Page 43 of Keeping Kate
“You are doing fine. But do not beat on the poor thing like that—he is not a drum. Just use that charm of yours and he’ll do all your will.”
She shot him a quick scowl. With a smile, he stood and turned to shield her from view of the soldiers. Kate huddled on the bench, rocking the crying baby.
“Captain Fraser!” One of the soldiers began to stride toward them, while Kate sank back into the shadows, moving the baby to her shoulder, patting him.
“Evening, Sergeant,” he said, walking toward the man.
Kate peeked over the baby’s shoulder, keeping her head ducked as low as she could. Jean MacLennan’s son was crying piteously now, tremulous cries that wrenched Kate’s heart and added to her sense of panic. While she tried to soothe him, she felt relief that soldiers would be unlikely to pay attention to a woman with a shrieking baby.
“Greetings, Corporal, and Sergeant,” Fraser said as two soldiers now came toward him. “What brings you here tonight, if I may ask?”
“Sir, I think you know,” said the second, a corporal. “We have been following you since you left Fort William earlier tonight with the female prisoner.”
“Oh, was that you I saw earlier?” Fraser asked easily.
Kate missed the next part of the exchange, the sound lost in the baby’s staccato wailing. She rubbed his back and supported his head, whispering nonsense. His soft infant scent was unexpectedly wonderful.
“Colonel Grant demands that you turn the prisoner over to us, sir,” the corporal said. “If you refuse, we are ordered to take her. Where is she?”
Kate ducked her face beside the baby’s head, her heart pounding.
“I would be glad to give her up if I could,” Fraser said. “She proved to be more trouble than I expected.”
The officer looked around. “Where is she, sir?” His glance took in Kate and the baby and passed over them.
Jean’s son stopped crying, the silence only a suspended breath prefacing the terrible wail that followed, long and quavering. All three soldiers glanced at Kate, while Fraser took a sideways step to block their view of her.
“She is not here.” Fraser shrugged.
“Where is she? Colonel Grant intends to bring charges against you unless you give her back into his custody. He did not give permission for you to take her away from Fort William, sir.”
“I have General Wade’s permission. You may remind Colonel Grant of that. Besides, she is not here. The damned wench escaped.” Fraser shook his head. “The horses took off—you lot frightened them. And when we finally stopped, the girl managed to leap out of the carriage and ran off. I chased her while my man went looking in another direction. I was lucky to find my way here. I have not seen her. Damnably clever, that lass. I lost track of her entirely.”
“Sir, begging pardon, but we must ask.” The young sergeant colored, clearly uncomfortable. “Are you sure? Colonel Grant said you were not to be trusted.”
“I am certain the girl ran away. And I am certain Grant did not like the orders General Wade gave me. Which take precedence, of course.” Alec added.
“Of course, sir,” the corporal said.
Kate watched them surreptitiously, heart pounding, while the babe fussed. For a moment, she wondered why Fraser was willing to help her at risk now to himself.
“Gentlemen, you will want to return to the fort and tell Colonel Grant that the girl is gone,” Alec said. “I will go on to Edinburgh from here, as I was headed that way with or without the prisoner. I will keep searching for her, but it may be futile.”
As Kate strived to listen, the baby rolled out another ear-splitting wail.
“Sir,” the corporal said over the child’s cries, “we will continue to look for the Jacobite wench!”
“She is Highland, sir. She knows how to disappear in these hills.”
Kate frantically wished she could do just that right now. As Jean’s infant continued its rant, Kate knew she must remove him, and herself, or attract more attention than she wanted.
She stood, clutching the child to her shoulder, and walked boldly past the men.
One soldier stepped in her path. Kate glanced up, the plaid pulled over her hair and brow. “Sir,” she said, “I beg your pardon for the noise. The bairn is fussy tonight.”
He touched his fingers to his tricorne. “Mistress, excuse me. My wife and I have a small one the same age. I have not seen my daughter since she was born. May I?” He pushed back the swaddling to peek at the babe and touch its cheek, smiling.
Fraser glanced at her, but Kate turned deliberately away from him. The officer stood back. “Thank you, Mistress. You must see to your child. Good evening.”
