Beyond Scandal by Joyce Brenda

Author:Joyce, Brenda [Joyce, Brenda]
Language: en-us
Format: mobi
Publisher: Harper Collins, Inc.
Published: 2010-10-05T06:00:00+00:00

Chapter 18

Anne whipped the gray with her crop. She leaned low over the gray’s neck as they galloped down the rocky path. Stones shot out from beneath the gray’s hooves, tumbling over the side of the road and into a narrow gorge beside it. The horse stumbled. Anne gripped its mane. From the corner of her eye she glimpsed the bottom of the gorge, many feet below her, a jumble of sharp rocks. She dug her heels into her horse’s sides. The gray lengthened its strides.

Anne did not dare look back to see if the rider was pursuing her again.

She did not have to. She could hear a horse galloping behind her—the sound of its racing hoofbeats coming closer—and closer.

Her heart lodged itself in her throat. Anne looked over her shoulder, and saw a flash of red hide. The rider was only a few lengths behind her! She turned forward, whipping the gray’s neck with her crop, terrified.

“Anne!” Dom shouted.

Anne thought she had misheard. But Dom shouted her name again as he drew abreast of her. His hand shot out, seizing the gray’s bridle abruptly. Both horses came to plunging, heaving halts on the narrow path simultaneously.

Dom released her mount and spurred his bay hunter close to hers. His knee knocked her thigh. “What the hell are you doing?” he shouted.

Anne stared at him out of wide, stunned eyes, then collapsed on her horse’s neck in profound relief. She buried her face in its coarse salt-and-pepper mane. Her heart was roaring in her ears.

“What is wrong with you?” Dom was still shouting. “To ride so recklessly! You could have killed both yourself and your horse!”

Anne gulped air. Her pulse finally began to slow a bit She realized that she was shaking. Oh, God. It was Dom who had been following her after all, not some stranger intent on harm. She straightened, managing a weak smile. “I did not know that it was you.”

He stared at her. His face was dark with fury. His eyes were almost black. “What?”

“I was spooked,” Anne explained. She brushed a strand of hair off her mouth. “I thought a stranger was following me.” She laughed shakily, realizing how ludicrous her words sounded, and how hysterical she must seem. She brushed more hair away from her face. Her chignon had become undone in her madcap ride and her thick, waist-length hair was rioting over her shoulders and down her back.

Dom’s expression changed.

“But it was only you.” She smiled again, more brightly. She covered her beating heart with one gloved palm. “I wouldn’t have ridden that way if I had known. How silly I am.”

Dom’s gaze lifted and moved over the hillside behind her. Anne stiffened slightly when she realized that he was actually looking for something—or someone. But then his gaze settled on her abruptly and Anne forgot her fears. She knew she must look terribly ill-kempt. Not only had her hair come loose, but her jacket had popped some of its buttons.

But his gaze moved

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