Bobbi Smith - Captive Pride

With that she disappeared out of the building and into the chill of the December night.

Noah was shrugging into his frock coat when the knock came at his door. “Who is it?”

“It’s Marty from the Lorelei, m’lord,” the young cabin boy answered respectfully. “I’ve got a message for you from Captain Russell. He says it’s important.”

“Come in, Marty,” Noah called out, glancing toward the door as the youngster came inside.

“Thank you, Lord Kincade.” Marty, a small, skinny lad raised in the slums of England, was in awe of Noah, and he bobbed a nervous nod in his direction. He found the fact that he was even speaking to the nobleman amazing, and he was determined to do a good job of it.

“What is it Captain Russell felt was so important?” he asked, picking up his greatcoat, ready to depart as soon as their conversation was at an end.

“He said to tell you that the Sea Pride has been sighted and that she should make port within three days.”

Noah smiled widely in confident satisfaction. “That’s excellent news, and I appreciate your delivering it to me, Marty.”

“Yes, m’lord.”

“Take this for your trouble and tell your good captain that I will be speaking with him very soon.” Noah handed the boy a coin and then saw him to the door.

“I’ll do that, sir, and thank you.”

When the young man had gone, Noah moved back to the washstand to check his appearance one last time in the small mirror there. Satisfied that he looked his best, he donned his greatcoat and started on his way to the Hammond house. Noah had been invited to dinner tonight in honor of Matt’s birthday, and now it looked as if they had even more to celebrate. Within a matter of days his negotiations would be completed, and he’d be well on his way to rebuilding their lost fortune.

Noah’s spirits were high when he arrived at their home, and he was welcomed warmly by Faith, Matthew, and Ruth. The meal was enjoyable and the conversation flowed easily as he and Matt both chose to avoid the issues that caused problems between them.

“I have news that will be of interest to you, Matthew,” Noah finally told him as they retired, alone, to the parlor after dinner. “Oh?”

“Just as I was leaving the inn to come here tonight I received word that the Pride has been sighted and is within three days of port.”

Matthew was pleased but solemn as he answered, “It’s not a moment too soon, considering what’s probably going to happen.”

“What do you mean?”

“Since the ‘tea party’ last week, rumors have been flying that there definitely will be reprisals against us. Dispatches carrying the news of our actions are already on their way back to Parliament.”

“Do you have any idea what might be done?”

“It’s hard to say. Whatever happens, the colonists…” Matthew paused, realizing that he could no longer talk about the revolutionaries from an outsider’s standpoint, for he was one of them now. “We’re not going to stand for it.”

A sardonic smile curved Noah’s mouth. “That’s quite a change from the argument you gave me in the beginning about how I was betraying my country by selling war supplies to the insurgents.”

Matt knew he should be angered by his brother’s sarcastic comment, but he chose to ignore it. “Yes, I suppose it is,” he agreed, “but I’ve learned a lot since then.”

“Such as?” Noah had thought Matt might argue with him, and his brother’s capitulation surprised him.

“Such as, a man must have justice if he is to survive.”

“How noble,” he replied.

“I’m not being noble, Noah,” Matt stated sharply. “I’m being realistic. It’s not fair for Parliament to try to keep such strict control over the growth and activities of the colonies. If the Crown decides to punish us for our attempts to put things to rights, then there will be trouble.”

“And you’re now willing to take up arms for that cause?”

“Yes. I am,” he answered with firm conviction.

“I find it totally contradictory that you condemned me for selling the arms to the colonists, and yet now you’re willing to make use of them yourself.”

“I am willing to fight, because I truly believe in what I am fighting for.” Matthew fixed him with a penetrating regard. “You, on the other hand, are making the sale out of a pure love of money, not for any finer moral principle. You profess to be loyal to the Crown, yet you show no hesitation in making a fast profit dealing in goods that will most assuredly be used against representatives of the very government you say holds your devotion. That was what I found distressing originally, and now that I know the truth of things here…”

Noah’s gaze turned cold as he shrugged. “What is there about this movement that everyone is so ardent in its defense?”

“It’s a matter of justice, Noah,” Matt replied slowly.

“For you maybe, but not for me,” he replied bluntly when Matt had finished speaking. “You know my only reason for coming to this godforsaken land was to recoup our losses. I am not interested in your cause. My goal has not changed, and I see no point in discussing this. We have agreed to disagree. We each have different goals in our lives. I have come to accept yours. I would expect the same consideration from you.”

“I don’t like feeling that we’re at odds with each other. I thought if you came to understand my…our point of view, it might help you to decide…”

“Decide?” Noah looked at him in amazement.

Matt looked him straight in the eye as he answered, “Decide to join with me and work for the revolution.”

“My life is in England, Matthew. You know that.”

“But it doesn’t have to be! You could live here. We could continue Kincade Shipping on a small scale and work right here, out of Boston.”

“No.”

“Don’t you care about anything except reclaiming our ‘lost’ heritage? What about CC?”

“What about her?” He was suddenly on the defensive. He did not want to think about her or talk about her.

“I had thought that there was something between the two of you.”

“You thought wrong,” he answered harshly. “CC means nothing to me.” Even as he said it, he knew it was a lie, for CC was the first and only woman he’d ever actually asked to become his wife. The memory of her refusal still had the power to hurt him. “Nor do the colonies.”

His determined response quelled any hope Matt had of encouraging him to his own way of thinking, and he sighed deeply to himself, feeling more discouraged than ever.

“Now, back to the subject of business.” Noah quickly dismissed the other discussion, not wanting to dwell any further on their differences. “Since it’s not safe for me to make direct contact with Graves or Smith, I want you to send word to them that the shipment will be here probably by the week’s end. I expect the balance due me delivered before I turn over the supplies.”

“I’ll tell him. Do you want CC to be the one to bring the payment to you at the inn again?”

“No!” Noah’s answer was abrupt. He wanted to stay as far away from CC as he could. She was the last person in the world he wanted to see.

“No? Is there a problem?” Matt asked, wondering at his reaction.

Noah glowered at him. “No, there’s no problem. I just think it’s too dangerous for her to be involved. Have them think of another way to get the money to me, but I want to have it in hand before we go any further with this deal.”

“All right,” he answered, finding his brother’s protectiveness of CC curious if, as he said, she meant nothing to him. “How do you plan to get the arms to them? Are you going to have them smuggled in?”