just prayed that he did not drive himself completely mad in the process.
Chapter Five
Her hands were free. Avery could not believe it. It had been two nights since she and Gillyanne had made Cameron chase them down, and as she had expected, he had become more vigilant. He had also become more determined in his seduction. Those two nights had been long, torturous ones, filled with self-denial. The days had been just as bad. Both of them were exhausted from the fight. And that, Avery decided, was why she was sitting on his horse, her hands free of restraints. Cameron was obviously too tired and distracted to tie her up properly. She was glad she had not given up testing her bonds each time they were tied.
Avery looked around and finally saw Gillyanne standing near the other women. If she could get the girl’s attention, they could make a run for it. Gillyanne knew how to mount swiftly, and this time they would have supplies. Avery wondered why she was just sitting there wondering about it and not already galloping toward Gillyanne. The answer to her hesitation could be summed up in one word, she thought in self-disgust: Cameron.
As if summoned by her thoughts, Cameron stepped up beside his horse. He put his hand on her leg and stroked her. The arrogant look upon his face, the gleam of expected victory in his eyes, gave Avery the impetus to move. She slowly smiled and wriggled her fingers at him. The look of total astonishment on his face was a delight to see. Then she kicked him in the face, sending him tumbling back onto the ground. Avery kicked the horse into a gallop even as she yelled Gillyanne’s name. To her relief, her cousin responded immediately, and Avery only had to slow her pace a little to allow Gillyanne to leap up behind her. As they raced away, she could hear Cameron bellowing, and she laughed.
Cameron surged to his feet cursing loudly and viciously. It did not surprise him at all to see Avery control his huge stallion with an easy skill, or her cousin cleanly mount a horse on the move. He doubted anything those two did any more would surprise him, especially if it was something that would annoy him. Hoping he did not sound as crazed as he felt, he started bellowing orders, pleased to see Leargan already hurrying toward him with two saddled horses.
“Wasnae it ye who said they must be watched verra closely?” drawled Leargan as he and Cameron mounted the horses.
“One more word and I will cut your tongue out,” Cameron snapped as he spurred his horse into a gallop.
Leargan ignored the threat as he kept pace with Cameron “I dinnae think ye will catch them. Your horse is the fastest amongst all we have, and the lasses show a true skill at riding.”
“They dinnae ken the area, dinnae ken where to go.”
“Mayhap not, but they merely have to stay out of reach and hide.”
And that was just what Cameron feared. If the girls had no set destination then there was no way to know where they were going. That meant he would soon be reduced to tracking them—a slow process that gave them the advantage. Worse, he would not be surprised if they had learned ways to hide their trail. The Murray lasses had already revealed that they had skills that most well-bred lasses did not. He was determined, however, not to be defeated by a pair of skinny lasses, even if he had to trail the brats right up to the gates of Donncoill.
It was noon before Avery felt it was safe enough to take a rest. She and Gillyanne slid off the horse, both groaning softly. The small copse they had found was perfect, however. Shaded, cool, with a small brook trickling through it and plenty of fresh grass for the horse. Gillyanne helped her wipe the horse down, water it and tether it. Then they both collapsed beneath a tree. It was several moments before either of them had the strength to search the bags on the horse for some food and drink. To Avery’s delight, she also found Cameron’s map, and she studied it as she and her
Chapter Five
Her hands were free. Avery could not believe it. It had been two nights since she and Gillyanne had made Cameron chase them down, and as she had expected, he had become more vigilant. He had also become more determined in his seduction. Those two nights had been long, torturous ones, filled with self-denial. The days had been just as bad. Both of them were exhausted from the fight. And that, Avery decided, was why she was sitting on his horse, her hands free of restraints. Cameron was obviously too tired and distracted to tie her up properly. She was glad she had not given up testing her bonds each time they were tied.
Avery looked around and finally saw Gillyanne standing near the other women. If she could get the girl’s attention, they could make a run for it. Gillyanne knew how to mount swiftly, and this time they would have supplies. Avery wondered why she was just sitting there wondering about it and not already galloping toward Gillyanne. The answer to her hesitation could be summed up in one word, she thought in self-disgust: Cameron.
As if summoned by her thoughts, Cameron stepped up beside his horse. He put his hand on her leg and stroked her. The arrogant look upon his face, the gleam of expected victory in his eyes, gave Avery the impetus to move. She slowly smiled and wriggled her fingers at him. The look of total astonishment on his face was a delight to see. Then she kicked him in the face, sending him tumbling back onto the ground. Avery kicked the horse into a gallop even as she yelled Gillyanne’s name. To her relief, her cousin responded immediately, and Avery only had to slow her pace a little to allow Gillyanne to leap up behind her. As they raced away, she could hear Cameron bellowing, and she laughed.
Cameron surged to his feet cursing loudly and viciously. It did not surprise him at all to see Avery control his huge stallion with an easy skill, or her cousin cleanly mount a horse on the move. He doubted anything those two did any more would surprise him, especially if it was something that would annoy him. Hoping he did not sound as crazed as he felt, he started bellowing orders, pleased to see Leargan already hurrying toward him with two saddled horses.
“Wasnae it ye who said they must be watched verra closely?” drawled Leargan as he and Cameron mounted the horses.
“One more word and I will cut your tongue out,” Cameron snapped as he spurred his horse into a gallop.
Leargan ignored the threat as he kept pace with Cameron “I dinnae think ye will catch them. Your horse is the fastest amongst all we have, and the lasses show a true skill at riding.”
“They dinnae ken the area, dinnae ken where to go.”
“Mayhap not, but they merely have to stay out of reach and hide.”
And that was just what Cameron feared. If the girls had no set destination then there was no way to know where they were going. That meant he would soon be reduced to tracking them—a slow process that gave them the advantage. Worse, he would not be surprised if they had learned ways to hide their trail. The Murray lasses had already revealed that they had skills that most well-bred lasses did not. He was determined, however, not to be defeated by a pair of skinny lasses, even if he had to trail the brats right up to the gates of Donncoill.
It was noon before Avery felt it was safe enough to take a rest. She and Gillyanne slid off the horse, both groaning softly. The small copse they had found was perfect, however. Shaded, cool, with a small brook trickling through it and plenty of fresh grass for the horse. Gillyanne helped her wipe the horse down, water it and tether it. Then they both collapsed beneath a tree. It was several moments before either of them had the strength to search the bags on the horse for some food and drink. To Avery’s delight, she also found Cameron’s map, and she studied it as she and her
Similar Books
