Free Lily's Leap by Tea Cooper

leaving. I want to be there before dark.”
    “I’m taking Nero.”
    Tom licked the beaded sweat from his upper lip. Oppressed by the afternoon heat and the tension, he just wanted the whole thing over and done with as soon as possible. If everything went according to plan, they’d hand over the money and Lily would be out of his life. As much as he would love to keep the stallion, Nero was far too recognizable and he’d never be able to ride him. His stomach sank, he’d never be able to look at the stallion without seeing Lily, her hair flying behind her, a purple vine tangled in it, as she galloped through the bush. He shook his head and exhaled noisily trying to still the churning in his stomach.
    “Yes, take Nero, that’s fine.”
    “What about Bonnie?”
    “For God’s sake!” He’d be well shot of her if she continued to carry on this way. “I told you, Bonnie stays here with Will and Pete. When your father hands over the money he gets you back and Bonnie will be brought to The Settler’s Arms. That way we’ve still got a bit of muscle if anything goes wrong.” He swung up onto his horse noticing immediately the comparison between Pete’s old nag and the gray remount that he’d become accustomed to.
    “Are you ready?” He drummed his feet in the stirrups as Bonnie handed Lily her heavy black cape and gave her the kind of hug he would have preferred to deliver.
    “Let’s go.”
    ****
    The moon was rising by the time the lights of The Settler’s Arms appeared through the trees. They had managed to cover the entire distance on the tracks running parallel to Mogo Creek and they’d seen no one.
    Reining the horses in under the cover of the white cedars backing the inn, Tom looked around his mind filled with thoughts of hold-ups and shootouts. “Jem. Stay here with Lily until you hear my whistle. I’m going to check everything is clear and have a word with Molly.” He wheeled his horse around.
    “But I–”
    He turned back, looking over his shoulder and tossed a deliberate look of reproach at her. “For once, Lily, do what you’re told and stop interfering. Jem will keep you company.” There was no time for her constant questions and arguments. Entanglements made a man vulnerable. It was a luxury he couldn’t afford. He needed his wits about him and his concentration razor sharp.
    Leaving the stand of massive white cedars which marked the boundary of the cleared land, he flexed his muscles hoping to relieve the tension that lay curled like a snake in his stomach. He strode purposefully toward the bright light of the inn. Through the canopy of leaves the stars of the Southern Cross pinpointed his progress and he heard the hoot of a mopoke owl. Distant hooves beat a galloping tattoo on the hard packed dirt of the road in front of the inn and then the drumming slowed as yet another visitor pulled up.
    He tethered his horse at the back door and dismounted. Ducking his head beneath the lintel he made his way through the narrow passage into the poorly lit taproom and up to the timber bar.
    Molly McDonald looked up, and then put down her drying cloth. She leaned suggestively across the bar raising her eyebrows and grinning. “Hello stranger.”
    Tom smiled at the buxom woman. “It’s good to see you, Molly.”
    “What can I get you?”
    “A brandy if you have one.” He leaned against the bar. “I’ll be using my room tonight if that’s alright.”
    “It’s your room, you pay the rent. I just keep it locked, just as you asked.”
    His heart rate kicked up a notch as he looked around. “It’s pretty busy tonight. Anyone I should be worried about?” He scoured the room in the half-light searching for Dungarven, George or anyone who looked remotely connected to him.
    “No. The usual crowd and a coach is in though I can’t understand why they’d bother to come this way. The steamer’s much quicker now you can get through to Morpeth.”
    Tom drummed his fingers on the bar as he continued to