Page 18 of Earl of Excess
The man shrugged.
“What in tarnation are you doing trying to steal my boat? Does your pappy know you are stealing boats from women?”
A long moment passed before anyone spoke.
“Please do not take this the wrong way, but you will not take my boat, and you will demand nothing of us,” she admonished. “I will shoot you. I would never turn you into any authorities, as long as we gain an understanding.”
Matthew noticed Bethany turn her head and look at him. Unsure of what she was communicating, he nodded, hoping that affirmation gave what she needed and feeling like a cad for not telling her about the changes to his sight. She had helped him so much.How could I repay her kindness with dishonesty?He did his best to resist speaking, unsure he would not slip and reveal his true accent.
“Your family has been coming to see Grandmère for years. She helped heal your younger sister from a fever shortly before the battle started,” Bethany murmured. She gave a hard look at the man. “Howisyour sister?”
There was history here. Bethany knew this man and his family, and she seemed determined to keep the man talking. Smart woman. And not missish like the women he had known back home.
A look of recognition passed over the man’s face, followed by a look of shame. “She’s healed. Thanks to your grandmother,” he replied, obviously chastened by the question.
“And your son? I recall your ma brought him with your sister. How is he? If I recollect properly, he had some of the same symptoms—but had not succumbed to the fever.”
“You ask too many questions.” The man shook with anger. “Jackson shamed us to sign up to fight. Said he would arrest us if we didn’t. I was fine with it. But my son... he was just a boy. He could not be talked out of it and signed up.” His voice cracked. “I lost my son in that battle.” He swiped at his face. “Anyway, I got my belly full and left. Fer a time, I was hiding and resting in the weeds and brush. I saw you and your dog coming back from the Trading Post. I thought I should, ’specially when I saw a man run and get his boat and trail you.”
“This morning?” She glanced at Matthew with eyes full of concern. “I failed to notice anyone.”
A shiver washed over Matthew as he realized the danger in which she had put herself to mail his correspondence. While he could not see her facial features, he heard her breath and voice remain even. Most women would have swooned to find a stranger following them, much less one in their home being threatened with a large knife. He admired her resolve.
He poked his knife in the pot’s direction. “No one will get hurt if you’d just follow orders, woman.” He turned to Matthew. “Why won’t he say anything? Cat got his tongue?” He gave a crude laugh before turning angrier and making a threatening show of the knife.
“Put that knife down,” she ordered.
“No,” he said, lunging for her.
Bethany shot at his leg, wounding him. “That was foolish of you. Now, not only will your leg need tending, but you have drawn attention to my home.”
“You shot me!” The man screamed and his knife flew out of his hand as he writhed on the ground. It landed a few feet away and Dandie moved over it, guarding it.
“You saw the gun in my hand. Did you think I did not know how to use it?” she replied softly. Her voice shook slightly. “Consider that your warning shot. You will not take my boat.”
He moved and Dandie lunged, darting at his head until she bit down on something near his head and pulled.
Matthew felt what must have been blood splatter his arms.
“Ye-ow! Your damn dog bit me.” Smoot felt his head where the dog had attacked. “Jesus! He took part of my ear off.”
“Dandie, sit.” Bethany calmly looked in the direction of her dog. “Leave it,” she ordered, and the dog released a sizeable piece of what Matthew imagined to be the man’s ear on the floor.” She turned to the man. “Now look what you have done!”
“Me?” he yelled back. “Your damn dog bit me, not the other way around.”
“You did not take heed of my warning. I may have forgotten to mention she would bite,” Bethany answered him coolly.
“Sit,” she motioned to the man, pointing to what would have been a chair next to him. Smoot immediately sat.
Matthew approached from behind the man in the chair and motioned for the gun. He imagined her eyes round with surprise as she slowly stepped toward him, possibly trying to decide before handing the gun to him. He gripped the gun and heard her breathe a quiet sigh of relief.
“I will tie his feet and hands,” she said. “He’s a deserter. Shoot him if he moves.”
Bethany reached inside the boat garage and grabbed what he surmised to be a coiled rope from the wall just inside the door. Taking it, she wrapped it around the man’s arms, fastening them behind him, and securing the rope to the chair. Using the rest of the rope, she secured his feet, giving the final knot a hard tug before standing up.
Matthew had tried to signal that he would hold the gun. Pleased he could finally see shapes, he prayed his vision would continue to improve. He should have enlightened Bethany about the abrupt progression of his sight and wondered what her reaction would be when she spoke about it. That would be later, he hoped. Without being able to see detail, he could determine little about this person and even with the name Smoot, had little clue who they were dealing with. However, the talents of this woman impressed him, and he rationalized he should remain quiet.
“There are lots of boats around. Why were you trying to steal mine?” Her tone sounded angry.
