Page 57 of The Heir's Fortune
“Which is?” Gideon asked with growing trepidation.
DonRafael grinned once more. “To take the woman with us.”
CHAPTER 22
This could not be happening again.
Madeline would never forgive herself for letting down her guard and allowing herself to be captured – a second time. How embarrassing. Here they had thought they were making the smart decision in staying at the house, in not providing the men something else to worry about while they retrieved the treasure.
The women had decided to pass the time in a book discussion, and Madeline had been walking alone to return to her bedroom for her book. As she had passed the front entrance, she had been taken off guard by two men who had dragged her out of the front door with a hand over her mouth and her arms behind her back.
She could only pray that her friends remained safe inside Castleton.
She now sensed Gideon’s growing dejection as hope began to slip away from them, and she wished that he would fight for his treasure, fight for what he believed in, and not allow the Spaniards to get away with this.
His request to change places with her had been noble, but she had known that the ask was futile before the Spaniards had even responded.
She had just never considered that there might be an additional threat beyond their theft of the treasure.
“I most certainly will not go with you,” she said, holding her spine straight as she turned around and stared straight atDonRafael, facing the pistol that he held to her head. She hoped that she maintained a façade of confidence, for inside she was shaking at the thought of what might happen next.
“And just how do you think you are going to prevent that from happening?” he asked smugly. “I do not believe youramanteover there is going to be able to stop me.”
Madeline swallowed hard, for the truth was, he was right. She had no idea just what she was going to do and Gideon would never try anything perilous when her life was at risk.
That was when the first arrow flew.
It fell in a perfect arc through the sky, landing with a thud in the middle of Emilio’s chest. He had been holding his pistol behind Madeline, and she jumped as he went backward, a loud thump resounding when he hit the ground behind him.
“You must be joking!”DonRafael cursed, for this was not the first time he had faced the wrath of such arrows.
For Madeline knew exactly where they came from – Faith’s bowstring. And Faith was not a woman who ever missed her mark.
It was Madeline’s turn to grin, and then before she even realized what was happening, they were surrounded – only this time it wasDonRafael’s men who were surrounded, pistols trained upon them by four new men who stood around them with their faces covered. It took the gentlemen a moment to realize what was happening, but when they did, they quicklydrew their weapons, as they now outnumbered the Spaniards by two to one.
“It’s over,DonRafael,” Gideon said, his voice not triumphant but rather relieved. “You must give it up. This time, I will make sure that you will never be released.”
DonRafael’s eyes frantically flicked from one side to the other, and as much as Madeline was celebrating the fact that they were now going to end this victorious, she knew that madness could make a man unpredictable. And madDonRafael was. This had been his quest for so long, and now it was all being taken away from him, with no alternate ending in sight.
He pulled the cock on the pistol all the way back and turned it toward her once more, pressing it hard against her temple.
“We might all not be saved, but the girl and I will be going now. Into the wagon,” he said, pushing Madeline with his other hand. She took a breath, searching for an opportunity to escape, but she couldn’t risk moving away with the gun so close to her temple. When she saw the wagon with its attached horses, she had an idea, however, one that would take some quick thinking and perfect timing, but one that just might work.
DonRafael kept the pistol upon her while urging her to climb up onto the seat of the wagon, and as he followed after her, he still kept it up close to her as she could see the gentlemen all watching helplessly. When it was time to direct the horses, however, he realized his dilemma – he did not have enough hands.
“Drive,” he ordered her, pointing to the reins.
Madeline nodded, but when she reached down to pick them up, his pistol, fortunately, remained high, near where her head had been, and she used the opportunity to throw herself off the seat and onto the horse in front of her.
She landed with a groan as the horse was not saddled and its harnesses caused her all kinds of pain, but the horse held steady even at the sudden surprise of her weight.
It was a stout Clydesdale, not a breed she was used to riding, but one that she would be forever grateful for.
As she jumped,DonRafael shouted after her, but when the pistol shot rang out, his shout turned into a cry of pain. Madeline’s heart jumped when she heard him hit the wooden seat behind her, and she couldn’t help her relief that he was down, as awful as that was.
Gideon was at her side in moments, but she didn’t wait for him to help her down, instead sliding gracefully off the horse herself until she was standing next to it. The moment her feet hit the ground, however, his arms were around her and he was holding her close against him – so close that she had to push away ever so slightly.
“I am so sorry but I cannot breathe,” she managed, although she lifted her hands to touch her palms to his cheeks. “I am so glad you are all right.”
