ahead, as if in a trance.
“Jack?” George whispered tentatively.
“What?”
“We don’t have any red paint here.”
Jack turned to George. “Surely at some time you did.”
“Never. No paint of any color. Where would I come by paint?”
“Where indeed,” Johanna said. She snapped her fingers and Rose came out of her trance-like state. From inside the basket, Rugby hissed savagely.
Jack said, “How did you know to do that?”
“Trial and error,” Johanna said, and Jack felt another chill go down his spine.
He led his party of George, Johanna and Rose back up the trail, past the crossing, beyond the town, and out to Sinner’s Row.
About a hundred yards from the path that led to the small pier, Jack noticed two brightly colored soldier hats tied to trees six feet off the ground on either side of the road. He halted his horse, and the others fell in behind.
“What’s that mean?” George said.
“It means they’re dead,” Rose said.
Jack nodded. “Mr. Pim must have found them guarding the trail. From the big pier, it looks like they’re still here, standing guard.”
“There’ll be other guards I’m sure,” George said.
“If there are, we’ll probably come upon their hats as well.”
“How much danger are we in, Henry?” Johanna asked.
“It’s okay to call me Jack, miss. That’s my given name. I’m sorry for the lie.”
“Jack,” she said, softly. “I like that.”
“How much involvement do you expect from Rose?” George said. “I can’t let you put her in harm’s way.”
“I won’t use her till it’s safe.”
“And when it’s safe, what shall you have her do?”
Rose said, “Why, scare the life out of someone, right Jack?”
Jack nodded absently, trying to decide if his plan had any chance of success. The entire rescue depended on a creepy little girl who might very possibly be crazy. Or delusional, if such was different. He didn’t know if Rose was a witch or not, but he knew she had a terrifying laugh. If nothing else about her was supernatural, the laugh alone would likely suffice.
Jack looked around. It was getting on to dusk, but they were still two hours from dark. He chanced a light whistle and heard nothing in return. They climbed off their horses and led them into the woods until they got to a place where the foliage was thick enough to provide cover. They sat and waited.
An hour later, they heard a light return whistle. Jack and the others got to their feet, and Jack responded. Moments later, Abby raced into Jack’s camp and threw her arms around him. Johanna arched an eyebrow, but waited politely to be introduced. When Abby started kissing Jack repeatedly, Johanna decided to take matters into her own hands. She started moving toward them, but stopped short as Hester entered the camp.
When Johanna saw Hester’s face, she gasped, crossed herself, and spit. George did the same. Rugby arched her back, hissed, and jumped into Rose’s arms.
Rose pointed at Hester and shouted, “Behold! The Devil’s Mistress!”
Pim and Hester were even more startled by Rose.
“By the bones of Christ,” Pim said. “Hell’s cat has found its mother.”
Abby was surprised that Henry wasn’t kissing her back. She was even more surprised to find a thin young girl pulling her by the hair.
“Ow! Ow! Let go, you bitch!”
Johanna pulled her off of Jack before letting go of her hair. Abby tried to slap Johanna, but the younger girl evaded it. Abby looked at Jack. “Who is this vile bitch?”
“This is Johanna,” Jack said, warily.
“And who are you to pull my hair like a common street urchin?” Abby said to Johanna.
Johanna said, “I’m Jack’s wife.”
Chapter 17
Two months earlier Jack had paddled up the Little River and ate dinner with the Stout family when a man called to them from outside the house. George opened the door and saw a man and woman, and behind them, a young girl tied to the horse rail.
“State your business,” George said, as Jack passed him a musket. Jack pulled two flintlocks from his coat and held them crossed over his chest.
“My wife and I are trying to find the source of this feeling. If this is some herb you sell, we’re here to trade for it.”
George looked at Jack.
