“Can you see anything?” Miles asked, as he tried to peek over the barrier.
Gareth pulled him back as the tavern door opened. They watched Forest and Falin lead Hugh and Charlotte to the river.
Miles tried to pull away from Gareth’s grasp.
“Stay still and listen,” Gareth whispered. “Unless you want to see them both tossed into the river.”
Gareth nodded to his sons. Quietly, Graham and Donald worked their way to the other side of the building.
A quick glance at Gareth, and Miles realized they both agonized watching the danger their children faced. He turned his focus back to the riverbank.
“We’re going to tie you up nice and tight and let you watch. We don’t want you to give away our surprise.” Forest pulled his knife and held it at Charlotte’s neck. His twisted smile didn’t hide the warning in his voice. “You have a choice. We can either slit your throat enough so you can’t speak, or we can stuff your mouth. I don’t care which I do – although, I do enjoy using my knife. It’s up to you.”
“Neither choice is to my liking.” Charlotte gave him a disinterested glare.
By the tavern wall, Miles sat on the ground, his back against the stone wall. “I taught her to be independent, but not at the expense of her life,” Miles whispered.
“You taught her to be fearless and not intimidated. Look at him. That was the last thing Forest expected her to say,” Gareth said.
“I hope it isn’t her last words.”
“Keep low and follow me,” Gareth said as they crept through the high grass, closer to Hugh and Charlotte.
“Hugh, I figured out your riddle, the one you gave me when I opened the door. It was clever.”
“You are the clever one,” he said with a smile.
She twisted her hands until they were parallel and the rope around them was slack.
“Do you expect a ransom from my father?” she asked Forest.
“No. There’s more at stake than a piddly ransom.”
“Be quiet.” Falin spat the words out at Forest.
“What does it matter? They’ll be gone before the end of the day. I like to see them hopeless and pleading.” Forest bent closer to her, his spittle spraying on her face.
Charlotte said nothing. In a quick move, she raised her knee and landed a crushing blow to his groin.
As Forest doubled over, she fumbled with the ropes, unable to free her hands. Nor was she able to catch the knife that slipped from Forest’s fingers. She spun away from him as he fell to the ground screaming, cursing, scrambling to the edge of the bank.
Hugh and Falin both dove for the knife. Wrestling for the weapon, Falin reached it first. Still bound, Hugh grabbed the man’s wrist and squeezed until the knife fell from his hands.
The man shoved him to the ground and went after the weapon again. Stumbling, Graham accidently kicked it, sending the knife skittering over the side of the embankment. Forest seethed and turned to face him. Hugh struggled with the rope binding his hands. Before he could get to his feet, Falin grabbed him and his right hand shot out, hitting him in the face.
Hugh’s head snapped to the side. A spray of blood sprinkled the air. He staggered and shook his head. Falin threw a roundhouse punch. This time, Hugh was ready and stepped back. The punch glanced harmlessly off his shoulder.
Using his hands as a club, Hugh swung, hitting Falin in the side of his head. The man sank to the ground. Hugh stood over him ready to hit him again.
Charlotte rushed to him.
“Stay back,” he yelled.
Forest grabbed her leg and held tight. She stepped back, dragging him along behind her. His face was contorted and evil. She wouldn’t let him touch her.
She was at the edge of the embankment. Below, the river rushed on, the roar of the waterfall not far away.
She shook her foot and leaned back to free his hold.
“No,” Hugh screamed.
A big smile spread across Forest’s face as he released his hand.
For a moment she was free, the next, she was falling backward into the rushing water.
Hugh didn’t hesitate. He ran to the edge of the cliff and dove in after her.
“Now,” Gareth said. They rushed at Falin and Forest.
Miles glanced at Donald and Graham. They had taken off along the riverbank.
The river was deep, muddy, and littered with rocks and boulders. Downstream, the roar of the waterfall was the only sound to be heard. She slid along the current, the stream dipping, taking her with it, until she was pulled under. Her eyes and mouth closed, she tried to push toward the surface using her feet and bound hands. She bobbed to the surface. Frantic, she worked the ropes and finally slipped them off.
As she was pulled downstream, she heard her name mixed in with the roar of the water. Hugh? She tried to find him, but the dips and turns of the fast-moving river made it difficult for her to see…
As she slid on the current, she saw a tree branch stretched out low across the river. She kept her focus on the tree as she got closer. A few feet in front of it, she brought her feet down, but didn’t touch bottom.
Panicked, she tried again. Still no bottom. One last time, she dove her feet down and jammed them on the stones. Pumping hard, she popped into the air. Her hands reached and clawed at the tree, but the branch was out of her reach. Her fingertips scraped the bark as the current carried her.
She wasn’t going to give up.
Hugh’s lungs spasmed in pain when he hit the icy river. The sunlight of a few moments ago blurred as his head went under water, again. Bubbles brushed up his cheek. He struggled to get the loose ropes off his wrists as the current swept him down the river. He’d be no help to her if he didn’t.
The current pulled him down. He gasped for air before he went under. Finally, free of the rope, he threw his arms over his head, kicked, and pulled with all his strength. His head broke the water enough for him to get another lungful of air before he was pulled under again.
Buffeted to the bottom of the river, his mind was groggy. He opened his eyes and ahead he saw a silhouette. Charlotte. He stifled the desire to take a breath. His feet on the murky river bottom, he sprang for the surface using all his strength. Slowly the light brightened as he rose. His lungs burned for air, but he refused to give up. Pulling with an even stroke, his head burst through the water.
He turned onto his back and floated downstream. He saw her up ahead.
She turned, looking at the branch behind her, and saw him.
Boulders dotted the river, shaping the current.
She didn’t know how she did it, but she managed to get to the outside of the current and make her way onto a large rock.
She didn’t have any time to rest. Hugh wasn’t far behind her. He was headed for the same boulder, but was traveling too fast.
Prepared to help him, Charlotte laid out on the hard surface and braced herself, her hand ready to snare him.
Finally, his hand touched hers. She grabbed his arm and held him tight. He pressed his body into the boulder and managed to work himself out of the worst of the current.
Grabbing his shirt, his hand, anything she could, she pulled him out of the water. The two of them lay on the rock, breathing hard, unable to move.
“Where are we?” she asked.
“About a mile downriver, maybe more.” Hugh sat up on his elbows. “I don’t think we can go up the embankment.”
She followed his gaze. The river was about fifteen, maybe twenty, feet below the cliff. A quick glance at the other side and her heart sank. It wasn’t any better even if they could get to the other side. The river snaked around a bend. From their vantage point, they couldn’t see what was ahead.
But they did hear the waterfall.
“Hugh, there is something I need to tell you. You were correct. I am hiding something from you.”
“That doesn’t matter now.”
“It does to me.” She ran her hand down his cheek. “You are Hugh Eden. I see that
clearly. But I am not Charlotte Eden. I am Charlotte DeMetz.”
“That doesn’t matter to me.”
“It should.” She cuddled into his arms. “My mother was married to David DeMetz, a close friend of Miles’. My father was a criminal and sent to Ratonneau, an island off of France.”
“Yes, I know of it.”
“Mother and I were left on our own in Paris. My father’s friend, Miles, found us and brought us to grand-père. Miles married her and adopted me, but by then, Mother was ill. She never recovered. I found out much later what my mother did for us to survive. Sometimes she stole things, sometimes she slept with men. When I asked grand-père, he made me swear to never reveal anything about my mother or father to anyone. That is what I’ve been hiding from you.”
He held her tight.
“I’m glad you told me, but none of that matters. It has nothing to do with you. Those were decisions your mother and father made. I love you for who you are and what you mean to me.”
“I told your father, when he took me to Alnwick. He told me the same thing.”
“My father is a very smart man.”
They sat holding each other for a while. Finally, he stood up and started down the boulder.
“Where are you going?” She rushed to his side.
“The current doesn’t seem to be as strong here. I want to see how far we need to go before—”
She stood next to him.
“We’ll go together.”
Hugh moved the ringlets out of her face and smiled.
“Together. Always together,” he said.
“In the middle of a raging river, with little hope of surviving, you tell me—”
His lips covered hers. Charlotte threw her arms around him and held him tight. If this adventure didn’t end well, it would be with her kiss on his lips.
“I love you.” He gazed into her eyes alive with passion. How could he have doubted her? He had always loved her. He would spend the rest of his life making it up to her. He looked at the river and the bend beyond. He wouldn’t let their lives end here.
“I’m tired of swimming. It’s time to go ashore,” she said, as she tried to smooth out her dress, then turned to him. “Are you coming?”
The absurdity of her words and actions made him laugh.
They eased into the river. Hugh went first and made his way to the cliff wall.
“The current isn’t as strong here. We can use the rocks embedded in the wall to hold on to and make our way along the wall. Once we get around this bend, we can decide what to do.”
They made their way to the bend and peeked around. The water rapids went on for a few more yards, then quieted, spreading into a small basin before the waterfall.
Charlotte stepped in front of Hugh and made her way to the edge of the bend. She grasped onto the rocks and swung around to the other side.
Hugh was right behind her.
The wall ended where the land sloped into the river. A few hundred feet more around the large boulders, and they could walk onto the riverbank. Hand over hand she moved across the wall, the current buffeting her as she went.
Her arms throbbed from the strain and her pace slowed. The water sapped her strength. She reached for the next rock outcropping. It pulled loose from the wall. Tired, she couldn’t react fast enough.
Hugh grabbed and held her, but the current was too strong. He wouldn’t let her go. Both were pulled toward the boulders.
She scraped across the boulder, her arms bleeding and bruised. A bad turn and Charlotte’s head hit the rock.
Dazed, she clung to him. The crushing pain came and went. She squeezed her eyes closed and was lifted out of the water. For a moment, she thought she had gone over the falls. Charlotte tried to open her eyes, but the bright light made her head hurt more.
“You’re all right.”
Someone carried her out of the river and laid her on the riverbank.
“Hugh.” Her voice was barely a whisper.
“He’s fine. It’s all for attention. I’ll get you out of here.” She squinted trying to make out who was with her.
“Donald?”
“In the flesh and dry. You are good at archery, but not good at choosing a day for a swim.” He gathered her up and started for the tavern. “And don’t worry about Hugh. Graham is taking good care of him. You gave us a scare. You could have gone over the falls.”
She started to doze.
“Charlotte.” Donald’s voice startled her. “You can’t sleep, not yet. Tell me what happened.”
A jumble of voices, like bees near a hive, surrounded her. She opened her eyes to stabbing pain. It took several seconds for them to adjust to the light. Graham was next to her, helping Hugh along. He was able to walk on his own, although the bandages on his head and hands were bloodstained.
“That horrid man came after me.” Her eyelids started to slide.
“Charlotte.” Donald’s voice was insistent. If he thought she was asleep, maybe he would leave her alone.
“Charlotte,” his voice was more urgent as he laid her down.
“Ouvre tes yeux.” She forced her eyes open and winced. Hugh’s face came into focus.
“What made you say that?” Donald asked Hugh.
“Open your eyes? After spending most of her life in France, I thought French would get through the fog.”
“Hugh.” She raised herself on her elbows and scanned the faces of those around her. “Hugh.” Where was he? She didn’t see him anywhere.
“I’m here.” He muscled past Graham and came to her side.
“How did Donald and Graham get—”
“They came with Father.” He put his hand on her shoulder and gently eased her down. “He and Miles are holding Forest and Falin. It’s over. We can both rest now.”
“The bandages.” She didn’t try to hide her concern.
“Bumps and bruises. I coughed up half the river, nothing more. I was almost as brave and fearless as you.”
Chapter Ten
The dust had settled at the edge of the clearing. Forest sat on a tree stump with his hands tied behind his back. Falin stood against a tree, Miles’ sword pointed at his throat.
“Falin told me you were alive. He knew you didn’t die when The Eastern Moon went down.” Forest kept his focus on the ground.
“You should have believed him.” Gareth stood over him, his voice eerily calm.
“I have no fight with you. I had no reason to harm your family. Falin was the one.”
Gareth didn’t say a word. He didn’t have to. They both were aware of the lie.
“He stole more than money, papers and things. Search his desk. You’ll find your father’s ring. Falin took it off him before he was dead.”
Forest paled when he saw the grin spread across Gareth’s face.
“I wondered who had my father’s ring. Now, how do you know who took it from him?”
Gareth picked him up by the front of his tunic and lifted him until only the tip of his toes touched the ground, and all he could see was Gareth’s face. “I challenge you to a duel for what you have taken from me, my father and my family.”
He threw Forest to the ground.
“Choose your weapon.”
“No words for your friend?” Miles asked Falin.
“I saved your life,” Falin said. “That should be worth something.”
“You stole from me.” Miles kept his tone even and controlled.
“I may have borrowed from your father, but I never stole from you.”
The point of Miles’ sword cut into the notch at the base of Falin’s throat.
Falin paled and began to sweat.
“You stole my family and my life, to say nothing of money, when you threatened me with a false warrant. Sheriff Fawcett remembered the incident clearly. There was never a warrant for my arrest.”
Falin shrugged his shoulders.
“I certainly did.” Sheriff Fawcett, John, and three of the sheriff’s men walked into the clea
ring.
“There is a penalty for forging a Crown document, and of course for murdering a peer of the realm,” Fawcett said.
The smile faded from Falin’s face.
“Neville, my nephew, holds Forest, the smuggler. This is Neil Falin, the man named on the arrest warrant.” Miles lowered his sword.
“It’s over thirty years old. That can no longer be relevant,” Falin said.
The sheriff walked over to him and looked him up and down. He stepped closer and gave him a hard stare.
“Produce the earl, Thomas Eden, and his three sons, alive. It would be my pleasure to write to the Crown and explain the error.”
Falin said nothing.
“I thought not.” The Sheriff continued. “As of this morning, your money and property have been confiscated and divided between the Crown and the Earl of Sagamore. Your wife and daughter were taken from their house. And none too soon, from the bruises and swelling my men witnessed. Your friends won’t be able to save you. That said, there is good news. They will be able to see you hanged, then drawn and quartered.”
“I have other news,” John said. “I was able to get to the bottom of the issue against Hugh. Falin, you have been a busy man.”
“How can you be sure?” Gareth asked.
“We obtained information from Martha Falin.”
Falin drew a quick breath.
“Yes, we were surprised as well. I wasn’t satisfied that her information was correct. The only way to prove what she told us was the truth was to interview your clients. They confirmed her statements. Falin went about spreading rumors that Hugh and Miles were trying to sell false relics from the Holy Land.”
Fawcett signaled his men to take Forest and Falin away.
“They aren’t false relics.” They turned to Charlotte. She stood with Hugh, Donald and Graham. “They were part of my grandparents’ estate and left to Father and me. We wanted to return them to their rightful owners.”
“Charlotte is correct,” Miles said. “I was raising money to return them to Demietta where they belong. Those I spoke to suggested I ransom the articles back to their owners. I couldn’t do that. Without any money to be made, no one wanted to participate.”
Hugh: Pirates of Britannia Connected World (Sons of Sagamore Book 1) Page 10