was suddenly flushed with color, „Well, now you can trail at

my heels for a while. If I feel generous, I may let you return

the Rose to me when we reach New Orleans.“ He laughed

excitedly. „Don’t you think that’s only fair, your highness?“

It was more than vengeance driving him, Nicholas realized,

the man was not quite sane. The knowledge caused terror to

sleet through him. There was no way to either reason or

bargain with a madman. „And how do you intend to

accomplish this?“

„Why, we’re going to have a race,“ Bassinger said. „That

should amuse your highness, you being a gambling man. I

have your woman on the Mary L, one of my other boats

docked just down the levee. The Mary L is smaller and lighter

than the Rose and she’s carrying no cargo and only about

twenty-five passengers. When I return to the boat, I’ll order

that we set out for New Orleans. You will naturally follow.“

He smiled. „If you arrive first in New Orleans, I’ll allow you

to return the Rose and give you the bitch you apparently hold

in such esteem. If I win, you’ll still return the Rose and I’ll

keep the Delaney woman until I tire of her.“ His smile

deepened benevolently. „Don’t worry, I seldom keep women

for long after I’ve broken them. Though your half-breed seems

more spirited than most, I’m sure it will take only a little

longer.“ He turned toward the door. „I think I’m being most

generous under the circumstances. I’ll even allow you

glimpses of your strumpet from time to time if you keep close

enough on my heels. I’ll bring her up to the Texas deck when

she’s not entertaining me in my cabin.“ He opened the door

and glanced back at them, fierce satisfaction on his face, „You

understand, of course, that since I’ve made the rules and the

stakes, I can also change them at any time. You might

remember that, your highness.“

The door closed behind him.

Valentin gave a low whistle. „Nicky, he’s not – “

„Sane,“ Nicholas finished grimly. „And it wouldn’t surprise

me if he were capable of the same sorts of vicious little tricks

made notorious by our good tsar Ivan.“

„What do we do?“ Mikhail asked.

„We follow him.“ Nicholas stood up, swaying as waves of

pain pounded his temples. „Yapping at the bastard’s heels.“

„I don’t like it,“ Valentin said, frowning. „Why don’t we go

after him now and – “

„He’d kill her,“ Nicholas said harshly. „Do you think I

wouldn’t prefer that too? I can’t risk it. It’s my fault Silver is

being used as Bassinger’s pawn. If I hadn’t brought her on

board the Rose, he would never have known she existed. The

blame for anything he does lies on my shoulders.“

„He will not keep his bargain,“ Mikhail said flatly.

Nicholas didn’t answer for a moment. „I know that.“ His

lips tightened into a thin line. He moved toward the door.

„We’ll give Bassinger what he wants and watch for a chance

to get Silver away from him.“

Valentin nodded. „And then?“

„Then I’ll kill him as slowly and as painfully as possible.“

Nicholas opened the door. „I’m going up to the pilot house to

talk to Robert. Put ashore our passengers with enough money

to buy them passage back to New Orleans on another riverboat

and get rid of any cargo in the hold. I want the Rose as light as

possible. If what Bassinger claims about the Mary L is true, it

won’t help much, but we have to try everything we can. I want

to be right behind him from the moment the Mary L leaves the

levee.“ He glanced over his shoulder. „And make sure there’s

a rifle on board. The Rose may not be able to catch the Mary L

but a bullet might.“

„Come along, sweet bitch.“ Bassinger jerked Silver to her

feet. „We’re under way, and though I’d like to linger here in

my cabin with you, I have an even greater pleasure in mind.

We’re going to put on a show for your lover.“ He checked the

bonds around her wrists in front of her. „It’s a spectacle I’ve

been planning since you poured that bottle of wine on my

head.“

„You looked very funny,“ Silver said calmly. „Everyone

thought so. Do you remember how they laughed at you?

They’ll laugh again when I – “ She broke off, her head

snapping back as Bassinger struck her viciously on the cheek.

Then she shook her head to clear it of the stinging pain and

smiled. „I will remember that when my hands aren’t tied.“

„You’ll remember a good deal more than that.“ He shoved

her out onto the deck and then in the direction of the stairs

leading to the Texas deck. „And so will Savron. He’s right

behind us and he’ll be able to view our little tableau very

clearly.“ He half lifted, half pushed her up the stairs. „You’re

quite helpless, you know. No one will interfere. Most of the

passengers are asleep, but I’ve ordered their staterooms locked

as a precaution. As for the crew, they value their jobs and will

discreetly attend to their duties. A few of them will even enjoy

watching.“ He flung his arms wide as they reached the deck.

„You see, I’ve already prepared the stage. We want our

audience to be able to see every detail.“

A multitude of lanterns lit this end of the Texas deck. They

hung on the rails and sat on the deck and on the stairs leading

to the pilot house. The entire area was as brilliantly lit as the

stage to which Bassinger was comparing it. A roughly clad

young man with a scarred cheek was lighting another lantern,

and looked up to smile at Bassinger. „All set, sir. Almost as

bright as day up here.“

„Good. Oh, how rude I’m being. This is one of my

employees, Henry Bracken,“ Bassinger said smoothly as he

pushed Silver toward the rail at the rear of the boat. „Henry

has tastes similar to my own, and I often allow him to watch as

I chastise my little girls for their wickedness.“ He stood beside

her at the rail and pointed to the white riverboat gleaming in

the darkness a few hundred yards distant. „There’s the Rose.

It’s too far away for you to see if your lover is in the pilot

house watching us, but I assure you he’ll be there.“ His gaze

didn’t leave her face as he held out his hand. „The rawhide,

Henry.“

Henry Bracken hurried forward and placed the long leather

strap in Bassinger s hand. Bassinger quickly knotted the

rawhide over the ropes binding Silver’s wrists and then bound

her to the rail. „And he can see you very clearly. How

fortunate that you’re wearing red. That costume should be

quite visible from a distance.“ He stepped behind her, out of

her line of vision. „The whip, Henry.“

„Right away, sir.“

Silver inhaled sharply. He was going to beat her. She

should have expected this. She braced herself.

„Ah, you’re getting ready for the first blow. What a

beautiful sight that is. But it never does any good to prepare

yourself, the pain is just as bad as if you don’t. Thank you,

Henry.“ A whistling sound snaked through the air. „It’s a fine

whip. It will leave lovely crimson weals, but won’t scar your

permanently. That will come later.“

„There won’t be a later,“ Silver said, tugging futile-ly at the

rawhide strap. „I’ll kill you, Bassinger.“

„They all say that, don’t they, Henry?“ Bassinger’s laugh

was high and excited. „First there’s anger, then the pain, and

then the screaming.“ His voice lowered. „And then the

pleading. I’m going to enjoy that most of all. When you’re