Chapter Twenty-Four
Kate was gathering firewood for the morning fire when she saw the smoke in the distance. At first, she mistook it for a cloud, but then she realized what it was, what it meant, and her heart plummeted to her toes.
Civilization.
After more than a week in the wilderness, she should have been overjoyed to see signs of human life. And she was. But another part of her dreaded leaving the safety of the life she and Talon had created on the beach. It was impossible to believe the happiness they’d found could last.
She let the firewood she’d been gathering tumble to the ground and ran back up the sand toward Talon, who was dragging the boat into the water. “Smoke,” she told him breathlessly. “There’s a house or something over that ridge.”
His blue eyes widened, and he stared in the direction she’d pointed. “You’re right.” He turned back to her, a crooked grin curving his lips. “Oh, my God, Kate. We made it.”
She nodded, unable to resist smiling in return. “You promised you’d see me to safety, and you did. I should never have doubted you.”
He threw back his head and laughed, grabbing her around the waist and swinging her round and round until they were both so dizzy they collapsed on the sand. They lay on their sides, staring at each other and smiling foolishly.
“I love you,” she whispered then held her breath, hoping against hope that today would be the day he returned the sentiment.
His smile faded, and he cupped her cheek with his palm. “You make me so happy, sweetheart.”
Banishing her disappointment, she hugged him fiercely. “What happens now?”
He pulled away and sat up, staring broodingly out to sea. “I think you need to don your disguise again. A man and a boy wandering out of the woods won’t cause nearly the speculation a man and a beautiful woman will.”
She lifted her hand to her snarled hair, wondering how on earth he could still think her beautiful. “We shouldn’t mention anything about being shipwrecked. Word of it might get back to Sutcliffe.”
He nodded, his eyes twinkling again. “I’m going to have to bind your breasts again, sweetheart. But just think of all the fun we’ll have when I get to take that horrible thing off tonight.”
Anticipation chased up and down her spine. “First, I want a long, hot bath. Then I want to sleep until noon in a real bed.”
“Then you shall.” He stood and rooted in the bottom of the boat until he found her battered old hat. “Let’s go.”
* * * * *
“Just follow me and keep your head down. Try not to make eye contact with anyone and you’ll do fine.” Talon gave Kate a reassuring smile as they crested the ridge that overlooked the small town.
It wasn’t much as far as towns went, just an inn and a couple of houses, a rickety dock, and a small trading post. But to Talon and Kate, it was a teeming metropolis. They were saved. If nothing else, they’d at least be able to get some more food and supplies.
They received a few curious stares, but no one looked too closely at Kate. Talon wasn’t surprised. He’d learned long ago that people saw what they expected to see and not much else.
The inn was a small, dark little building redolent with the smells of sour ale and cabbage. The sign above the door proclaimed itThe Do Drop Inn, the once green letters faded and nearly indecipherable. Talon led Kate to a table near the back, blinking to accustom himself to the dim light.
Thankful for the small purse of spending money he’d appropriated from Daniel’s stash aboard the ship, he beckoned the barkeep. “An ale for me and the boy, and two plates of whatever you’ve got cooking in the back.”
The man nodded, his beady eyes lively in his jowled face. “You folks come a far piece?”
Talon laughed. “You could say that. We’re on our way to join the lad’s ma in Charleston, but I’m afraid we got a bit turned around. Can you tell me how far we have to go?”
The barkeep scratched his chin with a big, dirty hand. “I’d say about ten miles. Old Seth is takin’ a wagon load of cotton down that way later this afternoon. If ye’re interested, ye could probably hitch a ride for a small price.”
Talon nudged Kate’s leg under the table, barely able to contain his elation. Ten miles. It appeared that they hadn’t been blown that far off course after all. “We’re very interested. Thanks.”
Nodding, the barkeep went behind the bar to get their drinks. When he was out of earshot, Talon allowed himself a grin. “You just might get that hot bath tonight after all, sweetheart.”
Her face lit up with delight. “I can’t wait.”
The barkeep returned with their drinks and heaping plates of corned beef and cabbage. Talon had never been a big fan of cabbage, but it tasted wonderful today.
He couldn’t stop grinning as he watched Kate. She looked adorable in her stained travel-worn clothing. She dug into her food with gusto, pretending in her dainty, ladylike way to be some pig of a farm boy.
