by April Dawn
Bertie laughed, grinning at Reena with a nearly toothless mouth. Reena wanted to wretch, and it was all she could do not to beg. Her captor’s beaming face turned toward Michael’s, and Reena’s gaze followed. Michael’s eyes went wide when they met the stout man’s, his mouth dropped open, and then Michael rotated his head, gaping at Reena. His gaze held hers for one helpless moment before Bertie’s arms tugged her toward the beautiful white blanket. She dug her heels into the dirt, but it didn’t provide much resistance against this man who was a head shorter, but much larger than she.
Reena couldn’t believe what was happening. She’d started the evening yearning for one handsome gentleman that she loved and trying to find a way to settle for the other. How had the night gone so wrong that she’d ended up being manhandled by an immense grimy ruffian while his friend watched, licking his dirty lips?
“Tall one, ain’t she?” Bertie said to his partner as he stared in a most disgusting manner at her heaving chest. “Don’t worry love, I like me lovelies tall.”
Perhaps it was her punishment for considering another man? But as she peered down at the dirty face of the man that held her, the shriek in her chest pushed up to her throat and out of her mouth. “Stop!” she yelled at the large man who was lugging her back toward the blanket, and then she took Lily’s advice.
The toe of her boot struck Bertie right in his shin. His yelp of surprise was all but drowned out by the beating of her heart in her ears. Stumbling back, she turned to run. Reena had only made it a few steps before she heard William speak in counterpoint to Michael’s strangled cry.
“Wouldn’t do that, lovely,” William said, while Bertie hopped around holding his shin. “Ya did seem to like the boy-o here. Wouldn’t want to see…” Reena whipped around at the sound of Michael’s pain, her heart lurching in her chest. He pulled Michael’s arm again, and Michael doubled over onto the weapon. A thin line of red appeared at the site where the blade touched his neck, and a shimmering object fell from his waistcoat.
“No!” She stepped toward the tall man, holding out her hand, fingers spread, as if she could stay the knife by pure will. “Don’t I…I won’t run.”
She took a step toward the blanket, holding her breath when she came within grabbing distance of Bertie. The man relieved the pressure from Michael’s neck, and a choked sound somewhere between a whimper and a sigh, broke from her welling throat.
William pushed Michael forward with a knee on his back, using the knife to spear at something on the ground.
“Well ain’t this fancy?” He held the knife up, a shimmering ring poised on the tip. “Was you gonna marry this one?”
Reena’s stomach twisted. He used the blade to slip the delicate ring into a crusty pocket before returning the knife to Michael’s throat.
“This’ll be a special night for ya. Bertie ‘n’ me’ll make it a fine night indeed.” William’s eyes raked her.
“Listen to me, my good men, I have more money available to me.” Michael’s breath came in hard wheezes, the collar of his shirt and waistcoat dappled pink with his trickling blood. “I can arrange it so that you never have to work again. Don’t do anything foolish.”
William kicked him, and Michael tensed from the pain of the blow in both his back and where the knife was still at his neck. Michael tried to twist free, his gaze meeting hers again. The frantic quality of his stare, and the shimmer in his eyes froze her blood. It appeared by the way the man was holding his arm that he could snap it without too much leverage.
“I think I’ll have me your woman, and then I’ll have me your coat. Mine’s all bloody, and then I’ll have me your money too.” Bertie grabbed her and threw her onto the blanket.
“Don’t move, now. If I have to chase ya again, I’ll stick your man.” His laughter showed a mouthful of rotting teeth and bloody gums. Bile rose in her throat.
Reena sat up, looking at the man, her body leaning in the direction of the trees and freedom. His eyes moved from her to Michael and back. “Your lady needs a real man. Don’t she, William?”
“Sure does.” William laughed and pulled higher on Michael’s arm.
Michael grunted, and Reena shifted her body toward him, but dared not move with the knife pressing into his throat.
“Please. Leave her alone. You can have whatever you want,” Michael said.
“There’s the trouble, ain’t it boy-o? We want your lady.” He sneered at Reena. “I got me somethin’ to show ya girlie. Somethin’ your gonna like.” Nausea welled again as he unbuttoned his torn trousers, moving with deliberate slowness, coming toward her as he did. She bit back a cry and wondered if she should try to run again. She’d heard of rape being a fate worse than death. If that were true, she should run. But if she ran, they would kill Michael. What if Emily came to find them and was hurt by these men or even raped or killed herself?
Perhaps she should yell as loud as she could and tell them to get away? Maybe she should scream for them to come, the coachman would surely have a gun? Would they even be close enough to hear if she did? Perhaps she should make him angry enough to kill her now, but if she did, what would happen to Michael? If he lived, he would be scarred forever by her murder, but wouldn’t that be the same if she were raped? And what if Joshua found out that she was sullied and was disgusted by the thought and never wanted to see her again? Would she even want to see him, knowing that he knew the awful truth?
Her mind flew through questions and thoughts, partly because she was terrified, but mostly to take her mind off the greasy man that was still coming toward her, teeth bared, knife in hand. Her eyes slid to the knife as he popped the last button on his breeches. Then she saw him. She had never seen a living man naked before. The hard long shaft of his manhood stood against his dirty body, looking filthy as the rest of him. But there was a frightening power in the rigid length.
Reena scuttled back, trying not to cry out. This disgusting man wanted her, and she was sure he would not be alone in this. She would be ruined after all, but not by her own choice and not by a handsome man that made her tingle.
She could hear Michael cursing and threatening the men, but it seemed from somewhere far away, in another time, another world. In her world right now, there was only this man with his menacing grin, his long knife, and his dirty manhood. She found herself pleading without even realizing it.
“Please don’t. Please. No.” Her voice was soft, as if coming from a great distance and not from herself.
She shook her head at the sound of her words and the contemptuous sound of William repeating them in a sarcastic mimicry. In an instant, anger filled the void terror had left behind, and her jaw clenched.
Bertie was above her now, smirking. She lay on her back, arms outstretched in defense. Even if it meant that before this night was over, she would be murdered in a most painful and gruesome way, she would fight. She wouldn’t—no—couldn’t let this happen.
Reaching behind, she pushed up with her hands and scuttled back, watching Bertie’s shining eyes while he advanced. He tossed his knife in the sand not far from her. He was toying with her, like a cat playing with a mouse before making the kill. Letting her run just a little, knowing that he could fall on her at any moment.
“Ya don’t got the stamina to please this fine lady. Your gonna go second.” Bertie laughed.
“I’ll please her right good. She’ll be fair screaming her head off when I’m done with her.” William’s chin notched high.
She struck out at Bertie, scratching and clawing at the air as he leaned toward her.
“Real tiger, ain’t she?” William chuckled.
“Come on, Tiger. You’re gonna love this.” Bertie grabbed at her flailing arms.
Click.
The loud noise filled the clearing and everything stopped. Reena lay on her side, half on the beautiful white blanket, one wrist held secure by Bertie, the other pushing at his chest.
At the edge of the clearing stood Jerrold, the coachman, a rifle braced against
his shoulder. Behind him, Emily held a pistol with a resolute grip. The five people stared at each other for a moment. Then Bertie’s gaze lowered to the knife he’d dropped stuck in the sand.
“Don’t even think about it, palie. You move one bleedin’ inch, and I’ll make sure you can’t piss standin’ ever again.” Jerrold’s voice was steady, and the rifle never wavered.
Reena didn’t realize she’d been holding her breath until she let it out.
“We was only having fun.” Bertie’s eyes never left the rifle. “Ya can’t blame us for that.”
Bertie stood, dragging Reena up with him. He put her in front of him like a shield.
“Don’t ya be trying to shoot me mate, now, else I might have to take me grief out on the lad,” William said from somewhere behind her.
The coachman remained steadfast and so did Emily.
“Release both of them and leave with your hides intact.” Emily’s eyes flashed steel. “You try anything funny, and I’ll shoot you both on principle.”
Reena tried and failed to stop the tremors that shook her body. Bertie began to back toward the forest where William stood, restraining Michael. Bertie’s path dragged her to within a foot of his discarded knife, but the blade was still too far away for either of them to make a dash for it.
“Not too close to him, then. If you get her near him, I’ll put a hole in his head and then in yours,” Emily warned.
Bertie paused, looking over his shoulder at where William held Michael, his knife slackening some as his gaze swung from Bertie to the guns and back again. She knew that a plan was forming, and she had to stop this now. Moving quickly, Reena stomped back hard on his foot, sending her elbow into his side with all her might. He gasped, his grip easing for a second and that was enough. She jerked free and ran toward the water, giving her rescuers a clear shot.
A shot rang out. Rustling and snapping sounds emanated from the woods behind her. Reena whirled to see the attackers had gone and rushed to Michael’s side. “Please don’t be dead. Please don’t be dead.” As she knelt beside him, she realized the chanted words came from her own lips. Michael lay on the dank ground, his head turned away from her. Her breathing was hard and uneven as she gingerly touched him. “Michael?”
With great care she turned him on his back, praying that her rash action hadn’t cost him his life. He uttered a soft moan, and she nearly collapsed atop him. “Michael! I thought they had killed you.” She leaned her head on his chest. “Oh, thank God.”
His arms went around her, and he held her to him for a moment, before she remembered they weren’t alone. She drew back and gave him room to sit up. A thin cut was visible, running the length of his neck. He rubbed his shoulder where they had twisted it, but he appeared to be well enough.
“Are you all right, Reena?” His voice was soft and steady, but his eyes were wild.
“Yes, Emily and Jerrold saved our lives.” Her lip trembled.
Michael reached out, hugging her tight once more and whispering how sorry he was in her ear.
“Well now, let’s the four of us get back to the carriage, and I intend to have a word before we leave here.” Emily inclined her head back the way they came.
Emily’s strength amazed her. Reena had known that the woman’s scatterbrained personality was an act, but never before had she given so copious a display of her capacity. The woman was always wily and cunning, but now she was courageous and strong too.
When they reached the carriage, Emily turned to them all and gave them a no nonsense glare. “Listen to me and listen well.” She paced with her arms crossed. “What happened here was a terrible thing, there’s no doubt, but I won’t have it spread around. I don’t want people talking about this and embarrassing Reena with their whispers. Are we all in agreement about that?”
Everyone nodded, and Reena’s eyes stung, watering to relieve the burn.
“Now, here’s how I see it. We must say that we were at the river, and you two were talking about poetry or some such. Two men burst from the bushes and said they were going to rob us.” She reached down even as she spoke, picking up handfuls of dirt from the moist ground and rubbing them into her dress face and hair. “We women naturally leaped away and cowered as women tend to do. Then our brave Michael here jumped upon one of the thugs, getting cut in the process.”
She riffled her hands through her hair, mussing it and drawing tendrils about her face and neck. “Jerrold, hearing the screams, came running and facing two brave strong men as they were, the scoundrels ran screaming.” She turned to each one in turn. “That is the story. True enough to remember, different enough to avoid trouble.” Emily ripped some of the lace at the sleeve of her dress.
Now it seemed as though she had been in the scuffle alongside them. Emily looked at Jerrold. “You shall adhere to the story, yes?”
Jerrold nodded and turned a pitying glance at Reena who closed her eyes against it.
“You accept this version?” Emily asked Michael.
Michael winced. “I didn’t save the day, though, I don’t deserve the credit.” His hollow, dark rimmed eyes made Reena want to apologize to him.
“You did, though. You fought against the two of them as a true gentleman should. Come now, you were quite brave.” Reena, who had never been able to sit by while others suffered, longed to ease his pain. “You never begged, and you did what you could to convince them to leave us alone, always thinking of me first. I’m grateful to you for it. You were my knight in shining armor.”
“Also, you held them off long enough that we were able to save Reena. Another moment is all that it would have taken for us to have been too late. So you see, it really was you that saved her by standing to fight like a true man with no thought for your own safety,” Emily concluded.
Michael nodded, but his eyes found his boots and stayed on them.
“Reena, this version is all right with you also?”
“Yes, it’s agreed.” Reena dropped her head into her hands, the horror and exhaustion from the night’s event had her muscles threatening to crumple. “Now, let’s be on our way, my uncle will worry if we’re gone too much longer.”
They rode home in silence, Michael’s head still hanging low, and Reena not knowing how to help him.
Less than an hour later, they said goodnight. Reena complained of a headache and rushed off to her room, leaving Emily to explain the harrowing tale. When she entered the safety of her bedchamber, the terror of what had happened hit hard. She dove for her bed, her insides twisting and lurching, and at last, she allowed the deluge of tears to come.
Chapter Eleven
It seemed that by the next day their story was all over. Everyone in polite society was abuzz about their heroic rescue, and all of Reena’s friends were requesting to call on her. They wanted first-hand exclusive gossip that they could share, but she turned down the visits. The last few days before her party were already fully scheduled. Dan would come for her today, and a picnic was planned for the evening. The rest of her time would be filled with last minute preparations for the soiree.
Reena had wanted to beg off when Dan came to call. But when he arrived to collect her, he didn’t ask her endless questions or even speak of the incident other than to tell her he would understand if she was under the weather. She was grateful for the first time since the previous night to not be talking or thinking about the attack.
Dan wished to take her to see a cabinet of curiosities. Reena had agreed for one reason and one reason only: to busy her mind. When she sat around, all she could do was picture Michael’s face, or see the grimy man slowly unbuttoning his breeches as he came at her. She saw the wicked blades and heard Michael and herself pleading for their safety.
No matter how Dan tried to lure her into conversation, or to make her laugh during their time together, Reena couldn’t seem to summon a smile.
Finally, by the time he’d returned her home a few hours later, Reena had been too amazed by the ancient objects and too disgusted by
two-headed pigs in jars and the like to think about what had happened. For a time at least.
When six o’clock came, they were preparing to leave on their picnic. Her uncle had tried to cancel it, but Reena insisted on going.
“Hello, old boy, how the devil are you?” Uncle Howard exclaimed, and Reena looked up from where her fingers worked at the buttons on her coat to see Joshua standing on the porch.
He held out a bottle of wine, nodding to Howard, Emily, and then her. His eyes remained on her for a moment as he spoke to her uncle. Her mind went to her embarrassing kiss attempt. However, in light of the horror of the previous day, it didn’t seem so terrible anymore.
“A small contribution to what will no doubt be a wonderful evening,” Joshua said as the wine changed hands.
She eyed her uncle speculatively. After weeks of insisting to her that this was a family only outing and no suitors could come, he’d invited a man who was his business partner. It was very unlike her uncle.
Reena frowned. She was always glad to see Joshua, but the expression on Michael’s face before they’d parted last night had lingered with her, popping into her mind off and on throughout the day. She had told Uncle Howard that the fresh air would do her good, but the memory of what had happened and of that horrible look of fear, helplessness, and a terrible soul-sickening sadness on Michael’s face had made her poor company all day long. What if the same thing happened again? Could she stand to see that expression on Joshua’s face? Reena moved her hand into the muff that she held and along the hard edge of Emily’s gun nestled inside. She didn’t want to anger or upset Joshua, because he had always been so wonderful to her, but she would take no chances tonight.
Forcing the corners of her mouth to rise, she glanced from Joshua to her uncle.
“Would you please excuse us for a moment?” She grabbed Emily, ignoring Joshua’s faltering smile and pulled her into the nearby gardens.
“Women, you know,” her uncle said as she left. “Always remembering something at the last moment.”