Northern Star

Chapter 28

Shouts rattled from the back of the house as Perry ran down the stairs. A scream echoed through the hallway, quickening her steps toward the kitchen, fear mixed with concern for Molly. With only a moment's delay Perry stopped at the en try way table and pulled one of the dueling pistols from its hiding place. If she was going to face danger, she didn't plan on doing so unarmed.

When she reached the kitchen, Luke was blocking the door to the storage room. Molly's shouts filled the kitchen with colorful language.

"What is it?" Perry peeked around Luke.

Molly stood in a pile of ruined supplies. "Someone broke in last night." She lifted a handful of sugar mixed with coffee. "They cut the bags on all our dry goods." Perry stepped aside as a stream of syrup passed by, and Molly continued. "It was them nephews, I just know it. I had a feeling we hadn't seen the last of them."

"But when?"

"Probably while we were upstairs. They couldn't run me out by frightening me to death, so now they're planning on starving us out."

Perry lifted an empty bag of flour. She'd learned during the war not to spend energy crying over what had already happened. "We don't have much time. Molly, make a list of everything we need. I'll go change, then Luke and I will go shopping."

"All right, but when the sheriff gets here, I'm adding this to their crimes. Killing an old partner in the slave trade is one thing, but destroying good food… well, that's quite another.''

Within an hour Perry's boots were tapping along the wooden steps toward the market. Luke followed closely in her wake, swinging a large basket under one arm. They had only an hour to buy the items on her list and return home in time to cook everything for tonight. Luckily the streets were packed with carts and merchants displaying their wares. Many were local farm families who traveled into town once a week to sell their crops and buy supplies.

Most of the farmers had no special market cart but merely sold out of their wagons. To disguise the drab work wagons the farmers often hung colorful ribbons from the sideboards, making the marketplace seem festive and gay. As husbands sold their goods, wives visited with their neighbors, and the children played chase, threading their way in and out among all the people.

After half an hour of shopping, she sighed. "That's everything but the coffee, Luke."

Luke smiled from beneath his cumbersome load. "That's good, I'm about ready to start back."

Perry was aware of Luke's slower pace. She knew if she'd stopped for more than a moment at any one stand, he would've fallen asleep while still standing. "I'll get the coffee and catch up with you within a block. You go ahead and start home." Perry smiled up at him, wondering if he'd even been to bed the night before.

Luke turned, juggling the purchases in his arms. She watched him move slowly away and knew she would have no trouble catching up with him. Lifting her skirt a few inches to move more freely, she hurried across the street to a store where Molly always bought spices and coffee.

As she opened the door into the shop the owner greeted her warmly. "Welcome, Miss Perry. What can I do for you today?"

Standing for a time in the doorway, she let her eyes adjust to the shop's darker interior. The old store had an almost cavelike atmosphere, with blinds pulled closed and dark bags lining the walls and hanging from the ceiling. Moving inside, the wonderful aroma of spices met her. The old shopkeeper's skin was the color of ground cinnamon, and his voice belied a foreign origin. "May I have five pounds of coffee beans, please, Samuel?" Perry placed a coin on the counter.

"Yes, miss." The owner moved to scoop the dark brown beans into a bag.

Perry wandered behind a counter, reading the labels more clearly and loving the smells that seemed to seep through the pores of even the wood and glass that housed each spice. As she scanned the shelves a shadow fell between her and the sunshine as someone stepped into the doorway. Samuel greeted the new customer as Perry glanced up with only mild curiosity.

She felt his evil presence even before the light shone on his face. As her gaze moved down his lean, wiry body a sense of dread turned to fright in her stomach. He was dressed in dark riding clothes and highly polished boots pulled to his knee. His wrist impatiently slapped a gold-handled riding whip against his pant leg as he squinted, peering into the darkness.

Perry's eyes widened in fear as Wade Williams's stare fell upon her. His face blanched slightly when he found himself face-to-face with a ghost. "Perry…" His mouth whispered what his eyes would not accept.

She watched the disbelief in his tired eyes slowly ebb away as anger fired within him. His face reddened, except for the small scar over one eye, which grew milky white, like the moon in a midnight sky. For the hundredth time she wished that Hunter had killed Wade and not just scarred him. His hands now clenched into fists as his shoulders rose and fell between jagged breaths. He fought to control his anger and shock.

Samuel broke the heavy silence. "You the Captain Williams that sent word for me to pack a travel portion of that special coffee?"

Wade glanced at Samuel as if he hadn't understood a word the man had said.

Perry took advantage of Wade's shock and confusion. She lifted her skirt high and darted past him, her coffee beans completely forgotten. His hand grabbed the air only a hair's breadth away from her shoulder and she passed.

Darting like a child between the colorful stands, she mixed in and out of the mob of people along the side of the street. She was afraid to look back, terrified she might see his black-gloved hand reaching toward her. He was always in control in public, but she'd seen him slipping just now, and she didn't want to risk being within his grip again. She guessed it must be hard for him to maintain a sane pose when insanity bubbled in his blood.

Terror throbbing in her throat, she ran for several blocks before darting behind the stores and reversing her direction. She was in clear view one minute, then disappeared from sight around a corner or between two carts.

When Perry was sure she hadn't been followed, she turned toward home. She caught up to Luke just as he crossed the street to Molly's house. Luke glanced back, hearing her steps, a smile ready to greet her, but one look at her flushed cheeks and huge, frightened eyes told him of her distress.

"Luke," she whispered, " I saw Wade!''

Luke froze in his tracks. "Did he see you?"

"Yes." Perry took a deep breath and placed a small hand to her pounding heart. "I don't think he followed me through the crowd."

"You run on home, Miss Perry. I'll wait here for a few minutes to make sure." Luke's exhaustion was completely forgotten as he turned a sharp eye back up the street. He was a simple man, and over the years he'd cared little for most people, yet he'd risk his life to stand between Captain Williams and Miss Perry.

She didn't hesitate. Without another word she ran toward home. The memory of the night she'd left Three Oaks pounded in her head, along with her footsteps. He'd given her more than bruises to remember. He'd taught her the meaning of terror. The taste of it was thick in her mouth, like the blood and dirt had been a month ago. She wouldn't allow him to hurt her again. She would die fighting first.

For the remainder of the afternoon Perry went about her work, her nerves as sensitive as burned flesh. Luke kept a constant eye on the street and saw nothing. Still, she couldn't relax. Every little sound made her back stiffen. Even Molly's constant reassurance did little to relieve her nerves. She knew that somewhere in Philadelphia, Wade Williams was looking for her. From the hatred she'd seen in his eyes, he wouldn't stop until she was dead.

As darkness grew, so did Perry's fears. Wade seemed to her a creature of shadows. Even after she locked herself into the small study and people began to fill the restaurant, she couldn't relax. She knew Luke stood at the foot of the stairs and would allow no one to venture up. Yet she kept up her pace. Now that Wade knew she was alive, he wouldn't stop until he found her. She knew his pride would fan his anger into an all-consuming fire. If he found her, he would see her dead this time, as well as all those who tried to help her.

A light tapping on her door interrupted Perry's thoughts. "It's me," Molly announced. "Open up."

Perry dashed to the door and turned the lock.

"I brought our supper up." Molly stated the obvious as she labored with the heavy tray through the room and set their dinner on the small table. "You wouldn't believe the people downstairs. Seems the word's out about a body bein' in our attic. You'd think that would discourage folks, but it seems to fascinate them." Molly laughed. "Tonight we not only provide the food but the dinner topic as well. And everybody is so nice to me. They even ask me to sit and talk with 'em. Like I was a lady."

"You've always been a lady to me," Perry answered honestly.

"Maybe to you, child, but not to the rest of the world. You know, I think folks treat me nicer just because you're around."

"I'm not downstairs."

"Yes, but you started it somehow, I just know you did. I lived my whole life without so many people treating me good as they have this last month with you here."

Perry pulled a chair away from the window and examined the dishes before her. "You make me feel safe. Maybe I was overly frightened by Wade this morning."

Molly patted Perry's hand. "You're not defenseless now. Luke and me will take care of anyone coming around bothering you."

Perry lacked Molly's confidence but tried not to show it. She remembered Wade, the way his eyes burned in anger when he'd seen her. Somewhere out there in the night he was still looking for her. She could feel him coming toward her. She bit into a piece of bread and stared out the window into the backyard. She could feel him coming the way a farmer feels a storm.

Molly chattered, unmindful of Perry's lack of response. "If I thought there be any chance of him findin' you, I'd see you packed away from Philadelphia. Maybe on that boat leaving at dawn tomorrow with Hunter. Though I'm not sure about that Mr. Kirkland. He looks like he would see after your welfare, but you never know how a man's gonna act without land under his feet.''

Hunter's name drew Perry's attention. "Oh, Molly, Hunter would be a gentleman."

"Now, Perry," Molly answered between bites, "I've known a great many men in my day, and one thing I believe is that underneath every gentleman is a man. Heed my warning: If you push a gentleman too far, you'll see the man."

"I guess you're right," Perry whispered, more to her reflection in the window than to Molly. "I know the gentle, even-tempered Hunter from months ago, but the man beneath frightens me."

"There's time enough for you to get over your fears." Molly helped herself to another spoonful of potatoes. "Fear's a funny thing. I've always been scared to death of lawmen, but today, when they came to pick up the body, they was real polite-like to me.

"They said there's nothin' to worry about with the nephews, but just to make me feel better they put a guard out front to watch for them."

Staring into the darkness, Perry heard Luke's heavy steps moving up the stairs. His familiar knock shook the walls as always. A second later the knob turned and he entered the office. "Beg your pardon, ladies, but the sheriff just sent this note over.''

Perry almost ran to Luke, but Molly waited patiently for Perry to read as she sopped the last bit of gravy from her plate. Notes were not so exciting to someone who couldn't read.

A smile spread across Perry's face as she read. "They've caught the nephews, and both gave detailed confessions."

She waved the note in a large sweep about the room as Luke let out a hoot and Molly clapped her hands together. "This calls for a celebration," Molly ordered. "Luke, go down to the cellar and get a bottle of the special wine Old Henry had. I'll check and make sure all's well downstairs. We can all meet in Old Henry's room in a few minutes and have a toast to our health."

Turning to Perry, Molly added, "You best stay up here. We'll be back in a few minutes."

The room was suddenly empty. Perry moved to her desk and folded the maps she'd spent the day looking over. She decided that when Hunter returned, shed ask him to take a look at the yellowed maps. Who knows, they might be of use to someone somewhere. They were certainly doing no good here. Molly hated sailing, and Perry had only been out of sight of land a few times in her life.

Placing the maps back in the strongbox, she picked up her lamp and moved into Molly's bedroom to wait for the others. The fire was out in the room that Molly always called "Old Henry's room." Perry placed the lamp on a side table and moved back into the darkened study to retrieve her shawl. As she covered her shoulders she looked out the window. Luke moved toward the cellar door in a slow, even pace. She smiled as she watched him, remembering how he'd carried Hunter over his broad shoulders all those months ago.

As Luke bent down to pull the heavy door open, Perry noticed a movement in the shadows behind him. For a moment it looked as though the shadow of the shed extended suddenly toward him. Then a dark form broke from its concealment and the outline of a man moved toward Luke. The creature's cape blew gently in the evening breeze, revealing a thin, wiry form beneath its folds. Gasping for air, she recognized the stride of Wade Williams even without seeing his face. Before she could move, the figure in black stepped behind Luke. The shrill screech of Luke pulling the cellar door open blended with his low moan as Wade struck him from behind. Luke tumbled headlong into the cellar, as lifeless as a bag of potatoes.

Frozen against the window, Perry watched as Wade pushed closed the latch to the cellar and melted back into the shadows. Two other dark figures moved from the cover of trees to join Wade. They were dressed in ragged clothes and looked as though they had just crawled from some gutter.

A tiny shrill cry escaped her lips as the door behind her opened. With trembling fingers she gripped the gun Abram had given her. Slowly she turned to meet her intruder.

"Lord, little lady, what's gotten into you?" Molly stared at her in confusion. "You look like you just seen a murder."

"I may have," Perry whispered. "Wade is in the backyard with some other men." She was suddenly afraid that her words might drift down to him and give her hiding place away.

"Are you sure, child?" Molly joined her at the window.

"I just saw him club Luke and lock him in the cellar. I'll get the other guns," Perry whispered in panic as she ran to her room.

"Now settle down," Molly ordered as she followed. "There be a house full of people downstairs. My guess is he's waitin' till later, when the crowd dies down. He may be figuring to get us one at a time." Molly's bright eyes came alive in thought. Many times during her life her survival had hinged on her ability to think fast. Now the talent jumped into action like a horse ready to run full out.

"I've got my gun, and with your dueling pistols I can stop him and his friends." Perry's voice snowed more confidence than she felt. She paced back and forth as Molly looked around the room thoughtfully. The old woman folded her arms over her breasts and patted her elbows, as if encouraging herself to think.

"No, you can't go out in the dark shootin' nobody. First off, we don't know how many men he's got out there, and second, they might shoot back." Molly plopped on the bed and planted her chin firmly on her fat fist. "We gotta get you outa here."

"How?" Perry asked with interest. "He's probably got someone watching the front door.''

"I know he does. When I was comin' up a few minutes ago, I glanced out to see if the sheriff's man was still there. He was gone, but another man stood boldly watching the front door. He was a ragged lowlife varmint, and from the way he patted his gun handle he was just lookin' for a fight. I was gonna tell Luke to scare him off before he robbed one of the customers." Molly scratched her chin. "I'll see to Luke later-his head's plenty hard enough to take one whack. First we gotta get you safe and away from here."

Perry was pacing, feeling like a caged animal. If Molly hadn't stopped her, she would've faced Wade here and now. It would have been foolish-two women and three guns were no match for who knows how many men. She was willing to risk her own life to fight Wade, but it wouldn't be fair to put Molly in more danger.

In the typical fashion of a woman who'd spent most of her time alone, Molly continued thinking aloud. "Way I see it, there's just one way out, and that's with a ruckus. You can figure that man out front is watchin' for a lady to leave. Wade Williams has probably told him just what you look like. So we got to make such a ruckus, he doesn't notice who you are."

"What!" Perry exclaimed, totally lost from Molly's logic.

"Years before the war, I used to work in a house full of girls. We traveled around some, and not all places welcomed us. Ever' now and then a mob of righteous citizens would storm us and put an end to our night's work. I soon figured out that if I just threw on my cape and walked out the front door, no one usually bothered me. They was too busy chasin' the girls crawlin' out the windows and under the beds."

Molly giggled. "Tonight, little lady, we gonna do the same thing for you. You change into some travelin' clothes. Then pack a big bag only half full. I'll be back in a minute."

Molly left in a flurry of instructions. For several seconds Perry stared at the door through which she'd vanished. There was the possibility that Molly had completely lost her mind, but for lack of a better idea, Perry followed her instructions. A plan, even a crazy one, was better than none.

Within five minutes Molly was back. She waddled in, locking the door behind her. A bright red cape lay over her arm. Perry could tell, even in the poorly lit room, that the cape was cheap and gaudy, as well as being none too clean.

"Are you packed?" Molly asked as she threw the cape down on the bed.

"Yes," Perry answered as she slipped her small knife into her skirt pocket.

"Good." Molly let out a long breath before continuing. "I sent one of the girls down to the corner to get a carriage. There's usually one for hire this time of night. Our fella's still outside watching, but it's gettin' good 'n' dark, so he won't be able to see clearly."

She lifted Perry's half-filled bag and handed it to her. "Hold your bag close and I'll tie it to you. It would be a dead giveaway if he saw a lady leaving with a bag. But if I strap it around you and put the cape over you, you'll look like a fat little whore."

Perry gasped in surprise at Molly's plan, but she held the bag tightly as Molly tied it around her middle with a few of Perry's ribbons.

Ten minutes later both women stood at the top of the stairs. Molly gave Perry one last hug. "You take care of yourself and write when you're safe. I may not be able to read, but I'll know you're fine when I get the letter."

Tears formed in Perry's huge eyes. "You be careful here. I'll send the police as soon as I get away, but don't misjudge Wade."

"I'll be fine. You've no cause to worry about me." Molly lifted the ugly cape hood over Perry's hair and pulled it low. "Throw this thing away when you're finished with it. That part of my life is over."

"I'll be back," Perry promised, wondering if she spoke the truth. "I love you, Molly."

Tears bubbled from Molly's eyes and crisscrossed down the wrinkles on her cheeks. "I never had no children, but if I had, I wouldn't have loved them more than I do you, child."

Both women hugged once more, then silently agreed the time was at hand. They moved together down the stairs. As they reached the last step Molly grabbed Perry's arm and shoved her toward the front door.

As they stepped out into the night air, Perry held her head low so no one could see her face. She knew that as soon as she could get away, Molly would be safer.

Molly propelled Perry toward the waiting carriage. She yelled in a gruff voice, "You get yourself outa my house! I runs a respectable place here and I won't have any of your kind drummin' up business inside my place."

Perry stepped into the carriage as Molly continued yelling and pushing. Molly shouted at the driver, "Take this trash back where she belongs! I never want to see the likes of her again!"

Glancing out the carriage window, Perry saw Molly standing with her feet wide apart and her hands set on her ample hips. Aware that she was watching, she yelled all the louder, "I don't wanna see your face again, you trash!" Perry knew her meaning and pulled the hood lower over her head.

The man Molly had described was laughing from across the street, but he didn't move as the carriage pulled away from the house. He made no attempt to stop Perry or to report her leaving. Perry laughed, for she knew Molly's plan had worked.

The carriage traveled through the streets swiftly as Perry untied her bag from around her waist and removed the red cape from her shoulders, revealing a blue cape of her own. She shoved the red cape under the seat and leaned forward to direct the driver.

When they stopped at the sheriff's office, the driver seemed in shock as he watched a slim young woman step from the carriage. He looked inside for the old fat lady he'd picked up, but there was no sign of her. Scratching his head, he mumbled something about having too much to drink as Perry politely told him to wait for her.

She caught the sheriff just as he was leaving his office for the night. He was happy to stop and talk with such a lovely young lady as she begged him to go to Molly's aid. She described Wade and his gang as robbers. After having just solved a major crime, the sheriff was anxious to assist. It was not every day that he put two killers in jail, thanks to Old Henry's letter to Molly. The talk of Henry's partner being murdered and his body left in the attic was all about town, and the sheriff welcomed the attention. This next problem might add even more color to his stories.

As the sheriff helped Perry back into the carriage he assured her he would round up ten men and be at Molly's side within the hour.

Turning her brightest smile toward him, she asked one last favor. "I would greatly appreciate it if you would keep a close eye on Molly. Should she need anything, please contact Hunter Kirkland's house."

Surprise showed on the sheriff's face. "She's a friend of Mr. Kirkland?"

Perry didn't miss the respect in his tone when he said Hunter's name. She decided a lie might provide added protection for Molly. "Yes, she's very dear to him, and he would be very upset should something happen to her. I'll tell him you will see to it nothing does."

"Thank you, miss." The sheriff beamed. "You tell Mr. Kirkland I'll watch after her as if she were my own mother.''

The sheriff hurried to do his job as Perry waved the driver on. They moved through the streets toward the dock. A tear slowly drifted down her cheek as she thought of Molly. She would miss the dear old woman. Quietly she mumbled the last words the sheriff had said. "… as if she were my own mother.''

A few minutes later Perry stepped from the carriage. After paying the driver she moved along the docks in search of the West Wind. Even in the moonlight she recognized the familiar lines and walked the plank to board. She hadn't known' Hunter owned this ship when she'd last sailed.

A guard moved in her path as she stepped onto the ship. "May I be of some service, miss?" he asked politely.

"Yes, you sail in the morning, right?" Perry asked, keeping her hood low. It would be better if no one knew who she was, though she doubted any of the crew would remember her from months ago. On that first voyage she'd stayed to herself and had never even spoken to the captain except for a few words the last day.

"Yes, miss," the guard stated without moving from his post.

"I wish to come aboard early. I hate getting up at dawn. I'm-I'm," Perry said, about to lie for the second time in an hour, "I'm Mr. Kirkland's cousin, and he invited me to sail with him." Seeing the guard's confusion, she added. "Please show me to my room. I'm catching a chill."

The guard shuffled his feet as if forgetting his manners. "Yes, miss, please come this way. I'm sorry, miss. We weren't expecting any passengers 'cept Mr. Kirkland this trip."

Within a few minutes Perry was settled into one of the tiny staterooms. She undressed and crawled into bed. The room was the same one she had had so many months ago, when she had sailed home and away from Hunter for what she thought would be forever. The room had been drab and sad, as was her heart. Now the room seemed cozy and welcoming. With covers tucked tightly around her, she drifted between worrying about Molly and thinking of her future. In a few days she would be back at Three Oaks with Andrew. When this business with Wade ended, she would return to Molly.

"If it ever ends," she whispered into the darkness. For she knew the only way would be when either she or Wade was dead. She touched her gun beneath her pillow and fell asleep.