The Raider (11 page)

“Jessica, take these slops out for me,” Eleanor said. “It'll do you good to get some air.”

Jessica looked out the south window of the little house and saw the dark sky and the stars. “No, thank you, have one of the children do it.”

“I need to go to the privy and I'm scared of the dark,” Sarah said.

“Jess, go with her.” Eleanor gave her sister a threatening look. “Just what is wrong with you?”

“Nothing. I'll take you, Sarah,” Jess said reluctantly. “Anyone else need to go?”

The other children were more interested in something Nate was drawing in the ashes on the hearth, so Jess took Sarah's hand and led her to the privy. The child seemed to take forever and Jess kept glancing about nervously, but there was no sign of a masked man lurking behind a tree.

By the time she was returning with Sarah, her heart had begun to lighten. Of course if she did see him again, all she had to do was tell him to go away. She didn't have to put up with his mauling of her. If he appeared again, she'd be strong and decisive and tell him to get away from her.

Her walk was almost jaunty as she reached the house. Sarah went inside, Jess following. But as Jessica had her hand on the latch, something—no, someone—grabbed it. There was no doubt who the hand belonged to.

“Jessica, close the door. You're letting the night air in,” Eleanor said.

Jess gave her hand a jerk, but he held it firmly and then he began to—oh heavens—he began to kiss her palm, then the inside of her wrist.

“Jessica! What is
wrong
with you?” There was a great deal of exasperation in Eleanor's voice.

The Raider was nibbling at her fingertips. “I thought I…I'd take those slops now. Would you hand them to me?”

Eleanor had a lap full of mending and now she began to look at Jessica curiously.

Suddenly, Nathaniel jumped up and ran to hand Jessica the bowl of kitchen slops, but when he tried to look out the door, Jess managed to block his view.

The next moment, the Raider pulled her outside, shut the door, then clasped her in one motion. The bowl of slops went tumbling as he drew her to him in a kiss. It was as if he were starving, as if his life depended on this kiss.

In spite of her good intentions, Jessica responded in kind.

“Go away,” she said breathlessly when at last they broke apart.

He put his finger to her lips to silence her, nodding toward the house. Then he grabbed her hand and went running up the hill and into the forest. When he stopped, she was out of breath, but he immediately began kissing her neck and shoulders as he pushed her dress to one side.

“I've missed you, Jessie,” he whispered. “I called for you night after night, but you didn't come to me. Why?”

She tried to push him away but she had no strength. “I don't want to see you. I wish I'd never met you. Everyone in town thinks you've left. Why don't you go somewhere else? You've helped Josiah, now go away.”

“Do you want me to leave? Do you
really
want me to leave?”

“Yes, I do. My life has become miserable because of you. First you toss me in dirty water, then you kiss me, then I'm imprisoned because of you, then I'm arrested and questioned. Oh, Ethan, please leave.”

He stopped kissing her. “Ethan?”

“I didn't mean to say that. No,” she whispered, “don't tell me if I'm right or not. I don't want to know who you are. I don't know why you've chosen me.” She looked up at him. “Or have you? How many other women are you seeing secretly, pulling them out of their houses during the night? Whistling to them while they try to sleep?”

“So you
did
hear me. As for other women, I don't have the time for courting more women. You are all a man can handle. Of course, your own loyalties are not as clear. You lust after Ethan Ledbetter, spend half your life with Alexander Montgomery and even encourage old man Clymer.”

She pushed away from him. “What right do you have to talk to me about other men? Abigail Wentworth said you climbed in her bedroom window.”

“Who told you that?”

“Ah ha! You admit it.”

He caught her to him, but Jessica wouldn't look at him and kept her hands tightly to her side. “Jessie, she's a liar. She pops from behind trees at me. She brags with no reason to boast. A lot of the talk about me would die down if it weren't for her. She keeps my life in danger.”

Jess softened toward him and when he kissed her hair and held her so closely, she slipped her arms about his waist. “Please leave Warbrooke. Pitman and his soldiers will catch you sooner or later. Your only chance is to leave now.”

“I can't. There's work to be done.”

“Work?” She clasped him tighter. “Not another raid? You can't go.”

“Ah, Jessica, it means a lot to me that you don't want me caught. Would you care very much to see me hanged?”

“Why should I care?” she said angrily. “What are you to me? I don't know who you are. I've never had a conversation with you. You've done nothing but—”

He put his hand under her chin and made her face him. “I've done nothing but love you. No other man has been able to chisel through the shell of Mistress Jessica. Other men think you need no one, but I know better. You just need a man who is as strong as you are.”

“I hate you,” she murmured as she buried her face in his silk-clad shoulder.

“Yes, I can see that you do. Now, give me a kiss because I have to go.”

She kissed him lingeringly.

“Stay home tomorrow or go fishing. I hope I see you tomorrow night.”

“Hope? What do you mean?”

“Ssssh,” he whispered, kissing her softly to silence. “Eleanor will be out here in a minute.” He kissed her again, then pulled her arms away, kissed her palms and was gone.

For a moment, Jess stood there under the trees, rubbing her arms against the cold night air, then went inside. Eleanor didn't say a word to her but gave her disarranged hair and clothes a keen look. Jessica didn't offer a word of explanation.

That night, as she was tucking the children in, she leaned over Nathaniel. “What are the English doing that might interest the Raider?”

“Gunpowder,” Nate answered at once, not showing the least surprise at Jessica's question. “Two wagonloads of gunpowder are being brought from New Sussex tomorrow.”

Jessica nodded and left the room. The Raider meant to take that powder from the English. And do what with it? she wondered. She knew right away that he meant to destroy it so the English couldn't use it against the Colonists. But all he had to do was make one error and he could go up with the powder.

It was a long time before she was able to go to sleep.

J
ESSICA
was relieved that Eleanor didn't ask a single question when, at five the next morning, she walked with her sister to the Montgomery house. Jess mumbled something about wanting to see Marianna but guessed that Eleanor was at the point where she didn't want to know exactly what her sister was doing.

Jessica waited until Eleanor had set all the children to a task, then disappeared into the corridors of the big house.

“Jessica!” she heard Sayer Montgomery call and, reluctantly, she went into his room. Sayer didn't waste any words. “Nathaniel tells me you're up to something and he thinks you're seeing the Raider at night.”

Jessica made a vow to kill her little brother the next time she saw him.

“I'll admit that your temper is lovely for your complexion, but come over here and tell me what is going on. And close that door.”

Obediently, Jessica did as he bid and in just a few sentences, she told him all she knew, ignoring his comment about the Raider's nightly visits.

“So,” Sayer said, “you think the Raider is going to try to relieve the English of their gunpowder.” He didn't wait for Jess to answer. “Nothing will happen before tonight. I want you to go fishing today. Stay out all day and come back about sunset. I'll know something then. Go on now. Bring me fresh fish tonight.”

Jessica left him alone and decided to do as he commanded, but it wasn't easy. All day she had difficulty keeping her mind on her work. She hauled nets until her arms ached and didn't even mind when they came up empty. By sunset she was more than ready to return to port.

Marianna Pitman was waiting for her.

Jessica tossed a rope to a dockhand while Marianna came aboard. “I have to talk to you.”

As soon as the ship was secured, Jess followed Marianna below.

“How can you stand this place, Jessica? It really needs a good cleaning.”

“I've never had a rich father to feed me,” Jess said stiffly. “What do you want of me?”

“I didn't know who to turn to,” Marianna said, looking up at Jess with big eyes as she sat down. Jess realized that today was Marianna's day to be little-girlish. “You're the only one the Raider seems to talk to—except Abigail of course—so I came to you.”

“Go on,” Jess encouraged.

“Quite by accident I found out something this afternoon. My husband has no idea that I know it. You see, the gunpowder is a trap.”

“A trap?”

“Yes, like a hunting trap. Didn't you think it was odd that everyone in town knew about the arrival of the gunpowder?”

“No, I've been staying away from the town for a few days.”

“Well, everyone did know and it's because my”—she swallowed—“my husband
wanted
everyone to know. He plans to put the gunpowder in a storage shed, put two guards on it, then walk away. But the
truth
is that not only is there gunpowder in the shed, but there are boxes of it hidden in the bushes around the shed. And, also, there'll be soldiers hidden. When the soldiers see the Raider, they're to light the gunpowder.”

Jessica sat down. “And the Raider will be caught in the middle of a circle of explosions.”

“Yes,” Marianna said. “I'm afraid so.”

“How much time do we have?”

“It depends on when the Raider attacks, but the gunpowder is being unloaded now.”

“Now,” Jess said. “Now.” So any time between now and tomorrow morning, the Raider might be blown to bits. “Marianna, did your mother have a black cape? Something with a hood on it?”

“Yes.”

“May I borrow it?”

“Of course. How are you going to get word to the Raider?”

“I don't think I'll be able to. All I can do is try to be there tonight and warn him.”

Marianna looked at Jess with one eyebrow raised. “Don't be the fool that I was. I fell for a man's sweet words and all he wanted was my father's money.”

“I'm sure the Raider secretly covets my fishing boat. Let's go get the cloak and I'll try to work out a plan.”

*   *   *

Jess lay on the cold, damp ground and waited. It had been hours now that she'd lain in one spot and waited and watched. By now she had an idea where each of the British soldiers were hidden in the trees, ready to set their piles of gunpowder off as soon as the signal was given.

But there was no sign of the Raider. As the night grew darker, Jess grew more alert. Something would happen soon now. Her muscles ached from remaining so still so long and her eyes hurt as she stared so intently at the shed in the middle of the secret circle.

The two guards around the shed began to laugh, then one of them walked away as if to relieve himself in the bushes. Minutes passed and the guard did not return.

Jessica tensed. Whatever was going to happen, now was the time. She had no doubt that the Raider had incapacitated the guard. The second guard went looking for the first but he didn't return either. Even listening as hard as she was, Jessica heard not a sound.

She kept her eyes on the shed. The Raider would appear there. But she saw nothing, heard nothing. Just when she was beginning to think she was wrong, she saw a movement to the right and heard the cry of a dove. It was a signal and the soldier was about to light the trail of gunpowder that led to one of the dumps surrounding the shed. She hadn't seen anything but someone somewhere had.

Without a conscious thought of what she was doing, she leaped from her hiding place and started running straight toward the shed. She had enough sense not to yell because if she ever got out of this alive, she didn't want her voice recognized.

The Raider appeared out of the shadows surrounding the shed. “Jessica,” he gasped.

“It's a trap. You're surrounded by gunpowder.”

He didn't waste a second but grabbed her hand and started running. All around them could be heard the hiss of gunpowder as it burned its way to the hidden crates of the explosive.

They were almost to the forest edge when he slammed her to the ground and threw his body over hers.

The sound of the explosions was deafening, blocking out all thoughts as she buried herself under the Raider's big body.

The explosions seemed to be still going on in her head when the Raider leaped off her, grabbed her hand and pulled her into the forest. She followed him with difficulty, stumbling over roots and rocks, obviously not able to see as well in the dark as he could.

He half pushed, half pulled her down a steep bank, dragging her under the roots of a tree. He held her head against his chest and she listened to his heart beating wildly. Above them came the tramping of feet and then shouting. The Raider held her to him.

Something was wet on her hands and although she couldn't move to see, she knew it was blood. “You're hurt,” she whispered.

In answer, he kissed her very hard. There was thankfulness in that kiss.

The soldiers had gone by. “I have to get you home. They'll be looking for a woman. Get into your nightclothes as soon as you can. Oh God, Jess, you shouldn't have done it. Pitman will suspect you. Come on.”

He gave her no time to reply but pulled her along the edge of the stream. They traveled quickly, under branches, through thorny bushes, up a hill and then down again, through the water for a while. They did not take a direct path to her house. “They'll have dogs out,” he whispered once but said no more. She tried to see where he was hurt, but it was too dark.

At the Taggert house he stopped long enough to take the cloak from her. “They'll search for this. Go.” She turned but he caught her arm. “Thank you, Jessica” He didn't kiss her as she wanted him to before he disappeared into the darkness.

Eleanor was waiting for her. “Jess, oh Jess, what have you done now?” she asked, looking at her sister's wild appearance.

“I'll tell you tomorrow. I've been in bed all evening. We know nothing. Help me undress.”

“There's blood all over your arms. Jess, what happened?”

“It's his blood,” Jess said, grabbing a cloth as Eleanor put the nightgown over her sister's head. “He was hurt protecting me.”

A loud knock sounded at the door. “I was home,” Jess repeated. “Wait a minute,” she bellowed toward the door.

She was rubbing her head and yawning by the time she got to the door. “Who is it?” One by one, the children were coming into the room.

“Open up in the name of the king.”

Jess opened the door and eight soldiers burst inside, John Pitman behind them.

“Where were you tonight?” Pitman demanded, glaring at Jessica.

“Sleeping until I was so rudely awakened,” she said, her eyes red. “What's happened?”

“Search the place,” Pitman commanded. “Bring anything suspicious to me. And especially look for a black cloak.”

“I'm afraid my wardrobe doesn't include a black cloak,” Jess said. “Could you please tell me what this is about?”

He gave her a look of contempt. “Gunpowder was blown up tonight and it would have taken that Raider with it, but some woman helped him escape.”

“And you think
I
did it? After the way the man has treated me? I'd think I'd be the last woman you'd suspect.”

“These are all the clothes in the house, sir,” a soldier said, tossing a pile of children's and the two women's clothing on the table.

Pitman stared at Eleanor and the children looking bewildered, then at Jessica sitting in a chair and yawning as if she were very bored by all the commotion and couldn't wait to get back to bed. He asked a soldier for his bayonet, then, smiling at Jessica, he cut the garments into shreds.

“She was here!” Nathaniel yelled. “I had a toothache and she was with me.”

Jessica pulled Nate to her, holding his hands to keep the angry boy from attacking Pitman.

“Let's see if we can set an example to anyone else helping the Raider,” Pitman said. “Take them outside.”

Roughly, the women and children were pulled outside and they stood huddled together while the sounds of destruction came from within the house. The children buried their faces in the women's nightgowns. Only Jessica and Nate watched through the open door, their faces identical masks of anger and hatred.

The soldiers and Pitman came outside. “Torch it,” Pitman ordered.

“It'll be the last move you make,” came a voice behind them. Alexander Montgomery, sitting side-saddle atop a gray mule, a blue-and-white striped banyan on over his nightclothes, a wig askew on his head, was aiming a set of dueling pistols at Pitman's head. Except for the weapons, he was a ridiculous sight.

Nathaniel ran to Alex and held the mule's reins.

“This is king's business, Montgomery, not yours,” Pitman said. “You touch a king's officer and you swing.”

“Destroying the homes of women and children has nothing to do with the king. If you want your Raider, why aren't you out chasing him instead of taking your anger out on these helpless creatures?”

“This one”—Pitman pointed at Jessica—“knows something. A woman helped the Raider.”

“And she's probably still with him, nursing his wound. I heard there was blood on the leaves. Why aren't you searching the houses to see who is missing?”

Pitman narrowed his eyes at Alexander. “This isn't finished, Montgomery. I'll see you tomorrow.”

Alex kept his pistols aimed at Pitman while the man and his soldiers mounted their horses and left the cove.

When they were gone, Eleanor ran to Alex. “Oh, Alexander, you were wonderful.”

“Help me off this foul animal, will you?”

“Yes, of course. Jessica, wasn't he wonderful?” Eleanor asked as she helped Alex maneuver around his stomach and fat legs and dismount. She turned to look at Jess, but Jessica was slowly ushering the children inside the house.

Alex waved Eleanor's protests away and followed Jessica into the house. The place was a shambles; nothing in the interior had been left whole.

Jessica was standing by the fireplace, holding what was left of a music box that had belonged to her mother.

“Oh, Jess,” Eleanor said, putting her arm around her sister.

Sally began to cry.

Alex stepped forward. “Let's get the children and get out of here. You can stay at my house for the time being.”

“No!” Jessica fairly shouted, making Sally pause in her crying. “We're Taggerts and we stay on Taggert soil. We've not taken charity before now and this won't make us start.”

Alex looked at her for a long while. “All right,” he said softly. “Eleanor, see if you can repair the beds enough for the night. We'll get the children down, then talk about what needs to be done.”