The Highwayman Incident by Kristy Tate

Author:Kristy Tate [Tate, Kristy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2014-12-03T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER NINE

Arms twirling, legs flailing, Celia tried to find something to hold as she plunged through the middle of the earth. A branch reached out to snag her dress and ripped a hole in not only the fine fabric, but also in her arm. Above her, a ceiling of green grass and a splotch of sunlight. Below her, who knew? She landed with a squeal of surprise and pain in a man’s arms.

“Now, this is interesting,” the man said. “Who might you be?”

Celia gaped at the mountainous man who held her. He had arms like tree branches, and he held her as easily as he would a kitten. He stared at her with warm, brown eyes and his voice carried laughter.

“I’m Celia…West,” she stuttered over her lie. “Who are you?”

“I’m Lord Montgomery.” He dipped his head. “At your service.” He gently placed her feet on the ground before nodding to her tattered dress and bleeding arm. “You’re injured.”

She nodded mutely, acknowledging the pain.

“Here,” he said as he removed his shirt. “Let me help you.” And with that he tore a long strip off the bottom of his white shirt.

Celia bit her lip to keep from crying out as he tied the makeshift bandage around her arm. “You’ve ruined your shirt,” she said in a tremulous voice.

“And if we stay here much longer, we will be sure to ruin your reputation.”

“Oh, you don’t need to worry about that,” Celia said, slightly swaying on her feet. Her dizzy- woozy brain tried to register the stone walls, sandy floor, and the giant standing beside her.

“And why not?” the giant asked.

“I’m not from around here. No one knows or cares about me here.”

“That is, perhaps, the saddest thing I’ve ever heard.”

Celia fell more than sat. The sand felt cold and wet, and she knew the salt water would ruin her dress, but with everything spinning around her, she didn’t think she could stand for much longer.

The giant contemplated her with gentle eyes. “You’ll ruin your gown.”

“We are in ruins.” She laughed at her own double-entendre. “Seriously, though. I don’t think I can stand up.” Without looking at her blood-soaked bandage, she raised her hand to her head. “I’m not feeling so hot.”

The giant looked around. “Well, of course not. ‘Tis not a hot day.”

Celia lay back on the sand and closed her eyes. Things stopped spinning almost immediately. “That’s better,” she murmured.

“I should think not,” the giant said as if from a great distance away, even though Celia knew he stood right beside her. “We cannot stay here like this.”

Without opening her eyes, Celia waved at him. “You can go.”

“And leave you here? Methinks not.”

Celia snorted.

“And what, pray tell, humors you?”

“You think snot.” She snorted again.

Because she had her eyes closed, she couldn’t see his expression, and she decided that was just as well. She really didn’t care what he thought, or who he was, or anything---until he scooped her up.

“What?” Her eyes flashed open. “Put me down!” She tried to wiggle away, but he held her fast.

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