Just a Little Heartache (The Brotherhood #5) - Merry Farmer Page 0,99
fast as possible. That ship leaves tomorrow.”
“Mama and Mr. Archibald are going to Grandfather Cannon’s house in New York,” Greta confirmed the suspicion Blake had had all along. “And they’re going to take Alan.”
“We can’t let them go.” Blake shifted his girls so that he held their hands and followed Niall out into the rain. He hated forcing his girls to run through the chilly downpour with his whole heart, but it was better for them to get a little wet now so that they could save Alan from being taken away and prevent the entire situation from getting more complicated.
But before they were even close to the hotel, Blake saw the problem in their situation.
“We can’t leave the girls alone in the hotel,” he called to Niall, who rushed on by his side, holding Greta’s hand. It was a good sign that Greta trusted him enough to take Niall’s hand, but Blake would dwell on what that meant later.
“There’s no telling how far Ian and Annamarie have gotten already in that carriage,” Niall added.
“Or what time the next train for Liverpool departs,” Blake agreed. “They’re going to get away.” It broke his heart to admit as much.
“We might still have a chance,” Niall said. They were closer to the center of Blackpool now, and several people stared at the odd group they made as they hurried on. “We were counting on Ian not realizing the medallion we gave him is a fake, but that might be what saves us in the end.”
“If he wants it that badly, he might not leave England until he has it,” Blake said, following that line of logic.
“I’m not sure we can count on that, though,” Niall said. “We need to be in Liverpool, monitoring the departing ship.”
“And I need to send a telegram to my bank not to honor that draught,” Blake added.
“But I want to go home,” Jessie wept.
Blake winced at the choice in front of him. Whatever they did, they would have to bring the girls with them. He would go to Liverpool to intercept Ian and Annamarie and get Alan back, but he wasn’t sure the girls trusted Niall enough to return to Selby Manor with him. Especially not Jessie. She was as likely to think Niall would be cruel to her the way Ian had as not. She didn’t know him. By that same token, if he stayed with the girls and sent Niall to Liverpool, even if he did intercept Ian and Annamarie before they boarded the ship, Alan didn’t know Niall. And if the police got involved, they would give Alan to Annamarie and not a seemingly random stranger. If they all went to Liverpool, that would only prolong the trauma his girls were experiencing with no guarantee they would catch up to Ian and Annamarie.
“I don’t know what to do,” Blake told Niall as they reached the hotel and stepped into the shelter of the lobby. The girls instantly clung to him again, proving even further that he couldn’t and wouldn’t separate himself from them. “I have to choose between my daughters and my son and heir,” he went on, the full horror of the situation hitting him.
Niall scowled. “I’m sure that’s what Ian had in mind from the start.” He wiped a hand over his wet face, studying the girls with a look of compassion. For a moment, Niall was silent, as if he were running through the same options Blake had. At last, he said, “We’ll have to contact the police in Liverpool to inform them of the situation. They’re the only ones who can stop Ian and Annamarie from getting on a ship with Alan.”
“You’re right.” Blake nodded, feeling more at ease with Niall there to help. “In the meantime, we need to get the girls home to—no.” He glanced from Niall to each of his girls. “We need to take the girls somewhere Ian and Annamarie or anyone who might be in league with them won’t find them.”
“Because if Ian feels like he needs to hold on to Alan as—what did you say Mr. Archibald called him, Greta?” Niall asked.
“A bargaining chip,” Greta answered, eyes round.
Niall nodded, looking back at Blake. “He wants something more from you, or at least to ensure that you live up to your end of the bargain. Which you aren’t doing because of the medallion. Chances are he won’t return Alan until he has all of his money and our reputations are ruined.”