by Bobbi Smith
“Micah…we can offer you a deal, but we need to know the truth, now.”
“A deal…” Micah swallowed nervously.
“If you talk to us and tell us the truth, we won’t inform the authorities of your involvement. However, if we’re forced to bring Captain Clayton and General Fields into this…well, needless to say, the army’s penalty for helping spies escape is severe.”
Micah weighed his alternatives. He had had business dealings with the Westlakes before, and he knew them to be honest and fair. If he cooperated, he knew that he would be safe…but if he refused to tell them and he was arrested…in the way of a weak individual, Micah made the choice that would do the most to ensure his own well-being.
“All right. I’ll tell you what I know….”
Jim and Marshall smiled grimly. “Go ahead. We’re listening.”
“Nathan stopped here at the office shortly before the Belle was scheduled to leave port. He needed to get out of town fast.”
“Where was he going?”
“He didn’t say. He just said that he needed passage on a northbound boat for himself and his daughter.”
“And the Belle is going to Rock Island, right?”
“Right.”
“Thanks, Micah. Our deal stands, but if we ever find out that you’re involved with the Rebs again…”
“I know….”
With that, Jim and Marshall hurried from the office in search of Mark. They found him at headquarters as the last of the men identified by Sam were being brought in.
“What did you find out?” Mark asked as they joined him.
“They’ve left town on a packet heading for Rock Island. Do you want to go after them?”
“You know I do,” he told them with determination. “I want them all.”
“The Mound City just arrived back in town this morning. It can be ready to leave as soon as we are.”
“Let me report to General Fields, and then we can go.”
“We’ll have to stop by the house to let everyone know we’re leaving, but with our luck we should be on the river within the hour.”
“How much of a headstart do they have on us?”
“Less than four hours. And since the Belle is on a normal run, we should be able to catch up with her in no time.”
“Good. I’ll be right back.”
And Jim and Marshall waited patiently while Mark went to meet with his commanding officer.
Chapter Forty-three
It was late afternoon. The sun was starting to dip lower in the west, its fading presence casting long shadows wherever it touched. The Mississippi was running wide and fast, slowing the progress of the Mound City as she struggled upstream against the current.
Jim lay on the bunk in a cabin on board the packet trying to relax, but the throbbing in his leg and the thought of his upcoming confrontation with Annabelle was making it virtually impossible. Sitting up, he picked up the bottle of scotch that Marshall had brought him and poured himself a whiskey glass full, hoping it would take the edge off his pain. With no hesitation, he drank the whole thing and poured himself another.
Jim had no doubt that the day had been a success. Everyone involved in the robbery had been apprehended except Annabelle and Nathan, and they hoped to correct that within the next few hours.
Jim had hated to leave Delight again, but he felt this was something that he had to do. And she had been understanding about it, especially since he’d promised her their long-postponed honeymoon as soon as he got back. He smiled to himself as he sipped at his liquor. He was looking forward to that himself.
The knock at the door drew his attention, and he called for them to come on in. “It’s open.”
The cabin door swung wide and Marshall entered. “How’s the leg?”
“The truth?”
“Of course.”
“It hurts like hell.” Jim grimaced. “By the way, thanks for the scotch.”
“I knew you were going to need something. Do you realize what we’ve done today? And it was your first day back on your feet.”
“I think I overdid it a bit,” Jim grinned.
“I know you did.”
“It’ll be all right. I just have to stay off it a while.”
“Why didn’t you just stay home? Mark and I could have handled this.”
“No. I want to be there when we catch up with Annabelle.” He took a deep drink from his glass. “I don’t like being used. And I’m just thankful that I didn’t give her any important information.”
Marshall well understood his brother’s anger and disgust. “I know. She had us all fooled.” He paused as he thought of all the times Annabelle and Nathan had been guests in his home.
“How soon do you figure we’ll catch up with them?”
“According to the pilot, if things go well and the Belle makes some stops on the way, we should catch her by Alton.”
“Good.”
“Are you going to stay in here and rest until we get there?”
“Yes, but call me if we sight her, all right?”
“I will. You take it easy. Do you need anything else?”
“No. Not right now.”
“I’ll be back.” And Marshall went on out to join Mark and his men in their wait to catch sight of the Liberty Belle.
Annabelle sipped at her glass of wine in celebration as the Liberty Belle neared Alton. It was true…they had made it! She almost laughed now when she thought of how desperate and afraid she’d been this afternoon. How could she have doubted her father? He always had a solution for everything.
Relaxing now in their cabin while Nathan made his presence known in the men’s saloon, she thought of this morning and her visit to the Westlakes. What a miserable experience! It had been bad enough to find his insipid fianceé, with her ridiculous name, there with him when she’d stopped by, but to discover so unexpectedly that they’d married had really upset her. Her little ploy to break them up hadn’t worked. She hadn’t had time since then to think about it, but now she realized that it had hurt her more than she’d been aware.
She had cared for Jim…more than she’d ever truly cared for any man. And it was quite a blow to her ego to learn that he hadn’t felt the same way about her.
Sighing, Annabelle placed her glass on the small table beside the bunk and curled up. The excitement of the day and the effects of the wine were making her drowsy, and she thought a short nap might help to restore her energy. She was certain that her father would wake her in plenty of time to get ready for dinner, so she fell asleep totally confident that she was safe and protected.
Marshall came barging into Jim’s cabin without knocking. “We’ve just spotted her!”
“How far ahead is she?” Jim struggled out of bed.
“Less than a half mile.”
“Where are we now?”
“We’ll be in Alton in an hour.”
“What’s Mark decided to do? Board her at Alton?”
Marshall nodded. “We’re going to pass her and dock at Alton to wait for her.”
“Good. Are all the soldiers off the decks? I don’t want Nathan to suspect anything if he should happen to be out walking on deck and look over at us.”
“Mark’s already sent the men inside.”
“I want to watch this,” Jim told him as he started out of the stateroom, still limping.
“Is your leg any better?” Marshall joined him on the promenade deck.
“A little. It’s more stiff than anything, right now.” They walked slowly around the boat until they caught sight of the Liberty Belle a short distance ahead of them.
They stood poised at the railing as the Mound City gained and then passed the slower-moving steamer.
“Good,” Jim smiled. “Now all we have to do is wait.”
As soon as the boat was behind them, Mark came out on deck to join Jim and Marshall. “I’ve told the pilot to dock at the first wharf boat he can find, and if anyone gives him any trouble, I’ll handle it.�
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“We’ll be there within the hour,” Jim told him.
“I know. And we’ll have just enough time to get ready before the Belle docks.” Mark was eager for this moment. His revenge was not quite complete.
They fell silent for a moment as they thought of the tense encounter to come.
“Our biggest problem will be to take them by surprise. I don’t want any shootouts. I want them to stand trial for what they’ve done,” Mark advised them.
And they agreed, as their steamer carried them on, ever closer to the final confrontation.
Mark had positioned his men strategically along the levee near the landing sight of the Liberty Belle and then had retreated with Jim and Marshall a short distance away to wait until she’d tied up. From their vantage point, they could watch as the steamboat carefully maneuvered into the place at the wharf boat. When the final line had been thrown, they moved forward cautiously.
“Let’s go.” Mark signaled his men. Congregating at the foot of the gangplank, he issued further orders. “I want three men here, armed and ready, just in case there is trouble. We don’t anticipate any, but in situations like this, you never know.”
“Yes, sir.”
“The rest of you follow us. We’re going on board and, if necessary, we’re going to search every cabin until we find them. Ready?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Then, let’s go.” Mark, Jim, and Marshall led the way up the gangplank.
“I know Captain Dalton. Let’s see if I can find him.” Jim started up the stairs on his way to the pilot house.
Captain Dalton, having seen the soldiers approaching, was on his way down, and they met on the promenade deck. “Jim? What’s the meaning of this?” he thundered, wondering at this armed invasion of his boat.
“John, do you know Captain Mark Clayton?”
“No. I don’t believe I’ve had the honor.”
“Mark Clayton, this is John Dalton.” Jim introduced them and they shook hands.
“We have reason to believe, Captain Dalton, that two of the spies who were responsible for the attack and subsequent destruction of the Enterprise are on board your vessel.”
“Who?” he demanded.
“In reality, their names are Annabelle and Nathan Morgan, but they’ve come aboard your ship under the names of Mr. and Mrs. White.”
“Why, he was just down in the saloon a few minutes ago.”
“Is he still there?” Mark asked.
“To the best of my knowledge. Let’s go check.” Captain Dalton led the way.
“What about the woman?” Jim questioned.
“I haven’t seen her since they came on board back in St. Louis, but they’re in cabin number twenty-four.”
“Thanks.” Jim left them and headed toward the stateroom.
“Jim?”
“You take care of Nathan. I’m going for Annabelle.”
“Be careful.” Marshall warned, and Jim wisely heeded his advice.
Jim didn’t bother to knock, not wanting to give her time to prepare. Instead, he stealthily turned the knob and opened the unlocked door soundlessly. He had been ready for trouble, his hand resting on his revolver, but the sight that greeted him convinced him that there was no need. Annabelle was alone, and she was sound asleep.
Moving into the room, he closed and locked the door behind him and then went to stand by the bed. It amazed him that she could look so beautiful in her sleep. But he knew what kind of a treacherous woman she really was, and her beauty stirred only contempt in him.
“Are you going somewhere, Annabelle?” He spoke loudly, wanting her to awaken suddenly.
Her eyes flew open, and she looked up groggily at the man who stood over her. “Jim…” His name was a whisper on her lips. “What are you doing here?”
“I’m looking for you,” he said solemnly.
Annabelle sat up quickly, her eyes narrowed as she tried to figure out what had happened. “Where’s my father?”
“By this time, I imagine he’s with Mark. They were going down to the saloon to pick him up.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, it’s over, Annabelle.”
“Over?” She was trying to pull herself together…to figure a way out of this. Where was her father? Could he really have been taken by Mark, or could Jim be lying? How could this have happened when they were so close to getting away?
“You must have considered yourself most fortunate that you were at our house when the note from Sam Wallace arrived. That bit of advance information gave you the extra time you needed to get out of town before we came after you.”
Annabelle stood up and walked across the cabin from him. She was caught, and she knew it. Turning to face him, she lifted her chin defiantly. “Yes, it did.”
Jim was stunned by her brazen confession. He had expected her to deny everything…to play the innocent victim, not readily to admit her involvement.
His gaze hardened as he stared at her. He had never really known her at all. She had created an image for him, and he had believed what he’d seen. He wondered if she had been determined enough to have gone through with her marriage to him, just to get the information. Looking at her now, he knew that she would have done it, and the thought sickened him.
“Let’s go,” he told her, his tone one of disgust.
But Annabelle wasn’t about to give up that easily. She was prepared to barter the only thing she had left for her freedom…her body.
“Jim…” Though she was nervous, she lowered her tone and walked toward him slowly. Her expression was openly seductive.
He didn’t speak, but eyed her calmly as she began to unbutton the bodice of her dress.
“I know you found me attractive once. I can make you feel that again,” she murmured, stopping directly in front of him and pressing intimately against him. “I’ll do anything you want, if you’ll let me go.”
“Annabelle—” Jim found her behavior repulsive and he took her by her forearms and held her away from him “It’s time I got you back to Mark.”
“But…” She was totally shocked at his refusal to take her up on her offer.
“Button your dress and move.” He directed her toward the door. “They’re waiting.”
“You’ll pay for this, Jim Westlake!” she hissed, out of control in her fury. “Wade will get you for this!”
“I’m afraid not, my dear,” he told her as he opened the door for her, still holding her by her arm. “You see, Wade MacIntosh is dead.”
“He’s dead?” Her eyes widened in shock at the news.
“He was killed this morning in a shootout with Mark.”
“Oh, no!” She swayed as the reality of it hit her. It was over….
Accompanied by Captain Dalton, Mark and Marshall entered the saloon and immediately spotted Nathan, still at the bar in a discussion with some other men passengers. He did not look up as they came forward, and it wasn’t until Mark spoke to him that he realized his precarious situation.
“Nathan…your trip is over,” Mark said levelly.
Turning almost in slow motion, Nathan paled as he came face-to-face with Mark and Marshall. “You! How?”
“It doesn’t matter how we found you. The important part is that we did find you,” Marshall told him.
“Marsh, check him for a gun,” Mark instructed. When Marshall found that he was clean, Mark continued, “Now, let’s move out of here nice and easy.”
Nathan’s mind was racing. What could he do? He thought of running, but as soon as they left the saloon and he saw the soldiers Mark had with him he gave up the idea. Worrying about Annabelle, he glanced nervously up the companion-way as they came out on deck. To his horror, Jim Westlake was bringing her down the steps.
“Annabelle! Are you all right?” His worry was real.
“Yes.” Her tone was flat when she answered him.
Somehow, Nathan thought, he had to create a diversion to give Annabelle a chance to get away. Hoping that she wou
ld have sense enough to run when he did it, he gauged his distance to the railing. And then, when he knew the soldiers had relaxed their vigilance, he raced for the rail and jumped overboard. He thought the fall would never end as he tumbled the two stories into the cold, dirty water.
“Get him!” Mark shouted to his men still on the levee.
Marshall, who waited until Nathan surfaced to make his move, dove expertly into the river near him. Easily overpowering the older man, he swam the short distance back to the bank with him in tow. The three guards were there to take him from Marshall as he staggered up onto the levee.
Nathan looked up at the boat in hopes that Annabelle had taken advantage of his diversion, but Jim Westlake was still holding onto her possessively. He shook his head at the wasted effort and followed the guards off down the riverfront.
Marshall stood, soaking wet, waiting for them to leave the steamer. “How did I do?” he asked, grinning, as Mark finally came down the gangplank.
“I didn’t know you could swim so well.”
“Neither did I.” He laughed as Jim joined them, still keeping a hold on Annabelle.
“Sergeant!” Mark called to one of his men.
“Yes, sir?”
“Take Miss Morgan on board the Mound City and lock her in this stateroom.” Mark handed him the key to the cabin.
“Yes, sir.”
“And, Sergeant? ”
The young man looked back at his captain questioningly.
“Be careful.”
“Yes, sir.” He took Annabelle by the arm and led her none too gently toward the other boat.
The three men stood together in silent companionship as they realized that they had accomplished what they’d set out to do. They had caught all the people responsible for the attack on the Enterprise. Exchanging happy looks, they clapped one another on the back and headed for home.
Chapter Forty-four
Delight sat wearily in the front parlor with Renee. Stifling a yawn, she gave her friend a helpless look. “If they don’t get home pretty soon, I’m going to be sound asleep.”
