looked away, into the bubbling pot. Yes, she knew. Prison. Or if she was really unlucky—transportation.
Meg shoved a bowl filled with stew into Rheda’s cupped hands. The broth inside was warm, but Meg’s next words chilled her. “There’s been news, Rhe. They’re stepping up their patrols of the beaches. There will be Revenue men in every port, on every beach. Any time. You need to find a way out. Now.”
She looked out the window, down the path to where she’d last seen Lord Strathmore. Was her hunch right? Was he a government man? She cupped the bowl tighter, so that the warmth started to chase away the chill seeping through her bones. Whether he was or wasn’t, he was still trouble. Or maybe he was just what she needed. Her brain began whirling with ideas. “I might just have found a way,” she murmured.
The sound of the boys slurping their food and the crackle of the stove were the only sounds in the stuffy room. Rheda silently ate her stew, all the while thinking up her grand plan. Glancing at Meg she stated, “I only need a few more months. I’m quitting at the end of summer. I should have enough stores by then to carry everyone until I sell the first foal.”
Meg’s face screwed up. “Foals? What foals? I thought you couldn’t afford a stallion?”
Rheda moved to hug Meg good-bye. “I don’t, but Lord Strathmore may come in useful there. Or at least his stallion.”
Meg pushed her away. “I don’t like that look on your face. It means trouble. What are you planning? You can hardly ask to borrow his horse when you’ve just pretended you’re someone you’re not.”
She slid Meg a sly smile and made her way to the door, her shoulders straight, her step light. “Who said I had to ask?”
“Lordy,” Meg said as if in prayer, “you’re inviting trouble.”
Chapter 5
D avy Appleton hurriedly picked up the line holding his fish. He didn’t wait to clean it. He knew his mother would worry unduly if he was late home. He’d stayed out too long in his rowboat, but the fish took so long to bite in the hot weather that he’d had to wait until almost sunset to get a bite. He was pleased with his catch. He’d caught a large snapper, and now his little sister, Sassy, wouldn’t have to go hungry tonight.
He glanced toward the dimming sky. The sun was about to set. He hated having to pass Jacob’s Point in the dark. The knowledge that Jacob’s ghost haunted the rocky outcrop sent shivers down his spine.
Perhaps he’d be better to cut through Harding’s Wood.
He nodded to himself. Yes, the woods, though dark, would be preferable to a ghost. What dangers could possibly lurk in the woods? Nothing that could hurt a boy of almost twelve.
As he made his way hurriedly along the woodland track, an owl hooting to his right comforted him. He was not alone.
His stomach rumbled and his mouth watered at the thought of the fish filling their bellies tonight.
So engrossed in images of the feast they would eat, he did not hear the deft footsteps approaching swiftly through the encroaching darkness.
Before he was aware he had company, a gloved hand covered his mouth and he was lifted off his feet, his fish falling unheeded to the forest floor.
No, unfortunately, he was not alone.
Chapter 6
“ I am ill, Daniel. Please close the door on your way out and leave me alone.” Rheda lay in bed, propped up on a huge array of pillows, feigning ill health. There was no way she was going to Lord Hale’s dinner party this evening. She had another task to complete. Her mares, Desert Rose and White Lily, were in season.
Ignoring her, Daniel entered her bedchamber and strode toward the bed. “You cannot be ill. You have never been sick a day in your life.” Daniel swept a critical eye over her. “What’s wrong with you?” His eyes narrowed and his hands went to his hips. She hated it when men used such an arrogant, intimidating stance. “Are you trying to avoid Lord Hale? I cannot understand you,
Meg shoved a bowl filled with stew into Rheda’s cupped hands. The broth inside was warm, but Meg’s next words chilled her. “There’s been news, Rhe. They’re stepping up their patrols of the beaches. There will be Revenue men in every port, on every beach. Any time. You need to find a way out. Now.”
She looked out the window, down the path to where she’d last seen Lord Strathmore. Was her hunch right? Was he a government man? She cupped the bowl tighter, so that the warmth started to chase away the chill seeping through her bones. Whether he was or wasn’t, he was still trouble. Or maybe he was just what she needed. Her brain began whirling with ideas. “I might just have found a way,” she murmured.
The sound of the boys slurping their food and the crackle of the stove were the only sounds in the stuffy room. Rheda silently ate her stew, all the while thinking up her grand plan. Glancing at Meg she stated, “I only need a few more months. I’m quitting at the end of summer. I should have enough stores by then to carry everyone until I sell the first foal.”
Meg’s face screwed up. “Foals? What foals? I thought you couldn’t afford a stallion?”
Rheda moved to hug Meg good-bye. “I don’t, but Lord Strathmore may come in useful there. Or at least his stallion.”
Meg pushed her away. “I don’t like that look on your face. It means trouble. What are you planning? You can hardly ask to borrow his horse when you’ve just pretended you’re someone you’re not.”
She slid Meg a sly smile and made her way to the door, her shoulders straight, her step light. “Who said I had to ask?”
“Lordy,” Meg said as if in prayer, “you’re inviting trouble.”
Chapter 5
D avy Appleton hurriedly picked up the line holding his fish. He didn’t wait to clean it. He knew his mother would worry unduly if he was late home. He’d stayed out too long in his rowboat, but the fish took so long to bite in the hot weather that he’d had to wait until almost sunset to get a bite. He was pleased with his catch. He’d caught a large snapper, and now his little sister, Sassy, wouldn’t have to go hungry tonight.
He glanced toward the dimming sky. The sun was about to set. He hated having to pass Jacob’s Point in the dark. The knowledge that Jacob’s ghost haunted the rocky outcrop sent shivers down his spine.
Perhaps he’d be better to cut through Harding’s Wood.
He nodded to himself. Yes, the woods, though dark, would be preferable to a ghost. What dangers could possibly lurk in the woods? Nothing that could hurt a boy of almost twelve.
As he made his way hurriedly along the woodland track, an owl hooting to his right comforted him. He was not alone.
His stomach rumbled and his mouth watered at the thought of the fish filling their bellies tonight.
So engrossed in images of the feast they would eat, he did not hear the deft footsteps approaching swiftly through the encroaching darkness.
Before he was aware he had company, a gloved hand covered his mouth and he was lifted off his feet, his fish falling unheeded to the forest floor.
No, unfortunately, he was not alone.
Chapter 6
“ I am ill, Daniel. Please close the door on your way out and leave me alone.” Rheda lay in bed, propped up on a huge array of pillows, feigning ill health. There was no way she was going to Lord Hale’s dinner party this evening. She had another task to complete. Her mares, Desert Rose and White Lily, were in season.
Ignoring her, Daniel entered her bedchamber and strode toward the bed. “You cannot be ill. You have never been sick a day in your life.” Daniel swept a critical eye over her. “What’s wrong with you?” His eyes narrowed and his hands went to his hips. She hated it when men used such an arrogant, intimidating stance. “Are you trying to avoid Lord Hale? I cannot understand you,
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