Part 39 (1/2)

”G.o.d's blood, I never thought it'd come to this. I was sure they'd never have the bra.s.s to try it.” She pa.s.sed him the muskets. ”So we'll be going to war after all. I'd wager you another s.h.i.+lling you'll not hold them off, darlin', save there'd be no way to collect if I won.”

”All wagers are off now. This one's too hard to call.” He handed one of the flintlocks to John Mewes, then c.o.c.ked the other and aimed it into the dark night air. ”Ready, John?”

”Aye.” Mewes c.o.c.ked the musket and aimed it at the sliver of moon on the western horizon. ”Tell me again. The signal for Jamestown's one shot, a count of five, another shot, a count of ten, and then the third?”

”That's it.”

”Fire when ready.”

Winston squeezed the trigger and the powder pan flashed in the dark.

Five seconds later Mewes discharged the second musket, then after ten seconds Winston fired the third, the one he had just loaded.

”All right, John. Get the horses.”

”Aye.” Mewes disappeared around the side of the tavern, headed for the makes.h.i.+ft stable located at the rear.

Approximately a minute later the signal of three musket shots was repeated by militiamen in the field command post at Black Rock, on the road to Jamestown. Shortly after there again came a faint repet.i.tion of the pattern of shots, farther north. The prearranged signal was moving quickly up the coast.

Mewes emerged from the dark leading two speckled mares. He patted one on the side of her face, muttered an endearment, then pa.s.sed the reins to Winston. ”I'm ready to ride.”

”All right, John, I'll see you at Jamestown. Put Spurre in charge here and go up to the governor's compound to tell Bedford. If he's not there, then try the a.s.sembly Room. If they're meeting tonight, tell them to adjourn and get every man up to Jamestown, on the double. We may need them all.”

Mewes bellowed instructions through the doorway. Then he seized the saddle horn of the smaller horse and pulled himself up. ”Aye. I'll be up there myself soon as I can manage, depend on it.”

Joan stood beside Winston, watching as he vanished into the dark. ”Well now, that's most curious.” She c.o.c.ked back her head and her eyes snapped in the lantern light. ”I'm surprised you'd not take the opportunity to go up to His Excellency's compound yourself. Seein'

you're so well acquainted with the family these days.”

”All in the line of duty.”

”Duty my a.r.s.e, you wh.o.r.emaster. But you'll get what you deserve from that one, on my honor. She thinks she's royalty itself.” She held the reins while he mounted. ”Don't say I didn't give you a friendly warning.”

”I'm warned.” He vaulted into the saddle as Edwin Spurre emerged through the doorway to a.s.sume lookout duty. ”Edwin, prime and ready the muskets. In case they try to attack on two fronts. Do you know the signals?”

”Aye, Cap'n.” Joan handed up the reins. ”G.o.dspeed. You know if you let those Puritan hypocrites take over the island, there'll be a lot of wives thinkin' they can finally close me down. Just because they've got nothing better to fret about.”

”We'll win.” He looked at Joan a moment and reached out to take her hand. Tonight he felt almost like he was defending the only home he had left. Now he had no s.h.i.+p, and Jamaica seemed farther away than ever.

He leaned over in the saddle and kissed her. She ran her arms around his neck, then drew back and pinched his cheek. ”Show those Roundhead b.a.s.t.a.r.ds a thing or two about how to shoot, love. I'm counting on you, though d.a.m.ned if I know why.”

”Just keep the grog under lock and key till I get back.” He waved lightly, then reined the mare toward the road north.

As the horse clattered across the loose boards of the bridge, he glanced over his shoulder, up the hill toward the compound. What'll happen to Bedford and Katy, he wondered to himself, if we can't hold off the attack? It'll be the Tower and a trial for him, not a doubt.

Probably charged with leading a rebellion. And what about her . . .?

More riders were joining him now, militiamen who had been waiting for the signal. The distance to Jamestown was several miles, and they were all riding hard. None spoke, other than a simple greeting, each man thinking of the stakes. No one wanted to contemplate what would happen should they lose.

We'll win, he kept telling himself as he spurred his mare. By G.o.d, we have to.

Chapter Eleven