Page 126 of Notorious

There was also an inn, but the raucous voices spilling from the cracked and hazy window made her shudder; the Jolly Taxpayer public house would be her last choice.

The driver had taken a flask from somewhere and was busy with it, paying Drusilla no attention. She took the pistol out of the bag, slung the satchel over her shoulder, put her hand on the handle, and opened the door.

* * *

They were surprisingly well matched when it came to skill. Unfortunately, Jed outweighed Gabriel by a good three stone. Every hit the other man landed was like two of Gabriel’s.

They were breathing hard and the big man’s face was sheened in sweat.

“Where’s Big Paul?” Gabriel taunted, wanting to know when some other man—a man this one called “big”—might be arriving.

Jed gave a wheezy laugh. “Never you mind about Paul. You’d best be minding yersel’.” Like a bolt of lightning his fist shot out. Gabriel dodged, but it clipped him on the shoulder. It was like being struck with a mallet.

“Quick, ain’tcha?”

“Not fast enough.”

That made Jed laugh. “I tell you what. If you—”

The door opened, and both he and Jed turned to stare. It was his wife, and she was holding a pistol.

She saw him, and her taut features brightened. “Gabriel!” The pistol wavered in her hand. “Oh, thank God, Gabriel!”

“Have a care,” he said as Jed began inching toward her. “Hold the gun steady on him, Dru. I’ll get some rope.” No problem there, at least.

“Ye wouldn’t really shoot me, would you, lass?” Jed took a step toward her and Gabriel opened his mouth—but his wife was already ahead of him and took a step closer to Jed, raising the gun higher, her expression grim and her hands steady.

“You are a big target, sir. Even I cannot miss you.”

Jed raised his hands and took a step back.

Gabriel grinned and snatched the end from a huge spool of rope, yanking to get enough free to reach Jed. “Good girl, Dru.”

“Yes, good girl, Drusilla.”

Gabriel whipped around just as Rowland stood up from where he must have been hiding beneath the piles of spooled rope. He had the bloody gun in his hand, and it was pointed at Gabriel.

“Theo, where is Samir?” Drusilla began to move the pistol.

“No, keep that on Jed, my dear. Do it,” Rowland snapped when she hesitated.

“Keep it on Jed, darling,” Gabriel urged, giving her a reassuring smile.

Rowland nodded when she obeyed. “Good, now you,” he said to Gabriel, “go tie that big ape’s hands.”

“What?” Jed wailed. “I’m yer partner in this—ye need—”

“Shut. Up.” Rowland’s voice shook with barely suppressed rage and his hand trembled. “What are you waiting for?” he demanded, glaring at Gabriel.

“Drop your hands,” Gabriel told the towering man.

“You would have taken all the money, stuffed me in a sack full of rocks, and thrown me in the river,” Rowland continued, his voice shrill.

Jed prudently kept his mouth shut.

“Where is Samir, Theo? I know you don’t want to harm a child. Tell us—”

“He’s safe. He’s not here. I’m not a monster, Drusilla. I wouldn’t hurt him.”