Solomon tried to remember everything he had ever heard about Barnstaple.“There’s a bridge over the river there.Let’s say you should leave word for me at the first alehouse south of the bridge.”
They talked over their plans again several times, but finally there was nothing more to discuss.
“You’d better get back to the Crown,” Wallace said.“They’ll be wondering what has become of you.”
That was true.It was late, the evening stagecoaches would begin to arrive in less than three hours, and Solomon hadn’t slept yet.But he didn’t move.
“I’m sorry, Wallace.”
“What?What have you to be sorry for?”
“I meant, I’m sorry I never noticed anything was wrong.I’m sorry I let so much time go by and never tried to discover what had become of you.”
Wallace was shaking his head.“Don’t be daft.There’s no call for you to say that.”
They both fell silent—reluctant to take their leave of one another, not knowing when they’d next meet.
After a moment, Solomon said, “Hey, remember that post-horse service we used to dream about setting up together?”
They hadn’t any more money between them now than they did then, but Wallace didn’t point that out.His expression softened.“Yes, I remember.”
He was sitting up straight, looking much better than before, and Solomon was overcome by a wave of optimism.“It’s good to have you back.”
Wallace reached out to put a hand over Solomon’s where it lay on the table.“Thank you, Solomon.You don’t have to do this.If ever I can do the same for you—”
“I know.”Solomon gripped Wallace’s hand, then let go reluctantly.He got to his feet.“I’d better get back to the Crown.See you soon in Barnstaple, then?”
“See you in Barnstaple.”
Chapter Fifteen
When Solomon finally reached the end of the story, his voice was hoarse.He had done most of the talking, with Wallace speaking up only now and then to remind him of some detail.
“Well… there you have it,” Solomon said at last.
The room fell silent.Jed was sitting on one of the beds, and Solomon and Wallace were on the other, facing him.They were both limp with exhaustion.Wallace’s skin was a wan grey, and Solomon’s features were sharp and pinched.
There was a look that mingled shame and defiance in Wallace’s eyes, and Jed wanted to say something to put him at his ease.But he couldn’t think what: the whole thing was too big for him.Instead, he asked the most straightforward and obvious question.“So how did this Vaughan fellow come to be down here in Devon?”
Solomon and Wallace exchanged glances.
“We’ve talked and talked about it,” Solomon said.“Trying to guess where he picked up our trail.”
“Weknowwhere,” Wallace said to him.“You were clever enough to walk out of Bristol, and I was stupid enough to get on a carrier’s cart to Taunton.”He slumped back against the wall.“I never really thought he’d follow me.”
The two of them were sitting shoulder to shoulder, and Solomon gave Wallace a gentle bump.“We’ve slept fairly soundly up until now,” he said to Jed.“Even if he knew we were somewhere west of Taunton, it seemed unlikely that he could find us.”
“I won’t be sleeping soundly tonight,” Wallace said.He gave Jed a questioning look.“Solomon says you thought he might track the cart to Barnstaple.”
Jed rubbed the back of his neck.“Maybe.It en’t as though we were on one of Mrs Drake’s regular routes, happily enough.Nobody can point us out as the Barnstaple carrier.But… he did have a bloody good look at our load.If he’s really determined, he could make enquiries at every brewery in the district.And also—” He hesitated.
“What?”
“Well, tracking down people is what the press gang does.It’s their specialty.”
A heavy silence fell between them.
“You must think me a pitiful fellow,” Wallace said abruptly.“Fleeing across the country like this.I suppose you’re wondering why I don’t just tough it out.Put up my fists and knock him down.”
