The Sapphire Brooch (The Celtic Brooch Trilogy Book 2) (82 page)

“If you’re expecting me to stay here, you’re wrong.”

“Ye’ can go. But when I tell ye’ to stay put, ye’ stay. If ye’ get shot, Jack’s chances of beating these charges diminish. Gaylord’s out back. Let’s go.”

David hustled out of the room. Braham turned to Cullen. “If anything happens to us, get Jack out and take him home. He’ll see you get back to MacKlenna Farm.”

Cullen nodded. “I’ve no heart for traveling to the twenty-first-century, but I’ll see to it.”

They hugged each other, slapping backs. Braham left the house by way of the rear door, and found Gaylord in the barn with David.

“Where’re we going?” Gaylord asked.

David led his horse out of the stall and tossed on its saddle blanket. “Two miles in a northeasterly direction. What’s over there?”

“It must be near the docks. One of my investigators discovered Henly has an interest in a vacant apartment building, unless he’s lost it at the gaming tables, too.”

“If that section of town closes down at night, it will be to our advantage.” David lifted the saddle, placed it gently on the horse’s back, and tightened the cinch. “Where are the rest of your men?”

“Canvassing the city. As soon as we know Miss Charlotte’s location, I’ll pass the word.”

As soon as Braham saddled his horse, the men mounted up and David led the way. The moon appeared only as a sliver, thin as a nail paring. The pattern of stars which formed the Big Dipper were clearly visible in the night sky. They rode through the city in silence, and fear tightened in a band around Braham’s chest.

A wire stretched from David’s ear to his watch. He stopped at intersections to study a map, using a small light which snapped on and off with a click of his finger.

They traveled down a street lined with residences, businesses, and a few warehouses, sticking to the shadows cast by gaslight. The traffic was light, with only a rare carriage or a man on horseback. David stopped on the side of the street, dismounted, and signaled for Braham and Gaylord to wait for him. He took his bag and disappeared into the darkness.

Braham dismounted, his heart squeezing in his chest. He was responsible for this. He should have been honest with Charlotte from the beginning and explained she couldn’t stop him from returning to his time, and assured her whatever happened was not her responsibility. But he hadn’t done it. Instead, he’d endangered the lives of both Charlotte and Jack.

David returned after several minutes. “Found her. She’s in a root cellar beneath a three-story building. She’s alive.”

A small shudder of relief skimmed through Braham, gradually releasing the tightness in his neck and shoulders.

“There’s a guard sitting in a chair next to the outside cellar door. The first floor is unoccupied. I’m going to break into the building, cut a hole through the first floor, and bring Charlotte out through the hole. Gaylord, you keep an eye the guard. If he attempts to enter the cellar, take him down. Once we get her out, we’ll plan twenty-four hour surveillance of the building until we catch the men responsible.”

“Is she hurt?” Braham asked.

“I can’t tell. She lying on the ground and not moving, but she could be asleep.”

“Did you see her through a window? I’ll stay out of your way, but I have to see her for myself,” Braham said.

“Come on,” David said. They went around to the opposite corner of the building from where the guard was positioned. David gave Braham an odd-looking pair of binoculars. “Ye’ can see her lying curled on the ground.”

Braham saw a reddish-yellow human figure, curled in fetal position. “How do you know it’s her?”

“The signal puts us in the right location.”

“How do you know she’s alive?”

“If she weren’t, we wouldn’t be able to see her. The object has to emit heat in order to be seen. I’m going to open a hole in the floor above her.” David pointed to a window up above. “I’ll go through first. When I know it’s safe, ye’ can come in. Now, give me a leg up.”

Braham laced his fingers and hoisted David, who raised the window and silently dove into the room and out of sight.

88

Washington City, 1865

B
raham sat on
his haunches, waiting impatiently for David to come back for him. A part of him hated MacBain. He was a good lad, intelligent, and resourceful. Elliott trusted him implicitly, and from what Cullen said, Kit adored him. From the rare facial expressions David allowed to show, he obviously was in love with Charlotte. Braham was sure he’d never admit it, though, and maybe only another man in love with the same woman would notice the occasional discreet glances. Nothing inappropriate, but they were there—a smile, a flash in the eye, a brush of the hand, small gestures.

What would happen when they returned to their time? Charlotte had said David was too young for her, and he spent most of his time in Scotland, but Braham was certain the lad would spend most, if not all, of his time in Richmond if he believed he had a chance to win Charlotte’s heart. Unless Braham intended to go live in her time, he mustn’t stand in the way of their happiness. And no matter how much he loved her, he couldn’t go with her. If the trial went the way he and Cullen expected over the next two days, the Judge Advocate would have to drop all charges against Jack, and the time-travelers would be free to return home.

A light flashed in the window. It was David’s signal. Braham sprinted the short distance from his secluded spot between buildings and reached the window within seconds.

“Give me your hands,” David said.

Braham grasped David’s arms, scaled the wall, and then rolled through the open window, landing softly on the floor. “How is she?” he asked, climbing quickly to his feet.

“I cut a hole through the floor and heard her moaning. I’m going in now. I’ll need ye’ to help us out.”

“Can you see her?” Braham asked.

“She’s only a few feet away, curled up in the corner now. It’s good. She’s moving, and she’s conscious.” David sat on the edge of the hole, dangling his legs. It was about an eight foot drop. He put his arms through the straps attached to his bag, snugging it to his back. “Keep an eye on the window till I call for help.” David then dropped through the opening and Braham reluctantly returned to the window.

“Where are you, David? Help me.”

Charlotte’s plaintive call for him cut through Braham’s heart in sharp, jagged slices. The lad was the man she wanted in her moment of darkness, not him. A strange, tight sensation gathered around his eyes, and he wiped them with his forearm.

“I’m here, Charley.” The unutterable tenderness in David’s voice took Braham by surprise and the vise around his chest tightened.

“I knew you’d come,” she said hoarsely.

The looming, dense clouds had lifted now, shredded away by a light breeze, allowing dark streaks of a starlit sky to show through the breaks, much as David’s appearance had broken through Charlotte’s darkness, bringing light and safety.

“I’m going to check ye’ over before I move ye. Where do ye’ hurt?”

Braham listened closely, holding his breath, praying Henly had not…

“My head, mostly, and my ribs.”

“How ’bout yer neck?”

“It’s okay. I think.”

“Did he rape you?”

“No…”

Braham had been holding his breath, and now he let it stream out of his lungs.

“But I have a hot spot on my butt, and rats have been trying to eat me.”

David chuckled. “It’s not a bite, lass, but ye’ might slap me after ye’ hear what I did to ye.”

“I doubt it. Let’s get out of here.”

“I’ve checked ye’ over. There doesn’t appear to be anything broken, and ye’re not bleeding. I’m going to carry ye’ a bit, then lift ye’ up to Braham—”

“He’s here? He should be in court, not looking for me.”

“Court’s over for the day. If I hurt ye,’ tell me to stop.”

She made a noise like someone absorbing a body blow.

“I’m sorry. What hurts?”

“My ribs.”

“I’ll be easy. But we have to get ye’ out of here.”

Braham moved over to the hole and prepared to grab her. They were right below him now. His heart jumped into his throat. He almost had her in his arms.

“Try to keep her head steady,” David said. “I’m going to pass ye’ up to Braham now, lass. It will hurt a bit, but try not to cry out.”

Braham grabbed her beneath the arms, and she cried out.

“Grip her around the waist,” David said. “She might have a broken rib or two. Her breasts are bound, so I can’t tell.”

Braham pulled her through the hole. “I’ve got her.” He wanted to hug her to him, but he didn’t dare squeeze her. He very gently kissed her forehead. “Thank God you’re all right.”

“I didn’t want you to come for me. Jack needed you more. Are you sure you’re not missing court?”

“I’m not.” He chuckled, relaxing into a warm pool of relief. He picked straw out of her hair and clothes.

“How long have I been down there?”

“Six or seven hours.”

“I thought I might be there for days. How’d you find me?”

“It’s a story for David to tell you.”

“Thanks,” David said. “I got the tracks covered. Help me up.”

Braham set Charlotte aside, grabbed David’s arms, and hauled him up.

“As soon as I seal the hole, we’ll get out of here. Take Charley over by the window and keep watch.”

Braham held her shivering body in his arms as he squatted next to the window, watching. A few minutes later, David tapped him on the shoulder. “I’ll go out first. Then ye’ can hand her over before ye’ climb out and close the window.”

Braham nodded, and David slid out of the building. After a quick check of the premises, he returned for Charlotte. Braham passed her through the window and followed them out.

“Take her home,” David said, handing her back to Braham. “I’m going to work out surveillance with Gaylord. I’ll see ye’ at the house later. If she goes to sleep, wake her every hour. Make sure she knows where she is and can follow commands, like squeezing your fingers.”

“If I have a concussion, it’s mild,” she said. “Other than the headache and the initial nausea, I’m okay.”

“We’ll observe ye’ anyway. Now go.”

Braham held out his hand, and David clasped it. “Thank you,” Braham said.

“Let’s get the other Mallory home safely, too, and then my job will be done,” David said.

Braham glanced at Charlotte, then at David. “No, I don’t think it will be.”

The trip home was uneventful, and Braham kept the horse to a slow walk to keep from jostling Charlotte. “Can you tell me what happened?”

“One of Gordon’s goons grabbed me and threw me into a carriage. Gordon hit me several times. Next thing I knew, I woke up in the cellar. I hate rats.”

“I don’t like them either. David got to you within thirty minutes of finding out you were missing. He’s a fine man.”

“Meredith said he could do anything. I knew he’d find me.” Charlotte closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep.

He gazed down at her dirt-streaked face. Even smudged and bruised she was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen. Her time living in the past had scarred her, and when this was all over she and Jack would need time to heal. Maybe they would consider coming to his vineyards to rest for a while. Later, he would ask, but for now he only wanted to hold her close. And as he did, his silent tears fell gently into her hair.

89

Washington City, 1865

C
ullen’s critical eye
roved over Braham, who had worn his best uniform for this critical courtroom appearance. Epaulets with silver embroidered eagles graced both shoulders. Around Braham’s waist Edward had tied a yellow sash. The jacket buttoned up to the throat, forcing a slight lift to Braham’s chin. Polished spurs with large rowels were buckled with fine leather straps to top-boots made with ornamental stitching of red silk. As Edward hooked a long sword with a jewel-studded hilt to his side, Braham stood quite still, his face devoid of emotion.

“If your intent is to intimidate, you’ve accomplished it well,” Cullen said.

“I’ll be in a room full of generals, Cul. Intimidation is not my intent. I only wish to remind them Lincoln and Stanton had faith in my judgment, and there’s no call to doubt it now.”