The Raider Page 10

  “Jessica,” Eleanor said sternly, “if you aren’t going to eat those turnips, give them to someone who will.”

  “Yes,” Jess mumbled. “I’m eating.” But she didn’t eat and Nathaniel gave her plate to Molly and Sarah. Jess didn’t even notice.

  Chapter Seven

  YOU are to come with me,” the young English soldier said, staring straight at Jessica.

  “She hasn’t done anything,” Eleanor protested, three children clinging to her skirts. “She was an innocent bystander to the raids.”

  “That will be determined by His Majesty’s appointee, John Pitman.”

  “It’s all right, Eleanor,” Jessica said, determined to not allow her voice to shake. Pitman had only to accuse her and it would be as good as being convicted. She gave a quick look of encouragement to her family and then followed the four soldiers sent to fetch her.

  Nathaniel walked beside her. “I’ll protect you, Jess,” Nate said, his young eyes looking very old.

  She gave him a weak smile and kept her head aloft.

  The soldiers led her to the sprawling Montgomery house, not going through the door to the common room but through a side door she’d never entered before. It led to the office that had for years belonged to Montgomery men. She’d often seen Adam there, sitting by his father, quietly learning how to manage the extensive Montgomery holdings.

  John Pitman sat behind the desk that had serviced generations of Montgomerys.

  One of the soldiers pushed Jessica’s shoulder, so that she sat heavily in a chair before him.

  “Mistress Jessica,” Pitman said after he waved the soldiers away. They were alone in the room. “I have been told that you have knowledge of this criminal who calls himself the Raider.”

  “I know nothing about him. Neither who he is, where he lives, nor anything else.”

  “Yet he kissed you.”

  Jessica moved uncomfortably in her chair. Too vividly she remembered the night she’d stumbled across Pitman in the woods. He’d told her that he didn’t sleep with his wife, and he’d tried to kiss her. “Many men try to kiss me,” she said in a low voice, looking him in the eye. “I don’t invite such attention.”

  His eyelids lowered a fraction, showing that he remembered what she was referring to, but then his eyes strayed to the front of her dress.

  Jessica suddenly realized that this man had never paid her the least bit of attention until the Raider had noticed her. “I know nothing of the Raider,” she said again, this time louder.

  Pitman stood and walked around the desk toward her. “I don’t know whether I believe you or not. You saved him the last time he appeared.”

  “I merely tossed a rope to George Greene. How was I to know your English soldiers would be so clumsy?”

  He looked at her for a long moment. “Yes, that is what I was given to believe.”

  Jessica wondered if Alex had paid his brother-in-law to get her released.

  Pitman moved closer to her, put his hand on her shoulder. “I never realized until recently how pretty you are, Mistress Jessica.”

  “Not until the Raider pointed it out to you?”

  He moved his hand away. “You have a sharp tongue on you. Perhaps too sharp. If you continue helping this brigand—”

  “You’ll what? Punish me because you can’t catch him?”

  Pitman drew his breath in sharply and Jessica wished she hadn’t spoken. He opened his mouth to reply but the door burst open.

  “What is the meaning of this?” Alexander demanded, slamming the door open against the wall. His heavy wig was flying out behind him. “I was told you’ve been arresting women.”

  Pitman moved behind the desk. His face wore an expression of boredom. “I did not arrest them, I merely had them brought here for questioning.”

  “I’ll not have it,” Alex said, his voice becoming higher by the second. “Do you understand me, I’ll not have it. Come along, Jessica.” He held out his hand for her as if she were a child.

  Jessica took it, never looking back at Pitman, and followed Alex out of the room. “Who else did he talk to?”

  Alex didn’t answer but began pulling her down the corridors of the house.

  “Alex, where are we going? Who else did he question?”

  At last Alex opened a door, pulled her inside and shut it behind them. He let out a heavy sigh of relief.

  “Alex,” she said again. It was a large room with furniture covered with yards of muslin to protect it from the dust.

  Alex sat down in a chair, a cloud of dust and powder from his wig wafting about him. He lifted a sheet behind him, opened a drawer and withdrew an embroidered fan that perfectly matched his green satin vest. “All right, Jess, tell me everything.”

  “There’s not much to tell. He wanted to know if I knew anything about the Raider.”

  “And you don’t, of course.”

  Only his kisses, Jess thought.

  “Do you?” Alex persisted.

  “Not anything that will help Pitman execute him, I don’t. I really should go home and tell Eleanor that I’m all right.”

  “Eleanor knows; I sent Nate. What do you know about the Raider? Sit down and quit wandering about.”

  Jessica removed a dust cover and sat on a small, pink tapestry-covered chair. “I don’t know who he is or how to contact him. I know nothing about him.” Except his hands on my body, she thought and she wasn’t about to tell Alex or anyone else about that.

  “Have you seen him again?” Alex asked softly, his gentle eyes suddenly turning intense.

  “I…Alex, why are you interrogating me, too?”

  “I told you, I feel responsible for you. I don’t want this Raider around you. I don’t trust him. There’s too much of the braggart about him.”

  “He’s all right,” she snapped. “At least he’s trying to help. Everyone else in town sat on their backsides and did nothing while Josiah’s ship was stolen out from under him.”

  “I thought you considered this Raider a coward, too frightened to stand on his own without hiding behind a mask.”

  “He’d shot if he protested openly.” She wanted to change the subject. “Isn’t that a picture of your mother?”

  Alex seemed to want to ask more questions, but instead he fanned himself awhile longer and then stood. “This was my mother’s room. I wanted to show you something.” He went to a large painted chest against one wall and opened it. Inside, carefully folded, were many dresses.

  “These were my mother’s and they’re just lying here rotting. I thought maybe you and Eleanor would like to have them.”

  Instinctively, she pulled back from him. “Charity to the Taggerts? Just because I took one dress from you doesn’t mean I’ll accept this. I don’t want your pity, Alexander Montgomery. You always did think we were nothing but dirt.”

  “No, Jess, I didn’t mean—”

  “What is going on here!”

  Both of them turned to see Marianna Montgomery Pitman standing in the doorway. It was a formidable sight. The Montgomerys’ tall, broad-shouldered physique looked great on the men, but it left something to be desired on a woman. Marianna stood six feet tall, wide-shouldered, deep-bosomed, slim-hipped—she had a body any man would envy. With her big body went a personality that was a cross between a typhoon and a newborn baby. No one ever knew whether Marianna was going to be domineering or try to snuggle in your lap.

  “Alexander, I asked you a question.”

  It looked like it was Marianna’s day to be stormy and Alex was beginning to cower before his sister. Jess stepped forward. “I was brought here for questioning by…by your husband and Alexander so kindly brought me in here to show me your mother’s lovely things. We were just leaving.”

  “Oh,” Marianna said and sat down heavily as the wind seemed to leave her sails. “My husband. I did make a mess of that. I didn’t know he was like this before I married him. I don’t want anyone hurt because of me. I sent for Adam and Kit, but I guess they never receive
d my letters. I’m sure they’d come if they could.”

  Jess patted her on the shoulder. Marianna made her feel so small and light. “They’ll be here when they can. In the meantime we have the Raider.”

  “Yes,” Marianna said. “He has been a help, but John means to kill him.”

  “Marianna,” Jess said, “if you hear of anything the Raider should know, tell me, I may have a way to reach him. I might be able to—”

  Alex, whom she’d almost forgotten, grabbed her elbow and half pushed her from the room.

  “I will,” Marianna called. “I’ll tell you, Jess.”

  “Of all the foolhardy things,” Alex said as soon as they were out of the house. “She’s married to Pitman, don’t you realize that? What if she let him know what you said? What if Pitman thought you could contact the Raider? Can you contact him? Why haven’t you told me of this?”

  “Alex, you’re hurting my arm. For somebody whose muscles are weakened, you can certainly grip.” She rubbed her bruised arm. “I think Marianna hates Pitman more than anyone and I’m not sure I can contact the Raider, but I might…I might see him again. Could we walk to the stream, Alex? I’m thirsty.”

  He caught her arm again but without so much force. “When did you see the Raider again?”

  “Last night. I don’t know why I’m telling you this.”

  “What did he want?”

  “It was a purely social visit.”

  “Social?” Alex gasped, stopping at the stream edge. Jess cupped her hands and drank, then removed her shoes and began to bathe her feet in the cool water.

  “Yes, social. Alex, aren’t you warm in all that clothing? There’s no one here, take off that wig. I don’t mind seeing a bald head.”

  “But you’d rather see the Raider’s black hair, wouldn’t you?”

  She had her skirt to her knees. “What is wrong with you today? Did you get turned down in marriage again? First you treat me with pity, then you yell at me.”

  “Put your skirt down. You may not think I look like one, but I am a man.”

  “Ah,” she said, smiling, smoothing her skirt. “Too long at sea. We’d better get you married. Have you tried Sally Bledman? She lives about ten miles south of—”

  “I know where Sally Bledman lives. If you’re through, I’ll walk you home. I don’t trust you to stay out of trouble on your own.”

  She stood and started walking beside him, bemused by his kittenish fit. When they reached the road, she saw Ethan Ledbetter approaching, a fifty-pound sack of grain on each shoulder. Her heart started beating faster. Was this man the Raider? Was this the man who held her in his arms at night?

  “Wait,” she said to Alex as she smoothed her hair and tucked her scarf in neatly. It was the same scarf the Raider liked to remove, she thought, and her hand began to tremble.

  “Good morning,” she said as Ethan passed.

  He slowed and smiled at her, obviously somewhat astonished at her unusual display of attention. He almost dropped one of the grain bags. “Good morning, Mistress Jessica.” He walked backward for a ways, until he stumbled over a rock and nearly fell. He watched her until she was out of sight.

  Alex clamped down on her elbow again. “Utterly disgraceful. You should be locked away somewhere.”

  “Who asked you to be my father?” she snapped.

  “Father? Father!” he gasped, then pushed her arm away so hard that she nearly lost balance. “Walk yourself home and if you get into any trouble, I hope your Raider saves you.”

  “So do I,” she called after him as she watched him waddle down the road. “So do I.”

  * * *

  “Jessica!” Eleanor said for the fourth time. “Are you listening to me at all?”

  “She’s listening to the outside,” Nathaniel said.

  That brought Jessica out of her lethargy. She turned and gave Nathaniel a quelling look, but the boy ignored her.

  “What does that mean, Jessica? For two days now you’ve been acting strangely, as if all of your mind weren’t here.”

  “I’m just trying to finish these ledgers and stay out of trouble. Just what I’m supposed to be doing.” She glared at Nathaniel who was giving her an adult look, as if he knew what was on her mind.

  It had been two days since she’d left the cove where the Taggert house was set, and her imprisonment was voluntary. Since the day Pitman had questioned her, she had felt the Raider nearby. There were nights when she lay in bed and knew he was close. She’d even heard a low-pitched whistle outside and known it was him—but she refused to go to him.

  Eleanor told her that the talk of the Raider had begun to die down. The consensus was that Pitman had frightened the man away and that the Raider had returned to wherever he had come from. Eleanor said the townspeople were beginning to believe that the Raider was a sailor and his ship had left port.

  Jessica didn’t make any reply, since she knew all too well that the Raider was still in Warbrooke. She wanted to deny her attraction to him and so she ignored his calls to her, ignored his presence in the forest that ran behind their house. She never stepped outside without one or more of the children with her, hoping the Raider would keep hidden from the children. How in the world Nathaniel knew about the Raider waiting outside for her, she didn’t know, but she’d long ago given up trying to second-guess Nate.

  “Jessica, take these slops out for me,” Eleanor said. “It’ll do you good to get some air.”

  Jessica looked out the south window of the little house and saw the dark sky and the stars. “No, thank you, have one of the children do it.”

  “I need to go to the privy and I’m scared of the dark,” Sarah said.

  “Jess, go with her.” Eleanor gave her sister a threatening look. “Just what is wrong with you?”

  “Nothing. I’ll take you, Sarah,” Jess said reluctantly. “Anyone else need to go?”

  The other children were more interested in something Nate was drawing in the ashes on the hearth, so Jess took Sarah’s hand and led her to the privy. The child seemed to take forever and Jess kept glancing about nervously, but there was no sign of a masked man lurking behind a tree.

  By the time she was returning with Sarah, her heart had begun to lighten. Of course if she did see him again, all she had to do was tell him to go away. She didn’t have to put up with his mauling of her. If he appeared again, she’d be strong and decisive and tell him to get away from her.

  Her walk was almost jaunty as she reached the house. Sarah went inside, Jess following. But as Jessica had her hand on the latch, something—no, someone—grabbed it. There was no doubt who the hand belonged to.

  “Jessica, close the door. You’re letting the night air in,” Eleanor said.

  Jess gave her hand a jerk, but he held it firmly and then he began to—oh heavens—he began to kiss her palm, then the inside of her wrist.

  “Jessica! What is wrong with you?” There was a great deal of exasperation in Eleanor’s voice.

  The Raider was nibbling at her fingertips. “I thought I…I’d take those slops now. Would you hand them to me?”

  Eleanor had a lap full of mending and now she began to look at Jessica curiously.

  Suddenly, Nathaniel jumped up and ran to hand Jessica the bowl of kitchen slops, but when he tried to look out the door, Jess managed to block his view.

  The next moment, the Raider pulled her outside, shut the door, then clasped her in one motion. The bowl of slops went tumbling as he drew her to him in a kiss. It was as if he were starving, as if his life depended on this kiss.

  In spite of her good intentions, Jessica responded in kind.

  “Go away,” she said breathlessly when at last they broke apart.

  He put his finger to her lips to silence her, nodding toward the house. Then he grabbed her hand and went running up the hill and into the forest. When he stopped, she was out of breath, but he immediately began kissing her neck and shoulders as he pushed her dress to one side.

  “I’ve missed
you, Jessie,” he whispered. “I called for you night after night, but you didn’t come to me. Why?”

  She tried to push him away but she had no strength. “I don’t want to see you. I wish I’d never met you. Everyone in town thinks you’ve left. Why don’t you go somewhere else? You’ve helped Josiah, now go away.”

  “Do you want me to leave? Do you really want me to leave?”

  “Yes, I do. My life has become miserable because of you. First you toss me in dirty water, then you kiss me, then I’m imprisoned because of you, then I’m arrested and questioned. Oh, Ethan, please leave.”

  He stopped kissing her. “Ethan?”

  “I didn’t mean to say that. No,” she whispered, “don’t tell me if I’m right or not. I don’t want to know who you are. I don’t know why you’ve chosen me.” She looked up at him. “Or have you? How many other women are you seeing secretly, pulling them out of their houses during the night? Whistling to them while they try to sleep?”

  “So you did hear me. As for other women, I don’t have the time for courting more women. You are all a man can handle. Of course, your own loyalties are not as clear. You lust after Ethan Ledbetter, spend half your life with Alexander Montgomery and even encourage old man Clymer.”

  She pushed away from him. “What right do you have to talk to me about other men? Abigail Wentworth said you climbed in her bedroom window.”

  “Who told you that?”

  “Ah ha! You admit it.”

  He caught her to him, but Jessica wouldn’t look at him and kept her hands tightly to her side. “Jessie, she’s a liar. She pops from behind trees at me. She brags with no reason to boast. A lot of the talk about me would die down if it weren’t for her. She keeps my life in danger.”

  Jess softened toward him and when he kissed her hair and held her so closely, she slipped her arms about his waist. “Please leave Warbrooke. Pitman and his soldiers will catch you sooner or later. Your only chance is to leave now.”

  “I can’t. There’s work to be done.”

  “Work?” She clasped him tighter. “Not another raid? You can’t go.”