Chapter 29 #2
The fight drained out of her. This was her last hope. And she’d failed. “I don’t understand. I thought he was happy in the bush. Why would he do this?” She turned on Foster. “You’re his father. Why didn’t you stop him?”
“I took him to hear Mackenzie speak, it’s true, but more than that I won’t take responsibility for. Seems to me he spent his youth trying to find something to fight for. Now he’s found it.”
Charlotte thought back to the hours they’d spent in the woods as children. Simon hadn’t wanted to be Wellington or Nelson, bringing glory to his country. He wanted to be Robin Hood, robbing the rich to feed the poor. Papa never understood that. But Mr. Foster did.
“Foster,” a voice called from across the yard. “Where are you, man? These lads need help loading their muskets.”
Mr. Foster gripped her shoulder, his expression urgent. “Promise me you’ll go home?”
Charlotte gave a reluctant nod. She would go home, but not without Simon. She scanned the yard, looking for the boy who’d helped her earlier. He might know the direction the scouting party had taken.
A bright light made her squint and reach up to shield her eyes. Drat. She’d been so focused on Mr. Foster, she hadn’t realized the lantern brigade had caught sight of them in the shadows.
Someone grasped her arm, tugging down her hand and exposing her face to view. “Name and squadron number?”
Scarlett sidled under Joshua’s unfamiliar weight. He dug his heels into her sides and her gait lengthened, the latent power beneath him reassuring.
The sun set, the cold penetrating his coat and trousers and numbing his hands, though he scarcely noticed. All he could think of was Charlotte, cold and desperate and courageous, heading straight into danger. Please let me get there in time. Let her be safe.
Montgomery’s came into view. Any hope he’d had of meeting her, safe and sound, as she headed back to the city, evaporated. She must still be there. He brought Scarlett to a stop, hidden in the cover of trees, and stilled his racing thoughts. He needed a plan.
Groups of men stood about, one practicing the quickest way to load a musket, another listening to a lecture on troop formation. His heart sank. He’d expected a few men riled up over a pint. Not this. These men were serious. He had to find Charlotte and get her out of here before a battle erupted.
He scanned the sturdy farmers before him, looking for her slight form. Voices raised from the side of the inn caught his attention. A tall man held a lantern high into a familiar face. His breath caught.
“Hey now, men, let’s stay calm,” a booming voice proclaimed. “Let her speak.”
Charlotte.
The crowd focused on Charlotte, providing just the distraction he needed to guide Scarlett through the low brush surrounding the inn. His mind raced. She’d been recognized. An angry, armed horde surrounded them. How would he ever get her away?
The man holding Charlotte gave her a mighty shake that made her head snap back, and Joshua’s hands clenched on the reins. Please. Show me the way. Guide me. He was on the verge of barging in and making the situation worse. He couldn’t do that, but if they laid one more finger on her he just might—
“I’m here for my brother.” Charlotte’s voice rang across the yard.
Scarlett’s ears pricked at the sound, and the mare froze, every muscle tense.
“My father died . . .” Charlotte’s voice caught but she quickly drew back her shoulders, seeming to steady herself. “He’s needed at home.”
The sound of her voice, low and even, focused him. Her calm logic might sway the men.
“Don’t reckon your brother will be glad to see you, interfering where you don’t belong. This is men’s business.”
“Anyone affected has a stake in it.” Her voice quivered.
An older man came up and peered into Charlotte’s face. “Well, I’ll be. A girl. You sure had me fooled.” He turned away. “Oh, leave ’er be. Women don’t have the heart for a fight, everyone knows that.”
Charlotte’s lips pressed together as though she was holding back words.
If only they knew the woman in front of them. She was the most courageous person he’d ever known. She’d sacrifice anything for family.
“My brother left with a scouting party. If you’d just point me in the direction they went, I’ll be on my way.”
The man holding her arm shook his head. “Your brother’s got bigger fish to fry than settling your nerves.
” He turned to the man next to him. “We can’t just let her go back.
She’ll blab our position to everyone she meets.
” He turned, trying to steer her toward the inn.
“I’d best show her to Lount. He’ll know what to do. ”
Joshua knew he had to act soon. It would be much harder to get her away once she was inside the building.
Charlotte jerked her arm sharply and made to run, but the man caught her up. “Let me go!” Her voice, high and panicked, carried across the clearing.
Joshua had relaxed his hold on the reins. At the sound of Charlotte’s cry, Scarlett tensed and sprang forward, heading toward Charlotte at a gallop. Men jumped aside, yelling, but Joshua hung on and kept his focus on Charlotte. She stood, shock giving way to hope as Scarlett charged toward her.
If he’d had time to consider, he’d have worried more. The men were armed. The timing had to be perfect.
But in the heat of the moment, he only saw Charlotte reaching for him without hesitation.
He leaned down and wrapped an arm around her, gripping with all his might.
He hauled her across the saddle and her arms clutched his waist. He returned the pressure, relishing the feel of her, warm and soft and alive.
He’d never let her go again.