Page 67 of The Bastard's Iberian Bride
Chapter 14
Spellen’s gazespun to the door where the inn maid crowded up next to Paulette.
“You bitch,” he growled.
Bink lunged, swinging his knife, slicing a gash in the man’s coat, as Spellen lurched backward, blocking another swipe, and spinning away with a kick that knocked the knife from Bink’s hand.
The man reached under his coat, and Bink dove, knocking a pistol away. The gun hit the thin rug and clattered across bare floorboards but didn’t go off.
Spellen parried another lunge, and Bink ducked an answering blow. From the corner of his eye he saw Paulette inching around, close to where the pistol had fallen. Spellen saw her too.
Bink roared and grabbed for the man, who dodged backward and vaulted the bed, launching a pitcher, making Bink duck again. Footsteps pounded in the corridor behind him and when he looked, Spellen had frozen in front of the window.
“I have him, Gibson,” Paulette croaked.
He didn’t dare turn around.
“The way she’s shaking, she’s as likely to shoot you,” Spellen said. “Put down the gun now, there’s a good girl.”
He could hear the rasping of Paulette’s breath.
Bink steadied his breath. “Keep your aim straight, Paulette. Why aren’t you locked up, Spellen?”
“I was released. Did nothing wrong. The girl wanted it.”
“Liar,” Paulette cried. “Why are you here?”
He leered at the point beyond Bink’s shoulder where Paulette was standing. “Sheinvited me.”
“I most certainly did not.” Paulette pushed up next to Bink. He reached for her hands wrapped around the gun and steadied them.
“Stay back, love. I’ll take this.”
“No.” She tugged the pistol. “Spellen, put your hands up and get down on your knees.”
The jackal’s smile was a dare.
Could she shoot him? He doubted it—the way her hands shook it would be pure accidental. And if he made a move for the man, she might shoot the both of them.
Taking a man’s life was a burden, a soldier’s burden. His burden. He wouldn’t let her be saddled with that.
He glanced at her strained face and took her gun hand in both of his.
In the moment he turned away, Spellen lurched toward the open window.
The gun clattered again. Bink grabbed for Spellen and planted a blow. Spellen punched back, landing a fist on his jaw, sending Bink reeling. The villain plunged for the door again, but Bink caught him and swung him back. Spellen kicked, dodged back, and dived out of the window. Bink grabbed his legs, but another kick to the jaw stunned him, and before he could grab him again, the man toppled out.
Rubbing his jaw, he hoisted himself and looked out. Spellen lay in the shadows below, while a stable hand hurried into the yard.
“Thief,” Bink shouted, “Get him.”
Spellen raised his crumpled self and took off in a limping trot. Another figure shot out of the barn and gave chase into the darkness.
Paulette appeared next to him, Mabel behind her, and Johnny behind him.
“You,” he told Johnny. “Stay here.”
He gripped Paulette’s shoulders. “Are you all right?”
