“I have to talk to my men. They must be aware of the change in plans. Don't worry about Lieutenant Surrey. He is my closest aid and can be trusted.” He must have been talking about the man who had stayed in her room and knew the plan. She nodded, unconcerned. It didn't matter to her as she hoped this whole charade would be over soon. The Lieutenant Colonel sat her on a rock, by the edge of the clearing and began preparing his men. Lily wondered how willingly these men participated in crime. Andrews claimed Kingsley had forced them to do something illegal and was now attempting to have them take the blame. She could hear the men becoming stirred up. One thing was for sure, Andrews was an effective liar. She was completely absorbed in what he was telling them when she felt a small tug on her sleeve. She turned, startled, and saw the face of Tracker smiling up at her, finger held to his lips for her to be quiet.
“How did you find me?” she whispered as quietly as she could.
“Turn your head and face forward,” Tracker whispered back before continuing. “I discovered Kingsley's camp this afternoon. You’re not that far away. I overheard the plan to kidnap you using Toby as bait to lure Eric away. I didn't have time to stop the kidnappings but I was able to call in reinforcements to capture Kingsley and Andrews. I just hope they make it in time. As soon as they are not looking I will hide you and...”
“I am going.” Lily mumbled so that Tracker could hear her but, hopefully, Andrews couldn't see her talking. “Andrews thinks I want to marry him and he plans on taking out the Colonel. If your reinforcements are not in time, Eric will need help.” Lily's jaw was set at a determined tilt and Tracker said nothing.
“Someone else is following you,” he added.
“Kurt. He's a friend.”
“Swarthy looking sailor?” Tracker asked, double checking that they were talking about the same person. Lily nodded. “Good, I will ride on and see if I can help your husband. He’s going to need it. Good luck.” Then he was gone.
Lily sat up a little straighter, bolstered by the fact that both Tracker and Kurt were there to help.
Andrews walked back from the group of men smiling in a satisfied way. He held out his hand to pull her up and then pulled her into his arms kissing her neck. She smiled through gritted teeth as he led her to his horse.
“This is going to be an amazing night.” He inhaled deeply.
“I agree,” Lily responded sincerely. She was not sure how it would turn out but she had the feeling that tonight, this would finally come to an end.
The group rode for another half an hour when they heard the distinct voices of a camp set up nearby. Lily could smell fresh water and assumed they had set up camp near a pond or lake. She wondered if Eric was already here and if he had tried to recover Toby. She guessed he had not since the camp seemed so calm. She hoped Tracker had warned him of her plan. It would be easier for him if he knew.
Andrews leaned in and whispered. “I have to turn you over to the Colonel initially. It will keep you out of harm’s way and allow me to move freely against him.”
Lily nodded but the knot of fear tightened in her stomach. She wondered briefly who was going to double cross whom tonight. Was Andrews just playing her now? She had to do something.
She turned in the saddle and kissed him with everything she had. She pretended he was Eric and he had just pronounced his love. When she pulled away his eyes still looked slightly glazed and the men around them were looking uncomfortably at them, a few with suspicion in their eyes but she couldn't worry about that now. She had to make sure she had Lieutenant Colonel Andrews on her side.
“I just don't want you to forget me while we're apart. Promise you won't.” She smiled as sweetly as she could. He returned her smile, looking slightly drunk.
“I won't.” He looked at her lips, clearly thinking of kissing her again.
“How will I know when to rejoin you?” she asked.
“I will come for you when I have disposed of my competition. You must stay where it is safe.” He stroked her cheek but she tried not to be sick as she thought of Andrews trying to kill Eric.
“But what if someone else tries to capture me—Slim or someone else? How will I protect myself?” She wrapped her arms around his neck and tried to smile persuasively.
He seemed to think for a moment then nodded his head. “You are right. But could you really shoot someone?” He slipped a small revolver in her hand. She tucked it into the bosom of her dress and nodded.
“Unfortunately, I have had to do it before.” He could hear the sincerity in her voice and smiled again.
“We are going to be a great pair.” And he kicked his horse into a trot to head into the camp.
Lily felt her heart beating wildly but she tried to remain calm. It was important to keep observing and to pay attention to the people around her. Immediately, she recognized the Colonel and Slim with a few other men. She didn't have to fake shrinking into Lieutenant Colonel Andrews. He was her protection at the moment, small as it may be. He squeezed her arm and she reminded herself to look around.
There must have been thirty men milling about and Lily wondered if they were all loyal to the Colonel or if some of them were under Andrews. Lily hoped it was the latter. Otherwise the odds were not good.
Colonel Kingsley looked up at their approach and smiled a cold smile that sent chills down her spine. “At last,” he said as he held up a hand to her to help Lily off the horse.
She took it hesitantly and Andrews let her go. As soon as her feet hit the ground he held up his other hand and struck her hard across the cheek. Without thinking she let out a cry and stumbled back. Slim cackled and Lily couldn't keep the hate and loathing out of her eyes as she stared at the man who had tried to kill her.
“That was for making me wait so long. If you are with child there will be further reprimand and the child will never survive the first day.” Lily's eyes shifted to Kingsley but she couldn't keep the fear out of her eyes. How could he be so cruel?
“Now, my dear,” he grabbed her roughly by arm. “I want the truth about how you escaped.”
Lily took a deep breath. Tracker was not under Kingsley's employ but she did not want to implicate him. Slim on the other hand, she had no trouble sharing his part.
“Slim intended to rape and kill me. He thought you would never find out and that everyone would assume I had escaped and gone into hiding.” The Colonel turned to look at Slim as the smile slowly left his face.
“It's a damned lie! You know it was Tracker who let her go free.” He sounded like a man trying to cover his tracks though and the sincerity of her story shone through.
“How did he get you out of the camp?” The Colonel stared at her with hard eyes that made her mouth go dry. She swallowed, the truth would be best, as much as she could tell.
“My guard fell asleep. I walked out.” He stared intently at her but she met his gaze, despite her fear.
“Tracker fell asleep?” The Colonel's eyes narrowed.
“No, Rings. Tracker left.” She shrugged, finally breaking eye contact.
“Where?” The Colonel's eyes narrowed and his face leaned closer to hers until their noses were almost touching.
“I don't know.” She did know but she was afraid to implicate him.
“She's lyin’. He was always jabberin' her ear off!” Slim sounded panicked and the Colonel grabbed her chin forcing her eyes to again meet his. His grip was hard and she knew she would have bruises.
“Did he tell you?” She forced herself not to cry out at the pain.
“He said the less he told me the better off I would be.” Lily spoke the truth, Tracker did say that to her and the Colonel seemed to believe her because he released her chin but not her arm.
The Colonel looked at Slim, thought for a second, and then motioned to a man nearby. He wasn't in uniform but was in ragged clothing. He had a blank expression on his face that was difficult to read. Lily couldn't tell if was skilled at remaining impartial or just not very bright. He was huge, at least tw
o hundred and fifty pounds and tall. He frightened Lily as much as the Colonel. “Sven, kill him.”
“No, hold on, just cause some good-for-nuthin' girl says...” Slim was backing away but the man reached out, grabbed him by the arm, then the head and, just like that, snapped Slim's neck. He crumpled to the ground, dead.
Lily could not contain the cry that escaped her lips and she clamped a free hand over her mouth to keep from sobbing. She had never seen death so close and, as much as she hated Slim, it was revolting and frightening.
“Now.” Kingsley roughly pulled her to look in his face again. “I have waited a long time for you and I wanted a virgin for a wife, but I will be content if you are not with child. A doctor will be examining you shortly. Pray that you are not carrying Sampson's brat!” He roughly let her go and Lily fell to the ground.
She looked briefly at Andrews, wondering if he would step in at any point or if he had lost his nerve. Kingsley had always frightened her and, apparently, before today he had been on his best behavior. Perhaps he frightened his partner as well. Andrews’s face was unreadable and he did not glance at her at all. Lily wondered if he was just trying to keep the Colonel from becoming suspicious or if he had changed his mind.
“Take her to my tent.” He motioned to Sven who frightened Lily even more than the Colonel. He could kill her by sheer accident. She shook her head and a slow smile spread over his face. Lily had been right. The man was slow. Slow and mean was a bad combination.
Andrews swung down from his horse. “I'll escort her.” And he reached his hand down to pull her up from the ground.
Kingsley's face went absolutely black. “Are you questioning me?”
“We are partners, and I am protecting one of our assets. If she is dead before you can marry her, this will all have been for nothing. You don't give a beast fine china.” Andrews did not flinch and Lily thought he was either incredibly brave, foolish, or he knew something about Kingsley she did not.
“You are right, of course. I am forgetting how unaccustomed to female company Sven is.” The Colonel's expression had not changed and he glared at her, then Andrews, but allowed the other man to escort her.
Andrews did not look at her but mumbled. “We do not have much time. Your first husband's advances are of little concern to me, but Kingsley will positively ruin you for anyone else.”
Lily swallowed hard, sure that his words were the absolute truth. He brought her in the tent, kissed her briefly, and then turned to leave. She turned to survey the room. There was a desk piled high with papers on one side and a narrow cot on the other. As desperate as her situation was, she was exhausted. She wanted to stretch out on it and fall asleep. As Andrews opened the tent flap, she heard his voice.
“If you were planning on walking over to the tent, why didn't you escort her yourself?”
“I find I am not all that interested in her company. Are you?” The Colonel returned.
Andrews ignored the question. “If you are not interested in her company then why marry her? Generally, men spend at least some time with their wives.”
“There are things I am interested in, which will keep me content for a while. Don't pretend you would be any better. We all know how your relationships end.”
“They were not ladies, they were whores!” Andrews was clearly getting upset.
“It doesn't matter, we stick to the plan and don't you forget it.” Kingsley must have left because Lily heard nothing else.
She gave a shudder and said a silent prayer that someone would rescue her before she had to face either of those men again. She looked around the tent. She was only in the front half of the tent, it was divided into two sections. She could hear a faint crying coming from the other side. Lily peaked through the flap to see a small figure huddled on another cot.
“Hello,” she said softly. She did not want anyone to hear her and stop her.
The little figure turned over and Lily clearly recognized the face of Toby, bruised as it was. “Toby!” She rushed over to the bed and picked the little boy up in her arms.
“Lily, is that you?” he mumbled. He looked disoriented and she wondered if he had had anything to eat or drink.
“Yes, sweetheart. I'm here.” He snuggled into her.
“Where's Daddy?” Lily could hear the tears in his voice and she wanted to cry, too. This was too much for a little boy.
“He's coming soon.” She said and held him as he fell asleep in her arms. Despite the danger, she felt an overwhelming love for her new family. She didn't know when Andrews or Kingsley might be back but she couldn't leave Toby alone. She lay down with him in her arms and fell asleep.
It felt like only minutes had passed when someone shook her awake and she swallowed a scream. She had been dreaming of the doctor who was supposed to examine her. He had been attempting to force her to miscarry. It had been a horrifying dream.
Her blurry eyes worked to refocus to see the person in front of her and she nearly cried when she saw the face of Kurt.
“Thank goodness!” she gasped but he put his hand to his lips.
“I took out a guard to get in here but there are at least four more. I was trying to figure out why they would put you and Toby together but I guess it is to keep you well guarded. Come on, let's go.”
“I have to stay, Kurt. If Andrews kills Kingsley, then Eric won't have to. I can't risk losing him.” Lily shifted Toby's weight onto Kurt.
“What if Kingsley kills Andrews? What then?” Kurt's face was hard. He clearly did not approve.
“It is still one less person for Eric to fight and I don't think the Colonel will hurt me yet.” She looked away. She didn't quite believe her own words.
“And what about the baby?” Kurt stared at her but she couldn't make eye contact.
Their conversation was abruptly interrupted when they both heard the front flap of the tent being lifted. Lily felt her heart leap into her chest but she knew what she had to do. “Go. Tracker knows I'm here. He's gone to Eric.”
This seemed to pacify Kurt who nodded but turned and whispered. “Be careful.”
Lily bit her lip. It was a deadly game she was playing. She didn't have time to think now. She opened the partition to see who was waiting on the other side.
Andrews stood looking at the cot, clearly perplexed she wasn't there. She smiled, ready for the next round. “Back so soon?”
“What were you doing back there?” Andrews looked genuinely puzzled.
“Was I not supposed to go back there? I heard crying. I went to see who it was, then I put the child back to sleep.” She was careful not to use Toby's name. She didn't want to remind Andrews again of her intimate relationship with Eric.
“That's right, you are his stepmother. I can assure you I have no former children.” Andrews walked up to her, pulling her into his arms and kissing her long and hard. It didn't seem to matter to him whether she kissed back so she stood passively. “I have taken care of the doctor. He will not come tonight. I am to move you to another tent so the Colonel can use his own. Tonight is the last night we will have to pretend that you will marry him. Tonight, I will rid of us of our... problem.”
Lily wondered if she should ask more but decided against it so she merely nodded. If Lieutenant Colonel Andrews failed, she would want to know as little as possible. She looked briefly back at the tent and wondered if she should have listened to Kurt. If Kurt could get in to take Toby, why hadn't Eric? Maybe Kurt was better able to sneak in being alone. She was glad, at least, that Toby had been able to leave.
“What are you thinking about?” Andrews's eyes narrowed. He was obviously suspicious of her again as, she thought to herself, he should be.
“I'm just worried for you, that's all.” Lily gave him her best smile and he returned it, obviously pacified.
“Don't be. I have known Kingsley for a long time, I know exactly how and when to strike. Now, let’s get you to your tent.” Andrews held out his arm and Lily took it. She was still amazed that she coul
d so easily deceive this man. He seemed well spoken and intelligent but clearly his ego got in the way of his better judgment. Lily was afraid that his assassination plan may be another example of this character flaw. She worried that Colonel Kingsley may be far more difficult to kill than Andrews planned.
Andrews escorted her the short distance to her new tent. As they stepped into the tent, he leaned down and whispered into her ear. “Goodnight, my love.” He left whistling and Lily turned to survey her tent. It was smaller, dirtier and even less appealing than Colonel Kingsley's had been. She sat on the cot unsure of what to do.
The night lengthened and without meaning to, Lily slipped into sleep. In her sleep she heard yelling and shouting and she turned restlessly, wanting to rid herself of the terrible dreams that plagued her. Suddenly a hand grabbed her around the neck and yanked her out of her bed and out of sleep. The yells had been no dream.
The Colonel grabbed her by the hair, pulling her out of the tent. Still half asleep, Lily stumbled and he righted her by yanking harder on her hair. She cried out but tried to keep going. “You put him up to this, bitch!” She struggled to understand his words until she saw Lieutenant Colonel Andrews lying on the ground in a pool of blood, struggling to get up. His breathing was labored and Lily let out a cry. Colonel Kingsley shoved her toward the dying man and she knelt down on the ground next to him. Her hands shook as she reached down to touch him.
“Andrews?” she said softly. She drew her hand back unsure of where he was bleeding from.
“I had to try.” His breathing was labored and he paused. “So much to gain.” He paused again and she tentatively patted his head to give him some comfort.
A sick dread filled her stomach as the Colonel pulled her back up. “The boy is gone. You are all the leverage I have left.” He sneered in her face. He seemed to dislike her as much as she him. He turned to the woods.
“Sampson, I need her alive,” he yelled. “I know you know that, but that doesn't mean I can't inflict horrible pain. Show yourself. Let's get this over with or you will have to listen as I torture your wife.”
Lily in Bloom Page 22
