A Refuge at Highland Hall (35 page)

Julia laid her hand on her father's arm. “I'll have Mr. Lawrence send word to the police in Fulton and the camp and ask the other men on staff to join the search.”

“I'll get Jon.” Dr. Foster hurried inside.

Alex glanced at the boys and then at Julia. “If it's all right with you, I'd like to take the boys.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, they have better eyesight than I do.”

“All right, but please be careful.” Julia stepped down and touched Andrew's arm. She looked back at Alex. “I'll be praying.”

Alex gave a quick nod, then turned to the boys. “Wait here. I'll be right back.” He dashed inside, collected his revolver from his room, and returned to the front entrance, where he met the boys. As they set off down the path, Julia's promise to pray stirred his thoughts. She was right. God's help and guidance were what they needed most.

Please watch over Penny and protect her wherever she is right now. Help us find her and bring her home again.

P
enny tried to lean as far forward in the saddle as she could, but Siegfried sat directly behind her, his stale breath washing over her cheek and turning her stomach. They'd been riding for at least an hour, and the horse's steady trot jarred her throbbing arm.

The misty fog had lifted. Sunlight filtered through the golden trees shading the old road. They'd left Highland property, passed through the corner of Aunt Louisa's estate, and were now on Carter-Wilson property, not far from Westridge Manor.

She'd ridden down this road many times but had rarely come this far. And with each mile they traveled away from Highland, fear tightened its grip on her heart.

Surely by now someone realized she was missing and had started the search.

Alex's image flashed into her mind, and a powerful ache rose in her chest. If only they'd had more time to talk last night. There was so much more she wanted to say. No matter how he felt about his injuries or his lack of prospects for the future, she believed the best days of his life were still ahead, and she wanted to spend those days with him.

Please, Lord, give me a chance to see him again and tell him how much he means to me.

They came to a dip in the road. Siegfried jerked the horse to the left around a large muddy hole. The horse shied back and almost lost his footing. Siegfried cursed under his breath.

Penny turned her face away. What kind of man treated a horse this way? He'd been so rough, it was a wonder Ebony hadn't thrown them off. “You know you could go much faster if you'd leave me here. You'd be miles away before I ever reached home.”

“And have you tell everyone which way I've gone? I don't think so.”

She tried to push down her fear and focus her thoughts. If he wasn't going to let her go, then she had to find a way to slow him down and give the searchers time to catch up.

Just then, she heard rushing water in the distance. She searched through the trees as they continued down the road, and a small stream came into view. She lifted her chin and pointed toward it. “Could we stop for a moment? I'm sure the horse would like a drink, and so would I.”

Siegfried shifted in the saddle, obviously debating her request, then he tugged on the reins and turned the horse aside. When they'd almost reached the edge of the stream, he dismounted and held his hand up for her.

She hesitated, hating the thought of accepting his help, but with her hands tied, she had no choice. She leaned toward him, and he helped her down. His shoulder bumped her wounded arm as her feet touched the ground. She clamped her jaw, suddenly lightheaded.

She hadn't eaten since last night, and even then, she'd been so excited about the birth of the twins she'd barely touched her dinner. She looked down at her arm and caught her bottom lip between her teeth. Blood stained the sleeve of her dress and shawl. She looked away before it made her head swim even worse.

He scowled. “You ought to wrap something around your arm and stop that bleeding.”

If his tone had been kinder, she might have taken some comfort from his words, but he only seemed concerned she might keel over and cause him a bigger problem. “If you would untie my hands, I could.”

He narrowed his eyes and studied her a moment, then moved toward her. “Don't try anything.” He loosened the knot and untied the rope around her wrists. Taking hold of the reins, he led the horse to the stream.

She rubbed her chafed wrists, walked a few steps away, and leaned against a large rock by the stream. Her shawl was tightly knit, and it would be impossible to tear, but her dress was made of a softly woven coral fabric. She lifted the hem and tore off a long strip.

An idea flashed into her mind, and she carefully ripped a few small pieces from the end of the strip and tucked them up her sleeve. Then she wrapped the strip around her arm and tied it off by pulling one end of the fabric with her teeth. It was not the neatest bandage, but it should stop the bleeding.

“If you want a drink, get it now.” Siegfried motioned toward the stream.

She sent him a cool look, then knelt and dipped in her hand. She rinsed off the blood, cupped her fingers, and lifted her hand to her mouth. Cool water soothed her dry throat. She rose and walked back toward the horse.

Siegfried helped her remount, then climbed up behind her, settling in closer than before. He leaned toward her. “You smell nice.”

She tensed and tried to lean away, but it was no use.

He chuckled, lifted the reins, and clicked to the horse. “Let's go.”

As Siegfried looked to the left, Penny slipped a small piece of coral fabric from her sleeve and dropped it on the muddy road.

Alex and the boys strode into the stable. “Search the stalls. Look for anything out of place or suspicious.”

Andrew and Donald started down the left side, while Jack and Tom ducked into the first stall on the right.

The dim light made it difficult for Alex to see much of anything. He glanced toward the far end of the stable. If he opened that big sliding door, it might give him the light he needed. He jogged the length of the stable and pushed it open, thankful he no longer needed the sling and had regained some strength in his arm.

A boy of about sixteen walked up the road toward the stables. Alex had seen him working in the stables before. He wore gray breeches with suspenders over a white shirt and a brown tweed cap. “Can I help you, sir?”

Alex walked out of the stable to meet him. “I'm Lieutenant Goodwin, a guest of the Ramseys'.”

“I'm Chester Simms, one of the grooms.”

Andrew dashed out of the stable, followed by the other three boys. “Did you hear about the prisoner who escaped from the camp?”

Chester gave an eager nod. “Mr. McTavish came by the farm before breakfast. He said the man—”

Alex lifted his hand. “Hold on, Chester. Have you seen Miss Penny this morning?”

“Yes, sir. She rode out first thing, just as I was coming up the road.”

Alex's pulse surged. “Which way did she go?”

Chester pointed over his shoulder. “She took the eastern drive, up through the woods.”

Alex scanned the road. Why would Penny take an early morning ride without telling anyone, then skip the family gathering and breakfast? It didn't make sense. He shifted his gaze back to Chester. “Was she alone?”

A slight grin lifted one side of his mouth. “No, sir. She was riding double with her beau.”

Alex's stomach clenched. “There was a man with her?”

“Yes, sir. I heard she had a beau, but it's strange…” Chester's grin faded. “She usually rides Princess, but this time she took Sir William's horse, Ebony.”

Andrew shot a glance at Alex. “That doesn't sound right.”

“No, it doesn't.” He had no description of the escaped prisoner, and no way of knowing if the man riding with Penny was that man, but it was the only answer that made sense. He focused on Chester again. “You say they came out this way?”

“Yes, sir. I was just coming in when I saw them heading off into the trees.”

“Two riders on one horse would make a heavy set of prints.” Alex scanned the soft, muddy road.

Andrew took a few steps out and did the same. “Look at these.”

Alex knelt and examined the deep set of hoofprints. “That horseshoe must have a ding in the side.” He pointed out the indentation on the rear left hoofprint.

Andrew leaned closer. “Yes, I see it.”

That was enough for Alex. He stood. “Chester, will you help us saddle some horses?”

“Yes, sir.” Chester strode into the stable with Andrew.

Tom kicked the dirt, then looked up at Alex. “I don't know how to ride.”

“Me neither,” Jack mumbled, his shoulders sagging.

“What about you, Donald?”

He gave a half shrug. “I've ridden a few times.”

Alex motioned toward the stables. “Then I want you to come with me.”

“Sure.” Donald gave an eager nod.

Alex turned to the other boys. “Jack, you and Tom run back to the house. Tell Lady Julia what Chester said and that Andrew, Donald, and I are going to ride out and follow Miss Penny's tracks. Do you understand?”

The boys took off running. Alex would send Chester to the house to confirm the story and urge the other men to follow their trail as soon as the groom finished helping them saddle the horses.

Alex scanned the road leading into the woods again. The knot that had formed in his stomach twisted tighter. Penny was out there somewhere in the company of a dangerous, desperate man. She had to be frightened and praying someone would discover she was missing and come after her.

He forced his anxious thoughts into submission and strode back into the stable. Many times at St. Pol, he'd taken off knowing he'd face the enemy and possibly his own death. But none of that had frightened him as much as the thought of Penny in danger.

No matter what it took, he would find Penny and make sure she was safe—then he'd wrap her in his arms and never let her go again.

Penny glanced up at the sky. How long had they been riding? The sun was almost directly overhead, so it must have been at least three hours. Her muscles ached from trying to hold herself away from Siegfried yet stay in the saddle, and her arm continued to throb.

Siegfried trotted Ebony over a small wooden bridge that crossed a rocky stream. He glanced to the left, looking at the water.

Penny carefully slipped the last bit of fabric from her sleeve and dropped it to the ground.

Siegfried's gaze flicked her way, and he jerked the horse to a stop. “What are you doing?”

She froze, her heart thumping so loudly she was certain he'd hear it. “Nothing.”

“Don't lie to me!” He swung the horse around, jumped down from the saddle, and snatched the piece of fabric from the ground. “How many of these have you dropped?”

She clamped her mouth tight and turned her face away.

“Fine!” He grabbed hold of her arm and pulled her down off the horse.

Pain shot through her arm. She clenched her teeth and blinked away her tears.

“I should've just tied you up and left you back at that stream,” he muttered. Then he grabbed the rope from the saddle and tied one end around her wrists and the other to the saddle horn. “Go on!” He waved his hand down the road. “You can walk beside the horse.” He climbed back up on Ebony and took the reins.

Penny's face flushed and her empty stomach surged.

They'd only gone a few yards when Siegfried jerked the horse to the left and started down a small trail through the trees.

Panic shot through Penny. “Where are you going?”

“Off this road.” He pulled on the rope, tugging her forward.

Penny's hopes plummeted. How would anyone ever find her now? Following their trail on the muddy road wouldn't be too difficult, but this path was covered with moss and dead leaves. She scuffed her feet, trying to leave marks in the moss, but she didn't want to be too obvious and stir Siegfried's anger again. When he turned to look the other way, she broke a small branch and kicked up a piece of moss.

A few minutes later an old stone cottage came into view through the trees. Penny's first thought was that someone might see them and help her, but as they came closer, she saw the two front windows were broken and weeds and vines cluttered the yard around the cottage.

Siegfried's face looked set in stone as he rode around to the back of the cottage. More weeds and broken windows confirmed that the property was deserted. He climbed down and looped Ebony's reins around a low branch, then untied the rope from the saddle.

A terrorizing chill traveled through Penny. Riding out in the open with this man was frightening enough. She didn't even want to consider the possibility of going into that abandoned cottage with him.

“Let's go.” He grabbed the rope and started around the cottage.