This got his attention, bringing a dark shadow to his face before it disappeared behind his mask of casual indifference. “Eight weeks of being treated like an animal, subsisting on biscuits and salted meat does not qualify as a nice voyage.”
“Oh,” I said, not expecting such an answer. “I had no idea.”
Henry stretched out his long legs, filling much of the space between us, and then closed his eyes. Three times I had tried to make peace, only to be curtailed with each attempt. I sighed, defeated. “If you would like to post a letter to your father letting him know you’ve arrived safely, I’m sure we could get it to Captain Harlow before he departs for England.” I had meant to make the offer yesterday, but it had slipped my mind.
Henry opened his eyes and stared at me. “Thank you,” he said with more warmth than I expected. “Yes, I would like that very much.” He closed his eyes again, and I stayed quiet to let him sleep.
Judging by how long we had traveled, I guessed we would arrive at our lodgings within five hours. Henry’s breathing slowed and I watched him openly while he slept, marveling at the events of the past twenty-four hours. Over the course of his transition from an indentured servant to my pretend husband, I had witnessed the extremes of his personality—both the cold indifference and the hot-blooded anger. Neither was to my liking, and I hoped to find substantial ground in between.
The sun grew warmer, and with the gentle rocking of the carriage, I found myself being lulled into sleep as well. After such a stressful morning, I welcomed the temporary oblivion.
I don’t know how long I slept before the carriage came to a stop and my eyes fluttered open. Henry sat alert, his body tense with anticipation.
“Henry,” Ben called from the driver’s box. “Would you mind joining me for a minute?”
“What’s the matter?” I asked.
“I don’t know.” Henry frowned and stepped from the carriage.
Through the wall behind the driver’s box, I heard Ben rummage around the compartment below his seat. He then swung down to the ground where he and Henry spoke in hushed tones. A mechanical problem would not have warranted so much secrecy, making me fear for more serious troubles. The Lenape Indians weren’t known to attack travelers, which made bandits and highwaymen the sole aggressors on these long stretches of road that passed through thick, unadulterated forests.
Irritated by the suspense, I stuck my head out the door to get some answers. Henry saw me and hurried back with a sword in his right hand and a pistol tucked into the front of his breeches. He came very close, effectively blocking me from going any farther. Leaning forward, he spoke in a low voice. “There’s a tree lying across the road up ahead. Ben thinks it was purposefully cut down to block the carriage. We’re going to walk the horses for a space to see what happens.”
“Is it a trap?” I asked, afraid my worst suspicions were about to be confirmed.
“It looks likely. You stay here and keep your head down.” He helped me back into the carriage and shut the door.
The carriage swayed as Ben hoisted himself back up to the seat. He clicked the reins to put the horses into a slow walk. Henry found his footing on the step right below the door to watch the rear, hooking an arm in through the open door sash for balance. Several very long minutes passed in this way, nobody saying a word, when a pistol report cracked in the distance followed by a soft thud in the wood, inches from where Henry stood.
I screamed and fell back onto the floor just as Henry leapt down and disappeared from view. Horses thundered from all sides. Men began to shout, followed by the distinct clank of steel against steel. From my vantage point on the floor I could see nothing more than green leaves and the blue sky overhead, but it sounded horrible, as if we had been set upon by the legions of hell.
Another pistol discharged, much closer this time. A man screamed and I shut my eyes tight, trying to block out the chaos. Oh, please Dear Lord, let Ben and Henry live, I prayed fervently. I’m sorry for being so bad and making Henry marry me...
I was on the verge of promising to mend my evil ways and send Henry back to England on the next available transport when the door was suddenly yanked open. A long shaft of sunlight spilled into the carriage, and I squinted into the glare, gasping at the sight of the redheaded demon.
A wicked grin revealed a mouthful of brown, rotten teeth. “I’ve been waiting for ye, m’lady. Won’t ye come out and play?” Before I could scramble away, the demon took two fistfuls of brown silk, and pulled me from the carriage, straight into his hideous embrace.
“You filthy devil!” I screamed, kicking wildly and struggling to break free. “Take your hands off me!”