by Darcy Burke
She grinned widely, mirroring his elation. “The heart. We know where to go.”
“Indeed we do, back out to the River Mellte and then north.”
She hugged him with glee. “We almost have it!”
They turned on the path and started back along the waterfall, walking quickly in their excitement. As soon as they emerged from behind the fall, Penn stopped short.
Standing above them on the path was Amelia’s husband and four other, larger men. One of them Penn recognized from outside Forrest’s cottage. All of them drew pistols, and Penn rushed to do the same.
Trailed by the henchmen, Forrest came down the path, his pistol trained on Penn. “I wouldn’t try that. If you shoot me, the others will take you down faster than you can say, ‘Please, don’t shoot.’” He slid his gaze toward Amelia. “Don’t bother with your pistol either, you Amazon. One of you disarm them!” he yelled over his shoulder.
One of the henchmen rushed forward and relieved both Penn and Amelia of their pistols, tucking one into his belt and handing the other to another of the men.
“You were a bit difficult to track, but not impossible, as you can see,” Forrest said smugly. His eyes narrowed at Penn’s hand, and he took a step forward. “What’s that?”
Penn wadded the parchment and threw it into the center of the river, where it rushed downstream.
“Goddammit!” Forrest cocked his pistol and aimed it directly at Penn’s heart. “What was that?”
“Nothing,” Penn said calmly, aching to throw the man into the river after the paper. In fact… “Would you like to go after it? I’d be happy to help.” He gave the man a malevolent smile.
Forrest sneered. “I ought to shoot you. I think I will.”
Amelia leapt in front of Penn, putting herself between him and Forrest’s weapon. “No! You can’t shoot him. He’s an earl.”
Bloody hell, what was she doing? Penn put his hands on her hips. “Amelia, don’t.”
Forrest looked momentarily surprised, then laughed. “An earl? No wonder you like him, sweetling. That would be quite a step up from me.” He exhaled with exaggerated regret. “Alas, we are still married.”
“Only as long as you live,” Penn growled.
“Yes, well, at present, that looks to be longer than you will.”
“You can’t kill him, please,” Amelia begged. “I’ll go with you. I’ll take you to the heart.”
Forrest blinked at her. “You know where it is?”
“It was on the paper,” she said.
Penn dug his fingertips into her hips and held her against his chest. He whispered against her ear. “Amelia, please don’t.”
“You’ll come with me willingly?” Forrest asked skeptically. “And not just to get the heart. We’ll get the heart, and we’ll go back to my cottage together, as husband and wife.”
Fury raged through Penn. He longed to pummel the blackguard. “Why do you want her now, Forrest? Is it because she’s only attractive to you when she wants someone else?” He nuzzled Amelia’s cheek to needle the man.
She elbowed Penn in the gut, shocking the hell out of him and nearly causing him to lose his balance. She stepped away and turned furious eyes on him. “I don’t want you either. I liked being alone. However, if my choice is to get the heart and return with Thaddeus, so be it.”
Forrest’s laughter filled the gorge. “You’d choose me over an earl? Too bad for you, Bowen.” He reached out and took Amelia’s hand, pulling her to his side. “Keep an eye on him,” he shouted to his cohorts before turning his head to his wife. “How can I trust you? I suspect you’ve been whoring yourself with this…earl. Why would I want you back?”
“Because you do,” she said softly, sweetly.
Penn’s heart clenched under the stress. He watched, horrified, as she kissed him, her lips sliding over his. Penn could almost feel her doing the same to him, and he had to stifle an angry cry.
She pulled back and gave Forrest a brilliant smile. “Now, let us go and get the heart. It’s at the top of the Fall of the White Meadow, a magnificent fall—forty feet tall, he said.” She flicked a cold glance at Penn, but now he understood her ruse.
She was talking about the upper falls. Not where the heart was. God, she was amazing, and he’d never loved her more.
He masked his relief and managed to grit out, “You deserve each other.”
“Tie him up,” Forrest said, taking Amelia’s hand and turning to head back up the path.
“Wait.” She pulled away and turned back to Penn. She took his hand, and he realized she held his small knife. “I’m sorry it had to end this way. The heart is the most important thing to me. You’ve always known that.” She curled his hand around the knife, then went back to Forrest.
Amazing maybe didn’t adequately describe her.
He watched her walk past Forrest and continue up the path. He knew exactly where to find her—and he would, just as soon as possible.
The largest of the henchmen took a length of rope from his pack and approached Penn.
“Where would you like me?” Penn asked affably.
“Take his bag and tie him to a tree,” Forrest said. “A very rough one. Wouldn’t want him to be too comfortable. Then catch up with us.” He smirked at Penn. “I’m sure someone will come to find you, Bowen. Someday.” With a gleeful whistle, he turned and followed Amelia up the path.
The ruffian grabbed Penn by the arm and dragged him toward a tree. Penn carefully slipped the knife up his sleeve and prayed the villain wouldn’t find it.
“Nah, this one’s too smooth,” the man said, shoving Penn to the next tree. “This one’ll do.”
Penn winced as the rough bark bit into his back, and he nearly let the knife slip from his sleeve.
The ruffian pulled the pack over Penn’s head and dropped it to the side. Penn considered sticking his knife in the man’s gut, but if he wasn’t successful, his options would be limited. Better to use the knife to cut himself free and come up with a plan to dispatch the brigands and rescue Amelia.
Expelling a grunt, the man jerked Penn’s arms around the tree. Then he looped the rope around Penn and the trunk, binding him tightly so the rough bark pressed uncomfortably through his clothing. The rope went around his chest and arms but didn’t sit as low as his wrist. It was going to be the devil to contort his hands to get the rope cut. He hoped he didn’t drop the knife. Perhaps he should’ve stabbed the man.
Seizing the moment, Penn coaxed the knife into his hand, then shot his arm forward, slicing awkwardly at the villain’s chest as he pulled at the slack rope. Occupied with tying the rope, the man was taken completely off guard. He stumbled back with a cry. Eager to keep him from sounding the alarm, Penn dove toward him and knocked him to the ground. He rose over him with the knife, intent on killing him if necessary.
However, it wasn’t necessary because the sound of the man’s skull striking a rock made Penn cringe. The brigand’s head lolled to the side, and his eyes drooped closed. Penn leaned over and listened for breathing.
He wasn’t dead. Penn expelled a sigh of relief. He’d just as soon not kill anyone if he could avoid it. He stood and grabbed the rope, then dragged the man to the tree where he tied the villain’s thick wrists together. Lastly, Penn used the rope to secure him to the trunk.
Picking up his bag, he pulled it over his head and settled the pack against his hip. Then he stashed his knife in his coat and started up the path. He was eager to catch up to Amelia, but he needed to be smart and careful. If they saw him coming, they could just take aim.
Instead, he’d creep off the path through the trees and the shrub and look for an opportunity.
Traipsing through an untraveled area took more time, but he reasoned it was worth it. At least he hoped so. When he neared the junction of the two rivers, he slowed and took stock of his surroundings. He climbed up a steep hill to his right and used it as a vantage point to see the path.
One of the henchmen stood sentinel at the junc
tion. He looked out over the rivers and periodically turned in a circle as he surveyed the area.
Penn climbed back down and picked his way to a tree that was closer to the junction. He picked up several rocks and shoved them into his bag before shimmying up the trunk. Crawling carefully out to a branch that gave him a good perspective, he reached for one of the rocks. He wouldn’t have many chances to hit his mark before the man found him. And then he’d have to worry about evading the brigand’s pistol shot.
Twice the size of a duck egg, the rock would do significant damage if Penn was able to hit his mark. He took a deep breath and hefted the weapon before pulling his arm back and letting the object fly.
He didn’t wait to see the result before pulling another, slightly smaller rock, from the pack. The first missile struck its target, but the man didn’t go down. The rock hit him square in the shoulder, prompting him to look around frantically.
Penn clenched his jaw and threw again. This time, it struck the villain in the neck. He lifted his hands, gasping as he staggered backward. He lost his balance and tumbled down the ravine toward the river.
Scurrying back down the tree, Penn ran to the junction and looked down. The henchman lay in a heap at the bottom and appeared to be unconscious. Even if he wasn’t—or if he awoke—he wouldn’t be able to climb back up without assistance. He’d have to follow the river and hope to find another way up to the path.
Turning on his heel, Penn followed the track for a bit before reverting to the brush to avoid being seen. He passed the lower falls of Sgwd Clun Gwyn, and things became difficult as the slope became more vertical. The walk along the beaten path would be strenuous enough. Here, amongst the plants and trees of the forest, it was a bloody challenge.
Then he heard a sound that terrified him to the bone: a single gunshot.
Swearing, he ran to the path and gave up his plan of being quiet. He had to get to Amelia, and he had to do it now.
Chapter 21
“You imbecile!” Thaddeus screamed at the man who’d tripped on the slope as they neared the top of the falls and accidentally discharged his weapon.
“He shot me,” the other man said in disbelief as he pivoted toward Amelia, who stood just in front of him on the path. Crimson began to spread up his shirtfront, and he sank to the ground.
“Help him!” Thaddeus demanded of the man who’d fired.
The culprit scrambled to his feet and promptly slipped again. Swearing, Thaddeus moved past her and pulled the injured man up the path and off to the side in a small, muddy clearing near the top of the falls. While he labored, Amelia considered how she might escape. However, without a pistol with which to shoot Thaddeus or the other henchman, she doubted she’d get very far.
Thaddeus dropped the man and cursed again. “That hurt my bloody arm!”
Amelia stared at her husband, wondering what she’d ever seen in this pathetic, unscrupulous man.
The henchman who’d fallen staggered into the clearing covered in mud, then rushed to kneel by the other man’s side. “I’m so sorry, Bertie, ’twas an accident.”
Bertie groaned, and his eyes fluttered closed.
The other man blinked up at Thaddeus. “We need to get him some help.”
“And how do you propose we do that?” Thaddeus snapped.
“I’ll carry ’im.”
“It’s miles back to the village.”
“There’s another one that way.” The man pointed up the path past the falls. “That’s what the man in the village said, remember?”
Thaddeus scoffed. “We’re getting the heart first. Leave him for now.”
Bertie groaned again, and he’d lost every bit of his color. Amelia hated seeing him in pain, but it was one less obstacle for her and Penn to deal with.
Penn. She prayed he’d been able to escape his bonds. And where was the henchman who’d tied him up? And the man Thaddeus had stationed at the junction to wait for him?
Thaddeus wrapped his hand around her elbow. “Let’s go, it’s starting to rain.”
He was right. A fine mist had begun to fall, quickly coating them in dew.
“Now where is this heart? You said the top of the falls, but where the hell would we find it?” He walked beneath a canopy of trees and moved close to the river’s edge where the sound of the water spilling over the falls filled the air.
Amelia looked down. It was quite a drop. But not a straight fall as she’d thought. There was a ledge partway down that broke the fall. If they crossed the river, they could make their way down to the ledge where the rock would be slick, and he might slip…
“It’s down there on that ledge—hidden behind the water.”
Thaddeus stared down at the outcropping. “You can’t be serious.”
“Why wouldn’t they hide it somewhere that’s difficult to reach? It makes perfect sense to me.”
“Bloody hell,” he muttered. “We’ll need to cross the river.” He glanced at her legs. “Good thing you’re dressed like man again, but that will stop when we get home.”
Amelia gritted her teeth but said nothing.
“Bertie’s unconscious,” the other henchman said with grave concern.
“Are you sure he’s not dead?” Thaddeus asked.
Amelia sucked in a breath. “When did you become so uncharitable?” she asked crossly, uncaring what he thought of her irritation.
“When people behave like idiots and endanger our mission.” He rolled his eyes before looking down at the man. “Come on, Price, let’s get the heart, then we can get Bertie out of here.” He gave Amelia a taunting stare. “Better?”
She didn’t respond before turning and walking along the river to find an area that was calm enough to cross. This took several minutes as there was a fair bit of rapidly moving white water at the top of the falls. Thankfully, the river wasn’t very deep, and she was able to ford it with a minimum of water hitting above her boots.
Aware of splashing behind her, she reached the other side of the river and turned to watch Thaddeus and Price cross. It was no wonder Price had slipped on the path. He was incredibly unbalanced as he made his way over the slick bottom of the riverbed.
At last they joined her, and Thaddeus gestured toward the falls. “Lead the way, then.”
She started back along the riverbank, which was mostly flat, slick rock. It sloped slightly down as they neared the falls, and she had to work to keep her balance. The sound of the rushing water combined with the excessive apprehension she felt at having to climb down to the ledge.
When they reached the top, she veered to the right to a place where they could easily—well, as easily as possible—make their way down to the ledge. She stopped before climbing down and caught her breath.
Thaddeus joined her and studied the falls. “You’re sure it’s there?”
“As sure as anything,” she lied. Now that she was here, she began to panic. The heart wasn’t there. What would he do when he couldn’t find it? “I’ll wait here,” she said.
He shook his head. “No, you’re coming with me. And it better be there.” He looked up at Price. “Hold your pistol on her. If the heart isn’t there, shoot her.”
Amelia swallowed. And prayed Penn would arrive in time.
* * *
Penn came upon the man lying off to the side of the path. He was pale and cold. And quite dead. Without pausing to ponder what had happened, he relieved the poor fellow of both his pistol and Penn’s. He said a silent prayer, then hurried up the path, crouching low as he looked toward the top of the falls.
His heart leapt into his throat as he saw them—Amelia was climbing down a slope of rock to the ledge partway down the falls with Forrest following behind her. The other, and thankfully last, henchman stood at the top with his pistol directed at Amelia.
Penn scanned the river, looking for where they’d crossed. Seeing a slower portion just up the way, he hurried along the path, keeping himself as low as possible in the hope they wouldn’t see him. He was grateful
for the excessive foliage on this side of the river, and not just because it was keeping him partially dry. The rain had started a bit ago and while it was only a mist, it was the kind that soaked you over time.
Not that he cared. He’d brave a thousand storms and climb a thousand canyons to reach Amelia.
He made it to the other side of the river without being seen. This next part would be trickier because there was nothing to shield him on that side of the water. He had to hope the brigand would keep his focus on Amelia. Who Penn couldn’t even see right now, and that drove him mad.
Moving as quickly and quietly as possible, he hastened along the slick bank of mostly rock. As he neared the top of the falls, his foot slipped. He wobbled and dropped one of the pistols. His breath caught, but it didn’t go off. Still, it was enough for the man at the top of the falls to turn and look.
“Forrest!” The man brought his arm around and fired his pistol at Penn.
Penn dodged to the right but felt a burning sensation in his left bicep. He rushed forward and raised his weapon, squeezing the trigger. The bullet hit the man square in the chest. He wove for a moment from side to side, then fell gently backward, disappearing over the fall.
Amelia’s scream rent the air, and Penn ran to where the man had fallen. Now he could see her. She stood on the ledge near the fall. Forrest had a hold of her, one arm wrapped around her waist and the other pointing a pistol at Penn.
“I can easily shoot you and throw her over the falls,” Forrest yelled over the sound of the rushing water.
Penn could barely breathe. If he lost her… He struggled to find words that could somehow defuse the situation. “You’ll never find the heart, then.”
“It isn’t here?” Forrest moved his hand up and tossed the hat from Amelia’s head. He thrust his fingers against her scalp and gripped her hair. “You lied to me. Give me one good reason not to throw you over right now.”
“Wait!” Penn cried. “I can get the heart for you. This is the wrong place. Don’t blame her. I told her the wrong falls. I’d planned for us not to find it and leave. Then I’d come back and have it for myself.”