“Niall!” she screamed, rushing up to the ship’s rail, clearly intending to climb over and jump into the water. But before she could, Webb came up behind her and said something in a low voice.
Heather went very still. What had the numpty said to her?
Then Niall realized what was happening, even though he couldn’t see it. Webb had a gun, and was pointing it directly into Heather’s lower back.
A couple of the crew were already in the process of hauling the gangplank up, so he couldn’t get aboard that way. A normal person would give up. A normal person who hated ships as much as he did would definitely give up.
But Heather was there.
So Niall simplyhopped on to the top of the saddle, steadied himself, andleapedfrom the quay to the ship. He caught the port-side railing and hauled himself up onto the deck. He heard Ian shouting encouragement from behind him.
He ignored Webb completely. Standing up, he spotted the captain.
“Sir, I am Lord MacNair, Earl of Carregness. Permission to come aboard?”
“A bit late, but aye, my lord,” the captain said, casting a troubled glance around the deck. “What the hell is going on here?”
“First, I’d suggest your crew lower the gangplank again, as the lady will be leaving the ship, and I will be very annoyed if she gets even a toe splashed in the process.”
“The tide is turning, my lord. We have to set sail.”
“Your plans have changed,” Niall said shortly. “Order the gangplank lowered. Now.”
“Don’t listen to him!” Webb’s voice was strident, but he still had enough presence of mind to keep Heather in front of him. “If you do, I will shoot this woman.”
* * * *
Heather inhaled, feeling the cold point of the pistol pushing at her back. “He does haveagun,” she announced, very calmly (considering her position). “He already fired it once toward me in the carriage, and I saw him reload it.” She looked to Niall, hoping he’d understand her message: Webb only had one gun, which was loaded. But if it could be wrested or tricked away from him, the danger was over.
Niall nodded slowly. “Mr. Webb, let’s talk.”
“Nothing to talk about.”
“I disagree. And let’s not pretend you’ll actually fire that gun. What’s the point of kidnapping Lady MacNair if you simply shoot her dead?”
“She’s not Lady MacNair.”
“Yes, I am!” Heather shouted, directly to the captain. Would the man realize he was abetting a criminal if he allowed Webb to sail on his ship?
The captain clearly wasn’t pleased by the situation. “Kidnapping is a serious charge,” he said, though he didn’t seem to know who to believe at this point.
“Aye, it is. If Mr. Webb is innocent, perhaps he’ll put away the gun,” Niall offered.
The captain nodded, approaching Webb. “Holding any woman at gunpoint is unseemly, sir. Hand it to me.”
Webb growled, “If I do that, he’ll just take her.He’sthe kidnapper here.”
“Oh, please,” Heather said, rolling her eyes. “Do you know how stupid you sound?”
“Shut up, woman!” Webb wrenched her arm upward in his anger, which was what Heather was hoping for. She relaxed her limbs in anticipation, and when he met no resistance, the force of his action overbalanced them both (plus, Heather stomped on his foot).
In the few seconds of chaos, Heather spun away from Webb at the same moment Niallandtwo members of the crew rushed him.
The gun was knocked to the deck, sliding to the rail. Heather scrambled after it, and stood up with it in her hands.
She saw Webb in the grip of the two sailors, with Niall towering over him. Content that Webb would do nothing else, she promptly walked to the captain and offered the gun to him “Have you got somewhere secure for this?”
“Aye, miss. Ma’am?…My lady?”
