Page 155 of Feathers in the Wind
Luke and Deliverance fell into line beside Jack and his brother. With the Kinton Lacey men following, they made a dignified, if smelly, procession back to the castle. Toby and the drummer, once again beating a slow march, brought up the rear and the gate shut on Kinton Lacey with all the defenders and their hostage safely within its walls.
* * *
A cheer went upas the gate swung shut with a resounding thud. Relief flooded through Luke as the portcullis chain rattled. The world had spun and for a moment he thought his legs would give way, had it not been for Deliverance, nestled beneath the curve of his arm, her own arm around his waist, holding him upright.
She looked up at him. Dark rings of exhaustion circled her eyes and her face was devoid of colour but her smile lit his day. He bent his head and kissed her forehead as a whooping crowd of the delighted, and unharmed, garrison celebrated around them.
Charles Farrington, his face purple with rage, pushed himself free of his brother and turned to face him.
“You bloody traitor. You'll hang for this,” he screamed at Jack, his eyes bulging with rage.
Jack looked down at the pistol in his hand. “Not a decision made lightly, Charles,” Jack responded. “But I couldn't in all conscience go on serving under you. Not after what you did at Byton.”
“They were rebels. We needed to set an example.” Charles swept his hand around the assembled garrison. “So these bastards knew what to expect.”
“There are some rules to war, Farrington,” Luke said. “And what you did will see you hanged. You are my prisoner and you will stand trial for the cold-blooded murder of the Byton garrison.”
He gestured to Sergeant Hale and another of his men. “Lock him up.”
“I'll see you all hang first,” Farrington shouted over his shoulder as they led away him, spittle flying from his mouth. “Wait till my father gets word of this impudence.”
“Jack!”
Penitence emerged from the door of the gatehouse and ran through the crowd to reach her lover. He swung her into his arms and another roar of approval went up from the garrison.
Luke shook his head. Young lovers were more trouble than they were worth. His arm tightened on Deliverance. Love was more trouble… but perhaps it was worth it.
He released Deliverance and looked at her. “You need to get some rest,” he said.
“Not until you tell me how the men got into the ditch without being seen?”
Ned grinned. “Can't you guess?”
Deliverance put a hand to her nose. “You came through the south ditch?”
Ned nodded. “Oddly Farrington didn't seem to pay the south ditch much attention, but I think we would all be grateful if water and soap could be spared to allow us the dignity of a good wash.”
Deliverance nodded. “Immediately,” she said.
“Capn' Sir!” A man on the curtain called down. “Come and see.”
Luke released Deliverance and bounded up the stairs to join the man on the wall. “Look!”
“What's happening?” Deliverance stood at his side.
“They're pulling out,” Luke said as he scanned the distant movement of men and wagons.
“Is it over?” Deliverance asked, her voice cracked with emotion.
“It will be by tonight,” Luke said.
She looked up at him, all exhaustion banished from her face. “We did it! Oh, Luke, we did it!”
Her arms circled his neck and all modesty and decorum were abandoned, they kissed to an accompaniment of whoops and catcalls.
Luke looked down into the courtyard. “That's enough cheek from you lot. They've not gone yet, so to your posts all of you and you, my lady, I am ordering you to get some rest before you fall over. Go!”
He watched as she descended back into the courtyard and crossed over to the residence, a small, defiant figure. She had caused him to take the biggest risk of his life and he would do it again, and gladly.
