Terminal with James, Hittie, and Hattie. They’d arrived in one piece. The Vixen’s Revenge was in port. The end of this blasted quest lay in sight. Finally.
“What now?” Hattie asked James. The airship captain seemed to have a soft spot for his younger brother. For some reason the ladies always seemed to like him.
“We get Rahel and take her home,” Steven replied. And get their automaton. Then people would stop trying to help them, kill them, and kill them by helping them. Hopefully.
They stopped in front of a ship bigger than Hayden’s Follies but smaller than the larger passenger ships. It had gleaming brass and several balloons keeping it aloft, a crow’s nest peaking between them. A very large dark man stood on a ladder, making repairs to the hull.
“Run into trouble, Asa?” Hittie called.
The dark man waved. “Hittie, Hattie, you made it. The captain will be happy to see you. We were all worried.”
“We’re fine, as always,” Hattie replied. “Takes more than MoBatts to keep us down.”
Asa laughed. “That it does. Captain!” he bellowed. “Look who blew into town.”
A boy appeared on the top of the ship. He was in need of a haircut, a lock of blue hanging in his eyes. His face broke out into a wide grin. “You’re here!” It took Steven a moment to realize the boy was actually a woman. The woman slid down a ladder and landed gracefully on the dock. She and the other women embraced.
“Vix, how can we help?” Hittie asked.
Captain Vix smiled. “Do you have your own repairs? I hope they didn’t get you too badly.”
“Surprisingly enough, our passengers helped.” Hittie gave them a less-than-tart look. “We still have work to do, but we can always lend a hand.”
“Passengers?” Vix focused on him and James in a way that made him feel as if he were in trouble.
“Bounty hunters,” Hattie replied. “Hired to find one of the little girls you took from those nasty rascals. Are they still onboard?”
By the Bright Lady he hoped so.
“Actually they are; I was waiting for Jeff to get back before I took them over. But if you’re willing to help, I’d appreciate it. I don’t like having them onboard longer than necessary,” Vix replied.
Jeff wasn’t onboard? Relief shuddered through him.
“Always happy to help,” Hattie replied. “Which one are you here for?” she asked them.
“Rahel Heinz, she’s small, blonde, and five. Her father, Dr. Heinz, contracted us to bring her home,” Steven replied.
“Rahel?” Vix’s brow furrowed. “I know who she is.” She looked at James and squinted in the sun. “Have we met?”
“Captain, it’s a pleasure to see you again, I’m James Darrow, we met a few months ago.” James gave a little bow. “I’d been looking for Jeff. May I introduce my brother Steven?”
“Steven Darrow?” Vix’s eyes narrowed. Without warning her fist shot out and hit Steven squarely on the jaw.
His hand went to his jaw as he stared up that the very tall woman. For a girl, she could punch pretty well.
“I guess Jeff told her all about you,” James said softly, expression halfway between compassion and amusement.
Her hands went to her hips. “I’ll give you the girl if you depart immediately. You should be lucky Jeff isn’t here right now.”
Steven didn’t wish to see Jeff anyway. His jaw throbbed. “I’d be grateful if you’d give us Rahel. We have far to go and need to be on our way.”
“You stay here,” Vix told them. “Hittie, Hattie, will you help?”
The sisters smiled. “Of course,” Hattie replied.
A few moments later Hattie reappeared with a little blond girl wearing an odd red dress, a doll clutched to her chest.
“Rahel, this is Steven and James, they’re taking you home to your daddy,” Hattie explained.
Her lower lip quivered. “You’re bringing me to my popi?”
“We are; he misses you so much.” Steven looked right at the cute little blonde with her curls and big blue eyes.
A smile broke out on her face and she did a little dance right there on the dock. “I’m going home, I’m going home.” She looked around and frowned. “I don’t get to say goodbye?”
“It’s time for you to go home, sweetie.” Hattie pushed her toward them. “How do you plan on getting back … where are you going?”
“Upstate New York,” James replied. “And I’m not actually sure.”
She looked at the little girl and back at them. “Let me see if I can find you a ride.” Hattie glanced back at the ship. “In fact, let’s all go. Believe me, you don’t want to be here when Jeff returns. Did you really break his sister’s heart?”
Steven sighed heavily, a piece of his own heart breaking. “Unfortunately, I did. I’ll fix it as soon as I can. I promise.”
Oh, Noli. He hoped she wasn’t holed up in her tree house, refusing to come out like she had after her father disappeared.
Hattie’s eyes met his. “You should do that. Soon.”
If only it were that easy. First things first.
Steven put an arm around Rahel. “Let’s get you home.”
By some stroke of luck, Hattie got Steven, James, and Rahel aboard The Indefatigable, an eagle-class streamliner headed to New York City. From there they were on their own. But this would be a huge help considering they were on the opposite end of the United States and didn’t dare cut through the Otherworld with an innocent little girl in tow.
Both he and James would have to work for their passage, but they had their own tiny cabin and food. Most of the women aboard seemed absolutely enchanted by little Rahel, who they said was their cousin that they were accompanying home after a visit to see relatives.
Rahel played with her redheaded dolly, and the rag doll they’d used to track her, in the corner of the cabin.
Steven sat on the bed reading the book Dr. Heinz had lent him so that he could return it. Bright Lady bless, he was grateful that Vix had handed over Rahel without a problem. His hand went to his jaw which still ached. It could have been worse.
“Rahel, what’s your dolly’s name?” James flopped down on the bed.
“Charlotte, Charlotte, Charlotte,” Rahel sang.
All the color drained from James’ face as he sat straight up. “Charlotte? You doll’s name is Charlotte?” His voice shook. “Which one?”
She held up the redheaded one she’d had when they’d taken her off Vix’s ship.
“Relax, James. It’s a coincidence,” Steven soothed, looking up from the pages of
“But Charlotte is her name, Noli said so,” Rahel pouted, lower lip quivering, as she clutched both dolls to her chest.
“Noli?” Steven nearly dropped the book.
Rahel nodded. “Noli gave me the dolly. She told me her name is Charlotte. I miss her.” The last part came out as a baby wail and her face scrunched.
“Wait, Noli’s aboard the ship?” The news felt like a blow to the chest.
“Noli’s my friend,” Rahel replied. “She took care of me.”
It all made sense. Vix didn’t know about him from Jeff. She knew because after he’d left Noli heartbroken in Los Angeles, Jeff had taken her aboard.
“Noli’s on the ship.” The words shook as they left his lips. “She’s not in Los Angeles. She’s on the ship with Jeff.”
Noli must have been with Jeff.
