Part 26 (1/2)
”And now, I better turn in or else I'll be no good this morning,” Owen remarked importantly.
”Owen, I need to discuss another job with you if you'll indulge me.”
”Speak, sir.”
”I want to exchange the black stallion with one of the horses of the Highlanders at the Golden Eagle.”
Helen and Rose both p.r.i.c.ked their ears.
”Why,” asked Helen, and then she frowned. ”I see, you want to pay them back for selling you a stolen horse... Don't Andrew, it's too dangerous to venture again into the city, now that the police are searching for you.”
”There's a small danger, but if I pull it off, the police will soon hold the real thief in prison.”
”Andrew, I'm afraid. Don't do it! It's not worth the risk. Let's just disappear now.”
”Lady, this plan is brilliant,” interjected Owen. ”At this time of the night, n.o.body's on the streets anymore. I bet that even the police patrols have given up until tomorrow morning. At least, that's what the two constables said that pa.s.sed close by us. You remember, sir?”
Andrew nodded, while Helen looked at Owen in consternation, as though she hadn't expected to be to contradicted by her trusted helper.
Rose joined in the argument: ”Helen, if they've the real thieves, then master Andrew and you both get exonerated. Don't you think this is worth taking a small risk?”
Helen's gaze switched from one to the other. She seemed to get more and more uncertain.
”At least, hear out what master Andrew has to say,” encouraged Rose.
”I would exchange the horses, and write two letters. The first one to the police, telling them where to find the horse, the second to Fergus Drummond, telling him that I return the horse since it was reported stolen and take his own steed instead. I'll leave this letter attached to the saddle, so that when the constables come to the stables of The Golden Eagle they'll find it before Fergus does. I think that should convict him.”
”I volunteer to deliver the letter to the tolbooth,” ventured Owen.
Helen's expression still betrayed her hesitation.
”What do you say, Helen?” asked Andrew. ”Don't you want me to do it because he is your cousin?”
She nodded, feeling caught, blus.h.i.+ng.
”You're a strange one,” exclaimed Rose. ”He's the reason your husband ends up in jail, and he's an accomplice in kidnaping you, and you hesitate because he's your distant cousin!”
”He's so young. Getting transported may kill him.”
”And he'll just goes on thieving and bringing grief to other people.”
”Don't push her, Rose,” Andrew begged. He turned to Helen: ”I understand your reasons, Helen. In fact, I share them... What gave me the idea was you telling me how Robert bragged they had such a laugh that I should pay for Fergus' crime.”
”Oh, Andrew,” she rushed to him and put her arms around his neck, ”I'm sorry. I don't know what's the matter with me. I wasn't thinking straight. There he gloated about you paying for him and I wanted to spare him? You go and do it.”
”You're sure?”
”Yes, Andrew. I am. But be careful.”
He searched her eyes, and then kissed her forehead. Rose had already put paper and a quill on the table.
”That's a sensible girl,” she said, patting Helen's shoulder. ”Here, master Andrew, get writing.”
He sat at the table and quickly wrote the two letters, only signing the one addressed to Fergus.
”Owen, will you help me bring the stallion to the stables of The Golden Eagle and then afterward deliver the letter to the tolbooth?”
”Yes, sir.”
”How will you get it into the hands of the chief constable?”
”I'll knock at the prison door, and when the turnkey opens the wicket, I'll throw the letter inside and disappear before he has time to open the door. I'm sure he'll pa.s.s it on to the chief constable right away.”
”And are you sure that there's no danger for you? I don't want to get you into trouble.”
”No, sir, this'll be child's play-”
”Really,” chuckled Andrew.
”-but we should put cloth around the horse's hooves to m.u.f.fle the sound. Just to be on the safe side.”
”Good idea, Owen,” exclaimed Rose, ”I get old sacks.”
Andrew rode the stallion, with Owen in front. The lad had never been on a horse and was rather apprehensive. But it was probably more a reflection of not being in control of the situation and having to rely entirely on Andrew.
When they reached the ramp of the bridge, he made Andrew stop and slid off the horse. After scanning the adjoining streets and the bridge, he darted across on foot, checked once more, and then waved to Andrew to follow. He ran ahead to the inn.
Andrew reined the horse in front of the stables and Owen quickly checked the tavern, just in case. He soon returned with an oil lamp and reported that the five were still asleep around the table. It took Andrew a few minutes to figure out which horse belonged to Fergus, but in the end was pretty certain that he had picked the right one. He attached the letter easily visible to the saddle k.n.o.b of the stallion with a piece of twine.
The two conspirators now separated. While the boy went to the tolbooth by narrow alleys, Andrew rode Fergus' horse back to the White Heron, its hooves again wrapped in sack cloth.
Helen awaited him in the yard, anxiously. When she heard the m.u.f.fled sounds of the hooves, she quickly opened the gate.
”I was so nervous that something might go wrong,” she said, as she hugged him. ”I don't want to be separated from you again.”
Andrew kissed her. ”Neither do I.”
They joined Rose at the kitchen table.
”All done? Owen off to the tolbooth?” she asked, yawning unashamedly.
Andrew nodded.
”What time is it then?”