Flora's Wish (53 page)

Pulling out his key, he unlocked one of the handcuffs. “You letting me go, Lucas? There's a good sport.”

A moment later Lucas clamped the other handcuff to the gate and then gave it a tug to be sure it held. “The only place you're going is to jail,
sport
.”

Flora awoke to the sound of her name, the soft whisper of a voice distinctly familiar. The whisper became more insistent—a demand, really—that required her to do something.

What? There was jostling about and something else. Someone called out.
Belles pralines.
A street vendor. Yes, she recognized the chant. And an orchestra.

Again she heard her name. This time Flora opened her eyes to see Lucas McMinn's face just above her own.

“You're awake. I'm going to sit you up. Easy now. You've taken a blow to the back of your head, so you might feel a little woozy.”

The world tilted, and she watched Lucas once again appear. For a moment, his image swam before her, and then he came into focus.

“I'm sorry, Flora, but we're not staying to enjoy our party. But the good news is I'm taking you home to Brimmfield.”

“The party.” She closed her eyes and sighed. “Will Tucker was at the party,” she said, and her eyes flew open. “He was there and then I chased him and…”

Lucas tightened his hold on her. “And then you fell.”

“Yes, I did.” She rubbed a hand over the ache beneath her ribs.

“Well, the short version is I caught him. And you. Remember that filament wire that had us both dangling off your home?”

She looked up into his eyes. Ireland green. The phrase made her smile. “Until you cut it just before my father threatened using pruning shears?”

“That's the one. Kyle and I had been playing with this device but it hadn't been tested. We added a nice little airfoil to a thin rope. It causes an unbalanced airflow that creates an elliptical path. In this case, the path wrapped around you. I held tight and so did the line.”

“I have no idea what you just said.”

Lucas sighed. “Basically a man can throw it out and it comes right back, similar to a boomerang. Anyway, it works.”

“Oh, good.” She moved and then winced. “I think we should stand, don't you?”

“If you think you're ready.” His attention went to her side. “Likely you'll be sore there, but nothing's broken. Apparently, they make women's formal attire much stronger than men's. You hit the side of the house pretty hard.”

“Apparently.” She sucked in a breath as Lucas helped her to her feet. For once the stupid corset had actually proven to be beneficial. She looked up at him. “So Mr. Tucker has been arrested?”

“Kyle's seeing to the paperwork right now. But with a warrant out of Eureka Springs and an active Pinkerton investigation ongoing against him, I'd say he won't be seeing daylight for quite some time.”

“What about the man in Natchez? The telegraph operator.”

“I'll follow up on him once I get you situated at Brimmfield.” A shadow of concern crossed his features. “Speaking of which, I need to take you home to Brimmfield. Tonight.”

“Tonight?” She shook her head. “Why? You caught Mr. Tucker, so what's the hurry?”

“I'd rather explain elsewhere, but suffice it to say I have more information on the debtor I mentioned earlier.” He gave her a sweeping glance. “Can you walk or do you need more time?”

“Yes, but—”

“Trust me, Flora. I'll tell you everything as soon as I can.”

“Promise?”

At his cross look, Flora tested her ability to take one step and then another. Though her head swam and her knees shook, her feet seemed to perform upon command.

“All right, then.” He held her at arm's length and then brushed his knuckle across her cheek, his expression softening. “We're walking out of here looking like a happy couple, understand?” When she nodded, he continued. “First, you will make your excuses to Cousin Winthrop. I don't care what you tell him, just don't tell him you're leaving New Orleans.”

“But it will be the height of rudeness if I just abandon him in the middle of the night—”

“Flora,” he said patiently, “you two didn't look as though you were worried about rudeness earlier, but if you insist, you can write him and explain.”

“You're right. Let's go.”

Before the doors opened, Flora had her smile pasted back in place. With Lucas guiding her, his palm warm against her back, she managed to navigate the substantial length of the room to find Winny deep in conversation with Eudora Lennart.

“Dora, you remember my cousin, don't you?” he asked the young woman.

“Yes, of course. We were on the
Americus
together. We had such a grand time, didn't we, Flora?”

Conversation with the Lennart ladies was not what she recalled when she thought of that voyage. Still, she managed a polite smile.

“Yes, we did.” Flora turned her attention to Winny and saw no hint of the cold man she'd encountered at his home. Either that was an act, or this woman's attention had overridden any remaining ill will. “Lucas and I are going.”

“Are you ill?”

“I'm afraid she's a bit overcome by all the excitement,” Lucas said. “Her anticipation of our marriage causes this on occasion.”

Flora jabbed the cad discreetly. Still, when Winny looked her way, she did her best to look as if she agreed.

“Use my carriage. I'll not have need of it for quite some time. That is, unless Dora is tired of me and wishes for me to accompany you.”

“Don't be silly.” Eudora looked around him to smile at Flora. “Take your time.”

A short while later, Flora and Lucas arrived back at the house on Third Street, where she hurriedly threw a few belongings into a bag, and then she and a maid crept back out to join him in the carriage. He silently nodded toward the carriage driver and footman, still refusing to elaborate on the reason for their hasty departure.

Kyle found them before the carriage had completely come to a halt at the docks. “I've got some news. I think our man's on the
Bertolino
.”

The two men exchanged glances.

“He just made it on. The gangplank was up and the boat had already begun to pull away. If I hadn't seen him make the jump myself, I wouldn't have believed he could do it.”

“You're sure it was him?”

“I believe it was, but no, I didn't see him close up.” He shrugged. “He gave the name of Winthrop Brimm to the fellow who sold him the ticket.”

“I see.”

“What are you two talking about?” Flora demanded.

He thrust some tickets in their direction. “We need to get moving. The
Venerable
sails in ten minutes. If we're on time, we'll get there right behind him. If we're lucky, we'll beat him there.” Lucas turned to Flora. “Once we're settled onboard, I promise I will fill you in, all right?”

“All right,” she said slowly.

Lucas sent the driver on his way and escorted Flora and the maid through the maze of containers and persons lining the New Orleans docks. As they stepped onto the deck, the
Venerable
's bell began to announce its imminent departure.

“Were you able to alert the authorities in Natchez? A New Orleans warrant ought to get their attention,” Lucas asked Kyle as they climbed the stairs.

“I was very clear that we were in pursuit of a suspect with a warrant, and that the suspect would arrive via the steamboat
Bertolino
midday tomorrow. To be safe, I let them know we were traveling with Miss Brimm.”

“Good. Then if they find him when he steps off the boat, all we need to do is show up and file the paperwork.”

“Ideally, yes,” was Kyle's response as they reached the long hall leading to the staterooms. “And if he doesn't get off the boat, we track him to Memphis, because that's the next stop for that vessel.”

The maid went off to find her quarters among rooms for the staff, and the other three walked in silence until the door to Flora's stateroom came into view. “This is where I bid you two good night,” Kyle said. “I'll be right across the hall, so fetch me if you need me. Otherwise, I'll relieve you in a few hours.”

Lucas nodded and opened the door for Flora. Glancing around the tiny stateroom, he gestured toward the chair in the corner. “Need that?”

“No, go ahead,” she told him, and she then watched as he carried the chair out into the hall and rested it against the door frame.

She looked around to be sure they were alone. “All right. Who is he, Lucas? Do I know this man you are chasing?”

He paused to watch her a moment. “It's Martin Lennart.”

Flora gasped. “But…”

“Yes,
that
Lennart.”

“But why?”

“Your death ensures that Winthrop inherits. And Winthrop's inheritance ensures that Lennart will have the money he needs to avoid losing everything.” Lucas paused to look around and then returned his attention to her. “Or it would have. Unfortunately for him, he chose a Pinkerton informant to join him in the plan to kill you. Don't worry, Flora. We'll catch him. He'll not have the opportunity to harm you.”

“Those poor girls.” She ran her hand along the edge of the door. “Is my family in danger?”

“From what Kyle has uncovered, the only one in danger was you.” He paused and once again seemed to be considering his words. “Obviously, he's now aware that we're on to him if he's taking such lengths to leave town under cover of darkness and using an assumed name. If he's headed to Natchez, we'll catch him before anyone is harmed. If he's going on to Memphis or elsewhere, which is my guess, then we'll still catch him.” He put his hands on her shoulders. “Don't worry, Flora. I'll keep you safe.”

“Thank you,” she said as she reached up to give him a quick kiss on the cheek. “I'm sorry for all the trouble I've given you. Truly. I wish I'd told you all about Mr. Tucker from the beginning.”

He held her against him for a moment and then released her. His smile lit his face. “It's what I do. Besides, I prefer my apologies in writing so you can't change your mind later.” He paused. “When you amend your ways. Now get some rest.”

“You are incorrigible,” she said as she watched him settle into the chair. Then she closed the door.

This time there was no thought of cheerful banter or good-natured misbehavior. Flora remained in her stateroom all night, even when the ache beneath her ribs and the headache pounding at her temples roused her from her sleep. Finally the sun rose, and so did she.

Dressing hurriedly, Flora reached for the Bible she'd tucked into her bag. Instead of the words she read there, a quote from
Pride and Prejudice
rose high in her mind.

I was in the middle before I knew that I had begun.

And that, Flora knew, was the real problem in all of this. Before she'd listened to God—before she'd waited on His plan—she had gone ahead with her own. She had truly been in the middle of this plan that had seemed so well thought out and plausible before she realized the trouble had begun.

Before she'd known how far off the Lord's chosen path she'd gone to secure Brimmfield and a safe life for her sister.

A knock at the door jarred her thoughts. “Yes?” she called.

“It's Lucas. I brought you something to eat.”

She opened the door and took the tray but knew she wouldn't eat a bite on it. “Did you have anything?” she asked when he returned to his chair.

“I'm fine.”

“Then so am I.”

“Oh, for goodness' sake, Flora. Eat. I'll have something when Kyle relieves my watch in a half hour.” Tiredness etched the corners of his eyes. “I promise.”

When she opened her door to check on him some time later, Kyle had taken Lucas's place. “Are you finished with that?” he asked, indicating her untouched tray.