Page 33 of The Storybook Hero
There was a sickening thud. The gloat quickly turned into a groan as the man sunk to the floor in a lifeless heap.
“Miss Hadley! Over there!”
Octavia jerked around to where Emma was pointing. The third man, knife also in hand, had blocked Alex’s line of retreat and they now appeared to have him trapped. Ilya feinted to hisleft, then whirled suddenly in the opposite direction, his blade snaking out in a lightning strike that cut across Alex’s arm.
With a gasp of dismay, Octavia finally managed to pry the pistol out of the fallen man’s fingers. Taking as best aim as she could, she closed her eyes, said a silent prayer and squeezed off a shot.
A resounding bang echoed through the dimly lit room.
Both Ilya and his cohort ducked instinctively, giving Alex just enough time to make his escape. Vaulting over one of the upturned tables, he hit the floor and, keeping low, slithered to where Octavia and Emma were crouching.
“I think it is time to make our exit,” he drawled. “Kindly run to the door!Now!” he added as Octavia made to open her mouth.
Eschewing further argument, she took Emma’s hand and did as she was told, the smoking pistol still in her hand. Alex grabbed up their two bags and followed on close on their heels. While the other man was still cowering behind a cluster of chairs, Ilya recovered his feet and came in pursuit, angling his attack to cut off Octavia.
This time it was Emma who made use of a handy bottle. Ilya was forced to duck as the wildly spinning object came flying through the air. Alex pushed ahead, then let go of one of the bags long enough to land a jarring left to the other man’s jaw. He toppled backwards, onto the top of a round table, momentarily stunned.
“Go!” yelled Alex. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see that fellow Octavia had hit was slowly getting his wits back while the third one was finally creeping out from his hiding place.
Octavia flung the door open and the three of them stumbled into the bracing fresh air.
“Over there!” Alex indicated the sturdy black sleigh pulled to one side of the yard. Under the startled gaze of the two ostlers, they crossed the rutted snow at a dead run. On reaching thevehicle, Alex tossed the bags up on the seat, then followed by taking first Emma, then Octavia by the waist and depositing them unceremoniously on top of them. Leaping up beside the ladies, he gave a slap of the reins, sending the horses hurtling off at a gallop just as the three men emerged from the inn, brandishing a musket they had wrenched from the terrified owner.
A bullet whistled over their heads, spurring the horses to even greater speed. The vehicle bounced over the narrow road, then disappeared into a copse of silvery birch trees. It continued on for a mile or two at the breakneck pace before Alex pulled the horses to a leisurely walk.
He turned to face Octavia, one brow raised in question. “Are you all right, Miss Hadley?”
She nodded.
“And your redoubtable companion?”
Emma was staring at him, eyes wide with admiration.
“Yes, we are both fine,” answered Octavia slowly. “Thanks to your help, sir—even though it was a most foolhardy thing to do, facing off against three men with nary a means to defend yourself.”
There was a flash of humor in his eyes. “Ah, but with you and that look of steely resolve on your face, I felt the odds were decidedly in our favor. I know I was quaking in my boots at the thought of that pistol being pointed at me.”
She caught her breath. “Oh, do you think … that my bullet….”
“I believe the lantern on the far wall may have suffered a mortal wound, but no doubt the innkeeper will give it a hero’s burial.”
Despite herself, Octavia found she could not repress a laugh. “Do you never cease teasing, Mr. Leigh?—”
Emma’s eyes grew even wider. “Is this the Mr. Leigh who accompanied you on the journey from England?”
“Indeed it is.” He grinned. “How heartening to know I have been the subject of Miss Hadley’s conversation. I feared I had not made much of an impression upon her—at least not one she might wish to recall.”
A faint tinge rose to Octavia’s cheeks. “Mr. Leigh,” she warned.
“Aren’t you going to introduce me to your charming companion, Miss Hadley?” he continued smoothly. “I should be honored to make the acquaintance of such a stalwart young female. Indeed, she appears to be well on her way to matching your indominable spirit.”
“Oh!” Octavia’s color deepened on being reminded of her lapse in courtesy. “This is Emma Renfrew, sir. The young lady for whom I was engaged to care.”
The girl blushed to her roots as Alex brought her gloved hand to his lips with a gallant flourish. “How do you do, Miss Renfrew. Alexander Leigh at your service—though I doubt that either of you were really in need of much help back there.”
The girl stammered some incoherent reply.
Alex’s words caused Octavia to shudder. Until now, her emotions had still been in too much of a whirl to reflect on how narrowly they had escaped an unthinkable fate, thanks to his aid. She lowered her eyes, her hands clenching together in her lap. “That is hardly true, sir. Without your timely intervention, I don’t know what would have….”
