A Killing Too Far
Page 25
“They will live just long enough to regret their unwisdom, Mr Sam. That I make my Bible oath on, sir! An avenging angel, one might say, Mr Sam – never to be seen but ever present. I shall live my whole life in our cottage, Mr Sam, so kindly given to me by your generosity, and shall never betray my mission. My son, should I be so blessed, for my good lady is expecting, as may be seen, and so much to my delight, Mr Sam! My son, I say, shall also be made aware of our sacred duty.”
“Your annuity will fall to him on your early death, Nick.”
For a moment Sam thought Nick was about to kiss his hand. The embarrassing moment passed, however.
A few weeks and Sam had found a buyer for the White Horse in the person of Mr Malone. His coal mine was prospering and he had brought another close cousin and his family across from the southern part of Ireland to make a living in a clime more congenial for a Protestant.
“Sure, Mr Heythorne, it would seem that Waterford is less welcoming to our sort every year and it behoves any man with a kindness for his family to bring them to a place of safety. My cousin Donald has run his own inn for the past ten years and has been able to sell out for a fair price, sufficient that he can walk into another and fill his own cellar and live until he has built up a thriving concern. I have spoken with Banker Martin and we have come up with a little agreement that will place the asking price in your hands with no great delay.”
“Very good, Mr Malone. What of the house?”
“That as well, Mr Heythorne. My cousin Michael, who you will know, and has a haulage business here in Stoke, will take the house, for his family is growing most remarkably, and add to the stables and yard as well. He has the coins to hand, he tells me, and I will stand for him with Banker Martin if need arises.”
It seemed good to Sam. He put the cash away in his accounts and wondered what he should do next in the way of business. The Malone family seemed to be growing apace and taking a prominent position in Stoke, and now perhaps in the wider world as well, sufficient to allow him to step back from some of his duties there; he could devote more time to his personal affairs now.
A note arrived at Thornehills, asking Sam to show his face at the Palethorpe pit the following morning – there was a minor problem of drainage arisen, one that could be solved with the expenditure of a hundred pounds or so but better explained in person, in situ.
Water was a never-ending problem in mines, Sam knew. It seemed likely enough and he was inclined to approve of Richard Rowlands’ wisdom in asking for him to confirm the spending of a substantial, but not vast, sum of money extra to the amounts they had planned for. He told the boy who had brought the missive that he would be there for nine o’clock, as suggested. He glanced at the note, did not recognise the hand – perhaps young Richard had passed the letter to his young lady to write.
He called for his horse for half past seven and thought no more of the matter.
The morning was dry and he walked the horse quietly down the road from Leek to the outskirts of Stoke and then south towards Stone, passing the short stretch of woodland by the river. He heard a pheasant give its loud alarm call and then disappear in noisy flight, presumed it to have been startled by his horse, glanced across to see the barrels of a fowling piece aiming at him. Before he could react both fired at a range of no more than ten feet.
He was blown out of the saddle, hit the gravelled road hard, conscious, just, but aware that he was badly hurt.
“Don’t die easily, do thee, master!”
He did not recognise the voice but knew the cold touch of the knife at his throat. He made no noise as the blade was pulled from one side to the other, finishing him.
Mr Malone presided at the funeral, offering his predecessor all the respect he deserved and announcing that all was well in the town. He sent messages to the people in Stafford that there was a new regime and one that had no memories of past causes of offence. He informed Mr Rowlands that the worthies of the County need have no fear for the well-being of the community, that peace had been restored. He said nothing directly to the widow at Thornehills but informed her protector that all payments due to the estate of the late Mr Heythorne would continue to be made, that her business interests would be protected.
“It’s a well-off lady that she will be, Nick. Every penny from the Malone mine and from Palethorpe will come to her. I will purchase the three distilleries from her, if that is her wish – hardly the work for a lady, producing gin. Banker Martin will ensure that her money is properly invested, be sure of that.”
“Glad I am to be told that, Mr Malone. The lady may well wish to oversee her own money, she tells me, having what you might call business acumen of her own. I am to continue to look after her family as well, being what might be called a guardian for her son for the next fifteen years until he is of age. Do be sure that I shall be tender of the boy’s interests, Mr Malone. I have no interest in revenge or the foolishness of feuding, Mr Malone, but should a penny go astray, just a single, lonely copper, then I might well become quite cross, Mr Malone. My late master did not truly believe that he might be shot down from behind, Mr Malone – but I am always awake to that chance.”
“Too big a risk for me to take, Nick. I shall never threaten your existence.”
Josie Thornehill sat at her desk, contemplating her existence as a widow. A rich widow, she believed. The Will had left her as trustee to her son and with the care of funds sufficient to educate the other children and prepare them for their adult lives. She had a sum of money in her own name as well. Fifteen years before she must place young Samuel free of his own fortune; she would ensure that he inherited far more than was held in his name today. A meeting with Mr Martin first, just to make clear to him who was controller of the funds he held, and then to use those monies in the best possible way.
She would miss her husband, for sure, but she would relish the opportunity to be master of her own fate. It was time to settle to work.
# # #
Thank you for reading A Killing Too Far. The final book in the trilogy is expected to be released in mid-2019 or earlier. Note: The author’s recently completed Innocents at War Series, has received much critical acclaim and comes highly recommended. Find out more here:
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Book One Kindle Link http://getBook.at/Conflict-1
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