Free The Captain by Lynn Collum Page A

forced into the air, the man holding her wrist tightly even as her stomach seemed to be in her throat. They hit the roof hard but the captain helped her keep her footing. Jacinda’s spirits soared. They were once again on the move.
    Behind them shouts sounded from the alley below. Her elation evaporated—they’d been seen.
    The captain, still holding her arm, pulled her across the roof to the opposite side where Ben stood peering over the ledge. “There’s no stairway, we’re trapped.”
    Behind them, a shouted, “Halt in His Majesty’s name!”
    A quick glimpse over the edge was all Jacinda allowed herself before she moved back from the edge, but that was enough. Her throat tightened and tears pricked at her eyes. Their options had run out. “I’m sorry, Ben.”
    To Drew Morrow, the lad’s voice sounded utterly devastated and as soft as a girl’s. He stared hard at the boy, but in the darkness he could see little because a long-brimmed hat shadowed the lad’s face. Drew thought it was just a trick of sound that had made the boy’s voice sound so feminine. He owed Jack Trudeau and his brother a great deal at the moment. It was a debt that he fully intended to repay. But they hadn’t escaped yet.
    Drew was no fool about their chances if they were recaptured. He suspected that if enough money could change hands with the Press Men, he might be able to buy his way free, but he doubted he could do the same for two such healthy lads from the tenements. Unfortunately, at the moment, he had scarcely two pounds on him, having taken his first mate’s advice about not carrying large sums in London. Truth be told, he couldn’t be sure what sum was sufficient for a bribe if the Navy’s need was great.
    Determined to find a solution to their dilemma, his gaze searched the street below for an escape. They had to get off that roof if they were to have a chance. As footsteps hammered on the wooden stairway in the alley, Drew spotted their salvation. “There,” he called, drawing the lads’ attention to a wagon which rolled up the street in their direction. It was a huge rag wagon on its journey to the paper factory. “We can jump and the rags will break our fall.”
    â€œJump!” the older Trudeau cried. “Have you taken leave of your senses, sir? Why, it’s over two stories down. If we miss we’ll break both legs or worse, be killed.”
    Drew looked over his shoulder and saw that the Press Gang had reached the top of the stairs. “We go now, Jack, or all is lost.”
    Plucky to the core, Ben shrugged. “I’m jumpin’, Jack. Besides, if I miss the wagon, them fellows can’t take me with a broken peg.” The lad climbed on the ledge and leapt into thin air as the wagon pulled beneath them. Drew and Jacinda leaned over and prayed the boy wouldn’t miss. Ben landed in the pile of rags with a bounce and without a sound. He stood and urgently gestured for them to follow.
    Remembering his rescuer’s earlier fright, Drew grabbed Jack’s hand and pulled the lad onto the ledge when he climbed up. “We must go now or miss our chance.” Her hand twitched in his.
    â€œNo, I cannot. You go. I’ll be fine.” Jack tried to pull away but Drew slid an arm around him, refusing to let go.
    It struck Drew that Jack was rather delicate despite the courage he’d shown that evening. “We’ll go together, lad. Close your eyes.”
    Drew could hear loud thumps of the Press Gang as they landed on the roof behind them. He pushed Jack along the ledge to compensate for the slow-moving wagon, then judged the right angle to jump so as not to land on Ben. With a whispered prayer, he tightened his hold on the lad and leapt out over the wagon. The ground rushed up at them and thankfully the wagon was beneath them when they landed.
    Drew, positioned at the rear and unable to move or risk