Read Highland Soldiers: The Betrayal Online
Authors: J.L. Jarvis
Highland Soldiers: The Betrayal (17 page)
With a dark laugh, Duncan said, “You could tell him that while he was chasing some nefarious Covenanter child, his horse threw him.”
“Kicked him is more likely.” Alex grinned.
Duncan shrugged. “No one could blame the horse.”
Duncan’s smile faded. “I will need to leave.”
“Where will you go?”
“I can sign on with a merchant ship.”
Alex gave a grim nod. “That might be best.”
Duncan went on thinking aloud. “I will have to leave Jenny behind.”
On their way to the inn, they found Jenny and Mari talking in hushed tones. Alex dismounted and left his horse with a stable boy, while Duncan veered off to a wooded area and tethered his horse to a tree near a burn.
Callum offered an arm to each lady and talked through his smile.
“Where is Duncan?”
“He’ll join us upstairs.”
“Why? What has happened?”
“Look calm, hen.” Alex flashed a false smile. “We’ve been out for a pleasant stroll as far as anyone knows.”
Jenny smiled back, but her eyes showed her alarm.
Alex said, “We cannae be seen with Duncan. Nor should you be heard speaking his name.”
Once upstairs, Jenny rushed into the room and turned to Alex. Charlie, Callum and Mari followed him in and bolted the door.
“There was a disagreement,” said Alex.
“A fight,” Charlie corrected. “With Tavish.”
Jenny gripped his arm. “Is he hurt?”
“It’s a flesh wound.”
A knock sounded at the door. “Jenny.”
She rushed to the door, but Charlie got there first and opened it.
Jenny led a pale looking Duncan to the bed.
Callum said, “Tavish ordered him to fire into a gathering of innocent people. He was the first to refuse.”
Jenny smoothed her hands over Duncan’s face and then looked at the wound. She hurried to the basin of water, dipped a rag in it, and proceeded to look after Duncan.
He looked up at her as he took ragged breaths. “I must go.”
Jenny nodded, not understanding.
“Alone, darlin’.” He winced as she cleaned his wound. “I just came to say goodbye.”
“No.” Jenny stopped. “You’ll not leave me.”
“Mind me, Jenny. You must stay here with Callum and Mari.”
“I will not!” Eyes blazing, she finished wrapping a bandage about him.
With a glance outside, Charlie nodded to the others. It was nearly dark. When the barkeep was busy, Duncan walked downstairs surrounded by the three men, who propped him up when he faltered. Jenny followed, barely hiding her distress.
As they walked past the stable on the way to Duncan’s horse, Jenny hooked her arm about Charlie’s and held him back while the others walked on. “I love you like a brother, but God help me, I’ll fight you like one if you dinnae lend me your horse.”
Charlie’s eyes opened wide.
*
“What the devil!” said Duncan, as Charlie walked his horse through the woods, with Jenny upon it.
With a glint in his eye, Charlie said, “I’ll not fight her. She’s tougher than you.”
“You’ve no time to linger,” said Alex.
Duncan’s gaze burned through Jenny.
She lifted her chin. “I’ll not mind you. I will go where you go, and I’ll not change my mind.”
His dark eyes warmed as he looked upon her. “Darlin’, I know that I used to tell you to speak up for yourself more, but–”
Her eyes shone. “Aye, and I’m minding you now.”
Despite his stern look, he said nothing.
Jenny’s lips spread to a warm smile.
Callum handed Duncan a pouch of coins, and the others added theirs to it. “With luck, you can board ship and hide out for the night. Knowing Tavish, the harbor will be crawling with dragoons by the morning.”
Charlie cursed. “He’s coming. He’s got two dragoons in tow.”
They escaped down a wynd just as Tavish rode up to the inn.
“Search it,” he ordered the two dragoons riding with him. While they went into the inn, Charlie and Alex joined him. With an easy smile, Alex said, “So they found you. You’re looking much better.”
“Aye, and I’ll soon be even better.” Tavish turned toward the inn. As he did, Callum and Mari circled behind the stable and approached from behind, strolling hand-in-hand.
Mari said, “Lieutenant MacLean, won’t you come inside for a visit. We so rarely have the pleasure.”
“I’m afraid not, Mistress MacDonell.” He took in a breath to say something, but instead studied them. With increasing suspicion, he said, “Where is he?”
Charlie looked genuinely puzzled, while Alex tipped his head and peered back.
Callum spoke slowly to stall him. “Well, Tavish–”
“Lieutenant MacLean,” Tavish corrected.
With a nod, Callum grinned and said, “Of course. We’ve known each other so long that I forget sometimes. You are a superior officer, and due the respect accorded by your rank. I sincerely apologize for the oversight–”
“Dammit, where is he?”
Callum said, “Duncan? I dinnae know. We rode after him, but we never found him.”
Alex said, “We thought it best to send some men to bring you back safely, and resume the search later.”
“I don’t care what you thought. You’ve allowed him to escape.”
“He was not here when we got here.”
Alex said, “If he turns up, I am sure he’ll want to apologize. I’m certain that you will put it behind you. You’re a fair man.”
Something stuck in Charlie’s throat, making him cough.
Tavish glowered. “The man has affronted me too many times. He defied an order, warned the enemy, and attacked his superior officer.”
Callum nodded in seeming agreement. “We can talk in the morning. When you’ve had some rest, things will fall into perspective.”
Tavish eyed Callum. “What sort of perspective does it take to recognize treason? We will find him, and we will court-martial him.”
*
Dawn broke and Tavish’s men stood guard over the docks of Portpatrick. They had spent the night scouring the docks, every ship, and the taverns and inns. They now stood guard at each ship and watched every sailor, dock worker, and pushcart vendor as the sun rose to warm the crisp autumn morning.
Charlie kept an eye on the soldiers with Alex. “If they went over land, then they travel on foot, for they left the horses where Duncan said they would.”
“They must be hiding somewhere,” said Alex.
Charlie watched a pair of dragoons come out of a shop they had searched. “I hope they hid well. Tavish will not give up.”
“Poor Jenny.” Alex stared absently out at the increasing activity. “She doesnae know what she’s gotten herself into.”
“I think she does well enough.” Charlie stared out over the water. “Love is a powerful thing.”
Alex turned eyed Charlie as though he were a stranger. “What is this? Are you waxing romantic?”
Charlie sneered. “Nay, dinnae be daft.”
The dock was alive with activity now. Pushcarts were loaded and cargo was stacked up, unloaded or waiting to be shipped out. A first mate barked orders as his crew straggled into queue at the gangplank that led up to a ship.
Charlie chuckled. “I hope that sorry lot had a good time last night.”
Alex shook his head. “From the looks of them, they’re paying for it this morning.” He looked away until something caught his eye. “Charlie, what do you see?”
“The same thing we’ve been looking at all morning.”
“Look closer,” said Alex.
One-by-one Charlie described the newly arrived sailors queuing up at their ship. “Old sailor, stocky sailor, sailor I wouldnae want to make angry, tall sailor, cabin boy–what the devil?”
Alex shushed him.
“Brilliant,” said Charlie.
The tall sailor wore English clothing. He cast a sideways look at Alex and Charlie as he tugged his cap down on his face. Beside him, a boy with a dirt-smudged face shoved his hands into his pockets and faced the ship with his eyes to the ground. Alex and Charlie sank further into the shadows. Tavish sent more dragoons over to inspect the sailors. Alex’s eyes narrowed.
Without a word, Charlie ducked into the tavern beside them. Sailors started boarding the ship. The queue of sailors moved forward. As Duncan and Jenny drew close to the dragoons, Charlie returned.
“This is a fine time to relieve yourself, Charlie.”
“It was a fine time. Whether it is a relief remains to be seen.” Charlie kept his hand near his pistol and watched.
A pretty barmaid emerged from the tavern, her creamy breasts bouncing with each step she took toward the sailors.
“What is she doing?” Alex asked.
“Saying farewell to her sweetheart?” Charlie tilted his head and watched with a gleam in his eye.
She looked as though she were heading for Duncan, but stopped a few sailors behind him. A young dragoon took a step forward to stop her, but hesitated, transfixed by the sight of her well-rounded beauty up close. She threw her arms about a stunned sailor as her unfettered linen-clad flesh fluffed from her bodice and pressed against him. His hands flexed in the air for a moment, but surrendered and circled her waist. A handkerchief fluttered to the ground. She bent over, plump bottom up, to retrieve it. As she stood, she looked down and said, “Oh!” With a coy pout, she pressed her swelling mounds back into her bodice. She dabbed her eye with the handkerchief and then pressed it into his hand. “Remember me, love.”
His look of wonder as she walked away left no doubt that he would do just that.
By this time, Duncan and Jenny were on board, out of sight. The barmaid walked past Charlie and winked. In return, he gave her an approving grin. “Please excuse me,” said Charlie.
“Nature calling again?” Alex smirked.
Charlie laughed. “Aye, nature.” Charlie clapped his hand on Alex’s shoulder. “Dinnae wait for me.” He disappeared inside the tavern.
*
The ship pulled out of the harbor with a sailor and cabin boy at the ship’s rail. As they watched Portpatrick grow smaller, Duncan’s hand barely touched Jenny’s as they held onto the rail.
He could not resist a smile as he stole a sideways glance at his Jenny dressed as a boy. She would have to remain so until they left the ship.
Duncan forced his gaze straight ahead. “I hear that, on a clear day, you can see Scotland from the coast of Ireland in places.”
“Can you really?”
“So I’ve heard.”
Jenny played with the coin that hung from her neck and smiled to imagine it.
Duncan stole one more look. “We’ll settle there by the water. At day’s end, we’ll look out at the sea. I’ll hold you in my arms, and like two broken coins, we’ll be whole.”
Jenny lifted her face to the wind.
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