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Natalie heard the commotion as she crouched down with the two Smith women, Abby and Violet, in the butler’s pantry.
They’d locked the door and pushed a large rack of pots and pans in front of it, huddling together along with Gris and Violet’s baby daughter. Her nerves jangled as she gripped the gun tighter.
The little girl started to cry, and Violet held her close, softly shushing her as they all held on to one another.
The noise was deafening until suddenly it was silent. After the battle, the lack of sound filled her with an eerie sense of foreboding. The other women must have felt it too because no one moved an inch, until a scraping sound started at the door.
“It isn’t them,” Abby cried in a whisper. “If it were Rush, he’d call out to me.”
Abby’s words settled deep in her gut, the truth of them making her gasp for breath. Was Ethan all right? Natalie took a fortifying gulp of air and raised the pistol in her hand, stepping in front of the women. One high window was centered on the far wall and Natalie nodded toward it. “Push the table underneath it. I’ll hold them off while the rest of you climb out.”
Abby only paused for a moment, looking first at Natalie, then Violet. “Natalie Blake, what has he done to you?”
That made Natalie blink in surprise. “What do you mean?”
Abby gave her a small smile, despite the everything. “He’s turned you from a meek girl into a…”
“Bear?” Violet asked, softly shushing the baby.
“Warrior,” Abby tried again.
“Lioness,” she said as she cocked the hammer back, the scratching at the door turning to someone pulling.
“Hey,” a male voice called from the other side of the door, “open up.”
“You’ll have to break it down,” Natalie answered. “We won’t let you in.”
“I’m Fulton’s man, Jack Mate’s me name, from the Second Chance. Gyla’s men have been killed or run off.”
Natalie dropped the pistol a few inches as she looked back at the other women.
“I know him.” Violet nodded. “I’ll recognize him if I see him.”
Natalie still didn’t wish to remove the rack from in front of the door. “How do we know you are who you say you are?”
There was a pause. “Gris’s little girl is named Rose and she’s got her daddy’s dark hair and eyes.”
Violet still frowned. “And what’s my name?”
“I can’t see ye, confounded woman.”
“That’s him,” Violet said with a nod. “Ornery as anything.”
The women pulled the rack back just far enough for Jack to open the door and push it the rest of the way himself.
The entire group started upstairs, Natalie crying with relief when Ethan came into view. He took two long strides toward her, sweeping her up into his arms. “What happened? Where’s Gyla? Is he dead?”
“Your uncle is chasing him. He escaped in his carriage.”
Her lips parted as she stared up at Ethan. “Is my uncle equipped for chasing villains?”
“Had several soldiers with him,” Gris grunted with both Violet and Rose in his arms. “But he’s a tough one, your uncle.”
“He’s been at the chase a while,” Rush added. “Works for the government.”
She blinked several times. Her uncle?
“Second son,” Fulton said with a shrug. “Got to make a living somehow.”
