An Auctioned Bride (Highland Heartbeats Book 4) by Aileen Adams

Author:Aileen Adams [Adams, Aileen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2017-12-07T16:00:00+00:00

20

Hunched over the neck of the horse, climbing upward, hanging desperately onto clumps of the horse's mane, Dalla tried to stifle the panic that threatened to rise, before it ripped from her throat in a terrified scream.

Why?

Why was this happening to her? What had she done, against her family, against God, to deserve such hardships?

She felt the warmth of Hugh's body hovering over her, so close that his chest pressed against her back, arms wrapped around her while he guided his horse.

He offered a stalwart sense of security, of protection; but what was one man alone against three or more who would likely be carrying not only quivers full of arrows, but swords and axes?

And who was that better-dressed man with them that she had spied before disappearing into the woods?

She had run away from the hut, ignoring the pain of stones beneath her thin slippers. Behind, at the hut, she'd heard the sound of shouts and then the horses galloping away. Where was Hugh? What would he think when he returned to find her gone? What would—

A soft grunt behind her caused her to stiffen and cast a glance over her shoulder. Her eyes widened in alarm when she saw Hugh's face.

What—

She glanced down at the leg beside her, saw his leather breeches drenched in blood. Oh Lord. help her! She saw the shaft of an arrow protruding from the center of his thigh.

“Hugh! You're—”

A brilliant flash of lightning lit up the sky, seeming to rise from the ground itself.

Seconds later, a crash of thunder crackled overhead, echoing between the spires of rock through which they climbed and then rumbling even further down through the narrow valley.

Just over the rumbling, she heard the sound of voices, not far in the distance. There were catching up to them! But who were they and what did they want?

And then, horror of horrors, Hugh suddenly toppled from the back of the horse. The gelding immediately stopped, prancing nervously around his master.

She slid off as well. Taking a chance that the horse wouldn't go far, she slapped its rump, shimmying quickly away just in case the gelding decided to show a fit of temper toward her.

He gazed at her a moment, then trotted away, weaving its way among the rocks until it disappeared. She prayed that he'd come back, but not too quickly.

She glanced down at Hugh, half-conscious, lying on his side in front of a cluster of shrubs. She had no idea what kind, but they were thick and leafy. The ground felt damp beneath her feet—one bare, one foot still wearing a slipper.

It started to rain, big fat drops at first, then mellowing into a gentle, steady rain.

She placed a hand on Hugh's shoulder and leaned down close.

“I heard voices,” she said, speaking close to his ear.

Suddenly, he lifted an arm and flattened her onto the ground beside him, holding her close.

At first, she struggled, but then, noticing his pain and the firm shake of his head, she stilled. Her heart thundered in her chest as she heard the snap of a twig not far away.

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