Making Waves (41 page)

Harry hopped off the boat first and began the process of tying her down for the night. The others followed suit in silence. Lloyd carried the unfired Catherine wheels off the boat, Mel doused all of the Chinese lanterns, and Max gathered the ax and buckets they’d used in dealing with the fire. The
Endeavor
might be Trip’s boat, but she belonged to all of them.

Trip scrubbed his face with his hands and sank beside the tiller. How had this happened? He’d checked and rechecked all of the rocket positions himself. Nothing should have come close to any of the boats, especially not his.

A few of the men had chosen to let their wives ride with them on the lake. He shuddered. What if he’d let Marguerite join them?

Mel, the deputy, sat down across from him. “She’s all set. Are you planning on joining us at Louie’s? The steamer’s still going.”

“You guys go ahead. I need a few minutes alone first.”

Harry dropped from the side down to the deck in front of him. “Marguerite will be worried.”

“Tell her I’ll be along shortly.”

Squeezing his shoulder, Max sighed. “This wasn’t your fault, Trip. That rocket came out of nowhere.”

The four men trickled off the boat and, he guessed, out of the boat shop as well. Trip lifted his face to the stars and smiled. Marguerite’s stars.

“Lord, that was a close one.” He prayed aloud as he often did when he was alone. “Since she came into my life, it’s been one close call after another. Are You trying to tell me something?” He rubbed the kink in his neck. “I blew it tonight. Somehow, Lord, I messed up, and I could have gotten someone killed.”

“Nonsense.” The unmistakable deep voice of his father made Trip startle. “That was the finest piece of orchestration I’ve ever seen.”

Trip scrambled off the boat, landing on the dock in front of his father. “Thank you, Dad, but – ”

“But what? Some boy must have shot that one off. It sure didn’t come from any of your batteries. I saw it.” He handed Trip a canteen and waited for him to drink his fill. “Son, Marguerite saw it too.”

Trip nodded. “I should probably get cleaned up. I’m supposed to meet her at Louie’s.”

“She isn’t there.”

“What?”

“I saw her head down the beach. I think she wanted to check where the stray rocket came from. She seemed . . . intent.”

“And you didn’t stop her?”

“I’d have better luck stopping a comet.” He chuckled. “Go on. Go get her.”

Three more steps and she’d be free of the alleyway. Though he’d tried, Roger hadn’t gained on her. With her skirts hiked to her knees, she raced through the opening.

Strong arms caught her and violently swung her around. “Whoa, there, little filly. What’s got you so spooked?”

Kicking, clawing, and scratching, she fought to break free, but the man held her fast.

“Let go of me!”

“Marguerite?”

Roger’s voice stopped her cold. An icy hand tickled her spine. She stilled.

“This is your girl?” the casino owner asked.

“Yes.”

“Absolutely not.” Bringing her heel down hard on her captor’s foot, she broke free when he yelped.

Roger caught her wrist and, in one swift move, twisted it painfully behind her.

“Let me go!” She squirmed. “You won’t get away with this. I heard what you did to steal my daddy’s money, and I know you shot that rocket at Trip’s boat.”

He forced her to turn so she could see his face. “Like my father said, ‘Survival of the fittest.’ Marguerite, only the strong survive. I intend not only to survive but to thrive with you by my side.”

“I’ll never marry you.”

“Never?” He laughed. “We’ll see. So after Trip, who do you want me to destroy next? Your brother’s future? Your sister’s home?”

“You wouldn’t.”

He yanked her arm harder. “Oh, but I would.”

“Just let me go. I won’t tell anyone. I’m good at keeping secrets.”

“You certainly are. Do you honestly believe I didn’t know about your little forays with Trip Andrews?”

“I don’t like it,” Clyde growled. “She knows too much. Let’s just drown her. No one will be a bit surprised if a young woman whose engagement had recently fallen apart killed herself.”

“No.” Roger ran his free hand along her cheek. “I’ll take her with me.”

“Don’t be a fool. If she talks, we’ll both end up in jail.”

Marguerite struggled to break free, kicking and clawing, ignoring the pain streaking up her twisted arm.

“Besides, you can’t take her anywhere like that. She’ll have every man in the Grand Plaza after you. Let’s put her in the icehouse until she learns to cool her hot head.”

“I don’t know about this, Clyde.”

The gambler moved to open the door and swung it wide. “I didn’t get to where I am by being soft. I know a bad risk when I see one, and letting her go with you right now is a chance I’m not willing to take. Either you let me put her in here or I’ll take care of her my way.” He grabbed Marguerite’s other arm and yanked her from Roger.

“Roger, please, you can’t put me in there! I hate closed spaces. I won’t be able to breathe!”

“Isn’t that too bad?” Clyde shoved her inside with more force than necessary.

Landing on the edge of a block of ice, she cried out.

Clyde laughed and slammed the door.

Running back to it, she clawed around the edges. No handle. No latch. No knob. “Roger! Roger, please, get me out of here!” Gasping, she slid to the sawdust-covered floor. She couldn’t breathe, she couldn’t think, and she couldn’t stop Roger from damaging Trip’s
Endeavor
again.

28

Trip reached the Grand Plaza in record time. He took the steps of the pavilion two at a time to gain some height and get a good view of the crowd. In the darkness, the task was nearly impossible.

Frustrated, he hurried into the throng. He felt a tug on his arm.

“Mr. Andrews, how’s your boat?”

Trip turned and found Mark beside him. “Have you seen your sister?”

Mark shrugged. “About an hour ago I saw her making her way down the boardwalk. I thought she was going to meet you, but by the look on your face, I guess I was wrong.”

“Which way did she go?”

He pointed to the northwest. “Toward the icehouses.”

“Thanks.” Trip turned and dashed off.

Mark ran up beside him.

“Hey, where do you think you’re going? Go on back. I’ll find her and bring her home.”

“She’s my sister.” The youth pulled ahead.

Trip didn’t have time to stop and escort the boy back. He regained his position beside him. “Just do what I say, and don’t go leaving me in the dust, speedy.”

With the icehouse walls measuring at least eight inches thick, no one on the lake or even passing by on the way to their campsite would hear Marguerite’s cries from inside the structure. Still, she called out until her voice grew hoarse.

At first, the reprieve from the stifling heat of the August day was welcome, but now the water trickling off the melting ice soaked the hem of her silk gown, and the chilly air made her skin pimple in the darkness. She shivered uncontrollably, muscles convulsing.

She sat down on a sawdust-covered chunk of ice. She was so cold.

Perhaps she could tunnel out. She toed the loose planks and one slid sideways. Dropping down, she slipped her hand between the boards. Gravel. As deep as her hand.

She tucked her frigid fingers beneath her arms, hugging herself tightly. How had this happened? How had she missed Roger’s desire to own her at all costs? She’d been such a fool. If she’d only told Roger the truth from the beginning, maybe his feelings for her wouldn’t have taken root. Now everyone she cared about was in danger and she was a prisoner once again.

More violent shivers took hold. Desperate for a way to get out, she ran her hands along the rough walls, ignoring the splinters that dug into her fingers. Her pulse raced.
Lord,
forgive me. Please don’t make Trip suffer for my cowardice.
Help me find a way out of here
.

Nothing.

Not a lamp.

Not a match.

Not a set of ice tongs.

The room closed in around her, its darkness sucking the air from her lungs.

Lord, I’m so cold. I can’t breathe in here. I have to get
out
.

Directing Mark around the outside of the buildings, Trip watched the two figures in the pale moonlight. In a few seconds he recognized both voices.

“I want her out of there now, Stone. This wasn’t part of our deal.”

“Our deal changed when she followed us. Leave her in that icehouse for another couple of hours, and she won’t give you a bit of trouble.”

Fury surged through Trip, constricting his chest. How long had she been in there?

“And you can come to her rescue, and she and her family will be eternally grateful.” Clyde Stone tugged at the lapels of his jacket as if he were conducting a business transaction. “Bet her hot head’s cooled down a few degrees by now.”

“I want her out, now,” Roger demanded.

“I don’t think an hour in there has really taught her a lesson. You can go. You’ve got business to attend to. I’ll stay and keep an eye on your pet icicle.”

“What if she freezes to death?”

Clyde chuckled. “I don’t know her as well as you, but I’m thinking she’ll be fine.”

Trip’s fists clenched at his sides. Locked up for an hour? Marguerite would be frantic.

“What are we waiting for?” Mark hissed.

“For Roger to leave. It looks like Stone’s calling the shots now. One against one is better odds than fighting them both.”

“You’re forgetting me.”

Trip leaned closer to the boy’s ear. “No, you’re going to get your sister out of that icehouse while I deal with Stone.”

“What if he has a gun?”

“Just get Marguerite out and get her somewhere safe.”

Roger stood up. “I’ll walk back to the pavilion and rent a rig. When I get back, I’m taking her with me.”

“No, I don’t think you will.”

“What do you mean?”

“Gordon, don’t be a fool. The more I think about it, it’s too much of a gamble. That girl talks and we’re both ruined. Time to cut your losses.”

“But I want her.”

“And I’m telling you . . .” Clyde pointed his finger at Roger’s chest. “I’ll deal with this.”

Roger stared at his partner for a moment, his silence indicating he was calculating the decision. “I don’t like this.”

“Don’t take it personally.” He shook Roger’s hand. “It’s been a pleasure doing business with you.

Trip stiffened. Roger doing business with Stone couldn’t be a good sign, but at least Marguerite’s suitor was leaving. Every nerve tensed as Trip watched Roger walk away. Fighting the urge to move too fast, he held on to Mark’s arm until he was certain Roger was completely out of earshot. Then he leaned close to Mark’s ear. “Get ready.”

Mark must have misunderstood. Before Trip could stop him, he bolted from the trees toward the icehouse.

With no other choice, Trip launched from his hiding place. Running full speed, he tackled Clyde Stone’s midsection and sent the man sprawling.

Stone, seasoned in fighting, recovered quickly and jumped to his feet. “You just made a big mistake, mister!”

Trip easily sidestepped the uppercut. He danced around Stone, testing the man’s strength and agility. Stone was much faster on his feet than he expected. With his weight placed on his back foot, Trip prepared to deliver a strong punch.