Chapter Thirty-five
“I know she has the note! Find it!”
From the other side of the shack door, Stockton’s voice boomed.
Kitty’s pulse thrashed. She scanned the dark room, looking for possible escapes for the hundredth time. But her prison offered only four crooked walls, one door and no window.
More strange voices erupted from beyond the thin wood.
“She has nothing!”
Stockton’s roar echoed the rumbling thunder. “That note is in her clothes and we will find it.”
“Sir, if I may.” Henry’s voice massaged the cramping muscles in Kitty’s neck. “’Tis improper for any of us to do such a thing. I suggest a woman be found who could search the prisoner.”
Stockton cursed, singeing Kitty’s ears. “Locate one. Now!”
Kitty clapped a hand over her mouth and breathed through her fingers. Thank you, Henry. His forethought had bought her a few moments at least, perhaps more.
Backing against the rough wood, she looked up through the slats in the roof. The continuous rains fell softer, when Nathaniel’s unbidden memory consumed her mind, pulling hot tears from her eyes. She bit her lip and closed her eyes. Nathaniel, forgive me.
Without warning the door creaked open. She pushed off th
e wall and relaxed her hands at her sides, feigning a calm demeanor while inside her pulse exploded like cannon fire.
When Henry entered, a breath of hope filled her lungs. He closed the door and spoke in a deadly whisper. “Kitty, what has possessed you?”
Her gaze darted between his caring eyes as her tongue stuck to the roof of her mouth. She hated to lie, but she must. Keeping the truth from Henry would keep him safe. Just as she had hoped it would for the man she loved.
Praying he wouldn’t see through her thin charade, she pleaded. “Possessed me? This is foolishness, Henry, I have done nothing!”
He stepped close and gripped her arms, speaking through his teeth. “Stockton believes you hide a patriot message and that you intend to warn Plymouth of our plan to seize their powder.” He lowered his voice. “If you are, they will hang you.”
Kitty gasped, clutching her throat. “They would not.”
“They would. Your gender has no softening effect on their rage.” He glanced at the door. “Are you?”
She straightened. “Am I what?”
“Are you carrying that message?”
Kitty pulled away from his hold. “I cannot believe you would ask such a thing.” She wrapped her arms around her chest to stop the trembling. “Henry, you know me. You know I would never go against the king.”
The following silence taunted as Henry’s eyes penetrated her. “Does Nathaniel know what you’ve done?”
Kitty clenched her teeth, throat swelling. “Of course not!”
The faint light that filtered through the walls rested on the twitching muscles in his jaw. “You do have it.”
Kitty looked away, clutching the cloak at her chest. Why must he see through her?
Grabbing her by the shoulders, Henry gripped hard, his mouth a firm line. “This is no time for games. You know I will do anything for you and your family, but you must find a way to destroy that note. Now!”
“But—”
“Get rid of it!” He released her then turned to the door and spoke over his shoulder. “I’ll keep them away as long as I can. God be with you.” He left, slipping quietly out the door and leaving her in a silence that pounded in her ears with the same rhythmic pulsing of her heart.
Her hands quivered. Lord, what do I do? Without thinking she pulled the crumpled paper from within her stays and rubbed it between her fingers. Any moment the door would open, and the future she may have had would be decided with a rope around her neck.