by Lynn Landes
Bronnah moves to the map to stare at the country she's chosen to be her new home. She traces her finger from New York to New Jersey blocking out the voices from behind her.
“Amazing isn’t it,” Aimee says from beside her.
“I never imagined how big it would be. We need to have a plan ready when we dock," Bronnah announces.
"I've seen that look before, Bronnah. You should trust the Marshall to do his job," Aimee orders.
“There are five young women on a train bound for Washington,” Bronnah points and drags her finger to New Jersey. “The train they are on, one of yours, Marshall, is stopping in New Jersey. We have to help get them off and home before it’s too late for them.”
Everyone stares at her in horrified silence. “How do you know this?” Captain Foster asked.
“Because I stole their ledger with all the information, dates, times and number of girls. It even states who they were bought for. I plan on stopping that train.” She grins proudly as she stares at the three pale faces looking at her.
“Well, hell,” Allen said sitting down.
“You’re going to give me that ledger, Bronnah,” Chase states.
“Perhaps. That’ll depend on what ya say next, Marshall.”
Aimee moves forward, “Bronnah you can’t possibly be thinking of what I think you’re thinking of.”
"Oui, Mon Ami," yes, my friend, "I'm going to steal them back and set them free," Bronnah states emphatically.
“We spoke about this, Bronnah,” he snarls, “it’s not safe for you.”
“I know what you think, Marshall, but those girls are terrified, isolated, and drugged. They have no one to help them, but we can!" Bronnah snaps when she faces him.
Outside the crew yells as the wind picks up and the anchor is pulled back. The sails inflate, and they are off once more. “Excuse me,” Captain Allen said as he moves outside to pilot the ship.
“Bronnah, you know what those monsters are capable of,” Aimee insists taking her hands.
“I know better than most, but Aimee, five young French girls, one as young as fourteen, all isolated from their families and forced into prostitution. Would you wish that on your kin?”
“No.” Aimee’s eyes fill with tears, “We will help. Let me talk to Allen.” She hurries out to talk to the Captain. Bronnah walks over to the map and stares at it, ignoring the way Chase is looking at her.
“I don’t like these games you’re playing. This recklessness is going to get people killed. You aren’t going anywhere near that train.”
“Washington is important, right?” She replies ignoring his statement.
“Very and that makes this much more dangerous than I’d anticipated. Are you listening to me? These games you’re playing will end up getting someone killed.” Bronnah turns to glare at him.
"This is no' a game, Marshall! There are five lives at stake. I need to do this. I must help them. Why can't you understand that?" He walks over to her and lifts a blonde curl that has broken free of her braid, and he stares at it as it wraps around his finger as though claiming him.
“Because right now, I have a job to do. You are a federal witness, in serious danger and I have to get you to safety.”
“No, you will have six witnesses if we help these girls.”
"I can help, Marshall," Allen calls from the doorway. "You get them to my ship, and I will take them with us to Maine. We will keep them safe until you send for them."
Aimee smiles proudly up at him. “Oui, we can help!”
"That's very kind of you. The government will pay you for your help and time, on one condition. Bronnah stays with you until I return."
"You're off your nut if ya think I'm gonna sit back and…" Bronnah starts to object, but he tugs on her curl, "Not another word, or I will end this right now," he promises.
Bronnah glares at him and shuts her mouth, while Chase struggles not to laugh at her outrageous phrases.
“If you’ll excuse me, I feel like some sunshine.” She stomps from the room and joins Aimee on a padded cushion bench. Purposely ignoring the sound of laughter coming from the Captain’s Room she asks questions and watches the way the schooner works. Chase returns to the room to sleep until they dock. He will need to be alert for the evening’s activities.
“Bloody wanker,” she snarls under her breath when he winks at her as he climbs the ladder below deck. She waits for Aimee to join Allen in his cabin and smiles at a young crew member who has been eyeing her. When Bronnah wonders over to watch him work and begins to ask questions about the ship, he’s only too eager to answer. With a big smile, he offers to show her around the deck and answer any question she has.
“Aren’t you afraid to be out at sea all the time, what if the shipwrecks?” She asked batting her eyes at him.
"Not at all, we have two-row boats, one on each side of the ship in case of an emergency. Lucky for us, the schooner only needs a crew of six to handle her. That's three men per rowboat." He points to each.
Bronnah smiles at him. “I see, but still it must be hard to get the boat into the water?”
“Not really. Once I'm on board the boat, I just pull this lever, and it lowers the boat silently into the sea.”
“Well, Chester, maybe for you, with all those muscles,” Lord forgive me, she thinks, “but it looks too difficult for me.” She waits until he takes the bait and sighs inwardly.
“No, just put your hand here,” he takes her small hand in his and puts it on the crank and lifts. “I have it locked, but you can feel the resistance.”
“Yes, I can. It is certainly nice to know that someone with your experience is helping guide us to our destination.” She blushes and bats her eyes, “If you’ll excuse me, I need to retire from the sun. I’m afraid that with my skin being so sensitive to the light, I have to be careful.” Bronnah walks swiftly to the lower deck and climbs the ladder back down.
Chase is snoring soundly on the bed when she enters the room. Her bag is on the floor, and his massive body is stretched out on the mattress. "Shite," she whispers. The ledger is underneath the mattress. When she tries to stick her hand under, he rolls over and faces her but continues snoring.
She grins and pokes him, "Chase, roll over." He grumbles away to face the wall, and she stifles a giggle. Reaching under the mattress, she digs for the ledger and pulls it out. Stuffing it quickly in her carpet bag she stares at him with regret. His gun belt is hanging over the chair, and she grins wickedly. No use running off unarmed. Picking up the large gun she stuffs it inside her bag and then softly closes the door. Part of her wishes she could stay with him. He makes her feel safe, but she must try to make a difference. After heading back to the top deck, she moves to a dark area of the deck and stuffs her bag in a corner under a pillow and leans back on it. Now all she has to do is wait until they are close enough to make her move.
Chase wakes in a dark cabin to the sound of the Captain yelling. The boat is no longer moving, they must be anchored. “Lower the sails,” the Captain shouts. They had to wait in the sound, anchored until they could find space at the dock. Refreshed from his sleep, Chase swings his legs over the side of the bed and washes his face with clean water before moving to the chair to strap on his gun belt.
“What the hell?” One of his pistols has gone missing. He quickly looks for the second pistol and finds it’s loaded, and his rifle is still propped up in the corner. Stomping out of the room, he climbs the ladder quickly and seeks out the captain.
“Welcome to New Jersey, Marshall,” Allen calls out as he nods at the crew member to check the anchor. Aimee comes out of the Captain’s quarters and joins them.
“Thank you, Captain. I seem to be missing a pistol. Where’s Bronnah?” he asks looking around the deck.
“She’s lying down in your cabin, no?” Aimee replied.
"No. I just came from the cabin." Chase narrowed his eyes and looked at Allen. "Bronnah!" Chase calls out but gets no response. A dangerous thought enters his mind. She c
ouldn't have taken his pistol and…
Allen whistles and all the crew members assemble on deck. Five men of varying heights and ages, all standing at attention. “Locate Ms. O’Dalaigh!” They disperse and search quickly.
"She can't have gotten very far. The ship isn't that big," Aimee says to reassure him.
“Cap, we’re missing a dingy.” One of the crew member’s reports.
“What do you mean, we’re missing a dingy? All crew members are accounted for, correct.”
Allen looked at Chase for a second before they both go running for the side of the ship.
“Ce n’es pas possible?” It’s not possible, Aimee asked in horrified shock as she follows them.
"Damn!" Chase runs for the dock. "How long has she been gone? It couldn't have been more than an hour. We had to drop an anchor until we could dock."
“How did she learn to use a rowboat?” Aimee asked.
"I may have told her how?" Says a young voice from behind them.
Chase turns on him and glares, “Tell me exactly what she asked you,” he demands.
A few moments later, he’s stomping down the docks with his guns loaded, and snarls, “Damn fairy eyes…”
Bronnah tucked Chase's Colt she borrowed into her carpet bag and climbed into the rowboat. She stashes it and grabs the oars, just as the young sailor demonstrated, then lowers the lever. With everyone at the front of the ship, preparing to dock she has a few moments to make her escape.
The boat lowers silently into the water, and she grins, dipping the oars into the water. Biting her lip, she rows hard for the closest dock she sees. Lucky for her the sun has not set yet, giving her time to make it quickly to shore. Fear is ripe in her belly, and she wishes Chase were with her, but his priorities and hers are not the same.
Hopefully, he will follow and help, but right now all she can hear is the sound of her own words burning a hole in her chest. They fill her with a sense of urgency that can’t be reasoned away.
"Your sisters and daughters are in peril. What will you do?" She asks herself as she lowers the oars and rows harder. It is a busy evening, and many boats are anchored in the sound waiting for their turn to dock. Bronnah aims the boat for the closest dock and ignores the strange stares from the men, as she struggles with the small boat.
“I forgot to ask him how to dock!” She squeals and is rewarded when three sailors come running to help. The dock master turns to scan the sound when he notices a commotion near one of the docks. One hand grabs the boat, while another takes the rope to secure it while another reaches out a hand to help pull Bronnah up onto the wood decking.
“Oh, thank you,” she squeaks. One of the young men drops into the boat and grabs her bag handing it to her. “That’s very kind of you.”
The dock master marches over and roars, “What’s all this about, then?” In a strong Gaelic accent. “Get back ta work.”
"Thank you for coming to my rescue." Bronnah turns to look at the heavyset older sailor with a thick white beard, hat, and pipe. She smiles at his grumble as the men bow and back away.
“Oh, don’t ya be bothering to bat those beauties at me, lass. I’m immune.”
“Then I’ll just be shoving off, Captain,” Bronnah snaps in her own accent and tries to step around him. “I have a schedule ta keep.” His deep laugh stops her.
"Not likely lass. I can't have you running free around my docks, like some siren on the loose. I have ta think of all the hearts you'll break." Bronnah glances over her shoulder knowing she won't have much time till they discover her missing.
“My husband, U.S. Marshall Chase Rivers is on a schooner called the Harbor Breeze. I’m sorry, I didn’t get your name, Captain?” Bronnah asked softly.
“Captain Rick Perry, Mrs. Rivers. A U.S. Marshall ya say? What in the world is he thinking letting you come ahead of him?” He blusters.
Bronnah ducks her head in shame. "He doesn't know, Captain Perry. I must get to the railroad. My sisters are due to arrive on the train, and I didn't want to worry them with the delay. Look at all those ships, it could take hours."
"It will take no less than an hour," he grumbles, puffing on his pipe and looking at her.
"I can dash over ta pick them up and be waiting here with all five of them when he returns," she answers with a smirk.
“Right, well he certainly has his hands full if there’s more of you. God bless him, go on then.”
Bronnah kisses his whiskered cheek, "Thank you, Captain Perry. You remind me of home," she whispered wistfully. Just as Bronnah reaches the end of the dock, he calls back to her.
"No God-fearing Irishman would allow you to do this alone." He marches to her, and she tucks her arm into the crook of his. "I'll lend you me wagon and horse to pick them up." He whistles and a young sailor runs over, "Drive Mrs. Rivers to the rail station and wait for her."
“Thank you, Captain.”
"Don't thank me, I'd hate ta miss the look on your husband's face when he finally arrives," he chuckles. "I'm a wee bit interested ta see what poor sod, got saddled with ya."
“Ta be fair, he was acting the maggot,” Bronnah said with a lift of her stubborn chin.
“The poor boy doesn’t know the way it tis yet, break him in gently, lass.”
“I’ll try.”
His laughter follows her from the yard.
Chapter 21
Captain Perry watches the schooner move close to the dock. He grins as he watches a massive cowboy pace on the deck like a big panther. “Yep, that’ll be the one, then.”
“Wait here and be ready to shove off. I’ll be back.” Chase leaps to the dock, past the dock hands and races up the creaking planks under his boots. “You’d be Marshall Rivers,” Captain Perry said stepping in front of the giant.
Narrowed silver eyes look down into a wrinkled, smiling face. "Where is she?" He growls.
“Don’t go fretting, Mr. Rivers. I sent one of me dock hands with your wife to the rail station to pick up her sisters. They should be back soon.” If Chase is shocked by the term wife, he doesn’t show it.
"Captain, I appreciate the information, but I'll need a horse," he says stepping around him and onto the dusty road.
"Didn't you hear me? She’ll be back…”
Chase whirls on him with a desperate, sick feeling, "She'll be back alright, and on her heels, will be the very winds of hell. Do you have weapons?"
Captain Perry stared at him with his mouth gaping open. “Aye, I do.”
“You’re gonna need them. Now take me to a horse for God’s sake!”
"Right this way," Captain Perry limped as quickly as he can and snaps out orders. "So, the lass doesn't have sisters?" He asked while they wait. Feeling like a fool, he glances at Chase.
"Not quite. Bronnah thinks she's gonna rescue some young women from a terrible situation, Captain Perry, and in doing so, she's risking her own life." Chase mounts his horse.
"I see. Just follow this down the road, its only about two miles to the railhead."
Chase knows what Bronnah doesn’t. She thinks she can just waltz in and pluck them from these people, but it won’t be that easy. They will have guards traveling with them and meeting them to make the exchange. That makes the odds of her getting away with this highly unlikely. He rides hard and prays he will make it to her in time.
Bronnah rides beside Mason, the dock hand and nods politely as he chats about the weather and the city of New Jersey. She knows that she will need a significant distraction and some serious luck if she hopes to rescue the girls this time. Glancing behind her at the port fading from view an idea begins to form.
The ledger said the girls were on the New Jersey Rail Road, being delivered and switched to the Pennsylvania Railroad. “So, Mason, tell me about the Ports. Are there any waterways that run from the railroad station to the shipyards?”
“Yes, Mrs. Rivers. There are multiple ports up and down the coast. They transport goods, like lumber, grain, supplies, and passengers. Why do you ask?�
�
"Call me Bronnah. I'm just curious. With the railroad and the shipyard being in such close proximity it made me wonder." The sun is setting quickly now and with it the temperature. Bronnah tucks her bag close and glanced at the young man who is close to her age. He is a handsome longshoreman, but he seems so young compared to Chase. There is such life in Chase's silver eyes … she shakes herself, get it together girl. "My sisters are coming in on the New Jersey Railroad line at eight pm."
“Are you sure about that. That line is usually reserved for cargo.”
Bronnah flinches and retrieves a slip of paper from her bag, "Yes it says, NNJR 126, six p.m. What do you suppose that means?"
"That sounds right, the initials stand for the line, and the number is the car," he frowns as they enter the town.
“Excellent. I just need to pick up a few things on the way to the station.” Bronnah smiles sweetly and touches his arm. He grins at her and sits up taller.
"Of course, Bronnah." She smiles and counts her cash. As they drive through the center of town, Bronnah spots what she needs. Jersey City is well developed. It's lined with lovely gas lanterns illuminating the businesses, saloons, gambling halls, a general mill, a post office, and a few hotels. “Pull over here, Mason!”
She leaps out before he can object and watches in shock as Bronnah walks up to a prostitute outside of a saloon and points to her wagon. The girl looks at Mason and throws back her head laughing.
Bronnah smiles and pulls out cash, "I need four of you for the evening. All I ask is that you take a ride with that handsome young man and acts as a distraction for me."
“Call me Sally,” she tugs Bronnah to the side of the porch in front of the saloon. “What kind of game is this? I ain’t doin nothin’ illegal.” Her cold eyes sneer at Bronnah. “Too good to be true,” she starts to walk away.
“I understand. I’ll just ask at the gambling hall. That blonde looked bored enough.” Bronnah shoves the cash back in her corset and turns.
“Wait. Damnit. Give me five minutes.” The girl runs into the saloon and Bronnah waves to Mason. A few minutes later the four women return and walk with her to the wagon.
