Charmed By Knight (The Fielding Brothers Saga) (33 page)

* * * *

“Is the tunnel secured with timber?” Edmund raised the lantern and looked through the cave.

“Yes sir, me and Joseph put in the wood ourselves.”

Edmund nodded to his hired hand, Adam. Both Adam and his son were in desperate need of a paycheck, and Edmund was in desperate need of help to get his mine running productively. He also needed to bury himself in work. This was the best solution to get his mind off his problems.

“Me and Joseph even put in shafts to help with the soil,” Adam continued.

“Good thinking.” Edmund nodded. “When will we be able to start digging?”

“Any time now, sir. We have all the picks, shovels and pans needed.”

“Then, what’s stopping us? Let’s get to it.”

Rolling up the sleeves on his work shirt, Edmund grabbed a pick and went further inside. Behind him, Adam and his son followed.

“Take a wall and start to it,” Edmund instructed.

It’d been years since Edmund worked so hard, but he welcomed the strain on his muscles and the sweat dripping down his face. It didn’t take his mind completely off his worries, but it helped, if only in the smallest measurement. His heart still ached to know what had
really
happened with his mother, but in order to know, he’d have to subject himself to emotion...an emotion he didn’t want anyone to see. Rogues didn’t have a heart, and he mustn’t show his.

And what was he to do about his wife? The wife who obviously didn’t want him as much as he wanted her? The beautiful woman who didn’t love him as much as he loved her.

The day passed by quickly, and soon Adam’s wife had brought them food. Edmund didn’t waste time savoring the meal of chicken and potatoes like the other two, but wolfed it down, and was soon back inside his mine digging away his problems.

Once a good amount of dirt had been excavated, Edmund took it outside the cave to the riverbed. Using his pan, he placed the dirt inside and swished it around in the water. The first three pans turned up empty, but the forth showed a twinkle of gold. His heart hammered as he continued to pan out the gold. When the black silt disappeared and gold nuggets shone like the sun, he let out a roar of glee. Adam and Joseph joined him by the water and shared in his happiness with shouts in the air.

I should run home and show Megan...

He quickly put his thoughts to a halt. No, he wouldn’t do that. Not yet. He was still too upset over her deceit. Pushing aside his hurt, he went back to work, forcing himself to concentrate on the gold.

Night had crept upon him. He was weary, and should call it a night, but there was so much more that needed to be done.

“Excuse me, Mr. Knight.” Adam’s voice interrupted Edmund’s thoughts. “Me and Joseph need to get home. In fact, you should get some shut-eye, too. It’s really too dark to do anything productive.”

“Adam, thank you for your help today. You and your son can go home to rest. I plan on working just a little while longer to finish the panning.”

“Then good night, sir. Oh, and don’t forget about Mr. Brown’s mine. He plans on using explosives tomorrow.”

“Yes, I remember. Good night, Adam. And give your wife my compliments on a tasty meal.”

Adam nodded then left the mine.

Edmund rolled out the kinks in his neck and stretched his arms, relieving the tension in his shoulders. Labor wasn’t a stranger to him, but it had been a while. He walked to the stream to pan out the soil, but the lantern didn’t set off enough light to spot the gold. He grumbled. His work was done for the night.

He wiped away the sweat on his forehead using the cuff of his shirt. He needed a bath, too, and right now the refreshing, cool water welcomed him. A woman’s soft fingers massaging his back muscles also sounded relaxing. Not just any woman could ease his pain. It had to be Megan. Although it still hurt to think of her rejection, should he still ask her assistance in bathing him?

He grinned. The thought was tempting, but then he’d want her to join him in the tub. That couldn’t happen. According to the physician, Edmund couldn’t make love to Megan for a few more weeks. But then, as upset as he’d been, there might not be a problem with that. Besides, he couldn’t leave the mine unattended.

He released a frustrated sigh and collected his tools, putting them in his wagon. Across the way in the neighboring mine, shadows played tricks on his vision. Hadn’t old Mr. Brown gone home for the night? But the shadows looked smaller than the bulky man. Thieves, perhaps?

Edmund reached in the wagon and grabbed his pistol. He’d investigate and make certain all was well with Mr. Brown’s mine. Edmund took quiet steps. The closer he came, the more tingles of apprehension danced over his skin.
Something is not right.
He tightened his hand on his pistol.

He stopped near the mouth of the cave and listened. Nothing. Yet the quick rhythm of his heart told him differently. Someone was in there. Clearing his throat, he spoke loudly, hoping to scare off whoever was messing around with Mr. Brown’s possessions. “Who’s there?”

Again, nothing. Edmund walked in further. The full moon lit his way only so far. He stopped before losing the light. “Hello?” The mine echoed his voice. “Is anybody here? Mr. Brown, is that you?”

The gentle night wind rustled the leaves outside. Edmund spun toward the sound and listened more closely. It wasn’t what he’d expected to hear. A familiar smell tickled his nose. He sneezed.
Gunpowder?

His heart plummeted. The explosives!

The loud thunder of the blast shook through the air. The ground rumbled and knocked him down. The ceiling of the cave fell in around him, and he covered his head. He crawled to get away, but a large rock hit his skull. He collapsed as darkness filled his head.

* * * *

“It’s not proper and you know it,” Bertha hissed as she followed behind Megan down the stairs.

Megan flipped her hand through the air, speaking to her maid over her shoulder. “I have done plenty of improper things in my life, so what’s one more?”

“But you’re married now.”

Megan shrugged. “That doesn’t seem to matter to Edmund, so why should it matter to me? He has been gone for two days. He won’t know.”

“But, the doctor instructed you to stay in bed.”

Megan came to a halt and Bertha nearly bumped into her. Megan grinned. “If you think meeting another man in the parlor while dressed in my night-robe is improper, perhaps I should make it even more inappropriate and invite him up to my room.”

“Mistress,” Bertha gasped.

Megan rolled her eyes. “I will not do that. You’re more than welcome to stay with us during his visit. Besides, Jake is my brother-in-law. Nothing more.”

She turned and made her way down the stairs. Her legs shook from lack of strength, but she didn’t want to pass up a visit from Jake. She should have eaten the food Bertha brought up earlier, but without Edmund, she lacked the luster to do anything.

Before stepping into the parlor, she adjusted her dressing robe, making certain her neck and body were covered. When she walked in, Jake stood.

His gaze traveled over her body quickly, then his face flamed red. “I didn’t mean to pull you out of bed, Megan.”

“Jake, please don’t apologize. I desperately need your company.”

“Has your husband not returned from the mine?”

She motioned her hand for him to sit, and she took the chair next to his. “No. I haven’t seen him since he left two days ago.”

Jake nodded. The red highlights in his face faded. “I’m sorry if I have caused any problems between you and your husband.”

She waved her hand through the air. “You haven’t. He doesn’t understand why I hesitated in telling him about the baby. I can sympathize with his plight, but he won’t listen to my explanations. Not yet, anyway.”

“Do you wish me to talk to him?”

“No, I don’t believe that’s necessary. My husband is a stubborn man. He will come around soon enough.”

“My mother is very worried. She fears he despises her, too.”

She shook her head. “Edmund has undergone a tremendous shock. Give him time to adjust, then he will talk to his mother and everything should be back to normal.”
I hope.

Jake leaned forward and touched her arm. “How are you faring? Is there anything I can do for you?”

She gave him a weak smile. “Thank you, but Bertha is taking good care of me.” She glanced at Bertha who stood just inside the doors. A scowl remained on her maid’s face. Megan looked back at Jake. “However, I’m worried who will teach the children now that I’m laid up for a few days.”

“No need to worry. I have already taken care of that.”

“I thank you.”

“My mother would like to call upon you when you are feeling better.”

“That would be lovely. Let your mother know I should be up and about tomorrow afternoon.”

He squeezed her hand. “Again, I’m truly sorry for everything.”

She nodded.

“Are you going to be all right?”

“Soon. It will take time.”

“You will have other children, I hope.”

She hoped as well. As it stood right now, she didn’t think Edmund would ever touch her again. Her heart panged over the loss of Edmund’s love. It would be impossible to seduce him into loving her now.

The pounding on the front door shook her out of her thoughts. She glanced at Bertha. “Who could be coming at this early hour?”

Bertha hurried to the door and opened it. From in the parlor, Megan saw the intruders. Two men she’d never seen before, dressed in dirty, ragged clothes like the men she’d seen who worked in the mines.

The first man doffed his hat. “We need to speak to Mrs. Knight.”

“What is this about?” Bertha folded her arms across her large bosom, blocking their entry into the house.

“There’s been an accident...”

“Edmund,” Megan gasped and stood. Her heart jumped to her throat, and blood pumped quickly to her head. She swayed, and Jake caught her arm.

“You sit down. I’ll see what this is about.”

Megan had no other choice. Her limbs were too weak. Now she wished she’d eaten to maintain her strength. She nodded.

Jake ran to the door and stepped in front of Bertha. “What’s happened?”

“There was an explosion at one of the mines. Someone witnessed Mr. Knight going into Mr. Brown’s mine before the explosion. Apparently, he stopped the mine from being robbed. But now he’s trapped inside.”

Megan’s chest constricted, and she couldn’t breathe. Fear made her body shake and her head spin. She mustn’t faint. She had to be strong.

Jake looked back at her with wide eyes, his face white. He turned back to the men. “Is Mr. Knight...all right?”

“We don’t know. He doesn’t answer when we call.”

Megan forced herself out of the chair. On wobbly legs she walked to the parlor door and held tightly to the knob. “I must go to him.”

Bertha rushed to her and wrapped her arm around her waist, supporting her. “No, Mistress. You cannot go. You are too weak.”

Tears fell from Megan’s eyes, clouding her vision. “I must. He needs me.”

Jake grabbed the first man’s arm. “How many men are there right now?”

“Only a few.”

“Gather more. We’ll need plenty of hands to dig. Mr. Knight will die from the gases if we don’t get him out soon.”

The two men nodded, turned on their heels and fled. Jake hurried to her and grasped her shaky hands. His warm hands protectively held hers.

“Megan, we’ll get him out, but you should stay here. You are too weak to travel.”

She shook her head. “Jake, you don’t understand. He
needs
me...I need him.” A sob tore from her throat and she covered her face with her hands. “I can’t lose him!”

“Megan, I will do everything I can to get him out of there. I promise.”

Chapter Twenty-One

Jake slowed the team of horses pulling the wagon. At least a dozen lanterns surrounded what used to be the opening to the mine. Megan couldn’t tear her gaze from the men digging through the crumbled pile of wood, while other men disposed of the broken timber. Her heart twisted. Would Edmund survive underneath all of that?

Jake stopped the wagon and clasped her hand in his. “Don’t worry, Megan. We will find him.”

She nodded, her throat too constricted to speak. Tears welled in her eyes, then streamed down her face.

“Mistress?” Bertha leaned over the seat and touched Megan’s shoulder. “I brought some meats, bread, and cheese from the cook. Will you eat to regain your strength?”

Eating was the last thing Megan wanted to do, but she needed it. “Yes.”

Jake turned to Bertha. “You stay here with her. I’m going to go help the men.”

“Yes, sir.”

Megan watched in a daze. The men shoveled and dug, but the opening to the mine didn’t get any larger. Time slipped by, and the morning sun peeked in the horizon. Edmund had yet to answer the other men’s calls.