Northern Star

lifted her arm and jerked it above her, tying her left wrist to the door window. 'That should keep you inside if this doesn't.' With his final word he slammed his fist into her side, laughing at the sound of her ribs cracking.

A long moment of pain later, Perry realized she was alone in the carriage. Her insides blazed each time she moved her chest to breathe. She wanted to close her eyes and dream of Hunter. She wanted to rest and forget all the pain she now suffered-and all that was to come. But she couldn't. She'd never give up as long as she was still breathing.

Groping in the blackness, she found her knife. With a tight grip on the ivory handle she raised the blade. Using the last bit of strength in her, she slashed at the rope that bound her hand. As the blade passed through the air above her head, missing the rope in her blind swipe, Perry felt the pain of Wade's blow once more in her side. Biting back the fire, she tried again and again.

Suddenly the blade met its mark. The thin rope snapped, freeing her arm. Perry twisted the remaining rope from her wrist as if it were a live snake curling around her flesh. She crawled to the door and opened the latch. As she fell out of the carriage she made no attempt to brace herself. Her only thought was to be free.

Powerful arms broke her fall, pulling her up against a massive chest. She pushed away for a moment before a low, educated voice whispered, 'Hold on, Miss Perry, and I'll get you out of here.'

Perry held as tightly as a baby possum to its mother. She was aware of Abram mounting a horse and riding. Vaguely she saw a drunken mob fighting in the street, then she closed her eyes and trusted in Abram.

Her mind floated above her pain. She was drifting in a balloon with Hunter at her side. They were safe and happy. His face was a warm, golden tan and his jacket fit snugly over his broad shoulders. His gray eyes looked down with love that could only have been meant for her.

Molly's voice brought Perry back to earth. 'My Lord, honey, what happened?'

Abram lowered her to Molly's arms. 'I have to make sure I wasn't followed. Can you see to her?'

Molly pulled Perry into the house and began mothering her like a hen with only one chick. 'I knew I should have stayed and walked you home. There's all amount of drunken meanness out there this time of night.'

Perry allowed herself to be undressed. Molly carefully wrapped her ribs, swearing continuously against whoever might have done such a thing.

An hour later, when they heard a horse, both women reached for a gun from the box of dueling pistols. Perry crossed the floor and looked outside, then turned to Molly. 'It's all right. It's only Abram. I'll talk with him.'

Molly stood guard as Perry stepped into the dark garden.

'Thank you,' she whispered, hugging her side to still the throbbing pain of her injuries.

'Are you all right?'

'I feel as though I've been kicked by a mule, but Molly says I'll heal in a few weeks. How did you find me?'

'I followed Captain Williams out of the hospital, but I couldn't catch the carriage until that bunch of drunken soldiers blocked the street.' Abram patted his horse. 'I've let you down. I promised to get you to safety, and I almost got you killed.'

'It wasn't your fault, but I must get away as soon as of Wade, but she couldn't bear to stay, knowing Hunter was with another woman.

'Can you travel?'

'Yes,' she answered, realizing that if she didn't, Wade might find her.

'I'll arrange passage for you on a ship leaving at dawn. After you've left, I'll wire a message to your grandfather that should reach him long before you do. If they can't get to him, Hunter's grandparents will come for you and drive you out to his place.'

'I'll be ready before dawn.'

Leather creaked as Abram mounted his horse. 'I'll send a carriage for you.'

She watched his outline disappear into the blackness beyond the garden. He believed her safe tonight, or Abram never would have left; but Perry wondered if her knife and the two guns would be enough in the future.

Chapter 10

Clouds hung heavy in the April sky, curtaining the morning in soft gray mist as Perry boarded the small sailing ship called the West Wind. The sailboat was beautifully designed for speed, but today it seemed cumbersome with all the people and supplies loaded on deck. Folks stood in small groups saying their good-byes as men tried to move around them to load everything into place.

Abram had made all the arrangements for her trip to her grandfather's home in North Carolina. He had promised her brother he would get her back, and he'd achieved a miracle by getting her a ticket when there must have been hundreds of people wishing to go south now that the war was over.

Perry turned to hug Molly one last time. 'I'll write,' she promised.

Molly was fighting tears that threatened to fall. 'I'll treasure every letter. There's a priest downtown that will read them to me.'

'Take care of yourself.'

Molly patted Perry's arm. 'I'll be fine, honey. I'm as tough as an old boot left out all winter. It's a wisp of a woman like yourself we got to worry about.'

'Thanks for all you've done for me.' Perry knew she'd found a friend she'd think of often for the rest of her life, even if they never saw each other again.

'Weren't nothing. Now you run along.' Molly wrapped her shawl tighter around her thick waist and hurried off. Her hand waved behind her, but she didn't look back at Perry as her other hand kept wiping her face.

Perry stared after her until someone on board the West Wind called her name. She twisted and searched the crowd, her fingers sliding into her pocket and encircling her knife. Finally she spotted Abram's large bulk unfolding from a seat among the supplies. As she slowly walked toward him he took long, steady steps forward.

'I've been waiting for you, Miss Perry. I planned to speak to you before you left the hospital,' he said with an air of formality.

'Yes, w-well,' Perry said, stammering, 'I didn't know Captain Hunter's fiancee was arriving.' Perry avoided Abram's eyes. She didn't want him to know that she was heartbroken by the thought of Hunter's engagement. Even the physical pain she'd suffered at Wade's hands was not as great as the ache in her heart. She'd thought about it most of the night. It wouldn't be fair for her to come between two people who were planning to marry.

'Miss Perry…' Abram paused. 'That woman you saw-'

Perry interrupted. 'It's all right, Abram. Hunter doesn't even know me. Don't worry about it.'

Abram continued. 'That woman has known Hunter all his life. He has grown up with everyone always thinking they'd marry.' Abram stopped, searching for the right words. 'I wanted to tell you that he thinks you are part of a dream. He can't stop talking about the beautiful woman in his dreams. I'd like to tell him who you are, but I gave my word to you.'

'No, Abram,' Perry said. 'Positively not!' It would be better if she remained part of a dream. He was engaged to be married to someone he loved. Even if she did tell

Hunter and he broke his engagement, there would still be Wade. No. It was better that she disappeared.

Abram's face showed a great sadness Perry didn't understand. Placing her hand on his arm, she added earnestly, 'Thank you for all you've done for me, Abram. I wish there was some way I could repay all your kindness.'

Abram shuffled his huge feet. 'If you would, Miss Perry, I'd greatly appreciate your taking a few papers to Hunter's grandfather.'

'I'd be happy to.' She looked at him now, wondering why he'd been so hesitant to ask such a small favor.

Abram's face was sweaty, as if he'd been working in the hot sun. 'Promise you won't give them to anyone except John Williams. If you can't get them to him, burn them. Promise!'

She couldn't imagine why a grandson's letters could have been so vital. 'I promise,' she whispered.

Abram wiped his forehead. 'And don't let anyone see you give them to him. No one!'

'No one,' she repeated as she stuffed the envelope into her purse.