Jodi Thomas - Northern Star

"What!" Perry exclaimed, totally lost from Molly's logic.

"Years before the war, I used to work in a house full of girls. We traveled around some, and not all places welcomed us. Ever' now and then a mob of righteous citizens would storm us and put an end to our night's work. I soon figured out that if I just threw on my cape and walked out the front door, no one usually bothered me. They was too busy chasin' the girls crawlin' out the windows and under the beds."

Molly giggled. "Tonight, little lady, we gonna do the same thing for you. You change into some travelin' clothes. Then pack a big bag only half full. I'll be back in a minute."

Molly left in a flurry of instructions. For several seconds Perry stared at the door through which she'd vanished. There was the possibility that Molly had completely lost her mind, but for lack of a better idea, Perry followed her instructions. A plan, even a crazy one, was better than none.

Within five minutes Molly was back. She waddled in, locking the door behind her. A bright red cape lay over her arm. Perry could tell, even in the poorly lit room, that the cape was cheap and gaudy, as well as being none too clean.

"Are you packed?" Molly asked as she threw the cape down on the bed.

"Yes," Perry answered as she slipped her small knife into her skirt pocket.

"Good." Molly let out a long breath before continuing. "I sent one of the girls down to the corner to get a carriage. There's usually one for hire this time of night. Our fella's still outside watching, but it's gettin' good 'n' dark, so he won't be able to see clearly."

She lifted Perry's half-filled bag and handed it to her. "Hold your bag close and I'll tie it to you. It would be a dead giveaway if he saw a lady leaving with a bag. But if I strap it around you and put the cape over you, you'll look like a fat little whore."

Perry gasped in surprise at Molly's plan, but she held the bag tightly as Molly tied it around her middle with a few of Perry's ribbons.

Ten minutes later both women stood at the top of the stairs. Molly gave Perry one last hug. "You take care of yourself and write when you're safe. I may not be able to read, but I'll know you're fine when I get the letter."

Tears formed in Perry's huge eyes. "You be careful here. I'll send the police as soon as I get away, but don't misjudge Wade."

"I'll be fine. You've no cause to worry about me." Molly lifted the ugly cape hood over Perry's hair and pulled it low. "Throw this thing away when you're finished with it. That part of my life is over."

"I'll be back," Perry promised, wondering if she spoke the truth. "I love you, Molly."

Tears bubbled from Molly's eyes and crisscrossed down the wrinkles on her cheeks. "I never had no children, but if I had, I wouldn't have loved them more than I do you, child."

Both women hugged once more, then silently agreed the time was at hand. They moved together down the stairs. As they reached the last step Molly grabbed Perry's arm and shoved her toward the front door.

As they stepped out into the night air, Perry held her head low so no one could see her face. She knew that as soon as she could get away, Molly would be safer.

Molly propelled Perry toward the waiting carriage. She yelled in a gruff voice, "You get yourself outa my house! I runs a respectable place here and I won't have any of your kind drummin' up business inside my place."

Perry stepped into the carriage as Molly continued yelling and pushing. Molly shouted at the driver, "Take this trash back where she belongs! I never want to see the likes of her again!"

Glancing out the carriage window, Perry saw Molly standing with her feet wide apart and her hands set on her ample hips. Aware that she was watching, she yelled all the louder, "I don't wanna see your face again, you trash!" Perry knew her meaning and pulled the hood lower over her head.

The man Molly had described was laughing from across the street, but he didn't move as the carriage pulled away from the house. He made no attempt to stop Perry or to report her leaving. Perry laughed, for she knew Molly's plan had worked.

The carriage traveled through the streets swiftly as Perry untied her bag from around her waist and removed the red cape from her shoulders, revealing a blue cape of her own. She shoved the red cape under the seat and leaned forward to direct the driver.

When they stopped at the sheriff's office, the driver seemed in shock as he watched a slim young woman step from the carriage. He looked inside for the old fat lady he'd picked up, but there was no sign of her. Scratching his head, he mumbled something about having too much to drink as Perry politely told him to wait for her.

She caught the sheriff just as he was leaving his office for the night. He was happy to stop and talk with such a lovely young lady as she begged him to go to Molly's aid. She described Wade and his gang as robbers. After having just solved a major crime, the sheriff was anxious to assist. It was not every day that he put two killers in jail, thanks to Old Henry's letter to Molly. The talk of Henry's partner being murdered and his body left in the attic was all about town, and the sheriff welcomed the attention. This next problem might add even more color to his stories.

As the sheriff helped Perry back into the carriage he assured her he would round up ten men and be at Molly's side within the hour.

Turning her brightest smile toward him, she asked one last favor. "I would greatly appreciate it if you would keep a close eye on Molly. Should she need anything, please contact Hunter Kirkland's house."

Surprise showed on the sheriff's face. "She's a friend of Mr. Kirkland?"

Perry didn't miss the respect in his tone when he said Hunter's name. She decided a lie might provide added protection for Molly. "Yes, she's very dear to him, and he would be very upset should something happen to her. I'll tell him you will see to it nothing does."

"Thank you, miss." The sheriff beamed. "You tell Mr. Kirkland I'll watch after her as if she were my own mother.''

The sheriff hurried to do his job as Perry waved the driver on. They moved through the streets toward the dock. A tear slowly drifted down her cheek as she thought of Molly. She would miss the dear old woman. Quietly she mumbled the last words the sheriff had said. "… as if she were my own mother.''

A few minutes later Perry stepped from the carriage. After paying the driver she moved along the docks in search of the West Wind. Even in the moonlight she recognized the familiar lines and walked the plank to board. She hadn't known' Hunter owned this ship when she'd last sailed.

A guard moved in her path as she stepped onto the ship. "May I be of some service, miss?" he asked politely.

"Yes, you sail in the morning, right?" Perry asked, keeping her hood low. It would be better if no one knew who she was, though she doubted any of the crew would remember her from months ago. On that first voyage she'd stayed to herself and had never even spoken to the captain except for a few words the last day.

"Yes, miss," the guard stated without moving from his post.

"I wish to come aboard early. I hate getting up at dawn. I'm-I'm," Perry said, about to lie for the second time in an hour, "I'm Mr. Kirkland's cousin, and he invited me to sail with him." Seeing the guard's confusion, she added. "Please show me to my room. I'm catching a chill."

The guard shuffled his feet as if forgetting his manners. "Yes, miss, please come this way. I'm sorry, miss. We weren't expecting any passengers 'cept Mr. Kirkland this trip."

Within a few minutes Perry was settled into one of the tiny staterooms. She undressed and crawled into bed. The room was the same one she had had so many months ago, when she had sailed home and away from Hunter for what she thought would be forever. The room had been drab and sad, as was her heart. Now the room seemed cozy and welcoming. With covers tucked tightly around her, she drifted between worrying about Molly and thinking of her future. In a few days she would be back at Three Oaks with Andrew. When this business with Wade ended, she would return to Molly.

"If it ever ends," she whispered into the darkness. For she knew the only way would be when either she or Wade was dead. She touched her gun beneath her pillow and fell asleep.

The thunder of a fierce pounding echoed across the tiny cabin, awakening Perry. For a moment confusion clouded her mind as she focused on her unfamiliar surroundings. Slowly the cabin took form with a rhythmic rocking, telling her the ship must already be sailing.

Jumping from the bed, Perry pulled her cape on. She hadn't had space to pack a wrapper; however, the cape served her needs well. She closed her fingers around the small gun in her pocket and moved cautiously to the door. The fear that Wade had somehow found her suffocated all other thought.

Throwing the latch, she stepped back and lifted the gun in greeting.

An instant later the door flew wide open as two men burst into the room. Both froze in mid-stride as they saw the little lady standing before them with a derringer pointed at their heads.

Perry breathed a sigh of relief as she recognized Hunter and the ship's captain.

Hunter straightened as his eyes registered the beauty before him. She stood, draped in dark blue, her wonderful hair flowing to her waist. Her eyes were huge with fire and fear. For a moment he could think of nothing to say. There was nothing in the world that mattered but her standing before him.

The captain raised his hand as though his fingers might ward off a bullet. "I'm sorry, miss. I'm not meaning to do you harm. You can put the weapon down." For years he'd thought there was no more deadly animal than a woman with a gun.

Perry held the weapon steady. "Is this your usual way of awakening a guest who sails with you?" A smile touched the corner of her mouth.

"No, miss." The old captain shuffled in embarrassment. "We heard you were Hunter's cousin. We thought you were his Cousin Wade. The guard who saw you come aboard is asleep. He left only a message saying that Hunter's cousin boarded last night." The captain fumbled with his hands as though they had suddenly doubled in size and would no longer fit in his pockets.

"That'll be all, Cap," Hunter said. "Thanks for standing by me, but this is one cousin I can handle."

The captain turned toward the door. "I'll tell the cook there will be one more for breakfast." He vanished.

It took Hunter another moment to recover fully from the shock of Perry's presence. He casually folded his arms across his broad chest. From the smile on his face she never would have guessed how much sleep he'd lost because of her. Twice during the night he'd decided not to sail, but to stay close to her. But at dawn, duty prevailed. Though he was needed in North Carolina, he'd dreaded the few weeks away from Perry as a man dreads a jail term. Now she stood before him, even more beautiful than he'd remembered. Her hair, tousled from sleep, stirred his desire to hold her.

"Perry." He wondered once more how she had the power to make him tongue-tied. "I didn't mean to frighten you. I never expected to see you here. I'm glad you changed your mind and decided to sail with me."

"I didn't really change my mind. I was forced to leave, thanks to Wade," she answered sharply, seeing the hint of fire in his gray eyes. "I hope I can rely upon your word as a gentleman."

"I don't give my word lightly and I will not break it lightly. You may put your gun away." He purposefully stepped toward her as he spoke. "Have you seen Wade?" he questioned. "I was told he left town."

"You were misinformed." Perry's voice broke into soft sobs, tearing at Hunter's heart. He moved closer but dared not touch the angel before him."

In a low caring tone he whispered, "I've a shoulder to cry on, but you'll have to come to me."

She glanced up with wide, tear-filled eyes and saw only sympathy in his face. She closed the space between them as he lifted his arms in welcome.

Cradling her face into his chest, she let her tears flow unchecked. She cried for her lost home at Ravenwood, and Three Oaks, and now Molly. She felt afloat in a raging stream, with no direction to her life. She wished she'd returned with the sheriff to Molly's to help him catch Wade so she would know that this was over. Sick of being afraid, she allowed all her pain to flow out with her tears.

Hunter held her close, drinking in the fragrance of her hair as she pressed against him like a frightened child. Never in his life had a woman so captured his very soul. He longed to take all the hurt from her, yet all he could do was vow to add no more pain to her life. Lightly he stroked her hair, mumbling inaudible words of comfort.