Free Uncaged by Alisha Paige Page B

your black whore with you!”
                  Wren gasped. She was being thrown from her own home, the home where she’d grown up. The home that held memories of her mother, but little else. But it was all she’d known. She never guessed the captain’s death could make her life worse that it already was.
                  Rose watched the fiasco from the hallway. She’d run upstairs to fetch a coat for her mistress. The butler already had Bruce’s draped over his arm. It looked as thought the servants half expected it. They seemed prepared for the matter. To Wren, the room was a blur behind a wall of tears. Bruce pulled her along, reached for both their coats and flung the door open. His horse had never been led to the barn. It stood waiting for him at the bottom of the steps. He helped Wren on and then mounted the stallion, kicking him hard in the side. The horse ran down the dirt road and passed through the iron gates, while Wren lay sobbing on his back.

Chapter 6
     
                  It was a good hour ride into the streets of London from Wren’s home. Bruce slowed the horse once they were on the main road that led into the city. It was pitch black. He’d been completely thrown off guard and been unprepared. There was no lantern to light his way and the moon was shrouded by heavy storm clouds, but through his cat eyes, the road was clear. The wind whipped around them while the night creatures called out. An owl flew above them, startling Wren. She screamed and then began sobbing harder. Bruce stopped the horse and turned his body to comfort her.
                  “Shush, darling. Don’t worry. I’ll take you to my place and we’ll sort all of this out.”
                  He secured her coat tighter around her and kissed her tear stained cheek. Wren looked up at him with more fear and sadness than he’d seen in all his days. Tears spilled from her liquid, blue eyes. She shook like a frightened little girl and his heart went out to her.
                  “How could he, Bruce?” she sobbed. “How could he steal my life from me? That’s my home. It’s not fair!”
                  “No, it’s not, my love, but life rarely is it seems. And besides, I’m not sure he can.”
                  Wren sniffed. Her body shook from sobbing so hard. “Not sure he can wh-what?”
                  “I don’t buy his story. You’ve never heard of the man. Why would your father keep this a secret from you? He was a cruel man, Wren, but you were his daughter. He may not have loved your mother, but he loved you. It’s hard for a man to not care for his own flesh and blood. Hadn’t your father always cared for you?”
                  “Well, yes, but he was so cold. Never loving and he was horrible to my mother. ”
                  “Yes, but don’t you think if he wanted you gone, he’d have sold you off with your mother?”
                  Wren shrugged.
                  “I think that’s precisely what he’d have done. I think Sheldon is a fraud and I aim to find out.”
                  “But Rose said he met with the solicitors this morning.”
                  “That proves nothing. Only that many people are in on this scheme. The people that kept company with your father are not good people, Wren. They’re all slave owners, like him and they see you as a threat. They don’t want a woman with black blood running in her veins to run a damn thing, including a fleet of ships whose main import is slaves.”
                  “You really think it could all be one giant lie?”
                  “I do and besides, I didn’t like the way Sheldon smelled.”
                  “What do you mean?” 
                  “The bastard gave me a bad feeling.”
                  Wren nodded