Perry watched in horror as Noma's body melted to the rug. The old woman reached toward Perry, a fist clutching the small pearl-handled knife. 'My baby,' she mumbled as a crimson stream flowed around her. Then her stare turned cold in death.
Tears raced down Perry's cheeks as she realized Noma had given her back her life. Above all else, Noma had loved her. In the end she'd loved her enough to face Wade
Wade looked surprised and irritated that Noma had stepped in his way. He raised the gun again, cursing under his breath.
Taking advantage of Wade's moment of hesitation, Hunter flew into him, deflecting his arm as the second shot sounded. Wade growled in an animalistic rage. His fist slammed into Hunter's stomach, knocking Hunter backward. Perry struggled feverishly as the two men landed blow after blow on one another. This was a fight unlike she'd ever witnessed, for both were war-hardened soldiers and each knew it was a fight to the death.
As they fought, destroying the room in their wrath, Abram moved behind Perry. He slid a knife between her cheek and the rag. With one jerk he cut it. 'Help him!' she begged.
'He'd not have it,' Abram stated calmly as he worked at the ropes around her hands. 'This fight has been brewing since they were children. They must settle it.' Abram knew it would end in one of the men dying. He hoped it would be Wade; but should he kill Hunter, Abram would make sure Wade didn't live long enough to enjoy his victory.
The two cousins rolled in and out of the darkness. 'Abram!' Perry shouted as Wade pulled a gun from his boot. The silver barrel flashed, only a blink in the firelight. Before Abram could move, Wade pulled the trigger.
Hunter twisted out of the line of fire. Wade aimed again, sighting his adversary with the steadiness of a trained marksman. But the darkness Wade had so carefully planned on to aid him now concealed Hunter.
As Wade searched for his mark a cane chair flew from the shadows, catching Wade's leg and knocking him off-balance. Hunter's body slammed into his full-force, and they moved together back into the darkness.
They became only shadows in a terrible dance of death. Perry couldn't see the gun but knew it rested between the two. She pulled at the ropes, trying to hurry Abram's progress and free herself.
A sudden blast shook the room, light flashed between the two men. They fell together to their knees. For a moment they faced each other in what was almost a farewell embrace. Perry held her breath as Wade's lean form stood in the darkness. A scream clawed its way up her throat as Wade turned toward her, his eyes wide in shock. He stepped into the firelight, gripping his stomach with both hands. Blood oozed out between his fingers like warm molasses. A look of confusion crossed his face just before he fell headlong at her feet.
Perry stared at his lifeless form. His body relaxed as blood drained from him, mixing with Noma's, which was already soaking the rug. The evil twist of his face smoothed in death, returning the handsome profile that his thoughts had distorted.
'Hunter!' she cried, at last jerking free of her bonds.
Opening his arms, Hunter pulled her to him and swung her around. For a moment there was no one in the world but the two of them. They'd come so close to hell, so close to losing each other.
'I love you.' Perry sobbed softly.
'I know, darling,' he answered. 'I-' The sound of approaching horses stopped him. He pulled her close as he listened. Within seconds shouts came from the front of the house.
'They've caught up with us,' Abram announced as he lifted several of Wade's loaded guns. 'You get Miss Perry away and I'll distract them.'
Hunter draped Perry's cape over her shoulders. 'Trust me,' he whispered. Then, turning to Abram, he added, 'I'll take the back way to the farm. It's longer, but safer for her. Meet me at the
Abram wrapped the guns in a quilt and threw them into the fire, then followed his friends.
When they reached the horses, they could hear men pounding on the front door. Hunter lifted Perry into the saddle and swung up behind. He turned his horse toward the trees while Abram turned toward the road.
Within a minute they were in the shadows of the trees. He slowed slightly as the sounds of shots rang from Wade's room. 'Hold on tightly, darling. Those burning guns won't give us but a few minutes head start.'
There were a thousand questions in Perry's mind, but all she cared about right now was being with Hunter. They were safe, and Wade could no longer hurt them-that was all that mattered. She leaned her head against him and relaxed.
They rode for an hour through the trees. The storm blew cold splashes of rain against them, but Perry felt warm in his arms. Hunter knew his way amid the brush as only a man who'd memorized a path in boyhood could. Finally, when all was quiet around them, they stopped by a stream and he lifted her down. The night was dark and stormy, making them appear as only silhouettes to each other.
'Why are we stopping?' Perry whispered, as though the other shadows might hear.
'I want to wash your wrists,' he answered as he knelt beside a stream.
'It's nothing.' She wished to see his face. With an exhausted sigh she sat on a huge rock beside him.
He worked gently, washing the blood away. After rummaging in his saddlebag he wrapped each wrist with a dry cloth. 'Those men are chasing me because they believe I'm a traitor. If we're caught, I'll be hung.'
'How could they think such a thing?'
Only the rumbling wind answered Perry, then Hunter let out a sigh. 'I suppose to some in the South I am a traitor. I didn't come to North Carolina just to see my grandparents. Both times I've brought papers from President Johnson. There are men on either side who want peace to come, and others who know only hate. The president is worried about the way Reconstruction is moving. He fears radicals will bleed the South dry. He asked me to meet with whomever became governor. There are many, North and South, who don't want the pain of the war to end.'
He knelt beside her. 'There's already talk about refusing to seat Southern congressmen when the House resumes. If North Carolina resists, so will the other Southern states. The wound left by the war will fester and bleed for years.'
Perry touched his hair with her fingers. 'Why are you telling me this?'
Hunter captured her hand and kissed it tenderly. 'You have a right to know. I'm putting you in great danger by loving you. I want you to come with me, but if we're caught-'
'You have papers with you now!' It wasn't a question.
'Yes.' Hunter's words were direct. 'And I'll die before giving them up, but I have no right to put you in such danger.''
'Do you want me with you?' She was almost afraid to ask.
'More than life,' came his reply in only a heartbeat. 'I want you with me forever. When I realized you'd been kidnapped, it was like someone had ripped a part of me away.' He pulled her into his arms. 'You asked me once if I cared for you. You're my world, all the happiness in my life. You're my dreams and my reality. I love you beyond the definition of the word.'
'Then I will go with you,' she whispered, knowing her home would always be in the circle of his arms.
Hunter didn't kiss her but gently lifted her back onto the saddle. He held her tightly as they moved on through the endless shadows of trees. There were no more questions between them, no more secrets. They loved each other, belonged to each other as completely as if they'd said wedding vows in the darkness.
Just before dawn, they reached the end of the trees. Hunter lowered her to the ground. 'We'll go on foot from here.' He unsaddled the horse and turned it loose. 'Granddad's place is just over the rise. We can hide there. In a few hours we'll raise the
They moved in silence to the barn. Perry was beginning to feel the lack of sleep and the cold night air, but she said nothing. Hunter opened the plank door a crack and stepped in, pulling her in behind him.
The barn was clean and mostly bare. The red, white, and blue silk of the balloon waited, ready to be unrolled, but the basket lay upside down. 'We should be safe in here. Those men were from Raleigh and have no idea which way I may have been traveling.' Hunter lifted one side of the basket. 'It's not as grand as the loft, but we can hide in here.'
Perry slid across the straw and into the overturned basket. Hunter followed, lowering them into darkness. Waiting for her eyes to adjust, she moved to the other side and listened to his breathing in the silent closed space. The darkness and the smell of hay welcomed her with the knowledge that she was once again alone with the man she loved.
