“They are young, dear. They just accept such things. They were a little concerned that they would have to call Colin Papa right away, which they do not, and they are not sure they like the idea of living elsewhere, for they have come to love Ballard and this farm. As you can see, children only concern themselves with basic matters.”
For a moment Clover stared at her hands. Talking had helped. Her shock and surprise had faded. She did accept her mother’s forthcoming marriage, even her mother’s love for Colin Doogan. She stood up and hugged Agnes.
“I hope you will be very happy. He is a good man.”
“Are you sure, dear? You seem to have settled your confusion rather quickly.”
“It was mostly shock, Mama. Once that faded, I found nothing to upset me about the marriage.” She grimaced. “There was only one troubling emotion.”
“And what is that?”
“Jealousy.” She gave her mother a crooked smile. “You and Molly were courted and you fell in love.”
Agnes hugged her daughter, holding her close for a full minute. “I know. I realized that myself, was ashamed of myself for enjoying such frivolities while you have never had them with Ballard. One cannot count that betrothal to Thomas, for he was clearly insincere in his emotions.” She held Clover at a slight distance. “But then I recalled that you have fallen in love with Ballard. Perhaps you two were also fated to be together.”
“I was just wondering that myself. Well, I suppose I am ready to go now.”
“You look lovely. Now, dear, there is one more thing I must tell you. I am going to Colin’s for dinner with his family, where I will try and get to know his many children. Since that may take until very late at night, I will be staying there in his housekeeper’s rooms. I am afraid Molly will not be here either. She is to have a celebratory meal with Jonathan and Mabel, and will spend the night in town.”
Clover groaned. “That means I must get the morning meal all on my own.”
“You will do just fine. Now I hear your husband coming to collect you. Have a nice time tonight, dear.”
“You too, Mama. And wish Molly the same.”
“Are you certain about this?” Thomas demanded of the man standing before him. “I am a hunted man, as are my cohorts. It seems that bastard MacGregor has every man, woman, and child in Kentucky beating the bushes for us. We cannot afford to go off on any wild goose chases.” He shot a condemning glare at Poonley and Big Jim, who were lounging in a dark corner.
“This ain’t gonna be a wild goose chase,” promised the stranger. “Ain’t no one who could know where Ballard MacGregor will be tonight better’n me. I be Cyril Potsdam’s top stablehand,” said Corey Winston. “I know everything what goes on at that demmed mansion of his.”
Thomas took a slow swallow of bitter ale and tried to think what to do next. The constant pounding inhis head made that difficult. Since Clover’s escape from his dim-witted associates, he had been forced to hide in the tiny, squalid cabin belonging to Poonley’s lover Helen. With each miserable day he spent in the filthy confines, he had grown to hate Ballard MacGregor all the more, but his efforts to hurt the man were thwarted by the large number of people searching for them. A few times they had nearly been caught at Helen’s. Now the chance for revenge was being handed to him on a silver salver. He was not sure he ought to trust in such a stroke of luck.
“Why are you doing this?” he asked Corey. “Since you are one of the very few men who knows that Poonley sometimes comes here, why help us instead of turning us in to our enemies?”
“‘Cause the fool is sweet on Elizabeth Brown,” revealed Big Jim. “You want the little whore all to yourself, ain’t that right, Corey? But she just ain’t gonna stop panting after MacGregor.” He laughed when Corey lunged at him. Poonley knocked the man to the floor.
“You ain’t got no call to talk about Elizabeth that way,” Corey protested as he staggered to his feet and wiped the blood from his lip. He turned back to Thomas. “I ain’t doing this just because Elizabeth wants to make an ass out of herself over that cursed Scot. His prissy wife done threatened Elizabeth and put the fear of God into her. Elizabeth be too scared to come outta her house now.”
“And so you ain’t getting no honey,” said Big Jim.
“Shut up, Jim.” Thomas studied Corey for a moment, then nodded, wincing as a shaft of pain ripped through his head. “I find it hard to believe little Clover could scare anyone, but perhaps her time with BallardMacGregor has already made her somewhat of a barbarian. Anyway, I believe your reasons for helping us, stupid though they are. A few facts would help us now. When will he arrive, when will he leave, what road will he travel, and will he have extra men with him for protection?”
“Well, I ain’t sure I can answer all them questions. Potsdam told them to come by eight, but there ain’t no telling when MacGregor will decide to leave and go back home. I do know he told Potsdam he wouldn’t be spending the night. There is only one road MacGregor can go on to get to Potsdam’s house since he be driving a wagon. Big Jim knows where it is as well as I do.”
Big Jim nodded. “I know a good spot where we can jump the fool. About a mile or two of that road goes through some thick wood. We can hide there till MacGregor ambles by.”
“And how many men will he have with him?” Thomas asked Corey.
“I told you, I ain’t got no idea. MacGregor ain’t let his wife go nowhere alone since you tried dragging her off. He might have a guard or two riding with him, but who can say? He might think he is protection enough.”
“Can you get one of these fools close enough to see for himself without being spotted?”
“Reckon I can.”
“Poonley, you go with him.” Thomas gave Corey a small pouch of coins. “You had better not be leading us into a trap. Just keep in mind that if even one of us survives a surprise attack you will pay dearly for any treachery. Poonley, as soon as you know how well MacGregor is protected, ride back here.”
Poonley nodded. “Wouldn’t you be better placed setting in them woods?”
“Not just yet. The MacGregors will be at Potsdam’s for several hours at least. That leaves us plenty of time for you to come back here, tell us what we face, and allow us to set the trap.”
