Amorous Redemption

by Faye Hall

  “Have you told Duncan you are carrying his child yet?” Morris suddenly asked, his tone soft so as not to cause this woman any more grief.

  “How—”

  Morris laughed, cutting off her question. “I am old, my dear, but I am not ignorant. I’m certainly not so blind that I can’t see you have fallen in love with this young man.”

  Her sobs growing, she buried her face in his hands.

  “You will have to forgive Duncan if he isn’t immediately overjoyed by your news, Phoebe. I fear a child isn’t always the first thing on a man’s mind when he begins an affair with a woman as beautiful as you.”

  Standing from his chair, Morris went to her handing her a handkerchief. “You must give the man time to get used to the idea. Duncan is a good man and he will come around.”

  Taking the offered cloth, she dabbed at her tears, taking several deep breaths as if she were trying to calm herself.

  “Duncan has already made his feelings toward me and this child quite clear, Morris. And I have no time left to waste on a man who will never love me.”

  “Phoebe—” Morris tried, knowing whatever had upset this woman was not what she was thinking.

  “Enough, Morris,” she cut him off. “I want you to buy out my share in the company. I need money if I am going to start a new life away from here...away from the MacAllesters.”

  “Phoebe, you are overreacting,” he tried to calm her. “Just wait a few more days, I beg you. You will see things will look different then.”

  Morris wanted to tell this woman the truth so she might understand, but he had promised Duncan he wouldn’t for her own safety. He knew if she could just hold out a couple more days, Duncan would have all that he needed for the police to cease his family and the pair of them would be safe at last.

  “Duncan will give you your freedom, Phoebe, but you must give him time,” Morris tried yet again, fearing his plea was falling on deaf ears.

  “Duncan is currently busy with his fiancée, Morris,” she said coldly. “Last I saw them he was holding her in his arms, their lips joined.” She breathed deeply. “I would assume at this moment they are currently in one of your upstairs rooms naked as the day they were born.”

  “Phoebe, there are things you don’t know. Things—”

  “I know what I mean to Duncan, Morris,” she cut him off. “There was no mistaking what I saw.”

  Morris rested his hand on the young woman’s shoulder, feeling her pain. “Phoebe, you must understand that men aren’t always what they seem to be. There are responsibilities we must see to and there are situations in which we will do whatever is necessary to protect the ones we love.”

  She stood from her chair, turning to face the old man. “My money, Morris...please.”

  Knowing his reasoning was falling on deaf ears, Morris went to his vault and retrieved her money. Returning to her, Morris placed the wad of notes in her outstretched hand.

  “Duncan is a pawn in this game just like you are, Phoebe.”

  “I no longer care,” she snapped coldly as she took her money and turned away from the old man, leaving his study.

  * * * * *

  Duncan moved around the dance hall, his eyes scanning the crowd, desperate to find Phoebe. He knew full well he hadn’t reacted as she had expected him to upon hearing news of their expectant baby, but he must admit it was the last thing he thought to hear her tell him.

  Not long after he had watched her run away from him and out of the hall, he felt a feminine hand on his shoulder.

  “Duncan,” Carmen called to him softly. “We need to talk.”

  “Now is probably not the best of timing, Carmen,” he replied, his gaze still turning to look in the direction Phoebe had disappeared. “I have to be somewhere.”

  Carmen’s grasp on him tightened. “Duncan, I’m afraid this can’t wait.”

  Pulling his gaze away from Phoebe’s departing figure and trying to devote his full attention to his fiancée, he reached out holding her hand.

  “What is it, Carmen?” he asked. “What has happened?”

  “I have to return to England within the week,” she explained. “My family needs me, Duncan, and when I got your message you said I would only be needed here in Australia for a few months.”

  He nodded. “That I did, Carmen.”

  Lifting her hand to his lips, he kissed the back of it lightly. “I can’t thank you enough for returning to act in this charade.”

  Carmen smiled.

  “But what will you do in my absence?” she asked. “What will your father do to you once he learns I have left the country?”

  Duncan let her hand drop from his, leaning into her, his lips lightly gracing hers.

  “I only agreed to all of this to save a woman, would you believe?” he explained. “But now it seems she has run out on me.”

  “Why?” she asked. “What did you do to her?”

  He grew serious. “She’s with child, Carmen. She’s with my child.”

  She reached out to him, her palm resting on his forearm. “Do you love her?”

  He nodded slowly, finally admitting to himself just how much Phoebe meant to him. “More than anything...more than my want for revenge against my family.”

  Carmen squeezed his arm affectionately. “Then you know what you must do, Duncan.”

  Watching Carmen walk away and out of the dance hall, Duncan knew what she said was right. It was time he let go of his need for revenge against his family and just take Phoebe away from here. He knew they would be on the run for months, maybe even years before his family gave up the search for them, but if it gave him Phoebe he would risk it all.

  “Mr MacAllester,” Morris Kilmore said from close behind him. “I need a word with you. Now!”

  “Morris, there has been a change of plans. Phoebe—”

  “She’s gone, Duncan,” Morris cut him off.

  “What?” he demanded.

  “She saw you with your fiancée, Duncan,” Morris explained. “It broke her heart for the last time. She came to my office demanding I buy out her share of the company.”

  “Why didn’t you stop her?” he spat at him.

  “I tried. She wouldn’t listen.” Morris answered him. “She took her money and said she was leaving to start a new life away from you and your family.”

  “Blast!” he cursed, no longer caring about the curious onlookers. “I should have just killed Gordon months ago and been done with it!”

  “I have scouts on the lookout for her, Duncan,” Morris reassured him. “I will do everything in my power to stop her leaving the country and the district, but if you love this woman as much as you claim to, you best make your move quickly before she is gone forever.”

  Chapter Seventeen

  Returning to his station about an hour after Morris had told him of Phoebe’s departure, Duncan threw his jacket over the back of a chair in pure frustration. He blamed himself for her running away. He should have told her about Carmen months ago, now it seemed it was too late.

  “Duncan!” David yelled, throwing the front door open, himself gasping for breath.

  “What is it, David?” he asked concerned. “What has happened?”

  “It’s Gordon.” David gasped, still trying to catch his breath. “We were watching him tonight as you asked. My men and I shared a few drinks with him thinking the alcohol might loosen his tongue and give us some information.”

  “And?” he asked in anticipation.

  “He wants his position back in the company, Duncan...even if he has to kill you to get it.”

  Duncan knew the news should worry him, but he could feel nothing. Without Phoebe none of it mattered anymore.

  “Did you hear me, Duncan?” David asked. “Your brother wants you dead!”

  He nodded. “I heard you, David, but none of it matters anymore. Phoebe has gone.”

  “No, she hasn’t, Duncan,” David quickly replied. “He’s planning to take her captive tonight when she returns from the d
ance. He thinks with you and her both dead, he will be back in the company and be able to use her money to clear his debts you’ve had called in.”

  “Son of a bitch!” he cursed loudly as he kicked the leg of the table in front of him. “I have to go get her!”

  Reaching out to him, David stopped him from leaving the house.

  “You can’t go after her, Duncan,” David tried reasoning. “If Gordon is true in his threat, then he will stop at nothing until you are both dead. If he kills you, then your lady love is doomed.”

  Duncan thought on his words, knowing what he was saying was right.

  “Then you must do it, David,” he finally demanded. “You go and find her and take her to Inkerman Downs Station.”

  “But that will be the first place Gordon will go looking for her.”

  Duncan shook his head. “He won’t have time to notice. I’ll make sure of it.”

  “Are you mad?” David yelled at him. “This man wants you dead!”

  “Then he can try his best,” he replied. “Your job is to take Phoebe somewhere safe until I can come for her. Kidnap her if you have to. But be careful with her, David.”

  David nodded obediently.

  “You don’t understand.” Duncan sighed heavily. “Phoebe’s pregnant with my child.”

  “I’ll get her to safety, sir,” David tried to reassure him.

  * * * * *

  Phoebe sat in her dressing room, looking at the wealthy objects around her.

  This wasn’t the life she wanted for herself. She had always thought to retire to Inkerman Downs Station, only venturing into town on the rarest of occasions. She didn’t want a life of luxury and social gatherings. She just wanted peace and quiet and…

  Tears filled her eyes as she rested her hand on her belly, thinking of the child now growing inside of her.

  What she wanted was Duncan.

  Even now, knowing what she did of him and his fiancée, and also of the numerous other women he had debauched, Phoebe couldn’t help but ache for him and the man she had once thought him to be. She missed more than just the feel of her skin against his though. She missed him—missed the way he spoke her name.

  Her hand gently rubbing her stomach, she began to fear what was to become of her now that she was with child and by herself. Taking a deep breath, she tried to steady her emotions. She couldn’t afford to allow her fear to make her weak. It had been so long since she had been alone that the thought both scared and thrilled her.

  Just then there was a knock at her door, and fearing it was her husband, Phoebe reached for the dagger in her top drawer.

  “Come in,” she hesitantly bid.

  Sitting at her dresser, she watched as David Pola walked into her room.

  “How did you get in here?” Phoebe asked, slightly startled, dropping the knife to the floor. “I didn’t send for you.”

  David shook his head as he slowly stepped toward her. “It seems a mutual friend of ours is worried for your safety, Miss. He has sent me to take you to a safe place.”

  Remembering whom David had once worked for, she feared that finally she would meet her end at Gordon’s vengeful hand.

  “I won’t go with you,” Phoebe objected, slowly backing away from him. “Get out!”

  David continued pursuing her. “Don’t make this any harder than it has to be, Miss,” he begged her.

  Feeling herself being cornered, she lashed out at him, striking David in the face with her clenched fist. When she went to scream for help, though, Phoebe was silenced by his hand covering her mouth.

  “It seems then we must do this the hard way, Mrs. MacAllester,” David whispered near her ear as he quickly gagged her with a cloth, his hands then reaching for her wrists and beginning to bind them.

  * * * * *

  Duncan paced around the station house for what seemed hours, trying to work out how he was going to get Phoebe safely out of town and away from his family. He doubted neither his father nor brother would let him just walk away with her, and he feared the men that would be sent after them, hunting them until they were both dead.

  He would have to put an end to this somehow without risking Phoebe’s life any more than he already had.

  But how?

  Just then, there was a knock at the door. Cautiously, Duncan went to it and opened it. Before him stood one of David’s men.

  “What are you doing out here, Jason?” he asked. “I thought you all went with David back into town?”

  The man called Jason nodded. “David gave me a message. He has the woman you asked for. He’s had to tie her up to stop her from escaping. She is safe though and unharmed.”

  Duncan couldn’t help but smile slightly at this, thinking how some things hadn’t changed.

  “There’s more,” Jason continued. “Andrew Ross is getting ready to leave town. He’s got a ticket on the next boat back to Ireland.”

  “Damn!” he cursed.

  If Andrew Ross were to leave the country now, Duncan knew he would have little left to give the police to prove the guilt of The Lester Company. What proof he did have could be easily explained or paid to ignore. He would also lose the Irish criminal mind he had promised the police.

  “What do you need me to do, Duncan?” Jason asked. “I have been given orders to do whatever you need me to.”

  “Go back to David,” Duncan answered him. “Tell him I will be there as soon as I’m finished with The Lester Company. If I’m not there by the end of the week, then you men have orders to take Phoebe as far away from Inkerman and Holme Hill as quickly as possible.”

  * * * * *

  Pulling his horse to an instant halt, Duncan threw the reins over the hitching post at the front of the police station and barged inside.

  “I need to see Walter O’Loan!” he demanded. “Now!”

  “You can’t just barge in here!” the young uniformed officer exclaimed as he hurried around the counter. “You need an appointment if you wish to see the boss, sir!”

  Duncan pushed past the young officer, making his way down the corridor to Walter O’Loan’s office. He knew he was being demanding in his behaviour, but he was also well aware that at this particular moment time was of the essence.

  “Walter,” he called out as he walked through the doorway to the head office. “We must act—”

  Duncan’s words died on his lips as his stare rested upon Walter O’Loan and the young man sitting opposite him.

  “I thought I sent you to join David and the others at Inkerman Downs Station?” Duncan asked in pure shock.

  “Jason works for me,” Walter O’Loan corrected him.

  “You bastards!” he cursed at them both, lunging toward Jason with his fists raised and ready to strike. “You set me up!”

  “No!” Walter insisted as he rose from his seat and walked around the desk toward Duncan stopping his attack. “This boy was under orders from me, Duncan. Jason was told to follow you and your men to make sure you kept your word!”

  Duncan struggled away from Walter, straightening his clothes and glaring daggers at the two men before him.

  “I promised you The Lester Company, Walter!” he rebutted. “I promised you—”

  Walter reached for him, grabbing him by the front of his shirt. “A MacAllester comes in here promising me anything I’m bound to be suspicious, Duncan.”

  Letting go of his shirt, Walter threw him away from him. “Jason was my insurance that you would keep your word. You made one wrong move and my men would have arrested you along with the rest of your family, Duncan!”

  Distancing himself from the older man, Duncan straightened his clothes. “If you don’t do as I say now then you will lose not only my family but Andrew Ross as well.”

  “How do I know you’re telling me the truth and not just trying to save your own hide?” Walter asked.

  Duncan was irritated by this man’s accusations.

  “I haven’t committed a crime in over five years, Walter.” he said sternly. “I tol
d you why I had returned home. My reasons haven’t changed.”

  Walter studied him for a long time, as if looking for a lie. Finally he spoke.

  “I assume you have a plan?” Walter asked.

  Duncan nodded. “And I need Jason and you for it.”

  Hesitantly, Walter nodded.

  * * * * *

  Duncan stood before Andrew Ross, a shabbily dressed, dirty faced young man standing nervously beside him hoping his disguise was good enough that he wouldn’t be spotted as an undercover police man.

  “Mr Ross,” Duncan addressed him. “This young lad is Jason Crossman. He’s an old friend of mine who has gotten himself into a bit of trouble with the law that might well see him hang by the end of a rope. He needs to get back to England before the authorities find him.”

  Andrew Ross eyed the two men before him. “And what do you expect me to do about it?”

  “P-Please, s-sir,” Jason stammered. “I have gold to pay you.”

  Andrew walked around his desk and stopped in front of the two men, his eyes studying them carefully.

  “Why haven’t you gone to your father for this, Duncan?” Andrew asked him.

  He bowed his head. “It is my father who has accused him, sir.”

  Andrew stepped away from the two men and walked over to his drinks tray. “And what crimes are you accused of, boy?” Andrew asked.

  Duncan hit Jason with his elbow prompting an answer.

  “I was found in the bed of Mr MacAllester’s mistress, sir,” Jason replied. “And in the possession of a small bag of his gold.”

  Reaching in his trouser pocket, Jason grabbed for the bag of coin and threw it at Andrew.

  “Will that be enough to smuggle me out of the country, sir?” Jason asked.

  Catching the small bag of gold coin, Andrew weighed it in his hand carefully before nodding.

  “I can have you on the next boat back to England, boy,” Andrew replied. “If anyone asks you, tell them you are my nephew escorting some cargo of mine back home.”