“I have a wagon in the alley. Take only what you can carry. We’ll take care of the rest.”
Gabe looked at Liddy. “Go. Get down to the wagon as quickly as you can.”
She ran to her room. Gabe ran to his. He grabbed his clothes and a pistol he had hidden in the drawer and raced toward the stairs.
It was chaotic, with people running to straighten the rooms they’d just left so it looked like they’d been unoccupied.
Culbertson was already in the alley, and Gabe followed as quickly as his leg would allow. Jean-Paul followed him.
“Take the back alleys and get out of Paris as quickly as you can,” Jean-Paul said. “Henri will lead you. He knows the shortcuts. I’m sure the soldiers will have roadblocks set for you so stay off any well-traveled roads. Follow the Seine River. It will take you directly to Rouen.”
“Thank you, Jean-Paul,” Gabriel said, then clutched the Frenchman’s arm. “Come with us. You aren’t safe.”
Jean-Paul shook his head. “I’ll stay here with my Jeannette and Jennie. LeBrouche has no quarrel with me.”
“You don’t know that.”
“If it’s not safe, I’ll come to you later. I don’t intend to be a martyr.”
Gabriel nodded, then checked the wagon. Everyone was there but Liddy. She raced into the alley just as he was about to go in after her.
He reached out his arm to help her up but she raced past him to where Jean-Paul stood. “Thank you for everything,” she said, then gave Jean-Paul a hug.
“Be happy, my lady. You and my friend deserve it.”
She nodded, then stepped up into the back of the wagon.
“Here is some food,” Jennie said, lifting a basket into the wagon. Jean-Paul lifted another basket as well as a keg of ale. Jeannette reached in with a round of cheese wrapped in a cloth. “If you’re careful,” she said, “the food should last until you reach Rouen. God go with you.”
Liddy reached for the woman’s hand. “Thank you. Be safe.”
Jeannette nodded and stepped closer to her husband. Jean-Paul wrapped one arm around his wife’s shoulder and the other around his daughter’s.
Gabe climbed onto the wagon next to Morgan and reached for the reins. He chose that moment to look back at his precious cargo and his gaze locked with Liddy’s. “Put a blanket around your shoulders,” he ordered. “It’s cold.”
Lydia took the blanket Hannah handed her and wrapped it around her shoulders, then turned to wave at Jean-Paul and Jeannette and Jennie. Gabe slapped the reins against the horses’ rumps and the wagon rolled down the alley. Now, all he had to do was get everyone out of France, and to England safely.
Chapter Seventeen
The sun was high in the sky and they were far enough out of Paris that Gabriel should be able to breathe easier. But he couldn’t. An uneasy feeling that always warned him when something wasn’t right raged full force, and the voice he’d learned to listen to during the war told him to be on the alert.
He looked to both sides of the path they traveled but saw nothing suspicious. Maybe it was only his imagination. Maybe he expected the two soldiers they’d avoided on the outskirts of Paris to show up with LeBrouche.
Or, maybe it was the guilt that continued to gnaw at his conscience concerning what he and Liddy had shared. Guilt because he hadn’t been strong enough to keep her out of his bed. Guilt because even though he knew it was impossible for him to marry her, he didn’t want anyone else to have her either.
The thought of Culbertson holding her, touching her, making love to her was more than he wanted to consider.
He thought of the way she’d clung to him, cradled him. Remembering what they’d shared made him want to demand that the Duke of Chisolmwood give up his plan to wed her to his son. But he couldn’t do that. The Duke of Chisolmwod still held too many notes. He still had the power to ruin Harrison and Austin if they didn’t honor the agreement Lydia’s father had signed.
He urged the team along the French back roads as his mind tried to convince his heart of the hopelessness of a life with Liddy. The Marquess of Culbertson’s voice pulled him back to what was happening.
“Perhaps it would be wise to stop to rest the horses and take a bite to eat,” Culbertson said from the back of the wagon.
Gabe pulled on the reins and the team slowed. He’d lost track of how long they’d traveled without stopping.
“We’ll pull into that copse of trees,” he answered, nodding to his right. “We should be well hidden in case any of LeBrouche’s men come by.”
He steered the wagon through an opening in the trees and stopped.
Culbertson stumbled to the ground with Morgan’s help and held on to the side of the wagon to hold himself up. Hannah and Liddy disembarked next, but Austin was too weak to get up.
“Don’t go too far,” Gabe warned Liddy and the maid when he saw them walk into the woods to gain some privacy. Culbertson and Morgan both went in the opposite direction, and Gabe stayed to keep watch until Morgan returned. One of them had to be on guard at all times.
He moved closer to Austin. “How are you doing?”
“I’d be better if you’d find fewer ruts to hit. Whoever told you that you could drive a wagon?”
Gabe smiled. “I’ll try to improve.” He kept his gaze focused on the direction from which they’d come.
“Are they following us?”
“I’m not sure. I haven’t seen any sign of them but that doesn’t mean...”
“I know. I feel it, too. Do you have an extra gun? Just in case?”
Gabe reached under the seat where Jean-Paul had placed spare guns and bullets and took them out. He loaded one of the guns and gave it to Austin. “Be careful and don’t shoot yourself with it. Or me.”
“Not a chance, friend. I owe you too much. I wouldn’t have survived much longer in that hellhole.”
“We’ll be home soon. Everything will be better then.”
Austin turned his face away. “I hope so,” he whispered barely loud enough to be heard.
Before Austin had a chance to offer any kind of explanation as to what had happened to him in prison, Morgan and Culbertson returned. Hannah returned soon after.
“Will we leave right away or take our lunch first?”
“We’ll leave as soon as we’ve eaten. I want to get as far from Paris as we can before nightfall.”
He propped his elbow atop the side of the wagon and looked in the direction where Liddy should come from.
He heard it first—the rumbling of horses’ hooves pounding the ground, the thunder of an attacking army. He spun around to see a dozen French soldiers riding toward them.
“Get down! Everybody, stay down!
He looked to the copse of trees where Liddy had gone a few minutes before. “Liddy!” He saw her running toward them and yelled again, but she was too far away. “Liddy! Run!”
She wasn’t going to make it. The soldiers were closing the distance and she was a clear target.
He raced toward her and pulled her in front of him to shield her. They’d only taken a few steps before a burning sensation speared through his side. A second later he heard the muffled pop of gunfire.
When they reached the wagon, he lifted her up. “Stay down,” he ordered. “Morgan! Culbertson! Get in the back! Get the guns!”
Morgan reached below the seat and grabbed the guns and ammunition Jean-Paul had sent along. He threw two of the rifles to the back and took the other with him.
“They’re coming at us from both sides,” Austin yelled. “I’m not sure how many.”
Gabe made his way to the horses to lead the wagon deeper into the trees. The second the wagon was more hidden, he threw himself to the ground beneath the bed of the wagon and took aim. His side was on fire and he clutched the flesh at his waist to assess his injury. His hand came away wet with blood.
“They’re going to rush us,” he yelled over a hail of bullets. “Culbertson. Morgan. Take the ones on the right. Austin, you and I will
cover the left.”
Gabe looked at the French soldiers coming toward them and prayed they could handle so many. Prayed at least one of them survived this so Liddy wasn’t left unprotected.
“LeBrouche is on the left,” Liddy yelled.
“Dammit, Liddy! Get down. Austin, keep your sister down!”
“Austin needs me to help him,” she argued.
“So help him! But keep your head down! And don’t watch what’s going on!”
He meant it. Watching someone die wasn’t easy to handle, even for experienced soldiers. He didn’t want Liddy’s dreams haunted with the same nightmares as his.
“Hold your fire!” he ordered.
He watched the men ride closer. His heart thundered in his chest, then, just as in battle, an unnatural calm settled over him. “Not yet,” he ordered again. “Let them come closer.”
No one fired. He held his breath and counted to five. The French soldiers were almost on top of them.
Almost.
Almost.
“Now!”
Three soldiers fell from their mounts. Three times that many still rode toward them. Austin fired his second shot and another soldier fell. Gabriel did the same then reloaded and fired again. And again.
He didn’t have time to look at the soldiers who’d ridden toward Culbertson and Morgan. He needed to reload. He rolled behind a wheel to do it. “Cover me, Austin,” he yelled through the melee. Austin fired in rapid succession while he reloaded. When he finished, he rolled back into position and lifted his rifle. His gaze focused on LeBrouche riding toward them, but Gabe couldn’t get off a good shot. He scrambled into the open but what he saw when he looked up made his blood run cold.
LeBrouche rode toward them with his sword drawn. But Gabriel wasn’t his intended target. Liddy was.
“No!”
Gabriel lunged forward and swung his rifle high. He struck LeBrouche across the chest. The Frenchman’s horse reared, throwing its rider off balance.
In an expert show of horsemanship, LeBrouche righted himself and swung his sword through the air. Thankfully, he’d turned his attention away from Liddy and to him.
LeBrouche’s sword missed Gabriel’s torso by inches and instead caught the tip of his rifle. The rifle flew out of his hands and landed on the ground, too far away from him to reach.
Gabe staggered. He could make a dive for his weapon, but knew he’d never reach it in time. As if LeBrouche realized the same thing, the corners of his mouth lifted to form a sadistic smile.
Gabe didn’t move, but watched LeBrouche lift his rifle.
There was no place to go. No chance to escape this final attack.
The Frenchman took aim at Gabe’s chest.
Before he had time to pull the trigger, a loud explosion echoed in the air. LeBrouche turned in disbelief to where Liddy stood with a rifle in her hands. He wore an incredulous expression as he focused first on her, then the dark circle staining the sleeve of his jacket. Anger changed his expression and he shifted his aim to Liddy.
Gabe lunged for his rifle, rolled, and fired. LeBrouche’s chest opened and he fell to the ground.
Gabe struggled to his feet and listened. Everything was quiet.
Liddy stood in the back of the wagon, her face pale, her fingers gripping the rifle.
He walked to her and held out his hands. “Give me the rifle, Liddy.”
She lowered her gaze to the gun in her hands and stared at it in confusion. She wore the same empty look he’d seen so often on the faces of young soldiers after their first battle.
“Give me the gun,” he repeated.
She slowly handed over the gun. He placed it on the ground and lifted his arms. “Come down, now.”
She studied his outstretched arms a second before leaning toward him.
He clasped his hands around her waist and lowered her to the ground. “It wasn’t your bullet that killed LeBrouche, Liddy. It was mine.”
She nodded. “I know. But…I’ve never shot anyone before.”
“And you never will again. I promise you.”
She laughed a hollow laugh. “Austin told me to squeeze the trigger but make sure I didn’t hit you.”
Gabe smiled. “I’m glad you followed his advice.”
She looked up at him. There was a pleading look in her eyes. “Hold me, Gabe. I need you.”
He nestled her close and wrapped his arms around her.
“I’m afraid when I’m not with you.”
“I’m here, Liddy. I’ll always be here for you. Always.”
He held her closer and pressed a kiss to the top of her head. When he opened his eyes, his gaze locked with the Marquess of Culbertson’s dark, knowing gaze.
Gabriel slowly pulled Liddy from his embrace and brushed the back of his fingers down her cheek. When she hesitated to step out of his arms, he said, “You need to check on Austin.”
She nodded and walk around him. He was glad she didn’t turn to see Culbertson standing behind her. Glad she didn’t see the heated expression on his face.
“Well done, Major Talbot,” Culbertson said when he was close. “This is the second time I owe you my life.”
Gabe ignored Culbertson’s comment. He was doing his job. Nothing more. “Are you all right?” he asked, noticing a streak of blood on Culbertson’s arm.
“A scratch, nothing more.”
“You’d better have Lady Lydia look at it.”
“Yes, she is rather good at nursing, isn’t she? She did an excellent job in your case, I understand.”
Culbertson’s last statement didn’t require an answer and he offered none. He watched the marquess walk to the wagon then followed him. “Morgan, drag the bodies behind those bushes, then pull the wagon where it won’t be seen. We’ll stay here tonight.”
“Yes, Major.”
He watched Morgan drag the first body, then turned to where Hannah sat in the wagon. “Hannah, could I see you for a minute?”
“Yes, Major.”
He found his cane and walked a few feet from the wagon, just far enough so they were out of sight. He leaned his back against a tree and swiped the perspiration from his face. Everything spun around him and he slid to the ground.
“Are you all right, Major?”
“I need you to get some water, and bandages, and that salve you used on Captain Landwell.”
He lowered his head to his knees as the world shifted beneath him. He tried to hold onto consciousness but knew he was losing the battle.
…
He wasn’t sure how long he’d been unconscious, just as he wasn’t sure how he’d moved from a heap beneath a tree by the stream to close to the wagon. But when he opened his eyes, he was on a makeshift bed and Liddy was sitting on the ground beside him. Austin and Culbertson were watching from nearby.
The sun was low in the sky, its golden rays cascading around Liddy like a halo, the shimmering sunlight deepening the color of her face, and tinting her hair with auburn streaks. Even in this disheveled state, she stole his breath away. He couldn’t imagine there was an angel in heaven to equal her. And the features of her face, the upward tilt of her nose, her high cheekbones, her full lips, all of her, sculptured to perfection. All except her unmistakable anger. And it was directed toward him.
He smiled. “I see I need to offer an apology,” he said trying to mask the pain in his side.
Her lips pursed tighter, her eyes narrowed. “Don’t you ever frighten me like that again.”
“You’re in for it now, Gabe,” Austin said with a wide grin on his face. “Liddy’s been in a state since they carried you back.”
“I’m sorry,” he whispered. “The next time I lose consciousness I’ll make sure to give you fair warning.”
“I don’t mean that, you…you…” She slapped her thigh in frustration. “You conceited imbecile. Why didn’t you tell me you’d been shot?”
“It slipped my mind.”
“Liar!”
“Actually, I was thinking about one
or two other things at the moment.”
“No, you weren’t, Major. You weren’t thinking at all! If you had been, you would have realized that you needed help. Or didn’t you think I was capable of dealing with a little blood?”
“You’d seen quite enough blood already. I didn’t want to add mine to your—”
“Oh, how thoughtful,” she hissed, and he knew she didn’t mean anything of the sort. “What do you think I am? Some hothouse flower that needs to be pampered?” She slashed an arm through the air in frustration. “Some spoiled brat who’s been waited on hand and foot?”
He thought the wisest course was to not answer, but that only seemed to fan the flames of her temper more.
“Then, you don’t know me, Major.”
“I know I owe you an apology. I’m sorry.” He lifted his gaze to where Culbertson seemed to be watching Liddy’s reaction with extreme interest. He needed to shift the marquess’s attention away from Liddy’s concern. “Has it been quiet?”
Culbertson nodded. “Morgan’s kept watch, but it doesn’t seem as if any more soldiers are following.”
“I doubt any will,” Gabe responded, “until they realize LeBrouche hasn’t returned. Hopefully, by then we’ll be on our way back to England.”
“We’ll need to get an early start, then,” Culbertson said. He moved his gaze to Liddy. “I believe Hannah’s made a place for you in the wagon. It would be my pleasure to escort you there.”
Liddy gave Gabe another scorching glare before she accepted Culbertson’s offer.
The marquess pulled Liddy’s hand into the crook of his elbow, then rested his fingers over hers. The gesture was a blatant show of proprietorship.
When they had moved away, Gabe pushed himself up and leaned against the wagon wheel. The stitch in his side ached, but he ignored it.
“Will you be all right?” Austin asked.
“I’ve had worse and survived.”
“I wasn’t talking about your side.”
Gabe rested his head against the rough boards of the wagon and closed his eyes. “Leave me alone.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. Go.”
Heroes of Honor: Historical Romance Collection Page 71