MacFarlane's Ridge (26 page)

Cam peeked around his broad shoulders. “How do you know he’s here? Have you seen him?”

“Not yet. But he’s been to
The Lady Meg
. Thibodeaux met him last night. He wasna’ impressed with him, either.”

Cam realized they were behind the Captain Carter Inn. “So now what?” she demanded. The rum was beginning to wear off, and she was tired.

“Now we play along with Sinclair’s game. Thibodeaux will send word to him that we’re here at the Captain Carter, and I expect your friend will show himself on the wharfs some time soon after that,” he explained.

“Oh, I think I’m going to throw up,” she announced. She collapsed to her knees, and her prediction came true.

Rob knelt beside her, holding her hair out of her face. “If I’d known ye weren’t a rum drinker, I’d have given ye a nice harmless glass of claret instead.”

“Mmmpph.”

“Well, when ye’re done – watch ye dinna step in that – we’ll get ye settled into bed. A nap might do ye some good, and ye’ll need to be awake when Sinclair shows up.”

When she was done retching, she leaned against him weakly. “Thank you.”

“Ye’re quite welcome. Finished, then?”

“Aye,” she mumbled. Somehow she managed to get up the back steps and into the inn. They passed no one in the halls, for which Cam was thankful. When they reached Angus’ room, Rob tapped lightly.

“Angus? Open the bloody door, man.”

The door flung open, and Angus stared out. “Back so soon?”

“Aye. She’s drunk, and a sorrowful one at that.” Rob pushed her into the room, and Cam collapsed on the bed. Wanda was nowhere in sight.

“Where’s your red-headed lass?”

Angus shrugged. “She went to take a bath. And she’s not mine.”

“Aye, well, she will be if ye keep spending the day alone in a room with her and her not havin’ a chaperone, aye? I hope ye’ve not done anything foolish.”

Angus glanced at Cam’s prostrate shape on the bed. “I think you’re hardly in a position to speak to me about women and foolishness, ye big gowk. What did you do to her?”

“Never ye mind. We’re expecting a visitor,” he said gravely.

Wayne Sinclair returned to
The Lady Meg
on his second evening in Richmond. Thibodeaux had sent his messenger, a cabin boy, last night, with the simple message,
The parties about whom you inquire have arrived.

He couldn’t believe his good fortune. Wounded, he had managed to get from the middle of nowhere all the way to Richmond. Somehow, his leg healed without picking up any infection along the way. He could very well have developed gangrene, and died a slow and miserable death out in the woods, alone. Wayne shuddered at the thought. The bottom line was that he was still alive and very close to finding Cameron Clark. That idiot, Robert MacFarlane, had told just about every hillbilly in his path where he was going, making it easy for Wayne to follow him to Richmond. Once here, Wayne had gone straight to
The Lady Meg
.

He was surprised, to say the least, to find a black man at the helm. But Thibodeaux was quite cooperative, especially when Wayne had offered him the substantial amount of twenty gold pieces for any information leading to Cameron Clark. Just a few hours later, after returning to his room at the Gray Lady Tavern, the cabin boy had arrived. Wayne had been occupied with a lusty young lady named Katherine at the time, but the boy had politely slipped the note under the door.

“Thibodeaux! I hadn’t expected to hear from you so soon!” he exclaimed, removing his elegant hat and making himself comfortable in the captain’s cabin. Thibodeaux poured him a glass of brandy.

“Well, Monsieur Sinclair, I had not expected to hear from Monsieur MacFarlane so soon. They arrived only hours ago. The young lady you seek is quite lovely,” winked Thibodeaux.

Wayne smiled. “She’s lovely, yes. Unfortunately her personality leaves a great deal to be desired. She stabbed me in the leg, you know. Nearly killed me.”

Thibodeaux laughed. “A saucy one, eh? Sometimes those are the most attractive women. Perhaps she just needs a man to tame her?”

“She needs something, that’s for certain. Did MacFarlane tell you where they are staying?”

“
Oui
, that he did.” The sea captain examined his fingernails.

“And do you intend to share that information with me, Thibodeaux?”

Thibodeaux glanced up. “
Pardonnez moi
, I believe we have a financial matter to settle, no?”

Wayne tossed a sack onto the oak desk. “Twenty pieces, pure gold. You can count them if you wish.” Thank heavens he had found that payroll wagon on the road to Richmond. It hadn’t been that hard to steal from the soldiers once they were drunk enough.

Thibodeaux waved his hand nonchalantly. “To count them would be ungentlemanly. I would not question your honor, Monsieur Sinclair. Mademoiselle Clark is with Robert at the Captain Carter Inn. It is not far from here. I can have the boy Jamie take you there, if you wish.”

“That won’t be necessary,” smiled Wayne. “I certainly appreciate your cooperation. I do have one question, if you don’t mind?”

“You wish to know why I do this?”

“I have to admit I’ve wondered,” Wayne grinned.

Thibodeaux fingered the pouch of gold. “I am a man of business, Monsieur Sinclair. Some day perhaps I shall own this ship. But I cannot do so without capital, no?” He paused delicately. “Robert knows you are coming. He is expecting your arrival any time. He asked me to send you to him.”

Wayne stood motionless. “And the girl?”

“She was crying, drunk on Jamaican rum the last time I saw her. Perhaps we can arrange another transaction to solve your problems with her?”

“Such as?” Wayne’s eyes narrowed.

Thibodeaux shrugged. “I will be setting sail in a day for the Caribbean. Men get lonely on a ship. She would provide a nice… diversion for the men, would she not?”

Wayne smiled. “She certainly would, but I rather expect she would fight you tooth and nail.”

“So much the better. You yourself admitted she needed to be tamed.” Thibodeaux leaned forward. “I can make the young lady disappear, if you wish. She can sail with us to Jamaica, or perhaps she would meet the fate of so many other unfortunates, and die at sea? I merely mention it as an option for you,
monsieur
.”

Wayne tapped his chin. “Not a bad idea at all, Thibodeaux.”

The captain smiled. “Of course, if you wish her to survive her journey, there are plenty of men in Jamaica who would pay handsomely for a white woman. It can be a rather lucrative trade.”

Wayne practically crowed with excitement. Nothing – well, almost nothing – would please him more than seeing Cameron Clark sold to white slavers. He liked Thibodeaux. The man was greedy, to be sure, but brutally honest. He shook the captain’s hand.

“It’s been a pleasure. I’ll have to let you know what to do about Cameron. We’ll see how it goes at the Captain Carter.”

Thibodeaux raise his glass. “Do not wait too long, my friend. As I said, we sail tomorrow afternoon with the high tide.”

Wayne smiled. “A day is ample time. I’ll be in touch.”

Cam awoke in darkness. There was something warm next to her.

“Hello?” she asked tentatively.

“Hey, sleeping beauty,” replied Wanda. “How are we feeling?”

“Drained. What time is it?”

“Nearly morning. Angus and Rob are next door. They gave us Angus’ room. Right chivalrous of them, don’t you think?”

“Very. Did I make a complete fool of myself?”

Wanda thought for a moment. “Not a complete one, no. You pretty much passed out once Rob got you back here, honey. Boy, he’s got it bad for you.”

“What are you talking about, Wanda?”

“Rob. You. Sparks flyin’ and all that happy shit. So what’s happening with you two?”

Cam rolled over. “Nothing. Everything seems to be on hold.”

“Until when?”

“Wanda, I don’t know. The last time he even seemed interested was the night after I got back to the Ridge and found Wayne Sinclair there. Rob… well, like I said, he seemed interested. Now,” she continued, “I don’t know what to think.”

“Well, you have to admit you weren’t looking too awful desirable last night. Even if he does want you, who wants to kiss a gal that just threw up?”

“Don’t remind me,” Cam groaned. She lit a candle and stumbled to the washbasin. “So, your turn. What’s up with you and Angus?”

Wanda smiled her Cheshire cat smile.  “I like him. He likes me. We talk. That’s all.”

Cam splashed the cold water on her face and rinsed out her mouth. “Wanda, Granny Emily’s genealogy sheet didn’t have a wife listed for Angus. It just said that he had a couple of sons, one of whom apparently ended up being my ancestor.”

Wanda laughed softly. “What are you asking me?”

“You know darn well what I’m asking you. Who does Angus marry?”

“It doesn’t really matter, does it?”

“It does to me. You said once that you expected you would have to stay here. What did you mean?”

There was a pause from Wanda’s corner of the bed. “I don’t know who Angus marries. No one seems to.”

“So it could be you,” breathed Cam.

“It could, honey, but it may not be. We’ll just have to wait and see, okay?”

There was a knock at the door.

“Who’s there?” Wanda called.

“Jamie Fleming, missus!” It was the cabin boy from
The Lady Meg
. “Mornin’ to ye, missus. Is Master Rob here?”

“He’s next door, Jamie. What’s wrong?”

The boy shifted uncomfortably. “I need to talk to Master Rob.” He scurried over to the next room, pointedly ignoring Cam. She watched him suspiciously.

The door opened, and Jamie slipped in silently. Cam strained to hear what was being said, but the thick oak door muffled all sound.

“Damn,” she murmured, changing her dress hurriedly. “Get up, Wanda. Something is going on.”

Wanda slipped out of bed. “There always seems to be, doesn’t there?”

Moments later, Cam was tapping on Rob and Angus’ door. Without waiting for a reply, she barged in.

“What is happening? Is it Sinclair?” she hissed.

Angus was pulling on his shoes. He peered over his glasses at her in the dim light. “Young Jamie says Thibodeaux has requested Rob’s presence at
The Lady Meg
. Sinclair has come a-calling, last evening, looking for you.”

Rob didn’t look concerned. “Aye, well, that’s what we had expected. Jamie, ye’d best get back to the ship before the lads begin to think ye’ve fallen into the sea like wee Jackie MacLachlan. Angus and I shall be along directly.”

The boy slipped out of the room without another word.

“I’m assuming you have some sort of a plan?” Cam asked Rob anxiously.

“That I do. Are ye feeling well enough this morning?”

“Er, yes. Thank you.”

“Good. I canna have ye vomiting when you get aboard
The Lady Meg
. The lads willna want to be swabbing up after you. I’ll send Angus back for you as soon as it’s safe.” He pushed a wayward strand of dark hair out of his eyes and winked at her.

“Wait. I thought we were all going to the ship.”

“Nae, you’re not at all, lass. Ye’re to barricade yourself in the room until Angus or I come to fetch you.”

Wanda rolled her eyes and snorted.

Rob frowned at her. “That’ll be enough from you, lass. Will ye stay and keep Miss Clark out o’ trouble?”

Wanda smiled. “Oh, you can count on it. I won’t let her out of my sight.”

Cam’s mind was racing. Something wasn’t right. “Rob, no. Why can’t I go?”

He took her hand and led her out into the hall, closing the door behind him. “Listen, lass, I canna have you go to the ship yet. Jamie said Thibodeaux may have made a deal with Sinclair, and I have to be sure it’s safe before ye get aboard.
The Lady Meg
sails this afternoon. You and I will be on her, ye can be sure of that.”

She stared at him. “What if Wayne comes here?”

Rob shook his head. “I think it unlikely. He knows we’ll be at the ship before she leaves today, and I expect he’ll be waiting for us there. He may already be aboard. Regardless, I need to speak to Thibodeaux before they pull up anchor.”

Cam frowned. “I don’t like this, Rob.”

He lifted her chin, and stared down into her eyes. “Ye think I do, lass? I canna stand to let ye out of my sight for more than a moment. But it’s the only way. I need to make sure that you’ll be out of danger on
The Lady Meg
.”

“I thought Captain Thibodeaux was your friend.”

“Aye, he has been for a long time. But he is also a businessman,” he replied dryly. “He would likely sell himself to the devil if there were to be a profit in it.” He pulled her closer. “Thibodeaux will take us south for a day or so, and then let us off near one of the plantations. There’s to be a small boat waiting. He’ll put us off in the night, while your friend Sinclair stays aboard
The Lady Meg
.”

“Where do we go then? Back to the Ridge?”

He paused, then nodded. “Aye. And by the time Sinclair figures out that you’re not aboard, he’ll be halfway to Jamaica.”

Cam relaxed. “And I’ll be safe.”

“Aye, Cameron Clark, that ye will,” he murmured, and kissed her lightly.

“Rob?”

“Aye?”

“What happens when we get back to the Ridge?”

He thought for a moment. “I suppose that depends on you, now, doesn’t it?” He cocked his head towards the door, and a split second later, Angus and Wanda emerged.

“Are y’all behaving out here?” Wanda asked.

Cam stepped away from Rob, blushing. “Of course,” she mumbled.

“Good,” said Angus. “Are ye ready, Robbie?”

“Aye.” Rob turned to Cam. “I’ll be back for ye, I promise. I will come for ye. Remember that, Cameron Clark.”

Wanda looked at Angus. “I expect you’ll be back too.”

Angus merely smiled at her, and then he and Rob descended the stairs without a backward glance.

“I don’t like waiting here like this,” Cam grumbled. It was early afternoon, and they had still heard nothing from Robert or Angus.

“Join the club,” Wanda said. “They’ll be back soon.” She was tying the laces of her boots into intricate knots.

“What makes you so sure?”

Wanda stared out the window. “Well, for starters, it’s obvious that Rob is in love with you. And Angus and I have an understanding.”

“An understanding? What kind of understanding?”

“We have a mutual respect for one another,” she said primly.

Cam sighed. She clearly wasn’t going to get any information from Wanda. “You’re driving me insane, you know.”

Wanda ignored her. “Someone’s coming.”

“Where?” Cam raced to the window.