Dark Chaos (# 4 in the Bregdan Chronicles Historical Fiction Romance Series) (48 page)

             
Suddenly flares flashed around them in the night sky.  Robert jerked his head up. 

             
Bueller glanced back.  “There’s your Yankee ship,” he said.

             
Robert was about to ask him how he could sound so calm when they were about to be blown up, but he got his answer before he opened his mouth.  From shore came the sound of tremendous explosions as the alert gun crews of Fort Fisher threw a barrage of shells at the attacking Federal ship.  Minutes later the ship reversed course and drew out of range. 

             
“We’ll have time to get out of here,” Bueller said, then smashed his fist against the rail.  “Without my boat,” he added bitterly.  Then he forced a grin.  “I don’t guess you can win at this game every time.”  He shook his head.  “I just didn’t expect it to end in such a humiliating way - run aground by one of my own men.”

             
Suzanne Paxton appeared suddenly, her face white and anxious.  “What is happening here?” she cried. 

             
“I’m afraid it’s going to take us a little longer than I thought to reach shore,” Bueller replied.  “I’m sorry for the inconvenience.”  Just then the wind changed from a brisk breeze into a howling wind.  Bueller grinned.  “Looks like we got us a bit of a northeaster as well.  That should help keep the old chaps away.”

             
Robert was staring at Suzanne.  He had not thought her capable of expressing the raw fear he saw etched on her face.  She gazed at him for a moment and then spun away in the direction of her cabin.  She would be safest there he knew.

             
The once mighty ship now groaned pitifully as the storm smashed the
Phantom
against the sandbar she was stranded on.  White spray cascaded across the deck, drenching him in seconds.  Robert shivered in the cold but was determined to see what happened.  A few hundred yards away, the boom of breakers against the shore could be heard above the storm.   Shouts of the ship’s officers and crews added to the chaos.  He looked down on the deck.  Captain Bueller seemed to be everywhere at once, shouting orders, helping to secure things. 

             
“Robert!” 

             
Robert turned.  “Why aren’t you in your cabin, Suzanne?” he shouted above the melee.

             
“I have to get off this boat!” she cried.  “Will you help me?”

             
“Are you crazy?”  Robert asked incredulously.  “Do you see what is going on out there?  And besides, Bueller seems to be showing no alarm.  I’m sure he is confident we will all get off before the Federals reach us.”  He reached forward to grab her arm.  “Let me take you back below.”

             
“No!”  She wrenched free from his grasp. 

             
Robert stared at her.  What had gotten into her?

             
Suzanne took a deep breath and leaned closer.  “I’m a spy,” she cried above the storm.  “I guarantee you the captain on that ship knows who I am.  If they capture me, I’ll go to prison.”

             
Robert nodded his head slowly.  “That’s where I know you.  I’ve seen your picture in the paper.  You’ve been caught before.  In Washington, DC.”

             
“I spent six months in the Old Capital Prison,” Suzanne acknowledged grimly, her eyes glowing with fear.  “I won’t ever go back there.”  She grabbed his arm again.  “You have to help me get off this boat.  I’m your friend.”

             
Robert stared down at the roiling water.  He knew trying to manage this in a rowboat would be suicidal.

             
“Please!”  Suzanne pleaded.  Suddenly she reached up and pulled a bag from inside her dress.  “These are papers for President Davis.  They are from someone very important in the English government.  It is imperative he get them.”

             
Robert still hesitated.  “Those papers won’t do him any good if they’re at the bottom of the ocean,” he yelled. 

             
Suzanne glared at him; then she spun away.  “I’ll find someone else to help me,” she cried.  “And if I don’t, then I’ll just go myself.”

             
Robert knew she meant it.  It sounded just like something Carrie would say.  Grimacing, he lunged forward and grabbed her arm.  “Hold on!” he shouted.  “I’ll go with you.”

             
Suzanne whirled and hugged him.  “Thank you!  I’ll get my things,” she hollered, then turned, and disappeared. 

             
“What was she doing up here?”

             
Robert turned to see Bueller walk up behind him.  He still had hopes he could talk Suzanne into staying on the ship.  “How long before we get off this thing?”

             
Bueller shrugged.  “Tomorrow.”

             
Robert hesitated then explained the situation.  “I told her I’d go with her.”

             
“You’re a fool,” Bueller scowled.  “Neither one of you knows anything about handling a boat.”

             
“I know that as well as you,” Robert responded.  “But what was I to do?  The lady is crazy enough to go on her own, and I can’t just send her off to die.”

             
“So you got to die with her?  I can see how that will help things,” Bueller said sarcastically. 

             
“I’m ready.”  Suzanne appeared behind them.

             
Bueller turned on her.  “Now look here, Miss Paxton.  You’ve simply got to put this crazy idea out of your mind.  I assure you this situation is much less perilous than it seems.  The wind seems to be falling.  The
Phantom
is firmly stuck on the bottom and is in absolutely no danger of cracking apart.”  He waved his arm into the night.  “You don’t have to worry about the Yankees either.  They’re not going to risk having the guns at Fort Fisher blow them apart.”  He took a deep breath.  “Wait till morning.  I’ll send some of my crew with you.  I assure you that you are much safer staying on board tonight.”

             
Suzanne approached until she was standing just inches from Bueller.  She planted her fists on her hips and stared up at him.  “Have you ever spent time in a prison, Captain Bueller?”

             
“No, I haven’t.”

             
“Then don’t tell me I’ll be safer if I stay on this boat,” she snapped.  “I know exactly what it will be like if I’m captured.  Last time they let me out after six months.  I can assure you they won’t be so kind this time.”  Her voice grew bitter.  “My future husband tried to talk me out of coming.  He told me it was much too dangerous.  I wouldn’t listen.  Now I’m here about to be captured by the Yankees, and all my barrels of clothes are probably taking on gallons of sea water.”  She shook her head angrily.  “I was foolish.”

             
“You’re about to be foolish again,” Captain Bueller snapped. “Is death preferable to possible prison?”

             
Robert watched her face closely, grimly realizing she would indeed choose death.

             
Suzanne turned away.  “I’m quite capable of undoing one of those rowboats, Captain.  I’m going. Even if I have to go alone.  I will not sit here and wait for the Yankees to come get me.”

             
Robert stared after her.  “See what I mean?”

             
“You say your wife is like that.  I pity you,” Bueller grinned half-heartedly.

             
“I’ve never been in prison.  I don’t know how adamant I would be about not going back.  I’ve not even experienced it, and I don’t find the prospect particularly appealing.”

             
“There is no danger of that!”  Bueller protested.

             
“Oh, you convinced me,” Robert said readily.  “You didn’t do such a good job on Suzanne.  I’m afraid I’ll have to accompany her.”  He glanced out at the sea.  “At least the wind is dying down.”

             
“The surf will pound you to death.”

             
“Perhaps,” Robert said, trying to swallow his fear.  “I guess we’ll see.”

             
Bueller stared at him then extended his hand.  “Good luck.  I think you’re foolish, but then I’ve been accused of the same thing many times myself.  I’ve always come through.  I hope you do, too.” 

             
“Thanks,” Robert said gruffly, gripping Bueller’s hand firmly.  “Good luck yourself.  I hope I see you again.”  He turned and went in pursuit of Suzanne.  He found her standing next to one of the lifeboats and peering out into the darkness. 

             
“Can we at least wait for the break of dawn?” he suggested.  “Not even the Yankees are crazy enough to try to board this boat in the dark.  As soon as the sky begins to lighten and we can see shore, we’ll go,” he promised.

             
“I thought Captain Bueller changed your mind.”

             
“He did. But he didn’t change yours, and I can’t let you go alone.”

             
Suzanne clutched the leather purse around her neck.  “The Confederate government will thank you.”

             
“We’ll see,” Robert mumbled.

The ocean
remained gray and furious when first light began to brighten the horizon.  Robert took a deep breath and began to untie the ropes holding the lifeboat.

             
Captain Bueller materialized out of nowhere and began to help.  “You’re really going to do this aren’t you, old man?”

             
Robert just nodded.  There was nothing more to say.  He felt sick at heart and would have gladly followed Bueller’s recommendations to stay on board if Suzanne had not been so afraid.

             
“Is this what you chaps call Southern chivalry?”  Bueller asked.

             
“Something like that,” Robert replied, trying to force a light note into his voice. 

             
“Make sure you keep the bow pointed into the waves,” Bueller ordered.  “If you let this boat go broadside, you’re doomed.  The waves will swamp you in a second.”  He tugged at a stubborn piece of rope.  “Start rowing before you even hit the water.  That way you’ll have a better chance to maintain control.”  He took a breath and continued to bark orders.  “Keep Miss Paxton low and in the center of the boat.  It should help stabilize it.”

             
Robert listened closely, grateful for the instruction.  Just then Suzanne appeared. 

             
Bueller turned on her.  “Do you know how to swim, Miss Paxton?”

             
“I do,” Suzanne replied calmly, staring down at the water surging angrily at the sides of the
Phantom
. 

             
“What are you carrying in that bag around your neck?”  Bueller asked suddenly.

             
Suzanne drew back.  “I don’t believe that’s any of your business,” she said haughtily.

             
“No, ma’am, I suppose it’s not,” Bueller snapped.  “Except that the way you’re walking, that thing looks like it weighs a pretty amount.  You end up in the water, and it won’t matter that you know how to swim.  You’ll sink like a rock between that bag and all those clothes you’re wearing.”

             
Suzanne hesitated then straightened.  “I’ll be fine,” she said firmly.  She glanced out at where the Yankee ship had attacked from the night before.  “Are we free to go now?”

             
Bueller nodded heavily and stepped away.  “Good luck.”    He waved several of his men over.  “I need your help in letting this boat down.”  The crew stared at Robert and Suzanne as if they were certain the two had lost their senses before they leaped forward to obey his orders. 

             
Robert stepped into the rowboat, steadied it against the side of the ship, then offered a hand to assist Suzanne.  She hauled up her skirts and eased in gingerly, staring down at the rampaging water with wide eyes.  “You sure you want to do this?”  Robert yelled.