Alana (35 page)

“Madame,” the governor said in stiff formality, “duchess or not, you are in no position to demand anything.” Fixing Alana with an accusatory stare, the governor continued to speak. “When you first claimed that your fiancé had been abducted, Edward brought your case to me. I personally conducted a thorough investigation because of my friendship for the duke–although I never believed for a moment that such a person existed.” The governor paused, his eyes never leaving Alana’s face.

“My colleagues and I believed that you had blinded Edward by your story of helplessness. When you managed to marry him, we knew we were correct. After concluding my investigation, I was convinced that this Montgomery person had never been sentenced or sent to a mine and that your story was blatantly false.”

Alana stared silently at the governor, unable to make her voice work in the wake of his accusations. Again, Crystal spoke for her.

“Johann Devreeling is the man who arranged for my brother’s incarceration. He switched papers and placed my brother in the Bristol mine under the name of Frank Tremain.”

“Impossible!”

“He is there!” Alana declared in a loud, angry voice.

“What kind of a fool do you take me for, Madame Parkins? I am not as gullible as your late husband. If this man you now call Tremain is in that mine, it is because he deserves to be. If he is not using his own name, that simply means he is guilty. Or is this Tremain your lover, and now that you have gained both title and estate, you want him back?”

Alana tensed. “How dare you speak to me like that?” Her anger flowed too fast to stop. Stiffly, she rose to her feet. “You have made a terrible mistake, Governor White, one that will cost you dearly.”

Alana turned to leave, but Crystal’s hand stopped her. Crystal asked reasonably, “Will you not at least question this man Devreeling?”

“Johann Devreeling is a man above reproach. He is a trusted magistrate of the court, and I will not insult him in that manner.”

“I see,” Crystal whispered.

“I certainly hope so. Now you may leave.”

Alana brushed off Crystal’s restraining hand and stared bitterly at the governor. “My husband considered you his friend. He was mistaken, for you are far from that. He was mistaken also when he used his influence to help you gain your appointment to the acting governorship. But Edward taught me much, especially of the power that accompanies my family’s nobility. You shall regret both your words to me and your unwillingness to pursue this matter. I shall see to that, Governor White.”

“Alana,” Crystal whispered, trying to stop her heated flow of words.

Without taking her eyes from the governor, Alana continued to speak. “You are a sanctimonious, envious fool. If you try to interfere with our finding Mr. Montgomery, I will ruin you. Do you understand me?”

“Don’t let your inheritance make you think you have the power your husband had,” White said, his face livid at Alana’s words.

“We shall see about that, shan’t we? Good day, Governor.” Turning regally, Alana left the office, never once allowing the man to see that her hands trembled with the black rage she felt.

In the carriage, Crystal turned to Alana. “That may have been a mistake.”

“I don’t give a damn if it was or not. He had no right to talk to me like that, and as far as I’m concerned, he’s as guilty as Devreeling!”

A heavy silence fell between them as the carriage drove toward her house. It continued until they were inside and seated on the leather couch in the library.

Then Alana sighed as she looked at Crystal. “I’m sorry I lost my temper. I shouldn’t have. But he made me realize how much I’ve depended on Edward and not on myself.”

Crystal wisely maintained her silence.

“That pompous jackass has made a big mistake. I will use everything I have to get Rafe free. Everything!”

“First we must make certain that it is Rafe at the Bristol mine,” Crystal cautioned.

“He is,” Alana vowed. “He has to be.”

They talked for another hour, trying to think of ways to free Rafe without coming upon a workable plan. Then, as if she had been in a dark tunnel for too long, Alana saw the light at its end.

Her breath hissed out, and she closed her eyes in an effort to control her spinning thoughts. “Crystal, we’ve been fools.”

“No, Alana, we’ve–”

“Yes, we have! We’ve been playing under the wrong rules, Crystal. We haven’t yet let ourselves do things the way he does, because we care about people. Allison doesn’t give a damn about anyone except himself and his wealth. It’s time to do things his way. It’s the only way to win.”

Crystal played Alana’s words within her head, and slowly came to the same conclusion. She had played Allison’s game in New York, but since then she had been complacent by comparison. “How?”

Alana stood and paced the confines of the room. “Here is what we have to do. First, and most important, is to free Rafe. Then Devreeling must sign a confession, admitting his role. Only after those two things are accomplished can we go to the governor and present him with a fait accompli. The governor can do nothing against us then.”

“Alana–” Crystal said, her voice holding an edge of doubt.

Alana shook her head determinedly at Crystal’s tone. “No! you taught me how to survive. You’re the strong one, Crystal. Don’t change on me now.”

Crystal shook her head. “It’s not that. After what happened with the governor today, will he not mention our accusation to Devreeling?”

Alana’s breath caught. “And I called him a fool!  Of course he’ll tell Devreeling what we said. And Devreeling will–”

“Will have Rafe removed so that there can be no evidence against him,” Crystal finished for her.

“Then we have no time to lose!” Alana exclaimed, galvanizing her mind into action.

An hour later, Alana was in the offices of Maklin-Parkins, where she informed the head clerk that she was leaving immediately on an inspection of the company’s mines along the border of the Orange Free State.

She asked for all the records of those mines, and then told him that no one was to know she had left Cape Town.

When the clerk hesitated, she fixed him with the authoritative glare that Edward had used so often. “You served my husband loyally. I trust you’ll do the same for me.” Softening her tone somewhat, she added, “After all, we are in this business together, Mr. Crawford.”

The head clerk nodded his head silently. Then Alana issued instructions for him to have a supply wagon and the company coach readied for her by that evening.

When the head clerk started from the office, Alana stopped him. He looked at her in question, and she asked him to take a seat.

“Mr. Crawford, you’ve always worked closely with my husband. He believed you were indispensable to him in the running of Maklin-Parkins. I would like to feel the same. In my absence, you are in charge.”

“Very well, Lady Parkins,” Philip Crawford replied.

“And I must ask a favor of you, Mr. Crawford.”

“If I can be of service.”

“Between now and when I leave tonight, I need all the information you can find about the Bristol mine.”

Crawford stared at her for a moment, his brows knitting together. “Have they made you any offers since–since your husband died?” Crawford asked suddenly.

“No.”

“For a moment I thought–” Crawford paused.

“Thought what?” Alana prodded.

“They had approached your husband almost three years ago, seeking financing for their mine. After Mr. Parkins looked into the situation, he declined to invest. But I do believe,” Crawford added thoughtfully, “that we kept all the information that was given us. I shall look for it.”

“It would be a great help to me, Mr. Crawford. Please bring everything you can find to the house.”

Crawford stood, but again Alana stopped him. “Why didn’t Edward invest in the mine?” she asked.

“He didn’t like the way they were planning to run the operation, nor did he like the idea of shaft mining the way their engineer proposed to do it.”

“Shaft mining?” Alana questioned. “I thought all diamonds were surface mined.”

“Most are. Several people have tried shaft mining, but most have been unsuccessful,” Crawford informed her.

“But the Bristol?”

Crawford shrugged. “No one knows. Everything about the mine is secret. Perhaps there is something in the old file.” With that, Crawford left, and Alana went to the docks to meet with Captain Sanders.

After explaining her plan to the captain, she told him what she needed him to do, and he willingly agreed.

Then she returned home to tell Crystal that all was in readiness. Two hours later, Philip Crawford arrived with the supply wagon, company coach, and the information Alana had re-quested. He told both women and Chaco, who stood behind them, about the original offer the owners of the Bristol mine had made Edward. The best information of all was a detailed sketch of the area and a layout of all the buildings as well as the proposed shaft mine itself.

When Crawford finished, Alana took the papers from him. “Thank you, Mr. Crawford. I don’t know how long we’ll be gone, but I’m sure that you will take care of everything in my absence.”

Crawford stood, but before he left, he spoke again. “Tim Foster, the supervisor of the Parkins Five, might know more about the current operation of the Bristol, which is only three miles from him. But, I must caution you to be careful when dealing with the people at the Bristol. Your husband believed the men financing the mine to be somewhat unscrupulous.”

“We shall be very careful, Mr. Crawford, and I thank you for your concern.”

At midnight, Alana and Crystal were inside the luxurious coach with Chaco seated next to the driver. While most of Cape Town slept, the two women, Chaco, the drivers, and two company guards rode out of town.

Unbeknownst to Alana, her carriage passed a small yet luxurious stone house wherein Johann Devreeling sat across from Harold Rankin, a British ex-colonial officer and the man who was currently in charge of security for the Bristol mine.

The two men had one thing in common: they both secretly worked for James Allison. And, Devreeling just had finished explaining their problem and was waiting for Rankin’s reply.

“I don’t like it,” Rankin stated.

“But you’ll do it. Remember, if anyone learns about Montgomery, we’re both finished.” Exhaling loudly, Devreeling handed Rankin several legal documents. “These are the release and commutation papers for Frank Tremain. Make sure he does not reach Cape Town.”

“He won’t,” Rankin stated. “I’ll take him out of the mine with the next shipment. In ten days, Montgomery will never have existed.”

Alana
hugged herself against the chill in the night air, carried to them by the ever-present west wind. At her side, Crystal did the same, while both women continued to stare at the dark mine in the distance. They saw only a few pinpoints of lantern light from their vantage point; the rest they pictured in their minds.

“It’s time,” Crystal whispered.

Alana nodded. Then the two women walked to the waiting carriage and motioned to the man who stood next to it.

Tim Foster, the supervisor of Parkins Five, went to the front of the carriage, grasped the horse’s halter, and started him around. The women followed Foster on foot until they reached the curve on the mine’s road that they knew would be hidden from the watchful eyes of the guards at the Bristol mine.

Crystal took two revolvers from her waistband and checked their loads. While she did, Alana stepped close to Foster and said, “Thank you for your help. You must go now.”

“I’ll stay,” he stated.

Alana gave a sharp shake of her head. “You’re a good man, Tim Foster, and that’s why my husband hired you. But I’m in charge now, and I order you back to the mine.”

Foster started to protest again, but Alana cut him off quickly. “Go, Tim, and if anyone ever asks, you had no knowledge of what Crystal or I are attempting.”

“Lady Parkins–” Foster began.

“No more arguments, Tim. Go!”

Tim Foster knew he had no choice. He knew also that if something went wrong with their plans, it needed to be the work of the two women. If he was seen, the consequences against Maklin-Parkins and their vast resources would be devestating.

When he was gone, Alana went to Crystal. “I hope Chaco made it.”

“He did,” Crystal stated emphatically.

“Are you ready?” Alana asked.

“Be careful,” Crystal cautioned. “Don’t do anything crazy.”

Alana laughed nervously. “Crazy? Crystal, how much crazier can we be? But, Crystal, crazy or not, I won’t come out without Rafe!”

“I know,” Crystal whispered. “I know.”

As the first faint light of dawn began to paint the African plateau with color, Alana worked her way to the wooden barricade closest to the miners’ barracks.

Obscured by the last vestiges of the night, Alana went to the fence and sat with her back near the already-weakened boards that would provide her entrance. As she waited for the signal, she thought about how her destiny had changed in the past years, leading her so far from home to this very spot in the South African interior.

After consulting with Tim Foster and memorizing the layout of the mine, Alana and Crystal had formed a daring but simple plan. Going through a fence near the barracks, Chaco would enter the mine at around three in the morning–a time when even the most alert guard would be drowsy. He would work his way through the barracks until he discovered Rafe. Then he would lead Rafe back to the opening in the fence, where Alana waited.

In the meantime, Crystal would take a carriage and drive it toward the fortress-like entrance of the mine. The idea was for the carriage to hit and block the gate so that it would take some time for the Bristol’s guards to pursue Alana and Rafe.

They’s jimmied the rigging of the carriage so that at the right moment, a quick kick from Crystal’s boot would free the horse.

Once Crystal was clear, she would mount the horse and ride to where Alana had set up the rendezvous.

Although it was dangerous, Crystal believed she would be able to jump free before the carriage collided with the gate. In any event, Crystal would not allow Alana to dissuade her from taking this risk in order to free her brother.

Chaco had signed that he would find help for them. He had not explained what he would do, only that he would be back in time for the escape.

Except, Alana now thought as she looked around the dawn-lightened land, Chaco had not returned. Alana believed something had happened to prevent Chaco’s return. She knew he would not willingly abandon them. She prayed that Chaco had gone directly into the mine without stopping to tell them he was back. If necessary, Alana would take Chaco’s place, but she would not go in until the sun started to rise.

The sun finally rose, and with it Alana’s apprehension increased. Unlike Crystal, who wore a traveling dress to add authenticity to her role and to confound the guards at the beginning, Alana wore pants, high boots, and a cotton shirt. She’d pulled her hair tightly back, and covered her head with a wide-brimmed man’s hat.

Turning slightly, she looked at the section of fence that Chaco and Foster had loosened on Saturday night. She touched one board; it moved slightly in response.

It would take only seconds to pull the boards free and get inside. “And when I do,” she whispered, “will I find you, Rafe?”

~~~~~

Inside the long, dark barracks were fifty narrow beds. The sounds of men sleeping–some moaning unknowingly in their sleep–filled the fetid, foul air.

Only one of the fifty was awake. He had awakened suddenly, sensing eyes upon him. It was not the first time that something like this had happened to Rafe. The lonely years of slave-like labor and the absence of women had turned many of the stronger workers into animals, lusting after anything they could get.

Rafe’s hand moved slowly until his fingers curled around the small knife he had made out of a spoon. Then he froze. The man who stood above him was not making any move toward him. Rafe decided to wait and see what would happen.

His eyes were well adjusted to the darkness and aided by the faint light of the predawn sky, made out the shadowy form as the man leaned down. Rafe’s arm tensed; he got ready to spring. The man did not move as if he were attacking Rafe; instead, one hand touched Rafe’s shoulder gently while his other hand went to his mouth, signaling Rafe to be silent.

In that incredible instant, Rafe recognized Chaco and bolted upright.

Chaco signed to Rafe, but realized he would not understand. Instead, he made motions for Rafe to dress.

Rafe smiled for the first time since his abduction in New York, and left the bed. Two minutes later, he was dressed and ready. As silently as Chaco had entered the barracks–the fourth one he had entered in his search for Rafe–both men left.

Outside, leaning against the side of the building, out of the guards’ sight, Rafe grasped Chaco’s arm and asked in a quiet voice, “Is Alana here with you?”

Chaco nodded once and then led Rafe to the wall of another barracks, this one closer to the wall that surrounded the mine. The men moved quickly yet stealthily, avoiding the eyes of the guards in the tower. Rafe refused to allow his mind to wander as he concentrated on only one thing: escape.

When they reached the last building and faced the two hundred feet of open land between the building and the stockade wall, Rafe looked at Chaco.

Chaco held up his hand and then tapped his ear with his forefinger.

“Wait? Rafe’s brows furrowedd. “Wait for a signal?”

Chaco nodded again.

Rafe exhaled and leaned against the building as the leading edge of the sun peeked over the horizon. His heart beat fast, powered by the adrenaline pumping through his body and the hope he would soon be free and with Alana. How she had managed this, he had no idea, but that was unimportant now. If he reached freedom, there would be time to learn how she had found him. If he didn’t, it wouldn’t matter.

Then, from the front of the mine near the large gates came the thundering sound of wood ramming into wood. At the same instant Chaco pushed Rafe forward, and the two men sprinted for the fence.

As soon as Crystal had seen the leading edge of the sun crest the horizon, she had taken a deep breath and started the carriage forward. By the time she was a hundred yards from the gates, the sound of the speeding carriage was loud in the air.

She looked at the top of the gates and saw a half dozen guards staring down at her in confusion. She stood, balancing herself precariously, and shouted for help.

With fifty yards remaining between the carriage and the high gates, Crystal’s heart thudded in fear. Her mouth was dry; her hands clenched the reins so tightly that her skin was sickly white.

At twenty yards, she saw the realization that the carriage would not stop dawning on the guards’ faces. Shouts reached her, but she did not hear them in her fierce concentration.

At thirty feet, the carriage was aimed at the center of the gates. When the gates grew to the height of a mountain, Crystal used the toe of her boot to hit the rigging hook; the leather and wood parted from the carriage.

Unable even to take a breath, Crystal dove from the carriage, hitting the ground and rolling wildly to a stop as the sound of wood striking wood echoed loudly in the early morning stillness.

She sat motionless for a moment, her breath knocked from her lungs. Then she willed herself to move. Turning over, she saw that the carriage had struck exactly where she’d intended and had wedged itself into the double gate, effectively locking it until they worked the carriage free.

Turning again, she saw that the horse had stopped fifty feet from her. She got to her feet, ran to the horse, and as the guards shouted out to her, used her knife to cut away the carriage rigging. Thirty seconds after reaching the horse, Crystal was mounted and galloping away.

~~~~

Where are you, Chaco
? Alana thought as she heard the echo of the collision between carriage and gate. She could not wait for him any longer. She worked the boards free from the fence and started inside, but before she could pull herself through the opening, she saw two men coming at her in a dead run. Chaco! And…could it be Rafe?

Gunfire erupted from the two nearest towers as the two men escaped through the fence. Bullets whistled over their heads, careening madly when they hit the rocky earth near them.

The bullets meant nothing to Alana, whose eyes froze on Rafe’s gaunt face, drinking in the familiar depths of his emerald green eyes. “Rafe,” she whispered.

Suddenly the air was filled with bone-tipped spears. Three dozen projectiles whistled overhead; the guards ducked for cover.

Astonished, Alana turned to see what appeared to be a full tribe of Africans standing on the rise behind them just as Rafe’s whispered oath reached her ears. “Sweet Jesus!”

Then Chaco pushed Alana and Rafe, urging them onward. Neither wasted a moment to look back as they raced to freedom.

When the three reached the crest of the hill, Alana saw dozens of black warriors, some carrying rifles, others carrying spears. The warriors surged toward them, surrounding everyone.

Rafe’s mind worked at lightning speed, but the events of the past hour had taken their toll on him. He stood in the center of a tribe of Basuto warriors; next to him was the woman for whom he had stayed alive.

A thousand questions rose in his mind, but he pushed them all aside as he looked at Alana again. “How did you find me?” he asked as he opened his arms to her.

Alana couldn’t speak. Rafe looked terrible and smelled worse, but to her he was magnificent. She stared wordlessly up at him. Then, in the security of his arms, she lifted herself up on the balls of her feet and pressed her lips to his.

The feel of his mouth upon hers told her that everything would be all right again. When she ended the kiss, her tears fell, but she ignored them. She opened her mouth to speak, but saw Chaco signing to her urgently.
Go now. Talk later!

Smiling, she took Rafe’s hand in hers. “We must move quickly. A quarter mile from here is a carriage and–”

“And what?”

Alana smiled again as her eyes roamed his face. “You’ll see,” she whispered.

Crystal reined in the horse when she reached the hidden carriage. As she’d ridden, she’d heard gunfire coining from behind her. All she could do was pray that Chaco, Alana, and Rafe had made it away from the mine.

Dismounting, she pulled the horse’s reins over its head and handed them to the driver. Then Crystal took a few steps in the direction of the mine. Her nerves were taut, but she knew that only time would calm them. She could do nothing else now but wait.

Ten minutes later, Crystal’s mouth fell open in amazement. Before her unbelieving eyes came a large band of black warriors; at their head strode Chaco, Alana, and Rafe. Without further thought, Crystal ran toward them.