Beloved Castaway (30 page)

“I cannot. I’m to fetch a meal for her.” She smiled. “Can you feature it? She is hungry.” A giggle followed. “You’ll find her with the doctor. His office is three buildings past the boardinghouse.”

“Three buildings past the boardinghouse.” He snatched up the Bible and followed Miss Dumont out the door. “So you’ll be fetching Isabelle’s lunch then?”

“I will.” She glanced up at him. “Might I bring you something, as well?”

“Oh, no. But thank you all the same.” Josiah headed quickly into the sunshine and breathed deeply of the fresh salt air, then paused to allow Miss Dumont to catch up. Once they reached the main street, he turned to his companion. “How is William?”

Sidestepping a pair of rough-looking fellows deep in conversation outside the courthouse, Miss Dumont touched the pocket of her skirt and frowned in their direction. A moment later, her smile returned. “The boy is quite well, Captain. We’ve enjoyed his company these past few weeks, and he has blossomed into quite a scholar under Emilie’s tutelage.”
 

“Excellent. Does he ask about me?” He looked over at Miss
Dumont, who seemed frozen in place. “Are you unwell?”

She seemed not to hear him. Rather, her face went pale, and she swayed a bit. Josiah steadied her with a hand to her elbow. “Perhaps you should sit for a moment. I’m sure the strain of—”

“Oh no,” came out soft as a breath. “Andre.”

She turned and ran.

“Miss Dumont, wait!” Josiah headed after her only to find his path blocked by the two ruffians they’d just passed outside the courthouse.

He watched Miss Dumont hurry past the boardinghouse, but the number of people milling about made it impossible to know if she’d been followed.

“You’ll be needing to stay right here, mate.” This from a greasy-haired sailor whose last bath must’ve been months ago.
 

“Easy there, mate.” A second less-fragrant fellow stepped forward and pressed his finger into Josiah’s shoulder. “You just got out of jail. Wouldn’t want to be thrown back in for accosting a law-abiding citizen.”

There. Josiah spied the man shadowing Miss Dumont. Conspicuous for his formal clothing, the man still seemed to be trying to call
no attention to himself. Three buildings past the boardinghouse,
Miss Dumont slipped inside.

Three buildings past the boardinghouse.
The infirmary.
His father must know about Isabelle.

“He’s not listening, Reginald.”

Josiah returned his attention to the thugs. “Tell Hezekiah Carter his man is chasing the wrong woman,” he said as he pressed past them and headed for the infirmary, the Bible tucked under his arm.
 

“Hezi-who?” one of them said.

“I don’t know,” the other responded. “I think he’s trying to trick us.”

Greasy Hair raced up and tried unsuccessfully to tackle Josiah. Reginald found slightly more success reaching to grab Josiah by the arm, causing Isabelle’s Bible to tumble out of his reach.

When Reginald raised his fist to throw a punch, Josiah beat him to it. A second punch, and Reginald hit the ground and rolled onto his stomach just inches from Mrs. O’Mara’s flower garden.

“You can’t follow the boss.” Greasy Hair threw his shoulder into Josiah’s midsection.
 

He went rolling backward, the air whooshing from his lungs. As Josiah fought to breathe, Greasy Hair helped Reginald up. The sailor landed on his feet cursing and ordering Greasy Hair to finish Josiah off.

A pair of matrons skittered by, shock registering on their faces. Josiah held his position, unwilling to risk drawing helpless women into danger.

“He’s down now,” Greasy Hair said. “Let him be.”

Ignoring his companion, Reginald stalked toward Josiah. Rage contorted his features and his fists. Josiah remained still, waiting. From his vantage point, he saw the well-dressed man nearing the entrance to the infirmary.

Reginald yanked Josiah up by the collar, and he rose swinging. Greasy Hair joined the fray and, in a matter of seconds, both sailors were down. Josiah lingered a moment longer to be sure his assailants wouldn’t follow, then sprinted to the infirmary.

As he reached the door, a single shot rang out.

Chapter 25

J
osiah burst through the door, heedless of the fact he went in unarmed. Sprawled in the middle of a sparsely furnished room was the well-dressed man looking well and truly dead.
 

Miss Dumont wept in the arms of a man Josiah assumed was the doctor. A dueling pistol with an ivory stock lay on the floor between their feet. By contrast, the dead man’s weapon was still in its holster.

“Are you injured?” he asked Miss Dumont.

“No.” She pointed to the man on the floor and backed up until she brushed against a broad expanse of velvet curtains. “But he’s dead. I know he’s dead.”

The other man held Miss Dumont at arm’s length. “I must see to him.” He looked to Josiah, then knelt at the man’s side. “Name’s Dr. Hill. I figure you must be Josiah Carter.”

Josiah nodded.

A few steps behind Josiah seemed to be half the men and most of the women in Fairweather Key, among them an irritated-looking Judge Campbell. The judge yanked the napkin from his collar as he pressed his way through the crowd.

“Somebody better tell me why I had to leave a perfectly good lunch to come over here.” He looked down at the dead man. “Any-body know who he is?”

“Andre Gayarre,” Miss Dumont said.

“Gayarre?” The name hit Josiah harder than any punch. Was this man a relative of Emilie and Isabelle? Surely his father would not stoop to such a level. He searched the man’s face for some sign of similar parentage and found none.

The judge pointed. “Seeing as this is your office, Dr. Hill, you want to tell me what’s going on here?”
 

Dr. Hill rose and gave Miss Dumont a reassuring look, then turned his attention to the judge. “Miss Dumont and I were having a discussion about a patient when this ruffian barged in without announcing himself and began acting in a menacing way to Miss Dumont. Seeing a threat to the ladies, I had no choice but to protect those under my care.”

Josiah rubbed his sore jaw as he watched the man carefully, looking for deceit. At least part of that story was completely untrue, and both he and the doctor knew it.

Miss Dumont knew it, too, for her lip quivered, and she buried her face against the doctor’s shoulder. “No, he came after me,” she said, “and I shot him.”
 

Dr. Hill rose and gathered Miss Dumont into an embrace, making soft sounds as she wept on his shoulder. Looking over the woman’s head, the doctor addressed the crowd. “She’s distraught and has no idea what she’s saying.”

“I had to shoot him else he’d never have left me alone.” Miss Dumont swallowed hard. “He was an awful man who would have killed me with his fists had I not found the doctor’s gun.”

The judge glanced over at Josiah. “Funny how this man got shot the same day you were let out of jail.” His look became a glare. “And looks like you were the first one on the scene. You getting this pretty lady to lie for you now?”

Miss Dumont gasped, and the doctor protested. Josiah, however, stood firm and forced himself not to react. Micah Tate’s words of warning had been well timed.

“And I saw him fighting with two men right in front of the courthouse,” someone called from the back of the crowd.

Another shouted an agreement while a third said something about the
Jude
. “Maybe we ought to set up a jury right here,” the judge said. “We got plenty of able-bodied citizens of Fairweather Key in attendance.”

“You do that, Judge Campbell, and I’ll be forced to tell everyone who will listen that you condemned an innocent man.” The doctor pointed to the man on the floor. “This man is Andre Gayarre, formerly affianced to Miss Dumont. She left home because she feared his violent nature. As you all can see, her fears were not unfounded.”

So this had nothing to do with Hezekiah. Josiah let out a long breath. Much as he hated to see a man die, even a bad one, it was a relief to know his father hadn’t sent the fellow. The judge stared at Josiah a moment longer, then nodded. “I can see how it might have been like you said, Doc.”
 

Judge Campbell cleared his throat. “Doc Hill, is it your professional opinion that this man is dead?”

Dr. Hill nodded. “It is, sir.”
 

Affixing his dinner napkin to his collar once more, the judge looked over his shoulder. “Did I see Bert the undertaker back there?”

“Yes, sir, Judge Campbell,” someone called.

“All right, let’s get this over with. In my official position as judge of this island, I do hereby pronounce this man—what’s his name?”

“Gayarre,” Miss Dumont supplied. “Andre Gayarre.”

“Andre Gayarre,” the judge continued, “deceased by way of
gun-shot.” He gave Josiah a hard look. “I’m taking the doctor’s word for the fact this man died at his hands and not by the devices of anyone else in this room.” When no one contradicted him, the judge continued. “Cause of death is self-defense. I declare this case closed. Now if anyone else gets shot before I finish my lunch, they can just wait.”

The crowd began to part, and Emilie Gayarre walked into the room, her head held high. “I understand there’s been an unfortunate incident with my brother.” Her eyes lowered, and she gasped. “Oh, Andre,” she said as her knees buckled.
 

Josiah went to her but knew not what to say. Instead, he knelt beside her and allowed her to lean against him.

“This is your brother, young lady?” the judge asked.
 

When Emilie did not speak, Miss Dumont came forward and joined her. The ladies embraced as Josiah rose. “I’m so sorry, Emilie,” she repeated as she broke into sobs.

“Yes,” the doctor finally said. “Andre is Emilie’s younger brother.”

“That’s all I needed to know. Everyone out,” the judge called. “And Bert?”

The undertaker wove his way through the departing townsfolk. “Right here, sir.”

“Here’s your customer,” the judge said as he headed for the door.
 

“Yes, sir.” Bert removed his hat to reveal close-cropped blond curls that made him look more like an angel than an undertaker. “I’m real sorry, miss,” he said to Emilie.

Josiah placed his hand on her shoulder. “Perhaps I should escort you from here so the gentlemen can see to him.”

Ignoring him, Emilie leaned over the body of her brother, tears falling one after the other onto the man’s dark waistcoat. He could see the resemblance now, the tilt of the nose and the shape of the chin. Beyond those physical things, this man obviously bore no resemblance to the kind woman Josiah had entrusted with his brother.
 

The undertaker ducked his head. “I’ll just wait outside until you’re ready for my men and me to remove the. . .that is. . .your brother.” His face flushed, Bert made haste to follow the crowd out onto the street. “I’m real sorry,” he said again as he left.
 

“So am I.” Emilie kissed her forefinger and touched it to her brother’s lips. “Oh, Andre,” she whispered.

Rather than look at the ladies, Josiah watched the townspeople file out. When Dr. Hill reached for the weapon, he noticed the man did not handle it like one who had experience in firearms. Rather, the man held the dueling pistol between his thumb and forefinger as if he found it distasteful.
 

Interesting.

Josiah turned his attention to Miss Dumont. The woman who had stepped aboard the
Jude
was a pale and delicate creature with frightened eyes and blood on her wedding dress. Having worked for her father, Josiah had no doubt the old man would have tutored his daughter in all she needed to make her way in the world. Including wielding an ivory-handled dueling pistol with deadly precision.

Emilie embraced Miss Dumont once more, then rose, her back straight. “I should see to William,” she said. “I’m sure he’s wondering where I am.”
 

She gestured for the undertaker to return. Bert nodded and headed inside to kneel beside the body. A moment later, another man joined him.

Josiah stepped in front of her and reached for her hand. “Emilie,” he said, “you have taken care of William, and I am in your debt. Let me see to your brother’s arrangements. Now that you’ve said your good-byes, it might go easier on you if you don’t have to shoulder that burden, as well.”

She stared at him as if debating, then finally nodded. “Your brother has been a delight, and I’ll not allow you to think you owe me anything for his care. It is I who am grateful that I had him for company. I will, however, be the one to write to our father and to speak to the undertaker regarding Andre. I am most grateful that you thought to offer. You’re a good man.”
 

He nodded and followed Emilie to the door, shielding her view as the undertakers began to see to the dead man. They got as far as the street before Emilie stopped him.
 

“William will be asking for you.” She shielded her eyes from the sun as she looked up at him. “Do come around to the boardinghouse after your visit with Isabelle.”

Isabelle.

His breath caught.

“Aye,” he said. “I am anxious to see my brother.”

“And my sister, as well, I’m sure.” Emilie touched his sleeve. “You’ve just seen how fleeting a life can be. Do not take a moment of it for granted. Go to Isabelle.”

Josiah ducked his head. It seemed shameful to talk about good things with a woman who’d just left the side of her dead brother.
 

“Go,” she repeated.

He nodded and walked back inside, carefully avoiding the under-taker and his assistant. The doctor and Miss Dumont were deep in discussion, but their words ceased when they caught sight of him.

No doubt that pair had plenty to talk about.

“Doctor,” Josiah said slowly, “I’d be much in your debt if you would tell me where I can find Isabelle.”

“Captain,” Miss Dumont said, “a word with you first, please.”