'He will surely try she-cat so I better enjoy what I can before he returns.' Hindley then took a step toward Faith and she slapped him. Enraged, he snatched her to him and gave a ringing slap to her face.
'What you need, little she-cat, is a taming, and I aim to give it to you starting now.' Hindley then forced Faith back and down over a wooden table. His fingers dug into her soft breasts, bruising them as he did so. He tore at her skirt and pull ed it up over her knees, enjoying the feel of the soft flesh of her upper thighs.
'Get off me,' Faith screamed as she loosened a hand and clawed at her attacker's face as he thrust toward her.
From the shadow a large black man arose. 'Leave her be, Mr. Hindley.'
'Get out,' Hindley shouted.
'I said leave her be,' Lum repeated and this time he grasped Hindley's shoulder.
Furious and half crazy over the whole affair, Hindley jumped up and hit Lum with a strong blow to the head. 'I said get out nigger.'
Turning his attention back to Faith, he slapped her again as he flung her back down on the table and thrust at her once again. Out of nowhere Hindley felt himself being snatched around as an axe was plunged deep into his skull. He never heard the scream he let out as he slumped to the floor, but Luther and Rotten Teeth did.
Lum was helping Faith to her feet and trying to cover her nakedness when the door burst open.
'Well looky heah…looks like the nigger done kill ed Mr. Hindley and is raping Miss Faith. What you thank?' Luther asked his partner.
'Kill us a nigger and taste a bit ’o sweet nectar al in one night. Course we'll have to kill missy too, but that's after we licked al the honey outta the pot.'
'You're not killing anyone my friend.' Dagan, Caleb and Rud had walked up on the two without being heard, so intent had they been staring at the partial y clad Faith.
'Who'er you?'
'Does it matter,' Dagan asked.
'Sho `nuff does,' Rotten Teeth spoke. 'Luther, he ain't even got a gun.'
'Then kill him,' Luther cried.
As he did, Dagan stepped aside. Luther and Rotten Teeth saw Caleb and Rud too late. Caleb shot Luther in the chest with his pistol. Holding his musket casual y, without aiming Rud fired, his bal hitting Rotten Teeth in the stomach taking a button from his shirt and pushing it through his backbone.
Gabe tried to rise, Faith and Dagan both rushed to him. 'Still getting yourself into a fix,' Dagan said sarcastically, but feeling an immense sense of relief.
Gabe stood with help, tried to smile as he said,
'Aye, but she's worth it.' Then directing his attention to Caleb, Gabe continued, 'The man you shot keeps the keys to the locks in his coat pocket.' Finding the keys, Gabe was soon released and Rud went to set the imprisoned girls free. Turning to Faith, Dagan asked, 'How long before we have company?'
'I'm not sure,' Faith replied. 'My uncle went to meet some men in Charlestown this morning so I don't expect him back til tomorrow or the next day.
However, usual y when he returns from his trips he brings several men with him, but I think we're safe enough for now.'
Looking at Faith, who was still not completely covered, an uncomfortable Dagan asked further, 'And your uncle is?'
'Adam Montique.'
'I knew it,' Dagan said. 'The man has been plotting against us from the start.'
'Aye,' Gabe replied. 'He thought I was out after his man slugged me but I came to in time to hear him brag about how he was the brains behind the pirates we faced in the West Indies. He kill ed most of his captives, but the women, especial y the blond women; he sold to the Dey in Algiers. The others he took his pleasures with then turned them over to Hindley and his men.'
Caleb, who had went to check on Jubal and Kawliga, returned and reported their findings. 'There's a boat right enough. Kawliga surprised the man on board and he's trussed up properly now.'
'How big is the boat?' Gabe asked.
'It ought to hold us al. The tide appears to be on the ebb though so we need to hurry.'
'Well, get the women to the boat. Then look around and get us some weapons, food and water.' When Caleb had departed, Gabe turned to Dagan,
'This place has enough supplies in it to keep an army going for months. we'll lay a charge and on our way out we'll light a fuse and finish the job we started.' Gabe had his back to Faith and so he could not see her hand go to her mouth and the pal or that crept across her face.
'No!' Dagan said.
'Did you say no,' Gabe asked, not believing his ears.
'I gave my word to Colonel Marion I'd fetch you and protect myself but I'd do no more mischief,' Dagan explained.
'But these supplies, this man cared nothing for the war; he's filling his pockets at both countries expense.'
'I gave my word, Gabe, same as you did to the smuggler that time.'
Gabe gave a sigh and turned to Faith, 'Lets get your things together.'
'I…can't Gabe, I can't go with you.'
'But we're to be married. You said you'd marry me.'
'I can't Gabe.'
'Don't you love me, Faith?'
'Yes, yes with al my heart.'
'Then let's get some things and go.'
'I told you I can't Gabe.'
'Why?'
'Cause you're the enemy…our countries are at war…Maybe after the war Gabe, but not now. We believe in different causes.'
'You can't stay here, Faith, your uncle, what will he do when he returns?'
Looking very determined Faith said, 'Live Oak is mine. My father made this place what it is and I intend to keep it. My father had influential friends in Savannah. I will go there. They will help me, I'm sure.
Nanny and Uncle Lum…' Faith stopped in mid sentence. 'Take Uncle Lum with you Gabe.'
'But missy,' Lum broke in.
'No, you can't stay. You kill ed a white man and they'd hang you for sure. It wouldn't matter why you did it. Sooner or later they'd get you alone and string you up.'
'My place is with you, Miss Faith,' Lum pleaded.
With tears in her eyes, Faith placed her hands on Lum's face and kissed his cheek. 'You've always watched out for me ain't you, Uncle Lum?'
'Yessum.'
'You always said you'd do anything for me didn't you?'
'Yessum.'
'Then go and look after my man til this war is over.
God knows when that will be.'
'I will, Miss Faith, and I's gona bring him back to you when this heah wars over. No matter how long dat be.'
Sensing the need for the two to be alone, Dagan with Lum in tow headed toward the boat. Gabe trying to hold his emotions in check, looked at Faith.
'I will always love you.'
'And I you,' Faith replied as Gabe embraced her.
In doing so, he felt something hard against his chest.
The ruby. They had overlooked it when he had been taken prisoner. He took it out and placed it in Faith's hand, 'You have my heart in your hand, to hold til I return.'
Taking the ruby, Faith grasped it tight in her fist, and then said, 'I'll not let it go.'
