Chapter 28 #3
“Four grown men roughing up an elderly servant, and a cripple to boot, is no great feat. It’s the girl I want to scare off.”
Joshua squelched the impulse to turn around and grab Cole by the throat. That would get him nowhere. He must stay calm. Think. Charlotte needed him.
“She must be at the estate. Where else would she be?” Cole was silent for a long moment, and Joshua forced himself to remain motionless, though panic made him restless.
“Timms, you and Jacobson head back to Edenbrook. Keep your eyes and ears open. Stay out of sight, but you could shake things up a bit. Make her wonder if she really wants to stay there alone.” Joshua heard the scrape of the chair. “And remember, keep my name out of it.”
“Aye, boss. You leave things to us. Got a way with the ladies, we do.” The man laughed at his own joke.
“What about us?” A younger man spoke up, his voice a near whine. “Why do they get all the fun?”
“You and your brother head to the tollgate. Keep an eye on things. If it looks like the rebels might have the upper hand, send word immediately.” His voice lowered and Joshua had to strain to hear him. “Might have a change of heart after all.”
Joshua forced his fingers to unlock from their death grip around his mug. This was worse, much worse, than he’d feared. He slid out of his chair, hoping he hadn’t drawn the attention of the table behind him but not daring to turn and look.
He had to get to Edenbrook before they did. Bess could barely manage a trot, but there was another horse in Cooper’s stable that could run like lightning. And he happened to know the owner.
Taking the steps two at a time, he reached the upper landing and looked down the hall. Blast. There were ten doors or more. How would he know which one was Ogden’s? He was about to start knocking when a maid left a nearby room, a heaping tray of dirty dishes in her arms.
“Excuse me,” he said, trying to mask his panic. “Could you tell me which room is Mr. Ogden’s?”
She shook her head, her eyes wide. “No, sir. We’re not to give out information like that, not ever.”
Joshua dug in his pocket for the sack of coins from Charlotte and pulled out the largest he could find. He held it up and her eyes went wide. “Now do you remember?”
“Second on the right,” she said.
He flipped the coin onto the tray and strode to the room. His gentle tap yielded no results, so he pounded harder. “Ogden? Are you there?”
Finally he heard the creak of bedsprings and Ogden opened the door, a nightcap on his head.
“Ogden,” he said, relief flooding his veins. “I must ask something of you.”
The older man yawned. “If you need me to go somewhere at this time of night, I must tell you I’m no good after eight—”
“I don’t need you!” Joshua took a breath and pulled out the sack of coins. What he was about to do meant he’d never be able to buy Henry’s freedom. But Henry didn’t want to be free, and Charlotte was in danger. What choice did he have?
“I’d like to buy your mare.”
Tension built low in Joshua’s belly as he approached Charlotte’s home. Edenbrook, she called it, with reverence in her voice, as though it had a heart and pulse of its own.
It was a beautiful home. The kind of home he’d dreamed of as a youth. But was it worth the sacrifices Charlotte had made? Was it worth the danger she faced now?
Scarlett tossed her head as they turned up the drive, recognizing her home and no doubt hoping to see Charlotte again.
“All in good time, my girl,” Joshua said with a fond pat.
He tied the mare at the back gate and followed a worn stone path to the kitchen door. He gave a sharp knock and heard the creak of old furniture and slow, uneven steps. Not Charlotte then. He exhaled, calming his racing heart.
The door opened a crack to reveal the smooth, shiny barrel of a pistol. “Who’s there?”
Joshua took a step back, his arms raised. “A friend.”
A face replaced the pistol, making Joshua gasp. They’d said they’d roughed up a servant, but he still wasn’t prepared for the sight of Fulton’s face, bruised and swollen.
The man’s eyes widened in recognition. “Robertson.” He let out a breath as though he was relieved to see him.
“Is Miss Carruthers at home?”
Fulton opened his mouth then closed it with a snap. “Come in.” He bolted the door behind Joshua, then sank down in a chair by the hearth with a grunt of pain. “I’m that glad to see you, Robertson.”
“Charlotte’s in danger.” Joshua gestured to the pistol. “Though I reckon you know that already. Cole’s men are on my heels. I must get her away from here.” He looked around the empty kitchen. “Where is she?”
“I wish I’da known you were coming. Woulda thought of something to delay her until you got here.” He looked at Joshua with a faint smile. “I reckon she’d be safe with you.”
“Delay her?” Joshua said. “What do you mean?”
“Said she’s got to try one more time to get Simon home before all hell breaks loose. Left half an hour ago.”
Joshua’s heart dropped. “Half an hour?”
“She’s somewhere on the north road by now, I reckon. On the way to Montgomery’s Tavern.”