Creighton Manor (26 page)

She heard the tap tapping of the telegraph. The four gathered in front of the window.

"There's a ship that has docked in St. Louis." The man interpreted what the telegraph message said. "Tap tap tap", the telegraph went ag
ain. "It's the Robert E. Lee!"
The man interpreting gave the shout. "She's beatin' the Natchez!"

Ellery shouted his pleasure and kissed Lotti on the cheek before he lifted her off the ground and twirled her around.

"Unhand me this instance," Lotti complained half heartily, but Ellery obeyed immediately.

"Begging your pardon, Lotti. I am thrilled with the results."

"Made a big bet, did you?" Lotti asked smiling.

Ellery's grin said it all.

Zachary drew Gillian to him. "Thank you," he whispered, his voice raw with emotion. She lifted her head and looked into his all so blue eyes. She was surprised to see they were misted with tears. She wanted to say something, but no words would leave her lips. She felt a lump form in the back of her throat. She wanted to push away from him, but at the same time, she didn’t want him to let her go.

He didn't let go. Instead, he lowered his head and kissed her, warm, soft, kisses that clouded her mind. She didn't pull away, but leaned forward. She wanted more. She craved more. Then Ellery slapped Zachary on the back, breaking the spell. Zachary released her and her lips whispered his name in abandonment. She stepped away, with her hand pressed against her mouth.

Ellery hugged Zachary in a bear hug, laughing and cheering at the same time. She turned and walked down the street filled with people. The news of the race and its result spread like wild fire from one person to another. She just wanted to be away from it all. She walked faster, her vision blurred as the tears began to fall. Zachary had won and she had lost.

She rounded the corner of the mercantile, so lost in her misery she didn’t notice someone followed her until it was too late. He grabbed her from behind and clamped a damp cloth over her mouth. She choked back the antiseptic smell. She thought to herself before blackness overtook her, “
Not again.”

***

Zachary looked everywhere for Gillian, becoming frantic when he couldn’t find her. He needed to tell her how he felt about her, about them. He would fight for her.

They arrived home and found out from Dora that Gillian hadn’t returned.

"Where could she be?” Zachary threw his hands up in the air.

"I'll go back to town and have another look," Ellery volunteered. "You stay here, just in case she returns
.”

"No, I'm coming too," Zachary insisted, already donning his hat. "I can't sit here and do nothing."

Lotti stepped in. "Have either one of you considered that maybe she went back to her own time? We have known this could be a possibility."

"No!" Zachary shouted. "She couldn't have. I refuse to think that's a possibility
.”
Zachary swung open the door, startled by the boy who stood there. “What do you want?”

The boy had to be about ten. His clothes were worn and his hair looked like it hadn’t been washed in days. The boy handed him a note and took off running.

“What was that about?” Ellery said coming to stand behind Zachary as he opened the folded paper, reading along with him.

"What the . . . A ransom? Who would be holding Gillian for ransom?"

"One guess," Zachary seethed as he crumpled the note within his fist.

"Do you really believe Cyrus Locke would have the
audacity to snatch her from under our noses?” Ellery asked
.

"Who else could it be? With the
amount
of money the kidnapper is asking
for
, it will wipe me out. I'll be forced to sell Creighton Manor. I expect, once Creighton Manor is up on the market, Cyrus will be there to put his bid in."

"What are you going to do?" Ellery asked.

"Do?" Zachary’s brows furrowed. "What
kind of
asinine question is that? I'm paying. I don't want anything to happen to Gillian. Her safety first, nothing else matters. I'd sell my soul, if that's what it takes to bring her back to me."

Lotti nodded her approval. “It’s one heck of a way to expose one’s heart, but it’s about time you face how you feel about Gillian.”

Zachary ignored his grandmother’s remark. He’d face his feelings when he had Gillian safe in his arms.

"The note says to leave the money with a person at the Mertz’s barn," Ellery stated. "I'll go with you.”

***

When Gillian finally came to, she found she’d been blindfolded and seated on a chair with her hands bound behind her.

She heard someone in the room and froze. Her heart pounded in her ears.

"Don't struggle with your ropes, Mrs. Creighton," a man with a deep voice advised her. "I assure you, they are securely tied and you will not be able to get out of them."

"Who are you?" Gillian asked, not that she thought the man would tell her since he
had
blindfold
ed
her.

He chuckled. "Your guardian, for right now." He
slid
his hand
against her
cheek
,
making her flinch. "Pretty thing you are. It's a pity you won't be with me long." The man dropped his hand away. He didn’t say more. He left the room, shutting the door behind him. Gill
ia
n let her breath out in a whoosh.

She didn't waste any
time. She started working on the ropes. She had no intentions of waiting around to find out what he meant by
she wouldn’t be with him long
.

Luckily, she wasn't tied up as tightly as the man thought. Gillian managed to work the ropes loose. She wiggled her left hand free first, then the right. She immediately removed her blindfold. She stood looking around the empty room, while she rubbed her sore wrists.

She whirled around, taking in the low slopping ceiling. Her prison had to be an attic of a house. The chair she’d been tied to being the only furniture in the room. The light shone through the only window on the north wall. She went over to it and looked out. The paint was peeling on the house and the vines were overgrown. She spotted the river in the distance through the oak trees and was able to confirm what she had already suspected. She’d been locked away in Creighton Manor. Zachary had been right after all. Cyrus had been behind all their turmoil.

She had to escape. She flew to the door, shaking the doorknob in frustration when she found it was locked. What did she expect? The kidnapper would leave the door open for her. She went back to the window to see if there was another way out. There wasn’t a ledge only the steep rooftop. She looked down to the hard stones below. Jumping was out of the question. She would probably kill herself from the fall or at the least injure herself unable to run away.

She leaned against the wall and slid to the floor. What was she going to do? She was trapped, and she didn't think it was wise to wait for the man, who kidnapped her to return. She wondered who the man was. He didn’t sound like Cyrus Locke.

***

Zachary had the saddlebags filled with money and now waited patiently at the barn for the person to show. Ellery would remain hidden until he gave the signal.

Luckily, they didn't have to wait long.

As the rider neared, Zachary immediately recognized him as the man who had attacked him on the dock, short dark hair and a scar on his right cheek, an added addition when Zachary had sliced him with his knife.

He halted his mount in front of Zachary. "You have the money?"

“Where is she?" Zachary shot back.

"Safe, as long as you have what I’m here for
.”
                                                         

"If you think I am just going to hand over the ransom without knowing where my wife is, you’re dumber than you look."

The man snorted at that remark. He took out a slip of paper and handed it to Zachary.

“This map leads me to Gillian?” He skimmed over it.

“Now who is being stupid?” 

He pinned the kidnapper with a bloodcurdling glare.

The man cleared his throat. "It’s a map to where you can find the instructions you’ll need to locate your wife. Now where is the rest of the money?”

Zachary walked over to his horse and removed the satchel. He then sauntered over to the man and handed it to him. "That's part of what you wanted. If Gillian is where your note says, then you will get the rest of it."

"I don't think you understood the instructions. I get all the money now or you don’t see your precious wife again." The man leaned over and sneered at Zachary, obviously thinking he had the upper hand, until he heard the cock of a gun. He didn’t need to turn around to know he was in trouble.

Zachary’s grin slowly tipped the corners of his mouth.

***

Gillian watched out the window waiting for someone to return. She knew no one had been in the house all day. It had been too quiet, no creaking stairs, no voices. All remained silent as a tomb. She shivered at the thought even though the attic felt like a furnace. Even with the window open, her dress clung to her damp body.

If she didn’t have something to drink soon, she’d die of dehydration. The thought crossed her mind that maybe this was what her captors had planned for her.

She sat on the floor again to rest, wondering if Zachary would even look for her or simply think she returned to her time.

She heard a noise from down stairs and flew to her feet in a panic. Her eyes riveted to the locked door half expecting it to swing open. She needed a weapon and could have kicked herself for not thinking of it sooner. Her eyes landed on the chair. She grabbed it and ran behind the door to wait. It seemed an eternity until she heard the footsteps tread up the stairs. Sweat dripped down her face in beaded droplets. Her heart threatened to beat out of her chest.

The door opened, creaking on its hinges. She waited patiently, knowing she’d only have one chance, one moment of surprise. She went to swing, but caught sight of the long skirt sweeping across the floorboards
.

The woman turned and seemed to be just as startled as Gillian had been. She stepped back, her hand flying to her chest.

"Violet?" Gillian lowered the chair, her mind reeling with confusion. Why was Violet here?

A slow smile curved Violet’s lips but Gillian didn’t feel at ease, rather she felt the hairs on the back of her neck rise. "Hello, Gillian. I'm rather surprised to see you up and about. I gave Dane strict orders to tie you up." She came a little closer and Gillian noticed for the first time Violet held a gun in her hand.

"What's going on, Violet? Where's Cyrus?” 

Violet’s chilling laugh bordered on insanity. "Wasn't I clever?"

"Clever?” 

"Why yes. Cyrus and Josephine are out of town. They had to be in St. Louis to watch the blasted race. It was so perfect for my plan
.”

"Do you mind clueing me in on this master plan of yours?” 

"Sure, I see no reason not to tell you. I'm not in a rush to be anywhere." With her left hand, Violet patted her reddish curls as if one would dare be out of place. Her blouse was pure white with an intricate lace collar; her skirt pressed, and her shoes polished to look brand new. She looked the picture of
innocence;
making it seem unbelievable she’d have a gun with the intent to use it. For a split second, Gillian thought about taking a chance and throwing herself at Violet, but the gleam in the woman’s eyes spoke of insanity. She had no doubt if Violet were provoked she’d blow her away without a qualm.

Violet shook her head. "You see my little vixen you have messed up the scheme of things. I've wanted Zachary for so long. I have been very patient, too. For years, I had to hear him talk about this precious house, but I though
t
in time, he’d give up his silly dream of stealing it from Cyrus. Until then, I could wait. Then you showed up. Where did you come from, anyway? I've never seen you before. I would have known if Zachary were seeing anyone in town. Everyone knows to stay clear of what I want."

"
Listen...
" Gillian tried to coax. "If you want Zachary—"

"Shut up!" Violet screame
d at her. Her eyes blazed wide
with anger. "I don't want to hear anything you have to say. You ruined everything. Zachary was supposed to marry me, not you. He was supposed to love me." She nearly choked out the words.

Gillian almost felt sorry for her. In the woman's own demented way, she felt she’d been wronged and maybe she had been. "Were you responsible for the attack at the dock, too?"

"Of course," she replied with smugness.

"But if you wanted Zachary for yourself, why would you try
to
kill him?”

"Because I was angry with him." She shrugged, as if this explained everything. "I wanted him dead because he betrayed me. You don’t know how furious I was with you, when I heard you had saved him. I had Zachary followed and the second attempt to kill him was foiled, too. The stupid kid was suppose
d
to shoot him, but got scared when Zachary shot back. Later, when I could think clearly, I was glad. I thought to myself, why should I be without what I want? I should simply take back what was mine. I tried to convince Zachary at your wedding reception that he had made a terrible mistake, but he wouldn’t listen to reason. Luckily, I had a backup plan just in case. I hired those men ahead of time to kidnap, Zachary. I was going to hold him until he realized all his mistakes, but again you interfered. You weren't supposed to be taken. You ruined another plan.” She stomped her foot. “Then I realized my folly." Violet tapped her head. “I was going about this the wrong way. I needed to eliminate you. If you were gone, things would be simple. I could cradle the grieving Zachary, and in time, he would turn to me. I knew I couldn’t kidnap you by myself, but the man who attacked Zachary on the dock could, and once he did, I sent the ransom note to Zachary
.”