A Most Peculiar Circumstance (24 page)

One hour later, he swallowed one of the cookies his mother had pressed on him and wondered if it was possible for a body
to explode from an excessive amount of sweets. He reached down and pulled a nativity set from the box Violet had just scooted his way, but paused as he glanced at the window and noticed the sun seemed to be setting.

A wave of unease swept over him, even as the hair on the back of his neck stirred.

“What’s the matter?” George asked, pausing in his task of polishing a glass Christmas tree.

“Don’t you think Arabella and Katherine should be back by now?”

George tossed aside the Christmas tree, ignoring the sound of breaking glass, and shot up from his seat the exact same moment Theodore did.

They raced to the door, and Theodore didn’t even take the time to pull on his boots. He bolted down the steps and began frantically surveying the snow. A few moments later, he found Katherine’s and Arabella’s tracks.

He shouted their names as he ran and stumbled through the snow, his shouts becoming more desperate when they didn’t reply. Before long, his men joined him, and the search continued with everyone spreading out and yelling the two ladies’ names, over and over again, but to no avail.

Much to Theodore’s horror, it soon became clear to him that Katherine and Arabella were not coming back.

 19 

T
he air in the small space she and Katherine were confined in reeked of something foul. Arabella squinted and looked around, trying to decipher in the dim light what was causing the smell that seeped through the wooden planks of the wagon. An overturned canister met her gaze.

They were in a milk wagon, one that had probably been stolen by the two men who’d abducted them.

She began breathing through her mouth, but even that wasn’t enough to stop her from gagging. She heard Katherine making the same sound and reached out to grab her hand.

“Are you all right?” she asked.

“I’m really wishing I hadn’t eaten quite so many cookies,” Katherine muttered. “I have the sneaking suspicion they’re about to come back up.”

“We need something to distract us.”

“A gun would certainly do the trick. We could shoot our way out of here, if only to breathe some fresh air.”

“Unfortunately, that man pocketed my gun right after he hit me over the head with it.” Arabella reached up and rubbed the lump that was forming on her temple. “I cannot believe
we were taken by surprise like that. How did we not hear them approach?”

“It might have been because we were singing carols at the top of our lungs,” Katherine said. “At least you had the foresight to carry your gun in your pocket. There was no way I could have reached mine, not with the heavy coat I had on over my gown. From now on I’m going to stuff it down my bodice.”

“That’ll look nice with the current fashion of fitted gowns.”

Katherine laughed and then sobered. “It was rotten luck that you slipped in the snow. Otherwise, I’m sure you’d have gotten a good shot off and we wouldn’t have been taken.”

“We’re lucky I didn’t shoot you by accident. I slipped right as I pulled the trigger.”

“Someone must have been watching out for us.”

“If you’re referring to God, I have to tell you, I’d have preferred He not allow us to get into this situation in the first place.”

“Honestly, Arabella, this is hardly the time for you, of all people, to be put out with God. I readily admit I’m not always diligent in my relationship with Him, so we need someone—you, of course—to remain steady and tell us that God will show us a way out of this.”

Arabella felt her lips twitch. “I didn’t say I didn’t believe in Him anymore, Katherine. Just that I’m a little bewildered as to why He let those men snatch us right from your grandfather’s property.”

“Well, everyone always says God works in mysterious ways.”

Arabella’s lips twitched again. “We should concentrate our efforts on figuring out how to get out of this mess and how these men found us in the first place.”

“You still believe that one man is the man you shot back in Gilman?”

“I’m fairly certain he is, but . . . how did he know where to find me?”

“Maybe I led him to you. I should never have insisted on visiting my grandparents.”

“Nonsense,” Arabella said. “There was no reason for you to believe anyone would follow
you
. We’ve only recently become friends, whereas I’ve been seen more often about town with Agatha and Eliza. Besides, who would have thought anyone would travel into the country through the remnants of a blizzard?”

“I did.”

“True.”

Katherine heaved a sigh. “That man you shot must have a serious hankering for revenge.”

“Or a hankering for selling us off to the highest bidder.”

Katherine began to sputter. “We have to get out of here.”

“I agree, but it’s going to be tricky. Those men were somehow able to get past Theodore’s guards, and I’m fairly certain Theodore only hires the best.”

“That certainly seems to suggest we’re dealing with rather cunning men,” Katherine said. “Perhaps our first order of business should be to say a small prayer.” She peered expectantly at Arabella.

“And I assume you want me to do it?”

“I did mention that I’m probably not as proficient at it.”

“It’s prayer, Katherine, and not that difficult. You simply have a conversation with God.”

“You have conversations with God?”

“Yes, and even though I’m a little annoyed by this latest turn of events, I know He
will
see us through in the end. When I was in jail back in Gilman, I asked God for help, and the next thing you know, Theodore was standing outside my door.”

“That fits.”

“Fits with what?”

“Well, don’t get upset, but I, and quite a few other people I’ve spoken with, have come to the conclusion that you and Theodore would make a perfect match. From what you just said, maybe God planned it.”

“I think the smell is beginning to affect your thinking.”

“He likes you, and you like him.”

“I’m going to pray now,” Arabella said, closing her eyes because this was certainly not the best time to delve into her feelings for Theodore.

They’d been abducted by unscrupulous men, and Katherine was right. She needed to talk to God.

Lord, as I’m sure you’re aware, I’m in another mess. I could use some assistance in this matter, and I could use some strength. Please watch over Katherine, and please, keep her safe.

She opened her eyes and found Katherine staring back at her.

“Did you ask Him for help?”

“I did, and you could ask Him too. Again, it’s not that hard, and we can use all the help we can get.”

Katherine nodded, closed her eyes, and then a second later opened them.

“That was fast.”

“I just said ‘help’ and thought God would understand and—”

The wagon suddenly tilted to the right, and Arabella grabbed hold of Katherine as they tumbled around on the floor, coming to a stop when they hit the rough sides of the wagon. She pushed up to a sitting position, shoved aside a lock of hair that had slipped into her eyes, and smiled. “I think God might just have answered our prayers. Unless I’m mistaken, we’re stuck, and that’s certain to slow those men down.”

Seconds later, the door to the delivery wagon swung open.
Arabella leaned forward, trying to make out the man’s features, but the setting sun was at his back, casting his face in shadow.

“You’re going to have to push this wagon out of the snow.”

Arabella crossed her arms over her chest. “I think not.”

The man shoved a hand into his pocket, pulled out Arabella’s pistol, and pointed it directly at her. “Don’t tempt me to use this on you. You’ve caused me far too much trouble as it is, and even though I have a buyer for you, my patience is beginning to wane.”

“You found a buyer for Arabella?” Katherine asked.

“He’ll pay a pretty penny for you too, miss,” the man said as he leaned closer, his face coming into view.

He was the man who’d given her directions to the farmhouse.

“You’re almost as beautiful as that one there, even though you’re not as young as we normally like. Wallace and I are thinking about telling our contact the two of you are sisters. Sisters always fetch a good fee.”

“Wallace is the man I shot?” Arabella asked.

“I shouldn’t have told you that,” the man muttered before he brightened. “It doesn’t really matter, though. Where you’re going, it’s not likely you’ll find anyone to tell.”

Katherine stiffened. “Out of curiosity, where are you taking us?”

“You’re going across the ocean, my dear,” the man said. “Our contact has a man in India who pays well for light-skinned women.” He gestured to Arabella with the gun. “I knew as soon as I saw you get off that train in Gilman that our fortunes were about to increase. That’s why we followed you here. Took us a bit of time to find you, and Wallace and I were run ragged trying to keep track of your friends, but when we saw trunks being taken out of the Beckett house, we knew we’d finally found a way to get to you.” He rubbed
his hands together. “The money we’ll get from this venture will let us go on a nice little holiday until things settle down and we can set up shop again.”

“Carter, what’s the holdup? We need to get moving, because the nosy gent who brought that Beckett chit out here doesn’t seem the type who’ll just sit back and do nothing.”

Carter turned and spit on the ground just as Wallace appeared beside him. Arabella couldn’t help but feel a sliver of satisfaction when she noticed Wallace rubbing the arm she’d lodged a bullet in. She flinched when he set his sights on her and narrowed his eyes.

“It’s unfortunate you’re worth so much money to us, Miss Beckett, or I swear, I’d extract retribution for my arm right here and now.”

Arabella lifted her chin. “It’s unfortunate I only aimed to wound you.”

“That’s a mistake you’ll never be able to rectify,” Wallace said. He took Arabella’s gun from Carter, stuffed it in his boot, and sent her a mocking smile. “Now, get out of the wagon and help us get it unstuck.”

Knowing she had no choice, Arabella climbed out of the wagon and turned to help Katherine down. Katherine pushed down her skirt and set her sights on Wallace.

“For your information, that ‘nosy gent’ is not only a private investigator, he’s also my brother. Add in the pesky little fact that he’s a special agent for the government, and you must realize he’ll never rest until he tracks you down.”

Wallace exchanged a look with Carter and then turned back to Katherine. “You’re just trying to rattle us.” He gestured to the wagon. “Get digging.”

Arabella slid through the snow to the stuck wheel and began digging with her hands, making certain not to scoop up too much snow. She needed to waste as much time as possible in case Theodore was already looking for them. Her
hands quickly became numb, but she didn’t stop, and a glance to Katherine showed her that her friend apparently had the same idea because Katherine was only throwing tiny bits of snow over her head.

She jumped in surprise when Wallace suddenly let out a grunt.

“This is no good. It’s taking too long.” He nodded to Carter. “We’re going to have to free the horses. We can ride on them back to the city.”

“Why didn’t you think of that before?” Carter snapped. “We’ve been wasting time.”

Wallace didn’t bother to reply but moved to the horses and released them. He turned to Arabella and waved her forward.

Arabella stood there for a moment, her mind whirling. If she got on that horse, well, it would not be good. She lifted her chin, dropped the snow she was holding, and shook her head.

Stars suddenly erupted behind her eyes as pain washed over her. She stumbled forward and then fell, turning to squint up at Carter, who’d just punched her squarely in the face. She blinked as tears flooded her eyes from the pain, but held up a hand when she saw Katherine trying to get to her. “I’m fine,” she said. She struggled to get out of the snow, rising on shaky legs to a standing position, lifting her chin again as she stared at Carter.

“You’re despicable,” she hissed before she made her way to where Wallace was now sitting on a horse. She took the hand he offered her and let him pull her up, fighting back revulsion when she was forced to wrap her arms around his waist when the horse started moving. She glanced over her shoulder to check on Katherine, rage coursing through her when she saw a trickle of tears running down Katherine’s face as she sat behind Carter on his horse. Arabella tried to send her an encouraging smile, but found that her mouth was
already swollen and stiff. The horse moved into a gallop, and she tightened her grip, her rage quickly being replaced with fear as the direness of their predicament set in.

No one spoke as the horses galloped the best they could down the snow-packed road. Time passed by in a blur, until Arabella looked up and discovered they were on the edge of the city. Panic began sweeping over her as she realized they were almost certainly close to their destination.

She needed a plan.

Nothing came to her except distracting Wallace until she could think of something helpful.

She cleared her throat and then pitched her voice to be heard over the pounding hooves of the horse. “Are you taking us where you’ve stashed the other women?”

“What?” Wallace asked.

“You know, the women you’ve been snatching off the streets. The prostitutes.”

“I don’t deal with prostitutes. Be quiet until I figure out where the building we’re supposed to meet our contact is.”