Turner's Vision (21 page)

Claudia stroked her hand over his chest in a comforting motion. He reached down, grasped her hand, bringing it to his lips. Her tender touch and comfort eased the telling a little, but he knew the full story would horrify her.

“Finally, all this came to a dramatic conclusion. My father held a ball to raise troops to serve in the Georgia militia. He demanded that I attend as his oldest and only eligible son. No excuse would get me out of my duty, so I made my appearance. It was just after South Carolina had fired on Fort Sumter, so spirits ran high on how we’d shown those Northern blue-bellies a thing or two.

“I drank heavily with the other young men who were signing up to serve. The more I drank the more I didn’t care about Julia—or my father. I made a fool of myself with one of the young ladies and my father threw me out of the house. Which was my intention in the first place.”

Claudia gently wrapped her arms around him at the rising anger in his voice.

“I continued drinking out in the stable until most of the guests had departed. Then I somehow made it up to my room. But because I’d consumed so much liquor, I forgot to lock my door. Julia, being the bitch in heat that she was, took full advantage of the situation.

“I could give you numerous excuses, such as the alcohol or my body being so responsive to finding a woman in my bed, but I truthfully have to say that I hoped my father would see her for what she was and make her leave. But before I could prevent anything too serious from happening, she had my pants off me and was riding me hard and heavy. Then she twisted us around, I climaxed just as Stephen opened the door to show my father what was going on.”

“Oh, my Lord,” Claudia whispered.

“To my father, all he saw was his oldest son raping his wife in his own home. That night, I lost a father and a home. I argued that she’d forced her way into my room, but the old man wouldn’t listen. We fought long and hard, actually coming to blows. For a man near fifty, my father was still a powerful man. I left with my horse and gun, the clothes on my back, two broken ribs, and a battered face. Somehow, I managed to make my way to Virginia, where Nathan lived with his family. They took me in until both Nathan and I could join the first Virginia regiment.”

“Oh, Micah.” Claudia hugged him with her free arm, trying to comfort him.

“I spent the next four years killing Yankees,” Micah let the words pour out, no longer capable of keeping the story back. “We were always deep in the woods as scouts and forward spies for General Lee and the Army of Northern Virginia. With my life and the lives of my men always in jeopardy, I had little time to think about my family and its problems. I also grew up during that time. I realized I’d had as much to do with the events that happened and the one who really suffered was my father. Nathan and I talked long and hard on the subject. I decided that when the war was over I would ask my father’s forgiveness, then travel out west to find my own future with Nathan.

“Only that too, was to be denied to me. After the battle of bloody Shiloh, I received word that my father was killed on those grounds. I never got the chance to seek his forgiveness. When the war was over, Nathan and I traveled back to Georgia to see how my family was making out under reconstruction.

“What awaited my return shocked me to the core and changed my life forever.”

“Was the plantation completely ruined?”

“No. It was in good condition. Julia had entertained several different Union officers while they burned and pillaged our neighbors’ land. She loved that property, and had done whatever it took to protect it.”

He held Claudia tight for a moment. The tension in him seemed to permeate the very air about them.

“What I found there was a four year old boy, named Henry James Turner, after my grandfather. He was a beautiful young lad—earnest and hard working. His laughter lit up the room whenever Stephen wasn’t around. Stephen tormented the boy to no end.”

“Claudia,” he said, tilting her chin up so he could see her face, “that little boy had the same silver eyes Patrice and I shared. The eyes we shared with our mother.

“Henry was my son.”

The silence hung like a thick cloud in the room.

Micah wondered what form of retribution Claudia’s anger would take for tricking her into marrying him. For wasn’t he a murderer as well as a fornicator and cad? Hadn’t he slaked his lust in the first body offered him regardless of the consequences? Hadn’t he set into motion those events that would lead to the birth of an illegitimate son and the death of his own father? Now her reputation was completely destroyed because she’d married a monster of a man.

He held his breath, waiting for her condemnation.

A single tear fell wet upon his chest. Then a second, followed by another and another.

“Oh, Micah.” Claudia squeezed him tighter. Her tears flowed across him and over him. Healing tears of forgiveness. Not forgiveness for his sins, but for the guilt he’d borne all these years. And suddenly he knew he could forgive himself for acts that he’d played a part in. His tears silently flowed out to mingle with hers. They held each other until the storm passed.

Claudia wiped her face, then leaned up on an elbow to look into his eyes. “Does he know?”

“Not from me or Patrice. And I believe that Julia and Stephen have kept their word not to tell him, either.” Micah swiped his hand over his face, dragging in a breath to calm his emotions.

His thoughts wandered over that moment when he discovered he was a father. It had broken his heart that in gaining a son he’d lost forever a father. The small boy seemed to want for attention from his mother, receiving it only from his Aunt Patrice. While Micah worked the farm, the little boy had followed him around like a stray pup. He’d lapped up any kindness he could get.

“That was one of the conditions I set, when I left to head out west with Nathan.”

“What conditions were those?”

“When I arrived back home Julia thought I’d gladly fill my father’s place in the family. Not just as head of the household, but as her bed partner. I quickly put that notion to rest, informing her that as long as I lived, I’d never touch her again.”

Micah laughed harshly. “Needless to say, she became a raving lunatic, screaming that Grand Oaks was hers and that it would never be mine. She waved a piece of paper in front of my face, saying my father had cut me out of his will, and deeded that place to her and then to Stephen. I told her I could contest the will if I wanted to, thereby tying the estate up for years in court. That was the only thing that calmed her down. The threat of preventing her from owning the plantation.

“I told her I’d be willing to give up any claim to Grand Oaks provided she met certain conditions. The first was no one would ever tell Hank of his parentage. He was to be left believing I was just his half-brother. Also, she was to put a leash on her demented son. If he so much as caused one injury to Hank, I’d return and rip their precious land out of their grasps. They were also to provide a home for Patrice for as long as she wanted one. They were to treat her as well as they did Hank or again I would return.”

“Did they adhere to their end of the bargain?”

“For years I received letters from Patrice and Hank letting me know that everything was going well. I had them sent through Nathan’s brother Neil, a lawyer in Baltimore, to conceal my whereabouts from Julia and Stephen. Then last year I stopped hearing from either one. That’s when my feelings about Patrice started.” He reached out to stroke Claudia’s cheek. “The rest you know, my dear.”

“You haven’t seen your son since he was four?”

“I went to Grand Oaks before coming here. Hank and I spent some time together. He’s turned into a fine-looking young man, full of righteous indignation at what the family’s been doing, and concern for Patrice. I liked what I saw. And I have a feeling I have Patrice to thank for how well he’s turned out in that rat’s nest they were living in.”

“Are your half-sisters as bad as your brother?”

“According to Hank, they think themselves above all the eligible men in the area. Apparently, they’re waiting for some Prince Charming who is as wealthy as Midas and as patient as Job. That is what the men would have to be to help pay for their every want and ignore their shrewish ways.”

“Oh, you’re terrible,” Claudia giggled and rolled onto her back.

“I can be very terrible, my dear.” He rolled on top of her, tickling her from head to toe until their laughter gave way to passion.

Claudia gently stroked Micah’s head where it lay nestled between her breasts, thinking about the events that had shaped his and Hank’s past. Micah deserved to get to know his son and Hank deserved to get to know this wonderful man who was his father. Somehow she was going to get them together. Julia’s evil web needed to be torn apart so these two men could heal the wounds each bore alone.

She would speak of it to Micah when this ordeal was finished. She might never be able to give him a baby at her age, but she could give him back the son he already had. Sleep eased its way into her body and she drew the covers up over them both.

Tonight, Micah had bared his soul to her, and no matter what the morrow would bring—whether he stayed with her or left her for greener pastures—she knew she’d always love the man in her arms.

* * * * *    

Screams shattered the night.

Micah bolted out of bed and headed for the door. Claudia flew to the wardrobe to get her night rail, before following close behind him.

The screams came from Noah’s room, where Dr. Schulman was trying to restrain him from ripping open all of his wounds.

“Patrice! God, where are you? Patrice!”

“What started this?” Micah asked as he grappled the younger man back into the bed.

“I would say his body has healed enough.” Dr. Schulman pushed his glasses up on his nose and pulled his robe on as Claudia entered the room. “There are those in our profession that believe the mind will shut down in times of great stress until the body can recuperate and sustain it through facing the trauma that caused the injury in the first place.”

Noah had slipped back into sleep, his body going limp beneath Micah’s.

“Do you think he’ll come around soon? I mean, become conscious enough to answer questions?”

“Given his strength, I’d say, within a day or two. But I can’t be sure.”

“Then perhaps you should get your rest, sir.” Turning to Henderson, who’d arrived with both boys on his heels, Micah directed him, “See that the doctor has another room for the night. I’ll stay here in case Howard awakens again.”

Claudia disappeared for a few minutes while the good doctor followed Henderson to another room. She returned with two pillows, several blankets and Micah’s trousers.

“What do you think you’re doing, wife?” Micah asked as he struggled into his pants, watching her spread her wares out on the floor near the bed.

“You said we were staying here for the night. I thought we should get comfortable.”

“I said
I
was staying, not
we
.” He tried to usher her out of the room.

“Micah, I want to be here when he awakens. You might need me.”

“I think I can handle things if
your
young man awakens.”

She looked at him curiously. “He isn’t
my
young man. But I want to be here in case you hear some news.”

“I won’t hurt the poor thing, if that’s what is worrying you.”

“What has gotten into you?” Claudia pushed his hand off her arm, turning to look at the man she was married to. If she didn’t know better, she’d swear he was jealous.

“Nothing. I just don’t intend to have my wife pining away over some other man right beneath my nose, that’s all” He leaned over her in that intimidating stance again, his voice angrier than she’d ever heard.

“Pining away? I thought you might want someone here in case you find out your sister is dead. Somehow I had the impression you might be upset if that were the case and you might want a shoulder to lean on.” She picked up her pillow and started for the door. “Obviously I was mistaken, you big oaf.”

“Claudia.” He stopped her before she got out the door. “I’m sorry, I didn’t realize what I was saying. You’re right. If you want to stay, I’d be glad to have you.”

“I’m sorry, too. I just want to be here for you.” She dropped her pillow down next to his, lying down and signaling him to join her. “We’d better try to get comfortable. This could be a long night.”

“How do you know?” Micah stretched out beside her.

“When my father was in the throes of his delirium, he used to awaken several times at night. Only he was regressing further away from us, being on his last hours and all. Hopefully, Noah will be more lucid in his confessions.”

“What did your father confess in his dreams?” Micah drew her head down onto his shoulder, lightly brushing one hand through her hair.

“Nothing new. Mostly he relived the beatings he gave me and why. I learned that night just how much my father hated me. I never realized until then how deep it all went.”

“Shh, don’t think of it. You don’t need to remember the pain with me.”

“It’s all right, Micah. You see, I know for certain he’s in hell and I can’t say I mind.” She rested her hand on his chest. She hoped the news would be good and Patrice was still alive. Micah needed something good in his life right now.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

“Patrice, I’ve got to get to her.”

The words came quietly into the early-morning light, for the fourth or fifth time. Claudia had lost count. She eased herself out from under Micah’s arm. He’d gotten up all the previous times and was out from the sheer exhaustion of his night. She wanted him to rest as long as possible.

Going to the table next to the bed where Noah lay, she poured some water onto a cloth. If it was the fever again, she’d try to calm him with a cool cloth. It had been the only thing that had worked earlier in the night.

“Noah? It’s me, Claudia Davis,” she whispered as she sat next to him on the bed. “Can you hear me?”

“Claudia?” This time the voice was coherent—even focused. “How? How did I get here?”