“Make camp! Tonight we feast!”
A cheer went up among his companions and the enlarged group fell into what was obviously a well-rehearsed routine. Bags were unloaded from saddles, tents started going up, food was unpacked and a campfire started. Someone led the horses away and turned them out to graze.
Izzy watched all this curiously. Who were these people? Wild campers? If so, why was Magnus so wary of them?
“Magnus, who are—”
“We need to get away from here.”
“But—”
“Right now.”
She began to speak but the look on his face stopped her. He looked more than wary. He looked worried. Very worried.
She swallowed her protest. “Um. All right.”
Magnus extended his hand, and Izzy took it, allowing him to pull her to her feet and guide her out of the copse of alders. He led her through the whispering undergrowth, away from the hillside and the boisterous laughter that drifted on the wind. Snaffles, as if sensing their disquiet, kept close to Izzy’s side, making not a sound.
Once clear of the alder thicket they walked quickly, Magnus glancing over his shoulder every so often. Then he froze suddenly. A silhouette moved amongst the heather ahead. Snaffles whiffled softly. Izzy’s heartbeat ramped up a notch until the silhouette stamped and let out a soft nicker. It was not a person but one of the group’s horses, put out to graze for the night.
“At last a bit of luck,” Magnus muttered.
He walked cautiously towards the horse and Izzy saw that it had been hobbled to stop it wandering too far. It was a sturdy-looking gray mare and Magnus approached her slowly, extending a hand and murmuring soothingly. The gray mare blew out a soft breath and lowered her head to sniffMagnus’s outstretched hand. Izzy grabbed hold of Snaffles’ collar. She really didn’t need another Baxter situation.
“Good girl,” Magnus muttered to the horse gently, stroking her neck before he untied her hobble. “Ye’re a beauty, aren’t ye?” He patted her side fondly and the mare nuzzled into his hand, as if in agreement.
Magnus beckoned Izzy over. “Come on,” he called softly. “Ye will travel more quickly now.”
Izzy approached cautiously, keeping hold of Snaffles.
“Get on,” Magnus ordered, his voice low but commanding.
She stared at him. “I beg your pardon?”
“Get on,” he repeated. He gestured to the mare. “Ye are leaving. Take the horse and go home.”
“You want me to...to steal a horse?” Izzy spluttered incredulously, looking between Magnus and the calm gray mare. “Are you crazy?”
“Lass, yer own horses and carriage are gone—stolen by those people over there for all I know. How else do ye expect to get home this night?”
She blinked at him vacantly. She heard the words clear as day but she didn’t seem able to work out what they meant.
His brow furrowed. “What are ye waiting for, woman? Mount the horse and go!”
“But...but what about you?”
“I have business to attend to.”
Izzy glanced at the group of people in the distance. They were far enough away now that she couldn’t make them out clearly but she could see their campfire and hear their laughter and chatter.
She took a deep breath. “Magnus, this is insane. I don’t need a horse to get home, I need a cab! I’m going over there and asking to borrow a phone!”
She took a step but Magnus grabbed her arm and yanked her back. Snaffles whined.
“Now who is insane?” he hissed. “Go over there and ye will be a prisoner before ye can blink! They might keep ye alive to ransom ye but that is the best ye could hope for! Do as I say! Ride, woman! Mount up and get away from here as fast as ye can. I will ensure they dinna follow ye. Go home, Isabelle, and forget ye saw any of this.”
“But what if—”
