With a glance at the folded paper in her hands, he asked, "What's that?"
"A letter. Owen brought it to me."
Maggie leaned close. "Is that a J on the seal?"
Red let out a short bark of laughter. "Read it and then tell me if I'm right. You'll go together, you'll return together, and for better or worse, you'll have your answers. But I'm thinkin' it’ll be for the better."
Carefully breaking the seal, Isabel unfolded the single sheet of paper.
Q,
You have the promise of a safe haven should you ever care to stop at C.M.
We share a mutual friend. Trust him. He seeks to do what is right at great personal cost. He may keep secrets from you, but only because he must. I implore you to believe in his goodness. Perhaps one day soon we can share a hug, and I can tell you more.
I have missed you, my friend. It pained me to keep silent as agreed, but you have remained always in my prayers.
J
Isabel refolded the missive and clutched it in her hand.
"Are you going to tell us what the note says?" Curiosity filled Maggie's voice.
Heat climbed Isabel's neck. Red's guffaw told her it was visible.
She refused to acknowledge his laughter. "Are you sure the two of you will be fine here?"
Maggie patted her arm. "We'll get along well enough. We know what to do, and I'll be perfectly safe with Red watching out for me."
She regarded the man who had been friend, protector, investigator, warrior, and sometimes even nursemaid for her over the years. He nodded. "On my honor."
Isabel shivered, fear clawing at her throat. She'd never left Red and Maggie for any length of time. She had to accept the facts. It wasn't them she feared for; it was herself. They're going to realize they no longer need me.
"I guess I need to pack a satchel. He leaves at first light. Do we know where his horse is stabled?"
Red reached for his coat. "I'll go track down his horse and secure you a mount, too."
Their funds were limited. "Are you sure we can afford it?"
He winked at her. "Maggie and I may have spent some time in the gambling dens while you've been busy. Collecting information, of course."
Isabel shook her head. Red had one vice that she knew of, and he rarely indulged in it. The duration and inactivity of their present assignment would be the perfect reason for him to find himself a game of cards.
For as long as she'd known him, Red had never lost, which was one of the reasons he didn't play as much as he'd like. People remember the men who lose in extraordinary fashion as easily as they remember those who win in the same way. He was one of the latter, but because their way of life depended on remaining unnoticed, he refrained from playing as much as possible.
****
Isabel climbed from the bed no more rested than she'd been upon climbing in the night before. She had done her best to stay still so Maggie could at least get some rest, but it had been a battle. She'd wrestled with her insecurities throughout the night until finally giving them to God.
I love them, and I'm afraid of losing them. One of two things is going to happen. They'll need me to protect them, and I won't be here. Or they'll discover they don't need me at all. Give me peace, Lord, before I lose my mind with fear and worry.
She stepped out the front door to find Red had brought her a small mare. There was nothing extraordinary or noteworthy about her, which made her perfect. "What's her name?"
"Penelope."
Isabel forced a smile. "That's a funny name for a horse."
Maggie stepped out of the cottage, Isabel's satchel in one hand and a heavy cloak in the other. "You'll need this to keep you warm. Take care of yourself. Make sure you eat."
Isabel took the cloak from her and put it on. Thick and warm, it would offer good protection from the elements. She lifted her head with a hoarse thank you whilst Maggie wrapped her in a strangling hug. "You come back to us safe and sound. If that boy lets anything happen to you, I'll send Red after him. With all his knives, too. And maybe a few
"A letter. Owen brought it to me."
Maggie leaned close. "Is that a J on the seal?"
Red let out a short bark of laughter. "Read it and then tell me if I'm right. You'll go together, you'll return together, and for better or worse, you'll have your answers. But I'm thinkin' it’ll be for the better."
Carefully breaking the seal, Isabel unfolded the single sheet of paper.
Q,
You have the promise of a safe haven should you ever care to stop at C.M.
We share a mutual friend. Trust him. He seeks to do what is right at great personal cost. He may keep secrets from you, but only because he must. I implore you to believe in his goodness. Perhaps one day soon we can share a hug, and I can tell you more.
I have missed you, my friend. It pained me to keep silent as agreed, but you have remained always in my prayers.
J
Isabel refolded the missive and clutched it in her hand.
"Are you going to tell us what the note says?" Curiosity filled Maggie's voice.
Heat climbed Isabel's neck. Red's guffaw told her it was visible.
She refused to acknowledge his laughter. "Are you sure the two of you will be fine here?"
Maggie patted her arm. "We'll get along well enough. We know what to do, and I'll be perfectly safe with Red watching out for me."
She regarded the man who had been friend, protector, investigator, warrior, and sometimes even nursemaid for her over the years. He nodded. "On my honor."
Isabel shivered, fear clawing at her throat. She'd never left Red and Maggie for any length of time. She had to accept the facts. It wasn't them she feared for; it was herself. They're going to realize they no longer need me.
"I guess I need to pack a satchel. He leaves at first light. Do we know where his horse is stabled?"
Red reached for his coat. "I'll go track down his horse and secure you a mount, too."
Their funds were limited. "Are you sure we can afford it?"
He winked at her. "Maggie and I may have spent some time in the gambling dens while you've been busy. Collecting information, of course."
Isabel shook her head. Red had one vice that she knew of, and he rarely indulged in it. The duration and inactivity of their present assignment would be the perfect reason for him to find himself a game of cards.
For as long as she'd known him, Red had never lost, which was one of the reasons he didn't play as much as he'd like. People remember the men who lose in extraordinary fashion as easily as they remember those who win in the same way. He was one of the latter, but because their way of life depended on remaining unnoticed, he refrained from playing as much as possible.
****
Isabel climbed from the bed no more rested than she'd been upon climbing in the night before. She had done her best to stay still so Maggie could at least get some rest, but it had been a battle. She'd wrestled with her insecurities throughout the night until finally giving them to God.
I love them, and I'm afraid of losing them. One of two things is going to happen. They'll need me to protect them, and I won't be here. Or they'll discover they don't need me at all. Give me peace, Lord, before I lose my mind with fear and worry.
She stepped out the front door to find Red had brought her a small mare. There was nothing extraordinary or noteworthy about her, which made her perfect. "What's her name?"
"Penelope."
Isabel forced a smile. "That's a funny name for a horse."
Maggie stepped out of the cottage, Isabel's satchel in one hand and a heavy cloak in the other. "You'll need this to keep you warm. Take care of yourself. Make sure you eat."
Isabel took the cloak from her and put it on. Thick and warm, it would offer good protection from the elements. She lifted her head with a hoarse thank you whilst Maggie wrapped her in a strangling hug. "You come back to us safe and sound. If that boy lets anything happen to you, I'll send Red after him. With all his knives, too. And maybe a few
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