Chapter Thirty
Rachel stood at the window and stared out into the snow. It was coming down in gentle flurries, but she couldn’t see anything beyond the light from the house. They weren’t on a main road, so there weren’t fire lamps lining the street.
“Do you think Isabelle is going to be all right?” Daisy asked. “It’s very dark out there.”
“I’m sure she’ll be fine.” Rachel turned to her, wrapping her arms around her middle. “She had to collect her children. There’s only so much her in-laws could do.”
“Wouldn’t they be delighted to spend time with their grandchildren?”
“Not all the time. I’m sure even grandparents want a break.”
It was unnerving to stare out the window and see nothing, so Rachel briskly drew the curtains across. At least they wouldn’t have anyone looking in on them.
Even so, she went over to the front door and checked it was locked. Then she checked the kitchen door and the windows. If they were going to be attacked, at least they would have a moment or two to defend themselves while their attackers tried to get in.
Hopefully, it wouldn’t come to that. Rachel didn’t want to be in the middle of that. Nate had promised he would look after them, his eyes never leaving hers as he did so.
She believed him. She really did.
“I hope that Nate isn’t too long,” Daisy said, huddling under the blanket as she pulled it up to her neck. “I feel scared, knowing that they could find me here.”
“I’m sure they won’t”
“It wouldn’t take much to figure out where I’ve gone.” Daisy made a face. “Maybe I should’ve taken a coat and some food and continued on.”
Rachel frowned.
“You would get lost in the mountains. And there are wild animals.”
“It’s preferable to going back to the Silver Lantern.” Daisy had been chewing at her lip so much it had started bleeding. “I would take my chances against mountain lions and bears, let’s put it that way.”
“It won’t come to that.”
“I won’t let it. They’ve already taken away everything from my life. They stripped me down until I had nothing left.” Daisy bowed her head, burying her face in the blanket. “I just…I can’t…”
A little sob escaped her. Rachel approached and sat next to her. She laid a hand on Daisy’s knee.
“Oh, Daisy, you don’t have to think about them anymore. They’re not here, and you were able to get away. That takes a lot of courage when you feel like you’re cornered.”
“Really?”
“Yes. You’re strong and brave, and you can stand up for yourself. That’s showing your character more than anything.”
Rachel knew she was talking nonsense and sense at the same time, and it kept twirling around in her head. She wasn’t even sure she knew if it was coherent. But Daisy smiled at her, indicating that she did understand.
“Nobody’s called me brave and strong before.”
“Then they were fools. They didn’t know what they had in their lives. I’ve only known you a day, and I know you’re better than them.” Smiling, Rachel squeezed Daisy’s knee. “Once all of this is over, and those men are put away, we’re going to help you.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Whatever you need to get your life back on track, to start over, we’ll help you. Isabelle helped me, and I know she’ll help you, too.”
Daisy looked a little uncertain.
“I feel like I’m too much of a burden, though.”
“Not a chance. You’ll be absolutely fine.” Rachel glanced toward the door.
“As long as you’re sure.”
“Trust me, it’s good to find honest people when you’ve had people in your life who have kept the truth from you.
” Rachel sat back against the cushions. “I thought the woman who ran the orphanage was like a mother to me, but she didn’t tell me the truth about my birth mother.
I only knew that she left me there and ran off, only leaving her recipe book behind.
A strange thing to leave, I have to admit.
And she let me believe that my mother and father abandoned me because they didn’t want me.
She never said anything about what truly happened, and she had to know. ”
“Then you would’ve ended up in danger, wouldn’t you? If you knew Isaac Vane and Edgar Pike like I do, then you’d understand why you were kept in the dark.”
“With the way things are going, I’m beginning to believe it.” Rachel’s mouth twitched. She rested her head on the cushions as she looked at the young girl. “You gave me the answers I needed. I know more about my mother from you than anyone else. And you never even met her.”
“Her story stuck with me. She came to the place pregnant, and she was left in terrible conditions. I’ve never seen Olive cry so much over someone.” Daisy gulped. “It sounded like the two of them were close. She would be relieved to know that Mary’s daughter survived.”
Rachel hoped that was the case. Olive would know more about her mother than anyone else.
And she also hoped that Nate would return to tell them what they’d found out.
Isabelle had been beside herself with worry, knowing that her husband was going into a dangerous place on his own.
There weren’t any other option, but it didn’t stop her from fretting.
By the time she left, she had calmed down a bit, but Rachel was sure that she was still wringing her hands and close to tears.
She wanted to be with her sister-in-law, but she couldn’t do that. Not when she needed to protect Daisy.
Maybe they should’ve gone to Isabelle’s house as well. The boys would have kept Daisy distracted, and they had neighbors close by. But it was too late now; Rachel wasn’t going to risk taking Daisy out into the open until they knew exactly what was going on. Anyone could be watching.
“Thank you for giving me something to wear,” Daisy said, plucking at the sleeve of her dress. “Mine was so threadbare I thought it was going to fall apart.”
“You needed a new dress. I know it’s a bit big, but it will keep you warm.”
“I won’t argue with that. And it’s comfortable.”
Rachel was glad she could help. She had worried that Daisy would freeze to death in the dress they had found her in, so she’d gotten one of her dresses out of the wardrobe. It made her feel like she’d done something.
Now they just had to wait, but Rachel didn’t like it. Especially with it getting incredibly dark. Nate and Jack were still out there, and Rachel was scared that something had happened to them. Especially Nate; he was determined to get to the bottom of this.
She wanted to hold him in her arms, knowing that he was safe. It was scary enough that they didn’t know what was going on, but the knowledge her husband was safe would ease her mind. Then she could tell him the truth.
That she loved him.
The knowledge had come to her when she embraced Nate right before he left.
He’d rested his forehead against hers, promising that they would keep everyone safe, and then he’d kissed her cheek.
It was a quick movement that caught her by surprise, and by the time Rachel realized what was going on, he’d gone.
The words had welled up in her throat, but she’d been unable to get them out.
She would try, though. When Nate got back, and things were settled. It had to be the right time, although Rachel didn’t know when that would be.
And if Nate would accept them and reciprocate, that would be even better. But that would have to wait.
A knock at the door made them both jump, and Daisy sat up.
“Who’s that? Is it Nate?”
Rachel wanted to say that it was, but something in her gut told her otherwise. Something wasn’t right; she could feel it. She wanted to say that it didn’t sound like Nate knocking, but that would be ridiculous.
Putting a finger to her lips, she urged Daisy to stay where she was and slipped off the settee, tiptoeing over to the window. She could peek through the curtains and find out. Hopefully, it was Nate, and he’d returned, but she wasn’t about to open the door without checking.
Carefully, she opened the curtains a little to peek through them.
Only to jump back with a scream when she saw a face practically pressed up against the window, leering at her.
She stumbled back and tripped over her feet, landing on the floor in a tangle of skirts.
A moment later, the door was kicked in, almost coming off the hinges as it bounced off the wall, and half a dozen men charged in.
Daisy screamed and scrambled off the settee. Rachel saw Isaac Vane at the head of the group, smirking at Daisy as she grabbed the poker and swung it around, trying to keep them away.
“You really think that’s going to stop us, Daisy? Now we’ve found you again.”
“Don’t come anywhere near me!” Daisy shrieked.
But he stepped toward her, making Daisy back up. She was almost standing in the hearth. Rachel worried that her dress might catch fire.
“You owe us, and you’re going to stay until you’ve paid off everything. You know you can’t leave.”
“You liar! You’ll never let me go!”
Vane’s smirk was enough. His men began to crowd around her, and Daisy kept swiping with the poker, but it didn’t hit any of them.
Then two of the burly men grabbed her, one plucking the poker out of her hands and flinging it away.
Rachel ducked as it went over her head and clattered on the floor.
Without waiting to think, she snatched it up and swung at the legs of the nearest man.
He yelled out and fell to his knees, Rachel knocking him down again with a swipe to the head.
Then she jabbed at the stomach of a second man who charged at her, scrambling to her feet.
Then an arm went around her neck and squeezed against her throat. Rachel gasped, unable to breathe. The poker was taken from her, and she grabbed at the arm around her neck, trying to pull it away. Then she froze when Vane whispered in her ear.
“You’ve caused more than enough trouble,” he hissed. “I knew I’d be back for you at some point.”
Rachel froze, and the pressure eased on her neck a little. Daisy was held tightly by one of Vane’s men holding her around the waist, and pinning her arms to her sides. She was sobbing, her head bowed as she trembled. Vane grunted.
“At least we got what we came for. And then some.” He gave Rachel a shake. “You’re coming with us.”
“My husband is the town’s marshal,” Rachel managed to gasp out. “You shouldn’t be doing this to me! He’ll come after you!”
Vane chuckled and steered her toward the door.
“That’s not going to happen.” He practically pushed her out the door, catching her as she slipped and nearly fell. “You’re coming with us, and there’s nothing he can do about it.”
Rachel felt the panic building as she and Daisy were dragged to a nearby wagon. There was no one coming to their rescue.
Nate wasn’t there. Rachel and Daisy were on their own.