He smiled. Excellent.
~~~
The clock on the mantel struck noon and William’s shoulders cramped. Anna should have returned home by now.
He glanced out the front window before returning to the table where his pistol rested. Snatching it up, he scorned the anxieties that bit at his heels and checked again to be sure it was loaded. Warren would be here any moment. Had he done as planned?
Inform Paul you have found your daughter and the man who took her, William had said. Propose that you desire to rescue your daughter and do not wish for me to follow you, and for this you will require his aid. Have him hide in the wood and wait for the moment you take Anna away.
A rustle outside stole William from his memory. Again, he went to the window, this time, gripping his pistol. Blast. ’Twas no one. He stood, staring past the garden into the wood. Was Paul there now? Would he wait as planned? William stepped to the fire where he checked on the lead he heated to mold more balls for his gun. Paul wished an easy fight, thus waiting would be to his advantage. But such knowledge did little to temper the rising heat in William’s body. Perhaps he would find others and bring them with him? Perhaps his rage would drive him to disregard their plan and come after William before Warren could take Anna to safety.
Bowing his head, William rubbed his temples, praying through the fog of fear that threatened to choke him. Protect Anna, Lo
rd, I pray thee.
The latch to the door clicked and William whirled.
“William?” a voice whispered.
Exhaling a plume of tension, William went to the door. “Come in, Warren.”
The man entered, removing his hat. “I peered in the window and saw only you. You said to enter so—”
“You did well,” William said, glancing left and right in the yard before shutting the door. “Is he here?”
He nodded. “Aye, though I do not know precisely. I told him where to go but he was still at the tavern when I left.”
A fear he’d harbored since the moment he’d presented Warren with his plan bolted William into action. He turned and hurried to the fire, plucking the tongs from the table and removing the small pot of molten lead from the fire. “I must be prepared. Something tells me he will not come alone.” He poured the liquid into the mold, cursing himself for not having done this the night before, instead of allowing himself the pleasure of blissful sleep next to Anna’s warm and perfectly feminine frame.
Warren neared and knelt beside him. “Who might he bring with him?”
Glancing up, William noted the worry that folded into the creases around Warren’s wise eyes. “He wishes me dead for defecting.” He grabbed his mallet and tapped the bullet into a bowl already half full. “Bringing others would mean not only an easier capture, but witnesses of my death.”
“Tell her.” Warren gripped his shoulder, halting William’s arm. “Anna is no simpleton nor is she fearful. She will understand why you have done this, I am sure. We must tell her what is coming. She could run to the safety of town—if you do not wish to implicate your friends—and I could help you fight—”
“Nay.” William held the man’s stare. “I refuse to put anyone at risk.” Warren removed his hand and William continued with pouring another stream of lead into the mold. “I will not rest until this is ended—at my hand alone.” He kept the next thought in his teeth. Truly, he craved the appeasement that ’twas he alone who had brought an end to his predator’s hunt.
Warren stood. “Where is she?”
William spoke but kept his attention on his task. He grabbed the mallet and tapped another ball free. “She should have returned a quarter hour past.” He poured the lead for another while the stab of worry cut deeper. Why hadn’t she returned? “I insisted she see the physician. She hasn’t been well.”
“She is ill?”
William looked up from his crouched position. The sincerity in Warren’s strong features, the concern in his voice, fitted beside William’s. A father and a husband both pained with concern over a woman they loved.
“I do not know.” He tapped out the last ball and returned the lead to the fire before grabbing the bowl of newly formed bullets and setting them on the table. “I pray she will return with an answer.”
“I fear God does not hear your prayers, Henry.”
William stilled at the sound of the voice, though his muscles flicked to the ready. He shot his gaze to the door then to Warren whose stance showed he too was prepared to fight.
“I told you to wait,” Warren growled.
Leaning his shoulder against the doorframe, Paul shook his head, clicking his tongue in mocking disapproval. “Nay, old man. You told me I could have him only when you had taken the girl to safety. But how can she be safe when she walks the road alone.” He motioned as one would to coax a timid child, a smile so relaxed it poured rage down William’s spine.
Anna entered, her face white, her hands clutched at her middle.
Rushing forward, William reached for her, but Paul yanked her back with a flash of the devil in his eyes. “No, no. You should not touch her. How can a woman trust a man who has lied to her? You must make amends, Henry.”