Page 42 of Hastings (Brothers in Arms #15)
CHAPTER 42
S tephen shoved Maddy behind him on the bench. “Who are you? What do you want?” he demanded, but he knew. They had come to kill Maddy, her father’s henchmen. And of course it would be tonight, when for the first time since her arrival neither Hastings nor Essie was around. And Stephen knew he was utterly useless to her. He couldn’t protect her on his own. He had no gun, no weapon of any kind. All he could do was stall them until Hastings arrived. He had to believe that Hastings would figure it out and was even now on his way here.
“Why don’t you tell ’im who I am, Lady Madelyn?” He made a little bow as he said it and then laughed with the other men.
“How many times do I have to tell you, you bloated pig’s arse, that’s not my title. I am not, nor have I ever been, a lady.”
Stephen controlled his surprise at her tone and her words. She sounded absolutely fearless, almost bored, as she antagonized their attacker.
“When I make my move,” she whispered in his ear, “Get down on the floor of the carriage.”
Stephen squeezed her hand tightly, trying to convey what a horrible idea he thought that was. She tried to tug her hand free, but he held fast.
“This is Dickie Bales,” she said loudly. “I told you about him, fat bastard that he is.”
“Well, it seems the old man’s lessons didn’t rub of on ya the way he hoped,” Dickie said. “I told ’im you can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear, and you can’t make a lady out of that treacherous little cunt.”
“How is dear old Bleecker?” she asked, and then she spit over the side of the carriage.
Dickie Bales laughed. “Dead. I killed ’im.” Stephen could feel Maddy jerk in surprise against him. “Didn’t expect that, did ya?” Bales laughed again. “He didn’t either, stupid prick. But I got a nice payday for it from some interested parties. Only one problem.” He ran a finger up the side of his nose and then pointed at Maddy. “You are part of the deal.” He sauntered over to one of the other men and took a pistol from him. He turned it on them, and Stephen’s heart stopped for a moment.
“I can shoot her through you, parson,” Dickie said calmly. “Or she can get her little arse down from the carriage and take it like a man instead of hiding behind your skirts. Her choice.”
“What’s to keep you from killing me after she’s gone?” Stephen asked. He hated that his voice trembled, but he wasn’t used to facing down brigands with guns. They did not teach that at Divinity School, and the war seemed a very long time ago.
“Nothing,” Dickie said, shaking his head. “But she’ll buy you a little time, won’t she? Maybe your Home Office friend will show up and save you, eh?” He laughed as if it were an uproarious joke, and his compatriots chuckled along.
“Let me down,” Maddy said firmly, pushing at Stephen.
“No, Maddy, listen to me,” Stephen said frantically. “He’s going to shoot you and then he’s going to shoot me. That will accomplish nothing.”
“Stephen,” she whispered. “You must trust me. I’m making the decision to do those things we talked about. Do you understand?” She closed her eyes and kissed him on the cheek. “I am still that Maddy, but I’m this Maddy, too, and you’ve got to trust me.”
“You’re just Maddy,” Stephen told her. “That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you.”
Stephen didn’t want to let her do those things, to risk herself for him. She wasn’t the Maddy that she’d been when she was with this Bales fellow, no matter what she thought. And he couldn’t let her go back to that. She was so much more now.
“Enough goodbyes,” Bales snarled. “Out now, or I shoot through him.”
“Why haven’t you shot me already?” Maddy asked loudly. “I don’t think you can, can you?”
“Always two steps ahead, that’s me girl. You’re right. They want proof I’ve killed ya. As you know, it’s a lot easier to transport a live one than a dead body.”
“Christ, don’t remind me,” Maddy said with a surprising laugh. “Remember that bleeder we had on Coventry Road?” She and Dickie laughed together like old friends. “I thought we’d never get him to the cemetery. And digging that blasted hole! You made me do the whole thing.”
Stephen’s gut clenched at what Bales had made her do. He knew she regretted it, regretted everything she’d done for him.
“It wasn’t hard, and you know it,” Dickie said with a chuckle. “They’d just buried some poor mort there earlier the same day. Dirt hadn’t even had time to settle.”
Maddy was shaking her head, still chuckling. “That was a brilliant plan. They still don’t know what happened to the poor bloke! But this, this is a bad plan.” She started nodding her head. “Yeah, it’s a bad one. You’ve got a witness,” she jabbed her thumb in Stephen’s direction, “and they’re expecting you. Oh, yes, they are,” she said over Bales’s denials. “Why do you think the Home Office has men here?” She shook her head sadly. “Not one of your best, Dickie. You can’t travel fast with me kicking and fighting, and they’ll be hot on your heels even if you do get out of the county. I take it you’ve got a time issue?”
Stephen wasn’t really shocked at how businesslike Maddy was being. She sounded like she had when she’d first arrived at the parsonage. And clearly this was the Maddy Dickie Bales was used to. Stephen couldn’t imagine spending most of your life pretending to be someone you’re not. He knew inside she was reeling from Bales’s appearance, and how terrified she must be for him.
“Take us both,” he said. “She won’t fight you if you’ve got me, alive.”
It was Maddy’s turn to squeeze his hand until it hurt. He didn’t break eye contact with Dickie Bales, who was looking at him as if he were considering it, rubbing his chin.
“He’ll slow you down,” Maddy said. “I’m willing to make a deal. If you let him go before we leave here, and I mean let him get a good bit away, I won’t fuss or fight. I’ll go wherever you need me to.”
“I won’t go,” Stephen said firmly. “I’m not leaving you alone with them.”
At that Dickie Bales let loose a loud guffaw. “She ain’t got nothing to protect anymore, parson. Everyone knows the lady here will drop her drawers for a good deal.”
“It’s not my fault you all think with your pricks,” Maddy said with an unconcerned shrug. “A little slap and tickle has gotten me my fair share of whatever’s on the table.”
“That’s true, that’s true,” Dickie agreed. “And I benefitted as well, being your captain. I thanks you again for your service.” He laughed with the thugs.
Stephen was stiff with rage at his comments and their situation. He was so furious over their mistreatment of Maddy he’d kill them without regret if he could.
“I tells you what, parson. I like your idea.” Bales turned to two of the men. “Get them down from there. We’ll tie ’em up and then put him back in the carriage with one of you, and she’ll go on a horse.”