“You should be asking what the earl will do if I speak the truth and you let Cullen Longton escape.”
The soldiers grumbled among themselves as more of them gathered around her.
“I tell you, you must hurry,” she urged. “He’ll get away.”
The lead soldier’s sneer displayed rotted teeth, and his fetid breath washed over her face when he warned, “You be wrong and the earl will make you pay.”
“Then I must be telling you the truth or why else would I do this, you fool?”
The soldier took umbrage and smacked her in the head before shoving her in front of him. “Show me where he is!”
Sara stumbled, her knees near touching the ground before she righted herself and hurried along, leading the soldiers farther from the ship. In that brief instant, with her head down and her hands stretched out for balance so as not to fall, she had seen Cullen, Alexander tucked safely in his arms, racing up the gangplank and disappearing into the bowels of the ship.
The cabin door slammed shut and locked behind Cullen, and with a whimpering Alexander in his arms, he turned and stood, shocked.
“Burke? Storm? I thought you both in America by now.”
Storm reached out for the babe. “Let me see your son.”
He handed the boy to his pint-sized sister-in-law, who was dressed in outlaw garments that made her appear more a young lad than a beautiful young woman. Then he looked to his half brother Burke for an explanation.
“We made it to France,” Burke explained, “where Storm insisted we disembark, nab another ship of mine, and sail back here to wait for you in case you needed help.”
Cullen held his hand out to a man he barely knew, though resembled him, his height not reaching his own. But Burke was his equal in strength and courage, and very relieved to see him again.
“I do need your help,” Cullen told him. “My wife surrendered herself to Balford so my son and I could make it safely to the ship.”
“Wife?” Burke and Storm cried out in unison.
“Da!” Alexander cried, holding his arms out to his father.
Cullen took him and wasn’t surprised to see his little head turning and his wide teary eyes searching the room. “He looks for Sara. They play with his animals and she feeds him sweet cakes and—” He choked on the memories, unable to continue. “We’ll get her back, son. I promise we’ll get her back.”
“You need food and drink,” Storm said. “Then you can tell us how you came by a wife and how we can help you rescue her.”
Cullen smiled with relief. “It is good to have family to help me.”
“And it’s good that I have a chance to pay back Balford for all the pain and suffering he’s inflicted on the innocent,” Storm said with a pat to the sword handle that hung at her waist.
“Did you hear the word help?” Burke asked his wife. “He’s not expecting you to do his fighting for him.”
“One woman taking matters into her own hands is enough. I don’t need another,” Cullen said.
Burke grinned. “Your wife is like my own, stubborn, wanting her own way, not listening to reason? Finally, someone to commiserate with.”
“I like her already,” Storm said, smiling, and playfully poked her husband in the ribs. “Tell us about her.”
“No time, I must go after her,” Cullen said.
“Not without food, rest, and a plan,” Burke cautioned.
Cullen almost argued, but knew his brother was right. Rushing out to help her with no plan of action would only place them both in danger. Not to mention that he was exhausted from the strenuous journey, and hungry as well, he and Sara not having eaten much in the last day.
“We’ll work a plan out together,” Burke said, “hire what help we need, and see your wife safe on the ship so we can all sail to America together this time.”
The table was soon spread with food, and while Alexander sat on his father’s lap happily eating, Cullen explained all that had happened to him since they had last seen him.
“I must rescue her and see her safe. She has done so much for me.” Cullen ruffled his son’s brown hair. “If it wasn’t for her courage, my son would not be here now. She endangered herself to save him, and she does so again.”
“You admire her,” Burke said. “Do you love her?”
“It’s apparent,” Storm said, reaching for an oatcake. “His eyes beam bright and his face lights with joy when he speaks of her.” She poked at her husband. “You do the same with me. For half brothers, you are much alike.”
“Storm is right. I love Sara, but I’ve yet to tell her.”