The Bachelor's Bride (The Thompsons of Locust Street #1) - Holly Bush Page 0,71

the weapon safely and with confidence. He was calm as James handed him a knife.

“If the house has been breached, get the women to the safest place you can think of. If the worst has happened and you have a chance to get them outside onto the street past their people, that may be wise. Some of our neighbors will come to your defense. You’ve got six bullets in that revolver and another handful in your pocket. Shoot straight for the chest. If you’re in close combat, stab in the heart or the sides of the neck where the jugular vein is. Do you understand?”

He nodded and looked James in the eyes. “Yes. I understand.”

“You’ve got the safety of your mother, our cousins, and our aunt in your hands,” James said and wrapped his hand around the back of Robert’s neck.

Muireall stood dry-eyed, clutching a dagger, staring at James and Payden. Kirsty sobbed and kissed her brothers and MacAvoy.

“Dia a bhith maille ribh,” Aunt Murdoch said and kissed her nephews. “God be with you. With all of you.”

Alexander was anxious to go, to find her. Whether they had a lifetime together or he was just a passing interest to her, he needed to make sure she was safe. Thinking of her at the mercy of dishonorable men, dangerous and violent men, made his ears buzz and his hands shake. He must control himself when the time came.

Graham came up the steps from the kitchen carrying a large piece of paper in his hands.

“I thought you’d gone,” James said.

“I had. But we’ve already had some skirmishes. My men have taken down two groups already, one three blocks away and one five blocks away from where we believe your sister is.”

Everyone spoke at once until James held up his hand for quiet. “How do you know?”

“My men persuaded one of theirs to tell us where they were holding her,” Graham said. “And there’ll be no police involved with this. One of the men they captured is a lieutenant at a nearby precinct. We don’t know the exact building, but we know which block, only a few streets from the harbor.”

“That’s why they want Payden at six o’clock. Tides will be going out at eight. Enough time to negotiate, gather their men, and be on board to sail,” MacAvoy said.

Graham nodded. “Makes sense. Otherwise, why not make the exchange before sunrise, when it’s still dark and there is less chance of witnesses? My men are staying where they found the men they’ve taken per my command. I don’t want to spook their leaders. Here’s a map of the city,” he said and spread the paper out. “Here’s where we’re holding, here’s where I think the other groups will be, and here’s where I think they’re holding your sister. On Neff Street, near Myrtle.”

“Let’s go,” Alexander said. “Every minute here is one more minute that she’s in their hands. Let’s go!”

His urgency had every man pulling on dark coats and hats and checking knives and guns. He’d never been armed in this way, but he was prepared to battle to the death. It felt foreign to him but righteous as well. He’d never served in the military, but he could handle the gun James gave him from a massive leather trunk in the man’s sleeping room that was filled with weapons: guns, bullets, daggers, swords, and a lethal-looking ax James had called a lochaber. All were in excellent condition, oiled and wrapped in fabric. This family had been prepared to battle.

Aunt Murdoch pulled on his sleeve as he was leaving and looked up at him, scowling fiercely. “You will find her and you will bring her home, Mr. Pendergast.”

He bent his head, kissed the old woman’s cheek, and whispered in her ear, “If it is the last thing I do on this earth.”

Alexander, James, MacAvoy, and Payden left from the kitchen entrance, creeping up the stone steps and to the alleyway behind the Thompson house. They were quickly two streets over, to where a young man held the reins of four horses. Alexander pulled himself up in the saddle and adjusted the stirrups. They were thirty blocks from their destination. Alexander turned his horse’s head and kneed his mount. He would not be leisurely in this ride.

The rough-voiced man opened the door just as Elspeth loosened the last knot. She’d left her wrists tied but could easily slip her hand through when she must.

“May I have some water,” she whispered.

“What will you be doing

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