rearranged her things. He checked the drawers and found stacks of books, some on drawing and music and history, others were novels, some he'd even heard of. Then the binding of a dime novel caught his eye.
Wild Bill's Wild Adventures. Fuck! How the hell did she get her hands on this? Jimmy had never read a dime novel in his life. He'd sooner use one to start a fire or wipe his ass. Had she read it? What had she thought of it? This wasn't him. He never wanted her to think that it was him. He looked over to where Lou slept soundly in her oversized bed. She hadn't moved. Her chest still rose and fell in the same steady rhythm. Jimmy took the book. He took his seat next to Louise and began to read.
Elsewhere, Rachel was tending to Cara who rested after being nearly choked to death. Buck, Jake, and Teaspoon scoured the study, sorting through artifacts and hauling rubble down to the yard. Father Bohannon had returned to the church to write his report and to resume his other obligations. Tomasi alone ventured into the monster's lair.
Despite having watched the beast burn to ash with his own eyes, Tomasi was uneasy descending into his resting place. He did not know of any other time someone had been able to inspect an untouched nest like this and his mind ran wild with the grotesque possibilities.
He took a lantern and proceeded downstairs. Before he was even halfway down the stairs, the smell of blood became overwhelming. He pulled a kerchief from his breast pocket and covered his mouth and nose. He kept his eyes focussed on the stairs as he finished his descent, only looking up when he'd placed his feet on the cellar floor. What he saw was a vision straight from hell itself.
In the center of the basement was a large canopy bed made of brass. Wispy curtains hung from the canopy. They had been white but were now stained with blood. Blood splattered the walls as well. Underneath and surrounding the bed was a thick layer of dirt, slithering worms and crawly things could be seen moving around in it. Further away from the bed the floor turned to stone, also marked by blood. There was a body, barely more than a pile of bones wrapped in skin. Whoever it was had been drained to an empty husk. There were also discarded clothes strewn about. Women's clothing. Louise's to be sure. Slips and nightgowns torn to shreds, flecked with blood.
He moved closer to the wall and began to inspect the perimeter more closely with his lantern. It was mostly an expanse of worn stone wall stained with blood. He continued searching until he came to a corner that made him shudder. There was a small wooden chair in the corner. Like everything it bore traces of blood. Above the chair and bolted to the stone wall were chains and manacles. Tiny manacles that would fit a child or a woman's slender wrists. Next to the chair was an unlocked chest. Tomasi made the sign of the cross and said a quick prayer for strength before opening the box. What he found were the tools of a torturer. There was a small whip, rope, daggers, and a riding crop. Looking more closely he realized that the handle of the riding crop was shaped like a very large cock.
"God have mercy," he whispered to himself. He slammed the lid shut and finished walking the perimeter. He found nothing else. There was only one other item in the room, the beast's bed itself. He loathed the idea of getting close to it. Of walking through that earth and parting the curtains to see whatever ungodly evidence might lay in that bed. He forced himself to do it, reminding himself that poor Louise had been dragged into that monster''s den more times than he could know. The closer he got the more the smell of sex and blood filled his nostrils. He pulled back the curtains and saw a bed that matched the rest of the room. The blankets had been thrown back and the sheets were stained with blood and sex. Dried blood and semen were apparent on the headboard. But that was all.
He collected samples of the dirt, the blood, and the wretched seed. When he was done he hurried up the stairs and bolted the door behind him. He was nauseous, sweating, and shaking.
"What's down there?" It was Colter. Apparently making himself useful trying to clean up the mess in the sitting room, and helping himself to some very expensive scotch.
"A piece of hell," Tomasi answered.
Jake glanced at the door and decided he really didn't want to know. "Want to see what we found upstairs?"
A knock at Lou's door pulled Jimmy from the book. It was Colter, come to check on him. Sometimes Jimmy forgot there was anyone, anything outside of this room.
"Brought you a sandwich and a scotch." He placed the offering on the bedside table. He smirked, noting the book in Jimmy's hand. "Reading about yourself Hickok?"
"This ain't me," Jimmy replied with disgust. "I found it. Can't reckon why she would have this." He stood and placed the book back on her desk.
Jake was staring down at Louise. She was tiny, and beautiful, he realized. "She's one hell of a shot. Hell, if I'd known about her I mighta given you a run for your money Hickok."
"I'd kill you before I'd let Lou get mixed up with the likes of you, Colter." Jimmy made his way back to the bed, picked up the scotch and gulped it down quickly. He ignored the sandwich.
"Hey, that ain't some cheap swill now. You're supposed to savor whiskey like that."
"Where's the rest of it?"
"Bottle's downstairs. You'd have to leave this room to get to it."
Jimmy just shook his head. Colter wondered if he should mention Tomasi going down into the cellar. Decided against it. "She fought like hell, Jimmy. She'll come out of this."
It was strange to hear his first name on the bounty hunter's lips, even stranger hearing him speak words of comfort. He picked up the ham and cheese sandwich, suddenly feeling famished. He tore in. It was delish, of course, fresh bread, quality meat and cheese. He ate the whole thing in a few bites.
"Come on," he coaxed Jimmy, "I'll get Rachel to sit with her and you can come check out this pantry. Rich folk got all kinds of good stuff."
"It's Rachel now, is it?" Jimmy cocked an eyebrow at Jake, wondering how close the two of them had gotten.
Colter was right about the pantry. Jimmy had never seen so much stockpiled food in his life. And a lot of it was fresh - bread, fruit, meats, and vegetables. Not to mention a liquor cabinet stocked with only top shelf booze. He poured himself another glass of scotch.
"I'm all for blowing off steam, but when your lady friend wakes up, you'll be of a lot more use sober."
"What do you care, Colter?" Jimmy downed the glass of fiery liquid and poured a third.
"Well for one, I'd like to enjoy some of that myself." Jimmy handed him the bottle and he took it. "Look, we all just lived through crazy shit. I thought we were all dead. That girl lying up there saved us all when she turned that gun on it."
Jimmy couldn't help but smile. "It reminded me of how she used to be."
"I wanna know that girl."
"But what if she never comes back? What if she never wakes up? Or she wakes up but never remembers? What if…"
"She doesn't want you?"
Jimmy took a large swig of his drink. "I don't think I can lose her again, not 'cause of something like this."
"You can what if yourself all the way to the grave, Hickok. That ain't gonna help nobody."
Jake Colter was giving Jimmy Hickok sage advice. Who would have thought? He gave the rest of his whiskey to Jake and poured himself a glass of water.
"Maybe sometime outside wouldn't hurt." The fresh air would do him good. He could walk off the slight buzz he was feeling from the scotch.
"That's the spirit." Jake grabbed their coats and they both stepped onto the porch. It was chilly but sunny, good weather for walking, and there was a small park across the street where they could stretch their legs.
From across the street, Jimmy studied the house. He could make out the stone walkway leading from the iron gate to the porch. He could somewhat make out the details of the house through the barren trees and snow, but not much. The fence ran around the entire property and they were separated from each neighbor by at least 300 yards and a thick covering of pine trees. Raising his eyes to the second floor windows, he could see the blacked out and broken windows. Lou's room, with its balcony and large windows, faced the back garden. This place had been perfect for hiding her away. A cage with a pretty view and fancy things was still a cage.
Jimmy knew that inside the house were many unused rooms. A modest ballroom that held only a piano and bench, and a more formal dining room, as well as a couple unoccupied bedrooms, and untouched servants' quarters on the third floor. The rooms that had really mattered were obvious, the kitchen and sitting area, Lou's bedroom, Grayson's study and… "What was in the basement?" he asked Jake.
"Ah, can't say. Tomasi was the only one who went down there. Probably best to leave that spooky shit to him."
Alexander's study was a treasure trove for someone like Tomasi. There was a compendium of journals with detailed accounts of historical events dating back hundreds of years. There were chests filled with artifacts from across the globe, scrolls, tapestries, books, tools and weapons, paintings. It appeared that Grayson had kept several places like this where he stashed items he had accumulated throughout his very long life. A ledger documented the places he'd traveled, homes he owned, bank accounts, possessions, even some accounts of people he had killed with notes on how they tasted. He had a few journals dedicated to Louise: how he found her, groomed her, bred her, and how he planned to turn her into a vampire one day. The turning was what Tomasi wanted to know about. How was it done? And could it be undone?
It was clear that the monster had been right about him; he was completely unprepared. He had thought that strength in numbers, the right weapons, and knowing its weakness would be enough. He had underestimated Grayson. His power grew exponentially throughout the years and he had been a vampire for a very, very long time. It was only Louise's ability to break his control and weaken him that any of them were alive today. In those moments when she broke free, she saved them all.
He owed her his life, so he would scour these journals looking for anything to help her heal, regain her memory, anything that could help. Then there were other practical matters to tie up. Legally, she was a widow. Her "husband" had died but there was no body. At least not the right one. Jack was buried in a shallow grave in the yard. Could anyone connect him to Louise? There were legal matters that the church could help tidy up. He needed to go back and speak with Bohannon, get him to use his connections in the church and in Boston.
"I'm going to fill one of the carriages with whatever it can hold and bring it back to the church. I'm going to talk with the priests to make sure we clean this up." He gestured to the broken house, but they all knew it was more than that. He checked his coat pocket for the key to the basement. "I'll be back for dinner."
When Jimmy and Jake returned to the house, they were told that Lou had woken up. That was all Jimmy needed to hear to rush up the stairs and barge into her bedroom before any of the others could stop him.
"Lou?" He was breathless, not from the stairs but from anticipation. Instead of the woman he was hoping for, he found Rachel and Cara sitting quietly, drinking tea.
"She's in the bath," Rachel told him, standing up and going to the man who looked so much like a lost little boy to her right then. She put her hands on his chest, partly to comfort him and partly to keep him from stepping further into the room. He tried to protest. "It's not a request, Jimmy. It's what she needs right now," Rachel told him firmly.
He looked down at the motherly station mistress and over to Cara, wincing at the sight of her bruised neck. He sighed and nodded, reluctantly accepting this couldn't be about him and what he wanted. It had to be about her.
"Okay. Please tell her I, tell her," he struggled for the words.
"I told her you were sitting with her all day, and I'll tell her you came to see how she was. Alright?"
Louise sank lower into the tub as she listened to the exchange between Rachel and Jimmy. She didn't want to admit that she had felt disappointment when she woke up and Jimmy wasn't there. But she had been awfully glad to see Cara. She shivered, remembering the way Alex had choked her and thrown her like a rag doll. She could have died. All of them could have died and He would have left her with nothing to remember them by, not even Jack. She could not let him take from her like that again, and then Jimmy, his words. It was still a blur, how she had ever been able to turn that gun on Alex and actually shoot him. She whimpered, realizing a part of her still missed him. When would his hold on her die, as he had?
By the time Rachel knocked on the door, the bath water had gone cold and her skin had pruned. As much as she may have wanted to hide in the bath, she was getting cold, and hungry. She climbed out of the porcelain bath and pulled her robe around her, soaking up the excess rose water on her skin.
The other two women were waiting in her bedroom. They both looked tired. It seemed she was the only one that had gotten rest after their encounter with Alex. Now they knew, at least somewhat, who they had been dealing with. She supposed it made sense they would not want to sleep after that. As for herself, she recalled no dreams or nightmares of any kind. That at least was a welcome change.
Normally Rachel would have admired all the gorgeous dresses and told Louise how lucky she was to have such a wardrobe. But knowing what had come along with all the pretty dresses, the fancy bedroom, she held her tongue. Instead she watched Louise rifle through her clothing options with little care, casually selecting a lovely light lavender dress with a fitted scoop neck top. With no hesitation she dropped her robe in front of the other women, and pulled the dress on over her head, forgoing any under garments. Cara just shrugged and gave Rachel a look that told her this was a normal routine. Louise toweled off her long hair and let it hang freely to air dry. She slid her feet into a warm pair of slippers and was done.
"I'm starving," she told them. "Should we go down to the kitchen and see what we have to eat?"
"You're gonna wear another hole in the floor, you keep it up, son." Teaspoon strummed his fingertips on a nearby table and watched Jimmy pacing back and forth.
"Ahem," Buck cleared his throat and looked pointedly at the spot on the table that Teaspoon had been tapping for the past five minutes.
"Point taken," the old man conceded.
"I need a drink," Jimmy finally gave in and poured himself a finger of scotch. He held the bottle up for the others to consider and they all agreed, a wee drink would hit the spot.
They were all sipping their drinks when they heard the women coming down the stairs. Despite his earlier eagerness, Jimmy froze. Suddenly, he had no idea what to do with himself.
The men stared as the three women entered the parlor. They were all beautiful in different ways. Rachel was tall and curvy with her blonde hair and blue eyes. Cara had her fiery auburn hair pulled back into a loose ponytail and had changed into a simple blue dress that complimented her green eyes. Louise was the shortest among them, her petite features were clearly accentuated by the tailor made purple dress. Her large expressive eyes, pouty mouth, and wet tousled hair gave her an overall sensual appearance that had more than just Jimmy sucking in his breath.
"Damn," Jake swore under his breath. "I really wish I'd been paying more attention."
Buck discreetly jabbed him in the ribs and smiled at Lou, trying to remind himself that he was supposed to consider her a sister.
"Ladies." Teaspoon tipped his hat and stood, offering his chair.
Rachel was the first to sit, inquiring about the hole in the floor. Buck informed her of how they gathered rugs from other rooms to cover the hole and moved the table over it so no one would risk walking over it and falling in.
"Should help with the draft too," he added.
Louise glanced at the cellar door and saw it tightly bolted. Her eyes scanned the room and took in Alex's chair, the fireplace, the settee, all the places he had… Clearly uncomfortable, she moved to stand by the fire rather than sit. "Could I get one of those?" she asked, meaning the drinks.
"Oh, I'd take on too," Rachel agreed.
Jake poured drinks for the ladies and refreshed drinks for himself and the others. Only Cara abstained, her throat being too raw for anything other than water or lukewarm tea.
Lou sipped her drink politely before trying to speak. "I don't know how to thank you all." She bit her bottom lip. "I….I'm grateful." I feel strange and still long for the man that tortured me because I'm irrevocably damaged and sick which is probably why he choose me in the first place but I'm grateful, she thought.
"Louise, you saved us," Buck insisted. "We were goners till you pulled that gun."
"It took a great deal of strength," Teaspoon agreed.
"Well Jimmy gave me the gun and showed me how to shoot." She glanced sheepishly at the man in question. "I guess you were right. I remember some things."
Jimmy only nodded, his heart, mind, and body in pandemonium. She's alive and safe. She still has so much healing to do. How does a person get over something like this? Jesus Christ, I want to take her right here right now.
Rachel rose from her seat and offered to cook dinner. She was quite looking forward to having such a fine pantry at her disposal.
"I'll help," Cara spoke softly.
"No," Louise nearly yelled. "You need to rest," she said more calmly. "You don't ever have to do anything else for me ever again." She looked on the verge of tears as she stared at Cara and the finger shaped bruises around her neck.
Jake quickly offered to help Rachel in the kitchen in Cara's stead. Once again. Jimmy got a feeling there was something going on between those too. Aw well, Rachel certainly knew how to take care of herself. Hell, she might teach Jake a thing or two, he thought.
Jake proved to be a deft helper in the kitchen. Rachel was certain that the lanky bounty hunter was far less coldhearted than his reputation suggested.
"Tell me, Jake. Why come all this way to help us? You didn't even know Lou, and you knew you could have been killed? It's not exactly fittin' with your reputation for self-preservation?"
He laughed. "Is that what my reputation is? Could be worse."
Jake's true nature was one of curiosity and a touch of pessimism. Always expecting the worst meant you didn't worry much about getting into bad, even deadly, situations. Life is short, live it was his motto. Being a bounty hunter, he'd seen a lot. Not too much surprised him anymore. But when he'd learned that the puny boy he'd never given a second thought to was not only a woman, but Jimmy Hickok's woman, he couldn't pass up the chance to learn more.
"So tell me, what was she like before?"
"Well, it wasn't always easy for her being a woman and an Express rider. But she was always caring, and fiercely loyal, a true friend. But she had a temper, not short-fused like Jimmy but when she went off… Well the term around the station was duck and cover. And she was stubborn. Always trying to prove herself, that she could keep up with the boys. And usually she did. She just didn't deserve this," her voice broke. Jake pulled her into a hug and she was glad to stifle her sobs against his broad chest.
"From what I saw, she's got plenty of fight left in her. And she has you all," he comforted her.
As promised, Tomasi returned in time for dinner. The others were just sitting down to a meal of roasted pork with carrots and apples. The smell of herbs and spices and the sight of Louise awake and well put a smile on his face. For the moment, everyone was able to enjoy the afterglow of victory. But it was the aftermath of Louise's captivity he wanted to discuss.
With the recommendations of both himself and Father Bohannon, they were able to convince the church to help with Louise's situation. It was easy enough to report that her "husband" had died of natural causes and for the church to report that they had entombed the body. They were also prepared to annul the marriage so that Louise could completely relinquish the Grayson name and everything that went with it. This meant waiving her rights to his possessions and bank accounts. However, the church was willing to offer an almost obscene sum for the house and its belongings which would leave Louise living comfortably.
Louise listened while Tomasi explained her options as they enjoyed after dinner tea in the parlor. The only thing that mattered to her was that she would be able to get away from this house. She did not want to be here anymore. Not with the memories of Alex and the things that had happened here.
"There's something else I want," Louise interjected. "Promise me, as soon as the ground is thawed, that you will take Jack away from this place. Promise me that you will bury him near the sea. Do that and I will sign over this house and everything in it."
"Of course. I will make sure it is done." He cleared his throat. This was another matter he had hoped to discuss. It was delicate. "Jack's death will also have to be explained. Is there anyone who would link him to you or to Alexander Grayson?"
"Yes." Louise nodded. "People knew."
"Then the church will handle the police as well."
"You can tell them Alexander killed him. It's the truth."
After the talk of Jack, Louise excused herself. She practically ran up the stairs and straight into her bed where she could muffle her sobs into her pillow. Somehow they had all managed to survive today. Everyone but Jack. How easy it would have been for her to just ignore his flirting and walk away. Why couldn't she have just walked away?