She thought about Sally, waiting for a man of her own to love. Maybeit was a lingering sense of guilt over what happened to Charles. Maybeit was escaping from Simicco and his plans for her future, butCatherine took comfort in thinking about Sally and this big, happyFrenchman.

By the next afternoon they were crossing the river to get back to thelevee at Natchezunderthe-Hill.

Heaven was lit up like some celestial crown. Everything about it waslight and bright and joyous.

The travelers looked like gypsies. Patrick's beard and hair still smelled of smoke from the fire, and his clothes reflected their trekthrough the swamp. He stopped, looked at Catherine and grinned.

Catherine pulled his shirt together across her chemise, glanced down ather tattered petticoat and laughed out loud.

"We're a fine-looking pair," she said as the three of them climbed upthe street toward Isabella's house of pleasure. Past the stilts that held the building out over the water, and around to the front.

Catherine realized that she'd never seen Isabella's house from the front.

"That we are, darling'. I'm thinking you've got to stop traveling in

your petticoat."

Patrick locked his arm around her waist, gave her a light kiss as he knocked.

Pharaoh opened the door and let out a yell."Praise de Lord! You be here.""Cat!" Sally raced down the hall and threw her arms around her friend.

"You're safe."

"We're safe," Catherine said, and hugged the girl who'd been so good to

her."I've brought someone to meet you. Sally, this is Louis."The large Frenchman came to stand before Sally. He looked her over, circled her carefully and came back to his starting point.

"Oui, tres bien, she is an angel. I will have to consider whether Iwill suit.""What does he mean, Catherine?" Sally was backing away."I'll explain it all later," Catherine explained."Louis was kind enough to bring us here and I promised him a good meal.

Will you see that he's taken care of?"

Catherine watched as Sally cast a puzzled look at Catherine and back at Louis who was still staring at her as if she were a piece of sugar.

Finally she agreed. The conversation between the big man and the blond

girl seemed lively enough. Later, Catherine would explain her plan toSally, if an explanation was needed. Something about Sally's softlaughter made Catherine think that the situation would take care ofitself.

"Hello, Stone," Isabella said, as she reached the bottom of the stairs and stood beside Pharaoh.

"And Cat. I see you survived the fire."

Patrick nodded.

"News travels fast."

"Pharaoh told us the city was burning. He couldn't find you so he came here to wait."

"Jillico?"

There was an imperceptible shake of Pharaoh's head as he answered, "He safe, too."

Catherine let out a deep sigh and rested her head against Patrick's

shoulder, gazing up at him with overflowing emotion.

"It was awful, Isabella," Catherine said, closing her eyes briefly as she remembered Charles and their narrow escape.

"Blocks of houses and businesses were burned," Patrick said.

"People were driven to the levee. I don't know how any of the

buildings survived. Most of the warehouses are gone."

"Yes, and that will bring more people here. But that is anotherproblem. For now, you're safe and Pharaoh said that you'd be coming.Should we prepare for a wedding? ""As soon as possible," Catherine agreed brightly.Patrick's answer was less definite."For now, we just need food and rest. Do you think you could provide a room for Catherine and me? We need to rest.""Rest?" Isabella let out a mock gasp."Miss Cat 0" Conner is going to entertain a gent? ""Only one, Isabella, only her future husband," Catherine said with a blush.

"And I suppose you want my bed, again?"

Catherine's blush deepened.

"No, I think I'd rather have another room, one without a tunnel. I

have no intention of giving Patrick a way to escape again."Patrick smiled. All the rooms had escape hatches, but he had no wishto use one. When he and Catherine parted it wouldn't be done insecret, with matters left unsettled. And they did have to talk, but one look at the expression in her eyes and he knew it wouldn't be tonight.

Tomorrow he'd have to think about right and wrong and future plans.

But tonight, Patrick had a few questions for Miss Catherine Caden,

beginning with the name Cat 0"Conner.

Chapter Eighteen.

Q^yo^ss^Q 1 he room was prepared and waiting, softly lit, with the bed turnedback. A very large copper tub filled with steaming water had beenplaced before the fire.

And Pharaoh.

"How'd you get out of New Orleans and back here first?" Patrick asked curiously.

"De Indian brought me."

"Jillico?"

"No, the other one, Simicco."

"Where is he now?"

"Gone. They both gone. Jillico say let the king go. He say deNatchez are no more and dat Simicco have to find a new life, in a placeacross the desert, a place of de sun, where other peoples buildmounds."

"And Jillico?"

"He gone to see to the crops at Rainbow's End."

"The crops?" Patrick didn't know what to say. Jillico was seeing tothe future, a future Patrick would live without Catherine. Jillico wouldn't know that, but he'd understand. He and Jillico had been together a long time. More than that, they were friends. True friendship was a thing Patrick had too seldom known.

"Jillico say you look after Miss Catherine. The Natchez are leavingthis land to you. One day you and your children will" -he frowned ashe tried to repeat the exact words " --will bring peace out of chaos,just lak in the vision."

Catherine felt a swell of sadness in her heart. She had never understood Mona's belief that Catherine was sent to save the Natchez people. But she did understand that Mona had had a mission--both Mona and Charles. They'd failed, and now they were gone. Only Simicco hadescaped. It didn't seem fair. But maybe the Great Spirits had otherpurposes for his life. There were so many things she didn'tunderstand.

She could only know about herself. The only person she'd come to savewas Patrick and they were together once again.

"I feel sorry for Jillico," she said.

"He lost his sister because of me."

"Don't worry 'bout dat boy. He'll find his own happiness." Pharaoh gave the room one last look and moved toward the door.

"I hope you're not mad 'cause we let Simicco go."

"No," Patrick said, "perhaps it's better this way. At least it's ended." He closed the door and turned toward Catherine. They werealone and suddenly he felt awkward. They'd been together intimately,survived a fire and come back to safety.

Catherine was standing by the window, looking out into the night,remembering the first time she'd come to Heaven, to Patrick's bed. She turned back to him and gave him an impish grin.

"About that bath, Patrick McLendon. I think we'd better get to it. If I'm as sooty as you are, we'll turn Heaven into Hell."

She began to remove her clothing, beginning with his shirt, dropping itfrom her shoulder and letting it slide down her arms to the floor.

Patrick caught his breath.

Next came the chemise, which she unlaced with wooden fingers, so stiffthat the deliberate action became even slower. Then came the petticoat, singed around the bottom and muddy from their boat ride backto Natchez, and finally her pantalets.

"Now, Catherine, about Cat O'Conner. I'd like an explanation."

"Cat O'Conner is an entertainer. I don't have a harp- is chordPatrick, darling, but would you like me to sing?"

She tilted her head and allowed the chemise to slide to the floor.

Outside the rain began to fall. A quick little breeze swept throughthe open shutters and blew out the candle, leaving only the light ofthe fire.

"The only kind of singing I want out of you," he growled, "is inresponse to me loving you." He made a move toward her, then turnedtoward the shutter to close it.

"No, leave it open," Catherine said.

"I will always love storms. One brought us together again. I want youto love me, Patrick, while the rain falls, to take away all the painand grief, to make me clean again. I need you so much."

"I need you, too, Catherine. I need you to bring peace and joy to mylife. I wish it could be like this always."

"Then stop cavorting around," she snapped, "and take off yourclothes."

Talking could wait just a little longer. They had this nighttogether.

He wouldn't spoil it yet.

Just as slowly, just as deliberately as she had done, Patrick removedhis clothes, beginning with his boots. Next came the oversize shirt he'd borrowed from Louis, and finally his trousers. He stood before her, completely naked and ready to make the music of love.

But Catherine was never one to wait for the thing she wanted, and shedidn't wait now. Instead she flung herself into his arms, burying herface against his chest.

Happiness bubbled up inside her until she thought she might explodewith the sheer exhilaration of touching him, this man with the sternblue eyes and the once- golden hair.

"First, our bath, Sunshine," he said, and strode to the copper tub withher in his arms.

"No, first there is something I must know. You said you loved me,Patrick. Back there at the fire. Tell me again."

He couldn't lie to her.