Sweet Release (54 page)

That would seem an eternity to a child.

“There’s no reason for the boy to remain out here, now, is there?”

Carter had asked. “Under my roof he’d be in no danger. When you set sail he can come home with me—his father, too, for that matter.

“Would you like that, boy?”

“Would I get to be with Cassie, and can Pirate come, too?” Carter eyed the dog with suspicion. “I’m sure you can all find lots of ways to cause trouble and disrupt my household, heaven forbid.”

“Can I?”

Jamie had looked at Alec pleadingly.

“Aye, tadpole, I don’t see why not,” Alec had answered, sharing a smile with Takotah.

That had been enough to bring the light back into the child’s eyes.

“Does he know we’re here?” Carter had finally asked, looking at Abraham Blakewell, who sat silently rocking in the corner, staring at nothing.

Alec had looked to Takotah for an answer.

“No.”

“Poor fellow. He was a good man.”

Alec had tucked Jamie into bed after supper, recounting once again the story of Blackbeard, until the boy had drifted off to sleep. He would have liked to bid Jamie farewell this morning, but it was far too early to wake him, and it was essential that nothing slow them down. Supplies had been stowed on board the vessel waiting for them at the river; its crew was awake and ready to cast off. Alec drank his tea in several gulps, its warmth spreading into his limbs, and quickly ate his cornmeal mush. Flavored with bits of bacon instead of weevils, it was a far sight better than the mush he’d been served in gaol.

Carter was moving slowly, and Alec began to worry that he would delay their journey.

“Don’t worry about me,” the older man said as if reading his thoughts. “By the time you’re ready, I’ll be one step ahead of you.” The land baron was true to his word. By the time Alec had finished saddling the horses, Carter was standing outside the cabin, ready for the second day of his grand adventure. From the smile on his round face, it looked as if he were heading off for a day of hunting. “I’ve never felt better,” he said with a robust grin. The two were about to mount for their ride to the river when Micah dashed toward them, musket in hand.

“At least seven men,” he said, worry heavy on his dark brow. “I couldn’t see them all, but old Master Crichton is with them, and they’re armed.”

Chapter Thirty-six

Alec felt a surge of energy. How in the hell had they found them this quickly?

“Can we outrun them?” He checked the loaded pistol he’d tucked into his belt.

Micah shook his head.

“Take Takotah and Jamie and hide in the marsh. Don’t come out until it’s over, no matter what happens.”

Micah nodded and was gone.

Alec heard voices, the dull thud of horse hooves on loam as the riders came out of the marsh and onto dry land. They must have traveled north by river and then tracked him all night. It was as if they had known just where he was headed. He’d vastly underestimated the governor’s determination to see him hanged.

“Here’s where the excitement begins,” he whispered.

“Things were beginning to grow a bit dull,” Carter muttered. Reaching down to remove a knife from his boot, Alec slipped the blade into the waistband of his breeches.

From the sound of things, the riders had dismounted and were walking stealthily toward the cabin. It was now or never. “Are you ready?”

“Aye.”

Alec wrapped his arm around Carter’s throat and pressed the pistol to his temple. His senses heightened, he stepped out into the clearing.

“Back off, or Carter dies!”

“Don’t shoot!” Carter choked out. “Do as he says!”

Seven men, including the senior Master Crichton and the old Scot, Henry, stopped in their tracks, visibly startled.

The elder Crichton glared at them. “Knew I’d find you here, convict,” he said, his hatred palpable. “When he heard you’d escaped, Henry told me about the time he’d followed you here. He said he’d been trying for weeks to find this place for my fool of a son. If Geoffrey had told me what he was doing, you’d be dead already. I visited this island several times with Blakewell long ago when he was still sane. Took me a while to find it again, but find it I did. And just in time.”

“Congratulations. But now that you’ve found me, you’re going to turn right back around and ride out of here, or Carter will be only the first to die.”

“Listen to him!” Carter pleaded, acting every bit as though he were terrified.

“I see your generosity has come back to haunt you, Robert.”

Crichton motioned to one of his men, who handed him a musket. “You thought you could humiliate me by defending the man who murdered my son, but you’re going to pay for that now. Which of you should I aim for first?”

“You bastard! How dare you?” Carter’s mock fear was transformed into genuine fury. “That’s murder!”

Alec suddenly found himself struggling to hold Carter back, one arm still wrapped around the land baron’s throat.

“Aye, but who’s to say that the convict didn’t kill you before we killed him?”

As Crichton lifted the musket and began to take aim, Alec pressed the pistol into Carter’s surprised hands and used both arms to thrust him to the side, where he fell to the ground in a cursing heap. At least now Carter would be able to defend himself.

“There’s no need for you to kill him. It’s really me you want, Crichton.”

“There’s no need to kill anyone!”

The boom of Governor Gooch’s voice filled the clearing as the governor himself rode into view beside . . .

“Cassie?”

“Alec!”

“What’s this?” Crichton yelled, still aiming the musket at Alec’s chest.

The governor dismounted, strode over to Crichton, and yanked the firearm from his hands. “There’ll be no killing here this morning. This man was telling the truth.”

Alec scarcely heard the bitter cursing that gushed from Crichton’s mouth. What had the governor said?

This man was telling the truth.

Cassie had dismounted and was running toward him, calling his name, her arms outstretched. He swept her into his embrace, crushing her against him, overwhelmed by a rush of fierce emotion. “Cassie,” he whispered hoarsely, his lips on her hair.

“Don’t I even get a handshake?”

“Matthew?”
Blood rushed to Alec’s head. He could scarcely believe his eyes. Surely this was a dream.

“Alec, it’s over,” he heard Cassie say.

Cassie watched as recognition dawned on Alec’s face.

For a moment he neither spoke nor moved. “My God, is it really you?”

“Aye. It’s good to see you, too, Alec.”

Hot tears coursing down her cheeks, she watched as the two men grasped one another in a fierce embrace.

“Thank God you’re alive!” the lieutenant whispered, his voice strained. “We thought we’d lost you.”

“What in the hell took you so long?”

“That’s a rather long story, I’m afraid.”

Then Alec’s gaze locked with Cassie’s again, and Cassie felt his arms surround her and pull her to him. There was so much to tell him, but words would not come as she held him and buried her face in his chest, her body trembling with unspent emotion.

“You brave, beautiful, wonderful woman.” His lips brushed hers in a tender kiss. Warm and soft, his lips took hers again. And again. Someone nearby cleared his throat.

“Now, now. You’ll have lots of time for that later.” It was Master Carter.

“Never enough time,” Alec whispered for her ears alone. His thumbs wiped the tears from her cheeks. His blue eyes told her as words never could how much he loved her. “Matthew, may I present Miss Catherine Blakewell.”

Alec turned and introduced her to the lieutenant as if the two had not yet met.

“I’ve already had the pleasure of making her lovely acquaintance.” The lieutenant bowed, placing a light kiss on the back of her hand. “My family and I are forever in your debt, Miss Blakewell. Should you desire anything, you need but ask.”

“Lieutenant.” She felt a happy blush rise to her cheeks. “Please, call me Matthew. We are going to be related by marriage, after all.”

Cassie’s heart swelled. “Matthew,” she corrected herself, smiling.

“And you must call me Cassie.”

“It would be my pleasure, Cassie.” Then Matthew looked Alec up and down, shaking his head and laughing. “If only Socrates could see you now!”

“Are you suggesting he would find something amiss with my appearance? I’d thought myself quite dashing as an outlaw, really.” Cassie found herself laughing along with them as sunlight broke over the horizon, casting long shadows across the clearing. “I’m glad to see this is resolved,” the governor said somewhat sheepishly.

“Governor Gooch, might I have the pleasure of introducing my esteemed brother-in-law, Alec Madison Kenleigh the Third,” Matthew said.

Alec stepped forward and shook the governor’s hand.

“Sorry this has been such a rough business,” the governor said. “As long as you’re not still planning to hang me, I’m prepared to consider the entire affair settled.”

One by one the other men moved to greet Alec and offer their apologies, all except Master Crichton, who stood off to the side glowering, surrounded by his men.

“What did I tell you, Hollingsworth? I never bet on losing horses,” Master Carter boasted to the sheriff with a hearty laugh. When Sheriff Hollingsworth raised an eyebrow, Carter cleared his throat and added, “Well, almost never.”

“Yes, we shall have to discuss this latest wager of yours, Carter,” the governor said, looking stern. “None of us realized you were such an accomplished thespian. Your abduction scared the poor gaoler half to death.”

“Are you implying ... ?” Carter began, looking suddenly like a schoolboy.

“That you faked the entire thing to help this man escape?”

“You were only pretending, Father?” Landon looked shocked.

“You helped him escape?” Charles asked, a big grin on his face.

Both gaped at their father with astonishment and admiration. Master Carter shifted uncomfortably under the governor’s questioning gaze. “Aye, but don’t tell your sisters, or they’ll never forgive me.”

Robust laughter rang through the clearing.

Cassie felt hard steel bite into her temple as an arm locked tightly around her throat, cutting off her breath.

“Stay away, convict! She’ll be dead before you take a single step!” Master Crichton’s heartless voice echoed in her ear. His whiskers burned her cheek as he dragged her backward with him. “Drop your arms! Do it!”

Muskets fell to the sand with a clatter.

Cassie struggled, but it only made her need for air greater.

“Let her go, Crichton.” Alec’s voice was a feral growl.

“Crichton, are you mad?” the governor asked in disbelief.

“Everyone back away!” Master Crichton’s tight grip threatened to crush her throat. “This man killed my son, and I’m going to make sure he pays!”

Cassie needed to breathe. The pain in her throat made her eyes water.

“That’s right, Crichton. I killed Geoffrey.” Alec’s voice was silken. He moved away from the other men, creating a clear target. “I’m right here. Why don’t you shoot me and even the score?”

“No! You killed my firstborn, and I’m going to kill yours. I kill her, and the child dies with her.”

Cassie desperately needed to breathe.

“Let her go, and you can do whatever you please with me.” Alec pulled open his coat and shirt to expose his bare chest. “Here’s your target.”

Her lungs about to burst, her pulse racing, Cassie watched in horror as Henry, motioned forward by a jerk of his master’s head, took aim at Alec.

“You can both die,” Master Crichton said.

She needed air. She needed to breathe. Her vision began to fade, dark spots dancing before her eyes. She wanted to fight him, but . . . Was this what it was to die? But her baby! She must breathe! From far away a shot rang out, echoing in her mind so that it sounded like several. She felt herself falling into darkness.

“Cassie?”

She felt strong arms holding her, heard herself choke, gasp. She gulped in sweet, fresh air.

“Thank God,” a man muttered from far away.

“Cassie, can you hear me?”

It was Alec. He sounded afraid. But he was never afraid. She struggled to open her eyes, and Alec’s worried face swam into view. “Alec.” She reached up to touch his cheek.

His strong arms pulled her close. His lips kissed her forehead.

“I thought I’d lost you.”

Was he trembling?

“Let’s get her indoors,” a voice said.

Cassie recognized it as Matthew’s.

But what had happened? Master Crichton had been trying to kill her. Henry had fired at Alec. Afraid, she started to look about. There on the ground nearby, lay Henry, with something sticking out of his back, and Master Crichton.