There were more places to hide in town. Evenbeing among a crowd of people could shield her from Coswell’ssearching eyes. She was tuckered out. She needed a place to restand thaw out.
Where should she go?
The only place she knew was Mrs. Brown’shouse. Maybe the old lady would have a suggestion for what sheshould do.
She pulled her bonnet more forward on herhead. If she kept her head down maybe she wouldn’t be noticed.Wrapping the shawl George had given her tighter around hershoulders, she strolled into town. She couldn’t race among thethrong of people. She had to blend in.
Her heart hammered her chest, each blowringing in her ears. Mrs. Brown’s small house seemed one hundredmiles away. She kept her head down, watching her feet, grateful forthe shoes Mrs. Brown had bought her along with the green dress. Herfingers were red and painful, but atleast her feet remained warm. She blew on her hands, lookingup only enough to make sure she didn’t run into anyone.
“Stop that girl,” a man shouted.
His gruff, grating voice triggered anautomatic response deep in her gut. A response she endured everynight with Grier. Allison’s pulse slowed to a near fainting pace.That only meant one thing: Coswell. She didn’t even bother turningaround to see him. Panic rushed through her veins and she took offrunning, anxious energy giving her a burst of speed.
“Stop that girl,” Coswell yelled again. “Shestole my wallet.”
Really? Allison couldn’t believe thesliminess of the man. If he roused the law after her…
She needed a friend. George still at thefarm, she had to rely on Mrs. Brown. Rounding one corner and thenanother, she dashed across the street. A wagon came to an abruptstop, nearly knocking her over.
“Watch where you’re going,” he said, and thenadded curses for good measure.
Finally, Mrs. Brown’s house came into view.She pounded on the door with both fists. Looking over her shoulder,Coswell trotted into view on his black stallion.
Mrs. Brown opened the door and Allison boltedinside and then pushed the door shut. Back pressed against thedoor, her bosom heaved.
“What’s wrong?” Mrs. Brown asked.
“He’s after me,” Allison gasped. “He wasright behind me.”
Mrs. Brown’s eyes widened and her face turnedas white as snow. Allison staggered over to her and held herhand.
“Perhaps you should sit down,” she said. IfMrs. Brown passed out she wouldn’t be able to help her at all.
Mrs. Brown walked over to a chair in thesitting room and eased herself into the seat.
“I’m sorry,” she mumbled. “I’m so sorry.”
Allison knelt at her feet still holding yourhand. “You have nothing to be sorry about.”
“I told him where you were.” She sobbed. “Ihad to. He had a knife to my throat! I’m so sorry.”
Allison stood and wrapped her arms aroundMrs. Brown. “It is all right. I understand,” she whispered.
The door flew open and Coswell stood in thehallway. “You’re mine, Allison. You’re finally all mine.”
Allison squeezed Mrs. Brown tighter. “We’lldo what he says.” She spoke in the midwife’s ear.
Mrs. Brown gave a slight nod.
Coswell entered the sitting room and sneereddown at them. “Now isn’t this touching,” he said. “Sorry, I have to break up this friendlygathering.” He grabbed Allison’s shoulders and pulled her away fromMrs. Brown.
Allison’s windpipe constricted so tight shecould barely breathe. “I’ll do what you want,” she said, her voicecracking, “just please don’t hurt her.”
“You’re damn right you’ll do what I want.”Coswell’s hot breath brushed her ear. “I’ve waited for this along time.” He hands moved from her shoulders down to herarms. He tightened his grip until she winced.
“You listen real good, wench. If you behave,we can both enjoy ourselves. Do you understand?”
Allison didn’t reply.
His right hand clamped down harder on her armand she cried out. “Lesson one, when I ask you a question I expectyou to answer. Do you understand?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Good.”
He dropped his left hand, the vice-like gripon her right arm enough to keep her still. He was as violent as arabid dog. She would not provoke him. Worried he could hurt Mrs.Brown, too.
The fingers on his left hand brushed acrossher neck. Bending down, he tried to kiss her lips, but she pulledher head to the side and he had to be satisfied with kissing hercheek. He peppered kisses down her neck and then began to feel herup.
He cupped one of her breasts and she inhaledsharply.
Coswell flashed a lewd grin. “You like that?”he asked. He looked over to Mrs. Brown who remained plastered tothe chair. “We might give you a show old woman.”
All emotion drained from Mrs. Brown’s face.She looked like she had gone blind and was no longer looking atthem even though her eyes remained in their direction.
Coswell laughed, the loud malicious noisechilling her blood. “I had planned on going to New Orleans alone,but after that fire you set I was detained. You know Grier left methat pitiful piece of property in his will?” Coswell laughed again.“I don’t care about that property. You’re all the property I everwanted from him.”
“I am not property,” Allison said throughgritted teeth.
Coswell grunted. “You are to me. You will dowhatever I say if you know what’s good for you. Do youunderstand?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Good, girl. I knew you were smarter thanGrier let on. Now as I was saying, I had planned to go to NewOrleans alone but now I will enjoy your company. The gentlemenfrequenting Boyle Street will love you.”
Invisible icy fingers gripped herinsides.
“You belong to me, Allison. No one can saveyou now.”
Chapter 21
GEORGE DIDN’T PASS Allison on the way intotown. Sitting atop the dapple gray, he scanned the busy city looking for her. MaybeAllison had stopped to visit with Mrs. Brown. It was worth a shot.He turned the gelding toward the midwife’s house.
George dismounted and tied the horse to acrude hitching post out front. He knocked on the door. No answer.He knocked again. Still no answer.
He rubbed his hand across his eyes. Just hisluck the woman
