by Sandy Loyd
It took only seconds of scouting to find a definite trail. Parker tucked the locket and ring inside his coat pocket, then mounted his stallion, eager to follow. He hadn’t gone far before he realized where the trail led. Dismounting once again, he tied the horse to a low-hanging branch to graze.
A heartbeat later he stepped swiftly into the brush, almost running.
Like a ghost, concealed and silent, he traveled through the woods. At the edge of the clearing on the other side of the trail leading to his bluff, he halted. The blood pumping through his body turned to ice as he settled unseen to observe the scene in front of him.
Penny sat on his rock as an unknown man standing menacingly over her reached into his coat pocket, took out a piece of mirrored glass, and signaled someone on the water.
~~
The earl swung around to face her, his expression filling with rage. “Did you think you could avoid marriage with me?” He raised an arm and struck her again.
Though she’d prepared for the blow with a flinch and a defensive hand, the force of it knocked her off the rock. His harsh laugh still held the vicious quality when he bent to help her up and his voice, as he continued speaking, sent a bitter chill over Penny.
“I planned for too long to allow some cloddish colonial steal you, my dear. What were you thinking? Bloody hell! The man’s common and has to die,” he stated, waving his gun. “His demise won’t be hard to plan and deal with. After all, I managed with your stupid parents.”
“What do you mean? They were in an accident,” she said, fighting to ignore his boast. She bit her lip to keep her tears from forming. She knew firsthand how he liked to instill fear and she would die rather than let him know how much the news affected her.
“They tried to renege on their agreement. Said I wasn’t worthy. Only I wasn’t about to let that happen. Of course, I didn’t anticipate Wyndham’s interference. Otherwise I would have come up with some other plan,” he said. His expression hardened and he looked at her, growling, “You’ve gone and messed with perfect plans. No matter. You’ll be punished. While I’ll take pleasure in meting it out, unfortunately, it won’t be pleasurable for you. You have caused me a great deal of time and money, so it’s only fair.”
Penny cast her gaze at the ground, thinking the entire time of how she could escape the madman, unwilling to let panic overwhelm her.
“Aren’t you even curious as to your punishment, my dear?”
“No. I’m sure it can’t be any more heinous than tying me down so you can torment me.”
“Yes, but now I don’t have to stop.” He emitted a gleeful cackle, all but crowing, giving Penny the impression of a bantam rooster pleased with himself for his part in laying the egg. Then all pleasure dissipated as rage gripped his features. He knocked her hat away and grabbed her bun, yanking her head back, bringing her attention to him. His breath, inches from hers, smelled foul and dank, just like the man. Eyeing her with a glazed look in his eyes, he hissed like the snake he was, “That bastard kept you from me. Don’t worry. I’ll take care of him along with your husband. He won’t get away with interfering with my plans.”
Ignoring the pain bursting through her scalp, Penny blinked back tears. “You’ll never get the chance because my husband won’t let you. He’s a US marshal.” Though she tried to sound confident, the thought of this madman somehow managing to kill Parker had her very worried, especially after learning he’d been responsible for her parents’ deaths.
“That certainly represents a challenge, now doesn’t it?” Gerald still held her hair and he moved his lips to her ears, stroking the side of her face with his knuckles. He gave a soft chuckle and whispered, “You’ll eventually learn to take pleasure in my touch. But if I’m to be honest, I’d have to say I don’t really want you to. I truly enjoy your fear. You’re so tempting, my dear. It’s too bad I have to wait.” Then he stood and moved away, his agitation growing. The earl turned back to her and said in a louder, more vicious tone, “That man took what was mine. It should be my babe in your stomach, not his. You’ll pay for that, too.”
Something caught Lord Knightsbridge’s attention in the brush. Pushing Penny away, he spun around. Waving his gun, he said, “Come out or I’ll put a bullet in the lady’s kneecap. The shot won’t kill her, but it will cripple her. I care not whether she can walk again.”
When silence enveloped them, the earl yelled, pointing his gun at Penny’s leg, “Now.”
Slowly, Parker walked out of his hiding spot with hands raised. “Take it easy. I’m unarmed,” he said, flashing an engaging grin.
Penny lunged to warn him. “Parker, run! He’s going to kill you.” At the same time Lord Knightsbridge raised his arm, aiming for Parker’s heart, and fired.
In stunned horror, she watched the man she loved fall to the ground. The scene unfolded in slow motion, yet she couldn’t deny the brutality of what had just happened, forcing her to act. She was now totally on her own and would rather be shot in the back than surrender to the earl’s control. The rage surging through her gave her strength. Penny shoved the earl with all her might, catching him off guard. Then, pushing away the heart-searing pain at seeing Parker lying prone and lifeless, Penny darted through the brush, running at a good clip, and thanking God she was wearing her boys’ boots and trousers as they allowed her more agility. Using her head start, as well as her advantage of knowing the terrain, she quickly found a spot in which to hide. She covered her mouth, trying not to breathe too loudly, and waited.
Within moments, the earl thrashed through the woods and into view. He brushed past her, without discovering she crouched hidden not feet from where he’d stepped. She stayed put until she could tell he was a good distance away. Then she ran in the opposite direction.
“Penny, come out.”
Lord Knightsbridge’s yelling spurred her faster. She ignored the burning pain in her lungs. “You will not cry,” she told herself. “Don’t think of Parker lying dead. Just keep running and don’t stop.”
“You won’t get far, my lady.”
His voice got louder and stronger. She increased her pace, heading in the direction of Catherine’s cave. If she could make it, she stood a chance of saving herself.
“Just give up and I’ll go easy on your punishment,” he yelled. “Penny? Where are you? Come, my dear. Surely you see you have no other choice. If you don’t come out, I’ll kill them all. Do you hear me? I’ll find your maid and make sure she suffers.”
When his voice became more distant, Penny halted every now and then to listen. Fear kept her heartache at bay, enabling her to keep a steady pace, while disappearing farther into the woods, gaining more distance from the madman chasing her.
Once she reached the two tall rocks covering the cave’s entrance, her fears eased, and thoughts of Parker lying dead on the ground invaded her mind. She couldn’t stop her tears. Soon they were flowing freely, blurring her vision and impeding her progress through the large cavern.
Somehow, she made it to their clothes. She grabbed one of Catherine’s rifles. After loading it, and finally losing her fight with the tears, Penny sat with her back against the wall. Holding the rifle on her lap, she silently wept, unable to block the pain. The image of the monster shooting Parker in cold blood wouldn’t dissipate.
How long she sat there crying, she wasn’t sure. Eventually, she regained some semblance of control, and through sheer determination, she shoved the pain away. She’d be damned if she’d let him win. Not now. Not when she had part of Parker growing inside her. With that final thought rushing into her consciousness, she took a deep, steadying breath and wiped her tears with the back of her sleeve. Slowly, she advanced toward the cave’s entrance with a renewed purpose, her rifle at the ready.
Chapter 28
“Penny? Where are you?” Catherine shouted, looking around once she’d returned to the spot she’d left Penny. She crouched, fingering some disturbances in the leaves and brush, and quickly began following the obvious trail, event
ually finding Parker’s horse tied to a branch.
After reaching the stallion, she stroked his head.
“So that’s where you’ve gone,” she said, letting out a relieved breath. “Humph. Couldn’t even wait till I got back.”
When a shot rang out, disturbing the stillness of the afternoon, all color left Catherine’s face. She waited, listening, before hurriedly mounting the stallion in one jump, turning the horse in the direction of the noise and urging him forward. The minute she rounded the bend in the road, her attention moved to the prone man on the ground.
“Parker!” Her alarm increased. She dismounted and rushed to her brother. Catherine kneeled beside him, looking for a wound. Seeing none, she placed her fingers under his neck, checking for some sign of life.
When he moaned, she breathed a sigh of relief and gently patted his face. “Parker? What happened? Where’s Penny?”
~~
Slowly, Parker opened his eyes. The first thing he noticed was the burning ache in his chest. Placing his hand over the spot, he looked at Catherine and asked dazedly, “You didn’t see them?”
Catherine shook her head. “Who?”
Parker tried to shake off the throbbing pain and sat up, grunting at how much more it hurt once he was in a sitting position. He could feel the bullet hole through his jacket. Digging into his jacket pocket he pulled out the locket, which was now a flattened, misshapen piece of metal with a slug jutting out from the gold center.
“Seems I’ve been shot. I think I cracked a rib,” he said incredulously, turning to Catherine and holding out the twisted piece of metal. The thought of Penny with the madman who’d shot him entered his brain just then and a fear he never known before streaked through him. “Hurts like the dickens, but I’ve got to get Penny. She’s in danger. That bastard has her,” he said with a strained voice as he tried to stand up. The pain was even more intense now and he had to sit back down, biting back the urge to vomit.
“You’re in no condition to move. In fact, you’re one lucky man,” Catherine said, nodding toward the small hole in his woolen jacket. “That locket saved your life.”
Parker closed his eyes, willing the pain away, and unsuccessfully tried to stand again. “I’ve got to find where he’s taken her. He means her harm. Damn, why didn’t I listen to Sterling and at least come armed?”
“What happened? Who has Penny?” Catherine asked, confusion moving over her facial features. “You’re not making any sense. And I’m armed. Just tell me what happened and I’ll track them.”
“No,” he yelled, fighting off another wave of nausea. When he could finally speak again, his voice was more labored. “The man’s too dangerous. You’re staying right here. Give me a minute and I’ll be fine.”
“Don’t go all male on me, Parker. You can barely move. You’re in no shape to track,” Catherine said impatiently, rolling her eyes and shaking her head. She eyed her brother and added confidently, “I can travel faster than you and I have both my rifle and my Remington revolver. You know I’m capable. Just tell me what I’m looking for.”
Parker met his sister’s steady gaze, hating the fact that she had a point. Penny was in danger and it was taking every bit of his strength just to sit upright. When he looked to the heavens to send up a silent prayer, ensuring his beloved’s safety, it hit him. Penny was his life and he couldn’t lose her. Not now. Not when he finally realized what his brave angel meant to him. In an instant, remorse filled him. Why had he never told her how he felt? Why had he let his past feelings of others’ actions keep him silent about how much she meant to him? “Please, Lord,” he whispered, voicing his prayer. “Keep her safe and I’ll make it up to her. Don’t let her die without knowing how much I love her.”
He managed to move into a kneeling position, but the effort cost him. He nodded to Catherine and said in a louder voice, “You’re right. I’m unable to move as fast. Give me your gun and go. I’ll follow as fast as I can. The man you’re tracking is the earl she was supposed to marry. He’s armed and dangerous. You take your shot if you get one. You got it? He’s no better than an animal. I have no doubts that he’ll kill you or Penny if he gets the chance, so be careful.”
“Don’t worry. I can handle him. I know how much you love her,” Catherine said, nodding solemnly and handing him her gun. “I think she does too, so don’t go doing anything to hurt yourself further. She’ll need you when this is all over.” She slung her rifle over her shoulder and started off in the direction Parker was sure her quarry had gone.
After a few minutes, Parker finally was able to stand and in a few more he could slowly walk. Following his sister’s trail, he picked up more speed as he went. Still, he could only travel so fast, having to stop many times for air as his breathing was severely impaired, hampering his progress through the brush.
~~
Using what Catherine had taught her, Penny slowly began to track the monster. It didn’t take her long to determine which direction to head because he was noisily looking for her, not bothering to cover up his movements.
In a matter of moments, she spotted him storming through the terrain. Again, using her newfound skill, she waited, becoming invisible in the brush, for the right moment to spring a surprise attack. The fact that he assiduously looked for her while she stood not more than fifty feet away amused her and filled her with a sense of security at the same time.
He’d pay for killing her love, but she didn’t want him to die easily.
No. Penny wanted him to suffer.
When the time was right, she stepped from her hiding spot. “Looking for me?” she asked, leveling her rifle at Lord Knightsbridge.
He stopped and pivoted at the sound of her voice. His expression turned triumphant. When he noticed the rifle pointed at him, he grinned. “You know as well as I do you won’t pull the trigger.”
“Don’t be too sure.” Penny fired and knocked his gun out of his hand with the shot. The rifle recoiled, sending pain into her shoulder. She ignored it, oblivious to everything but the man in front of her.
His look of shock was comical.
“Go on. Pick it up,” Penny said after he hesitated. “I still have another round in the chamber and I want to make it fair when I kill you. But know this. It will be a painful death and by the time I’m done, you’ll be begging me to end your miserable life.”
The earl stood, eyeing Penny while clearly contemplating her actions and words. Finally a menacing smile lifted the corners of his mouth. “You won’t kill me,” he said, his voice becoming more confident. “You’re too soft.”
“Then you have nothing to be afraid of and everything to gain by picking up your gun,” Penny taunted, praying he’d go for the gun so she could shoot him again. He was right about one thing. She was too soft to shoot him in cold blood, giving him a better chance than he’d given Parker.
~~
Like Catherine, Parker had heard the exchange of gunfire, causing him to increase his efforts to close the gap between his sister and him. Eventually he was able to tolerate the pain. His concentration, centered on finding Penny and killing the earl, had been enough to keep him moving. In minutes, he’d come up behind Catherine, hidden in the brush watching the exchange between Penny and the earl. She nodded to him, touched her finger to her lips, and pointed to her left. Parker nodded and eased into position, training his weapon on the earl.
Together they waited to take their shot.
Neither Parker nor Catherine could miss the determined look on Penny’s face or the flicker of fear in the earl’s demeanor as he moved purposely to pick up the gun. Then in a flash, Knightsbridge rolled and while prone on the ground, he aimed. But he never got a chance to fire because three bullets, all fired at the same time, ripped into him.
Once it was over, Penny slowly sank to the ground and wept in despair, unaware that Parker sprang toward her with speed and agility that belied his wounded ribs.
“Penny. My God. Are you all right?” he said, dropping to sit beside
her. Pulling her into his arms, he whispered, “Shush, love. It’s all right. Don’t cry. You know I hate it when you cry.”
She glanced at him through blurry, tear-filled eyes and reached out to touch him. “Parker? You’re alive? But how? I saw him kill you,” she said, running her hands over his body as if to reassure herself that he wasn’t a dream.
“Easy, love. That hurts.” When she stilled her movements, he placed his hand over hers, taking it to his lips. He kissed it. “Cracked rib, I think. Hurts like the dickens, but I’ll survive.” He smiled warmly and reached into his jacket pocket, pulling her locket out. He held it out to her in the palm of his hand. “In my eyes, it’s a miracle straight from heaven. They were watching over you, angel. They kept me from dying so that I could take care of you.” He planted a kiss on her forehead. “I’m such a fool. Can you ever forgive me?”
Penny started to shake her head and he stopped her, putting his hand underneath her chin, lifting it so that their eyes could meet.
“I should’ve told you sooner. I love you and probably have since that first night I kissed you. From the moment I saw you, you’ve been a temptation I couldn’t resist. I don’t know why I even bothered.” Then he tilted her chin, guiding her lips to his, letting her feel from the kiss what was in his heart. His heart beat faster when Penny’s lips answered, imparting his same message.
She broke the kiss and smiled. “I love you too. I thought my life had ended when I saw the earl fire the shot.”
Epilogue
Nine months later—
Rocking her two-month-old infant in the same nursery she was rocked twenty-five years before, Penny contentedly hummed a lullaby, gazing into her son’s perfect face. She glanced up at a noise and smiled.