“You first,” Taylor told Nelly.
Nelly started to cry, and whined, “I don’t want to go in there. It’s dark.”
“Move,” Taylor said.
Nelly turned the key in the wooden door and slowly opened it. She lifted her skirts, drew them close to her and bent over to pass through the low entryway.
“Drag him by the arms and follow her,” Taylor told Henry.
Henry hesitated like he might try something, so Taylor reminded him, “I’m not opposed to the use of these.” He flashed the sword and pistol at him. “Move.”
Once Donnegan’s boots cleared the entryway, Taylor hurriedly slammed the door and turned the key, placing it in his waistcoat pocket. He breathed deeply several times and wiped the sweat from his brow—despite the coolness of the cave. “Now to get Jalene out of here,” he mumbled, and to himself he prayed—please let her be all right.
He raced back through the cave to the huge cavern and Donnegan’s dining area. Jalene lay peacefully atop the table. Taylor placed the sword and pistol on it, touched her wrist and next the pulse spot at her neck. Although her pulse was faint, she was still alive. Hurriedly, he lifted her into his arms and grabbed the pistol, leaving the sword behind. He dashed for the door they’d first entered when they’d arrived in the chamber hours ago.
“Stop.”
Not recognizing the voice, or knowing if a weapon was aimed at his back Taylor did so and slowly turned around to see Donnegan’s cook.
“Where did everyone go? Is the lady ill?”
“Donnegan and Nelly are down the path ahead of me. The lady is ill, and he’s seeing us out.”
“Sorry. Can I be of help?”
“Thank you, but nay. Carry on as usual.” He turned and took off as fast as his legs would carry the both of them.
Some of the lanterns had burned out along the way, causing Taylor to shift Jalene to his shoulder so he could use his hand to feel along the wall in the especially dark areas. He had no idea how many of Donnegan’s men were here at the cave, but he had come this far and was not about to let anyone stop him.
The descent into the cave had been less strenuous than the climb back now proved. That, combined with the damp, musty air and Jalene hanging over his shoulder slowed him considerably, yet he kept a steady pace until he reached the heavy wooden door that led to the cottage and the outside.
He set Jalene down for a moment to rest himself and gather his wits.
At that moment he sensed someone’s presence. He had only a second to pull the pistol from his breeches and aim it at the huge form that lunged at him from the shadows along the wall. He squeezed the trigger and fell to the ground beneath his unknown assailant. Before he had a chance to shove the body away, the door groaned open, bringing with it light from the interior of the cottage and a half dozen or more musket barrels aimed in his direction.
“Good God! Are you all right?” Hug’s familiar voice rang in Taylor’s ears from the distance.
Relieved, Taylor closed his eyes. He didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
Chapter 24
“Am I glad to see you,” Hug bellowed as he rolled the dead man from Taylor. “What the hell’s been going on here?”
“The feelings are mutual. Where the bloody hell have you been?” Taylor asked, and wasted no words on replying, but immediately saw to Jalene who was still leaning against the wall where he had placed her.
Hug noticed her then. “Son of a bitch. What happened? Is she all right?”
Taylor briefly told Hug what had happened. He continued, “I don’t know what the effects of the powder will be.” He lifted Jalene’s hand and examined the contents of the amber ring. His worst fears were confirmed as he saw that she’d used all the powder. He tugged the ring off her finger and tossed it from him in disgust.
“Dear God. Her breathing is so faint. We need to get a doctor.” Only then, he noticed that Hug had changed from the old man disguise to his military uniform. “Where the hell is this place? Do you know?”
“Ironically enough, we’re not far from Knights’ Head,” Hug answered. “You can imagine my surprise when I saw the direction in which Donnegan was taking you.”
“Aye. This is good news. Send one of the men for Dr. Cunningham in Belleek. Have the doctor meet us here or at Knights’ Head—wherever he can meet us first. He’s the closest, though he may be out on a call at one of the neighboring villages a distance away. If so, he must be found. Have someone help her outside and stay with her while you and I go back down in the cave to finish.” Taylor paused, realizing he’d left Henry’s pistol inside and carried no weapons. “Give me your sword,” he said to Hug.
Hug handed the sword to him. “How many remain?” “Donnegan’s man, Henry, the cook and the lads.” When Hug raised a quizzical eyebrow at him, Taylor explained. “Donnegan was in fact the link to the missing lads. He said they were dimwits, but I could tell he drugged them to control their behavior in order to work his distillery operation.”
“Bastard!” Hug said, and instructed several of his men to do as Taylor requested. He faced Taylor. “What can we expect down there?”
“I locked Donnegan, Nelly and Henry in this hideous section of the cave where there’s absolutely no light at all. ‘Tis like being blind, and ‘tis where Donnegan held Jalene and me captive shortly after we arrived.” Taylor started down the trail, and Hug followed, while motioning to several of his men to come along.
“Do we need any more men besides these?” Taylor turned around and took in three dragoons with their muskets at the ready. “I don’t think so. It was obvious Donnegan disliked having a lot of people underfoot.”
“Let’s be done with this task,” Hug said.
Once again, with Hug and his men in tow, Taylor traveled the cave path that led into the huge dining chamber. Donnegan’s cook was still cleaning up. He turned at their approach.
“Somethin’s wrong. Aye, for sure, there is. Why else would ye be bringin’ in the military? Mercy, I haven’t seen Master Cory or anyone since he led you back outside,” Donnegan’s cook said excitedly.
“Everything is fine, but you’ll have to go outside. We’ll explain later. Is there anyone else here besides you?” Taylor carefully watched the cook while he waited for his reply.
The cook glanced at Hug and the dragoons behind him. “Are ye sure there’s no trouble in it for me?”
“Nay. Just tell us if you’re here alone. You must hurry from this place,” Taylor urged.
“Alone, I am, except for the lads. Master Cory doesn’t like too many servants around him,” the cook said, confirming Taylor’s earlier thoughts. “Oh, there be a gent or two at the main door, but that’s it.”
“Good. Leave this mess and follow the way out,” Taylor said.
“But ...”
“Do it!”
The cook, instantly fearful, fled without looking back.
“Where is this other chamber with Donnegan?” Hug asked.
“I’ll lead you to them, so you and your men can escort them outside. Tie them, and be sure they’re secured. As you know, Donnegan’s a shifty one. Let’s see these three pay for their crimes. Especially that bastard Donnegan, the murderer.”
“Aye,” Hug agreed. “He killed those dragoons on his way to Dublin, and I know he intended to kill that Wil fellow, but the man survived. You speak as if he’s killed another this day, as well.”
“Another, but not today. I’ll explain to you later,” Taylor said, making a mental note to tell Hug about Jalene’s brother. “Let’s go.”
Taylor led Hug and the dragoons across the dining area out another entryway from the chamber until they reached their destination. Standing several feet from the low door, he pointed at it. “They’re in there. Take them above ground. I’ll gather the lads together and meet you outside.”
Taylor ran down the pathway until the trail bent and he caught the lights from the distillation chamber in the distance. He slowed his pace, using precaution j
ust the same, in case Donnegan’s cook had lied to him.
As he approached, he stayed close to the cave wall and hesitated near the entrance to carefully survey the situation. The same lad was at one of the stills firing it while another worked in the cask room. His tenant Paddy’s son, Kyle, reentered wheeling a coal cart into the chamber. Taylor saw no one else, so he hurriedly ran over to the boy. Kyle merely glanced at him and continued walking towards the fired still.
“Kyle, ‘Tis me, your landlord. You need to come with me,” Taylor told him.
Kyle regarded him with unrecognizing glazed eyes and ignored him.
“Master Cory insists you come with me,” Taylor said loudly.
Instantly, Kyle dropped the handles on the cart and waited for further instruction from Taylor. Despite whatever drug Donnegan used on the lads, the mere mention of the man’s name set Kyle in motion. Hopefully, their condition wasn’t permanent and later something could be done to help them. For now, the first priority was to get them the bloody hell away from the cave.
Taylor confronted the three other youths and told them that Donnegan wanted them to follow him. They obeyed, and the four lads lined up behind Taylor. Before he led them outside, he asked, “Are there any more of you?”
They all responded to Taylor’s question at different speeds of comprehension, but all answered nay.
Taylor rushed them along the cave path and wasn’t relieved until everyone had passed through the cottage door to Hug and the waiting dragoons outside. It was now evening. The night breeze smelled of rain and felt unusually warm upon his face after the cool dampness of the cave. He studied the sky. Clouds prevented the stars from sparkling above them, confirming his suspicions of wet weather to come. Quickly, he scanned the circular drive of the cottage and grounds before him. Donnegan, Nelly, and Henry sat in the grass near the outbuilding with their hands tied.
“Here,” he said to Hug, who had been giving orders to his men. “Take this before I use it.” He handed Hug’s sword back to him.
Taylor stomped over to the trio and said to Donnegan, “I promise you—if you’ve done any permanent damage to Jalene or any of these lads—death would be preferable to the torture I’d put you through.”
Taylor then walked over to the lads who stood near a carriage that was being prepared for their departure. “Do you lads know where you are?”
Kyle wore a silly smile as if thinking on it and replied, “Aye, we’re outside.”
That’s not what Taylor meant, but he let it pass. “Are any of you hungry or thirsty?”
“For sure,” said the lad who had been firing the still. “We’re always hungry though we get fed a lot.”
To Taylor, this was a good sign. Young healthy lads did indeed have hearty appetites. At least Donnegan possessed the sense to recognize this fact since the lads didn’t appear to be in poor physical condition.
“Those lads were well tended, and I never beat them,” Donnegan yelled over at Taylor as if reading his mind. He tried to stand, but one of the dragoons guarding him shoved him back in place. “They were unhappy with their plight at home, as I was when I was their age. I took them in and gave them the opportunity to earn more than they ever dreamed possible.”
“If so, drugging them wouldn’t have been necessary,” Taylor said.
“I trust few with knowing our location. The lads were drugged for their own protection,” Donnegan replied.
“That’s right,” Nelly added. “Besides, the drug is harmless. Lord knows after how his da abused him, he could have easily taken it out on the lads, but ...”
“Enough, Nelly. That’s none of his concern,” Donnegan said.
Nelly ignored him. “Cory’s never mistreated the lads. In time, they would have been given a purse filled with coins and relieved of their duties.”
“For sure,” Taylor said sarcastically and glanced in Jalene’s direction. “You’ve been operating illegally. She’s going to recover. When she does, you’ll be charged for the murder of James Somerville as well.”
Donnegan snarled in reply while Nelly held him back, trying to calm him.
Taylor strode from their presence, and said to Hug, “Take the windowless carriage and several men to escort all of them to Dublin.”
“Aye. But, what of the distillery?” Hug asked.
“Leave it to me. I’ll ignite it. You did bring the gunpowder, didn’t you?”
Hug nodded.
“Take Donnegan to Dublin and take the lads home. Have a carriage prepared for Jalene and a driver waiting. Tell him to leave for Knights’ Head if I’m not back in twenty minutes.”
“Are you sure you don’t want me to help?” Hug asked.
“Nay. Off with you.” Taylor turned to leave and swung around again. “Check with White Wylie on your way back.”
“I’ll do it. Farewell.”
“Farewell.”
Taylor walked over to one of the dragoons who was in charge of the supplies cart. He retrieved a small cask of gunpowder and balanced it on his shoulder.
Hug waved to Taylor as he reentered the cottage and made his way to the distillation chamber. First, Taylor carried buckets of water from the adjoining chamber and doused the burning coals of the active still, so there would be no uncontrolled sparks. Next, he started near the un-fired stills and marked a trail of gunpowder in and around them leading out through the opposite side of the chamber entryway and stopped.
He raced back to the cask room to retrieve one of the casks with the Blackwater Distillery markings. Despite the evidence against Donnegan, Taylor wanted to include every detail of his illegal activities.
He rolled the whiskey cask forward while he continued to distribute the gunpowder up the path, stopping just before the cottage entryway. He lit the gunpowder and fled as fast as possible with the cask of whiskey over his shoulder.
Once outside, he placed the cask atop the carriage in the storage compartment and quickly climbed inside the coach. The driver whipped the horse to a start and they took off in a trot away from the cottage.
Jalene, breathing evenly, but still shallowly, rested against the seat opposite him. He moved across to her and gathered her in his arms.
Moments after he was settled in place, an explosion rang through the otherwise silent night. Through the window he observed the horizon in the distance over the distillery. The earth erupted, sending yellow, crimson, and white clouds to illuminate the evening sky. It was done. He gave a final glance to the spectacular display and bordering flax fields of fire.
“Don’t leave me, Jalene,” he whispered, caressing her forehead and hair. “Stay with me.”
He thought she was stirring, but when he studied her carefully, he realized it was his imagination. He sat still, as the carriage rolled along at a steady pace, until his cramped legs grew weary. As he rose to reposition Jalene, she murmured, “I love you, Taylor.”
Taylor sat back down and hugged her tightly to him. “Jalene. Thank God.” He released her somewhat to stare into her face.
Despite the darkness, he saw her eyes briefly flutter open and close again. “Where are we?”
“Ach, sweetness, you’ve made me a happy man. How do you feel?”
“Donnegan forced me to take the powder I intended for him. I thought I was doomed to death and would never see you again. I’m so happy to see you, Taylor.”
Taylor frowned. See him? But her eyes had remained closed. She spoke slowly with no direction to her slurred words.
“Where is Donnegan? How ever did you escape him?” She mumbled into the brocade material of his waistcoat as he held her.
“I’ll tell you later. Right now all I want to do is get you back to Knights’ Head where you’ll be safe.”
“I’m safe already.” She cuddled closer to him and dropped off to sleep.
* * * *
The first object Jalene saw when she blinked her eyes open was Taylor’s mother’s bookcase. Next she saw the poetry book she had shelved before they’d left on t
heir masquerade. How did she come to be at Knights’ Head? How long had she been asleep? Questions came to mind as she recalled the time at the cave and Donnegan. She remembered taking the powder, thinking it would put her to sleep permanently, but she could recall nothing more.
She rolled on the bed from her side to her back and noticed that she no longer wore the midnight blue gown or the matching crescent patch. Instead, she was clothed in a white linen dressing gown with eyelet lace trim across the bodice. Had Taylor undressed her, or Biddy? Now that they appeared safe from Donnegan, did Taylor regret confessing his love to her? She pictured his arms around her, his mouth on her mouth, and his hips pressed into her. Both cold and warmth spread down her arms and spine.
A light tap on the door interrupted her daydreaming. “Come in,” she said, and sat up, covering herself with the bed linens.
The door swung open and Tyrone pranced across the bedchamber up onto the bed. His tail was wagging and he was whining in excitement. She reached to give him a hug and smiled at Taylor, who entered after the beagle.
No longer gaudily dressed in the pinkish shirt, copper waistcoat and bright green breeches, he was as striking as ever, casually garbed in a white linen shirt, dark brown breeches that clung to his hips, and polished riding boots.
“I wouldn’t mind a hug myself,” he said, watching her hold Tyrone to her breasts. He sat down on the bed.
She gave him a shy smile, released Tyrone and opened her arms to him. Instantly, she was wrapped in the warmth and strength of his embrace. She sighed with contentment. Dear Lord, she never wanted to leave this man.
Taylor caressed her hair a moment and gave her a firm squeeze. “Thanks, that was good,” he said and smiled, exposing his dimple.
The desperate events over the past days had offered no occasion for her to feel sensual. She reveled in feeling it once more. She smiled back, ignoring the bed linens that had fallen down to her waist.
He stared into her eyes. Concern was clearly etched on his face. “How are you feeling? Still sleepy? A whole day and night has passed since we left the cave,” he said, watching her closely.
Fields of Fire Page 29