“There is no ‘what if’, Isabelle,” Magnus snapped. “Ye need to go. Now!”
He didn’t wait for another protest. He grabbed Izzy around the waist and hoisted her onto the mare’s back. Izzy yelped in surprise, instinctively gripping onto the horse’s mane.
“Ride,” he commanded. “And dinna stop until ye are out of the Dragon’s Back and safe at yer manor.”
“But I don’t know how to ride! And I don’t know my way home from here!”
“Ye’ve ridden before, surely?”
“On a pony at a fair, when I was eight!”
A shout suddenly rang through the night. “Hey! Who’s that by the horses?”
Torches flared in the distance as two men separated themselves from the rest of the group and started running towards Izzy and Magnus. Magnus cursed under his breath.Then in one swift motion, he swung up onto the horse behind her.
“Wrap yer hands in the mane and hold on,” he ordered, his voice gruff as he kicked the horse.
“But—”
The mare sprang into motion with such force that Izzy had to grip onto the horse’s mane tightly to keep from falling off. The world turned blurry as they sped through the darkening landscape, Snaffles loping easily alongside. The cold wind slapped at Izzy’s face, cutting through her clothes. The shouts grew fainter until they were swallowed up by the thump of the mare’s hooves and the breathless rhythm of her heart.
“Ye’re doing fine, lass,” Magnus’s voice spoke close by her ear. She felt his arm tighten around her waist, holding her steady.
Fine? Fine? She was most definitelynotdoing fine! She was terrified out of her wits!
“Stop!” she cried. “Stop this horse right now!”
Magnus looked over his shoulder, gazing back the way they’d come. He did not slow the horse.
“Did you hear me? Stop the horse! I want to get off!”
She began wriggling but Magnus’s arm around her only tightened.
“Keep still! Ye’ll unseat us both!”
“Then stop the bloody horse!” Her cry was shrill with panic and perhaps it was this that cut through to the madman seated behind her.
He said something to the horse and the beast slowed, first to a trot, then a walk, and finally came to a halt. Magnusglanced back again and seemed satisfied that they had lost any pursuit. It was dark enough now that they would be difficult to see against the browns of the moorland. Magnus swung down then patted the horse’s sweaty flanks.
“My apologies,” he said to the beast. “I know I’m too big for ye to carry but it was an emergency. Ye can rest now and eat grass.” He looked up at Izzy then held out his hand to help her dismount.
She ignored the offered hand, swung her leg over the horse’s back, and slid bonelessly to the ground where she lay with her limbs spread-eagled, staring up at the darkening sky and listening to the thundering of her heart.
Snaffles, thinking this was all some hilarious game, bounded over and started covering her face in doggy kisses.
“Ugh!” she shouted, sitting up and trying to push him away. “Get off! Dog slobber is the last thing I need!”
Snaffles rolled onto his back and Izzy absently rubbed his belly whilst trying to get a grip of herself.
“Lass,” Magnus began. “Isabelle—”
“Don’t!” she said, cutting him off. “Don’t say another word.” She wiped a shaky hand over her forehead. How had this day turned so insane? All she’d wanted to do was walk Snaffles and get some fresh air!
Magnus crouched in front of her, his sapphire eyes glinting in the gloom. “Are ye all right?”
“Am I all right?” she repeated. “No, actually. My car’s been stolen, I’ve just been party to a spot of horse-rustling, and I’m in the company of a lunatic!”
Magnus watched her as she ranted, his expression unchanging.
