Rum Deal
The four men met in the pubs store room, Octavia had found table and chairs piled in a corner and had cleaned them up, and put them out for the men, and drapped the card table, some did not approve of card gaming even for the sport of it.
Jamie was a bit nervouse about the guns. There was no time to practice and they had been shown how to load them, outside before the light faded. Neils and Seth had horsepistols, but Jamie and Jack would use muskets. Neils had also brought two sabers.
Jack asked very intelligent questions about the muskets, and Jamie wondered not for the first time how much Jack a cutpurse from Liverpool knew about guns and much else.
He had never once taken not even a slice of bread without permission since he had been with Jamie.
Neils was Lewis's brother in law and when Seth brought him up as a possiable back up man, Neils said, "Lewis is a bit lazy, but he is good to my sister, but I don't think he would be reliable as a backup, he might fall asleep."
Seth laughed and nodded. No one seemed to know where they came from, but they were to polite to ask.
"You know if you don't mind, I would prefer to use a sabre," Jamie said.
Niels studied Jamie and nodded, Jamie had said, saber, not sword, pig stabber, or any other colloquiums, but saber a gentlemans weapon. Just who was Jamie Warwick?
"All right I guess it would be safer if you are uneasy about guns, you can't shoot your foot off with a saber," Neils said smiling. Jamie saw no rejection or malice in that smile, just honesty and friendship.
Neils was under the impression that Jack, Jamie, as well as Lewis had all met here in Amberly, but Jamie thought Seth might know better or at least thought differently.
Jack had gotten through life imitating what he saw, since he was a small lad, it came natural to him as a duckling to water, and now he was imitating Jamie. Neils saw this and assumed Jack was better bred then he was. Jamie was amused but struggled to keep a serious face. Jack had learned a lot since the ship. Lewis had taught him some there, but Octavia and Jamie had done the rest, with some hygine lessons from Maggie and Chester as well.
"Look you know how the barrels here at the inn have a royal stamp and tax numbers and export numbers stamped into the wood?" Neils explained.
"Yes sir," Jamie said, and Jack echoed him.
Seth raised his eyebrows and was again amazed at Neils knowledge of things.
"Well if this rum is smuggled it wouldnt have those markings," Neils explained, not sure if either of his new companions could read.
"Yes most of the numbers on the ale begin with A1 or A2," Jack said proudly, that he could now read a bit.
"Very true," Seth said noticing the numbers.
"I am not sure if it is legal to sell spirits imported from other countries outside of England," Neils said.
"That is something I would have to consult with the barrister in Rivers Edge on, if it is stolen it would take months to discover where it was stolen from." Seth said.
"None of the barrels I saw were marked with anything except the name Black Tide Trading Company," Jamie said.
"Ah I have heard of them, they are smugglers," Seth said.
The other three nodded.
"I have a short errand to run for my father, tell us about what we do tonight" Neils said suddenly realising he had dominated the conversation.
"All right now there is a rise above the old place, the horses can't make it down the steep bank without trouble, but we can go down easily on foot," Seth explained.
"Sounds good," Jamie commented.
"Yes anywhere else and the would sure to see us or their horses smell ours and then they would know what was afoot," Neils said, seeing the plan was flawless.
"Do you know this place Jamie?" Jack asked.
"No, but I have heard of it and know it lies to the south of town," Jamie said.
"Neils and I know it very well," Seth said smiling at his friend.
"Yes, tht we do, for it was a favourite meeting place, one my father never went," Neils sighed, but it was a sigh of fond memories not of boredom.
"Yes," Seth said his eyes dancing.
Suddenly Jamie smiled he could see them both as they had been back then boys out for a day of play adventure and maybe fishing.
"It is good to know the area," Jack said smiling, because Jamie did, he had not the imagination of his friend.
"Well I need to run an errand, and switch horses, I will meet you back here at ten of the clock," Seth said.
"I will be at my fathers, I will see if I can borrow his glass," Neils said, thinking he should switch horses as well.
"Certainly," Seth said, then turned to the two new men and said, "Later Gentlemen."
Jack waited until they were gone, then laughed, "No one has called me a gentleman before,"
"Jack what about you riding out there.Can you do it?" Jamie said, knowing it would be to far to walk.
Jack smiled, any other man asking him this would have embarrased him. But not Jamie.
"I have been learning to ride. First the Coates childrens pony with Kate, then Bow with Octavia, I was going to surprise you, but I guess I am ready as ever," Jack explained.
"Wonderful, I didnt know Kate could ride," Jamie said, nodding with approval.
"Her mother taught her I believe." Jack explained.
"Have you ever shot a gun?" Jamie asked in a low voice even though he was sure no one but Jack he and the two horses were in the stable.
Jack shook his head, and then explained, "When I was a lad for a time I stayed with an uncle who was a warden for a man who liked to hunt, there is where I learned a bit about guns more about cleaning and carrying them then shooting."
"I see my father thought guns were the devils work," Jamie said bemused, but then sobered as he wondered how many places Jack had lived, as a fatherless boy who's mother was often destitute he had wandered from pillar to post.
The two men returned together and the four of them rode out into a beautiful night, they passed a little one horse runabout heading the direction of the hoval Jack was buying.
They arrived at the cliff coming in a back way the men knew from childhood, the Swensen farm lay to the west and the Martin place to the north, closer in to town, it would have been easy for two boys on foot to come here.
The horses were tied back away from the clifts edge by some bayberry bushes that would hide their scent to all but a good dog. Jamie hoped they had tied up Piper or locked him in their quarters.
"Well men," Seth said looking around, then checking the wind with a dampened finger.
"Seth do you think that Jamie and Jack can make it down that wash in this light?" Neils said seeing how dark the shadows seemed.
"Sure, they are young agile men, and the moon is right, not to bright or too dark," Seth said heartily.
"There is someone," Neils said.
"They have a wagon with a canvas strung over it," Jamie said as the open farm wagon turn on the road a bit, but it soon turned on the small holding across from the burned out place.
"That is one of Landers men," Seth said, even though Lewis had married Astrid, everyone still called it Landers place, Landers men, and Landers land.
Jamie wondered if that bothered Lewis, and for the life of him he couldn't remember Lewis last name. But perhaps everything belonged to Justin Landers?
Back in England hadn't he known a hellion of a child who had lost his father and inherited all, leaving his poor mother and other relatives at his beck and call.
That boy had been a small tyrant nothing like the mischievious Justin Landers, who according to Lewis was always pranking and running about like a mad child. Justin just sounded high spirited and a bit of a brat.
Lewis probably didn't care, who's place it was called, he was so arrogant the comments probably were ignored.
"There, a horseman," Jack whisphered, breaking into Jamie's thoughts.
"Perhaps it is the buyer," Seth mused in a soft voice.
"Interesting one would have thought he would have brought his own wagon for which to take away his rum in,"
"Perhaps he is buying the wagon as well? Or borrowing it, it would be quicker then reloading another wagon, "Jamie reasoned.
Seth nodded, of course Jamie was logical. It was pretty open out here and two wagons staying here for a time might raise questions.
"How many wagon loads did you see?" Neils asked Jack.
"At least two wagonloads," Jack said glancing at Jamie.
"Maybe three," Jamie said nodding in agreement, "No more then three."
"Right now I have someone watching your place over on Timberlane, but they can't do anything but obserb and report back," Seth said.
Both Jamie and Neils looked at Seth with a bit of amazement.
"Well Jacob insisted on helping us," Seth said smiling.
The others smiled too, Seth was pretty clever, a man with a bum leg would never make it down that cliff or even the easier gully. But a man with a bum leg could watch a place and report what he saw there.
"Yes well, you have to get up very early indeed, to pull the wool over the keen eyes of Seth Martin," Neils laughed.
Jamie smiled wider, it was truth spoken, Seth my not have the worldly knowledge of Neils, but he knew the hearts of men, and the way they thought.
"I hear something Jack said, straining to see.
They all saw a blob of white in the distance then, none of them had heard it, the blob got a bit bigger then their was a flicker of light.
"A signal?" Neils whispered.
"Yes, and there," Jamie said, pointing towards another flash from the burnt out shell where long ago a house had stood.
"Those men are smarter then I had given them credit for being." Neils said in amazement, and looking past Jack to Jamie and Seth.
"Indeed, the buyer could not have signaled if we had sprang upon him and what then could he be charged with?" Jack said.
Seth raised his eye brows at this. He had thought of it, but Neils nor Jacob had. Just who were Jamie Warwick and Jack Keene. He had been in the pub many times and had noticed the way Jamie carried himself, and Jack was almost as good, they both had a certian finesse lacking in most the men about the village. But they also had a humbleness and a quietness of manner that had first said to him they were no one special.
Jamie turned and grinned so no one would see, because that was exactly what he had said to the Jack on the ride here, while Neils and Seth were talking about the weather and crops.
Jamie could see the wagon drawing closer. I see someone now, that wagon has two men a driver and a man beside him on the box." Neils said wishing he could have found his fathers glass, so that he might see clearly. But Oly had been in his cups, and no mood to talk about his glass. Lewis had done something to upset him, most likely took a switch to Justin's britches. Which should have been done long ago. His sister had spoiled the boy.
"All right men lets move in," Seth said seeing a man move from the shadows towards the wagon.
"Whoa," Linde cried loadly, he had a big grin on his face, and Sherry wanted to smack it off.
"Paul get ready," Sherry said softly.
"Are you sure-en-tee this here is the right place?" Linde asked smile fading as he saw malice on Sherrys face.
"Yes now shut your tater hole, Mr. Gates is walking our way," Sherry said wondering if Linde not only was an idiot but night blind as well.
Gates approached a smile on his sallow face.
Paul Bean walked to meet him, bald pate shining in the moonlight, it was all Jamie could see as he and Jack worked their way down the wash as quickly as possible.
"You got the money?" Paul asked.
"Right here in gold," Gates whisphered, something scared a bird up, it made him jump.
"Dang old birds," Paul grumbled his hands were shaking as he counted the coins.
The horses stamped and snorted.
"Whoa thar," Linde squeaked, in his reedy voice.
Jamie and Jack were close enough to smell Paul Bean, he had came to the back door of the pub a few times to buy port, he stank so bad Chester wouldn't allow him in. Suddenly Jamie thought of the stranger the one who wanted rum. Hadn't he smelt not the freshest. Maggie had said even if someone bathed Paul Bean it would take a dozen baths and fresh clothing to rid the odor. Maggie was a smart women, he looked at Jack they had commented about the mans odor, but they hadn't seen old Paul for weeks so they hadn't even thought of him.
"Well Paul?" Sherry asked, "This is no ice cream social, is he got the gold or does he not got the gold?"
Paul Been laughed like a loon, as if the comment Sherry had made was the funniest thing he had ever heard.
Sherry muttered something about fools and morons.
Linde said something about Hell.
"He got it all gold, right here." Paul said.
"Linde tie off those reigns you making those horses fret," Sherry said.
Jamie was now in place in the bush, and Jack was in another bush.
"Did you hear something?" Gates asked.
"Only my stomach growling and these morons," Sherry grumbled.
Linde said something about being insulted as he climbed down from the wagon.
Sherry also disembarked making the old wagon rock when his weight was subtracted.
"Well now lookie here, you take Paul and the wagon and we will meet back here next week to get our wagon back and you will get . . ." Sherry broke off. He thought he saw something he moved to the head of the team.
"Yes yes, now let me get on the road," Gates said starting for the wagon.
"Morris what are we going to do . . ." Linde started, hearing the bushes rattle.
Sherry took the gold and his eyes gleamed greedily he had about to say shut your tater hole but then . . .
Jamie heard the night bird call that Seth had shown them on the ride out, and they sprang from their hiding places.
"I hereby place you under arrest in the name of the Crown, halt and surrender!" Seth's voice boomed.
"Jesus wept," Linde screeched.
"I surrender," Gates said throwing up his hands, Paul started weeping.
"Let go of me," Sherry said fumbling for his knife trying to keep hold of the bag of gold.
Neils had the pistol cocked, and the big man grabbed at it.
The gun went off, the explosion of the pistol was terrifying. Jamie was strugging with Linde, heard Neils cry out. Now Gates was arguing with Seth.
Jamie couldn't see Neils, and Jack was trying to get Paul Bean settled down. He took Linde by a boney thin wrist and flung him at Gates back, as they had played crack the whip as children but with a vicious violence he didn't know he was capable of, both men landed in a pile at Seths feet. Jamie drew the saber and ran.
Heart pounding Jamie ran towards where he had seen Neils last, Morris Sherry was quicker then he looked, Neils was on the ground but he waved Jamie away.
"Catch him," Neils yelled.
Jamie pounded after Sherry, but Sherry had mounted Timberlanes horse, still with some of the gold, pieces were scattered in the wake of where he had ran.
Had the horses been closer Jamie was sure that Bess could catch the man he wasn't much of a rider bouncing along like a loose sack of flour.
But the horses were too far, he turned back to the other men. Jack had got the irons from where Seth had secreted them, they didn't want to be carrying the heavy noisy chains. That was the errand that Seth had gone to do, before changing horses.
Jack had chained Paul and Gates together and Gates was complaining about the stench.
"I am a man on the Lord, just the driver for Sherry, take your hands off of me. He said and tried to hit Seth.
Seth calmly took a step back and when Lind fell on his face he manceled his wrist, then helped him up.
"That one almost broke my arm!" Linde complained.
Jamie took Jack's prisoners and loaded them into the wagon, while Jack went to help Neils.
Jack had found some cobwebs and stopped the bleeding, and then he had picked up the gold that was scattered about and laid it all at Neils feet.
"You better keep that," Jack said.
All right maybe you should put me and it on the wagon, don't think I should ride," Neils said.
"You all right Neils?" Jamie called, in a ragged voice between pants for air.
"My gun jammed and then it went off when Sherry grabbed it, I am alive," Neils said he sounded a bit weak.
"Help me get him in the wagon." Jack said, "I think we need to take him to Kate, she will know how to treat this wound."
"Sherry got away on Gates horse," Jamie
"Don't worry about him we will get him, right now it's more important to get Neils looked after these prisoners locked in the meeting house cellar, and this cargo locked in my barn in that order," Seth said.
"I will bring the horses," Jamie said, still sounded winded, he had been sure he could catch Sherry he was barely trotting that horse, but then the horse started to lope.
"No stay with Neils and Seth I will get them," Jack said thinking Jamie must have run a mile and he looked pale.
The ride back to town was a quiet one, Seth had Jamie go on to the Inn and put up the three horses there, he would take Neils horse to him tomorrow, and pay the nights board.
Jamie put up the horses and went into the tavern, Chester was ready for bed, gave him a quick goodnight and told him he wanted the whole story tomorrow. Jamie noticed he left a bottle on the bar, but didn't have time to think about it. A bunch of drovers came in hungry and thirsty.
Jamie planned to wait up for Jack he was worried about Neils he had looked so pale and was shivering, even with a coat and the night being mild. Jamie was just pouring a last round of port for the drovers. When a gentleman limped in.
"Jacob Amberly," the man said, and looked around, "The old place looks good."
"I try," Jamie said, he had seen the man around but didn't know he was 'the' Jacob Amberly he looked too young to have a daughter Clarise's age.
"Do you have any sweet wine?" Amberly asked, "Not that horrid port."
Women and travelers drank it, not much call for it, but then Jamie saw that was what Chester had set out on the bar and smiled, Chester was an old fox.
Jamie uncorked the bottle and retrieved a glass from the cabinet.
Seth entered, and Jamie poured them both wine as Amberly indicated a second glass.
"Excellent," Amberly said, "For a man that never touches spirits Chester knows his sweet wine."
"I always feel like I should drink to something when I have wine, so to the new men of Amberly, my constable appentices," Seth said smiling, "They did excellent this night."
"To the new men," Amberly said with a smile.
Where is the one who rides like a woman, red hair I believe," Amberly said.
There was no meanness to his voice when he said that, and Jamie realised it had been Amberly who had passed them in the runabout. Of course it had been, he couldn't ride but he could get around quickly in the light buggy with a good horse Jamie bet.
"Neils got himself wounded, Jack the man you speak of is with him at the Coates, he is seeing their maid Kate. She is quite handy with wounds and seeing the apothacary weaving down the road in his gig, I dare say I would trust young miss Kate's talent to be the wisest path," Seth said smiling.
"All right then. To Jack and Jamie," Amberly nodded, and they drank. Despite what Chester said about Amberly being a prig. Jamie thought he was a good man, maybe a little insensitive but most men were Octavia had told him more then once.
"Tomorrow we will ride out and seach for Sherry, that is if Chester can spare you," Seth said and paid for the wine which made Amberly laugh.
"He can," Jamie said, thinking Seth had noticed he was the better rider of the two.
Jamie watched the two men go, the drovers had gone and he had gathered up the dishes and then Jack came in looking grave.
"Let's sit I am tired." Jamie admitted, he had just been to check on Octavia and Quentin who were both fast asleep and wished to join them.
"The good news is Neils will be fine, he lost blood but worse damage to his clothing then his body the knife went in his shoulder, it was lucky I found those cob webs but I remember asking Kate why she was removing them on a clean scrap of cloth." Jack said smiling a bit for the first time.
"What is the bad news?" Jamie asked knowing something was bothering Jack.
"It's Kate, she is with child, and we must marry sooner then planned or everyone will know . . . that . . . uh . . .," Jack sighed, struggling to find the right word.
Jamie nodded and said, "We can arrange that."
"But the house is not suitable . . ." Jack started. "I am sure Chester won't mind, and Maggie will insist," Jamie said.
"Chester told you could bring home no more people," Jack said.
"I am not," Jamie chuckled, "You are, and that aside Maggie said Kate saved her life last winter with those poultices of hers."
The next day Seth and Jamie had no luck finding Sherry. Jamie got the idea that Seth did not trust Timberlane, and that Coates was suspicious because he said that Sherry had not been at his house for the past two days. Kate confirmed that. But Seth thought it wise she report any suspicious behaviour to him.
Timberlane hired Gates to run his building wares and sundry store, and that made him suspicious, a half keg of rum had been found on the premises in a barrel labeled paint thinner. But it had been stashed away and the paint thinner came in a different type of container.
Jamie went to Jacks room to see how things were going, and to tell him that Seth would have his uncle marry them he was a cleric of the Angelican church, Clive Martin.
"That is wonderful, we can be married Sunday afternoon if Reverent Martin can be there then." Jack said.
"Maggie and Chester are fine with Kate joining us here?" Jamie asked.
"They insisted on it." Jack laughed. "This is wonderful, it's like having a large family." Jamie said, he was so happy.
The wedding was beautiful, better then Jamie and Octavia's. Seth lent a coat and vest to Jack, and Octavia lent her best dress to Kate. Kate took the beautiful hand made veil her mother had been going to wear at her wedding, and Chester found a faded piece of red rug that now looked pink to put the arbour on. It was beautiful with the bushes in bloom.
As Clive Martin said you may kiss the bride for the first time, Chester and Maggie kissed, because Jack and Kate were giggling to hard to kiss for a moment.
"It's so pretty I want to cry," Octavia said.
Jamie just smiled as Quentin nibbled a flower.