Page 34 of Echoes of Twilight (Dawn of Alaska #4)

34

B ryony had waited until she was sure the men were all downstairs in the study before sneaking out of the window in Rosalind’s room. Rosalind told her she was better off staying in the house until everyone was in bed for the evening, but she simply had to see Mikhail now.

The map Rosalind had drawn for her and the instructions on how to get to the lower level of the administrative building on Castle Hill proved accurate even in the dark. But her biggest problem turned out to be the two guards who were stationed at the door to the jail cells. The moment she asked to see Mikhail Amos, they narrowed their eyes at her, and the taller of the two men even crossed his arms over his chest.

“Are you family?” His voice was overly loud for the small space.

She drew herself up to her full height, which wasn’t very tall compared to either of the men in front of her, but at least it helped her feel a bit more confident. “No, but...”

“Are you legal counsel?” The shorter, middle-aged guard with blond hair asked.

She shook her head.

“We only allow family, lawyers, and law enforcement to visit detainees.” The taller man’s voice was so loud it ricocheted off the walls. “Anyone else will need permission from the judge to visit while the detainee is awaiting a court hearing.”

“Oh. I... um... but what if...” Her mind scrambled, trying to find a way these two men would let her see Mikhail, even if it was only for a minute or two.

The man with streaks of gray in his otherwise blond hair seemed to understand what she was thinking, because his gaze softened just a bit, and he came around the front of his desk. “Are you the woman from the expedition? Miss Wetherby, is it?”

She nodded. “Are you sure I can’t talk to Mikhail? It’s important, I promise. And I’ll be quick. It won’t take more than a minute or two.” She really just wanted to tell him that she was sorry, and she wasn’t going to lie to protect her father’s funding. That she’d find a way to get him free somehow.

The blond-haired man shook his head, his lips forming a sad smile. “Even if we were to make an exception and allow you to visit without being family, it’s not visiting hours, and some of the prisoners are sleeping.”

Her shoulders slumped, and thickness filled her throat. She glanced wordlessly at the thick wooden door separating her from the jail cells, but she could think of nothing else that might change guards’ minds.

“I take it you’re a friend of Mikhail’s?” he asked.

She nodded again, not knowing what else to say.

“I’m sorry we can’t let you visit him now, but do you need someone to walk you back to where you’re staying?” He extended his arm in what could only be described as a fatherly gesture.

“No.” She wouldn’t go back to the Caldwells’ mansion. She didn’t know where to go or what to do, but now that she’d left, the thought of going back and enduring one more meal with the Caldwell men made her want to claw an eye out. “No, I don’t need an escort. I just...”

She blinked, but it did nothing to stop a fresh round of heat from climbing into her eyes. It seemed like that was all she’d done since learning about the charges against Mikhail—cry.

“I’m worried it was all a mistake.” The words tumbled out of her in a rush, and she twisted her hands together. “That I said something wrong, or they took something I said and used it to charge him, and I just... He wasn’t responsible for Richard’s death. Mikhail would never be negligent or cause anyone harm. He wants to save people’s lives. That’s why he guides all these expeditions, so that people don’t die while they’re exploring Alaska. That’s why he agreed to find us so late in the year too. If he hadn’t shown up, we’d all be dead, but maybe that would be better, right? Because then Mikhail wouldn’t be sitting in a prison cell. He’d be free and...”

She shook her head. She was a rambling, crying mess, but she couldn’t bother to be embarrassed about it. “Richard died because he was arrogant and pigheaded and wouldn’t listen. That’s how he’s always been. He’s always known better than anyone else, and... and...”

A sob burst from her chest, and it was utterly mortifying to be crying uncontrollably in a jailhouse with two strange men.

A hand patted her back, and she didn’t need to look up to know it was the older of the two guards. “There, there, sweetheart. Mikhail Amos isn’t going to spend the rest of his life in prison. His family will make sure of that. He’s just got to sit here for a few days until the new judge can set bail. There’s no court being held over Thanksgiving weekend.”

“Or the new judge could dismiss the charges entirely on Monday morning, and then we can all go home and be done with this fiasco,” a new voice said.

Bryony straightened and moved her gaze to find a woman with long brown hair covered with a scarf standing in the doorway that separated the jail cells from the guardroom. A tall, dark-haired man stood beside her.

“At least that’s what I’m pushing for as my brother’s lawyer.” The woman moved forward, her lips turning up into a soft smile. “You must be Bryony.”

Bryony sniffled, then wiped her cheek with her palm. “That’s me. You’re Mikhail’s sister?”

“I’m Evelina, yes.” The woman offered her another smile, this one warm enough to melt the snow covering the mountains they’d just traipsed through.

“I never... I didn’t... I came as soon as I found out. I think I said something wrong when the Marshal questioned me, and now Mikhail is trapped here, and it’s all so terrible, and I just want a way to stop it, but the guards said I can’t see Mikhail.” She blinked at the other woman, then reached out and gripped her sleeve. “Did you get to see him? Is that where you were? How is he?”

“He’ll be fine. This is no way to spend Thanksgiving, but like the guard said, he only needs to be here for a few days. I can get him out on bail Monday morning. But I’d like to talk to you more about the expedition. Since tomorrow’s a holiday, what about Friday? Do you think you’ll have time to answer some questions then?”

“I would love to tell you yes, but they won’t let me talk to you. They wouldn’t even let me go for a walk earlier. Besides, I can’t go back there. I just can’t. I don’t care how fancy that house is. It’s a horrible, horrible place. I don’t know how Rosalind stands it.”

Evelina’s brows pinched together. “Why won’t they let you talk to us?”

“Because Father and Heath are worried the Caldwells will stop their research funding. And because deep down, I think Heath really blames Mikhail for Richard’s death. It’s not fair, and I don’t claim to understand it, but everyone is going along with this farce because of the funding. But I don’t want anything to do with it. I just want Mikhail to be free.”

“Bryony?”

At the sound of the familiar voice, she looked up, and suddenly Mikhail was there, standing beside the taller of the two guards. He was disheveled and handcuffed, but still there.

She rushed to him and threw her arms around him, burying her face in his chest. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t know. I promise I didn’t. I don’t know how they can do this to you. I just...”

He rested his head atop hers. It was all he could do considering how his hands were cuffed behind his back, but she sank into the feel of him anyway, warm and solid. Then she pressed her eyes shut, wishing the moment could stretch on forever.

“It’s not your fault.” His voice rumbled through his chest. “This has nothing to do with your family and everything to do with the Caldwells and their vendetta against us. The whole town knows it.”

She tilted her face up to his, and those familiar, lovely, mesmerizing golden eyes stared down at her. There were so many things she could say. That it was unfair and wrong and horrible. That she’d do whatever it took to get him out, even if it meant giving interviews every day for a year. That she was furious with her family. That she somehow felt responsible. But the only words that came out were, “I love you, Mikhail Amos.”

He grew still beneath her, and for a fraction of a second, she thought he might say it back. His eyes softened, and he stared at her with such tenderness that she knew feelings were swirling inside him. But all he said was, “You shouldn’t have said such a thing, angel. You don’t need more heartache.”

“I don’t regret it,” she whispered back. “I know our lives are headed in two different directions, but I still love you anyway, and you’ll never be able to make me regret it.”

He responded by leaning down and pressing a kiss to her forehead. Then he raised his gaze to the man in the dark coat, the one whom he’d been talking with on the ship after they docked. He must be one of Mikhail’s brothers, but he looked every bit as powerful as the Caldwells. “Take her back to our house and keep her there until this all gets sorted.”

“Oh no. I don’t want to be an imposition. I have a bit of money in my pocket. I can find a boarding house or?—”

“Nonsense.” Evelina sidled up to her, then wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “We’d love to have you at our place. Besides, this is Alaska. It’s filled with prospectors and outlaws, and there aren’t any boarding houses that are safe for a young, unmarried woman such as yourself to stay in.”

“She’s right, lass,” the middle-aged guard said. “If you don’t want to go back to the Caldwells, you best go to the Amoses. They’ll take good care of you.”

She looked around the room, taking in the kind eyes of every person there. Well, every person except Mikhail’s older brother. His eyes were too dark to give any of his thoughts away.

Finally she looked at the taller guard with brown hair, the one who had slipped away at some point and gotten Mikhail from his cell, finding a way to let her see him without breaking any rules. “Thank you.”

“Any time, Miss Wetherby,” the guard nodded.

She looked back up at Mikhail, then pressed onto her tiptoes and kissed the underside of his jaw. “Good-bye, Mikhail.”

“Good-bye, angel.” He rested his cheek on top of her head for a moment, then raised his head and sent her a small lopsided smile while Evelina tugged her up the stairs.