Eleanor Tatum

At the end of our chapter three Trevor meets the enemy. The certainty he feels for Catherine mixes his attraction with a fear for her safety. Page 36-37

After hearing her screams, he attacked the slippery bluff and made it to the top. He turned left while he bent to swipe off the mud and twigs from his legs, but more importantly, he listened and gathered oxygen and information. He headed forward as male voices were heard among the insect calls and otherwise peaceful evening.

Through the low limbs hanging over the bend in the road, he spied four large men in a semi-circle far too close to Catherine. With her back to a tree, she stared them down with amazing courage, without showing the fear she must have have had inside.

“Come now, Miss Randolph, let’s be on our way. You know the boss wants you back south.”

“Yeah, we’ve chased you through these hellish swamps long enough, my young pretty morsel. It’s back to Charleston with you. Go get her, Mack.” The smallest of the four stepped forward, but then he fell on his face. A shot had erupted the early evening and blood rapidly stained Mack’s already dirty shirt.

Leaving Catherine alone with promises of their return, the remaining three disappeared into the the thick undergrowth.

Trevor stumbled from behind his cover and approached Catherine with soothing phrases, gathered her trembles in his arms, and pledged something ridiculous like, “You’re safe now.” He had no idea where the shot had originated. Who were those men? How did they know her? For heaven’s sake, why did their boss want her in Charleston?

He did know his sense of falling had returned, but falling into what? The only certainty he knew swirled around her safety.

Egad! Enough…until next time.