The Seven Sapphires of Mardi Gras Read Online Free PDF Page B

narrow trail. I could see the reflection of twisted cypress stumps in patches of water, could hear the sucking sound of mud clutching at the huge carriage wheels. Spanish moss made sketchy outlines and bearded tangles against a sky streaked with pearl. The shrill sounds of night birds and water creatures made me aware that the swampland was teeming with hidden life. Were there alligators lurking in that dismal, brackish water?
    Cypress woods lay thick and dark on either side of us, cloaked in their veils of witch’s hair. If not for the rattling of the swift carriage, there would be no sign of civilization.
    Fear wrapped and coiled itself around my heart. I was at the mercy of this total stranger. I knew nothing about him—not even his name. Shivering, I stole a glance at the driver of the carriage. The disturbing thought came to me that this attractive stranger with his dark eyes, strong hands, and shuttered expression might pose more of a threat to me than the voodoo man!
    Through the bleak drizzle of rain, the ground ahead seemed gray and full of reflections. Water! We were surrounded by water! Now the wooden rails of a bridge shone ghostlike in the darkness. Rails but no bottom. Before I had a chance to cry out, the man had pulled the reins in.
    The carriage stopped with such a violent jolt that I would have fallen hard against the door. Instead, I found myself suddenly in the stranger’s arms as he reached out swiftly to break my fall. The quickness of the stop, the suddenness of this forced embrace, left me breathless. “What—what has happened?”
    “Bridge is flooded! No wonder they didn’t come for you.” He indicated the narrow, flimsy structure that was half submerged in mucky water.
    “A sudden stop, to be sure! But better than a swim on a wretched night like this, eh?”
    Eerie swamp lights illuminated the saturnine face of the stranger. The smile had returned, dark and devilish upon his face.
    “That may be a matter of opinion.” I pulled hastily away from strong arms, which seemed reluctant to release me.
    He arched one dark brow. “You’d prefer a ‘gator’s embrace to mine?” he asked, the smile growing playful, if not downright wicked.
    “Who—who are you?” I demanded.
    “My friends call me Nick,” he said after a moment’s hesitation.
    Nick. The name had a familiar sound. But where had I heard it before?
    “Don’t worry. I’ll see what I can do.”
    He leaped down suddenly from the carriage and stood for a moment in the drizzle of the rain, inspecting the flooded bridge. When he came back inside, his coarse white shirt was plastered to his sinewy arms and chest. Droplets of water shone in his jet-black hair. He shook back his head making the raindrops scatter. I watched, fascinated by his savage appearance; he seemed suddenly untamed, uncivilized despite the cultured voice and fine carriage.
    “The only other way to Royal Oaks is probably standing under three feet of water by now,” he said calmly.
    “Then we must return to town!”
    He shook his head, and I thought I saw a trace of amusement in his eyes. “We can’t. The roads are flooding already.” As if to himself, he added, “Better to wait until daylight.”
    A feeling of despair washed over me. “We—we can’t stay here!”
    “I know of a place where there’s shelter. But we’ll have to abandon the carriage.” He reached for the dark cloak draped upon the carriage seat and flung it over his damp clothing. “Come on.” He climbed down and unhitched the horse from the traces so he could be led by the reins.
    Cold rain fell upon my hair as I climbed from the carriage, clutching my precious hatbox to my chest.
    “If you have a hat, you should put it on,” he suggested.
    “There’s no hat in here ...” My voice trailed off. I feared I had already said too much.
    He raised an eyebrow. “What? Are all your worldly possessions in a hatbox?”
    I ignored his question. “Where—where are you taking me?” He