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the borders of the United States at university. We must return her to the Badlands with all haste.” When the captain didn’t say anything, she pressed on, “Every day without a ruler, the Badlands will fall more and more into the hands of the prisoners. It will turn into the wild, untamed land the Union always believed it to be, and it will be that much harder for rule to be reestablished.”
    The captain’s mouth quirked to the side. “My employer might take issue with the Dark Hawk doing this job off the books.”
    Her lips pressed tight together. If he wasn’t going to help her, she’d already told him too much. “If you are unwilling to assist me then I will, of course, seek out another vessel at the earliest convenience.” She stood and swept up the clothes from the bed. “My heartfelt appreciation for the medical care and transport to your ship’s berth.” Ever tried to squeeze past him.
    He caught her arm in a gentle, but firm, grip. “I didn’t say we wouldn’t help you, only that we need to keep it quiet. I need this shipping route to stay open and active and that won’t happen if your government collapses. But Henrietta’s father owns the Dark Hawk until I pay off my contract. He doesn’t want to give up the ship and is waiting for me to give him a reason not to. Which means Henri can’t know what we’re doing until it’s too late for her to cause problems. And it’s best if you don’t discuss it with the crew because not all of them can be trusted to keep their traps shut.”
    “None of them?” She forced herself to think of Zeke and ignored the heat burning through her at the captain’s touch.
    “It’s probably safer.”
    “And what assurance do I have that I can trust you, Captain?”
    He tipped his head back and met her gaze, turmoil stirring in the depths of his eyes. “None. I’ve nothing to offer you but my word.”

Chapter Four
    The look Ever shot him pierced his heart, pain tinged with fear and sadness. Soon enough she schooled her features back into their normal stern set. “Then forgive me for saying I will only provide you with information when necessary. For now, all you need to know is I require passage to and from the Union.”
    Spencer stood, his hand still on her arm, unwilling to lose the contact it offered him. “Ever, I’m not saying you can’t trust me, only that I don’t have something tangible that says I won’t betray you. All I’ve got is my promise that your success means my livelihood.” Standing, their eyes were almost level, he only had to tip his down slightly to meet her gaze. “I don’t need details yet, but I’m not your enemy. If you know some way for me to prove it, I’m more than willing to try.”
    Her lips pressed together and pain filled her eyes once more as she shook her head. “I would like to believe the time will come when a test is not needed, but this is too important.” She tore from his grasp and strode into the corridor.
    He stared after her retreating form for a long moment then he sank into the chair, head in his hands. Women. Every time he let one onto this ship, things went sour. Though to be fair, Ever had been rescued and he wasn’t given a choice about Henri. Mahala was the only woman he’d invited aboard since Elsbeth.
    He raised his head and glanced at the tintype next to his bed. They both looked so serious; they’d been told not to smile. The instant the process was complete they’d burst into gales of laughter, teasing each other about how ship’s officers needed to be able to wear the severe expression far longer than the photographer had expected.
    Then they’d left their parents and taken the Dark Hawk up for its maiden voyage. She sailed with him for nearly five years. Until the day they’d gone hunting with Zeke after off-loading cargo. While Spencer and Zeke argued about who had brought the elk down, Elsbeth raced ahead to finish it off.
    Her scream had made his blood run cold.
    Elsbeth wasn’t