by Meg Buchanan
They talked quietly about Sophie’s life in Auckland, his work, his family, the year he spent travelling around Europe. Her time in Paris with her mother and father.
Slowly the talking changed to lovemaking. He’d marry her before they went to Sydney so making love to her was fine. Then back to talking again. It was lovely laying there in the warm afternoon sunshine.
They ate some of the food Eliza had packed. In the little time Eliza had had, she’d packed enough food to last them at least a week. Her way of looking after people he guessed.
Then the twilight came, then sunset, then the sky got darker and the stars appeared.
When it was as dark as it was going to get, he stood up and packed away the remnants of their evening meal.
“Time to move.” They’d lead their horses through the little village, keeping to the back streets. He knew the small township well enough to make sure they came out right at the crossing. They should only be in the open for a few minutes. Unfortunately, there was a good moon and a canopy of stars.
Cautiously they left the cover of the bush and made their way across the wasteland that surrounded Waikino.
“I’m sorry,” whispered Sophie as they moved quickly along an alleyway.
“What for?” he asked.
“If I’d gone to Sydney right at the start, you wouldn’t have to do this.”
“We can talk about that later,” he said quietly. “Keep moving.”
They followed a line parallel with the main street between two rows of houses, went around compost heaps, rubbish piles, outhouses and cabbages. They quickly reached the end of the built-up area.
He watched the road for any sign of movement. It was quiet and completely deserted. “Now, Sophie, get on your horse, and let’s get to the bush fast so we’re hidden again.”
They left the town, crossed the road and went towards the ford. He could hear the clip of the horse’s hooves, could see the dark shadow of bush that concealed the old mining road in front of them. They moved steadily towards the river. They were only moments from safety when he heard a voice shout. “It’s Samuels and that bitch!”
He turned back to see where the voice was coming from just as five men ran towards them. At least the men on foot. Where ever their horses were, it would take them time to follow.
“Go, go,” he yelled at Sophie. He saw her urge her horse to a gallop. He followed. Two shots rang out as he turned back to see what was happening.
He felt a slug hit his thigh and burrow in deeply.
The other grazed his skull.
He woke slowly, to a twilight world of half-remembered images and pain. He was disorientated and confused, but alive. His dreams had returned him to the clearing, the cave, the trees, the waterfall. In them he’d watched the cascade, a silver veil; the soft mist surrounding the pool, heard the sound of the water. He expected to see the things he’d dreamed, but instead he was alone in a dark cave.
Slowly, he turned his head and gazed around at the stained quartz walls and then the ceiling. Then carefully rolled over to his uninjured side and pushed himself up onto his elbow so he could look around better.
He was weak, his body ached, and the movement made him wince at the pain in his leg and head. Somehow, he was in the cave at the clearing. How did he get here?
He pushed the coat that covered him away and tried to sit then gave up on that. A fire burned near the cave’s entrance. It was nearly down to embers and would need stoked soon. The billy, cup, plate and knife Eliza gave them were sitting on a flat rock by the fire.
What had happened to Sophie? The last thing he remembered clearly was being shot and trying desperately to stay conscious long enough to get to the bush and hide. After that his memories were vague, full of clinging to his horse’s mane and Sophie’s voice encouraging him to stay in the saddle. He remembered vague glimpses of passing trees and the sound of water.
Now, he could see a panel of light coming in through the cave’s entrance and he wasn’t bound so he wasn’t a prisoner. A blanket lay under him, with his saddle near his head and he was covered with his coat and Sophie’s.
He lifted the coats and saw his trouser leg had been ripped away and his thigh clumsily bandaged. No matter how hard he reached back he found no memory of what had happened, no idea of where Sophie could be. Just panic.
He saw the shadow of someone moving towards the cave. He decided not to call out until he knew who was there. He prayed it was Sophie but wasn’t sure it would be.
The shadow darkened the entrance and Sophie came in carrying branches and twigs, barefoot and beautiful. The sun behind her glowed and made her hair a dark halo around her face. She looked serious, concentrating on not dropping the firewood. She saw him and smiled. She had a scratch on her cheek and one on her neck but other than that she looked uninjured and exquisite.
“Good morning,” she said as if this was the most normal thing in the world. “You’re awake.” She put the branches and twigs on the fire, then came over, carefully stepping around the rocks that littered the floor. She knelt near him on his uninjured side, fussing and concerned and a little shy. Then leaned over and adjusted the coat and checked the bandage was still in place. A thousand questions tumbled around in his mind trying to get out.
She touched his face gently. “I thought you were going to die.” He heard a broken sound to her voice. “You were bleeding so much.”
He took her hand and held it. “How long have I been unconscious?”
“Two days and nights,” she said and tears slid down her cheeks. He wiped them away with the side of his hand.
So, today was Saturday. He shook his head to clear it. How did Sophie get them away? His temple hurt, that must be where he was hit. He shouldn’t have looked back. He touched the cloth wound around his head.
“Are we alone?” he asked.
Sophie nodded through the tears.
“Help me stand,” he ordered.
She refused with a shake of her head. “You might start bleeding again.” She still wasn’t able to obey a simple instruction.
“Help me, I’ll be careful.” He rolled over so he could push himself up. “How did you find this place?”
“You told me we’d follow the Miner’s Road. I remembered you said once that there was a creek that came off the Miner’s Road and if you follow it you’ll find clearing with a cave a man had lived in with his family. When we came to a creek, I followed it and found the cave. Is this the one?”
He nodded. “It’s at the back of William’s farm. Now, help me up.”
This time she did, and with her help he stood shakily. His leg was painful, but it worked. It must be just a flesh wound.
Sophie supported his weight as he swayed against her. She’d stopped crying and had the freshly washed look she had after tears.
They stumbled slowly to the entrance of the cave and came out into the light. They’d moved perhaps ten yards and he was already at the end of his strength.
Sophie helped him sit on the large rock beside the entrance. The rock was smooth and warm.
“You won’t fall?” Sophie asked anxiously.
“No, I’m fine.”
“I’ll get your coat.” He watched her duck back into the cave, astonished at the change in her. All the time he’d known her, he’d been protecting her, looking after her. She’d been frightened and clinging, young and out of her depth. Now she was looking after him in a whirlwind of activity and confidence.
She came back and draped the coat around his shoulders.
“Thank you,” he said.
She sat on the ground beside him and leaned her head against his good leg. He stroked her hair. It was soft and warm and shone like coal in the sunshine. His horse was happily grazing at the edge of the clearing. No sign of Declan’s horse.
Somehow, Sophie got them here safely. “How did you do it?” he asked.
She moved enough so she could touch his face again as if she couldn’t believe he was alive. “I didn�
�t know you were shot,” she said slowly, watching her hand as it gently moved down his chin then shoulder as if checking he was real. “We galloped away from those men after they shot at us and it wasn’t until we were in the bush, following a track that I saw you start to slide to the side.”
“Did I fall off?”
Sophie shook her head again. “No, you were barely conscious, but I kept telling you to hold on because if you fell off I knew I wouldn’t be able to get you back on the horse again. I led your horse along the track until we reached the creek. I couldn’t ride and lead your horse after that, so I shooed Declan’s horse away and led yours and followed the creek.”
“How?” Somehow Sophie led his horse all the way up the mountain in the moonlight to here, with him injured. He’d heard of people accomplishing amazing feats when they needed to, but that sounded impossible. Perhaps none of this was real and he was delirious.
Sophie shrugged. “I don’t know. It was hard, and it took a long time. It was dawn when I found the cave. I helped you to walk in here and then you collapsed again. I got the blankets and slept with you for a little while. Then, when it was light I could see how badly you were hurt, and I knew I had to look after you or you’d die.”
Now, he had a vague memory of the long painful ride, her voice, sliding off the horse at the end and the sound of water falling. Nothing else.
“How did you know what to do?” Caring for someone who had been shot or dressing gunshot wounds shouldn’t be something she knew about.
Sophie shrugged again, put her arm on his legs and cupped her cheek in her hand, thinking. She still looked young but not defenceless anymore, as if she had gained in confidence in the last few days.
“Really, I don’t know,” she said, shaking her head. “You were shivering and cold, so I found matches in your bag and made a fire. We were covered in blood so I knew I would have to dress the wounds. I boiled some water and found your knife and cut the cloth away. I washed the wounds. Then I knew I had to stop the bleeding, so I made bandages. You don’t have a spare shirt anymore.”
“The shirt worked.”
“I’m so pleased.” She pushed against his knees and stood. “Would you like something to eat?”
He nodded, and his eyes followed as she went back into the cave, so graceful when she moved. She was still perfect. If they got out of this alive, they would still travel the world together.
While she was in the cave he took time to prod at his wounds and decided they would heal. They didn’t feel like they’d become infected, so she did something right.
He looked around the clearing and was filled with peace. He should try to get them to William’s, but really, he didn’t have that much energy and there was no reason to hurry. Unless Sophie had eaten more than he thought she would have, they should have enough food left for another day. By then he’d be well enough to move. They were safe, and they were alone, and he was exhausted and needed to sleep again.
Chapter 24
A FEW HOURS LATER, he woke to the sound of William’s voice. “Dom said this is where you must be.” William was standing at the entrance of the cave, looking in at him and Sophie in their makeshift bed.
Sophie sat up abruptly. “Who are you?” she asked, frightened again.
Courtney sat up more slowly. He’d forgotten Sophie had never met William. “It’s all right, it’s just William.”
He still felt as if he’d run head-first into a brick wall, and his leg was still painful. “Sophie, meet William Hennessey.”
William ducked and came into the cave. “You’re hurt, Courts?”
He nodded. “Shot. A couple of flesh wounds.” As if he would know, he’d never been shot before.
“Charlotte’s men?”
“I think so.” He carefully rolled out of bed and stood, naked apart from the bandage on his leg. The cave was warm and Sophie had decided their clothes needed washed if they were going to leave the clearing in the morning. “Pass me my trousers.”
William handed them over.
“When.”
“A few hours after we left Declan’s.”
“You’ve been here since then?”
He nodded, sat on a rock, got his feet into the trousers, stood carefully and pulled them on. “Why were you looking for us?” He buttoned up. “Didn’t think anyone would notice we were missing.
“Dom and Declan came to the farm looking for you. Declan said you were meant to be headed for the old house, then Auckland but it didn’t look like you’d even made it to the house. So, we started looking and found his horse, still saddled and bridled, wandering along the old road. Thought Charlotte might have got you. It was Dom who guessed you might be here.”
Sophie was still clinging to the blankets, as naked underneath them as he had been. Making love had been interesting with them carefully working around his injuries.
He limped over to the entrance. “Come outside. Give Sophie a chance to get dressed.” At least he felt better than he did the last time he woke. Food, drink and more sleep had worked a miracle.
William followed him out into light. The clearing had a mystical beauty.
“Are Declan and Dom with you?” He kicked the embers of the fire Sophie used to cook on. There was enough of a glow to get it going again.
“No, they’ve gone to check the old house again in case you turned up there finally.”
Courtney limped to the pile of kindling. It was damp but it should catch.
“Is there a problem?”
William shoved his hands in his pockets. “Yep. Seth Grogan’s missing.”
“Seth? I saw him Thursday morning.”
“That’s what Declan said, and according to his father, he hasn’t been seen since. His father thought you might know where he was.”
Courtney stood and watched the damp sticks crackle and smoke. “He was planning on going to the club to rescue a girl he met there.”
“A girl like Sophie?”
“Yes, similar story, I think.”
“So, he could be in trouble if he got caught leaving with her?”
Courtney touched the graze on the side of his head. “Could be dead. The girl too. Or worse.”
“That’s what we thought.” William sat on the big stone beside the entrance. “It’s time to put an end to this.”
“Go after Charlotte?” Courtney picked up the billy and went to the tendril of water that constantly filled the bowl cut into the granite.
William nodded. “Yes. I sent a message to Eugene when we started looking for you. If he didn’t hear any different, he’s going to meet us at the crossroads at Matatoki tonight. I thought we might be trying to get you out of the club but we’ll be looking for Seth instead.”
“Are you sure that is a good idea?”
William shrugged. “Seth is a son of a good friend of Declan’s. And how many people does Charlotte have to destroy before it’s time to do something about her?”
“Agreed.” If Charlotte was out of the way, life would be a lot simpler for him and Sophie too.
Courtney waited with William, John, Declan and Dom at the crossroads at Maratoto. He looked at his watch. It was after eight and Eugene, Finn and Seb still hadn’t arrived at the crossroads.
“What time will they be here?” he asked. It was colder and darker than he would have expected, and his leg and head were aching. A few carriages had gone past then turned into the club’s driveway, but no one had taken any notice of five men on horseback waiting on the side of the road.
“About now.” William’s horse pirouetted sideways, and he reined him in.
John nodded at the horse. “Doesn’t he like waiting?”
“Who does?” Declan shivered and pulled his coat closer around him.
Then Courtney saw another carriage approaching from the Thames direction. Someone was on a horse riding along beside it. Finn had the reins of the carriage with Seb inside, both in full evening dress. Eugene was on the horse.
“I see you found h
im.” Eugene nodded at Courtney.
William got off his horse and went over to the carriage. “A bit worse for wear, but alive. Seth Grogan is missing, and we think Charlotte might have him.”
“The boy you brought to my house a few days ago?” asked Eugene.
Courtney nodded. Seb leaned out the window. “We’ve booked for a meal. Didn’t think Charlotte would recognise us after all these years. We could look around inside for the boy.”
“Good idea.”. Eugene dismounted too. “Any thoughts about the rest of the plan?”
“Find Seth first?” suggested Courtney.
Eugene nodded. “Then deal with Charlotte. Courtney and I know the layout of the club. We could get around to the back. Go up the fire escape and check the rooms. With Sebastian and Finn inside looking around the casino, bar, dining room and so on, that leaves you four to have a look at the outbuildings.”
Courtney slid off his horse and limped over. “Bacchus night tonight, everyone will move outside later, if we haven’t found him by then getting around inside will be easier. But trying anything outside will be impossible. It was bad enough last week and Seth told me Charlotte has even more men patrolling the grounds now.” He leaned against the carriage. “And I’m not sure I’m going to be very good on a fire escape.”
“What’s your plan then?” Eugene unbuckled his saddlebag and pulled out a gun.
“Same as yours, just be careful, especially with that thing.” He nodded at the gun, then turned to Finn and Seb. “Would you recognise Seth?”
“No, what does he look like?”
“About twenty, tall, good looking, straw-coloured hair.”
“Sounds easy to spot. If I see someone like that at a poker table, I’ll ask his name. When he says Seth, I’ll pretend to know his father and then come out here and tell all of you there’s nothing to worry about.”
“Fair enough.” It sounded like Seb thought Seth had just forgotten to go home.
“Meeting place?” asked William.
“There’s a big oak tree on the fenceline, plenty of cover, about a hundred yards around from the gatehouse,” said Eugene. “We should all have a look round then meet back there after an hour. Make an assessment.”
