Saving Sarah by Gail Ranstrom

Author:Gail Ranstrom
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2013-09-08T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese! Dear Lord! She glanced up at the sign and then at Ethan as he reached to open the door. “I…I cannot go in,” she said. What if Reggie was inside?

He shrugged. “Then wait out here. Try to find shelter. Looks like rain.” He stepped inside.

Sarah peered over her shoulder and shivered. The air had grown heavy and humid and she pulled her jacket collar up to shield her neck against the wind. A spike of fear stabbed through her when she heard a rustling sound from around the corner. Anxiety sent her across the threshold and into the dim interior on Ethan’s heels.

His lips twitched suspiciously and he nodded toward a table near the fireplace. “There’s our man. Find a place where we can watch him. I’ll get us a bit o’ the barley.”

She headed for the back of the main room where an empty table was pushed against the wall. Sitting facing the door, she pulled her cap a little lower to hide her features and then studied the room. Several smaller rooms adjoined the main room, and a corridor led toward the rear of the establishment. There were, perhaps, thirty men in various states of inebriation at tables and on benches along the walls or in front of the fire. None of them were her brothers.

Breathing a little easier, Sarah turned her attention to Harold Whitlock. His hunched posture indicated that he was either drugged or drunk. He spoke in a slurred mumble to a man who sat with his back to Sarah. There was something familiar in the set of the man’s shoulders. Where had she seen that before?

Ethan joined her, carrying two overfilled tankards. “The publican says he has been drinking steadily. Who is he with?”

She shook her head. “He has not turned. I believe they are arguing.”

“Do you?” Ethan asked, interest quirking one eyebrow. “Why?”

She tilted her head toward their quarry. Mr. Whitlock pounded the table with his fist. The other man grew still, then shook his head emphatically. She and Ethan strained to make out the words, but Sarah had chosen a table too far away to hear hushed tones. Another mistake.

Two men burst into the tavern, laughing uproariously. Sarah cringed. Reggie and James! Could it get any worse?

Ethan noticed her distraction and followed her line of vision. “Ah! The Hunter brothers. I believe I have seen you dance with them. Shall I ask them to join us?”

“No!” she gasped. “They must not know I am here.”

“Afraid they might not find you so appealing in boys’ clothes? Aye.” He appraised her with a critical eye. “Not as fetching as when you are all done up like a lady.” Ethan lifted her to her feet by her shoulders and reseated her in a chair with her back to the center of the room. He took the chair she had vacated and settled himself in comfortably. After a deep drink from his tankard, he crossed his arms across his chest and leaned back, watching the room.

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