She closed her eyes and willed away badthoughts. Things would look so much better in the morning when theship left the dock—when she’d floated far from the ghosts of St.Louis once again.
* * * *
Allison entered the parlor and stood againstthe wall, listening to Mr. Fenton play the piano. Someday she’dlike to be able to play music like that. His fingers sped acrossthe keys, producing an upbeat melody.
Unlike she had hoped, listening to musicdidn’t calm her jangled nerves. George thought a good night sleepwould help, but she woke up as jumpy as she had been before.Gooseflesh sprung on her arms—the Mississippi sunshine unable toheat them away.
Nothing seemed out of place. But the tinyvoice in the back of her mind told her to be careful.
A man at the bar turned around and Allison’sheart stopped. Her worst fear had come to pass. Coswell’s hazeleyes narrowed on her, like a predator spying his prey.
Blood drained from her face and the roomspun. She clenched her teeth, demanding the dizziness stop. Shewanted to bolt out of the room, but that would draw attention toherself. It felt like a knife had cut through her, opening her upfor all to see.
His lips twitched as if he was fighting asmile. Even from across the room she felt the heat of his unbridledlust.
She turned and strolled out calmly despiteher racing pulse.
Coswell wanted her, and now Grier was dead,nothing stood in his way.
Except maybe George. She cursed herself forstalling him all this time. If she’d allowed him to solidify theirrelationship the way he’d wanted, she’d be on firmer ground. Butnow, feeling as vulnerable as a newborn babe, she had to lay herself bare, trusting him with herdarkest secrets. She cringed at the thought. He could protect her;the strong roustabout possessed more strength than most men. Heneeded more than brawn to shield her from the brothel owner. Sheprayed he’d understand her hesitation and help.
Coswell exuded danger and impatience. He roseto his full height-nearly six feet and began to work his way towardthe exit. He wasn’t as muscular as George, but he wouldn’t have aproblem overtaking her. And she knew from experience how cruel hishands could be. If he should catch her…
They needed to get off the ship. Now.
“George!” she shouted, running across thedeck. She couldn’t stop in time and ran into him. Both his armswrapped around her.
“Take it easy, Allison. Breathe.”
There wasn’t time to breathe. “We need to getoff the ship.”
“Why? What’s wrong?”
“A man. A friend of Grier’s. He saw me. He’llcome after me.” She forced the words out of her mouth in shortgasps.
“We just left St. Louis. We can’t just jumpinto the water.”
Allison panted, desperation threading its waythrough all her organs. “If we can’t get off immediately then Ihave to hide. I have to, George.” Her voice cracked and climbed toan ear-splitting pitch.
George rubbed her back in large slow circles.“I’ll hide you.” He brushed tears off her cheek.
She blinked. She hadn’t even realized she wascrying.
“I’ll take care of you, Allison. Whatever ittakes. He won’t hurt you.”
George led Allison into the boiler room. Shecringed, the roar of the enginedeafening. “Stay here,” he said.
He stepped around puddles of water and greasemaking his way to the engineer bent over examining the gears.
“Sir,” he shouted, getting the man’sattention.
The engineer looked up at George and then hisgaze shifted to Allison. “What is the meaning of this?” theengineer asked. “Neither of you are supposed to be in here.”
“I won’t stay, and she won’t cause you anytrouble, sir. It is only until the next stop.”
His blue eyes narrowed into small beads. “Theboiler room is not the place for a chambermaid. Why isn’t sheworking?”
Impatient anxiety coursed through her. Sheworried her fingers in the folds of her white apron. If shecouldn’t hide here where passengers weren’t allowed she didn’t knowwhat to do. George might be able to get her into the hold if itwasn’t completely full with cargo. She couldn’t swim to shore—shedidn’t know how to swim anyway.
“Go talk to Mr. Seever, sir,” George said.“Please bend the rules just this once.”
The engineer grunted.
What was George trying to pull? Didn’t heunderstand the engineer outranked his white friend?
The engineer’s eyes met her own and an eeriefeeling drifted across her skin, and a clammy flush spread acrossher body. At least his gaze stayedon her face. She held her breath and prayed.
“She’s hiding from someone ain’t she?”
“Yes, sir,” George admitted.
The engineer muttered somethingunintelligible. “I hate to see any woman harassed. All right. Youcan stay here, but only until the next stop.”
Harassed was a mild term, but Allison wasgrateful. She exhaled loudly, relief seeping into her.
“Don’t get in the way, girl,” he saidsharply. “And as soon as we land at the next port get out. Youhear?”
“Yes, sir,” Allison replied. “Thank you.”
George could sneak her off the ship easilyenough, but would Coswell follow?
The sinking feeling in her gut answered forher. Yes, he would.
The chambers of her heart squeezed shut. Shedidn’t want to venture ashore alone with Coswell chasing her. Shedidn’t want to put George in danger either, didn’t want to beforced to rely on him, but she didn’t stand much of a chancealone.
Allison ran her hand up and down George’sarm. “When the boat docks, will you go with me?” She mouthed thequestion more than spoke.
Likely he couldn’t hear her over the roar ofthe engine. He nodded anyway. “I’ll be back for you, Allison. Don’tworry.”
Chapter 13
IT HADN’T BEEN a dream. Allison had stoodbefore him as real as the nose on his face. It had taken a minuteto register the slender colored woman in the pine-green dress was the curvy girl he’d lustedover for years. Did Grier stop feeding her? With him, she’d want for nothing. He’d shower herwith gifts as well as his constant affection. Did she know wheneverhe lay with another woman he pictured her face? Just the thought ofholding her again made his cock lengthen.
Grier wasn’t going to pay back his debts now.He’d never given Allison up. Frankly, he couldn’t fault the man forhanging onto her. A patient man, he’d waited for the perfectopportunity to claim
