The middle of Allison’s forehead crinkled.“Well … that’s true.”
She was so adorable. George loved her everyexpression.
“If I tell you a secret, will you keep it?”George asked. Not that it really was a secret, but no one in St.Louis knew.
“Yes.”
George scooted closer to her. He ran hisfingers through her hair. “My brother was a whore, too. That’s howhe met Emma.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Emma paid Frederick to sleep with her. He’salso experienced in bed.”
Allison’s eyes doubled in size. “That’s howhe made all his money?”
“No. Not exactly. Emma bought the farm … butthat’s not important. What is important is that you understand Idon’t care about your past. I just want to share your future.”
“Oh, George.” Tears dampened her lashes.Allison blinked them away and him a tight embrace. “I never thoughtI’d ever find a man like you.”
“Actually, Ifound you,” George said, kissing her forehead. “Now that I have youI don’t want to lose you.”
Allison pulled back and put space betweenthem again. Why did she retreat after every close moment? Shestared at the sheets scented with their lovemaking. “Mr. Coswellwill try to take me from you.”
“Why? Slavery’s over.”
“It was never over for me. Not until thefire. And Grier, my master, was supposed to sign me over to Coswella long time ago to cover his debt. I guess he thinks I shouldbelong to him. He has a score to settle. With Grier dead, he plansto settle with me.”
George shook his head. “Some men go plumbcrazy. I can see why he wants you so bad, Allison. You’re a finefigure of a woman.”
Allison looked away, the compliment makingher suddenly shy.
George patted her thigh. “Don’t worry. Theonly man I want you to sleep with from now on is me.”
“I don’t want to put you in danger,” Allisonwhispered.
George laughed. “Just living these days isdangerous. The war didn’t make it much safer for colored folks inthe South. I said I’d protect you, Allison and I will.” In themorning, he’d have to tellFrederick everything.
“I don’t know how you are going to protectme.” Allison’s voice dropped to a hoarse whisper. “What are wegoing to do?”
Chapter 17
COSWELL TAPPED HIS foot on the deck. He bitback the curses he wanted to hurl at everyone on board. Taking adeep breath, he smoothed out wrinkles on the front of his coat. Hewas a gentleman not an unruly passenger. He cursed, he hadn’texpected this to be so difficult. He had questioned all the whitecrew members and now he was down to the last man. He had yet tolearn one thing about Allison. He approached the tall mate. “Canyou help me, sir?”
The man smiled. “I hate to be called sir.Name’s Seever. And you are?”
“Josiah Coswell. I was headed to New Orleansbut I’ve had a change of plans.”
“I see. And what do you need?”
“Information. I’m looking for thechambermaid. I heard she quit.”
“Allison? Yes, she just walked off at the last stop without anywarning. Can’t blame her,though.”
“Why do you say that?”
“She took one of the roustabouts with her. Ireckon they’re getting married.”
“Do you know where they were headed?”
Mr. Seever shook his head. “I know littleabout either of them. They didn’t work on the ship very long.”
“What’s the roustabout’s name?”
Mr. Seever folded his lips, eyes narrowing.Coswell’s neck prickled at being sized up.
“Why do you care?” he asked, voice as sharpas a knife.
Coswell’s eyes bore into the mate with achallenging stare. He deserved more respect than that. He was agentleman. “I’ve known Allison a long time. I thought we’dreconnect.”
“Reconnect?” Mr. Seever repeated and then letout a booming belly laugh. “I’m sure you’re in the habit of havingtea with colored wenches all thetime.”
Coswell’s back stiffened, his blood boiling. His fingers itched to foldinto a fist, but he resisted. Damn this man for mocking him.
“You used to own her?”
“No, sir.”
Mr. Seever grunted as if he wasn’t convinced.“Maybe not you, maybe your brother or cousin or a friend?”
“That is none of your business.”
“I’ll take that as a yes.” Mr. Seever shovedhis hands into his coat pockets. “I don’t like you, Mr. Coswell. Ithink it is best if you just move on.”
“Are you threatening me?” The gall of theman!
Mr. Seever flashed a predatory grin, themaliciousness in his green eyes twisting his gut. “I’ve been knownto get in my share of brawls. Us river men aren’t the mostsociable.”
That was the truth. He was many things but hewas not a coward. He wouldn’t back down from merely a verbalwarning. Taking a deep breath to calm and steady his voice, heproceeded with caution. “Why are your hackles up? I have notoverstepped, and I have been polite.”
“That’s up for debate. I don’t like nosypeople.”
“I didn’t think asking for the man’s name wasbeing too nosy. I’m sure one of the other roustabouts would tellme.” A little bribe went a long way.
Mr. Seever exhaled, his cheeks puffing. “Hisname is George.”
“Just George?”
“Yes.”
“And do you know where this George lives?” Ifthey were getting married it was customary for the woman to move inwith the man.
Mr. Seever shook his head. “Young man wasn’tmuch of a talker. He moved here from Louisville. They could beheaded back to Kentucky.”
The mate provided the last information tooeasily. Definitely a lie. It didn’t make any sense, but he wasprotecting them. Perhaps the whole damn boat was protectingthem.
“Thank you.” Coswell walked off the boat,bought a horse, and started back toward St. Louis. That was an areaAllison knew well. He’d search for her there and if he was luckyrun into her along the way.
The ride to St. Louis gave him lots of timeto think. He needed a lead. Since no one knew Allison even livedwith Grier he should concentrate on George. How many Georges werethere in St. Louis? He knew this man was likely tall and had to bemuscular to be a roustabout but that didn’t help much. Why couldn’tthe man have taken the last name of his master like most coloredpeople did when they were emancipated? It would have made hissearch a little easier.
Coswell took off his derby hat and ran hisfingers through his hair, hoping to jog something in his brain.Would there possibly be
