Текст книги "Wild Silver "

Автор книги: Iris Johansen

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Текущая страница: 11 (всего у книги 13 страниц)

I’ve made a mistake, but I have to know, dammit. You’re

becoming too – “ He broke off, searching for words. „He may

be right; the Randall Agency was wrong about your having a

lover. They could be wrong about what happened at Hell’s

Bluff.“

„I don’t know what you’re talking about. I haven’t been

back to Hell’s Bluff in four years.“

„It happened four years ago,“ Nicholas said tightly. „You

were there with Dominic Delaney and Elspeth MacGregor.

You – “

The carriage came to a halt as Mikhail reined in the team.

He called, „We are here.“

„Damn,“ Nicholas muttered, and opened the door of the

carriage. He stepped down on the cobblestone street

overlooking the levee and walked quickly toward the hitching

post where Mikhail was tying the horses.

Mikhail turned. „I will go tell Robert we are ready to leave.

You will want to carry Silver down to the Rose. She might cut

her feet on these rough stones.“

Nicholas’s frown faded and a smile of amusement curved

his lips. „I’ll see that her delicate toes never come in contact

with these coarse stones. Trust me.“

„I trust you,“ Mikhail said gravely. „But I know you and

she does not. You have not been kind to her. It is no wonder

she ran away from you.“

Nicholas expression became shuttered. „I kept my promise

to you.“

Mikhail nodded. „But you have made none to her. She is a

woman who has no one, a woman who belongs nowhere. Such

a woman needs promises.“ He paused. „Though she may never

tell you she does.“ He turned away. „She has great pride.“ He

didn’t wait for an answer but started down the slanting levee,

his bootheels clicking loudly on the cobblestones.

Nicholas gazed after him, then turned and crossed the few

paces back to the door of the carriage. He opened the door and

stood looking at her. Sensual Scheherazade. Fierce warrior.

Lonely waif. Silver.

She frowned in puzzlement. „Why are looking at me like

that?“

„No reason.“ He held out his arms. „Come. Mikhail is

worried about you cutting your feet. I promised him I’d – “

Pain.

His head exploded with white-hot agony. „What…“

The pain struck again!

Darkness.

„Nicholas!“ Silver frantically slid across the seat. He was

falling to the ground!

„Good evening, Miss Delaney.“ Lee Bassinger stepped

forward, a coil of rope in one hand and a pistol in the other. „I

can’t tell you how glad I am to see you. I’ve been waiting here

on the wharf a long time for Nicholas to bring you back to us.

Now, stretch out your hands so that I can tie your wrists. I

have no intention of letting you get away again.“

„No,“ she said. Nicholas was lying still and white on the

cobblestones. „Is he dead?“ Her voice was faraway, only a

wisp of sound. „Have you killed him?“

„He’s alive.“ His shrewd gaze searched her face. „You

seem uncommonly concerned for a lady who has done nothing

but try to escape from the man. It’s foolish of you to reveal

such a weakness for Savron. It makes things too easy for me.“

He leaned down and pressed the barrel of the pistol to

Nicholas’s temple. „Give me your hands or I’ll blow a neat

little hole in his highness’s handsome head.“

She drew a deep, quivering breath and then, slowly, she

held out her hands to be bound.

10

„Where is she?“ Nicholas whispered, gazing up at Valentin

and Mikhail. He sat up on the bed, ignoring the blinding pain

that jagged through his head and threatened to fling him back

into the darkness. „Were we followed from that damn circus?“

„We don’t know. When you didn’t follow him to the boat,

Mikhail came back up the levee. He found you unconscious

with tw^o lumps as big as ostrich eggs on your head.“ Valentin

paused. „The carriage was gone and so was Silver. We thought

perhaps she might have demonstrated her opposition to your

plans for her.“

„No!“ Nicholas swung his feet to the floor. Christ, he was

dizzy. „It must have been one of her friends from the circus. I

have to get back there.“

„It wouldn’t do any good.“ Lee Bassinger stood in the

doorway of the stateroom, the omnipresent smile on his lips.

„Miss Delaney is accepting my hospitality at the moment.“ He

strolled into the room. „I do hope you’re feeling better,

Savron. I really hated to hit you on the head, as I wanted you

to be able to think clearly when I offered my terms.“

„Terms?“ Nicholas asked coldly. „The only terms I may

accede to involve the precise manner in which you meet your

end, Bassinger.“

„So arrogant.“ Bassinger’s tone was almost approving. „Do

you know that’s what drew me to you that night at Madam

LaRue’s? You wore your damn arrogance like an ermine-

trimmed cloak and everyone was fawning all over you. The

great Russian prince with the whole world at his fingertips.

You were just like those fancy Natchez planter folk up on the

hill.“ His green eyes were glittering in the lamplight. „I was

scum and I came from scum, but I showed them. I’m richer

than all of them now.“

„Where’s Silver, Bassinger?“ Nicholas’s words were

measured as he tried to control his temper. „Tell me now and I

may let you live. It’s not likely, but there is a possibility.“

„Your little pullet? She must be good if you still want her

after all the trouble she’s caused you. Perhaps I may try her

myself.“

„I’ve changed my mind. There’s no possibility at all that

you’ll survive.“

„I will break his bones,“ Mikhail offered mildly. „He will

tell you after the second bone is snapped.“ He studied

Bassinger. „Perhaps after only the first one is broken. I think

he has no courage.“

„Keep him away from me.“ Bassinger took a step back. „If

anything happens to me, I’ve given orders that your little

whore’s throat be cut. My men are loyal to me; they know I

don’t tolerate disobedience.“

„Wait, Mikhail.“ Nicholas experienced a surge of

frustration liberally laced with cold panic. „We’ll listen to

him.“

„How kind,“ Bassinger said caustically. „You don’t seem to

realize that I’m in charge here now. It’s my choice what will

happen to your whore and what will happen to you.“

„And what do you propose to do to us?“ Nicholas asked

without expression. „I’m sure you have a plan in mind.“

„Oh, yes.“ Bassinger nodded with satisfaction. „I’m going

to rid you of a little of that arrogance. I’m going to get the

Rose back and I’m going to enjoy having your little schoolgirl

do a number of pleasurable tricks for me.“

Nicholas hands clenched into fists at his side. „I do believe

I may draw and quarter you.“

„Excellent idea,“ Valentin murmured, his light eyes icy

cold. „I’d be delighted to assist.“

Bassinger moistened his lips with his tongue. „This isn’t

Russia, your highness. You don’t have any power here, while I

have judges bought and paid for all along the Mississippi. I’m

the one who’s prince here. I can do whatever I want.“

„You can have the Rose,“ Nicholas said crisply. „Return

the woman and I’ll sign over the papers.“

„That’s not enough, it’s too easy for you. You treated me

like a stray pup nibbling at your heels.“ Bassinger’s fair skin

was suddenly flushed with color, „Well, now you can trail at

my heels for a while. If I feel generous, I may let you return

the Rose to me when we reach New Orleans.“ He laughed

excitedly. „Don’t you think that’s only fair, your highness?“

It was more than vengeance driving him, Nicholas realized,

the man was not quite sane. The knowledge caused terror to

sleet through him. There was no way to either reason or

bargain with a madman. „And how do you intend to

accomplish this?“

„Why, we’re going to have a race,“ Bassinger said. „That

should amuse your highness, you being a gambling man. I

have your woman on the Mary L, one of my other boats

docked just down the levee. The Mary L is smaller and lighter

than the Rose and she’s carrying no cargo and only about

twenty-five passengers. When I return to the boat, I’ll order

that we set out for New Orleans. You will naturally follow.“

He smiled. „If you arrive first in New Orleans, I’ll allow you

to return the Rose and give you the bitch you apparently hold

in such esteem. If I win, you’ll still return the Rose and I’ll

keep the Delaney woman until I tire of her.“ His smile

deepened benevolently. „Don’t worry, I seldom keep women

for long after I’ve broken them. Though your half-breed seems

more spirited than most, I’m sure it will take only a little

longer.“ He turned toward the door. „I think I’m being most

generous under the circumstances. I’ll even allow you

glimpses of your strumpet from time to time if you keep close

enough on my heels. I’ll bring her up to the Texas deck when

she’s not entertaining me in my cabin.“ He opened the door

and glanced back at them, fierce satisfaction on his face, „You

understand, of course, that since I’ve made the rules and the

stakes, I can also change them at any time. You might

remember that, your highness.“

The door closed behind him.

Valentin gave a low whistle. „Nicky, he’s not – “

„Sane,“ Nicholas finished grimly. „And it wouldn’t surprise

me if he were capable of the same sorts of vicious little tricks

made notorious by our good tsar Ivan.“

„What do we do?“ Mikhail asked.

„We follow him.“ Nicholas stood up, swaying as waves of

pain pounded his temples. „Yapping at the bastard’s heels.“

„I don’t like it,“ Valentin said, frowning. „Why don’t we go

after him now and – “

„He’d kill her,“ Nicholas said harshly. „Do you think I

wouldn’t prefer that too? I can’t risk it. It’s my fault Silver is

being used as Bassinger’s pawn. If I hadn’t brought her on

board the Rose, he would never have known she existed. The

blame for anything he does lies on my shoulders.“

„He will not keep his bargain,“ Mikhail said flatly.

Nicholas didn’t answer for a moment. „I know that.“ His

lips tightened into a thin line. He moved toward the door.

„We’ll give Bassinger what he wants and watch for a chance

to get Silver away from him.“

Valentin nodded. „And then?“

„Then I’ll kill him as slowly and as painfully as possible.“

Nicholas opened the door. „I’m going up to the pilot house to

talk to Robert. Put ashore our passengers with enough money

to buy them passage back to New Orleans on another riverboat

and get rid of any cargo in the hold. I want the Rose as light as

possible. If what Bassinger claims about the Mary L is true, it

won’t help much, but we have to try everything we can. I want

to be right behind him from the moment the Mary L leaves the

levee.“ He glanced over his shoulder. „And make sure there’s

a rifle on board. The Rose may not be able to catch the Mary L

but a bullet might.“

„Come along, sweet bitch.“ Bassinger jerked Silver to her

feet. „We’re under way, and though I’d like to linger here in

my cabin with you, I have an even greater pleasure in mind.

We’re going to put on a show for your lover.“ He checked the

bonds around her wrists in front of her. „It’s a spectacle I’ve

been planning since you poured that bottle of wine on my

head.“

„You looked very funny,“ Silver said calmly. „Everyone

thought so. Do you remember how they laughed at you?

They’ll laugh again when I – “ She broke off, her head

snapping back as Bassinger struck her viciously on the cheek.

Then she shook her head to clear it of the stinging pain and

smiled. „I will remember that when my hands aren’t tied.“

„You’ll remember a good deal more than that.“ He shoved

her out onto the deck and then in the direction of the stairs

leading to the Texas deck. „And so will Savron. He’s right

behind us and he’ll be able to view our little tableau very

clearly.“ He half lifted, half pushed her up the stairs. „You’re

quite helpless, you know. No one will interfere. Most of the

passengers are asleep, but I’ve ordered their staterooms locked

as a precaution. As for the crew, they value their jobs and will

discreetly attend to their duties. A few of them will even enjoy

watching.“ He flung his arms wide as they reached the deck.

„You see, I’ve already prepared the stage. We want our

audience to be able to see every detail.“

A multitude of lanterns lit this end of the Texas deck. They

hung on the rails and sat on the deck and on the stairs leading

to the pilot house. The entire area was as brilliantly lit as the

stage to which Bassinger was comparing it. A roughly clad

young man with a scarred cheek was lighting another lantern,

and looked up to smile at Bassinger. „All set, sir. Almost as

bright as day up here.“

„Good. Oh, how rude I’m being. This is one of my

employees, Henry Bracken,“ Bassinger said smoothly as he

pushed Silver toward the rail at the rear of the boat. „Henry

has tastes similar to my own, and I often allow him to watch as

I chastise my little girls for their wickedness.“ He stood beside

her at the rail and pointed to the white riverboat gleaming in

the darkness a few hundred yards distant. „There’s the Rose.

It’s too far away for you to see if your lover is in the pilot

house watching us, but I assure you he’ll be there.“ His gaze

didn’t leave her face as he held out his hand. „The rawhide,

Henry.“

Henry Bracken hurried forward and placed the long leather

strap in Bassinger s hand. Bassinger quickly knotted the

rawhide over the ropes binding Silver’s wrists and then bound

her to the rail. „And he can see you very clearly. How

fortunate that you’re wearing red. That costume should be

quite visible from a distance.“ He stepped behind her, out of

her line of vision. „The whip, Henry.“

„Right away, sir.“

Silver inhaled sharply. He was going to beat her. She

should have expected this. She braced herself.

„Ah, you’re getting ready for the first blow. What a

beautiful sight that is. But it never does any good to prepare

yourself, the pain is just as bad as if you don’t. Thank you,

Henry.“ A whistling sound snaked through the air. „It’s a fine

whip. It will leave lovely crimson weals, but won’t scar your

permanently. That will come later.“

„There won’t be a later,“ Silver said, tugging futile-ly at the

rawhide strap. „I’ll kill you, Bassinger.“

„They all say that, don’t they, Henry?“ Bassinger’s laugh

was high and excited. „First there’s anger, then the pain, and

then the screaming.“ His voice lowered. „And then the

pleading. I’m going to enjoy that most of all. When you’re

down on your knees offering to do anything I want if I’ll only

stop the pain.“

„I’ll never go down on my knees to you.“

„Yes, you will, but first I want to make you scream very

loudly so Nicholas can hear you.“ The whip whistled again. „I

have a fancy to let his highness know how much I’m hurting

you. Scream high and sweetly, bitch.“

The whip struck her back, slicing through the velvet as if it

were only mist. The sudden pain caused her to gasp and reach

out blindly to grab the rail and hold on tight as waves of agony

rolled over her. She would not fall. She would not scream. It

was the only victory she could wrest from her helplessness.

She would not give Bassinger that triumph.

„Scream!“ The whip struck again.

She gritted her teeth and looked blindly out at the river as

the hot agony scalded through her.

„Scream!“

The lash struck again.

„I’ve told them to keep the boilers going full blast.“

Valentin rushed into the pilot house, skidding to a stop as he

reached Nicholas. „I think we’re drawing closer but – “ He

stopped as he gazed at Nicholas’s face. „What’s wrong?“

Nicholas didn’t reply, his agonized gaze riveted on the

riverboat ahead of them.

Robert finally answered for him. „Bassinger has tied Silver

to the rail,“ he said hoarsely. „He’s using a whip on her.“

Valentin’s gaze followed that of Nicholas and Robert to the

brightly lit Texas deck of the Mary L. He swallowed. „Christ,

how long has it been going on?“

„Five minutes, maybe a little more.“ Robert looked away,

his hands tightening on the wheel. „It can’t go on much longer.

She’s a woman, for God’s sake. She’ll collapse and that will be

the end of it.“

„She won’t collapse.“ Nicholas’s eyes were glittering in the

lantern light. „I wish she would. She won’t give in to the pain

until he kills her.“ He turned to Robert with barely leashed

violence. „He’ll kill her, dammit. We can’t let that happen. Get

me closer so that I can use this rifle on him.“

„I’m trying.“ Robert’s face was taut with strain. „I can only

go as fast as the boilers will let me. The Rose is heavier than

the Mary L. We’re edging up on her and I should have you

within range in another few minutes.“

„A few minutes!“ Nicholas looked at him incredulously.

„He’s beating her to death with that whip.“

„Nicholas,“ Valentin’s voice was very gentle. „He can’t do

any more than he’s doing right now.“

Nicholas began to curse beneath his breath, his dark eyes

wild in his pale face. He strode across the room and jerked

open the door. „I’ve got to do something. Do you know what

it’s like to have that lash flaying your back? We may not be in

range, but we’re close enough so that a few shots may gain his

attention. Maybe he’ll decide to postpone his demonstration

until another time.“ He ran down the steps to the Texas deck

and then to the rail at the front of the riverboat. He knelt,

steadying the rifle on the rail. Dear God, what if Bassinger

ignored the shots? He swallowed as the bile rose to his throat

at the thought. His hands were shaking and he tried to steady

them on the rifle, his gaze on Silver’s straight, rigid figure at

the rail of the Rose.

He could hear Bassinger yelling something over and over

as the whip cracked on Silver’s slender back. What kind of

whip was it? Igor had used a knout on him. Ten lashes with a

knout were supposed to kill a man, but thirty hadn’t killed

Nicholas. She had taken more than ten lashes now. Pray God,

it was another kind of whip Bassinger was using on Silver.

God, why did she stand there so proudly? The silent

defiance of her stance was all that crazy bastard needed to

keep that lash ripping at her. There was a blurring before

Nicholas’s eyes and then he felt two tears run slowly down his

cheeks. He wiped his eyes with his sleeve before he took aim

with the rifle.

The shot startled Bassinger enough to cause him to freeze

and peer out into the darkness. He turned to Henry. „How

close are they?“

„Not close enough,“ Bracken said. „That shot couldn’t

have come within fifty yards of the Mary L.“

„But they’re growing nearer.“ Bassinger hesitated. „Tell the

pilot to put on more steam.“

„They’re going at almost full steam now,“ Bracken said. „I

don’t know – “

„Put on more steam,“ Bassinger said between his teeth. „I

know you’re enjoying this pretty little slut’s punishment but

she’ll still be here when you get back.“

She might at that, Bracken thought. Silver’s spine was still

as ramrod straight as when Bassinger had started, though the

scarlet velvet was now almost completely cut away and her

golden back crisscrossed with angry red weals. „I wanna be

here when she breaks.“

„Then hurry.“ Bassinger turned back to Silver. „She can’t

last much longer.“

Bracken gave a last reluctant glance at Silver and then

hurried down the deck toward the staircase leading to the pilot

house.

A second shot echoed over the river.

„Nicholas must be very perturbed to try anything so futile,“

Bassinger drawled. „It has to be annoying for him to feel so

helpless. But you’re not helping me, my dear. One shrill,

agonized scream would increase his pain tremendously.“ He

drew back his arm. „I’m done toying with you.“ The lash came

down with his full strength behind it, breaking the skin and

causing a tiny river of blood to run down her back. „Scream,

you strumpet!“

A shudder of agony wracked Silver’s body.

She did not scream.

„We’re not gaining on them.“ Nicholas ran up the stairs to

the pilot house. „We’re supposed to be gaining on them. What

the hell is wrong?“

„They’re putting on more steam.“ Robert’s gaze was fixed

in horror on the Mary L and his voice was only a level above a

whisper. „My God, they were going at almost full steam and

they’re still feeding those boilers.“

„Then they’ll pull away from us,“ Nicholas said hoarsely.

The pilot numbly shook his head. „No, I don’t think so.“

Hope leapt within Nicholas. „Why not?“

„Lord.“ Robert closed his eyes. „The Sultana.“ His eyes

flicked open and he swerved the wheel violently to the left.

„What the devil are you doing?“ Nicholas shouted.

„I’m getting out of the way.“ Robert didn’t look at him as

he veered toward the eastern bank of the river. „And’hoping to

God I’m in time.“

„Out of the way of what?“

„Those boilers are going to blow. The Mary L can’t take

that much steam with those faulty boilers. They’re going to

blow up and take the Mary L with her.“

„Blow up?“ Nicholas could only stare at him. „Silver is on

the Mary L. It can’t – “

The Mary L exploded.