by Kim Allred
AJ had to do a double take. The ugliest carriage she'd ever seen made a protesting lurch into the clearing. The fact the coach hadn't shattered into pieces coming up the rock-strewn drive was a miracle.
Finn and Lando jumped from the carriage bench while Beckworth dismounted and handed his reins to Lincoln. Finn and Lando's horses had been harnessed to the coach.
"You call that a carriage?" Ethan jumped off the porch and walked around it. "It's in such a deplorable condition, everyone will take note of it."
Considering how bad it appeared in the dark, AJ assumed it would only be worse in the light of day. She set her bow and quiver aside to take a closer look. Finn held out an arm to her, and she stepped into his embrace, letting him hold her for as much her sake as his. She drew strength from their connection and instinctively knew Finn felt the same.
"It's not pretty, I'll admit. But it will give us the cover we need to get out of the area." Finn's grin gave her encouragement. He really thought this was a grand idea.
"By looking like paupers?" Ethan asked.
"Exactly," Beckworth commented as he pushed past Lando. He grabbed onto the frame and gave it a good shake. "It's in decent enough shape. You'll look like an impoverished house traveling to visit relatives. It's not that uncommon, and once we have daylight, we can remove anything that looks too fancy." As if to prove a point, he found a weathered tassel on the corner of the coach and ripped it off. "We'll make it look like it's been stripped of anything worth selling."
"I think that's already been done," Ethan grumbled, giving it one last appalling look before ducking into the house.
By the time AJ and Finn strode into the cabin, Beckworth had already found the jug of ale. Maire placed a pot of coffee on the table and poured a cup for herself and Ethan.
"What took you so long?" AJ asked, curling onto Finn's lap, uncaring what others thought. She laid her head on his shoulder, feeling exhausted with the slightest throb of a headache. In all, she lasted longer than she thought she would.
"The wheel wouldn't go back on." Lando filled his own mug with ale.
"The inside of the carriage isn't too bad, but it's musty, and the seats have no padding." Finn held onto his cup of coffee with one hand while holding AJ close with the other.
They'd need a better look in the morning before prioritizing the required work on the coach. So their conversation turned to the roads. They came to a quick agreement with staying on back roads as long as possible before joining the main road toward Bristol.
When Lincoln returned from caring for the horses, he helped AJ and Maire prepare sleeping areas for the men in the large room. Bart was already asleep on the sofa, his rifle next to him. Maire and AJ would share the back room.
Maire placed a pistol next to the blankets she'd laid in front of the fire.
"Don't you think you've been sleeping on the floor long enough?" AJ asked, trying to find a comfortable position on the cot.
"One more night won't matter. To be honest, I can sleep anywhere knowing I'm free." Maire sat on her makeshift bed and poked at the fire. Once the flames sparked to life, she laid down facing it.
Long moments passed.
"Thank you for coming," Maire murmured.
"We love you, Maire. There's nothing to thank us for."
40
A steady rain greeted the group the following morning, tapering off to a drizzle by the time the bags were loaded. In daylight, the coach proved to be even worse than AJ expected, but the gray weather might have impacted her dismal observation. At least the rain had removed the dust. Lando sprinted across the muddy yard, blankets tucked under his arm. With no cushion left in the seats, and with an all-day journey ahead of them, blankets were the handiest items to help soften the ride.
With Maire and AJ the only occupants in the carriage, Finn and Ethan both agreed it would be safer if the weapons traveled inside the coach. If Dugan's men caught up with them, they'd want the weapons handy. No one was going back to Waverly.
AJ and Maire hugged Bart and Lincoln.
"You'll always have a place here whether you're on the run or not," Bart offered with amusement dancing in his eyes. He nodded to Beckworth. "Any friend of Teddy's is a friend of mine."
AJ glanced at Beckworth, but if he was bothered by Bart calling him Teddy, he didn't show it. It seemed a chosen few were among the privileged.
"I suppose I won't be getting a hug." Beckworth laughed when AJ scowled at him. "That's still better than being stuck with a blade." He rubbed his shoulder.
AJ couldn't hold back a grin. "I won't say it's been a pleasure." She scanned the yard and watched Lando jump up to the carriage's bench. He'd be the coachman for the journey. She turned back to Beckworth. "Are you sure you don't want to come with us? Dugan's men must still be searching."
Beckworth shook his head. "I'll stay here for a few days and let Dugan's men tire. Eleanor will send a message when it's safe to return. Besides, now that I've confirmed what's happened at Waverly, I have work to do."
"He'll be watching for you." Finn and Beckworth shared a look AJ couldn't read, but they seemed to have come to an understanding.
"He'll never be watching in the right place." He glanced at Lincoln. "I have my resources, and by the time you return, I'll know who can be trusted."
It seemed neither was willing to shake hands, so they simply nodded before Finn helped AJ and Maire into the coach. Once Finn and Ethan were mounted, Lincoln led them down to the gate. AJ stuck her head out the window, catching Beckworth's gaze as he watched them go. Before they turned from view, he raised a hand in salute, and AJ waved back. She didn't know what to make of him. Friend or foe? Or something in between? Finn was right. For now, they had the same goal, but as much as she wanted to trust Beckworth, it wouldn't hurt to watch their backs.
The first part of the journey was slow going with the rain and muddy road, but by mid-day, the drizzle stopped, and the roads began to dry. Maire had arranged the blankets to provide decent padding on the hard benches, but the ride was still bumpy. They were both thankful when they stopped at an inn.
They ate quickly. The men didn't feel they'd put enough distance between them and Waverly. AJ and Maire were allowed ten minutes for a stroll before Finn helped them back in the coach. Once on the road, AJ immediately complained.
She leaned out of the window and yelled at Finn. "We should have left the coach back at the inn and purchased two more horses. We could've sent a note for Beckworth to retrieve it. I'm feeling well enough to ride."
He grinned. "I wouldn't think you'd want to get back on a horse so soon after falling off one."
She scowled at him. "Haven't you heard it's best to get back on the horse as soon as you can?"
His grin grew wider as he tipped his head to her. "No." Then he clucked at the horse and moved to ride next to Lando.
AJ huffed as she resettled on the bench and crossed her arms. She squirmed and, unhappy with the lump of blankets, pulled one out from under her, and tossed it away.
"You didn't really think he'd let you back on a horse until you're fully healed, did you?" Maire's light tone belied the mischievousness in her gaze.
"Don't start. He's more agreeable in my time period."
"Ah. You can't seem to strip the eighteenth-century man away."
"If we stay here too long, he'll probably burn my trousers and sell my bow."
Maire laughed. "I doubt he'd ever go that far."
AJ grabbed the blanket she'd tossed aside and stuffed part of it behind her back. "I suppose not." She smiled. "I do love that man." She fiddled with the folds of her skirt before steeling herself. "Can I ask you a personal question?" When Maire raised a brow, AJ said, "It's about Ethan."
Before she could finish, someone shouted.
Both women froze. Waited. Two more shouts. The voices were too distant to be Finn or Ethan.
When the coach drew to an abrupt stop, Maire reached for a duffel and AJ for her bow.
"We're traveling to
Bristol. Why have you stopped us?" Finn's question was pleasant enough, but AJ knew that tone. Maire's quick glance told AJ she'd also heard the edge in her brother's response.
The women worked faster to remove weapons from the duffels as horses approached. Maire stopped to peer out the left-side window. Even with the gray skies, the brightness still bothered Maire, so they'd dropped the curtain before leaving Bart's. That turned out to be a blessing.
AJ peeked out the other side. "I see one on horseback, about fifteen yards out. He has a musket. He doesn't look like one of Dugan's men unless threadbare is the new uniform of the day. He seems focused on Ethan, who's just to the right of Lando."
She scanned the landscape. The last time she'd looked out the window, they'd been traveling through farmland. At some point, the road had entered a wooded area. The trees weren't dense, but still provided enough cover for riders to hide in.
Maire pushed back from the window and pulled a rifle from the duffel. "There are two on this side. One about ten yards with a pistol. The other one is closer—near Finn. He also has a pistol." She set the rifle on her lap and pushed shot into the muzzle. "I think they're highwaymen."
"Great." AJ raised her bow, but with her right arm next to the wall of the coach, she couldn't pull the string back and still keep her target in sight. "I can't get a shot from this angle. I need more room."
"Let me get the rifle ready, then I'll switch sides with you. Keep your arrow on the man closest to Finn. I'll aim toward the man on the far side of the coach."
"I'm afraid you've crossed into our territory." The stranger's voice was high-pitched but steady. "All we ask is a small toll."
Finn laughed. "I don't remember the king ordering tolls."
"Maybe he needs more revenue for the war effort," Ethan called out from the other side of the coach.
AJ had moved over to the left window in time to see the highwayman spit into the road.
"Let's cut the pleasantries. You know this is a robbery, so I'll ask only once to leave your hands where they are."
Maire used the butt of her rifle to tap the roof of the carriage. When she heard a return tap, she nodded to AJ and pointed the tip of her rifle under the bottom edge of the curtain.
AJ found the positioning from the bench awkward, so she pulled up her skirts and knelt on the floorboard. She nocked an arrow and pointed it toward the man closest to Finn. The arrow hovered an inch from the curtain as she waited for Finn's signal.
"We're no threat to you," Finn said. "We simply want to be on our way. If you take a good look at our carriage, it should be obvious we have nothing of value to steal."
The man studied the coach then frowned. "You might not be as wealthy as most we stop, but I doubt that carriage is empty. Not with the two of you riding guard." He waved his pistol in a lazy arc then turned toward who she assumed was Ethan. It was her best guess since she couldn't see Ethan from this angle.
The highwayman moved his horse a couple of paces closer, which gave AJ a better target. "Tell whoever's in the coach to get out."
Finn glanced at Lando. He must have given Finn the signal the women were ready because Finn's shoulders tensed. If she could see Finn's face, she'd bet her life savings, albeit not that impressive an amount, on the fact that Finn was smiling with his signature grin. She almost felt sorry for the highwaymen.
Finn waited. The only movement was the swish of his horse's tail.
"I said, tell them to come out of there." The highwayman's lips twisted into a sneer.
"I don't think so," Finn responded in a calm, lazy tone.
"We will shoot one of you to prove our intent if necessary."
"Maybe. But probably not before someone in the coach fires."
Hearing the signal, AJ moved the curtain aside just enough for the arrow to be seen.
The man sat straighter, which signaled his buddy to do the same. They glanced at each other, then the first man laughed. "An arrow?"
"I imagine your friend might find a rifle on the other side." Finn's tone had changed. He tried to maintain a hard edge, but AJ caught the lighter note.
She smiled. This was the first time they'd all worked together like this. While the situation was still dangerous, a sense of pride filled her that Finn trusted her and Maire to do their part.
Maire hadn't moved an inch since resting the muzzle on the window, but now she pushed it out farther. She whispered to AJ, "Our friend on this side of the coach looks a little nervous. He's moved his horse back a few steps and is now aiming at me."
"I have a good shot of the lead man. The one behind him has a firmer grip on his pistol, but he doesn't seem to know who to aim at." The highwaymen were now obviously outnumbered, but Finn, Ethan, and Lando were too exposed. She had to wait for Finn's signal.
"I understand that one or more of us may not make it." Finn shrugged. "But I can guarantee you'll be the first one to hit the ground."
The man stared at the window. He licked his lips and moved his horse to his left. AJ tracked the arrow as he moved. For the first time, the man's bravado slipped away. He glanced at his men again before his gaze focused on the arrow.
"Why don't we agree this was just a bad mistake." Finn nudged his horse so he faced the man. "If you put your guns away and ride directly south, through that trail where we can watch you, we'll let you go." He seemed to let his idea settle in before continuing. "Consider this a friendly warning. When we reach the next town, I'll have to send word about this encounter to the local constable. I imagine you'll have a day or two to find a different way to make a living, or at least find a different county."
The lead man stared at Finn as long seconds ticked by. Without another word, he nodded to the other men and lowered his weapon. His two friends joined him, and though they hadn't stowed their weapons, they kept them pointed down. When they began to back away, the three men looked up. At first, she wasn't sure what scared them until she realized they were watching Lando. AJ assumed he must have picked up his own musket, which was already primed and had been laying at his feet.
Clearly outmatched, the men continued backing up until the lead man turned and kicked his horse into a fast trot. The other men followed close.
Once they were far from sight, AJ relaxed the bow and stowed the arrow. Maire laid the rifle on the floorboard and rubbed her shoulders. Her grin was wide. "That felt good."
"Right?" AJ tucked her bow in the duffel when a knock came at the door. She turned to find Finn giving his sister a quick look before locking his sights on her.
"Everything all right?" Finn leaned in, and AJ gave him a swift kiss.
She moved closer. "I know that was dangerous, but at the same time…" She glanced over her shoulder at Maire, happy to see her friend whispering with Ethan. She gave Finn another kiss. "That was so hot."
Finn's laugh made AJ's toes curl. "I admit. Having the two of you as backup adds a new dimension. Now you know why you're in the carriage and not on horseback."
"You are too smart, Mr. Murphy."
"Team effort, Mrs. Murphy." They kissed again before Finn remounted. He glanced up at Lando. "Worked just like you thought it would."
AJ heard Lando's chuckle as the coach moved forward. They didn't stop again until they reached Hensley's manor. When their carriage rounded the circle in front of the stately mansion and came to a stop, the front door burst open.
Mary, Hensley's wife, raced down the steps. "Oh my. Oh my. I've been waiting days for your arrival."
AJ had barely stepped from the coach before the short, plump woman pulled AJ into a tight squeeze. AJ laughed as she hugged the woman back. She was truly happy to see Mary again. AJ had been in a dour mood the last time she'd been at Hensley's. She'd make sure to be the perfect guest this time.
"We hadn't heard from you since we received Finn's letter. We weren't sure when you'd arrive."
"My dear, let her breathe." Hensley's ruddy cheeks puffed out as he caught his breath after chasing his wife down the stairs. His jovial sm
ile instantly made her feel welcome. "It's good to see you again, my dear." Then he was shaking Finn's hand before the two men hugged. Hensley turned to his wife. "It's barely been a couple days since we received his letter."
Mary waved at hand at him, dismissing his response. "I don't care. I've been so worried about all of you." She turned toward Ethan and Maire. "Mr. Hughes, it's so good to see you again. And this time, you have a friend." She grabbed Maire's hands and gave her a quick perusal, much as she had the first time she'd met AJ. "This must be the friend you've been looking for. My dear, you are a beauty, but a bit on the thin side. No worries. Cook will take care of that. I have the best dinner planned. We were supposed to leave for London until we heard you might be coming this way. It's been over a month since I've had a chance to entertain anyone."
"Dear, let our guests at least get out of the courtyard." Hensley extended his arm, which she took as he guided her toward the steps.
Finn and Ethan followed Hensley's example, and the women took their arms as they followed after Hensley.
"It appears you're not quite the last ones to arrive," Mary yelled over her shoulder.
AJ glanced at Finn, who didn't seem surprised by the statement. When she glanced up, she paused before taking her next step.
On the landing, a group had gathered just outside the front door. Jamie and Fitz from the Daphne Marie, and Thomas from the earl's guard waited for them.
"Always the one for a grand entrance, Captain," Jaime shouted down, and the men parted as they greeted their friends.
41
True to her word, Mary kept the food flowing. Whether the never-ending banquets were to help Maire recover or to keep all the men in the house satisfied, AJ wasn't sure. But for the last two days, the group had split their time between recuperating and making plans, and not once did they have to step far for nourishment.
Mary kept the house staff busy altering clothes for Finn and Ethan until they were both dressed like country gentlemen in well-tailored breeches, waistcoats and cravats. AJ and Maire each received a new day dress and one evening gown. Hensley tried to stop his wife, but no one wanted to dissuade her from what she seemed to enjoy. And Maire and AJ couldn't keep sharing the same two dresses.
