Karen Michelle Nutt (32 page)

Keldon could see no apparent trouble. Everything was running smoothly. Then in a blink of an eye, it all went to hell when he spotted the man who ruined his life. He felt his features contort in anger until he knew he wore a glowering mask of rage. “Nicholas Sherborn!” he spit out the name like a horrible obscenity. He’d kill the man. He’d rip his heart from his chest and feed it to the sharks.

Nicholas’ eyes widened, but he stood his ground, his fists clenched at his side.

Damn him. He should be groveling, asking for forgiveness. A pulsing fury clouded his judgment and Keldon went after him. He leapt over obstacles and pushed everyone out of his way, but before he could get his hands around Nicholas’ neck, a burly sized man stepped in with a vicious blow to the side of his head. He lost his balance and slammed into something hard and unyielding. He blinked rapidly as a blinding light sent him to his knees.

Then everything went dark.

Out of the corner of his eye, Vincent saw Keldon go down. Then yells erupted and there was mass confusion, as the captives broke free. Vincent noticed Sherborn’s face among the muddle of chaos, but was too far away to apprehend him. He drew his sword and shouted the order, "Raise your arms, men!”

British outnumbered them and it didn't take long to see Captain Stevens’ crew would win out. Vincent hadn’t seen Keldon rise and a nauseating wave of dread hit him. In all the time he had fought side by side with Keldon, he had never seen the powerful man fall. Had they killed him? He had to know for sure. He swung his sword and tried his best to move toward where he last saw Keldon, but at every attempt, he was blocked. In the end, he had no other choice but to retreat to the
Good Intent
or be caught himself.

Vincent stared at
The Waterfront
, as she slowly faded from his view. They should be cheering for their clever decamp, but instead they left with a heavy heart.

"We kin not go back." Samuel clasped Vincent’s shoulder. "Mista Keldon wuldn't want us too. We endanger every one efs we did."

"I know this, but it doesn’t make me feel any better. If he was still alive, we left him to a fate we all have had nightmares about."

****

The British scrambled to weigh the anchor and get their ship into motion. In their hurry, they managed to pierce their own ship. Though the damage was minimal, the vessel started to take on water. They had to turn toward land, which infuriated Captain Stevens beyond reason. The Highland Pirate left with the currency in his possession and he had a damaged ship. Someone would pay for this. Violent images lurched inside his head as he thought of what form of torture he’d use on the man who cost him this embarrassment.

"Captain?"

"What do you want, Dugan?” Stevens snapped.

"Do you want us to clap the irons on the Highlander?"

"What?” Stevens looked at his man for the first time. "What did you say?"

"Do you want us to clap the irons on the Highlander?" Dugan repeated.

Stevens couldn’t believe it. In all the confusion, he had assumed the man had escaped. He started laughing, hysterically.

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

Sophie showed Arianna the welts Rafferty had given a small boy, who was no more than eight years old. “Please take care of him Sophie. I’ll be back.”

“Where’s you goin’?”

“I’ve had enough of Rafferty’s abuse.” She set out to the fields with determination. She wanted the horrid man off her land and she wanted him gone today.

Rafferty saw Arianna approaching, but he made no move to meet her halfway.

"Did you beat a little boy?” Anger splintered and flashed as she met his gaze. The arrogant bastard smiled.

"If you means the nigger boy, I did.” He spat at her feet.

She clutched her fists at her side to refrain from slapping the man’s face.

"You are worse than any vile thing that has ever slithered on God's green earth and I want you off my property."

"You ain't orderin' me around. I take orders from no woman."

"You won’t have to. You're fired."

"I don't think you heard me.” Rafferty grabbed her upper arm. “I say what goes here. No woman tells me otherwise.”

"Let me go.” She struggled with his grip but he laughed and tightened his hold.

His gaze raked over her as a dark evil sneer spread across his face.

“I said: Let. Me. Go!” She grounded out each word.

"No, I don’t think I will.” She screeched when he pulled her against his sweaty body. “Now don't make a fuss. I ain't ever had no complaints before from a lady."

“Stop it.” She turned her head away.

"I know why you’re struggling so much, but never you mind. It don't bother me none that you have a baby growin’ in your belly.” He rubbed against her his arousal evident.

Arianna’s eyes widened in fear as she realized she shouldn’t have confronted him alone. Rafferty didn’t respect anyone. She lashed out with her free hand, slapping him across the face.

"Oh so you want to play rough, do you? I can oblige.” He slapped her with such force that she lost her balance. Sprawled on the ground, Rafferty was upon her, roughly pawing her with his hands. He squeezed Arianna’s tender breast so hard tears sprung to her eyes.

"Get off of me!” She fought back in desperation. "Do you plan on taking me in front of all these witnesses?” She tried desperately to make Rafferty see what he was doing.

Rafferty’s sinister laugh sent a chill down Arianna’s spine. He didn’t care. He was going to rape her and she had a sinking feeling he liked the idea of an audience.

"Do you think anyone of those darkies will come to your rescue?” he spat at her. “Don't count on it. They know better. If they touch a white man, it means a sure death to them.” Gripping her hair in his fist, he leaned down and forced his mouth on hers. She bit down on his lip, holding on with her teeth, until she felt the blood spurt and the flesh pull away.

Rafferty screeched in pain. "Why you little—” He struck her.

Arianna saw stars. She blinked, forcing herself not to lose consciousness.

“I’ll teach you a lesson you’ll never forget.” He pulled back his fist to hit her again.

Arianna shut her eyes, waiting for the blow but nothing happened.

Rafferty grunted and went limp, toppling head first into the dirt.

Arianna scrambled away from the horrible man.

Thaddeus knelt down beside her. "You be all right, Miss Arianna?”

Arianna’s hands shook and the side of her mouth hurt, but otherwise she was unharmed. “I’m fine. She looked up at Thaddeus. “Thank you.”

He held out his hand and she gratefully took it. She glanced at Rafferty with a shudder. He would have raped her if Thaddeus hadn’t stepped in. She turned toward Thaddeus, her eyebrows furrowing. Rafferty would press charges and Thaddeus would suffer for his bravery. She couldn’t let this happen. "Thaddeus, would you help me bring Rafferty back to the house?"

"Dat might not be a gud thing ter do.”

"Don’t worry, we'll tie him up. Then I need you to go into town and bring back the authorities.” She paced as she thought. “Yes, the plan will work. It must.”

"Plan?” Thaddeus frowned.

"No one must know you were involved. Once Rafferty comes to, he will want satisfaction and I refuse to let him have his way because of the unfairness of the law." Arianna looked around at the other men and women who stood as witnesses. "Everyone, forget what you saw today. It didn't happen. You never saw Thaddeus raise a hand to Mr. Rafferty. If you all cooperate, I will take care of the rest.”

Rafferty wasn’t pleased when he woke up with his hands and feet bound. He struggled desperately to free himself, but without any luck.

When Arianna walked in with the authorities, Rafferty cursed. "You’re makin' a grave mistake!” Rafferty yelled. I demand my rights. I was struck by one of those niggers and I demand you find out which one!"

Arianna shook her head and looked at George Alten, the magistrate in charge. He was in his early forties, balding and not in favor of a man who couldn’t hold his liquor. He was even less inclined to forgive a man for scaring a pregnant woman half to death with his vulgar actions.

"As you can see, he has delusions which are simply not true.” Arianna had doused Rafferty with whiskey, broken a few items around the room to help manifest Rafferty’s unstable mind. She now dramatically waved her hand around the room emphasizing the destruction.

“The bitch is lying!” Rafferty screamed.

A small vein throbbed over Alten’s right eyebrow as he glared. “You will mind your manners, Mr. Rafferty.”

“See what I mean?” Arianna shook her head.

“Yes. Go on.”

“When I told Mr. Rafferty we had to let him go, he became wild with rage. I am just fortunate he tripped and knocked himself unconsciousness or I don't know what else the man would have done."

Alten cleared his throat. “You leave everything to me, Mrs. Buchanan, I'll see to it personally. This man will not harm you or anyone else for that matter."

"Thank you, sir."

The magistrate snapped his fingers and two of the men he had brought with him dragged the screaming Mr. Rafferty out of the house and hopefully out of their lives forever.

Exhausted, Arianna collapsed onto the sofa with a sigh. She closed her eyes letting the tension ease away.

"Miss Arianna?"

"Yes, Thaddeus."

"Now dat you don't has Mista Rafferty ter take care of things, who's going ter take his place?"

Arianna sat up. She hadn't thought that far ahead. "This does put us in a predicament." She paused for a moment, tapping her chin with her forefinger. "I know absolutely nothing about running a plantation.” She looked at him then. “But, you do. You could be in charge.”

Thaddeus shook his head in disbelief. "Dat ain't never been done. No slave kin be in charge."

"Well it's time for a change. You’re strong; you know the work and the people will respect you. You're the best man for the job. I want to hire you."

His mouth dropped open in disbelief. "Miss Arianna, you kin't hire me. You own me."

“I may not know how to legally free you, but if you are willing, I want to hire you, anyway. Why is it I can’t do what I want?”

Maeve walked over to her. “Maybe there be a way around it.”

“How?”

“There’s badges fer hire. Its ter say we has a trade ter offer and lots of plantation owners use dem badges ter make extra monies when de seasons slow, but sometimes they lets de tradesmen keep some of de pay.”

“Hire badges, hmm. Perfect.” She looked to Thaddeus. “I will pay you at Mr. Rafferty’s rate?”

"I don't know whut ter say."

"Say, yes."

His face broke into a wide grin. "Yas ma’m."

CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

To Arianna's dismay, Bernard and Elizabeth Prescott decided to pay a visit. She led them into the parlor while Maeve took care of preparing the tea for them.

Elizabeth seemed to carry most of the conversation, while Arianna prayed she wouldn’t have to endure their company for long.

"Annabelle?" Elizabeth repeated. "Are you paying attention to anything I have been saying?"

"I'm sorry I guess I'm a little tired. Please go on," she said to Elizabeth, though she wished the woman would shut up. Her voice grinded on her nerves and if she had to listen to her for too much longer, she was going to scream.

"The quilt we all have been working on will go up for auction on Saturday. We added the final changes. I must say the other women and I have missed you terribly. Won't you come back and join our little group?"

"I might," she lied. She didn’t intend to join the little group of snobs. “Since Keldon’s been away on business, I just haven’t had the time."

"When is that husband of yours returning?” Bernard asked looking around the room as if he might appear out of the woodwork.

Keldon never told Arianna what he had said to Bernard the day they rescued Thaddeus. She suspected by the way Bernard acted her husband intimidated him considerably.

"I expect him back soon.” Another lie. She was getting good at this. She wondered what the Prescotts would say if she told them she didn’t know if Keldon would ever return. “Would you like some more tea?” She leaned forward with a gasp, her hand flying to her stomach.

“What’s wrong?” Elizabeth asked.

Arianna smiled. “I felt the baby kick.”

"Dear, it isn’t proper to speak of your delicacy in public.”