Her demeanor changed, and she immediately became suspicious. “No.”
Thomas didn’t want to push her on it and hoped Lisbeth and the children would be on their way home. Lisbeth had left the lantern she carried earlier behind. He reached for it and held his arm out to Miss Sanders. She took it and said, “I knew you would find your way to me. When I started writing to you years ago, Ifelt such a strong connection between the two of us. I didn’t tell anyone because they would have said it was just like Albert.”
“Who is Albert?” he asked.
Pain flashed across Miss Sanders’ face, and then she shook her head as if trying to make a memory go away. “It doesn’t matter.”
They made their way through the trees, but once they reached the other side, Miss Sanders stopped. Her uncle and the constables stood by two carriages. Lisbeth and the children were standing by another one further down.
Her look of adoration turned to pure fury. “You tricked me!”
“Your uncle is going to help you.”
She stomped her foot as she still clutched the pistol. Her eyes went wild as she looked around. Lisbeth stood with Benson, who made sure to position himself between him and Miss Sanders. Thomas was grateful to the guard.
Miss Sanders screeched loudly and kicked him before taking off. He grunted and grabbed his leg. Her uncle and the constables chased after her, but she was too fast. She ran in a large curve, and Thomas realized she was trying to make her way to Lisbeth. He took off running towards the unwell woman. She suddenly stopped and raised her pistol, aiming at Lisbeth. No!
Chapter Thirty-Six
Lisbeth ushered thechildren into the carriage, trying her best to keep them safe. Miss Sanders raced across the grass. Lisbeth wasn’t sure where she was going, but then she realized the woman was avoiding the constables and heading directly towards her.
Benson charged the woman. She screeched and dodged away from him, running in a large arc. What was she doing? He continued to chase after her, but she’d been able to put some distance between them. The woman grinned at Lisbeth and pointed the pistol in her direction.
Lisbeth shook her head and whispered, “Don’t do this.”
There was no way Miss Sanders could hear her, so she wasn’t sure who she was whispering to. She only had one shot; maybe she would miss Lisbeth.
Benson was charging the lady while Thomas was trying to get between the two of them. Lisbeth shook her head at him. She didn’t want that.
Miss Sanders laughed crazily and pulled the trigger. A loud boom echoed through the waning light of day. Lisbeth hadn’t been hit. She’d missed. She almost collapsed from the joy of knowing she would live, but then saw Thomas’s crumpled form in the grass. She couldn’t lose him. They’d only just found each other.
Benson, along with Towson, held the hysterical Miss Sanders. Lisbeth didn’t have time to pay attention to any of that.She needed to go to Thomas. Alice stuck her head out the door, and Lisbeth said, “Stay in there.”
Her daughter’s eyes became watery. “Is Thomas okay?”
Lisbeth didn’t want to lie to her, so she didn’t answer. “Stay here.”
She raced to where he lay, falling on her knees. Benson reached him at the same time and gently rolled him over. He groaned. Blood was covering his shoulder and spreading. Towson yelled, “A doctor is on the way.”
Thomas groaned. “I don’t feel good.”
“That is because you jumped between me and Miss Sanders.”
His eyes connected with hers. “I would do it again.”
He grimaced and looked at Benson. “Is it bad?”
Benson frowned. “It looks like the lead ball went clear through your shoulder. You will be fine if infection doesn’t set in.”
Thomas nodded, and Lisbeth stroked his face. He smiled at her. “I love you. No matter what happens, I’m glad I had this time with you, Alice, and Jeremy.”
Lisbeth shook her head. “Don’t talk like that. You are going to live.”
He smiled at her, but his focus was fading. “I promise to do my best.”
An older man appeared at their side. “I’m the doctor. We need to get him to a place where I can clean his wound.”
Thomas’s head lolled to the side as if he’d passed out. Lisbeth looked at Benson. “I can’t lose him.”
