Despite her knowledge that her attacker was injured, Juliana was exceedingly aware that he was in pursuit. The hair on the back of her neck remained on end, and the tingle of nerves that ricocheted through her body told her that he was not far behind. She simply did not know how to react. Would he detour through the forest and appear before them? Or would he be torturously patient and attack when they were forced to water and rest the horses? Not knowing was painful.
Hours passed in which there was no sign of a pursuer. The sky had once more grown dark, threatening additional snowfall.
A shiver travelled down Juliana’s back, the force of it rattling her teeth. They’d run and walked their horses intermittently, resting only briefly throughout the day. The muscles along her spine and down each of her limbs trembled and ached. Her sex throbbed in time with her heart, each of her mount’s movements causing an extra jolt of pain where she’d joined with Leo mere hours before. And her bottom…heavens, but each cheek had grown numb from pain.
Their mounts must fare just as ill. The poor beasties.
Leo turned slightly in his saddle, calling to her over his shoulder. “We must soon rest. Perhaps—” His eyes widened, and the blood drained swiftly from his face. “Juliana!”
Bang!
Even with that slight warning, Juliana was unprepared for her gelding’s instant fear and the responding gallop of her own pulse. The poor horse’s eyes grew wild as it matched the swifter pace of Leo’s mount.
Bang!
Juliana screamed in both shock and fear as the ball flew past her.
Leo cursed long and loud. “Into the forest!”
Cold sweat tickled the space between her breasts, and her numb legs fought for purchase in the sidesaddle as she jostled with the gelding’s movements. They were forced to slow their pace as they navigated the darkness between the trees. It afforded them some protection, but surely their pursuer would catch up.
Her stomach was knotted, and tingles of unease travelled down her gloved hands. Perhaps this washerchance. It was madness, of course, but her life of late had been madness, and dying now was not to be borne. She knew that Leo carried a blade, but that would not aid them in their current predicament.
Guiding her mount over a fallen tree with one hand on the reins, Juliana reached into her pocket and withdrew the loaded pistol.
Branches cracked behind her, and she swung around, her stomach a raging storm of dread and her palms damp with sweat. He was too far away for her to get an accurate shot—not that she was particularly skilled with the weapon from the start—but she must make the attempt.
The twist of her body was awkward, but she put it from her mind as she lifted the pistol to aim. Her arm bounced with the gelding’s movement, and she gritted her teeth in frustration. She could not reload the pistol while mounted, and she was unsure how many loaded pistols their pursuer had stashed upon his person. Shemustmake this shot count.
Forcing her breath to slow, Juliana sighted down her arm at the upper half of the dark shape that followed them, and squeezed the trigger.
CHAPTER16
Bang!
A high-pitched scream slammed Leonard in the chest. With a flash of terror riding him, he pulled on the reins and turned his mount around.
“Juliana,” he breathed.
His throat closed as he saw her gelding stomping anxiously, the beast’s nostrils flaring and his eyes wide with fear. And Juliana was nowhere to be seen.
Dropping to the forest’s floor, Leo ran the few steps to her horse, his gaze darting beyond in search of their pursuer. But he was gone.Or hiding.
Juliana sat upon a pile of white snow, her face pained as Leo approached.
“Juliana,” he whispered hoarsely, his throat still tight and his muscles tense as he took her in. “What happened? Where are you hurt?”
“Did I hit him?” Her voice was small and quavering. Teeth glinting in a flinch, she slipped her spent pistol into a coat pocket.
Leonard chanced a glance around them into the dark, snow-blanketed forest. “I’m afraid I don’t know the answer to that. Neither the bastard, nor his horse, are within my sight.”
He returned his attention to Juliana, crouching at her side and sliding his hands over her head, neck, and shoulders. “Tell me if you hurt anywhere.”
“I hurt everywhere,” she said with a grimace. “But the snow and moss cushioned my fall. I will have bruises, to be sure, but I don’t believe I have any broken bones.”
Leo’s lips thinned. “We must see you someplace warm. Come.” He aided her slowly to her feet.
More than he cared to admit, Leonard wanted to keep Juliana in his arms, to ride with her safely in his embrace. But neither mount could withstand the weight of both of them after their long journey.
