Lies and Misdemeanours

“They have gone,” Hetty whispered in astonishment. She watched the three riders, whom she knew to be Barnaby, Mabel and Joshua, walk slowly down the road as though they didn’t have a care in the world. If she didn’t know it was them, she would not have given them a second glance.

It was a wonderful relief to know that her friend was free at last. Now that she didn’t have the added responsibility for someone else’s welfare to worry about, she was free to fret about her own – and Charlie’s. His welfare was more important than hers because she knew that if Meldrew got his hands on Charlie a second time, there would be no hope of escape.

“Come on,” Charlie urged, and guided her to the house Joseph had pointed to.

They hurried in that direction; aware that Marcus’ argument with the farmer had grown considerably louder, to the point that Charlie wondered if his colleague was going to start throwing punches. A grin slid over Charlie’s face when Marcus suddenly looked knowingly at him before he returned to the argument and, once again, increased the volume to a dull roar.

The diversion appeared to work because the jailers slowed their run to a steady walk as they studied the men, and assessed the chances of a brawl starting. It was enough. Charlie put one hand in the small of Hetty’s back and hurried her down the side road.

“What are we going to do?” Hetty cried, oblivious to the machinations of the Star Elite.

Charlie grinned at her, apparently completely unperturbed by their predicament.

“Look.” He nodded to the left of them.

About half-way down the lane, inside a small courtyard, were two saddled horses, ready and waiting to take them to safety. Just to the side of them were two riders; Brendan and Luke, who were cloaked, already mounted, and ready to run.

Hetty was amazed when Brendan and Luke grinned at Charlie, winked at Hetty, then tugged their hoods higher before they thundered out of the yard. Charlie quickly closed the doors behind them and slid the bolt across for good measure.

The speed in which they raced down the road immediately drew a loud blast of a whistle from the jailers who, sensing their quarry, began to shout orders as they tried to give chase on foot.

Pandemonium on the other side of the gates reigned supreme for several moments, until the jailers realised that they were hopelessly outmatched.

“It’s alright,” Charlie assured her as they listened to the jailers ordering everyone to fetch the horses. “Just put this on.” He dragged the large cloak off the saddle of one of the horses and draped it carefully over her shoulders. He tugged the hood up over her tell-tale hair.

When she turned to mount the horse, he stopped her.

“It will be alright. Just stay close to me,” he pleaded quietly. He placed a tender kiss on her lips and rested his forehead against hers. “Trust me on this, Hetty. I won’t let you down.”

Hetty nodded. Her fingers clung to the soft material of his shirt while they listened to the sound of men running toward them. Her heart hammered loudly in her throat, and she heaved a sigh of relief when Charlie’s warm palm settled over her clenched fist.

“Trust me,” he mouthed.

She clung to his strength, and waited for the inevitable. There was so much she wanted to say to him, but didn’t know where to start. She couldn’t focus her mind on anything other than the horrifying possibility that at any moment the gate was going to slam open, the yard they were in would be swamped full of jailers, and Charlie was going to be dragged off to his death.

A sigh of relief swept through both of them when the footsteps thundered past w

ithout stopping.

“Oh, thank you Lord,” Hetty whispered as the noise receded and peace was restored once more.

Charlie stared at her beautiful face. The urge to kiss her was strong, but the need to get out of there was stronger. He knew that the passion that shimmered between them would be allowed to surface later, once they had reached safety, and could talk about the future he knew now that they were going to share – together.

“I don’t know about you, darling,” he whispered. “But I really don’t want to wait around to see if they are going to come back.”

“Me either,” she replied. She offered him a quivering smile that failed to meet her eyes. She tried to turn her gaze away only for him to place a fingertip beneath her chin, and tip her face up so that he could look into her eyes.

“Are you alright?”

“Let’s get out of here,” she sighed. “Please?”

“Good idea,” he murmured. He was aware that she had evaded his question, and suspected that she was far from alright, but wanted her to know that he was worried about her. Rather than challenge her, he nodded toward the horses. “I hope you can ride.”

Thankfully she nodded. He quickly lifted her into the saddle and quickly mounted the second horse.

With the calls from the jailers disappearing after Brendan and Luke, Charlie looked at Hetty.

“Your mare should follow my horse. Whatever you do, just keep riding. Follow me and don’t stop. If anything happens, don’t stop to help me. I can get myself out of here. It is imperative that you do the same.” He patted the gun on his hip. “Whatever you think you hear. Whatever you think might be happening. Just focus on staying out of their clutches, Hetty.”