by Lara Nance
“Not your fault. It’s the risk we take in this business. I’m the captain and the blame if any rests on me.”
“Will you be able to repair the inflatable?” she asked.
“Not for at least a week. I’ve had the aeroport manager in here this morning giving me the bad news. There’s no spare inflatable on site. They’ll have to have one sent over from Cross Roads and the next shipment of parts is not for four days.” He shook his head.
“Oh, dear.” Belle knew by that time it would be too late to help her father. Four days head start would allow them to hide him away deep in Carabarras by the time she arrived. She couldn’t bear the thought of going back to Urbannia and just waiting around until the authorities decided to look in the right place. Her father needed her and deep down she knew he was counting on her.
“You don’t need to stay with me, My Lady.” Captain Joe patted her hand. “I know you’ve got an important reason to continue your trip as quickly as possible. So if you find someone who can take you on, you should do that.”
“I appreciate your understanding, dear Captain.” She smiled. “But I have little hope that I can find someone trustworthy who will undertake such a voyage on a moment’s notice.”
The captain frowned and nodded. “Yes, Carabarras is not the most ideal destination. But you never know. Check with the charter office. I can refund part of the money you paid since we didn’t make it very far.”
Belle bit her lip. She hated to lose the money, but she also felt guilty about what had happened to his ship. “No, no, Captain. I won’t hear of it. You lost a great deal on my account. Keep the money and repair your ship. Perhaps we shall see you again sometime.”
The captain beamed and held out his good hand to shake hers. “That’s very generous. Take care of yourself, My Lady. Carabarras is a dangerous place, but I hope you find your father.”
“I will if we make it that far.” She pressed his hand warmly.
###
Rett polished one of Gambit’s navigation lanterns as his mind swirled with plans for making money. As soon as an idea popped up, he discarded it as impossible. Sam grumbled behind him as he swabbed the deck of the ship.
Rett lifted his head. Voices echoed across the hanger floor that sounded as though they were approaching the ship. Sam heard them as well and both men went to the side rail to look down.
A male voice said, “…the only ship that is willing to go anywhere, including Carabarras.”
Headed in their direction was a charter agent and a tall woman in a green twill suit with a split skirt and gold brocade corset. Something about the way she walked, a sturdy determined gait, was familiar. Auburn curls fell to her waist from the short top hat perched on her head with a trail of green net flowing out behind. A chill crept into his bones.
“Holy crap,” he murmured.
Sam gave him a puzzled stare. “What’s up boss?”
“Holy bloody crap.” He eyed the approaching duo, praying they continued to another vessel. But the agent stopped at his gangplank and rapped sharply on the rail with his cane.
“Ahoy, Gambit,” the young man called. He and the lady gazed up at the ship floating above their heads.
“Damn, damn, damn,” Rett cursed.
“What’s the matter?” Sam punched his arm as he pulled back from the rail. “Looks like we might have a charter, mate. Come on.”
Sam headed down the steps to the inside of the gondola before Rett could stop him. Rett gritted his teeth and clenched his fists into tight balls, then decided he had no choice but to follow. After eight years his past had finally caught up with him.
With a heavy sigh, he started down the stairs after Sam. His first mate was already on the ground talking to the agent and the lady.
“Yes, we’re ready for a charter. Here’s the captain now. Captain Everette Brockton.” Sam motioned behind him as Rett came down the gangway.
The young woman’s face went through a myriad of expressions from expectant, to confused, to complete red-faced fury. Her hazel eyes flashed as she stepped forward and hauled back one arm and then sent a resounding punch to his left cheek with all the force she could muster. It nearly knocked him to his knees.
“My Lady,” the official exclaimed, expression horrified.
“Hello, Arabella. It’s been a long time,” Rett said with a sheepish grin as he rubbed his jaw with one hand. “Nice right hook.”
“So, it’s Captain Everette Brockton now, is it?” Belle stood with both hands on her hips glaring at him.
“Madam …” the charter agent said.
Belle waved him away. “You may leave. I do not need your services. I would rather die than take a charter on this ship with such a scoundrel.”
The young man blinked and backed away eyeing Rett suspiciously.
“So, what are you up to, Belle?” Rett said.
“Do you mean today, or in the last eight years since you left me standing at the altar for all of Aereopolis to laugh at?” She tilted her head to one side, lips trembling.
He saw Sam staring at him out of the corner of his eye and gave a nervous laugh. “Okay, I deserved that. I suppose it’s too late to apologize.”
“Eight years too late to be precise.”
“Look, Belle. Neither one of us wanted to get married back then. You know we were just doing it to please our parents. We’re both too strong willed, we would have killed each other within a year. I think I did us both a favor.”
She opened her mouth to say something but then a tall thin man and younger man walked up behind her.
“Belle, you f, f, found us a ship. That’s excellent,” the young man said. His round face and curly brown hair made him look like a schoolboy, but he was nearly as tall as Belle.
“My Lady, we were able to recover all our luggage and your satchel.” The thin man handed a leather satchel to Belle and a wave of relief swept over her face.
Before Belle could speak, the younger man came forward and held out a hand. “I’m Benji. Is this your ship? What’s its n, n, name? How f, f, fast will it go?”
“Captain Everette Brockton.” Rett shook his hand, amused at his exuberance.
“The devil you say,” the thin man said, staring angrily at mention of Rett's name.
“Jasper, not now.” Belle put up a hand and then turned to Benji.
“Hold on, Benji. We’re not taking this ship.” She glared at Rett and pulled Benji back by one shoulder as if he might be hurt by the contact.
“What do you mean, Belle? This is a b, b, bang up ship. We went to the charter office looking for you and they t, t, told us you had come to talk to the captain of the Gambit with the agent. They also said there are no other ships willing to g, g, go to Carabarras.” Benji’s expression questioned her decision.
“I can’t explain it. But we can’t take this ship.” Belle pressed her lips together and Rett’s heart sunk when tears welled up in her eyes.
He hadn't meant to hurt her so deeply. He truly thought at the time she would be as relieved as he to end the engagement. She never acted as if she loved him back then, just excited to be getting married. They were more like friends anyway. The whole farce was just an arranged affair their parents had concocted. True, they had known each other since childhood and gotten along, both high-spirited and full of spunk. But Rett had known he needed adventure in his life, not settling down to a never ending routine with a wife and children.
“My Lady, I must agree with Master Benjamin, as much as it pains me. There are no other ships available. You must put your personal feelings aside and think about your father.” Jasper walked to her side.
“What’s wrong with this ship anyway?” Benji asked, his gaze traveling up the sides of the gondola.
“It’s not the ship, mate,” Rett said. "I’m afraid I did something a long time ago that hurt Belle’s feelings.”
Benji glared at him and balled up his fists at his sides. “I w, w, won’t let anyone hurt Belle.”
Bell
e’s expression softened and she laid a hand on the young man’s arm. “Dear, Benji. You are such a darling. But you won’t need to protect me from Captain Brockton.”
Rett really hated the way she kept emphasizing the word, captain.”
“I’m happy to p, p, punch him for you, Belle,” Benji said hopefully.
“That won’t be necessary. I’ve already done it myself.” She turned back to Rett, an air of resignation settling over her. She approached him, her eyes searching his. “I’m afraid my friends are right. I have no choice but to hire your ship. Please believe me when I say that it would have to be my only hope before I would do so.”
“I’m not too crazy about the idea myself,” Rett said. Should he really take her on as a passenger? He couldn’t imagine a more awkward situation. It might be better to turn the job down and hope for another charter. He was about to do just that when Sam interrupted him.
“My Lady, I’m sure this is uncomfortable for you but trust me, Gambit is a good fast ship and I’ll make sure to keep the captain out of your way.” Sam came to his side and gave him a sharp elbow to the ribs.
Belle looked at Sam thoughtfully. “In that case, we should discuss terms.”
“What is your destination?” Sam asked.
“Carabarras,” Belle said.
Rett thought his head would explode. “Carabarras? Are you crazy?”
“No, nor am I able to spend a lot of time arguing. Will you take the fare and if so how much will it cost me?” She met his stare unwaveringly.
“Nobody in their right mind wants to go to Carabarras right now. There’s too much political upheaval,” Rett said. “Not to mention that pirates run the skies there.”
“I don’t want to go, I have to go. Someone’s kidnapped my father and he’s being taken to Carabarras. I have to help him.” Her hazel eyes took on a pleading appearance. He remembered those eyes, full of fire and passion. She had been a beautiful girl there was no doubt about that, and had bloomed into an even more beautiful woman. But she was still headstrong he could tell…maybe more so.
“Sir John, kidnapped?” That was bad.
She filled him in on what had happened and the clues pointing both at Gandiss and Carabarras.
“We’ve been to Carabarras many times, Rett. What’s the big deal?” Sam asked.
“Not with passengers,” he said. “It’s dangerous.”
“You owe me, Rett Brockton.” Belle gave him a steady glare.
He threw up his hands. “Okay. You’re right. I do owe you. But when this trip is over, what’s between us is done.”
“How much?” Belle asked.
“Five thousand gold, up front. We can leave tomorrow at first light,” Rett said, glancing sideways at Sam. It was a huge amount. Maybe she would turn it down. But if she didn’t they would have the two thousand they owed the Baron and it would be a huge relief if they could pay him off before they left. Two thousand for the trip would be more than enough for fuel and provisions. That left a thousand pure profit.
“Ridiculous. I’ll pay you two thousand up front and two thousand when the trip is complete but only if we leave in thirty minutes,” Belle said. “I’m not taking a chance on you running out on me again.”
Rett took a step forward, pointing a finger at her. “Look, I’m not crazy about going to Carabarras in the first place and in the second place, going with you is an even bigger hazard. So, it’s either five thousand or nothing.”
Sam punched him in the back. “My Lady, we can take two thousand up front and the remaining three on completion of the journey. How about that?”
Belle glared at Rett but seemed to realize if she wanted to go to Carabarrras, their ship was the only answer. She gave a curt nod and pulled two thousand in gold slips out of the satchel and handed them to Sam. “But we still leave in thirty minutes.”
Rett and Sam looked at each other and shrugged. They had no choice now. At least if they completed the trip they would finally have the money to come back and pay off their loan and no longer be looking over their shoulders for the Baron’s men. Looked like they were on their way to Carabarras.
Chapter 7
Belle stood at the rail of Gambit trying to pull together the events of the last twenty-four hours in her mind and make sense of it. The weather had turned clear and calm after the terrific storm. Even now, over the snow capped peaks of the Kaspan Mountains she was warm and toasty in her fur lined cape. The cool air of their passage lapped over her like gentle waves.
Of all the airships in the world, how did she end up on his? She glanced over her shoulder at the aftcastle where Rett piloted the ship. Benji’s desire to thrash him lasted only until his curiosity got the better of him and he was now fast friends with their scoundrel captain, barely leaving his side. Rett let him steer and showed him how to use the compass -- damn him.
She had to admit, Rett had developed into a fine figure of a man, well muscled and handsome in a rugged way with his blond hair down to his neck. He had changed a lot over the years. She tried to remember if she had truly loved him, but the only memory she carried from the past was her humiliation at being left at the altar and a strong desire to punch him in the face. She rubbed the tender knuckles on her right hand through her leather glove. Well, that part was taken care of, and it had felt wonderful.
She shook her head and hid a smile, turning back to the glorious view of the jagged mountain range below her. The pristine white peaks stretched as far as she could see north and south. Their crossing would end at the Grand River, which cut a wide swath through the continent dividing east and west. Once they passed over that they would be in Pandistan and headed for the capital of Harucca. She hoped the ship her father was in had successfully crossed to Harucca ahead of the storm. She pulled out her watch and opened it to let the familiar melody bring her father closer. The little figurine spun around reminding her of happier times. When she closed it, she held it between both hands trying to feel her father’s presence and draw comfort from it. Some unexplainable connection seemed to tell her her father was okay.
Poor Captain Joe also rose in her thoughts. He had lost so much in that trip to Eagle’s Peak. She and her friends owed him their lives, though. He had managed to land the gondola just short of the aeroport, scraping it across the ground and ejecting the inflatable at the perfect time to keep them from being hurled into the side of a mountain. He was truly a remarkable pilot. They were beyond lucky to have survived and recovered all their possessions. Jasper was particularly pleased to have saved the delicate china tea service.
“My Lady, would you care for some sherry?” Jasper came to her elbow. He held out one of her small steamed glasses full of the golden liquid. “I put in an extra shot to keep away the cold.”
“Why thank you, Jasper.” She smiled and took the glass from him. So, he’d brought the sherry and crystal glasses along, too.
Jasper cleared his throat. “My Lady, are you sure you're okay with this, ah, arrangement?”
She took a sip of the sherry and let its fire run through her. “We didn’t really have another choice did we? If we took a chance and waited on another charter, my father could have been beyond our reach. We’ve been delayed enough with the results of the storm as it is.”
Jasper nodded. He had put on his heavy wool coat with capes that fell from the shoulders. She thought he looked very distinguished. Although the thick woolen scarf wound around his head and neck, it wouldn’t do. She had to find him a hat somewhere to preserve his dignity.
“I hope the young master is not bothering the captain,” Jasper said looking back at Benji and Rett.
“I rather hope he is,” Belle said with a tight smile.
Jasper searched her face. “You really don’t mind being around him?”
She sighed. “It was a long time ago, Jasper. Maybe he’s right. Maybe he did us both a favor. We were very young then. I don’t know. I just want to find my father.”
Jasper nodded but his expression was solem
n. “I worked for your father then, as one of the footmen, remember?”
“Yes, I remember.”
“I’ll never forget that day they brought you back from the church. There you were in your beautiful white gown and your face just as white. You never cried, but your eyes had a blank look that didn’t go away for several months. We were all worried about you.”
Heat rose in her cheeks. She had not imagined anyone other than her parents worrying about her. She tucked her hand in the crook of Jasper’s elbow. “Thank you, I didn’t know.”
“My Lady?” The engineer, Sam, walked up to them. “I wanted to let you know the Grand River is about twenty miles ahead. We should be in Harruca by tomorrow afternoon.”
“That’s good news, Sam.” Belle removed her hand from Jasper’s elbow and went back to the rail. “Are we making good time?”
“Excellent timing. The storm left us with a light tail wind and that’s pushing us along nicely.”
“I wonder how far ahead of us Blackwatch is by now?” Jasper asked.
“Blackwatch?” Sam’s face turned red and his brows came together.
“Yes, we think that is the ship carrying my father,” Belle said. “Do you know it?”
“Aye, My Lady. Her captain is the one that crashed into my ship and made me lose my hand.” He held up his gloved mechanical limb. “Damn fool raced another captain for some stupid wager. A lot of people lost their lives in that crash.”
“Oh, my, I didn’t know you were involved.” Belle put a hand to her chest. “I’m so sorry.”
“Don’t you worry. We’ll catch that blackguard and get your father back. I’ll be looking forward to getting my hands on Wildeye Perry after all this time,” he said grimly.
“Sam, need some coal,” Rett called.
“Excuse me, My Lady.” He touched the brim of his flight helmet and headed off to the engine room.
Benji waved to her, smiling broadly and Rett’s gaze rested on her as well. She turned back to the rail and sipped her sherry. She refused to let anything about that man upset her. He had done enough damage to her peace of mind in the past. All those nights after he left she had spent trying to figure out what it was about her that had driven him away. She had studied her face in a mirror, looking for imperfections and asked her parents over and over if she was ugly or unpleasantly plump or a bad person. They had reassured her with eyes full of love, but it had taken years before she could shake off the self doubt. Fighting to make her thread business successful had helped to give her back her identity.
