Page 103 of Wicked Rivals
“It wouldn’t be the first time we rushed headlong into danger without proper rest or a decent plan of attack,” Cedric mused.
“Our plan,” Charles cut in, “is to catch up with those bastards on the road and beat them to a bloody pulp.”
“Not much of a plan,” said Godric.
“Well, I’m all for beating up bastards, but we won’t catch up with them if we take the coach,” Lucien pointed out. “And Ashton can’t possibly sit a saddle.”
Godric crossed his arms. “He has a point.”
Charles knew that if Rosalind’s father scared Ashton to the point where he was this desperate to get to her, it was bad.Verybad. Few things in the world frightened Ashton. If he was scared about something, then the rest of them should be terrified.
“A few of us could ride ahead,” Jonathan suggested. “If we catch up, we could find a way to delay them.”
“Yes.” Charles nodded. “They have to close their eyes and sleep sometime.” He rubbed his hands gleefully at the thought of matching his strength against them again in a fairer fight. “We also know which way they’re headed.”
“Go now,” Ashton said, his voice hoarse as he coughed. “Please. We’ll take the coach and follow you. I’m sure they’ll take the Great North Road. It’s the fastest. It leads straight to Kincade lands, about an hour north of Gretna Green.”
“Jon.” Charles grinned. “Up for a wild chase?”
Jonathan grinned back. “If I ever answer no to that, you have the liberty to strike me down.”
“Then let’s ride. These old maids”—Charles nodded at the others—“can catch up with us later.”
“Ha-ha,” Cedric snapped. “I can’t wait for you to find a wife. Then I shall have the pleasure of mocking you for being an old maid.”
“Then you will be waiting until Judgment Day.” Charles was still snickering as he ducked out of Ashton’s bedroom and into the corridor, with Jonathan on his heels. They had Scotsmen to chase and a lady to rescue.
*****
For two days Rosalind slept on the cold, hard ground. Even the sacks of grain had been better than this. Shivers racked her body beneath the thin blankets her brothers had packed. Mostly she just lay there, aching for someone she no longer had. Or, if she was brutally honest with herself, had never had. And every moment she despised herself for that weakness.
I shouldn’t long for a man who viewed me as nothing more than a pawn.
When she closed her eyes and curled up in her blankets close by her brothers and listened to the wind whistle through the trees, she could feel the phantom press of Ashton’s lips on hers. The memories, too vivid not to be real, made her body tremble with longing and her heart bleed all over again.
Damn that bloody Lennox to hell for making her long for him, for her body and soul to ache to be with him, even when he didn’t care about her at all.
I’m a puppet to him, nothing more. So why does it hurt to leave him behind?
“Sleep, Rosalind.” Brock’s voice came from somewhere in front of her. “We’ll reach home in a few hours after the horses have rested.”
It irritated her that he was likely watching her sleep. Her brothers had split the nights and days into watches among the three of them. She’d volunteered to help, but they all scoffed at the idea that their sister should have to stand watch. From their stiffness that first night, she knew she’d wounded their male pride. Such fragile creatures, men. She nuzzled her face in the crook of her arm, trying to force herself to drift back to sleep.
When dawn arrived, Rosalind was fuzzyheaded with sleep and every muscle was stiff from lying on the ground. She climbed to her feet and stretched, trying to loosen up. It had been a long while since she’d had a cold, long night such as this.
“Here.” Aiden handed her a slice of brown bread and some hard cheese, and she accepted them gratefully. She watched her brothers ready the horses while she nibbled on her breakfast.
Again she was overcome with the eerie sense she was traveling with three familiar strangers. They were taller and broader than she remembered. Their voices were lower and their laughter hardier. It was a curious thing to watch boys become grown men in the blink of an eye. It made her ache for the time she’d lost with them, even though it had been necessary for her own safety.
“Are you finished?” Brody asked when she licked her fingers clean.
“Yes.” She accepted the flask of water he offered her and took a few gulps before she handed it back to him.
“We should go.” Brock mounted up, and they all followed him.
The path they took to Kincade was not on the North Road, but a series of back roads, dusty trails and open fields. Brock had said that the North Road would be the route Ashton would most likely take if he pursued them. It was better if they could reach the castle without a confrontation and take shelter behind the walls before Ashton and his men arrived.
“Not far now,” Aiden cheered as their horses trotted up a hill overlooking a vast loch.
