Page 27 of Border Lord’s Bride

Back at the manor they'd been wrestled to the ground and bound by Horatio and his accomplice before the men shoved them into the wagon. The vehicle rolled alongside the western tree-lined edge of the loch, heading south toward the border with England.

Their direction sent a ripple of fear across the nape of Elizabeth's neck, as did the large cask Horatio and the driver had lifted into the back of the wagon. An odd scent came from the cask—a scent Elizabeth couldn't quite place.

Elizabeth returned her gaze to the madman who'd abducted them. He planned to use them as bait either to force Lucius back to the Templars or to lure him to his death.

The second option would never come to pass, not while she still drew breath. But for now, she had to find a way to protect the girls. Elizabeth shifted back against the side of the wagon. If only she could stop the wagon by forcing the wheel to come off, or break. Two men trying to maneuver six women over the English border would have a difficult time.

"Once we clear the loch, which way do we go?" the driver asked Horatio.

When Horatio turned his gaze from her to talk to the man, the sword in his hands dipped.

Elizabeth quickly glanced at Heather, hoping the girl would understand and follow her lead. Elizabeth brought her bound hands up and gripped the flat of the blade between her palms and twisted her arms. The sword jerked out of Horatio's grasp and flew over the side of the wagon.

"God's blood!" Horatio thundered. He lurched forward in his seat, grabbing Elizabeth by the throat.

Elizabeth gasped and clawed at the man's hands. The wagon picked up speed as the driver turned to see what the ruckus was about.

With a terrified shriek, the horse lurched forward, picking up speed as it darted ever closer to the trees at the water's edge.

"Stop that," Horatio bit out.

"Yer upsettin' the horse," the driver yelled.

"Let go of her!" Heather struck her uncle in the head with her bound hands.

Horatio yelped. His grip on Elizabeth relaxed.

Heather struck him again, this time harder, setting him off balance. The wagon lurched again, and Horatio tumbled over the side, followed immediately by a thump and a buck of the wagon as the rear wheel hit his body.

An agonized cry pierced the air.

A creak sounded.

"Hold on to each other," Elizabeth snapped to the girls. Before the words were out, the wheel buckled and the conveyance pitched downward. It hit the ground hard, sending wood splintering as it dug into the earth. At the impact, the cask flew out the back. Camellia grabbed Iris to keep her from being crushed as the girls tumbled over the edge.

The rope burned against Elizabeth's wrists as she rolled to a stop on the ground. "Is everyone unharmed?" she asked, righting herself. She frantically looked over the others, who appeared undamaged.

A terrible scream sounded. The horse shot forward. The terrified animal dodged a tree at the edge of the loch, but the wagon did not. An explosion filled the air. Elizabeth drew a startled breath as wood debris flew back at them. She threw her arms over the girls' heads, trying to protect them.

When silence settled, she shook the debris from her hair and shoulders. "Get up, girls." Elizabeth helped Heather to her feet. Lily's eyes filled with tears as Rose helped her up, but she kept quiet. Camellia and Iris rose.

Elizabeth searched the wreckage only to see the body of the driver hunched over what remained of the seat. The horse had broken free and was nowhere in sight. "Come, we must hurry," she said, turning back to the others.

"You're not going anywhere." Horatio was suddenly before them, his short cape billowing in the breeze. He grasped the rope that bound them together and jerked hard, propelling the six of them forward.

Heather fell to her knees at the unexpected motion. "I want to go home."

"Leave us alone," Lily's tiny voice echoed in the morning air, followed by soft sobs.

Iris, who'd been valiantly silent so far, burst into tears until a cacophony of sobs filled the air.

A thunderous look darkened Horatio's face. "Silence. Keep moving!"

Rose paled and bent down beside Heather. She stroked her sister's back. "Shh," she admonished. "We must do what our uncle says."

"Nay." The word erupted from Elizabeth's throat as a fresh surge of anger tore through her. "We will not keep going. In fact, girls, sit down." She set Lily on the ground, then sat beside her.

Rose, Iris, and Camellia joined Heather, Lily, and herself on the ground. The girls' faces were pale and fear glittered in their eyes, but Elizabeth clung to her decision. He couldn't make them all move without someone to help him.