He looked hungry now, and she knew it wasn’t for food. She just shook her head. She would tell him no more. Compton Fielding said finally, “Very well. We will amuse ourselves. I will ask you questions about the colonists and you will answer.”
“No, I won’t, not unless you promise me you’ll not hurt James or my babe.”
He raised his hand, making a fist in her face, his smile never faltering.
35
SHE JERKED AWAY, rolling onto her side, her arms over her belly. He didn’t hit her. He laughed.
“I’ll find out soon enough all about Valentine and the lost colonists,” he said. “Sit up, Jessie. I just wanted to make sure you believe I’m serious about all this. I’m pleased that you do. Also, you seem to care about the babe in your belly. I fancy that will make you all the more cooperative.”
“What are you going to do now?” she asked as she righted herself, leaning back against the scruffy tree trunk, her arms over her chest. Her heart was pounding so hard, she was certain he must hear it.
“I already told you. We’ll—” He broke off as a shout came from not twenty feet away.
“Miss Jessie! Where are you? Miss Jessie!”
“You make a sound, and I’ll kill whoever that is.”
She believed him. It was Gypsom. She held herself very still. But it wasn’t to be.
Gypsom stumbled into the small clearing. He came to a dead halt, staring at Jessie, at Mr. Fielding, who was holding a very ugly pistol, pointed at him.
Gypsom said helplessly, “Miss Jessie, I saw ye walkin’ with this man and ye must have dropped yer bonnet.”
“Did you drop your bonnet on purpose, Jessie?”
“No,” she said, and prayed she sounded as though she meant it. “It’s all right, Gypsom.”
“Actually it’s not all right at all, Gypsom,” Mr. Fielding said very pleasantly. “Miss Jessie came with me to this charming little den of mine. Why don’t you sit down? You’re one of James’s stable lads. You’re f
ine with horses, he told me. Yes, sit right there, Gypsom. Well, we’re gaining quite a fistful of folk, aren’t we? What do you think, Jessie? Should I kill him or send him back to James to get all this started right and proper?”
“Send him to James. Don’t hurt him.”
“I was going to write a note but perhaps it’s better to send you, Gypsom. However, you know where she is. What will I do about that?”
“Why do you need to hide me at all? Just take me with you to the place where the treasure is. Gypsom can bring James. Then you can take what part of the treasure you want and leave us alone.”
“You make it sound so very simple, my dear girl. Is it that simple? I wonder. Very well. Gypsom, listen carefully to me, for your mistress’s life depends on your fine execution of my words.”
Five minutes later Gypsom ducked beneath the live-oak branches and was lost from view.
“Now, my dear Jessie, why don’t you take me to where the treasure is?”
“Compton Fielding? The bookstore owner? The scholarly man who plays the violin and speaks French as well as I do? That Compton Fielding?”
“Yes, sir, Mr. James. He decided to send me back to you, not to kill me. I was very glad about that.”
“So,” James said slowly, thankful for the moment that he and Gypsom were alone, as Gypsom had requested, “you and I are to take our poles and go to the marsh. He’ll have Jessie there. We get the treasure out and he takes what he wants. Then he’ll leave us alone.”
“Aye, Mr. James. He said to tell you how much you owed him, what with him saving Miz Jessie’s life two times. Mr. James?”
“Yes?”
“I think he likes you, but I don’t trust him. There’s something not quite right in his brain.” Gypsom tapped the side of his head and rolled his eyes.
“Jessie was all right? You’re certain?”