by Louise Clark
“You have nothing available? Or are you unwilling to sell a berth to me?”
The captain pursed his lips and looked away. Then he shrugged and shook his head, clearly unwilling to say more. The interview was over. Andrew nodded and left. He would have to seek out the next name on his list.
He had the same results with the other two captains. Frustrated, he decided to ride for Lynn and see if the captain of the schooner would help him.
The schooner’s captain agreed heartily, but as Andrew negotiated the arrangements, he found himself thinking of the clerk’s warning that the captain was devious. He also couldn’t help but notice the fellow’s greasy, straggly hair, missing teeth, and dirty coat. This was not a man he would entrust with his person under normal circumstances, but time was of the essence, so he shook the man’s hand on the deal, promised to return the next day, and headed back to Boston.
On the return ride he started to think about the gleam in the captain’s eyes when he mentioned that he was sailing with his wife. His reservations grew. He decided to make one last effort to find a more reputable ship in Boston before he returned to Lexington. He headed to a well-known tavern in the harbor area. He’d ask the barkeep for suggestions. He might be more knowledgeable than the clerk had been.
The tavern was remarkably busy, even though it was past midday. Andrew made his way around the long rectangular tables, populated with shipping agents and sailors alike, to stand at the wide polished bar that stretched the length of the room. He leaned against the gleaming oak surface, idly watching the customers, while he waited for the barkeep to notice him.
“What’s your pleasure, sir?” The man had thinning hair, which he tied in a queue rather than wear a wig. His face was round, his expression neutral. He wiped the surface of the bar with an absentminded care that boded well for the quality of his food and drink.
“Ale,” Andrew said. The man nodded and went off to pour it out. When he returned Andrew had payment ready and as he was handing it over he said, “I am seeking a berth to New York for myself and my wife, but I have had remarkably little luck. You wouldn’t happen to know of any ships heading in that direction, would you?”
The man shot Andrew a penetrating look from under frowning eyebrows. Andrew dropped the coins in his hand. He had included a sizeable tip in the amount. The barkeep looked down and his fingers closed slowly around the money. Andrew sipped his ale and waited.
Finally, the barkeep seemed to come to a decision. He dropped the coins in his till, then returned to wiping his countertop. His tone was conversational as he spoke, the expression in his eyes shrewd. “Not surprising, sir. All of the captains have been warned not to provide transport for a young couple, else they will find themselves afoul of the law. I expect the captains you spoke to were just being cautious.”
Andrew set the tankard onto the bar carefully so as to hide his dismay at the barkeep’s words. “A warning you say? Who issued it?”
“An Englishman, backed up by a troop of soldiers.” The man wiped his bar harder. It was clear he had no love of the British.
“Indeed,” Andrew said. “Was it a Colonel Bradley, by chance?”
“Aye, that’s the fellow. Hand in glove with that…with George Strand—he’s the one offering the reward.”
Seriously alarmed, Andrew said, “What reward?”
“Did I not mention that, sir? Seafaring men, they tend to be independent, see? Warnings and threats, they only go so far. But a fine reward for nothing but information? Why, that’s a temptation few can resist.”
Horrified, Andrew stared at him.
The barkeep nodded toward his tankard. “Finish your ale, sir, then you’d best be off.”
The man’s suggestion shook Andrew out of his immobility. He picked up the tankard, drained it, then reached into his pocket for his purse. Pulling out a gold coin, he flicked it toward the man. “My thanks, barkeep,” he said, before he strode out of the tavern.
He rode hard for Lexington. If what the barkeeper had just told him was correct, there was every likelihood that George Strand had already been informed that he was searching for a ship to take him and Mary Elizabeth to New York. If Strand knew his destination, they would never be able to reach the city.
Worse, Strand now knew that he was actively searching for a way to elope with Mary Elizabeth and that he intended to do it soon. Strand would not be satisfied with keeping him from finding a ship. He’d do something more to stop him, but what?
As he rode for home, Andrew discovered the answer. Strand had set up roadblocks on all the main roads out of Lexington. A coach lumbering along his route caused him to slow his mount and pull the horse to one side as the big vehicle passed. The driver looked down at him from his lofty perch and shouted, “Lobster backs ahead, friend! Looking for lone, dark-haired riders. I’d be wary!”
Andrew acknowledged the warning with a nod and a salute. He waited until the coach was away, then he took to the fields and a roundabout route home.
It was past five when he reached Lexington. He didn’t bother going to his farm, but left his horse with a grim-faced Ron Aiken. “The green’s full of British dragoons and they’re searching for you, Andrew. What have you done?”
“Planned an elopement,” Andrew said.
Understanding leapt into Aiken’s eyes. “Strand got wind of it.”
“Apparently. I need your help, Ron. I have to speak to Mary Elizabeth, privately, before Strand has his lapdog, Bradley carry her off to Boston. Can you find her for me? Get a message to her?”
To his surprise, Aiken shot him a reckless grin. “Easy enough to do. She and her mother are at the rectory, as is my sister and some other ladies. What do you want me to tell her?”
Andrew thought for a minute. “Tell her to find a reason to go into the church. I’ll meet her there.”
Aiken nodded. He and Andrew slipped out of his house by the back way. Avoiding the watching troops, they approached the church from behind. As they neared, Aiken nodded and veered off for the rectory, while Andrew headed for the church. Inside, he took a few minutes to say a respectful prayer, then he settled down to wait.
He’d taken up a position near the door with the idea that he could grab Mary Elizabeth as soon as she entered and pull her into the shadows to ensure they had privacy while they talked. He knew it would take Aiken a few minutes to deliver his message, so as time passed he wasn’t initially worried. Then he heard the voices and realized that just outside the door an argument was taking place.
“Mama, I simply wish to say a prayer or two. That is all. Why would you feel that was not appropriate?”
“It is perfectly fine, Mary Elizabeth, as long as Colonel Bradley accompanies you.”
Andrew almost groaned.
“Mama,” Mary Elizabeth said, “Colonel Bradley would be quite bored!”
“I would not,” said the colonel’s deeper voice. “Your father has entrusted me with your safety, Miss Strand. I intend to fulfill my duty as ordered.”
Andrew’s heart sank. Bradley would never allow Mary Elizabeth to speak to him and in fact, he’d probably order his men to arrest him. There was no point now in subterfuge. He flung open the great double door and stepped outside.
Into the light.
Chapter 14
Andrew looked cautiously around him. He knew he was still on the church porch, but he also knew he was in the twenty-first century, not his own. The porch looked much as it had in his time, but beyond it was very different. Where there had been a broad churchyard opening up from the front doors, now there was a paved sidewalk that was separated from a main street only by a narrow strip of grass. The huge old maple tree that had once shaded the church was long gone, sacrificed to the building of the roadway.
In all the years that he had followed Faith’s Beacon into the future, he had always found her at that one place on his property where there was a grove of trees in his time and a house in hers. Finding himself in her time at this moment, in this plac
e, was unexpected—and a problem.
Time was short. At this very moment Colonel Bradley might be whisking Mary Elizabeth away to some location from which Andrew would be unable to rescue her. He almost turned and walked back into the church, but he hesitated. Perhaps this was the opportunity he needed. What better place to hide Mary Elizabeth for a few hours than in the future where none of her pursuers could follow? He took stock of the current situation and made his plans.
Cars were parked on the side of the road in front of the church. He didn’t recognize the vehicles, but he did know the people standing near them. At the base of the stairs leading down from the church doors Daniel Hamilton and a stranger were standing near Chloe Hamilton. Though the stranger was casually dressed, Daniel was wearing a dark blue suit, white shirt, and blue tie, what Faith called business attire. He had his hands on his hips and he looked annoyed. But then, as far as Andrew knew, the man was always annoyed. Despite his concern about what was happening on his side of the Beacon, he grinned to himself. His arrival was sure to take Daniel’s irritation and raise it to incendiary levels. Good.
Opposite Daniel, Chloe was frowning, lips pursed as she listened to something Daniel was saying. She was wearing what Faith called a pantsuit, made from some kind of light material. The trousers were a warm cream color, the blouse, a lovely sea green. The jacket matched the trousers and was buttoned at her waist. It draped over her hips and created a professional look. Her frown deepened and she shook her head. Whatever Chloe and Daniel were arguing about, she wasn’t giving an inch. Probably part of the reason for Daniel’s frustration.
On the other side of the sidewalk, Cody was leaning against one of the vehicles watching the argument. His arm was around Faith’s waist and she was leaning against him, her head on his shoulder as she watched her parents bicker. Liz was standing on the sidewalk, halfway between the two camps. Her expression was worried. All three of the younger generation were dressed in a semi-casual style, Cody in slacks and a front buttoned shirt, Faith and Liz in summer dresses.
It was Cody who noticed him first. He straightened and said something to Faith, who looked up, beyond the battlers, to the church doors. Her eyes lit with pleasure, then she glanced at Daniel and bit her lip. She said something to Cody and he grinned.
Andrew decided it behooved him to take charge of the situation. Fortune had dropped an opportunity into his lap, but he didn’t have a lot of time, or he might lose Mary Elizabeth forever. “Well met, family!” he said, pitching his voice so that it carried over Daniel’s quarrelsome tones. He ran lightly down the stairs onto the sidewalk.
“What the devil are you doing here?” Daniel said. He glared at Andrew, then his eyes widened as he looked at the stranger beside him. “My apologies, Reverend. I wasn’t speaking to you, but to this disreputable…relative of my wife’s.”
“Honestly, Daniel,” Chloe said wrinkling her nose. “Stop being so critical. And I’m not your wife anymore.”
Clearly Daniel had irritated Chloe even more than he usually did. Andrew turned to face the minister. He was a young man with a thick head of dark hair. His thin face was adorned by dark rimmed glasses that added a studious look to his expression, but there was a kindness in his eyes that gave Andrew a good feeling. Perhaps he would be of some use in this crisis.
The minister was more casually dressed than the others, wearing a front button shirt, open at the collar, and a pair of blue jeans. If Daniel hadn’t identified him as a man of the cloth, Andrew would never have realized he was one. People in Faith’s time dressed considerably less formally than in his own. He bowed politely and said, “Good afternoon, Reverend. I am Andrew Byrne, a relative of Miss Faith’s. It is my pleasure to meet you.”
The minister blinked and studied Andrew, who realized the man must be wondering about his clothes—riding coat, brocade waistcoat, linen shirt with ruffles at the wrists and an ornately tied neck cloth, breeches and riding boots—all so very different from the minister’s own apparel. But he smiled and held out his hand. “Taylor Aiken. Nice to meet you, Byrne. That’s an old family name around here. There was an Andrew Byrne who fought in the Revolution with my ancestor, Ronald Aiken.”
“Bloody hell,” Daniel muttered. “The fat’s in the fire now.”
“Daniel!” Chloe said, a warning in her voice.
“Fought in the Revolution, you say?” Andrew allowed himself to be distracted from his primary purpose. The word revolution implied an attempt to overthrow a government, a successful attempt to overthrow a government. Could it be that the demands of his fellow colonists had escalated from seeking changes in their current system to breaking away from Great Britain completely?
A thrill raced through him. Taylor Aiken used the word as a proper noun, the name of an event; one which everyone but Andrew was so familiar with, it didn’t need explaining. Revolution. Separation from Britain. When would it happen?
Unaware of the questions his comment had roused, Taylor nodded and said, “He did. They were together at—”
“What’s that awful smell?” Daniel said loudly.
Andrew shot him an annoyed look. Daniel was once again doing his best to make sure Andrew received no clues to his future.
The Reverend Aiken broke off politely at Daniel’s interjection. Cody nudged Faith and they left the car to join Andrew and the others. Liz came with them. When they were all assembled, Daniel pointed at Andrew and said, “It’s him.”
“It’s his horse, Dad. Andrew must have come from riding.” Faith leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. “Welcome, Andrew. In case you haven’t guessed, we’re here tonight to discuss the wedding with Taylor.”
Such informality. So strange to hear a man of the cloth referred to by his first name, with no indication of his rank or title. Andrew liked it. “I will not intrude then. However,” he hesitated. “I find myself in something of a bother.”
“A bother?” Taylor said. He looked like he’d never heard the term.
“When are you not,” said Daniel, with a lift of his brow.
Andrew ignored him, focusing on Faith instead. “I need to visit.”
“Now?” Faith asked, frowning.
Andrew nodded. “And I need to bring a guest.”
“Mary Elizabeth!” Liz breathed. Her eyes were wide. She glanced at her mother. “But is that possible?”
Chloe frowned too. “It is, but it’s difficult. Andrew, is it Mary Elizabeth you want to bring to the fu—with you?”
He nodded. “If I do not she will be lost to me forever.”
“Is this an elopement?” Taylor asked. “Or an escape?” He was frowning now too.
“Why do you ask?” Daniel said, fixing a penetrating gaze on the reverend.
Taylor shrugged. “It’s odd. My ancestor, Ronald Aiken, left diaries. I’ve been studying them with the thought of writing a history of his involvement in the Revolution. He talked about his friend Andrew Byrne who was in love with a Mary Elizabeth Strand. She was the daughter of an English official and her father thought Byrne was a rebel and forbade his daughter from seeing him. She disappeared from this very church, then later turned up married to Andrew Byrne.”
“And did they live happily ever after?” Andrew asked. He was grinning. He couldn’t help it.
“As to that, I can’t say,” Taylor replied with a smile. “Ronald doesn’t mention the status of their relationship, though he does mention that they adopt—”
“Yes,” Faith said. “Where do you need me?”
She’d deliberately broken in before the innocent Taylor Aiken could say too much more, Andrew thought regretfully. But she was right, time was passing and he needed to stay focused on the matter at hand—getting Mary Elizabeth safely into the future. “Inside the church.” He looked at Taylor. “Is there still the doorway near the altar that opens into a passage that leads to a side door?”
The minister’s brows rose above the rims of his glasses. “It sounds as if you know the building well. The doorway is still
there. In fact, according to my ancestor’s diaries, it’s where Mary Elizabeth disappeared.”
Daniel groaned. “This has to stop!”
Cody took Faith’s hand and said, “Come on. We’ll go inside and wait by the doorway.”
Andrew clapped Cody on the shoulder and said, “Thank you, my friend!” Then he turned and took the steps two at a time. At the large oak door, he paused. Saluting Faith and the others he pulled it open and walked back into his own time.
Chapter 15
Mary Elizabeth paused at the steps to the church. She stared up at the wide double doors, fear clutching at her, knotting her stomach, clogging her brain so she couldn’t think.
“Has having Colonel Bradley with you tempered your desire for quiet meditation, daughter?” Lady Elizabeth asked.
Mary Elizabeth glanced at her mother and saw that her brows were raised and her eyes flashed her a warning. She felt herself coloring. In truth, it wasn’t praying she was interested in, but Andrew Byrne, and she was here at the church because his good friend Mr. Ronald Aiken seemed to think she would find him inside.
Mr. Aiken’s message had been whispered in her ear as the gathering at the rectory broke up. Saying that she wanted to pray had been a spur of the moment excuse, one that she thought her mother would accept. Except it hadn’t quite worked out that way. Now her mother was deliberately testing the truth of it, and she feared that Colonel Bradley would find Andrew inside, waiting for her, and he’d do something dreadful to Andrew.
She looked at the big oaken doors again and knew that if she admitted she wasn’t interested in saying a prayer, Colonel Bradley would go into the church anyway. If Andrew was there, he was doomed to be captured. Or worse. Perhaps if she went into the church with Colonel Bradley, the man would not be so quick to harm Andrew in front of her.
She swallowed, then said as calmly as she could, “Of course not, Mama.” She lifted her skirts as she climbed the shallow set of stairs to the double doors. She would find some way to warn Andrew.
