Free War of Hearts, A Historical Romance by Lynn Hubbard

major
interrupted.
    “Well then, I’m sure Randall has many
important duties to tend to instead of worrying over me.”
    “Nonsense. I’m sure no one will miss him at
all.” The Colonel chuckled, causing the major to frown. “I
insist.”
    “Well then,” Tristan said leaning forward,
“for proprieties sake. I will gladly accompany you.”
    “That would be splendid!” Sarah replied,
taking another bite. She sipped at her milk and she heard what she
would call a growl escape Major Johnson.
    “But completely unnecessary! I believe my
reputation stands on its own merit,” Randall added.
    “Your reputation is well known, as Sarah’s
keeper, I intend to make sure she is free from harm,” Tristan spat
back.
    “Gentlemen, enough!” the Colonel said,
slamming his hand down on the table. “The day will be half over by
the time you sort it out. Both of you will accompany Miss Smith.
Good day,” he replied, leaving the room, with Ryan scurrying after
him.
    The two men glared at each other as Sarah
took another bite. Pushing back her plate she addressed Tristan.
“Ready?”
    “Of course. I will have my stable
hands….”
    “Anticipating your decision, I have already
procured a carriage,” Randall replied smartly, cutting Tristan
off.
    Sarah followed him halfheartedly out the
front door. Tristan was right behind her. She stopped short upon
spying the carriage parked out front. It had only one seat and
Sarah eyed it wearily. There was barely room for two, much less
three.
    “Is this it?” she asked, looking down the
street hopefully for a larger one.
    “I apologize; I wasn’t expecting us to have
company.”
    “This is ridiculous! I have a full size
carriage that can be ready in minutes,” Tristan guffawed.
    “Wonderful idea! You can follow behind us,”
the Major replied, grabbing Sarah by her waist, practically tossing
her into the carriage and hurrying to the other side.
    “Like hell!” Tristan muttered stepping
forward and pulling himself up.
    Sarah shrank back as the two men sat down at
the same time, trapping her in between them. She twisted a bit, to
get more comfortable and ended up leaning toward Tristan, her bum
overlapped Randall’s thigh. She was grateful the carriage required
both of his hands to man the reigns.
    “Comfy?” he asked turning his head. Their
faces were inches apart and Sarah could feel hers growing warm.
Suddenly, the carriage hit a divot in the street causing their
heads to collide.
    His curses caused several townspeople to
look their way and Sarah tried to slink down in the seat. Her
forehead ached, but her dignity was injured more so.
    “You okay?” he asked.
    “I am having a brilliant time,” Sarah
replied sarcastically, bracing for more bumps. With each one her
bum would rub against Randall’s thigh. She started to suspect he
was hitting them on purpose. With grate effort she shifted again
reversing her situation.
    Facing Randall now, she could make out the
tale tell smirk on his face.
    “Where are we headed?”
    “To the wharf; you must see the bay.”
    Sarah was a bit appeased by that news. She
had wanted to visit the bay anyways. Maybe she could see Tristan’s
ship. They passed the park with the hanging man and Sarah looked
away out of respect.
    Noticing her movement, Randall spoke.
“Traitorous scum was found with maps of the city.”
    ““How awful, are they sure he was a spy?
Perhaps he was lost?” Sarah quipped.
    Randall grunted. “He ran a local Tavern.
With a name like Baker, you would think he’d be making pies.”
Randall chuckled as Sarah’s heart almost stopped.
    What kind of cruel trick is this? Surely
that was not her contact. This was a huge city, there had to be
many taverns ran by men named Baker.
    Tristan spoke up as well. “I was there when
he was arrested. He confessed and then cursed them blue. It was
quite shocking; I had known the man for years.”
    “And who knows what secrets he queried from
drunken souls,” Randall added