Scoundrel's Daughter by MARGO MAGUIRE

Author:MARGO MAGUIRE [MAGUIRE, MARGO]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2014-04-14T14:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

When Dorothea heard someone coming out of the woods, she’d assumed it was Jack. Instead, it was two men—very disreputable-looking men. They closed in on her fast, before she had a chance to scream for help.

One of them covered her mouth with his hand, while the other grabbed at her body, looking for money, she supposed. She kicked and struggled with all her strength, but when they knocked her to the ground, she lost her wind and was unable to do anything against them.

When she felt the cold blade of a knife pressing against her flesh and slipping through her clothes, she renewed her efforts against them. Somehow, she managed to get out a scream.

The man with the knife laughed. “Won’t be no help for you now,” he said. “We got Byron to take care of your man.”

Dorothea’s panic increased. What had they done to Jack? She tried to shove away from the men, but their hands seemed to be everywhere, and they were too heavy, too strong. She should have felt mortified to have her corset sliced open, leaving her bare, but she was too busy fighting, trying to catch her breath. And she was terrified—for herself, for Jack.

Refusing to make herself an easy victim, she kicked and clawed while they held her down. In the midst of her flailing, her hand closed around a large rock. Just as the weight of the man on top shifted, she brought the rock down hard against his skull. He yelped and fell away, holding his head.

Fighting now against only one assailant, Dorothea tried to scrabble away. But he held her in place, pinning her to the ground with one hand while he grabbed at her with the other. Dorothea tried kicking again, but could only manage to bring her knee up.

Whatever she did seemed to be effective. The man grunted and swore loudly as he started to fall back, but then he was pulled off her.

“Jack!” she cried.

The second man stood and faced Jack, though he had a large gash on his forehead from the blow Dorothea had delivered with the rock. A fight ensued while the first man lay on his side with his knees drawn up.

Dorothea picked the knife up from the ground, then got to her feet, holding her ruined blouse closed over her breasts. Her skirt was torn and filthy, but she was oblivious to it. Her heart pounded erratically, and she had trouble catching her breath, but she hardly noticed.

She winced every time Jack was hit, but she could see that he was more powerful than either of the two men. She had every confidence in him. Still, she screamed when the second attacker roused himself and stood, joining in the fight.

The air seemed to shimmer around Jack and the two men, and Dorothea stumbled, unable to take her eyes off them. She had to do something to help.

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