Page 15

He left me alone with the bodies. As Tobias approached the gate, he turned back once to look at me—to be sure I hadn’t abandoned my post as I had with his sister?

Losh. I should have been vigilant. I took a deep breath of summer air.

This eve couldn’t come soon enough. I was tired, through and through.

Tired of myself, my heart, my longing. The crazed events of yesterday that made me think my husband was alive.

And here he was—the man who’d stolen Patrick’s name—dead. Gone. There would be no questioning him now. A true dead end.

I needed a strong cup of tea. Or a tall pot of coffee.

I suddenly longed for the sea and its fresh breezes.

I longed for an extended nap on the sand, in the sun where I wouldn’t burn but be entirely warmed by it, inside and out.

An escape from every vulnerable situation I’d found myself in.

Had I not encouraged Emma with this truth?

I was born to live this day. I didn’t shut my eyes, but I prayed over this part of the story that I must live—whatever would come of it.

I picked up my pistol and tentatively made my way to the bodies. Mouths slacked, a trickle of blood down them—thank God their eyes were closed. It did seem like they were sleeping.

Seeing this version of Audlington brought flashes of memory back of my dear husband.

Seeing him in the morgue. How alike they were!

I stuffed my emotions and memories aside and drew even closer to observe him.

Same facial structure, jawline, and hair.

But so many little differences, he could never add up to being the man I’d once wed.

Of a sudden, I realized that there might have easily been an illegitimate child—somewhere in the family line. Patrick’s father had a brother who had died while young. Could it be his offspring? Patrick’s father would never—or would he? I did not know. But the likeness was uncanny.

How tragic. Even Cummin’s death—brutish man—such a waste of a good living to be had. Looking at these soulless forms, I did not know what to think or say. “I give them to You, God, Creator of all things.”

I wondered how they’d died together. And that’s when I saw. How had I missed it? The dark places on their coats—blood. Gaping holes. They’d been shot. In this deep, dark shadow of this tower, I’d missed how the blood pooled beneath them.

They’d both been sitting when it happened. One slumped against the other. Had they been sleeping as Cecily thought? Had they been waiting for someone? How had the gunfire not wakened her? Ah, but she was so ill with fever. She'd been delirious.

After everything she’d already been through, I hoped upon hope she did not see what had happened. Again, my failure pressed.

I glanced at the top step where she’d perched. Twas a clear view of the men. I shut my eyes against the horror. However, it was dark and she did believe them to be sleeping. Perhaps God made her stay asleep to avoid the trauma. I hoped, I willed it to be so.

I heard the sound of footsteps approaching. Was too soon for Tobias to have returned. I glanced about for a place to hide. I slipped behind a fragment of a wall, hardly enough to hide my form.

A man grunted, shifted one of the bodies. “Where is it, you scoundrel?” He muttered. “Trying to pull one over me, eh?”

My heart pounded. I recognized the voice.

Had Audlington betrayed him? I slowly cocked the hammer of my pistol, wincing at the snap sound it made.

I could take the man. My palms grew slick as a stab of fear pinned me in place.

Tobias had all but commanded me to never to try take a man without help.

I might not have a choice in the matter.

Whoever this was must be the criminal. The one who had killed both of the men. He would likely be armed.

The pistol burned in my hand. How dare this person kill! How dare he further evil on Burtins’ land!

A voice shouted. Tobias.

The man muttered an oath.

“Wait, stop!” Tobias shouted again.

A gun fired. The killers. At Tobias? With a shriek, I lurched from my hiding place, aimed, and shot the man in the arm—it was as I thought. The man who’d been dining with the imposter yesterday at the inn.

“Tessa!” Tobias shouted from the gates. Another man ran with a sack across his back, from the chapel. The killer ran towards him.

I looked at Tobias, he aimed and fired. Missed. The men disappeared down a steep hill just as Tobias reached me, bent over and panting. He placed a hand on my shoulder. “I must get you out of here. Burtins isn’t safe. Not at all.”

My hands clenched tightly around my pistol. My heart pumped too quickly and once again, I struggled to regain composure after firing.

“Tessa?” He straightened as my hands began to shake. Fire filled my veins. “Here—give me your pistol.” He set his gun down and put both of his hands around mine. “You can release it now. It’s going to be all right.”

My arms weakened and I grew dizzy. I did not want to be weak in front of him. Failure that I was.

“Take a deep breath.” The very sound of his voice soothed my spirit.

I did as told.

“Again.”

I took another deep breath.

He eased the gun from my hands and slipped it into his coat pocket. “Come.” He wrapped his arms around me, drawing my head to his chest. We stood like this for several minutes as I worked to overcome the aftermath.

I’d not had to actively shoot at real people since I’d been trained. The after-effects took a toll on my body and soul. Mayhap I needed to strengthen my mind. Would it help?

“You are brave enough to be sure.” As he’d mentioned before. “I think you do not like to hurt people. Wicked or not.”

This was true. Deep inside of me, I despised what man could do to another. How it grieved God since Cain and Able.

“Yet you will protect—regardless of what it costs you.”

I drew away from him. The cost could be high if Cecily didn’t get well. Voices echoed across the ruins.

“I sent the stable boy to summon some of the men from the cottages.” He looked to the gates. “Here they are.”

Mr. Ode led three men through the gates and towards us. One carried old blankets. To cover the bodies, no doubt.

Tobias spoke to the stable boy. “Young Tim, please escort Miss Smith back to Burtins, will you?”

Tobias whispered in my ear. “Stay with Cecily—but do stay in the room and get some rest. Send for anything you might require. I will come back to you as soon as I can.”

I would not sleep until I saw her well. Not a wink.