Matt Miller in the Colonies: Book Four: Architect by Mark J. Rose

Author:Mark J. Rose [Rose, Mark J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: The Skydenn Looking Glass
Published: 2023-02-27T16:00:00+00:00

29

Impact

Carr snapped the carriage forward to chase Trentworth before Matt could sit, then whipped it around in the street to ride in the opposite direction, driving over and crushing the white picket fence in front of Dr. Blair’s Apothecary. Matt was thrown back into the leather bench seat and almost spun out of the wagon as they headed away from Trentworth’s carriage.

“Where are you going?” Matt yelled. Besides being confused by them speeding in the wrong direction, Carr’s unannounced and abrupt maneuver had battered Matt.

“They’ve made their mistake,” Carr shouted as he turned the carriage sharply onto Botetourt Street, almost rolling Matt out again. “They are headed to York Road.”

Matt sat up straight in his seat and looked at Carr, furious at the man’s lack of caution. The horse’s hooves thundered against the cobblestone. “Can you let me know next time you are going to turn?” Matt yelled.

“Capital,” Carr replied. “Hold on!”

Matt grabbed the railing as they turned sharply again, now onto Nicholson Street. Matt ventured another dirty look at Carr, but the man was so focused on the road and catching their quarry that he hadn’t turned for a second to notice Matt’s struggle to stay upright. He’s committed. I’ll give him that!

Still trying to grasp the rail, Matt reached down with his free hand to retrieve Trentworth’s oilcloth-covered pistol that had fallen onto the carriage floor. He removed the fabric to reload it.

“Where are we going?” Matt yelled as he fingered one of the cartridges he had in his pocket.

“They expect to take York Road.”

“Then why have we headed away?”

“The whole city slants there,” Carr said. “It floods when it rains. They’ve no choice but to take Capital road to quit the city. Hold tight!” Carr turned the carriage onto East Street. “There they are,” he said. “Stopped! I knew the road would be impassable.”

Matt frantically began to reload Trentworth’s pistol while trying to keep from being bounced from the carriage. He took his hand from the wooden rail to tear the paper cartridge, then dumped a bit of black powder into the pan and the remainder down the pistol barrel. Finally, he used the ramrod to smash the ball, still covered in paper, into the barrel. Matt grabbed the rail again to steady himself and wished for a seatbelt.

“Zounds! They’ve seen us.” Carr shouted. “They’re off.”

“Stay with them,” Matt replied. They were at the corner of East and York. The road was almost impassable, so Carr had to slow the carriage to turn onto Francis Street. They were heading west and back into the city

“Hold on,” Carr yelled as he slapped the reins. Matt fell back in his seat again.

“You’re going to kill us,” Matt said.

“Fear not,” Carr said as he turned to meet Matt’s eyes and then to the pistol as Matt tucked the ramrod back into its slot under the barrel. “What will we do when we catch them?”

Matt motioned with the pistol and then tucked it into his empty pocket. “Two men, two pistols,” he said.

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