Maid Marian and the Lawman by Deb Stover

Author:Deb Stover
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: BelleBooks Inc.
Published: 2013-12-12T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

ICHABOD SMITH made a few more alterations to the design, then tilted his head to one side, admiring his handiwork. Soon, he would return to the society from which he’d fled so long ago. People would still remember him, of course. He’d been rather well known, though under-appreciated.

But would anyone remember Adam Bigg?

Regret rippled through him as he set aside his pencil and stood, banishing such foolish hopes. Why would she want to hear from him after all this time? If she remembered him at all...

He turned his attention to the first streaks of dawn spilling between the logs where the chinking had worn away over the winter. Ah, but soon this cabin would sit empty anyway. No need to worry about making repairs now.

He released a long sigh, then headed for the door. His plans were falling into place quite nicely now, with Robin’s pending marriage, Little John’s return to the bosom of his family, and Mary’s promising beau. After all, Ichabod Smith couldn’t make his grand return to the world until Tuck ensured his family’s safety and happiness.

Especially Mary’s. He couldn’t bear to see her play the martyr any longer. Though her motives were pure and admirable, denying herself any hope of love and family beyond Robin was too cruel for words. Surely her dead parents would not have wished this upon their only daughter. No, he simply would not allow her sacrifice to continue, and he was confident of success.

With a smug smile, Tuck opened the small wooden box beside his bed and removed a shiny object, admiring the gleaming surface as he read the words inscribed there: U.S. Marshal. Will Scarlet definitely wasn’t the equivalent of the Sheriff of Nottingham, yet definitely a lawman.

It didn’t take a genius, which Ichabod certainly was, to recognize the affection growing between Mary and Will—or whatever his name was. The attraction between those two had become clear the moment that young man opened his eyes and gazed upon Mary’s beauty. And it was obvious she returned young Will’s feelings.

Yes, all was going quite well. Tuck held the badge up to a shaft of light sparkling with millions of dust motes. This piece of tin could serve many different purposes.

First and most importantly, it assured him that Will wasn’t a criminal, thereby making him potentially worthy of Mary. Secondly, keeping the badge hidden removed one possible trigger for Will’s memory, if the lad really had amnesia at all. Pretense was a very real, even likely, possibility. After all, Tuck knew all too well how easily one could feign a total loss of memory. Hadn’t he done so himself since his memory began to return?

Thirdly, he would use the item in any way necessary to coerce young Will into staying here with Mary, or taking her with him when he left Sherwood Forest.

As his wife.

Whistling the Wedding March from Lohengrin, Tuck returned the badge to its hiding place, then headed for the door. With any luck at all, he would find Mary and Shane in an exceedingly compromising situation this lovely morning.

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