Hadley sat up and scooted back so Amy could pass her a mug of tea. “Thank you and thank you for staying with Thomas.”
Amy smiled and leant back in the chair. “What was he like before all this?”
Hadley raised an eyebrow at the curious expression on Amy’s face. “How do you mean?”
Amy’s cheeks flushed slightly. “I mean, when you were younger, was he a nice brother?”
Hadley scrunched up her nose, trying to fight through the tiredness to find memories to share. Was Thomas a good brother? If she used Kade as an example, probably not.
He’d teased her mercilessly as a child, made fun of her for following him around, and told her climbing trees was for boys and not girls. He’d made fun of her attempts to paint pictures and laughed when she’d failed miserably at shooting a bow and arrow.
After their parents had gone, she’d done what she could to take care of them, and they’d made the best of things like everyone around them.
But they’d never really laughed easily like Meg and Kade did. Or maybe they had when they’d been younger, and she’d just forgotten?
The past few years had been about survival. There wasn’t any room for laughter or fun; they’d been on their own, trying to scrape by, just like everyone else. But she hadn’t doubted for even a minute he’d abandon her.
Hadley frowned as she sipped her tea. Kade by contrast risked his life just to keep his sister safe, and she knew he would fight tooth and nail to keep Meg happy.
Doubt began to gather as she contemplated the many differences between Kade and Thomas. If she were using Kade as a measure, Thomas would probably fall short in many ways. Would Thomas have agreed to such a harsh and dangerous profession just for her?
She sniffed and forced a weak smile. “He was just my brother, I guess, older, kind of mean sometimes, but I still loved him, and he’s the only family I have left.”
Amy cocked her head, her forehead knotted. “But you must have some nice memories of him? Carl said you’ve been looking all over for him? You must have had reason to do that?”
Hadley’s brow furrowed as she struggled to lock on to one specific memory. After finding nothing but a battering of unpleasant images, she gave up.
Maybe when she woke and wasn’t so exhausted, she would remember a kind word or a gift? Or something they’d shared together?
She’d spent the last few months dreaming about finding him, had she imagined him to be something he wasn’t? Or was it seeing how Cester treated his family, how Kade treated his sister, that had caused this doubt?
“I think I might try to sleep while Thomas does.”
Amy nodded. “I’ll go sit with him; he’s not so bad. When he’s asleep.”
Hadley forced a smile as Amy pulled her curtains closed and picked up the half-empty mug. “I’ll wake you if he does.”
Hadley’s eyes grew heavy. She stifled a yawn as Amy slipped out the door. She pushed the growing doubt to one side and allowed herself to find a moment’s rest amongst the trial that was proving to be her brother.
Kade eased down from his mount, too weary and sick of his travelling companions to care about anything but bedding down for the night.
For three days now, he’d been listening to more crude jokes and salty language than he’d heard in his entire career as a Stormer.
Even Carl was forcing smiles and feigning interest as Chris and his colleague, a dull-witted boy called Moss, seemed determined to lower the tone even further.
He stepped away to tether his mount, faking another laugh as he watched the sun sink even lower on another day. The air was growing muggier, and the sand flies common to the area let him know they’d crossed into territory he wasn’t overly familiar with.
There was no need for the Northern Stormers to come down this way, so they kept to themselves for the most part. Jax coming to the Retreat had signalled the first time the unspoken rule had been breached.
Kade knew the location of the camp, just a few kilometres south of the mountains he could see cropping up, but Chris and Moss insisted they camp out here first, saying they had important business to attend to.
He soon saw what that business was when they pulled out their own private stash of opium.
Kade stalked away, leaving Carl to deal with them. Everything about this trip was dragging his mood even lower. Leaving Hadley, the cretins they were pretending to like, even the sand flies biting his exposed flesh were grating on his nerves.
He huffed a sigh, stretched his legs, and followed the sound of running water hoping for a wash in the stream.
The faint rustling of bushes caused his hand to fly to his dagger. A muscled man, dressed casually, with an easy smile on his lips, raised his hands. “Easy, name’s Taggart; that’s Captain to you.”
The captain eased out, his eyes flicking towards Carl. “Two of you this time, eh?”
Kade swallowed and kept his posture relaxed, bluffing as he struggled to figure out what was going on. “Eh, weather’s better down here, and less rules than our previous employer offers.”
Taggart eyed him a moment before gesturing towards the men. “Didn’t expect two prime soldiers to show up. Ho there, Chris, where are the guinea pigs I sent off with you then?”
Chris dropped his gaze, his eyes darting about landing on the saddlebags stuffed full of opium. “They were dead weight; left them in Ramshead.”
Taggart narrowed his eyes, then shrugged and stared in Carl’s direction. “What’s your beef with your old employer then? Too uptight for you?”
Carl didn’t miss a beat as he replied. “Rules, too many bloody rules.”
Taggart barked a few orders to Chris and Moss then gestured to Carl to come closer. In a swift move, he grabbed Carl’s arm and yanked up the shirt sleeve, checking on his tattoo.
Carl squirmed out of his grip, his flash of anger quashed as Taggart spoke. “You entered a brotherhood; you really think I’d accept one of Cester’s men? Loyalty is everything.”
Kade backed away, the hairs on his arms standing on end as Taggart shook his head. “We don’t take kindly to other units on our turf. Chris, why’d you bring them here?”
Chris shrugged and gave him a cagey smile. “They busted into old Geoff’s like they owned the place; I didn’t know they were Stormers. I just thought you’d want to know they were sniffing around.”
Kade’s blood ran cold as he shared a look with a fuming Carl. They’d been set up.
They were staring at the Stormer Captain, and he knew Chris and Moss well enough which meant he knew all about the drugs. One misstep and this wasn’t going to end well.
The captain pivoted slightly, his voice above a growl. “Why are you here really?”
Kade stood his ground and before Carl could say the wrong thing, he answered as truthfully as the situation allowed for. “We’re looking for someone.”
Taggart eyed him. “Does your captain know you’re here?”
Kade held his gaze, a trickle of anxiety spreading through him at the unwavering set to the man’s face. “He’s clueless. We just wanted to find our guy; maybe some extra coin while we were on our break.”
Taggart worked his square jaw, his posture screaming he wasn’t buying it. Kade’s skin began to crawl with the desire to move away. But he couldn’t back down now. Not when the man standing in front of him was dangling the answers he sought.
Taggart sniffed and folded his arms over his chest. His own tattoo visible as his shirt sleeves crept upwards. “Who are you looking for? Any retrievals are mine in these parts; your captain knows better than to mess with me.”
Kade shook his head. “It’s personal. Not a retrieval. We’re just looking for a friend, that’s all. Like I said, we were looking for him when we stumbled across your men in Ramshead when we were looking for a better supplier. Thought we may as well travel down here and see if he turned up.”
Taggart blew out a breath as he rolled his shoulders. “I’m looking for men, but I’m not poaching C
ester’s crew. If I see you again, I won’t be so accommodating. Consider it a professional courtesy I haven’t sliced your throats.”
Kade nodded crisply and backed away, his nerves on alert in case Taggart changed his mind.
He caught Carl’s eye and gestured for him to mount. Better they make it look good and comply than risk anything now. He’d promised Hadley he’d be careful, and he aimed to keep his word.
Chris sneered at him. “Shame you didn’t find your friend after coming all this way.”
Kade ignored him, stalking back to his mount and swinging up before he took out his frustration on the double-crossing git.
Carl’s mount met Kade’s pace as they headed back the way they came. “We’re going to track them, right?”
Kade frowned at his cousin, shoulder blades itching as they moved out of range of projectiles. “Keep your voice down, and of course we are.”
Chapter Nine
Out in the bright sunlight for the first time in days, Hadley sneezed as Thomas leaned heavily on her. “You always make that disgusting noise when you sneeze. You sound like a cat coughing up a fur ball.”
Hadley smiled lightly, pleased he was talking to her, even though she was still concerned he wasn’t strong enough to attempt a wash, but he’d insisted. And as Amy had ever so delicately pointed out, he stunk worse than ‘an elephant’s armpit.’
Amy wrinkled her nose. “That’s not nice. And she doesn’t. A cat sneezin’ maybe.”
She grinned sidelong at her, and they both shuffled under Thomas’s weight as they hauled him painfully away from the tavern.
Luke was recovered enough to take a small amount of food, but Gerty was still concerned enough to stay with him, clucking over him and saying he reminded her of her own late son.
With the amount of attention Luke was getting, and the way he smiled when Gerty came to tend to him, Hadley wouldn’t be surprised if he ended up staying here.
It turned out, he was only fourteen and had only accepted the offer of work because he could no longer feed himself. He’d been alone and starving just like so many of them had been. He’d taken to Luna, and Hadley’d been loath to call her away and left her with Luke.
With Amy on the other side of a rank smelling Thomas, they made their way slowly to the swimming pond. Thomas stopped every few steps to catch his breath, his complexion waxy, his face gaunt, eyes still lifeless.
While Luke had been open about his reasons for accepting a job, Thomas had yet to share why he’d up and left. Despite her attempts to get him to talk, he’d flat out ignored her, leaving her blinking back hot tears and suffering a stab of rejection burning in her chest with each attempt.
Maybe now, once he was clean and got a little fresh air, he might finally set all her doubts to rest?
The pond was surrounded by grass that swept downwards, reminding her of the pond she and Kade had once washed in, back in Amaria when she had been so confident finding Thomas would be the solution to all her problems.
She’d placed so much hope in him, so much faith that he was the saviour she needed. But as he sagged and stumbled, releasing more curses that made her blush and Amy growl, Hadley realised her faith had been misplaced.
He was just a boy. Not much older than Kade. And even though Gerty had assured her he was just irritable because he craved the drug, doubt and uncertainty swam through her every time he rebuffed her.
Amy stepped away and settled in on the ground a little further down, placing a package of clothing on the grassy bank. “Go wash in your clothes; we’ll take a walk when you come out. Just leave them on the bank.”
He nodded before glancing at Hadley, a weak smile lit his lips. “Come with me, Hads, just so I make it the water’s edge?”
Hadley swallowed but nodded as she helped him, staggering slightly as they reached the edge. As soon as Amy was out of earshot, Thomas exhaled slowly, his voice low as he spoke. “What are you doing here, Hadley? You should have stayed in Kingsport. Flynn was interested; I told him to look after you, or did you drive him off?”
Hadley’s eyes popped at the thought of the lecherous Flynn. “I—I—you told him to look after me?”
Thomas rolled his eyes and stepped away, swaying slightly as he righted himself. “I didn’t ask to be put in charge of you, did I? Flynn told me he was keen. Said he’d give you food and let you keep living in the cottage. You should have been grateful.”
Grateful?
Hadley froze, cold running through her body as she contemplated what he was saying—what she’d feared in her lowest moments. That her only remaining family had willingly abandoned her. Left her to be used by the merchant’s lecherous son just so she didn’t starve.
But he wasn’t done attacking her. “You were always so needy, following me around everywhere. I missed saying goodbye to Clarry because Dad made me look after you when Mum got sick. I was going to marry her, and I didn’t even get to see her before she died!”
Hadley’s cheeks heated as she took another step away, despair curling in from all around her, numbness spreading through her body as she tried to breathe. “You left me and went to find work.”
Thomas may as well have slapped her for all the effect his words had on her. “You should have just slept with Flynn.”
Heat burned through her veins as she stumbled away from him, mouth half open, frozen in horror. Amy’s voice broke into the pain ripping through her. “What is it?”
Thomas shrugged. “What’s the big deal? Plenty of other girls do it; not like you had anyone interested in marrying you.”
Beside her, Amy seemed to catch on, her lips pressed into angry lines, and she didn’t even bother to speak as she pushed her palms into Thomas’s bony chest. He screamed as he fell backwards into the pond. Hadley was too stunned to react when Amy yelled over his splashing. “Go wash off the stench, you dirty swine.”
Amy grasped her hand and pulled her up the bank, her already red cheeks growing ruddier with each step. The curses she’d heard from the Stormers had nothing on Amy’s as she pulled her up the bank.
Thomas thrashed in the water, hollering about drowning. In a moment of numb pity, Hadley pulled away, her eyes burning with tears. “He—I—neither of us can swim.”
Amy only scowled and cupped her hands around her mouth. “Stand up, you stupid twit,” she yelled.
The thrashing stopped, and Thomas stood, glaring daggers at them as Amy took her arm and dragged her inside the tavern. “Me ma is going to have plenty to say about this!”
As if drawn by the noise, Justine appeared, her own cheeks flaring as she took in Amy’s furious expression. “What’s goin on ‘ere then?”
Amy held her shoulders back. “He left her, all by ‘erself; should ‘ave heard the things he said. Said selling herself was a good option. He ain't worth spit far as I’m concerned, Ma.”
Justine frowned and cupped Hadley’s chin gently, peering into her eyes. “He told you that?”
Hadley’s tears spilled over. Justine shook her head and pulled her into a hug before easing away. “When times get tough, men’s true nature comes out. ‘Tis not your fault, love; besides, you got that good fella paying your way, making sure you’re kept well That’s more than most of us can say.”
Hadley nodded numbly, every word Thomas had spat at her running on an endless repeat as she forced herself to keep the tears at bay.
Two of the farmers seated by the window cackled as Thomas started stomping towards the tavern. “Drowned rat coming this way, Justine.”
The other chuckled, before adding “’Tis angry drowned rat ‘in all.”
Justine exhaled loudly and jerked her head towards the farmers. “There’s free ale in it for you if you stick around and teach him some manners.”
Both farmers were quick to nod. “Say no more, Jussy, say no more: for you? Anything.”
Justine waved her hand, a smile quick to appear. “Stop flirtin, you old coots; just put him in the barn, tie ‘im up good, and leave him to th
ink over his words.”
The farmers pulled themselves out of their chairs and one tipped his hat to her. “Don’t you worry, missy; I’ve seen fellas come out of this drug sayin’ the nastiest things, swearing down the house. Give it some more time.”
Hadley forced a smile as they stepped around her, heading to the entrance. I wish it was the drug talking. This is so much worse.
Amy took her arm again, her temper a little cooler. “I’m so sorry, girl, but Ma’s right; you got Kade, and the way he looks at you, and the way he paid for you and the others? He’ll treat you right.”
Hadley nodded too heartbroken to speak. As she followed Amy upstairs, a single thought buzzed around, a thought that made her heart ache even more.
What if something happened to Kade? What if he didn’t come back? Was she going to spend the rest of her life depending on someone to take care of her?
It wasn’t enough. There had to be something more to place her hope in. Something that wasn’t dependant on someone else’s feelings for her. Something that wasn’t temporary. But what in this life wasn’t fleeting? What would stand when all else fell around her?
Kade eased behind a large rock and took a moment to settle his nerves. He exhaled slowly, his breath frosting in the dwindling day. Below him, the Stormers camp spread out: dozens of bright tents with a large fire centrally placed.
He squinted, the fading light making it difficult to pick out just how many men remained at camp. Carl’s soft footfalls came from behind as he settled in beside him. “I followed Chris and Moss till they reached another camp: big too, five times the size of this one.”
Kade’s nerves increased at the confirmation. If the camp was close, there could be no doubt Taggart was involved. And it was too close for the other Stormers in the area not to know about it too. He kept his voice low in case scouts were lurking. “You ready to do this?”
Carl nodded, his outline just visible in the grey light. “Even if we get into camp without someone seeing us, what are we even looking for? We know he’s involved, and we know where the other campsite is. Why not just head back to Cester now?”
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