“I am. We’re ready for him, but he doesn’t know that. How’s that oil coming, Joshua?”
“Almost ready, King.”
“Buckets in place, Georgie?”
“Yes, sir, Pa!”
Violet closed her eyes and tried not to scream. King was acting like this was some sort of game, but Ferryman and his gang weren’t toy soldiers. They had real weapons and could kill.
“There he is!” Lizzie said, ducking back and out of view.
Violet moved forward and saw what Lizzie had just pointed out. Ferryman and a dozen members of his gang were marching down the street, scattering people, dogs, and anything in their way.
Chapter Seventeen
King moved toViolet’s side to gauge the enemy’s progress. Sure enough, Ferryman was coming. It gave him an odd burst of pleasure to see the man still covered in soot and ash. “Don’t look so dapper now, do you?” he muttered.
“They have planks with them.” Violet grabbed his arm. “They’ll break the door down.”
“Let them try. Georgie. Joshua.” King’s two lieutenants turned to him, ready for orders. “Don’t strike until I give the signal. We need to wait until the enemy is in position.”
“Yes, sir!” Georgie said. “What’s the signal?”
“When I say,Go. Not until then.”
“What can I do?” Violet asked. King wanted to tell her to go into her room and hide, but as much as he wanted to protect her, he needed her help.
“Can you and Lizzie carry up a couple of those casks of wine? Not the biggest ones. The quarter cask.”
Violet gave him a suspicious look, and it was deserved. She wouldn’t like what he planned to do with those casks. But she didn’t argue. Instead, she motioned to Lizzie, and the two women went out of the flat.
“Now that the ladies are gone,” King said, voice low. “Listen up, men.” He wiggled his fingers, and the boys moved in close. “We’re going to fight like hell, but if things don’t go our way—”
“They will,” Joshua said, sounding more confident than King felt.
“They will, but every soldier needs a backup plan. And our backup plan is for the two of you to take Violet and run.”
“I’m not running,” Joshua said.
King took him by the shoulders. “If I sayretreatthen you need to go. We can fight another day, but only if you get away. Besides, Violet needs you. You have to protect her.”
“What about Lizzie?”
King should have known the boy would ask about her. “Leave Lizzie and Peggy to me. But I need you two with Violet. You know a safe place to hide?”
“I do!” Georgie volunteered.
“Good. When it’s safe, meet me back here.” King glanced out the window again. Ferryman was below now, and the rest of his men were gathering around him. “Ready, men?”
“Ready!”
King could hear the thuds and grunts as Lizzie and Violet pushed and tugged the heavy cask up the stairway. He pushed the window open further and leaned out. “Good day to you, Mr. Ferryman,” he called in his most upper-class accent. “How do you do, sir?”
Ferryman called out an expletive and frowned up at him.
“What can I do for you, sir? I’m afraid we’re closed. You and your companions will have to return later.”
Ferryman put his hands on his hips. “You’ll be dead later.”
