The Pursuit (9 page)

Niki looked to Denley. “Stay in here. I’ll handle this.”

Edward looked to see if she was serious and realized she’d been speaking to Denley. He didn’t think Denley would obey, but a moment later, when a man opened the door of the carriage and ordered all of them out, Niki was the first to emerge, moving like a man in control. His heart beating painfully against his ribs, Edward followed her. And to his utter surprise, Denley kept his seat inside.

Edward felt the ground beneath his feet, but not even the firmness of the earth could give him a sense of reality. It would seem they were being held up, something he’d never experienced in his life. He would have wished for several different companions in this situation, his brother or one of his brothers in-law to name a few, but that was not to be.

Accompanied by a woman and an ill servant, Edward Steele was in Portugal, out on a road that was miles from anywhere, and about to be robbed of his possessions. He wondered if his family would ever believe this story. He then had the sober thought of wondering whether he’d be alive to tell them.

Chapter Five

“Out!” the man who opened the door ordered Denley.

“That’s my servant,” Niki said in a cold tone. “He’s ill.”

The man by the door sent another look toward Denley before directing his gaze to the one man still on horseback. Niki didn’t see the exact communication, but the man on foot suddenly backed away from the coach. It took Niki no time to figure out who was in charge.

“What do you want?” she asked of the man still on horseback, her tone commanding his attention.

The man who had opened the door had moved to a safe distance; he did not appear to be armed. The other man, larger than the first, had come off of his horse to approach.

“What do you think we want?” he asked.

Niki took in his dirty red vest as she answered.

“I’m in no mood to play games,” Niki said, her voice low and deep. “State your business!”

The man smiled an ugly smile, full of malice and greed.

“My business is your money, sir. I will wait patiently while you hand it over.”

With a long-suffering look, Niki reached for her pocket. Edward did the same, but before he could lay his hand on his wallet, a short sword appeared in Niki’s hand. Where it had come from he hadn’t seen, but it was now up against the neck of the man with the red vest, pressing hard enough to draw blood.

The first man, now standing next to his horse, had drawn a pistol. This did not escape Niki’s notice, but she spoke calmly.

“He might shoot me, but you’ll still die. The choice is yours.”

“What do you want?” red vest asked, visibly sweating.

“Throw the gun down.”

Niki heard more than saw it hit the ground.

“Now,” she spoke to red vest again. “I want you to get on your horses and ride away from here very fast. Do not bother us again.”

Anger filled the man’s eyes, but he stepped back. His head jerked and the other man climbed into his saddle. Niki followed red vest for several steps, her sword still out, waiting for him to dive for the pistol, but it didn’t happen. Some words were spoken that she did not understand, but just a few moments later the men wheeled their horses about and took off. Niki watched until they were a good distance away and then rounded on the two coachmen.

“Who told you to stop this coach?”

“We thought they wanted a ride,” the one explained in poor English.

“I hired this coach. It is not your place to offer anyone else a ride! If you stop this coach again before I tell you, I’ll drive it myself, and you can walk back to Lisbon.”

They nodded, fear apparent on each of their faces. Edward was a little afraid himself but followed when she climbed back inside. Her fist hit the roof, and the coach set off.

His back against the seat, and his heart still pounding, Edward could not stop looking at Niki. He turned a few times to look out the window, but his eyes came back to her after only a moment.

“Where did that come from?” he finally voiced.

“The sword?”

“Yes.”

“I keep it in my coat.”

“And would you have actually used it?”

“I’ve never killed a man if that’s what you’re asking me, but, yes, I would have protected myself.”

Not until that moment did Edward notice the way she trembled and the small quiver in her voice. Compassion filled him, and he looked across at Denley.

“Are you all right?”

“Yes, Mr Steele,” he answered quietly. “Thank you.”

“Niki?” Edward asked, turning back to her.

“I’ll be fine,” she answered without looking at him. In truth she wasn’t sure. She had pulled her sword out before but never used it. Her eyes closed to try and dispel the image of the drops of blood on that man’s neck, but she could still see it.

Edward looked across at Denley, whose eyes were riveted on Niki. He looked shaken and weary, and Edward tried to shake off the shock that had come over him.

“Lie back down, Denley,” he ordered. “Rest as much as you can.”

Denley did lie down, but his eyes were still on his employer.

Edward then took one of Denley’s blankets, and without permission, put it over Niki. She only looked at him.

“Lay your head back and try to rest.”

She still stared at him.

“I may not be good with a sword or marauders, but I know what to do when someone is upset. Here.” He held out a cup of water. “Take a drink.”

Niki did as she was told, the feelings of unreality still stealing over her. She couldn’t remember the last time someone had taken care of her, not in this way. Denley was ever faithful, seeing to each need, but he was not the idea man. He didn’t tell her what to do or demand that she take care of herself. Edward Steele had no such inhibitions. Right now he was the one giving the orders, and he obviously expected to be obeyed.

“Close your eyes,” Edward commanded, taking the cup from her grasp.

“Every time I do that, I see that man’s bleeding neck.”

Edward took a breath. It had been awful.

“He would have robbed you,” he said at last. “And he might have killed you. You did what you had to do. I, for one, am very thankful that I didn’t lose my wallet. Thank you for what you did.”

Niki nodded, suddenly very ready to close her eyes. Where the tears had come from she didn’t know, but they were rushing in, and that was something she couldn’t let anyone see.

Though not actually sleeping, Niki lay still for a long time. She pushed the robbers from her mind time and again and then realized someone was reading a book near her. She heard the pages turning. She peeked over at Edward and found him bending over his Bible.

“Does something in there comfort you?”

“Yes,” he answered softly.

“What is it?”

“I’m reading in Genesis—the first few chapters about creation.”

“And this brings comfort to you?”

Edward looked over at her. “After an incident like that, I need to be reminded of the orderly God who loves me and who would never let me out of His sight.”

Niki sat up a little. “And you get that in Genesis?”

“Yes. You see, God’s design and plan are perfect. He doesn’t let things happen without a reason. I may never know why we were stopped today, but God had a plan, and I can rest in that.”

Niki had to think on this one. Edward stayed silent. Aware that Denley was asleep again, she realized they were basically alone.

“But there are verses that speak of comfort?” Niki asked, leaning toward him a little.

“Yes, many of them, especially in Psalms. Would you like me to find some?”

“You don’t have to.” Niki caught herself and pulled back, emotionally and physically.

Edward ignored her and turned to that book. He began in chapter 119, reading several verses.

“‘This is my comfort in my affliction; for thy word hath quickened me.’ That was verse 50. Then verse 76 says, ‘Let, I pray thee, thy merciful kindness be for my comfort, according to thy word unto thy servant.’ A verse from chapter 86 doesn’t use the word comfort, but the message is still there. ‘For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive, and plenteous in mercy unto all those who call upon thee.’ Another one like that is in chapter 91, verse 2, ‘I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress, my God; in him will I trust.’”

“How do you know of those verses?”

“I have them marked in my Bible.”

“So you’ve studied it quite a bit.”

“Off and on for many years,” he answered honestly.

“What’s been most significant to you?”

Edward cocked his head to think.

“It’s probably the fact that salvation is only the beginning. Once we trust Christ for our eternal destination, we still have a life to live on this earth. I spent too many years living for myself and not really seeking what God would have of me.”

“So eternal life might have been lost to you?” Niki asked.

“No, my salvation, the trust I put in Christ to save me, was real, but I was ignorant and blinded by my own desires about living for Him. I would not have been lost, but neither would I have been able to stand before God and say that I’d chosen to devote my life in order to live as His child. By that I mean making Him my God in every sense.”

Niki looked as confused as she felt. Edward read it on her face and searched for a way to explain.

“Let me put it in earthly terms. Maybe you had done something wrong, a crime of some type, and you were going to be put to death. But then the king comes forward and pardons you. He saves you.

“Clearly you would owe him, but you could choose not to live a life of obeisance to him; you could choose to live your life your way. You might think of him as your savior, even your friend, but not your king, because a king has rule and authority.

“I can think of God as my savior and even my friend, but I must never forget that He is God, and after He saves me, I must put myself in subjection to Him and His will.”

“How long did it take you to learn all of this?”

Edward smiled a little. “Quite a while, but He’s a most patient God, ready to forgive me of my foolish pursuits.”

“So you believe forgiveness continues?”

“What do you mean?”

“You believe you can be forgiven even after salvation?”

“Absolutely. All sin can be repented of and forgiven.”

Niki opened her mouth with another question, but the coach rocked, and Edward swiftly reached to steady Denley. He had looked to be on the verge of rolling off the seat. Edward laid a hand on his brow.

“He’s warm.”

Niki’s fist went to the roof. The coach came to a stop, and she got out.

“How much further to Coimbra?”

The coachman began to give the answer in miles. Niki cut him off.

“How much time?”

“Less than two hours.”

Niki nodded.

“We’ll stop here for a few minutes and then be off. I need that box,” she ordered, and pointed to a small hamper atop the coach.

One of the men retrieved the hamper with their food and put it inside. While the coach was stopped, Niki prepared the meal, but just as soon as she had given some to Edward and Denley and taken some for herself, she signaled the driver to leave again.

“The coachman said less than two hours, Denley,” she told him.

That man nodded, a piece of bread that he hoped to swallow in his mouth. He didn’t know that time could move so slowly. It felt as if they’d been in the coach for days. He ate everything that was handed to him and drank more water, but it did nothing to revive him. The moment he lay back down, he slept again, hoping that when he woke the jostling would all be over.

Coimbra, Portugal

“Did you locate a doctor?” Edward asked when Niki entered the room, this one much smaller than the last.

“Yes, he’s on his way.”

Niki went to the bed, much as she had in Lisbon, to check on Denley. He was sleeping hard and very warm to the touch.

Regret filled her. She was certain that if they could have stayed in Lisbon, he would have gotten back on his feet and they could have taken a ship to Portsmouth, England. Moving by way of coach had probably been the worst thing they could have done.