Venture Unbroken

by R. H. Russell

“What!” Venture said.

  “You see?” Rose said to Jade. “He clearly has not lost his feelings for you. Though he may very well have lost his senses!” She turned to Venture. “You, sir, are just plain scared.”

  “Vent?” It’s true, isn’t it? Jade’s eyes said.

  Rose shook her head at Jade. “Just look at her! Dressed like that, sweating. . .”

  “Grandmother!”

  Venture looked at her, at her cheeks flushed with exercise and now with embarrassment. At the sweat dampening her hair, making it curl around her ears. Her bare feet. This was the girl he’d fallen in love with. The woman he couldn’t live without.

  “Mr. Delving, you are the only one who can make this girl a lady.”

  Venture couldn’t his eyes off Jade. “How am I going to manage that?”

  “Make her your wife.”

  Earnest made a choking sound. Dasher laughed out loud.

  Venture swallowed hard. Rose, dear Rose. She really did love them both. Enough to humiliate them all like this. But she didn’t know the stakes. Jade deserves to know. The truth hit him hard in the gut.

  Venture held out his hand to Jade. “Let’s go talk, okay?”

  She just looked at him for a second. Then she took his outstretched hand. He squeezed her hand, too hard. But she didn’t flinch. He led her to the small training room he and the guys were using and shut the door.

  “There’s no one else?”

  He pulled her close. It felt so good to hold her tight, to bury his face in her hair. “How could there be anyone else? You’re the only one I want.”

  “What is it, then?” she looked up into his eyes. “Children?” she blushed. “You don’t want . . .”

  “No, that’s not it. Not at all.” Though, much as he loved his nieces, that was frightening too. To have children to protect. He cupped her face in his hand. “You’re not safe.”

  “Life isn’t safe.”

  “They’re willing to hurt you. Maybe even to kill you. Felicity wasn’t attacked by highwaymen. It was supposed to be you. You were the bait, and it was all a trap for me. I was stupid to think I could love you and if I worked hard enough, I could marry you, and everybody would just let us be happy together. Asking you to put up with other people’s talk is one thing, but I won’t have you dead because of me! I won’t, Jade! I can’t!”

  She let his hand go. He tried to find her fingers with his again, but she brushed him away. “Who do you think I am? Do you really think I wouldn’t risk death to have you?”

  “It’s not about what you’re willing to risk, it’s about what I’m willing to risk!”

  “You would let those people win, you would abandon me to spend the rest of my days alone or with a man I don’t love, just to avoid the chance that you might have to bear the pain of losing me?”

  “Not just losing you, you being killed because of me, because of what I selfishly wanted.”

  “So all you went through was for your own selfish desire, and not at all because you knew it was what I wanted with all my heart?”

  “You know that’s not true!”

  “But you are being selfish. You want to protect yourself from your own guilt and—”

  “And my own fear. You’re right. I’m afraid.”

  “You almost lost me. I understand that, Vent. I almost lost you, too. And isn’t all of this just as much because of me? Because I chose you?”

  “It’s not the same.”

  “Yes it is!”

  “I’m not just afraid of losing you, I’m afraid of not being able to protect you. And don’t say you want me because you love me, and not to have a man to protect you, because I need to be able to protect you; I always have, and I know I can’t. I can’t be sure of it anyway, and it’s killing me, Jade, and I’m sorry.”

  She took him by the hand again and pulled him to her. “I do want a man who’ll defend me. And I know that’s part of who you are.”

  He looked into her face, and it was full of love, even admiration for him.

  “You’ll do everything in your power to protect me. And no man could do a better job than you will defending our family. But you’re human. Some things are beyond your control. I understand that, Vent.” She put her soft hand on his stubbly face. “It’s enough that you’ll give it all you’ve got. As for the rest, we just have to have faith.”

  He took her hand from his cheek and kissed it. He’d told himself that before. Before so many things had gone so terribly wrong. Everything in my power might be enough for her, but it’s not enough for me, he thought. Failing her was unacceptable. But now he was failing her in another way, a way much worse to her.

  “I’m so sorry, Jade.” He tipped her face up and brought his lips to hers. It had been too long since he’d kissed her. “I know how you love me. Someday we’re going to be together, and I won’t leave you, not for anything.”

  “Promise me.”

  “I promise. I’m going to get it together and deal with these people.”

  “I know you will.” A lone tear slipped from her eye, but she smiled. “You’re the most capable man I’ve ever known, fears and all.” She pulled back a bit. “You know Father feels the same,” she hinted.

  “He doesn’t know they tried to kill you. That there could still be people out there trying to kill you.”

  “Or they could’ve been a rogue group. On their own. And now they’re gone, Vent.”

  Venture shook his head. He couldn’t risk an assumption like that.

  “He doesn’t need to know any of this. He’ll give you his blessing, Venture. And if he doesn’t—”

  “He already gave me his blessing on our courtship.”

  “What?” Jade’s hands dropped to her sides.

  “When I was at your house, recovering.”

  The hands clenched. “And you didn’t ask for my hand then?”

  He crossed his arms. “I’ll ask when I’m ready.”

  “What does that mean, Vent? When will you be ready?”

  “Not right now.”

  “It’s not that I’m not willing to wait. But I need to know what it is you’re waiting for.”

  “I need things to be more settled. I have things to figure out. And right now I have to focus on the Championship.”

  “I see.”

  “I was going to do both—I was doing both, getting my life together and training, but you know, I had a few things pop up, like getting stuck in the lockup and getting the two of us almost killed.”

  Her eyes flashed green fire at him. “I have to go, Vent. Flora is waiting for me.”

  “You can’t keep coming here.”

  “I won’t be their prisoner. You, of all people, ought to understand that.”

  “You know nothing about that! Nothing!”

  She jumped. Though she recovered quickly, he’d seen the fear. He’d scared Jade. Even though it was just for an instant, she’d been afraid of him.

  She ran out the door without a glance back. He stood there, shaking. Good. She’d stay away from him for awhile now. But that gnawing pit was trying to open up inside him again.

  Jade knew about his old wounds, the childhood grief and rage. But she didn’t know about the part of him he’d discovered in the lockup. He understood now that God hadn’t abandoned him. He was the one who’d turned his back on God, making the choice to indulge in hatred. God was good even when men weren’t, even when Venture wasn’t. But how could Venture know he wouldn’t go there again? How could he trust himself? How could he let Jade trust him?

  Chapter Nineteen

  Summer’s First Month, 660 After the Founding

  Venture blinked in the semi-darkness. He reached under the pillow for his dagger. But it was just Chance, standing a couple of paces back, calling his name. Chance knew not to touch him to wake him up. Sometimes he woke up swinging—or worse.

  “Mr. Delving. It’s morning. Time to run. Get up before Mr. Goodview yell—yells,” Chance corrected himself. He kept doing that la
tely.

  Venture pushed himself up on his elbows. Chance gathered Venture’s blankets off the floor and threw them back on the bed. Something about the motion brought back an unwelcome flash of memory. Venture flinched. He made himself look at Chance’s face. Chance, his friend. Not Hardy. He groaned. His aching body, the fatigue, it made it harder to keep all of those ghosts back where they belonged. It was the worst part of his grueling preparation for the Championship, and he couldn’t tell anyone about it.

  “You okay, sir?”

  “Just sore. How many days, Chance? Tell me how many days.”

  “Five days. Then you can sleep in a little.” The Championship was in just under three weeks, and Earnest’s plan was to push him hard, then lighten the load so he could go into the tournament strong and rested.

  Venture rubbed his hand over his face. He took Chance’s outstretched hand and stumbled to his feet. He smelled coffee. Chance stuck the mug in his hand before he could reach for it. Earnest made good coffee. It was the only reason the trainer was still alive three months into this insane training routine.

  “You should go back to bed,” Venture said in-between sips. You’re a growing boy. You need rest.”

  “You grow too.”

  Venture frowned. What was the kid talking about?

  “Chance?” Earnest’s voice had a warning edge as he called up the stairs.

  Chance tossed Venture a shirt. “He’s up!” he called to Earnest. “He’s coming!”

  Dasher was already in the kitchen, ready to go. “Morning, Champ.”

  Venture looked Dasher in the eye—and had to look down slightly in order to do it.

  “See!” Chance said. “You taller than Mr. Starson.”

  Venture had spent so much time in workout shorts over the last few months, he hadn’t noticed.

  “It’s called a growth spurt.” Earnest said. “I used to pray for one, but it never came. Maybe your maker decided to give you a little gift to help you fight your way back.”

  “Let me see.” Dasher held his arm out next to Venture’s. “A nice reach advantage. Good thing I’m retired. You could keep growing another year or so.”

  “I’m sure you’d deal with my reach just fine,” Venture said. But he couldn’t help smiling. It was nice to have something good happen, even if it was only a couple of thumb’s knuckles worth of unexpected growth.

  Venture gulped down the rest of his coffee. Chance handed him a water flask for his run, then jumped up to take a pan from its hook on the wall.

  “Go back to bed,” Venture said. “Seriously.”

  Chance shook his head. He waved the pan. “Breakfast. Ready when you get back. Biscuits and eggs.”

  No more porridge or hash for Venture. He couldn’t stand it ever since the lockup. “We’ll manage,” he said. But Venture’s stomach growled at the thought of biscuits, betraying him.

  Chance smiled triumphantly. “Hurry up, or I have to eat it all without you.”

  “Earnest,” Venture said as they began to jog, “I’m glad you’re not tall enough for the arena.”

  Earnest jabbed him, but his eyes couldn’t help smiling. He knew what Venture meant. Earnest had been just what he needed when he was an out-of-control kid. Maybe it wasn’t fair, but if God had denied the gift of height to Earnest, he’d granted Venture an incredible trainer by doing so.

  “Lance won last weekend,” Earnest said. “He beat Foster and Ox.”

  “Both of you agreed I shouldn’t go,” Venture said. “That it would be better not to give anyone a chance to figure out my new style.”

  “That wasn’t my point.”

  “What was your point? That I should be worried?”

  “We’re not worried, Champ. You’ve got it covered.” Dasher glowered at Earnest.

  “It’s not about being worried. It’s about you underestimating Lance. You have a habit of doing that, and he has a habit of beating you every time you do it.”

  “I won’t underestimate him. And I won’t let him beat me.”

  #

  Jade slowed Sunrise to a canter. There it was again, a flash of movement in the trees along the roadside. Something snapped in the brush, then everything was still. Someone was following her. Jade urged Sunrise into a gallop.

  Dust clouded her view as she navigated the sharp turns of the road down the hillside, from the house, into town, at near full speed. Whoever was following her had been on foot, but he could have a horse nearby. Even now, he could be pursuing her. She glanced back, but couldn’t see around the curve in the road. With Sunrise’s hooves beating on the road and the blood pounding in her ears, she couldn’t hear either.

  She barely slowed when the dirt road gave way to the cobblestone streets of Twin Rivers Town. Wide-eyed pedestrians parted to let her through. She whirled to a stop in front of Beamer’s Center. Before her boots met the ground, a crowd of curious boys had surrounded her.

  Chance darted to the front of the group.

  “Where’s Vent?” Jade’s chest heaved and her hand shook as she held Sunrise’s reins.

  “Out back.” Chance nodded in the direction of the privies. “What wrong, Miss?”

  Jade shoved Sunrise’s reins into the hands of the nearest boy and pulled Chance aside. “Someone’s following me, that’s what’s wrong,” she whispered.

  “Oh.”

  Oh? He looked worried, but . . . not how she’d expected.

  “Chance, do you know something about this?”

  “I go see if Mr. Delving’s coming.”

  Jade caught his arm before he could slip away.

  “Who’s following me?”

  “Please, Miss.”

  “Chance.”

  “Sometimes Pike. Sometimes just me.” Chance shrugged sheepishly. “At least I can run for help.”

  Pike had befriended Venture when he first came to Beamer’s, mostly because Colt and Border picked on him too. Only in Pike’s case, it wasn’t because he was a bondsman, it was because he was one of Beamer’s weakest young fighters. He’d grown into a solid guard, but what match was he for a gang of Cresteds if they decided to come after her?

  “What’s going on?”

  A disconcerting mix of relief and anger washed over Jade at the sound of Venture’s voice, filled with concern.

  She turned to face him. It was early in the day, but he was already dripping with sweat. Done with a run, and ready to go inside and train. He reached for her, but she stepped aside. “You’ve been having me followed? By Pike?”

  The concern quickly turned to stubbornness. “At least I can trust him. What else am I supposed to do? You don’t want me to tell your father about the danger.”

  Was he crazy? If Father knew she’d almost been killed, and that there was any connection to her relationship with Venture, he’d probably send her out of the country, and he’d never forgive Venture. “Father is concerned enough. He won’t let me go anywhere alone now.”

  “And whenever he’s away from home, you ride into town by yourself, with no regard for—”

  “With no regard for the fact that certain people want me to live in fear?”

  “Get back inside!” Venture barked at the boys.

  The kid who was holding Sunrise dropped the reins and ran, but Chance caught them and led the mare away, soothing her and promising her water.

  Venture leaned closer to Jade. “They don’t want you to live in fear; they want you dead!”

  “I was talking about you, Vent.”

  Venture shrank back. Jade turned and strode away, and he didn’t try to stop her.

  #

  The knife flashed at Jade, but she caught the wrist with a sharp twist, stepping aside and steering the assailant onto her back.

  Flora dropped the wooden weapon and smiled up at her from the mat.

  “Excellent. Don’t forget to give me a good kick in the ribs while I’m down.”

  “Right.” Jade faked the kick. “And finish,” she said, swinging into the armlock.


  The floor shook beneath them as someone took a hard fall in the training room next door. Jade exchanged looks with Flora. Venture and Dasher had been sparring for nearly an hour. She heard feet scramble back up, the smack of a blow hitting home.

  As Jade helped Flora up, a perfunctory knock sounded on their little training room door. Earnest didn’t wait for an answer to enter.

  “I need your help,” he said.

  “With what?”

  “With him.” Earnest gestured toward the training room next door. This time the wall shook.

  “We’re not exactly speaking.”

  “I know,” Earnest said grimly. “That’s the problem.”

  “Did you know he was having me followed?”

  “He told me that if you didn’t like it, he was going to have to start escorting you himself.”

  “I don’t need an escort.”

  Flora groaned.

  “What?” Jade demanded.

  “You’re as bad as he is.”

  “I told him he can’t afford to interrupt his routine to take you back and forth, right in the middle of his workout time. He’s trying to talk Dasher into doing it instead. He says he’ll drill with me while Dasher’s gone, and spar with him when he gets back.” Earnest shifted his feet uncomfortably. “You and I both know that Dasher taking you is a bad idea. I don’t want to have to tell Venture that, and neither does Dash.”

  “Dasher isn’t—he doesn’t—”

  Flora shook her head at her.

  Jade took a deep breath. She wasn’t going to argue about Dasher. “What do you want me to do?” she said.

  “Just give him a few months. It won’t be this way forever. Vent won’t be this way forever. He’s trying to take on so many things at once.”

  “It’s too soon, isn’t it? For him to come back.”

  To Jade’s surprise, Earnest’s face fell. “I don’t know,” he said quietly. “Physically, it was really tough for a while. But now his back is stronger than it was before everything happened. He’s in great shape. His right arm isn’t the same, but it’s healed nicely, and he’s learned to work around it so he won’t re-injure it during the tournament.

  But mentally . . . some days he’s so strong, but others, he’s about to lose it. I can see it. He’s always had nightmares. Before, he could shut everything out once he stepped on the mat. But now, it’s just so much. I don’t know how anyone could shut that all out. Maybe he’ll learn to do it. Maybe he’ll work through it. But he hasn’t had much time. Every morning, he looks surprised to be here. Surprised to be free. Surprised to be alive.”