Chapter Fourteen

Jack sat with Lena all night and held her close. He hoped she'd fall asleep for at least a little while, but she didn't. From time to time her body trembled and tears streamed down her cheeks. She couldn't cope with what might be happening to Essie.

Jack prayed that Barnaby didn't harm her. He wasn't sure who would blame themselves more if something happened to her—Lena or Brad.

The hours dragged on while Jack and Lena waited for the sun to rise so they could go to the bank to withdraw the ten thousand pounds that Barnaby had demanded. But time seemed to crawl ever so slowly.

"Would you like a cup of tea?" Jack asked her when a parlor maid brought in a fresh tray.

Lena only nodded.

He poured a cup and held it out for her to take, but her hands shook so violently that she couldn't hold the cup steady. Jack held it for her and helped her when she wanted to take a sip.

"I'm sorry I'm not stronger, Jack. But I can't help but feel that I failed Essie. Before she died, my mother made me promise that I would take care of my sister. That I wouldn't let anything happen to her. And I failed her," she said as her voice broke and tears ran down her cheeks. "I failed her."

"Shh, sweetheart. You didn't fail her. If anyone failed her, it was me."

"You?" she asked. "How can you think you were at fault?"

"Because I should have seen this coming. I should have realized that if Barnaby was desperate for money, he would do something drastic to get it. I just didn't think he would involve Essie."

"You couldn't have known, Jack. None of us could have."

"No, but I was looking in the wrong direction. I posted extra guards at the club, thinking that he might try to rob us, but I should have known he wasn't brave enough to expose himself to something so dangerous."

"Do you know where Brad is?" she asked.

"Not for sure, but I think he went back to the club. He's taking this as hard as you are, Lena. I think he has grown quite attached to your sister."

"Yes, and my sister has grown quite fond of him." She took another sip of her tea, then focused her gaze out the window. "The sky is getting lighter. The sun will be up soon."

"Yes, sweetheart. It won't be long before we get Essie back with us."

"Oh, Jack. I can't imagine how frightened she is."

"Why don't you get ready to leave? We'll go to the club and collect Brad, then go to the bank to get the money we'll need. But first I want to send someone to London to inform Wilson Hanover what his nephew has done. I think he needs to know."

"The news will upset him," Lena said.

"I'm sure it will, but he's aware of what his nephew has become and encouraged him to change, to no avail."

Jack sat with Lena in his arms a few more minutes, then she got to her feet and went to her room to get ready to leave. After she had changed her clothes, she returned to where Jack was waiting for her, and they went to the club to collect Brad. It was obvious that he hadn't slept the night before either.

"Are you ready to go?" Brad asked.

"Yes," Jack answered, then asked for someone to bring up a flask of coffee. It was obvious that Brad hadn't only been awake all night, but that he'd spent a great deal of that time drinking.

When the coffee came, Jack poured two cups and handed one of them to Brad, who took a swallow and shivered. "How old is this?" he said in disgust. "It's horrible."

"It's not that bad," Jack said, taking a swallow from his cup. "You've been drinking whiskey so long your palate can't tell a good cup of coffee from a bad one."

Brad groaned again but took another swallow. "How are we going to handle this?" he said when he finished his coffee.

"Lena is going to go in the carriage, and George will drive her. We'll ride along with her and have George let us off a good mile from the crossroads."

"I think we should get out earlier," Brad said. "The countryside there is so flat, Barnaby will be able to see more than a mile."

Jack nodded his agreement. "We'll leave plenty early so George doesn't have to get too close, and Lena will have time to walk a half-mile or so. Can you do that, Lena?"

"Yes. Barnaby has to think I came alone," she replied.

"That's right," Jack said, reaching for her hand and holding it. "We'll put the money in the satchel Brad and I use to go to the bank. It has a thick strap on it that will be long enough to put over your head on your right side and rest on your left hip. Clench your hand around the strap and don't let it go. That should keep it secure."

Lena nodded her understanding.

"Wait for Barnaby to arrive. He should come in a carriage. That will be the easiest to transport Essie. Make sure he has her with him. Don't hand over the money until she is out of the carriage and standing beside you. Only then are you to give him the money. Do you understand?"

"Yes," Lena answered.

"All right," Jack said. "Let's go, then."

They rose from their chairs, and Jack opened a locked closet and removed several weapons from a safe in the wall.

"You kept your gun from the war," Brad said, watching Jack put it into his jacket pocket.

"I thought it might come in handy someday, and this is the day. I have yours, too."

He reached back into the hidden safe and took out another weapon, handing this one to Brad.

"Why did you wait until now to give it to me?"

"Same reason I kept mine hidden."

Brad took the gun and rubbed his hand over it. "I thought maybe you were afraid I might use it to blow my brains out," he said mischievously.

"Well, there was that," Jack said, and Lena clamped her hand over her mouth and gave a muffled groan.

"Now, see what you did?" Jack teased.

"I didn't do anything," Brad said, tucking his gun in his jacket pocket. "You're the one who—"

"Are you finally ready?" Jack interrupted, to change the subject.

Brad left the room first, and Jack and Lena followed.

*

It took alot longer at the bank than Lena thought it would. She was glad they'd left early.

"Did you have trouble?" she asked when they finally returned.

"Not trouble, exactly," Jack replied. "But because of the large amount, the teller called in the bank president to make sure everything was correct. Then they had to recheck the amount as verification."

"We bring in massive deposits every day," Brad said, obviously frustrated. "You'd think they'd take us at our word."

"They are just being careful," Lena said, wanting to calm the situation.

Finally, they were on their way. Jack let the carriage travel part of the way to the Willowbrook crossroads, then ordered George to stop. They all got out, and Jack helped Lena put the satchel strap on her shoulder.

"This is going to be heavy," he said. "Support it with your opposite hand."

Lena did as she was told.

"Now, take your time, but walk to the Willowbrook crossroads and wait until Barnaby comes. Brad and I will be right behind you. Just remember, don't hand over the money until you have Essie with you."

"I understand," she said, and turned to leave him.

For some reason he didn't understand, he didn't want to let her go. A small voice told him if he let her leave him now, he might never get her back.

"Lena," he said, and pulled her into his arms. "I love you." He lowered his head and kissed her. His kiss was deep and filled with all the passion he felt, exemplifying the depth of his love for her.

He lifted his head and broke their kiss.

"And I love you, Jack. More than you will ever know."

Lena stepped out of his arms and started her walk to get her sister back.

Jack wanted to go after her but couldn't. There was nothing he could do but watch her walk away from him.

*

Lena clutched atthe satchel with the money that would get Essie back. She would follow the note's instructions to the letter. She couldn't lose her sister. She couldn't break the promise she'd made to her mother. If she lost Essie, it would be like losing a part of herself.

She trudged along the road until she could see the sign that indicated she'd reached the Willowbrook crossing, and stopped. She wasn't sure how long she would have to wait, but she'd wait forever if it meant she would have Essie back with her.

Time seemed to stop while she waited. Lena had no idea how long she'd stood there, staring down the long road where the carriage carrying Essie would come. But it seemed like forever.

Finally, she saw it. A carriage came down the road at a slow crawl.

Her heart pounded in her breast, and she prayed that everything would go as expected and this ordeal would be over. She clutched the shoulder satchel so fiercely it left imprints in her palm. She tried to move but couldn't. Her gaze remained frozen on the carriage inching closer to her.

Then the carriage stopped, and the door opened.

This was it. She was about to see Essie again. She was about to see the man who had taken her sister for the money to repay his gambling debts. How could Josiah Barnaby possibly think Essie's life was worth the mere ten thousand pounds he had gambled and lost?

Lena disliked Barnaby more at that moment than she thought she could dislike anyone. If he were close enough to her, she feared she might scratch his eyes out and make him as blind as Essie.

But that wouldn't get her sister back. That wouldn't be what God would want her to do. Instead, she watched as the carriage door opened and a man descended.

Lena looked at him in confusion. Something was wrong. This wasn't how she thought it would be.

"Do you have my money?" he demanded.

"Do you have my sister?" Lena asked.

The man laughed.

*

"Can you seethem?" a man asked sotto voce behind them.

Jack and Brad spun around to face the speaker and froze with their guns aimed at the man's chest.

"What the hell?" Jack and Brad said in unison.

The man held his hands up in surrender. "Not who you expected, am I?"

"No!" Jack answered, staring at Josiah Barnaby. "Then who is in the carriage? Who kidnapped Essie?"

Barnaby looked in the direction Brad and Jack indicated. "No doubt my uncle," he said in a sober voice. "One of my men has been suspicious about what he's been up to," he said to Jack. "You might have saved her life."

"But your uncle said—"

"I know. He told you I was the one with the huge gambling problem and he was trying to help me become a better man."

"Yes," Jack replied, turning back to where Lena stood on the road.

"Has she given Hanover the money yet?"

"No. She still has it."

"Good. Are either of you adequate shots?"

"I'm fair," Jack answered, "but Brad is excellent."

"I'll take you, then," Barnaby said to Brad. "Stay in the weeds on the side of the road and try not to let my uncle see you." He turned to Jack. "Keep your eyes on Hanover."

"What are you going to do?" Brad asked.

"Just follow me and you'll see."

Jack and Brad shared a concerned glance, then Brad followed Barnaby as he walked toward his uncle.

"What are you up to, Uncle?" he yelled.

"What are you doing here?" a startled Hanover bellowed.

"I came to help you," Barnaby said, raising his hands. "See, I'm unarmed. I'm not a threat to you."

"Get out of here! I don't need your help. I never have. It's my meddling sister who thinks I do. If it weren't for your mother, I'd be living the life I wanted."

"No, if it weren't for my mother, you'd be rotting in debtor's prison."

"You don't know what you're talking about. My luck is about to change anytime now."

"Your luck is never going to change, Uncle. You've always been a pathetic card player, and you are getting worse."

"How dare you!"

"I dare because my mother loves you, although I don't know why, and I want to help you."

"No, you don't. You only want my money."

"What money? You're broke, Uncle. You're destitute! That's why you've resorted to kidnapping a helpless female who is blind and blackmailing her sister to pay you enough money to cover your debts."

"I had to," Hanover said. "You don't know the men I owe money to! They're dangerous men! They'll kill me if I don't pay what I owe them."

"Then let me help you."

"How?"

"We'll go back to London, and I'll help you get a loan from the bank to cover your vowels. In return, you'll promise me that the only person you will ever gamble against is me. I might even let you win once in a while."

"Ha!" his uncle said, a bit of hysteria in his laugh.

Jack listened to the exchange and was impressed by Barnaby's understanding.

"You are such a fool if you think I'm going to agree to that kind of life, Josiah," Hanover said, then lifted his gun and shot his nephew in the arm. "Now, Miss Osbourne, give me the money!"

"Give me my sister first!" Lena yelled.

*

Hanover turned andpulled Essie out of the carriage.

Lena looked at her sister and fought the lump that settled in her throat. Essie's hair was disheveled, and her gown was wrinkled and stained with dirt. It was obvious that she'd slept on the floor of a barn, or the floor of the carriage, and Lena doubted she'd been fed.

She wanted to run to Essie and take her in her arms, but she remembered what Jack had told her.

Don't hand over the money until she is out of the carriage and standing beside you. Only then are you to give him the money.

"Give me the money!" Hanover bellowed again.

"Send over my sister first! Essie, come to me! Walk straight ahead. About twenty-four steps."

Essie took her first step toward Lena, then a second, but without warning, Hanover lifted his pistol and aimed it at Essie.

"No!" Lena screamed, and ran to shield her sister. She stepped in front of Essie and held on to her with all her might.

"No!" Brad bellowed, then he fired his gun. His bullet went through Hanover's heart.

"No!" Jack bellowed at the same time, then he fired his gun. His bullet struck Hanover in the gut.

*

Jack didn't taketime to see if Hanover was dead. He knew he was, the same as he knew Lena had been shot.

"Sweetheart!" he called out, dropping to the ground where Lena had fallen.

"Jack," she whispered, struggling to keep her eyes open.

"Don't talk, sweetheart."

"Brad!" Essie screamed. "Where's Lena? What happened?"

"Hush, darling," Brad whispered, holding Essie to his chest and kissing her. "Lena's been hurt, but she'll be fine. Hang on to me. We're going to get her to a doctor."

"We need to hurry, Brad."

"Yes, darling. We will."

Just then, George arrived with the carriage. He jumped down and opened the door so Jack could step in with Lena. Brad helped Essie inside. "Barnaby!" he yelled. "Get in. You need to see a doctor, too."

"I can't leave my uncle here alone," Barnaby said. "Send someone back to help me."

"I will," Brad replied. George slapped the reins, and the horses surged forward.

Jack pressed his hand against Lena's wound to help stop the bleeding as he repeatedly told her that she was going to be all right, that Essie was safe. That Lena had kept her promise to her mother.

Except Jack was afraid Lena didn't hear him.