Chapter Twenty-Nine
The rest of the afternoon was spent slowly making their way along the back roads, following the path of the river. It was long and tiring, but as night drew close, Evangeline caught the first hint of sea air on the breeze. A small spark of hope lit in her heart.
If we could reach Binic, we might be able to make our escape.
They passed through a crossroad just as the sun was setting. She nodded at the stone marker, partially hidden in the grass. “The way ahead leads to the main road to Lamballe. If we turn west here, we should be able to get close to Saint-Brieuc and then go around it.”
“I don’t suppose there are any villages or hamlets between here and there?” replied Gus.
“No, nothing. We shall have to sleep under the stars tonight. There is, of course, the odd barn along the way. I am assuming you wouldn’t want to stay in one of those as that would be the first place Vincent’s men would look if they do happen to come along this road.”
Gus gave a nod. “Smart thinking. Any sort of building will be a marked place. Vincent was a military man; he will know where to look. Safer for us to hide somewhere in the trees far from the road. The horses won’t be seen.”
She was quickly developing a liking for his smiles and small acknowledgements. He might be their notional leader, but Gus clearly considered her words to be of value whenever she offered an opinion.
It’s nice to be listened to—not just sent into the kitchens to inquire about supper.
Armand had been happy to let Evangeline run the smuggling side of things, but at times hadn’t fully acknowledged her contributions.
A short while later, Gus pointed to a clump of bushes away to the left. “That looks good. It’s far enough that the horses won’t be heard if they whiny or snort, but also near to the road if we have to make a sudden run for it.”
When they had turned at the crossroads, they were still a good ten miles from Saint-Brieuc. Evangeline guessed they were probably now seven to eight miles from the town. Close enough, but still a long way from Binic.
If Vincent and his men did give chase, she and Gus would have few places they could go. A safe refuge seemed far away.
At the edge of the road, they both dismounted their horses. The grass was long and there were marshy patches, which proved difficult to navigate around. It took some effort to ensure that the horses did not step into any holes and injure themselves.
Finally, they reached a dry patch of ground, close to the riverbank. They settled behind the bushes, out of sight from the road. It wasn’t the same comfort as the hotel in Dinan, but it was the best they could do.
Evangeline glanced up at the sky. “I hope the rain holds off for tonight. If it does, we might get some sleep.”
Gus, who was busy retrieving food from his saddlebags, merely nodded. He had been quiet for most of the time since they had resumed their ride. At times, she had ventured sideways glances at him, all the while trying to figure out what he was thinking. To gauge if he was still angry. Or if he was wondering how, he could make a life with her. His smuggler wife.
At least he knows it all now. Everything I have done and who I am.
No more secrets.
But would it be enough?
She held her breath as he approached, fearful that he might say something to confirm her worst fears. That he was still going to go through with the wedding, but that he was marrying a woman he truly didn’t know.
“There is some bread and a small square of cheese. That’s about all the food we have left,” he said.
Unsure as to what she should say, Evangeline stayed silent.
Gus lifted his head and met her gaze. “Are you hungry?”
“You have it.”
“Are you alright?”
“Yes, just worried about what is to come. I hadn’t put much thought into my future, living for each day as it came. And there are things I should have said to Armand; things which will now be forever unsaid. You have also been quiet.”
“Busy trying to come up with a plan that covers as many contingencies as possible. I’m worried that we haven’t seen any sign of Marec and his men. They must know by now that we are not on the road to Paris.”
Evangeline knew Vincent and the way he worked. Gus’s fears were well grounded. The Lamballe gang could be deliberately lagging behind them in order to let her and Gus ride blindly into a trap. “It would help immensely if I could figure out exactly where we were. I know a few people in this area. Jodoc and his wife are not the only ones who have connections with my family,” she replied.
She didn’t want to seek shelter with the locals, worried that it could cause trouble. What they needed was information. “If we were able to reach out to one of our friends, they might at least be able to share news of the Lamballe gang. I don’t want to put anyone in danger, mind you. But knowing anything about where Vincent might be headed would help.”
