Free Tide and Tempest (Edge of Freedom Book #3) by Elizabeth Ludwig Page B

“I mean, if a man were willing to go to all that trouble to hire someone and then keep it a secret . . .”
    Cass’s eyes grew rounder as he spoke. “Are you saying you don’t want to go through with finding out who done it?”
    Morgan shook his head. That part had been determined the moment Doc breathed his last, but involving his brother, only now did it occur to him how dangerous that could prove, too.
    “You’re my brother, Cass. Hard as I am on you, I dinna desire that any harm should befall you.”
    “Aye, and you’re mine. So what are we going to do?” He didn’t even blink as he made the matter-of-fact reply. Indeed, renewed determination carved lines about his eyes and mouth. “Well?”
    “I’ll see about renting a room at the boardinghouse where Miss McGrath lives,” Morgan said, swallowing a swell of pride at his brother’s courage. “I think ’twould be easier to keep an eye on her, make sure she’s in no danger whilst we be about asking our questions.”
    “I agree. What about the men?”
    “Do what you can to set their minds to rest. And give them a couple of days’ shore leave. Tell them ’tis because we’ll be setting sail soon, and they’re to see about their business while we make ready.”
    “Done. Except . . .” He hesitated, his throat working.
    “What?” Morgan asked.
    “I think we should leave the off-load to Bozey. You could use an extra man at the boardinghouse to keep an eye on things when you aren’t around. Think on it. If this lass is in as much danger as you say, it might not be wise leaving her on her own, especially with you going around stirring up trouble by asking questions.”
    Fie .
    Much as he hated to admit it, Cass was right. He couldn’t be in two places at once, and if he held off on telling Miss McGrath the truth, then he had to do something to make sure she was safe.
    He took a swallow from his mug and then gave a curt nod. “Fine. We’ll swing by the boardinghouse in the morning and speak to the owner. But remember”—he tossed a wary glance around the pub, at the mass of strange faces peering back—“keep quiet about all this to the men.”
    Cass snorted. “One of these days, you’re going to realize I stopped being a bairn a long time ago.”
    True enough, Morgan thought as he watched Cass rise and stride from the pub, his broad shoulders clearing a path to the door. Until then, he was concerned with one thing only, and that was making sure his little brother met with no harm.

10
    Tillie took her time rising the next morning, even though the bright sun streaming through her bedroom window teased her eyelids and coaxed her toward wakefulness. Stretching her arms over her head, she reveled in the promise brought by the new day.
    Her eyes snapped open. Aye, ’twas a promise, for both Sister Mary and Sister Agnes had bestowed a blessing upon her plans once she’d told them of her desire to open an orphanage.
    “To think,” Sister Mary had said, tears springing to her eyes, “all them bairns will have a place to call home. Ach, ’twould be a blessing to us all, and no doubt.”
    “Don’t you go worrying about how it will affect us,” Sister Agnes had added. “We’ll get along, sure enough. Always have.”
    Sighing, Tillie slipped from her bed and hurried to wash and dress. Before she went downstairs, however, she paused to slide Braedon’s ring from its leather hiding place and pressed a kiss to it. “I know you’d be proud, me sweet lad,” she whispered, closing her eyes. “I know it.”
    Surprisingly, Braedon’s name didn’t bring a wash of tears as it had in the past. Instead she moved with a new lightnessdown the stairs. At the bottom, the scent of bacon and freshly baked bread drew her to the dining room—that and the hum of male voices. Visitors at this hour? She peeked into the room.
    Amelia sat at the head of the table, the morning papers ironed, folded, and laid neatly at her elbow. Across from her, Meg, the