Part 21 (1/2)
”How about if we pack it into a few wooden boxes and set them along the enemy's line of march? Then fire into the boxes when they come by. The times we've done that, it's been effective.” Tom smiled. ”Makes a fine great bang, it does.”
Will considered. ”That works well in some cases, but it uses a lot of gunpowder. Even if we try to disguise the boxes, they might call attention to themselves as being out of place on a reasonably clear road. Plus, shooting them will be difficult if the French come through in the dark, which seems likely.”
”All good objections,” Tom said with regret. ”What about grenades?”
”I'm thinking they're our best choice.” Will studied the sunken road again. ”Wine bottles made out of the thinnest available gla.s.s with black powder inside, sealed with wax and a wick.”
”They'd have to be thrown by the steady men who have been in combat before,” Tom said. ”They'll terrify the inexperienced militiamen.”
”True. We don't want to put grenades into the hands of someone who will blow up the wrong people.” Another thought struck. ”We can create a form of shrapnel by putting pebbles or nails and sc.r.a.p metal into the grenade bottles. When they go off, the pieces will shoot all over the road. It should be particularly effective in the dark.”
”I like that idea!” Tom grinned. ”We're a bloodthirsty lot, aren't we, sir?”
”Yes, but in a good cause.” Will began walking along the embankment, studying the ground. ”We'll survey up this side and come back down the other so we know where to position our men. Then off to the Alcantara winery to beg some bottles. First a test grenade. If it works, we have enough gunpowder to make a couple of dozen.”
”Roughly one for each experienced soldier. We'll need covered lanterns to light the fuses from. I'll ask Senora Oliviera for some.”
With plans and grenades in prospect, Will felt a little more hopeful. If he was really lucky, he might make it back to the castle tonight.
The castle courtyard was getting crowded as whole families moved in and set up camp. As the most defensible site in San Gabriel, the castle was the designated sanctuary for much of the town and the surrounding countryside. The elderly and unwell were sheltered in outbuildings, but the weather was pleasant enough that most people could stay outside comfortably. In fact, Athena guessed that a fiesta might start soon. The Gabrilenos were a resilient lot.
With Sofia overseeing the refugees in the castle, Athena and Senor Oliviera rode to the town of Espirito Santo at the other end of the valley to put the evacuation wheels in motion. There was less urgency here, since the castle area was much closer to the Spanish road and this end of the valley would have more warning.
But if the French survived the ambush in good order and swept into the valley, no place would be safe.
If that happened, Will would probably be dead; he wouldn't run away in terror. He'd try to rally his men, but what if not enough of them stood their ground?
She shuddered at the thought. Though she'd accepted that their affair would be brief, she'd hoped for more than a single night. She needed more than a single night. She needed his understanding, his humor, his deep caring. And his pa.s.sion, which made her feel desirable and . . . loved. Loved as she'd never been before.
She spent the long hours on the road praying that the French would be defeated, with no Gabrileno casualties. Most particularly, not to the commander in chief.
Chapter 30.
It was late when Will returned to the castle. For form's sake, he debated whether he should go to Athena's room, but he already knew what he'd decided. After a brief washup in his room, he walked silently to the far end of the corridor.
Though the courtyard outside buzzed with people, the family quarters of the castle were silent. He was glad to find that Athena's door wasn't locked. He pushed the handle down and stepped inside. ”Athena?” he asked softly. ”Don't shoot, it's me.”
”Will!” Athena leaped from the bed and closed the s.p.a.ce between them in three long strides. She hurled herself into his arms, locking him in a rib-bruising embrace. ”I'm so glad you came! I'd given up thinking you'd be back tonight.”
The simmering emotions he'd felt all day flared, shooting through him like a rocket. His lover, his beloved, his mate. ”I almost didn't make it. I'm sorry it's so late.”
For reply, she found his mouth and kissed him with fierce urgency. The world dissolved, leaving only his frantic need to make love to her. ”Athena,” he gasped. ”My G.o.ddess . . .”
They stumbled over each other on the way to the bed, luckily landing on the mattress rather than the floor. He discovered that she wore nothing under her loose nightgown, and that she was extremely adept at undoing the b.u.t.tons that secured the fall of his trousers.
They came together with a force that should have made the heavens shake. As their bodies clashed, their spirits melded. He hadn't known desire could be so intense, or so satisfying. Even better was knowing how well he satisfied Athena. She moaned with ecstasy, her nails digging into him as they fought for completion. His G.o.ddess, his little owl, who had never been loved as well as she should have been, and who deserved everything he could give her and more.
”Will . . .”
Her climax triggered his own and nearly melted his mind. Also his body, as the tension flowed away and he folded himself around her. When his brain began working again, he panted, ”I didn't actually come here to ravish you. At least, not right away.”
She gave a choke of laughter. ”I don't think it's ravis.h.i.+ng when I'm trying to tear your clothes off.”
He rolled to his side and pulled her close against him, then tugged the coverlet over them. ”As busy as I was all day, in the back of my mind was the fear that I wouldn't see you again. I feel as if we're just beginning to really know each other. I hate thinking this might end almost before we've begun.”
”I feel the same way.” Her voice half teasing, she added, ”I've never known a man like you. I want to spend enough time with you to discover if you really are as wonderful as you seem. But everything is in limbo. I feel like the sword of Damocles is hanging over our heads.”
He stroked her neck and shoulders, gently kneading the tight muscles. ”Exactly, except that it's hundreds of swords.”
”More likely muskets. Were you able to complete what needed to be done today?”
”Yes, by tonight we'll be as ready as we can be. Today we surveyed the ambush area, sent off a scout to look for Baudin and his forces, and I spent the afternoon making grenades out of wine bottles and black powder.”
She stroked a hand from his neck to his waist, her fingers light and soothing. ”That sounds like a more interesting day than mine. Did you know that you have a lovely back? All strong and touchable, even when you're wearing several layers of clothing.”
”I haven't actually thought much about my back,” he said with mild surprise. ”Mostly, I take for granted that it will do what I want it to do. How was your day spent?”
”Senor Oliviera and I rode through the valley and encouraged everyone to withdraw to the safe houses and caves with enough water and food to hold out for at least a fortnight. People are anxious but not panicked. They're better prepared than last year.”
”The weeks of planning and drilling haven't been wasted, though I didn't expect a full-scale a.s.sault on San Gabriel,” he said wryly. ”I feared a few dozen bandits, maybe, but not this.”
”Now that you've surveyed the ambush grounds and made your grenades, do you have any better sense of what might happen?”
He frowned. ”I really have no idea. Once fighting begins, plans go out the window. The ambush ground is good. The scout Gilberto found us should be able to give us enough warning to position ourselves.
”But we're still dramatically outnumbered, perhaps two to one or worse, and only about one in ten of our militiamen have any combat experience. Most should be able to manage as long as they're on the high ground shooting down into the road, but when the French start fighting back-and they will-some of the raw militiamen will probably break and run. When that happens, usually more men follow.”
”It sounds like you need as many experienced shooters as you can find,” Athena said slowly. ”I'm going to join the ambush.”
”What!” Will jerked up and stared down at her, unable to read her expression in the dim light. ”You can't do that!”
”Why not?” she said reasonably. ”I'm quite a good shot, and you said yourself that my nerves are steadier in battle than those of many experienced soldiers.”
”Yes, but I can't bear to think of you going into such danger,” he said flatly.
”How is that worse than me seeing you go into battle?” Athena asked. ”You need people who can shoot and not run away. I've proved I can stand my ground and do what is necessary.”
He couldn't deny that, yet the idea of her engaging with the French in battle appalled him. ”No! I'm the commander in chief and I give the orders, no matter how irrational I may be.”
”I'm not a soldier under your command,” she pointed out. ”I really don't think you can stop me. The ambush is strung some distance along the road, isn't it? I can take a position and you won't even notice in the dark.”
All the horrors of battle pa.s.sed through Will's mind as he stared at Athena. ”You don't belong on a battlefield.”