Bobbi Smith - Captive Pride

Draining the last of the sherry from her crystal glass, she refilled it again. Leaning back against the edge of the tub, Eve relaxed as the heat of the water and the potency of the liquor began to relieve her tensions. True, she had seen a man killed tonight, but she knew that it would all turn out to her advantage. Closing her eyes, she imagined herself married to Noah and returning to England as Lady Kincade. The dream appealed, and she grew determined to make it a reality.

Faith had been eagerly awaiting Matthew’s return and she greeted him at the door when he finally made it back to the house. Her joy at seeing him was short-lived, however, when she noticed the rumpled condition of his clothing and the bruise already forming along his jaw.

“My darling, what’s happened to you?” Faith ushered him quickly into the parlor, where her mother and Ben awaited him.

“Nothing important; I’m fine.” Matt dismissed her worry easily as he hurried forth to speak with Ben.

“How can you say it’s not important when you look like you’ve been involved in a street brawl?” Faith followed him into the room.

“I have been involved in a street brawl, but that’s not what matters right now. That’s all been settled. What’s important is”-he paused to draw her close to his side as his gaze met Ben’s squarely-“that Noah has agreed to sell us the entire shipment for the amount already paid.” His tone was triumphant as he happily revealed Noah’s change of heart, and all thoughts of his unsavory encounter were wiped from the others’ minds at the news.

“Noah agreed to that?” Faith was stunned but pleased, and Ben and Ruth exchanged puzzled looks.

“Yes.” Matt nodded down at her. “We talked for quite some time. It was his decision…his offer.”

“You told him of the arrangement Graves had suggested, didn’t you?” Ben was totally dumbfounded by this change in Noah Kincade.

“Yes, I approached him with that offer,” he explained, “but after we’d talked for a while, he told me to tell Graves that he would agree to deliver for the amount already paid.”

“Matt, that’s wonderful!” Ben was truly excited. “I’d better get back to Ryan right away with the news.”

“I’ll go with you. Noah explained to me how he wants the transfer to take place, and I think you’ll be pleased with the plan he’s devised.”

“Let’s go, then.” Ben stood, glad to be the bearer of good news for a change.

“Wait up for me,” Matt told Faith as they paused near the front door on their way out. “We’re going to meet Noah later for dinner so no one suspects us.”

“All right. You’ll be safe now?” she asked, knowing that danger was always possible.

“Yes. I’m not going to participate in the actual moving of the goods. I’m just going along to help set everything up.”

They shared a parting kiss.

“Be careful.” Faith and Ruth both echoed the same sentiments as they watched the men they loved disappear into the darkness of the night.

“Ryan?” Ben’s tone was hushed as he knocked on the door to the room in the Green Dragon’s stable.

“Yes?”

“It’s me, Ben Hardwick. Matthew Kincade is with me… We have news.”

“Just a minute…”

Ben and Matt could hear the murmur of voices and then footsteps approaching the door before the lock turned. When the door finally swung open, they moved inside immediately. Matt was surprised to find that several members of the group were still there, and that CC was one of them.

Ryan Graves regarded both men solemnly as he closed and locked the door behind them. He was filled with despair at his own failure to get the money for the war materials, and he was worried about how long their cause could exist without the necessary arms to defend themselves.

“Yes. What is it?” he asked dejectedly, expecting only bad news from these two men.

“Ryan, Noah Kincade has agreed to sell us the arms at the price already paid,” Ben supplied quickly, anxious that everyone share in the good news.

Ryan stared at him in confusion. “He what?”

“I spoke with Noah just a short time ago, and he has agreed to sell you the shipment at no further cost,” Matt told them.

“I don’t understand. Why did he have this sudden change of heart?” Ryan couldn’t help but be suspicious of the man who had been so coldly indifferent to his own plea just a short time before. “Is he setting us up? Has he planned something with the agents of the Crown in hopes of having us arrested when we take delivery?”

Matt was quick to defend his brother. “No! Absolutely not!”

Ryan eyed Matt skeptically. “I find it hard to believe that your brother’s done a complete turnaround in his loyalties.”

“Rest assured, Ryan, that Noah is a man of his word,” Matt said in earnest. “He’s also devised a plan that should work perfectly. I’ve already gone over it with him and am prepared to explain it to you now.”

“And just what is this plan?” the leader asked.

Matt went on to outline in detail what Noah had arranged.

Ryan checked his pocket watch and then remarked, “We’ll have to move, and move quickly; it’s after eight already.” Ryan had been convinced by Matt’s firm testimony in his brother’s defense, and he was now ready and willing to follow through on the nobleman’s plan. Instructing the others in attendance to go out and notify those who could help, he ordered that they meet back there at the stables at eleven o’clock.

“What shall I do?” CC asked in annoyance when Ryan had failed to give her an assignment.

“I want you to wait here.”

“Ryan-” she began, but he cut her off.

“I have no time to argue with you. Your disguise is an effective one, but we can’t take the risk of possible discovery tonight. You may participate in the ‘raid,’ but the streets are too busy at this time of the evening for you to be running errands.”

“You allowed me to take the initial payment to Kincade,” she argued.

“That was a matter of necessity. This is not.” He turned away, refusing to allow her any more discourse in the matter. “We’ll meet back here at eleven. Any questions?” When none were forthcoming, he turned to Matthew. “I take it that it will be better for you not to help us tonight.”

“That’s right. Noah had insisted that we be as visible as possible to residents of town all evening.”

Ryan nodded in accord with his thinking. “Wise decision.” He extended his hand to Matthew. “I thank you for all you’ve done for us, and if we can ever help you, you only have to say the word.”

Matthew shook his hand in a firm, binding handshake. “Thank you. I appreciate it.”

“Let’s be off. Ben, you come with me. CC, are you going to wait here until we return?” Ryan asked as the others quickly dispersed to be about their business.

“Yes. I’ll stay.” CC was almost sullen in her agreement.

“Fine. We’ll be back. Again, Matthew, our thanks.”

The door closed behind them as they started off to help round up the other supporters they needed, and suddenly Matthew and CC were left alone in the privacy of the small room.

Matt knew a great sense of relief as he watched them leave, for he felt that everything was finally going to work out. All along he had hoped that Noah would come around to his way of thinking, and at last it had happened.

His mellow mood was interrupted, however, when CC turned on him and asked pointedly, “Did your brother really agree to those terms, or did you bribe him with your share of the profit?” CC’s question was sharply put. After her disastrous encounter with Noah the other night, she thought it completely out of character for him to reverse himself and suspected that there had to be a more driving reason for him to alter his stance…a reason that probably had to do with money.