Shrouds of Holly by Kate Kingsbury

Author:Kate Kingsbury
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi, pdf
Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
Published: 2007-08-14T04:00:00+00:00

Samuel flicked the reins along the chestnut’s back, urging it to run faster. Clouds had gathered over the ocean and a fresh wind promised rain. The thought of madam and Miss Pengrath trudging through the trees terrified him, and the threat of a storm only made matters worse.

Madeline had told him how to get to the meadow, but it meant taking the riding trail if he were to get there in good time to meet them. After the attempts to run him down, he was not relishing the idea of returning to the menacing shadows of the woods.

He reached the top of the hill and urged the chestnut into a full gallop. The trap swayed from side to side, the wheels groaning in protest as they hit a bump in the road.

Samuel’s teeth rattled as he was jolted out of his seat and crashed down again with a bone-jarring thud. Still he would not allow the horse to let up, and entered the riding trail at breakneck speed.

The next few minutes were a nightmare of grasping branches that threatened to snatch him from the trap, and loose stones thrown up by the chestnut’s flying hooves. On and on they thudded, down slopes and over ridges, turning the bend on one wheel while Samuel’s heart jumped to his throat.

Deeper into the woods they plunged, farther than Samuel had ever been before. The trail narrowed even more, until he was afraid the trap would become jammed between the trees. He reined in the sweating horse, coaxing it to a trot and then slowed to a walk.

Just as he did so, he heard a sound of twigs snapping. Nerves twisting, he lifted the reins to press the horse back into a gallop. Then, from out of the darkness, someone stepped in front of him. With a lurch of apprehension, he jerked the reins and halted the trap.

“Come,” the man said, his harsh voice echoing through the trees. “They are waiting for you.”

Tingling with alarm, Samuel grasped the reins tighter. “Who’s waiting for me?”

“Your friends. Miss Pengrath. Mrs. Baxter.”

Samuel narrowed his eyes, and demanded, “Are you one of them gypsy folk?”

“I am Romany.” The man beckoned, and still uncertain, Samuel nudged the chestnut forward.

The man guided them through the rest of the trees, until at last they came out into the wide-open meadow. At first Samuel’s attention focused on the young woman dancing by the fire. Dusk had already settled over the camp, and the leaping flames bathed the dancer in their fiery glow.

Enthralled by the lithe body twisting and bending to the music, he failed to see Madeline approach until she spoke at his side.

“It’s about time you got here. Mrs. Baxter is impatient to get back to the Pennyfoot.”

Samuel jumped, and stared down into Madeline’s green eyes. “Did the gypsies agree to help look for Mr. Baxter?”

“There’s no need.” Madeline signaled at a couple who moved slowly toward them, the man limping heavily and leaning on the woman at his side.

Samuel blinked, and blinked again.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.