Chapter Twenty
“Selkirk escaped?” O’Malley could not believe his ears. “How in the bloody hell could ye let that happen?” he demanded, staring at Kelly, then Simpson.
“I didn’t think any of the men would try to escape with their hands tied behind their backs—the first thing they’d land on would be their faces,” Kelly replied.
Tremayne glanced at the Flahertys ranged between himself and O’Malley. “If timed correctly, it would be easy to leap and twist so you landed on your side or back.”
“He didn’t,” Kelly said.
O’Malley knew even the best of men made mistakes, but it was the first time that one of his had. “Tell me again what happened.”
Kelly glared at O’Malley, but before he could open his mouth, Simpson said, “Judson and his men were bound with their hands behind their backs before we walked beneath Penwith Tower’s archway.
” O’Malley did not trust himself to speak.
He nodded at Simpson, who continued, “We hitched a horse to one of the wagons, loaded the prisoners, and drove to the village.”
Tremayne had been there for the first telling and repeated what they had been told for the Flaherty brothers’ benefit: “Selkirk jumped out of the wagon at the bend in the road, outside the village, where it dips down.”
“Aye,” Simpson said. “Then Judson and the others jumped to their feet shouting, spooking the horse.”
“It took two of us to control the animal. By the time we had, Selkirk and Talbot were out of sight. Judson and Balfour were half out of the wagon, but we caught them,” Kelly added.
“Ye have no idea where Selkirk and Talbot are?” O’Malley asked.
Kelly shook his head. “We would have seen them if they doubled back and tried to make a run for the caves beneath the cliffs.”
Seamus frowned. “Rory and I can check for tracks near the bend and follow them. The ground is still damp from the recent rain.”
“Aye,” Dillon agreed. With a glance at Tremayne, he suggested, “Tremayne and I will canvass the village, starting with the Mermaid’s Glass and the Randy Cock.”
“Make that three of ye,” O’Malley said. “Simpson, go with them. Kelly’ll be with me. We’ll check on the prisoners and see to it they’re guarded well.” Scanning the group of men surrounding him, he said, “Reconvene at the Randy Cock in two hours.”
Assignments received, the men disbanded to search for the men who’d nearly succeeded in murdering the youngest Flaherty brother.
Watching them leave, O’Malley vowed that he would not rest until Selkirk and Talbot were recaptured.
Motioning to Tremayne, he waited for the lieutenant to approach him.
In a low voice, he said, “We should include Doonan and his men.”
Tremayne was silent for a moment before agreeing. “Doonan’s cottage is on the way to the taverns. We’ll stop there first.” When O’Malley grunted in response, Tremayne reminded him, “We outnumber Judson and his men. We will find Selkirk and Talbot.”
“And make Selkirk pay for trying to take the life of me cousin!” O’Malley ground out.
“And Talbot?” Tremayne asked.
“No doubt he helped rile the horse to cause the distraction. He’ll be caught and made to pay along with the others!”
*
Selkirk heard that idiot Talbot trying to get his attention, but ignored him.
Every man for himself. Even as the thought snapped into his brain, he tripped…
for the second time. This time, he landed on his face—hard.
“Bloody hell!” Blood dripped from his split lip and injured nose.
He’d broken it before and knew it wasn’t this time.
He was able to lift one shoulder and wipe his nose on it. He had to get out of these bindings!
Talbot was closer, but Selkirk wasn’t going to acknowledge the man until he’d reached the cliffs.
His path to freedom—to the caves below. In his frantic haste to reach the path leading down to the beach, he nearly tripped for the third time.
“This is all the fault of Flaherty and his damned reflexes! If he hadn’t dove to the side when I shot him, he’d be buried in the graveyard by now.
” Grumbling to himself, he slowed his pace and watched where he was walking instead of glancing over his shoulder.
He knew Talbot was gaining ground, drawing closer.
But he had no intention of slowing down until he was inside their cave.
Taking a circuitous route to avoid being seen, he walked with care on the path that wound in and out of the vegetation that lined the road.
When he heard a horse and rider approach, he hid in a copse of trees and nearly had a heart attack when someone kicked the back of his knee. Unprepared, he hit the ground hard.
“Why didn’t you wait for me?” Talbot demanded.
“Why would I?”
“We’re bound by our oath to Judson. He’s counting on us to hatch a plan to free him, once we’re free from our bonds.”
“Quiet!” Selkirk ordered him.
They waited a quarter of an hour, listening to ensure the rider had not seen either of them before making their way past the rise, to the path that would lead to the cliffs.
“What about Judson?” Talbot asked.
Selkirk grunted and turned his back on the man. “Loosen the knot.”
Talbot turned so they were back to back. “Relax your hands. I think I’ve got it.”
Selkirk felt the ropes loosen. Relieved, he finally answered Talbot’s question.
“Judson’s been caught. We escaped.” Freed from the ropes, he turned around to face the young man.
“There are two ships due to arrive in the next few days.” With a glance up, he murmured, “From the looks of those clouds, another storm could be brewing.”
“Prime conditions for wrecking.”
“Aye,” Selkirk agreed. “And we won’t have to split our take four ways.” He held the younger man’s gaze for long moments, then asked, “Are you in?”
Without missing a beat, Talbot replied, “I’m in,” and turned around. “Untie me and tell me your plan for getting even with Flaherty and O’Malley.”
“We need to get to the cave first. Then I’ll tell you what I have in mind for those blasted Irishmen and their wives!”