Eleanor Tatum

Egad!

Catherine Randolph of Charleston has escaped her kidnappers, has hidden in the Carolina swamps, and has become an assistant cook in an hunting resort. The Garretts saved her once and will so again if need be. They warn her against breaking her disguise as a mute simpleton and the dangers of friendliness with the elitist management and guests, for they are all truly hunters.

Page 22

Catherine stopped her preparations, turned to her left and then the right to check the location of the other helpers. She didn’t need witnesses. She sighed and admired her friend, her rescuer, “God, Joann, I love you.”

The older woman laughed and sang, “Me too,” followed by a beautiful rendition of Blessed Assurance. A few of the others returned to investigate the positive sounds. “Oh don’t mind me. Shoo! I’ll tell you when to listen to me.” She raised one hand from the mixing bowl and waved, “Oh, wait. I’ve changed my mind. Now’d be good time. Go finish the breakfast cleanup and then get up to the lodge.”

She gave Catherine her new orders about how much to pack for the hunt. Together they managed to get enough bread, cheese, fruit, and whiskey into several large baskets and they loaded it all into the wagon.

Ross Garrett appeared from behind the tent and helped his wife with the larger baskets. “Well, Beautiful, the sun is finally coming out and is glistening on that lovely lake, but you’ve already outshined them both.” He placed three quick kisses on her smiling mouth and spoke to Catherine. “You’re not looking too shabby yourself, missey.”

Catherine returned the warmth with a quick hug and whispered, “Good morning to you, too, Handsome.”

“Oh, your attitude has sweetened up since we found you, but your eyesight’s gone bad.” He laughed as he checked the harnesses and gear attaching the camp’s two mules to the work wagon and climbed up onto the seat. “Come on, women, we’ve got spoiled gents waiting for your delectable delights.”

“What about the mess I left inside His Meaness?” Catherine pointed back to the central kitchentent.

“I’ve ordered Elza and Freddy to finish. They can do it. You trained them, even without saying a word,” Joann laughed.

The women climbed on board. Joann cuddled her husband’s arm and Catherine sat on her other side, having envious thoughts about love and finding someone she could trust. She twitched an eyelid when a handsome face on a true British gentleman appeared in her mind with a startling force. It surprised her. The vision disappeared when her world returned to the gutted dirt road and the back ends of two mules.

“So, Missy Mute, how did you manage to teach Slow Elza and Lazy Freddy how to bake bread and clean up, since you’re supposedly mute? Not that we mind playing along with your little game.” Ross leaned forward over his wife to grin at Catherine.

“She uses her talented hand signals, dear heart,” Joann answered him for their friend and with a worried expression she turned and asked Catherine, “What happened the other night? How did you manage to get away?” She lovingly patted her leg.

“Get away from what?” Ross kept his eyes on a turn in the road, but his brows folded into worry.

“Well, while you were fishing the other night, two of Mercer’s men barged into the kitchen and forced our Catherine to go with them. They dragged her out and headed to the lodge. I tried to follow, but they pushed me away.” She rubbed his arm to sooth him before he exploded.

“Who had his hands on you?” Ross had stopped the mules and glared at both of the ladies. “He had our girl kidnapped? Good God, woman, when were you going to tell me? Chirstmas?”