by Darcy Burke
Actually, Ella thought with a pang of remorse, she had done exactly that. It was better this way. She would be spared the pain of seeing disgust in his eyes once he found out she was a bastard child, and Maddie would not suffer for her misfortune. She decided to ask Clive to return only the money he wanted to give her. She would not contest the generous dowry for Maddie. She deserved a chance at life. As for the bakery, she would need to leave word with Penny who the beneficiary was that paid to fix the oven. It felt good to know she would still be able to leave Penny with the bakery. Clearing her mind, she put the now dry tip back into the well and then scratched out a quick note to Clive. With luck, by the time he read it, she would be on her way.
♥♥♥
Devon settled in to watch the dilapidated farm where Ella's uncles resided. He wasn't sure how much money these men had extorted from his wife, but they by no means spent any to improve their living conditions. The sun was still an hour or two from setting and his hideout was in an optimum position. The Inn was surprisingly close so it took no time to throw his bag on the bed in his rented room and be off again.
There was no movement around the farm. The ill looking horse from the woods stood with his head bent close to what appeared a lean to for the poor beast. Not a man of great patience, Devon ground his teeth. Sitting back against a tree, he began plotting his route around the farm. He had a feeling he would be waiting quite a while.
♥♥♥
When Clive made his way back to the library, he was in quite a temper. How the devil could he sit by knowing his best friend might very well be walking into his own death? He had promised to look after Ella and Maddie's welfare. To his mind, the best way to do that would be to make sure Devon was unharmed. Slumping into a chair, he sighed deeply. He was sure love wasn't supposed to be so painful for the onlookers.
A polite cough pulled him from his dark thoughts, "What is it? Devon has stepped out," he commented to Devon's valet.
"Yes, my Lord. I am aware of that. I assume you have spoken with him. He left instructions for me to give his apologies for leaving so unexpectedly."
"No need, my good man. Your esteemed employer dismissed himself. Thank you." Clive dearly wanted to get back to his pouting, and he was about to hit his stride.
"My Lord, there was something else." The valet crossed to his chair. Clive looked down at the envelope the valet extended from his hand. This could not be good news. Clive plucked the offending velum from the servant's hand. If there was a God, he was the humorous sort. He read, anticipating its contents. With a disgusted sound, Clive rose from his chair. His pout would have to wait.
"Thank you. I'll take care of this. Do you know where Lady Ella is?" He asked as he made his way to his desk to pen his own note to Eric. He would have to put Eric on his staff after this farce was cleared up.
"She instructed me to wait an hour before giving it to you. I would not claim to know where she may be, my Lord," he stated. "However, I got the impression she would be leaving the manor today."
"Thank you," Clive said in a tight voice, as he rushed from the room. "Those two bloody well deserve each other. That is clear, and if they can't see it, for my own well-being I will inform them of it as soon as I throw them out of my home on their ears," he grumbled out loud, not caring the gardeners were staring as he stalked to the stable to ready his horse and send a messenger to find Eric.
♥♥♥
The bakery was silent when Ella and Maddie parked the gig in the backyard. Every possible opening stood wide to rid the putrid air within. The kitchen was dark with only the light from the two doorways, but the damage was easy to spot. Ella swallowed a lump in her throat. She wasn't sure if it was brought on by the devastation to her kitchen, or because this would be her last memory of her home. Giving herself a mental shake, she turned to get Maddie to work.
"Come, darling, we are going on a trip. Shall we collect what things we need from upstairs so we might be off?"
"A trip? How fun!" Maddie jumped and clapped her hands together. Her enthusiasm would be contagious if Ella was ready to leave. She fell in behind Maddie as they ascended the stairs and fell further behind making sure to get the knot on her reticule secured to the inside of her skirts. Maddie ran ahead and was well into the center of the room before she made the last step. It was then that she noted the large dark shadow in the corner closest to Maddie. She took a step, but at that moment, a beefy arm came around her waist and held her firm. The greasy voice in her ear sent a cold chill down her spine.
"Ah, dear niece, we've come to aid in yer escape. How fortunate 'tis for us that ye decided to flee like yer cowardly mum. No one'll think te look fer ye until 'tis too late."
She attempted to struggle until she saw the other man grab Maddie and heft her up in his arms. Bile rose and she barely forced it down as she went very still. "Leave the child. This is not about her."
"Oh, but isn't it? She is the last of the line. Last of the heathen offspring of our dear brother's killer she is. It may be more 'bout her than you, deary."
Had Ella not wanted to save her daughter above all else she might have given in to the desire to swoon. These men were going to kill her and Maddie. If it were her last act on this Earth, she would save her daughter. Those were her last thoughts before a sharp pain vibrated from behind her ear and all went black, save for little white stars dancing until those as well were extinguished.
♥♥♥
Night had fallen and still no movement within the small dilapidated house. Devon had long since decided its occupants were not there. The question was where were they? If he left to go back to the inn, he might very well miss something, but if he were already too late, then what? He hadn't thought of that. Panic rose quick and hot in his chest. If he were here while they were already acting on their plan, he would never know. He voiced an oath. He had to check on Ella. Just as he began to rise, a noise sent him back into the brush. He watched as Clive rode boldly into the farmyard. His horse shook and pranced hinting at its rider's unease.
"Devon?" Clive called into the woods. He wouldn't be so blatantly obvious if he didn't know something. Dread settled into his bones.
"What happened?" Devon asked making his way out of the woods. "Where is Ella?"
Clive's horse pranced in a circle as Clive strove to bring him about. "She sent a note saying she was leaving the area. I went to try to head her off at the bakery and found this on the worktable. Her gig was hitched to that all but dead beast of hers ready to flee." Devon took the dirty sheet of paper from Clive and read the note.
"It appears they want me to witness the death of my family," Devon bit out coldly.
"I agree. They are going to try to gain some more blunt before they do the deed. Greedy buggers," Clive spat.
"Well, my friend, that will be their demise." He turned and ran to his horse in the wooded area he had been hiding in for so long. Damn it, Ella may not want him, or his help, but she would have to suffer it now, and for the rest of her life. After this, he would never let her out of his sight.
♥♥♥
The pain in her head came hard and fast. As did her memory of why. Fear rose by degrees as she tried in vain to open her eyes. She needed to find Maddie. Was her little girl in the room with her? Was she even in a room? The air was thick with mildew and filled with a large rushing sound like a waterfall. Again trying to open her eyes, the sharp pain behind her right ear made her moan. Maybe if she could calm herself, she could press through the pain and be effective.
She lay on the hard pricking surface, obviously hay, slowing her breathing and willing her heart to stop pounding. She had never been so frightened. Many times her father had pushed her or grabbed her arm, and once, soon after her mother died, he had struck her in the face sending her to the ground. Never had he struck her so hard she lost consciousness. Gently, she touched her ear. Her hair was matted and sticky from the thick blood there. She had to find Maddie. Now.
Once able to fight past the shooting
pain forcing her eyes to open and take in her surroundings. She was in a room. It was dark with several holes cut in the walls for light. The room was empty save for a few wooden crates and a tall workbench with a stool set to one side. Her neck ached as she stretched to take in the area. As she sat up a wave of nausea took her. That was not a good sign. She sat calming her churning stomach and head. Maddie was not in this room.
Now what? Should she call out to Maddie? If she did, would anyone hear her? The rushing water she heard was coming from the large water wheel outside the building to the right. She must be at a mill. That would explain the pungent earthy smell, but it didn't explain where her daughter was. It would not be very difficult to dispatch a three year old. She would be defenseless against those horrible men. Her heart slammed into her chest with fear. Ella was the only hope her daughter had. No one would think to look for them. She had seen to that. With her letter from Devon and her note to Clive, she had made sure no one would look for her, at least not soon.
She drew her legs to her and noticed her ankles tied together in a loose knot. With slow moves to try to stave off the dizziness, she set to unbinding herself. They had not expected her to gain consciousness. Pulling herself to her knees, she could just see out of the window holes. The view she was afforded was nothing but treetops, which told her she was in the top of the building. Maddie could be anywhere, or nowhere. The bile was swallowed as she made it the rest of the way onto her feet. Another wave of nausea came as the room swayed and dipped in her vision, but she was ready and quelled it. Her ankle throbbed still, but not so much so that she couldn't walk.
Oh, how she wished Devon were here. She knew he would fix things, but he wasn't. She was alone. That is what she had wanted. She had met a man who claimed he wanted her in his life and would care for her. A man who loved his daughter and wanted to be a true father. Ella was yanked from her thoughts by a loud noise outside the door at the other end of the room.
Ella threw herself back down to the floor and the loose bed of straw. Her head spun. She barely covered her now unbound ankles before her uncles entered the room.
"I ken ye're in charge, but 'tis it smart to keep the bairn alive?" The taller one asked following her shorter more dangerous looking uncle into the room. Ella watched the blurry visions through a tiny slit in her eyelids. Her heart soared and her breath caught. Maddie was still alive. She hoped they could not hear her heart pounding.
"Stop naggin' me, ye idiot. Ain't I tryin' to get us what we should've had all along?"
"Well, I ken ye are tryin'--"
"Jus' let me handle things," the short man spat. Ella decided she hadn't missed anything. For the first time, she actually missed her father. He wasn't as loving and caring as she would have liked, but it was better than this. "Me first worry is this lass."
They were standing over her now, looking down at her. Her stomach turned.
"Did ye kill her straight off? I kenned ye was going to wait 'till that fancy gent showed?"
Stuck frozen, unable to react to his words, they settled around her.
What gent?
Devon?
It had to be. Apparently, if these two could figure out the connection, they hadn't done a bang up job at hiding it. They must be hoping to bargain with Devon for her life. The irony was funny, so much so, Ella had to steel herself not to laugh. There was no way Devon would bargain for her. First, she had left him once and forced him to leave her a second time. Second, he never wanted a wife much less a child. Once Devon found out these were her uncles and where she truly came from, he would more likely thank the heavens for dispatching her so as not to saddle him with the likes of her.
To her chagrin, a single tear escaped and rolled down mixing with the sticky blood surrounding her ear. She was sure Devon would not allow her to be killed, but then would cast her off as any nobleman would do. She loved him and couldn't bear to see it in his eyes. Acting now was imperative.
The men continued arguing over her as to the best way to wake her or to check if she was dead. It was a good chance to see what she could do. From the tight slit in her eyelids, she could just see the men to their waists. The shorter one had a pistol stuffed in his breeches. If she could grab it that would give her one shot. Unfortunately, one shot wouldn't kill two men. The other taller man had a knife in his hand, which meant she would have to wrestle for it. Her chances weren't good, she knew. Her only chance, she decided, was to get the pistol and perhaps try to bargain with them herself. Then she remembered her own lady's pistol in her reticule, if they hadn't taken it from her. She willed herself to feel if the reticule were still sitting at her hip under her skirts. After a bit of concentration, she did feel the pouch and she could feel the heaviness of the pistol. Now, all she had to do was wait for a chance to get to it. It would not be easy or modest because she would have to go up under her skirts for quick access.
Dearly hoping her nausea and dizziness had subsided, she moved with a quickness she didn't know she had. Both men yelped at seeing her spring into action. Her uncle with the knife jumped and she noticed something fly out of his hand and land with a thud in the hay, but it wasn't the knife. She had been able to move, so the shorter man didn't have a chance to defend his weapon. She dove for the pistol that had been thrown from the surprise of her jumping up. The handgrip of the pistol was cold in her palm and heavy. With it steadied on her uncles, she felt a measure of control to see their distress.
"Now, what ye gonna do with that, poppet?" The short uncle asked. "Ye ain't gonna kill us." His voice was filled with taunting.
Ella couldn't take anymore. She got right to the point. "I am sure that is what your brother said to my dear mother before she dispatched him." Understanding dawned on both their faces to her satisfaction. "Now I believe I may be in charge. So, I am asking only once. Where is my daughter?" Walking toward him forcing him back, she pointed the gun at his chest.
"Calm yeself, lass, she's close, tied nice and tight. Me brother here wanted to be done with her, but I had too much compassion for the bairn to allow it." The shorter man began.
"Quiet!" She yelled, not wanting to hear his lies. What should she do next? They wouldn't stand here long allowing her to hold them at gun point. What seemed like an eternity stretched before her. Time slowed. That's when she smelled it. Just a hint at first, but the smoke began to fill her nostrils. Fire. Her uncle had been holding a pipe when she jumped. Where one uncle dropped the pistol the other one threw his lighted pipe.
"Ye can't win. Ye knows it too," again, the shorter man said in his oily tone with an even oilier smile. "Give me the gun." He reached out for her to relinquish her weapon. Only half listening, Ella turned in time to see the room behind her filling with smoke.
The whole wall where the hay had been piled was aflame.
A movement brought her back, in time to see her uncle grab for the weapon. Without thinking, she discharged the weapon. Her uncle realized at the same time as her. She had shot him. Adrenaline surged within her. Not taking chances, she ran for him and shoved. She had backed him up to a window hole. She watched in horror and relief as he disappeared from view.
Turning to see if anything could be done to extinguish the flames, she felt a searing pain in her arm. The knife. In the excitement, she had forgotten her taller uncle and his knife. He was unconcerned about the fire spreading up the wall of the mill, the smoke now filling the air and sending acrid fumes into their lungs.
"Ye killed 'im. Ye killed me brother," he said in astonishment.
"Yes, I did." She could feel the hot blood run down the sleeve of her dress. If she didn't do something soon, she would be too weak to save both herself and Maddie.
♥♥♥
Light flooded the clearing as Devon and Clive rode to the mill. The water rushed loudly over the falls and around the large water wheel. The smoke they had spied on the road, rolled from the upper floor. Two of the four walls were fully engulfed. A wagon and horse stood to the left of the building. Devon dism
ounted and ran to the wagon. In the thin layer of hay, even in the growing darkness, he saw what he feared.
Blood. To make sure, he reached in, rubbing it between his fingers. An absolute panic gripped him coiled with the need for blood himself.
"There doesn't appear to be enough to indicate death," Clive said of the amount of blood they were examining. "It would seem a wound for ease of travel. I am sure your wife didn't go willingly," he added.
"I am aware of that, but what of Maddie?" Devon growled, with frustration. The men began to search the area with urgency.
"Can you see that?" Clive pointed up toward the figures as well. "Is it her?"
"I can't tell." His focus shifted as the single shot rang out. He felt more than heard Ella's name being ripped from his chest.
Both men headed for the double doors of the mill at a dead run. They watched as a body fell from a side window hitting the ground with a thud. It was obvious not to be Ella. The body lay still in the dirt. One uncle. Devon looked up at the window. Nothing.
Wasting no more time, the men rose and headed for the doors. "I'll check the downstairs for Maddie. You go help Ella!" Clive hollered over the din of the fire and rushing water.
Once inside, Devon found the stairs at the far end of the large open room. Smoke now poured from the upper floor making him bend low as he neared the top of the stairs. He would not be able to see anything.
