Moontide Embrace (Historical Romance) Read Free Page A

the name Slaughter, as did my father," he reminded her with a slight sting to his words. "I will never apologize for a name that is as old and as prestigious as Montesquieu. Why should I be concerned about whether or not I measure up to your father's idea of what a gentleman should be? If my father was not good enough for him, then neither am I."
    Gabrielle felt tears well up in her eyes. "No one could have been prouder of your father's name than I. Daniel was a hero, and died a hero's death. I have letters from Thomas Jefferson and John Adams praising his heroism." Gabrielle dabbed at her eyes before continuing. "When I met your father in France, the summer we were married, he was acting as an emissary for the Continental Congress. He was a good man, an honorable man. I loved him well. You must always be proud that he was a hero."
    "A hero . . . but dead nonetheless," Judah said bitterly. "Your father disinherited you for marrying him, since he felt you had married beneath you, and in all these years he has returned your letters unopened and has refused to communicate with you in any way. Why are you not suspicious about why he wants to see you now?"
    "It is as I said. He wants to meet you. He is an old man, and wants to make peace before he dies. I have heard that he made his nephew, Sebastian, his heir when he became displeased with me."
    Judah laced his fingers together. "I see that you have kept up with your family. I wonder how you accomplished that?"
    His mother returned his smile. "My girlhood friend, Minette, lives in New Orleans, and we communicate each Christmas. She always keeps me informed on local hap penings."
    Judah glanced down at the envelope on his mother's lap. "Just what does the letter say?"
    "It simply states that I am to bring you to New Orleans. There we will be met and transported to Bend of the River Plantation. Your grandfather was always one to issue orders. He expects everyone to submit to his com mand. It is his way," she said apologetically. "If one loves Father, one overlooks his domination."
    It was hard for Judah to feel charitable toward a man who had broken his mother's heart and had left her alone and floundering after her husband had died. He was thoughtful for a moment while he worked the details out in his mind. "I will have the Winged Victory outfitted tomorrow. I have always considered testing the trade in the Spanish Territories. I suppose now is as good a time as any. While I take you to see your father, Philippe can sail on to the Spanish coast. He will then return to New Orleans and wait until you are ready to leave. Is this satisfactory with you?"
    Her eyes sparkled happily. "Oh, yes. That is very satisfactory with me."
    Judah had no intention of remaining at Bend of the River Plantation one day longer than was necessary. A feeling of dread passed over his heart, for he had the strangest feeling that he would soon be stepping back into his mother's past and there would be no place for him there.

 
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    Louisiana, 1811
    It was a swamp world of strange undisturbed beauty, a land of struggle and survival —a majestic wilderness. Great oaks were draped with cloaks of gray Spanish moss. Willow trees dipped leafy branches in the mirror- bright water, while the mighty cypress trees stood like ghostly sentinels, guarding against man's intrusion into this paradise.
    Overhead, a heron glided on the soft morning breeze. Below it, the lazy bayou sheltered a multitude of wildlife before it emptied into the Mississippi River. One of the swamp's wayward sons, an alligator, eased through the green blanket of wild hyacinths and disappeared from sight.
    Suddenly a small skiff skimmed over the bayou, break ing the halcyon silence. A family of nutria scurried to the water's edge. Large turtles, sunning themselves on cypress logs, occasionally plopped into the bayou. As the skiff bumped against the mossy bank, the lone occupant, a young girl, stepped agilely ashore and secured the boat to a