"Bridget?"
"Yes?"
"Don’t tell anyone else that story."
Bridget’s forehead creased. "We’ll, considering my current circumstances I hadn’t planned on it. But for curiosity’s sake, why not?"
Will looked at her frankly. "Because they won’t believe a blessed word."
They smiled at each other until it became awkward and Will looked away. "I appreciate seeing the spot you spoke about, but did you drag me all the way across the island to show me the cliffs?"
"Hardly. We came because—" Bridget’s ears perked up and she grinned wildly, looking at something over Will’s shoulder. "We came because of him."
Then Will heard the furious pounding of hooves. He turned around and a great white beast bolted passed him, stopping just in time to keep from running into Bridget and sending her over the cliff again.
The stallion thrust his hooves out in front of him as he came to a stop directly in front of his mistress, spraying her legs with snow and dirt. She let out a happy laugh and the animal nuzzled her chest, whinnying loudly as she hugged him tightly.
"Apollo?"
"The one and only."
"Hello, boy. I’ve missed you!" she cooed, forgetting to be self-conscious about the lavish attention she was paying the animal.
Will admired him openly. "He’s a fine piece of horseflesh, Bridget." Hoping not to get kicked in the head, he approached them both cautiously, stopping to give the steed’s strong neck a pat only when Bridget nodded her consent. "I can see now why you’d hate to give him up. I thought that only dogs stayed in the last place they’d seen their owners, waiting for their return?"
Bridget lovingly stroked the soft wet skin of Apollo’s head. "You don’t know my horse." She tangled her good hand in her horse’s thick mane and threw her leg over his back, groaning slightly as she hauled her body on top.
Will scrambled back a step when the large stallion reared.
Bridget only laughed and held on tightly with one hand. "Apollo!" But her voice was more delighted than scolding. "I think he’d like to burn off some energy. I… well…."
"Go on, Bridget. I’ll be here when you get back."
Bridget’s eyes showed her gratitude. "Thank you, my friend. I’ll be back in a few moments and give you a ride back to the house." She smacked Apollo’s rump lightly with a gloved hand. "He’s a big boy and won’t mind riding double." And with a happy yell, Bridget lifted her thighs slightly and tightened their grip on his muscled body. Then she kicked her steed into motion and with a spray of snow and dirt they were off.
Will sighed longingly and tucked his hands under his armpits, unable to keep the smile off his face as Bridget flew across the snowy plateau, dark hair and cloak billowing wildly as rode.
* * *
Bridget straightened and let out a tired breath, stretching her sore back. Then she bent again and shifted the wooden crate a little closer to the boat’s side, trying to balance it against the other items she’d stowed in the rowboat’s bottom. The weather hadn’t worsened as Will had feared and they’d rowed the boat from their original landing spot to the small dock directly in front of the house. The light snow had stopped falling and the sun was trying to peek out from behind the late afternoon clouds.
"Are you sure this is all right?" Will asked as he pulled a tarp over two crates in the back of the boat. "I know these things were left behind, but it still feels like stealing."
A slender brow arched. "You were ready to burn the place down with me a few hours ago."
"That’s different," Will answered moodily.
"How so?"
Will rubbed a callused palm on the back of his neck as he thought. "Because burning the place down would have felt like a blow against your slave-trading brother."
"God rest his black, putrid soul."
"But this makes us plain old thieves, doesn’t it?" he finished, balancing carefully as he made his way out of the boat and climbed onto the dock where Bridget was now standing.
"Don’t worry so much, Will." She laid her hand on his forearm and squeezed gently. "These belong to the Redding family. Of which, I am still member. Albeit a dead one."
"That’s not funny."
"That depends entirely on your point of view," she replied drolly. "Besides, some of these items are Faylinn’s. Surely you wouldn’t begrudge her the comfort of her own possessions?"
Will blinked indignantly. "Of course not!"
"Then it’s settled."
"It was settled before I busted my arse towing these crates to the boat, I’ll have ya know."
"Oh." Bridget smiled. "Well, it might make you feel a little better to know that I believe Judith intentionally left behind a few items of value for me… just in case."
"Like Apollo?" Will’s gaze drifted out to the salty sea. His throat was as dry as the desert and he wished he’d thought to bring a canteen of drinking water.
Bridget’s lips shaped into a fond smile just thinking of the horse she’d had to say goodbye to again already. "Just like Apollo." She shot Will a determined look. "But I have a plan in that regard too. We can sell the items in the boat and buy or rent a raft. In the springtime we shall come back for Apollo and ferry him to the mainland. He should have plenty of grass and hay in the stable until then and the island has several natural springs that never freeze over."
Will nodded approvingly. It was an outright sin to waste such exquisite horseflesh.
Bridget’s eyes suddenly took on a sparkle that made Will nervous. "I was also thinking," she began casually, "that we could take the rest of the money and purchase a brood mare or two."
The man’s ears perked up. "A mare, you say?"
"I seriously doubt that Apollo would mind the company, and a fine colt is the least I can offer you in payment for your kindness to Faylinn and me."
Will blushed a bright scarlet. "I cannot accept that," he mumbled half-heartedly.
"Don’t be ridiculous," Bridget scoffed, touched by her friend’s humility. "You deserve far more. You saved both our lives, Will." Her gaze softened. "That is a debt I can never repay."
"As I told Faylinn that very first night, I’ll not be taking a red cent of slaver money. "However," his smile removed most of the word’s sting, "something to drink would go a long way. Where’s your well?"
"I’ve got a better idea. Cyril had a stash of brandy hidden in a wall panel. There is no way the girls would have known to empty it." She extended her arm towards the house.
"Mmm." Will licked his lips. "I haven’t had brandy in years. And then only a sip or two. I wonder if it tastes as good as I remember?"
"May it match your memory then. " The pair made their way up the steep stairs that led to the front door. Bridget gathered her courage and commented, "That reminds me, Will. I have a small favor I’d like to ask you."
* * *
"You want me to what!" Will glared at Bridget as though she’d grown a third eye.
"Calm down, Will."
"I will not." He threw his hands in the air. "You’re mad."
Bridget’s expression darkened. "I’ve seen madness; I’m not. Here." Bridget took a swig directly out of the bottle and passed it to him. "Have another drink. Mmm… burns." She hissed as her throat tingled from the strength of the liquor. They were sitting on the dock in front of the house, cloaks wrapped tightly around their shoulders, their legs dangling off the dock’s end.
"If you’re not insane then you’re drunk," he accused, but he took the bottle and downed a healthy gulp himself.
A lock of dark hair blew across Bridget’s face. Exasperated, she pushed it back. "Not quite yet. But I am trying."
Will narrowed his eyes and let out a grumpy breath. "I knew there was a reason you didn’t pitch a hellcat’s fit when Faylinn begged me to come along."
Bridget grinned knowingly. "Well, then you’re a wise man, just as I’ve always suspected." She took back the bottle, and brought it to her lips. The fumes tickled her nose and she closed her eyes this time as she tilted it back for long, deep drink. "Ahh…" She wiped an errant drop of liquor off her chin with the back of her hand. "Smooth." Unseeing eyes shifted out to the churning waves. "It has to be done, Will. Please."
Will sighed. "Katie and I set your arm the first time, Bridget. What makes you think if we break it again and reset it that you’ll be any better off?"
Bridget was silent for a long time. Finally, she took two large gulps of brandy in rapid succession and passed the bottle back to Will. "Because it can’t be any worse." Weakly she held out her damaged, twisted arm, grimacing at the pain the action still caused. "It’s all but useless. I can never give Faylinn a life of propriety or even of comfort. But I can give her the best of myself. I won’t lose my arm forever without a fight." Will remained unmoved and Bridget felt herself growing angry.
This is not your choice, Will Beynon!
"Either you help me do it right, or by God I’ll just do it myself!" She moved to stand but Will stopped her with a firm hand on her shoulder.
"Bridget." His voice was low and controlled.
She turned flashing, slightly bleary eyes on him. "Make your choice, Will. If you haven’t the stomach for it you only need say the word." She snorted derisively. "Next time I’ll bring Katie along with me."
Damn.
Bridget regretted the harsh words the second they escaped her lips.
Will stiffened and his grip on her shoulder tightened convulsively.
"I’m sorry," she muttered quickly, looking away. "That was quite uncalled for." She peeled his hand off her shoulder and pushed to her feet. Reaching down, she quickly snatched the bottle from his hands and downed half of it in one endless chug.
Will’s eyes widened and he began to sputter as he also stood. "Je-Je-Jesus Almighty!"
Bridget grinned rakishly. "No, the name’s Bridget Redding," she slurred. "But there’ve been women in my past who’ve made that same mistake. Why, one time—"
Will clamped his hand over her mouth. He pushed his hat farther back on his head with one finger and lifted a bushy eyebrow. "I won’t have you sending me straight to Hell with your sinful confessions, Bridget."
Bridget blinked slowly. "Huh?"
Hell could kiss her arse!
Will threw back with a roguish expression of his own. "Because then I’d feel compelled to tell you how Katie screams her fool head off when I—"
"Ewwww!" she interrupted, her face twisting into an expression of pure disgust. "Ewww. Ewww. Ewww. I don’t want to hear that!"
"It’s not that bad," he complained with mock indignation.
"Say you." Then, abruptly, she held her injured arm straight out, this time not flinching a bit. With her fist she gave it a jab or two. "See?"
Will blinked in amazement. "It doesn’t hurt anymore?"
This is some liquor!
"No. It still hurts like the Devil." She burst out laughing. "I’m just too drunk to care."
Will joined her in a hearty chuckle, feeling the alcohol seep into his bloodstream and envelop him in comforting, buzzing warmth. Any hint of stress between them bled away and they continued to pass the bottle, with Bridget doing most of the drinking.
"Are you going to help me?" she asked him after a few moments, needing to steady herself with a hand on his arm.
Will looked her dead in the eye. He didn’t want to. But…. "I am."
She went a little pale at his words but still felt relieved. "Let’s do it then. It won’t fix itself."
Will let out a shuddering breath, unhooked the clasp at his neck and slipped his cloak from his shoulders. He rolled it until it was long and cylindrical in shape and then handed it to Bridget. "Think happy thoughts. I’ll be right back."
"Happy thoughts." She nodded a little. "Right." Bridget steeled her nerves, which threatened to make her teeth chatter.
This is my only chance and I’m going to take it no matter how bloody much it hurts!
Then, as though unconsciously following Will’s directive, her mind drifted to her favorite subject and she smiled. She thought about Faylinn’s gentle kisses every morning as she awoke and the sweet, lingering scent of the soap that clung to her skin. It never smelled quite the same on her or Will or especially Katie.
Thank goodness my Faylinn is not here to witness this now. I’ll have Hell to pay as it is. Oh, wait. Hell is busy kissing my arse.
She dissolved into laughter again.
Bridget took another drink, noting absently that the liquid didn’t burn on the way down anymore. Instead, it seemed to pool in her guts and send a tingling warmth out to her extremities. Warm. That’s how she felt for the first time all day.
"Are you all right?"
Bridget’s head snapped up and she realized she’d almost fallen asleep. Disobediently, her gaze drifted from Will’s face to the stick in his hand. It was at least two feet long and as thick as her forearm. She looked back up, feeling a little dizzy. "I have not passed out from fear or drink so I would say am I quite fine, though highly unlucky."
Will could only nod.
Bridget pushed her sleeve up to her shoulder, exposing the crooked lay of her arm. "Here and here, I think." She pointed to the two places her bone had been broken before. One was only a few inches from her wrist, the other directly above her elbow.