*
“So where are we heading?”
“South.”
“You’re hilarious; did anyone ever tell you that?”
Their heartfelt embrace from the night before forgotten, Tiberius and Kat had fallen back into their normal routine as the group left the farmhouse. Preston’s children were due back sometime in the afternoon and Lodge decided to leave in order to provide them a normal return.
Lodge had Morgan empty all of the bottles out of one of the whiskey barrels and gave them to Preston as compensation. He knew the farmer rarely drank and explained to Preston that the value of the bottles could be used to barter for anything he could possibly want on the island. But possibly of greater importance to the farmer and his family, Lodge promised he wouldn’t forget what had happened, and would do everything in his power to ensure it never happened to anyone on the island again.
So they hastily buried the bodies, packed up their few belongings and placed them on the whiskey wagon, leaving the farm in the middle of the morning. Jane drove the wagon confidently with Lord Lodge and Maddie sitting on the bench beside her. Morgan and Dufresne took turns scouting ahead while Tiberius and Kat rode their horses just ahead of the wagon.
“We’re going to the Raven’s Vale,” Tiberius answered after a few moments, making Kat wait. “Then to the Manor, where we’ll deliver the whiskey.”
“Ravenwood Manor? We’re going to Ravenwood Manor?!”
“Yes.” Tiberius tried to refrain from smiling when he watched the look of anticipation fly across Kat’s face. The Manor was considered a mysterious, almost magical place to the inhabitants of the island. However because of this, any mention of the Manor usually elicited a response of fear, dread, or anxiety. But not to her, thought Tiberius as he looked over at the spirited beauty riding beside him. While she was lost in thought Tiberius stopped momentarily, waiting for the wagon to catch up so he could speak with Lord Lodge.
“Do you think it’s wise we approach the Manor so directly?” he asked his master when it came up alongside him.
“I very much doubt they’ll be looking for me out here,” replied Lodge confidently.
“Probably, but it would be fairly easy for them to hedge their bets and place someone in the Vale to watch the approach from the North.”
“Yes but they’ll be looking for me,” he answered, “not us. Besides I doubt your men will allow us to be taken by surprise. Therefore I should have enough time to hide in one of the empty barrels.”
“So that’s why you insisted we all travel together when I suggested sending the women and the whiskey back to Rivermead with Morgan?”
“That was one of the reasons.”
“And the others?” Tiberius asked warmly, used to Lodges drawn out explanations.
“I thought you might enjoy the extended company of that wonderful young woman.”
Although slightly shocked by Lodge’s frank answer, he was no longer surprised by his master’s powers of perception. Knowing that the smallest reaction was enough to reveal the truth of the statement to Lodge, he merely continued riding.
The land they travelled on to the south was a vast sea of rolling grass, dotted by islands of small woods. This allowed the wagon to proceed at a decent speed despite the lack of roads or paths. Those on horseback divided into pairs and leapfrogged ahead of the wagon, while it made its slow lumbering progress across the valley. Allowing them to dismount, take a break, and stretch their legs while they waited for the sound for the creaking wheels.
“How long have you worked at the Manor? Is it as fancy as they say? What do you do there? What kind of a name is Tiberius anyway?” Kat rang off the questions quickly during one of their breaks waiting for the wagon. She had been saving them up since they had left Rivermead and could no longer refrain from asking.
“My, aren’t we curious.”
“Yes I am,” she replied quickly without any signs of embarrassment. “And you’re avoiding the questions.”
“Very well,” he sighed in mock exasperation. “I’ve worked at the Manor for many years, mostly doing jobs for Lord Lodge. As for my name, well it’s the one I was born with.”
“Well that’s real helpful,” she noted without much rancour.
Tiberius merely shrugged and then pulled himself back onto his horse as the wagon approached behind them.
“That just means I’ll have to keep interrogating you,” she concluded, flashing him a wicked smile.
Despite the innocent threat, she didn’t continue the conversation as they galloped towards Morgan and Dufresne. The two men had taken position on a small rise ahead and were awaiting the wagon’s approach. Both men nodded to Kat with respect as they approached, then turned to Tiberius.
“Nothing ahead of us until that small wood,” Morgan reported, pointing towards a stand of tall trees a few miles from their spot.
The land before them began to slowly drop as it headed south. This provided Tiberius with a decent view of what lay ahead of them, made even clearer when he removed his binoculars. Beyond the stand of tall trees Morgan had pointed out, the land became less open. Rocky outcroppings, streams, and denser woods filled the space they would have to travel.
“I suggest we stop at those woods for the night,” added Dufresne while Tiberius continued his survey.
Tiberius smiled to himself as he listened to his men’s observations. They were well trained, professional, and were simply the best he’d ever led. He knew that he wouldn’t find anything through the binoculars that they hadn’t taken note of, but that didn’t stop him from trying. He knew they wouldn’t be offended by this; in fact they’d probably be more offended if he became too lax and simply accepted everything they said.
“I agree,” Tiberius concurred as he lowered the binoculars. “The trees should provide us some shelter and cover if needed. Once camp is set up we’ll fan out and check the way ahead for tomorrow morning. It might take a while to find a route the wagon can use.”
“I seem to remember a path that led through the Vale,” offered Morgan looking skyward as he tried to recall the location. “It ended after the land levelled out and opened up. So it should be around here somewhere.”
“Hopefully we can find it,” Dufresne said, noting the setting sun.
“If we can’t find it between the three of us, it no longer exists. Alright, you two stay here and wait for the wagon and then escort it down,” Tiberius ordered calmly. “We’ll head down and check out the woods and the surrounding area.”
“You have a weapon miss?” Morgan asked Kat before they could leave. “It looks clear down there, but you never know.”
Tiberius silently reproved himself for not thinking of that himself. He was grateful for his men’s attention to detail when she proudly removed a flintlock pistol from her saddle bag.
“We’ll call that plan B,” Morgan chuckled as he looked at the ancient weapon.
“It’s a perfectly good firearm,” she shot back, feeling defensive about the pistol her father had given to her years before. “I can hit a target at twenty paces with it as well.”
“I’ve no doubt it’s a fine weapon or that you’re a proficient marksman,” Tiberius said calmly. “But you might need something with a bit more, well, everything.”
Kat looked at him in brief confusion before he pulled his back-up sidearm out of its holster from beneath his long jacket. It was a black Walther semi-automatic pistol that seemed like a toy in his large grip. He quickly showed her how to load and fire it before handing it over. She took it in her right hand, moving the flint lock to her left. Staring at both of them in her hands she smiled brightly and then put the old pistol back in her saddlebag. The new Walther went into her jacket pocket after she checked that the safety was on.
“Alright Annie Oakley, let’s go,” Tiberius ordered, smiling at her confusion to the reference.
They slowly moved down the gradual slope until it levelled off, allowing them to quicken their pace slightly. Us
ing the distance and open space before the woods, they approached in a wide arc. This allowed Tiberius to observe the potential campsite from different angles. He kept his head facing forward while his eyes darted from side to side, missing nothing.
“Relax, there’s nothing to worry about up ahead,” he observed calmly, noticing Kat’s growing apprehension as they got closer to the woods.
“I’m not worried,” she retorted quickly, loosening her grip on the reins. “You really think there’s no one around?”
“We would have seen something by now,” he replied confidently, trying to keep her calm. The truth was that in the failing light menacing shadows were starting to spring up everywhere. But he knew that a display of overt concern in leaders could quickly spread to others in the form of fear and panic.
When they were within thirty yards of the woods Tiberius dismounted and casually removed the automatic rifle that was slung across his back. Kat followed his lead, pulling out her newly acquired pistol as they walked the horses towards the woods. A small elm tree provided a makeshift hitching post for their mounts, allowing them to search the area unhindered.
A rustling from within the woods stopped both of them in their tracks and compelled them to raise their weapons. Motioning Kat to stay put, Tiberius slowly moved forward to scan the area. But within seconds one of the horses whinnied, eliciting the exodus of a group of pheasants from the woods in a flurry of batting wings. Kat cried out in alarm from the sudden noise and movement; however Tiberius coolly raised his rifle and quickly fired three shots into the growing gloom of the evening..
“At least I wasn’t the only one frightened by those damned birds,” laughed Kat immediately afterwards.
“The only thing I was frightened of was standing near you with that pistol in your hands.”
“Don’t be embarrassed,” she teased in response, bumping up beside him. “Lots of guys shoot off too early.”
Despite her innocent face, Tiberius could see the twinkling wit in her eyes. But rather then rise to the bait he simply winked at her and took a couple steps forward and reached down to the ground.
“Don’t worry, I always have complete control of my weapon,” he said, casually picking up three dead pheasants by their feet. “And I never miss the target.”
Kat simply stood astonished, her teasing expression swapped for admiration and attraction. But the sudden sound of quickly approaching horsemen kept her from moving towards him.
Morgan and Dufresne barrelled towards them like the cavalry with their own rifles out. But seeing both Tiberius and Kat standing safely beside each other they reined in and lowered their weapons.
“We heard gunfire and feared the worst,” explained Dufresne surveying the scene.
“Sorry about that,” explained Tiberius raising the pheasants again. “I was gathering supper. I remembered you have a delicious recipe for roast pheasant.”
Chapter 22
A Malevolent Manner (Patrick Pierce #1) Page 74
