Walter met them halfway to their destination with an update. “They’re not at Nineteenth.”
“That means it has to be South B.” Clayton shifted his weight in his saddle and then dug his heels into his horse. “Let’s go.”
They rode as fast as they could. Clayton pulled up less than a block from the house and dismounted. He ran toward the residence, Jamie in tow. Clayton gave a sign that he was going to move to the back of the house. There was only one alleyway for every three row houses—they would have to move quietly.
He noticed a couple of his men across the street from the entranceway and they signaled that they had the front exits covered. Clayton and Jamie moved to the back.
“I can’t believe it,” Jamie whispered and Clayton turned.
Samson stood next to the building, his head down as though he was trying to smell something. “Easy, boy,” Jamie whispered as they approached the horse.
Clayton noticed a slit that could possibly pass for a small window and knelt down beside to look in. He saw the girls tied to chairs, but otherwise they appeared to be all right. “Emma?” he whispered.
Her head shot up toward the window and she gave him a very guilty smile. “Hi.”
Sophie leaned her head back. “Is Jamie with you?”
“No, I’m at home sleeping like a baby.” Jamie peeked through the window.
“Thank God.”
Jamie removed his hat and lay flat on his stomach. “How many?”
Sophie shrugged. “I don’t know for sure. Rose is involved and there are at least two others.”
Clayton and Jamie moved quietly back down the alleyway. Clayton gave a silent signal to his men. They broke the front door down, while Clayton and Jamie went through the side.
They located the basement stairs in the back of the house, so while Payne’s men were distracted, Clayton and Jamie slipped unnoticed down them.
Clayton let out a sigh of relief as they let themselves in quietly and closed it quickly behind them. Clayton put his finger to his lips when he saw his wife open her mouth. They still had to get out of here without getting shot. Jamie untied Sophie and she threw herself into his arms.
* * *
Clayton untied Emma and then noticed her lip. “Who hit you?”
“It was that man I danced with at the ball.” Emma rubbed her wrists. “The one I said creeped me out, remember?”
“Gregory Payne?”
“Yes. Apparently, I was making too much noise.”
He held her close and gave her a quick squeeze. “All right, sweet, we need to get you out of here. I have work to do.”
Emma grasped his arm. “What are you going to do?”
“I’m going to deliver some justice, and then I’m going to destroy the son of a bitch.”
“Or, we could just go,” Emma pleaded. “You’ll get hurt.”
Jamie turned with a scowl. “You should have thought about that before you took off this morning. Now we’re in a mess, and you two are the reason.”
Emma’s hackles rose, but Sophie put her hand on her arm. They heard Samson paw the ground outside and Sophie pulled her skirt from her hips so that she was left with just her breeches on. She motioned for Emma to do the same.
“If you help me get up on Samson, Emma can jump up behind me. You know he’ll get us home safely.”
Jamie nodded. They hugged the wall as they sneaked back up the stairs. It appeared that Clayton’s men had Payne’s men in hand, but Clayton wouldn’t relax until the girls were on their way to safety. The group exited the building and Sophie whistled for Samson, who came running. “You are such a good boy,” she whispered as she patted his neck. “I believe your Aunty Em owes you an apology… and a Scooby Snack.”
Emma glared at her, but had to admit this was one pretty unusual horse. Jamie gave Sophie a leg up and then Clayton virtually threw Emma up behind her. She shot him a scowl. Sophie gathered the reins and maneuvered the horse down the alleyway. She dug her heels in and they took off toward home.
Emma gave her a gentle squeeze. “Sophie, remember what Rose said?”
Sophie glanced behind her. “Which part?”
“The part about her comforting Clayton. We can’t go home, she might be there. What if she brought backup, and we run into another trap?”
“Good point.” Sophie slowed Samson down to a walk and continued to move away from the row houses. “Let me think.”
Emma pointed in front of them. “Look, there’s Walter.”
“Yes.” Sophie guided Samson to him.
“What are you doing here?” he asked. “Your husbands will not be pleased.”
Emma filled Walter in on everything that had happened so far, and Rose’s threats.
“Rose said she was going back to the house,” Emma relayed.
Sophie nodded. “It’s possible she could be there now. I’m not sure it would be the smartest place for us to go right now.”
Walter agreed that they should stay with him, so Emma and Sophie slipped off Samson’s back.
CLAYTON AND JAMIE didn’t return to their horses for over an hour. Jamie frowned when he saw Sophie. “Goddammit, Sophie, you were told to go home.”
“There’s something we need to tell you,” Sophie said, and then filled them in.
Emma leaned against her husband. “I have an idea.”
“I’m afraid to hear it,” Clayton grumbled.
“Rose doesn’t know we’re safe.”
“Yes!” Sophie pointed towards home. “She’s probably going to show up at the house at some point as a surprise, pretending she knows nothing.”
“We should trap her,” Emma concluded.
Jamie frowned. “Are you crazy?”
Clayton shook his head. “Emma might have a point.”
“Well, Sophie is not going to have any part in it.”
Clayton wrapped an arm around Emma. “Neither of them are going to have any part of it.”
“She won’t know we’re there,” Emma said. “We’ll hide up in our room while you guys grab Rose. Otherwise, she might go underground and you’ll never catch her.”
“It might work, Jamie,” Sophie whispered.
“Let’s get you home and we’ll sort it out there.” Jamie lifted her back onto Samson.
Clayton pulled Emma up onto his horse, and they made their way home. They arrived to find Jack waiting for them. He looked petrified. Jamie helped Sophie down and then pushed her toward the stable boy.
Sophie lowered her head. “I’m sorry for lying to you, Jack. It will never happen again.”
“Is awright, missus.”
“And?” Jamie continued.
“And I’m never allowed to ride unless Jamie or Clayton is with me. You have permission to stop me.”
Jack nodded and Jamie dragged Sophie into the house.
Clayton left Walter and Jack to deal with the horses, while he took Emma inside. She grimaced up at him. “Clayton, I know you’re angry with me and I’ll listen to whatever you have to say, but could we please eat something first? I should take a tray to Sophie too. We have to think about the baby.”
“We’ll give them some time alone and then I will take a tray to her,” he said tightly.
* * *
Upstairs, Jamie led Sophie into their bedroom then closed and locked the door. He started to pace, but kept silent.
“Jamie,” Sophie whispered.
He put his hand up, but continued to pace. “You could have been killed, Sophie. The baby could have been killed.”
Tears slipped down her cheeks. “I’m sorry.”
“Why didn’t you listen to me? Do you think I talk simply to hear my own voice? Or is it that you think I’m talking out of my ass? YOU COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED!” he bellowed. “I lost you once, Sophie. I can’t…”
He didn’t really have the strength to say any more. He dropped down into one of their reading chairs, put his head in his hands, and sobbed.
She knelt before him. “Jamie, I am so
sorry. Please don’t cry. You were right about everything and I have been an impossible shrew. Please, baby, say you forgive me. I’ll never do anything like this again. I promise. I won’t ever leave your sight for as long as I live, if you’ll just forgive me. Please.”
He took her face gently in his hands and kissed her. Within seconds, the kiss turned frantic. Jamie ripped the clothes from her body and pulled her over to the bed. He removed his own clothing and then proceeded to make love to her until his fears were vanquished. He had never been so frightened in his life. He would never let her leave him again. Never again.
* * *
Clayton heard the door lock before he reached the threshold of Jamie and Sophie’s room, so he turned on his heel and went back downstairs. Emma gave him a confused look when he came back into the dining room, but Clayton shook his head and asked, “Have you eaten enough?”
“I guess.”
Clayton turned and left the room. Emma assumed she was supposed to follow him, but he said nothing to her as they walked through their sitting room and into their bedroom. There was a bath set up in the middle of the room, but he still didn’t say anything to her as he removed her clothing.
“Clay,” she whispered.
“Don’t speak,” he warned. “Not right now.”
She nodded and he helped her step into the tub before leaving her. She submerged her face into the warm water, forgetting about her lip and inadvertently inhaled when she gasped from the sting. She came out of the water with a sputter and tried to catch her breath. She suddenly realized how much worse it could have been and burst into tears. She wrapped her arms around her knees, laid her head to the side and cried.
“Emma.” Clayton’s soft voice made it even worse.
She jumped up and threw herself into his arms. “Clayton, I am so sorry. I should have listened to you. I should have trusted your judgment. You warned me, but I was mad at you and let it control my actions. I just went and did my own thing without any consideration to Sophie or the baby. I am such an idiot. Can you ever forgive me?”
She continued to sob as he pulled her the rest of the way from the tub.
“Shh, sweet.” He ran his hand down her back.
“I am so sorry.”
“I know, Emma,” he said quietly.
“Please say you forgive me. I’ll never ever do anything to make you angry ever again.”
Clayton chuckled quietly. “I wish that were true, sweetheart, but I have a feeling this will not be the last time you make me angry. I do, however, sincerely hope it is the last time you put yourself in danger.”
“I promise, I’ll be a lot more careful. I’m so sorry.”
“I forgive you.” He stroked her cheek. “How’s your lip?”
“It hurts.”
“I brought you some ice.” He handed her the compress. “I need to change and get downstairs to await Rose. I don’t want you to leave this room, do you understand?”
Emma pulled her robe on and sat next to the fire. “I won’t leave.” He gave her a hard stare as he removed his shirt. “I promise,” she reiterated.
“I have sent for Christopher.”
Emma raised an eyebrow. “Why?”
“It will look as though I’m calling in the troops to find you. I’m hoping it will flush out anyone else she might be working with.”
“Oh. That’s a really good idea.”
“I know, sweetness.” Clayton smiled. “Which is why I did it.”
She sat back. “You will be careful, won’t you?”
“Yes, Emma. I’ll be careful.” He left the room, closing the door with a click.
Emma paced the room. Hearing a quiet knock on her door, she turned when Sophie walked in. Jamie followed closely.
“Hi.” Emma gave her a quick hug.
Sophie smiled. “Hi.”
“I know you know this, but don’t leave this room until one of us comes and gets you.” Jamie gently tugged one of Sophie’s curls. “Got it?”
Sophie nodded. “Got it.”
Emma grabbed his arm. “Tell Clayton that Rose said something about wanting information from him. I don’t know what they’re planning, but maybe you guys can keep her talking for a little while.”
“I’ll make sure Clayton gets the message. Remember girls. Stay here.” Jamie kissed Sophie one more time.
“I love you,” she whispered.
“I love you more,” he said as he turned to leave the room. “Even if it’s a choice today.”
Sophie blew a kiss at him. Once he’d closed the door, she sat on the edge of the bed.
* * *
Downstairs, Christopher had arrived and he and Clayton stood by the fireplace in the parlor while Jamie paced. “I should have told her what was going on.”
“They might have been in worse danger,” Clayton said.
Christopher sipped his drink. “What would you have told her?”
“All of it.”
“You’d tell your wife everything?” Christopher asked incredulously.
“I always tell Sophie everything. She knew Topper was involved and her motherly instinct kicked in. I should have let her know the truth.” Jamie dragged his hands down his face. “The bottom line is that I’ve never been able to keep anything from her. She eventually figures it out. Emma and Sophie would be exceptional private detectives. Add Hannah into the mix and they’re lethal. They always find out what they want to know and you don’t see it coming.”
Christopher raised an eyebrow. “Who’s Hannah?”
Jamie nodded. “Emma’s best friend.”
Clayton frowned. “If this goes as planned, Rose will do everything to sabotage Emma’s safety, and then we’ll have proof that she’s up to no good.”
Walter made a quiet rap on the wall in warning and the men stopped talking. They heard the front door open, and Walter’s low voice. Then he was in the doorway and Clayton pushed away from the fireplace.
“Mr. Madden, there is a Miss Rose Johnson to see you.”
“Thank you, Jenkins, please show her in.”
The men put on solemn expressions and Rose was shown into the parlor. Clayton reached his hand out to her. “Rose, what a lovely surprise. I did not expect you to visit.”
She grasped his hand and smiled. “Is this a bad time?”
“Yes, as a matter of fact it is. You have found me in a difficult situation.”
She laid her hand over her chest. “I do declare, Clayton, whatever has happened?”
“Sophie and Emma have been kidnapped.”
“No!” Rose laid her hand on her throat. “That is just terrible news.”
“Yes, we have been trying, unsuccessfully, to find them all morning. The horses they were riding came back to the house riderless, so we await ransom demands of some kind.”
“And?”
Clayton frowned. “So far we’ve received nothing.”
“That’s just awful news, Clay.” Rose removed her lace gloves and laid them on the table. “Is there anything I can do to assist?”
“Just having the support of a close friend is help enough, Rose.”
Rose nodded. “I’m here for you in anything you need. I’ll stay all day if you need me and would like me to.”
“I’d like that very much.” Clayton smiled and then turned her toward their audience. “Let me introduce you to Christopher Butler. You have already met James. Christopher, this is an old family friend, Miss Rose Johnson.”
Christopher took Rose’s hand and kissed it gallantly. “Nice to meet you, Miss Johnson.”
“Please, call me Rose,” she said as though she were royalty.
“Would you like some tea, Rose?” Clayton asked.
“Tea would be appreciated, thank you.”
Clayton rang for tea and ushered Rose to the settee. Tea was delivered and Clayton continued to make small talk for close to thirty minutes.
Walter walked into the parlor holding a tray and Clayton turned to face him. “Jenkins?”
/> “Sorry to interrupt, Mr. Madden. A missive has arrived for you.”
“Thank you, Jenkins.” Clayton took the letter from the tray and opened it to read it. He ran his hand through his hair and let out a big sigh.
“Clayton? What is it?” Jamie asked.
“It’s the ransom.”
Rose gasped. “What does it say?”
“They have listed their demands.”
“Oh, my.” Rose waited for the men to look at it and then peeked a look for herself.
Clayton knew she noticed Gregory’s handwriting. He didn’t miss the little smile behind her hand, disguised as a gasp. Rose cleared her throat. “What do they want?”
“They want information about the trip to Gettysburg. The President’s movements,” Clayton answered.
Rose’s eyes widened in surprise. “I had no idea the President was planning a trip.”
“It’s not public knowledge yet.”
Christopher slapped the paper down on the table. “We can’t just hand over that kind of information, Clayton.”
Clayton frowned. “You’re right.”
“But what about Sophie and Emma?” Rose stood quickly and then sat back down. “You must give them the information to save their lives.”
“Honestly, Rose, the state of the Union is more important than two individual lives,” Clayton said.
Rose gasped. “Clayton, what a horrible thing to say.”
“You bastard!” Jamie seethed. “You’re talking about our wives.”
Christopher shrugged. “It’s a matter of national security.”
“Yes, that’s more important right now,” Clayton said.
“But you need to think of these women’s lives,” Rose said. “And how guilty you’d feel if something happened to one of them.”
Clayton could tell she was growing frantic. “I don’t know.” He paced in an effort to appear to contemplate his options.
“Clayton!” Rose said exasperated.
He nodded slowly. “You do have a valid argument, Rose.”
“I do?” she asked slightly taken aback.
“Yes, I would feel guilty.”
Rose smoothed her hands over her skirts. “Exactly.”
“We could give them false information,” Christopher suggested.
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