The wagon bounced harshly, putting airbetween it and Shea. She landed hard enough to rattle bones. Theothers braced themselves against the sides. Traveling at breakneckspeeds over uneven ground by wagon didn’t make for a comfortableride.
“What about me?” Dane shouted. The noise fromthe horses’ hooves and the clatter of the wagon’s wheels nearlydrowned out his voice.
Shea ducked her head, hiding a grin. “I don’tknow. You almost hit me a time or two with your shots.”
“Almost hit you?” Dane’s voice rose a fewnotes in indignation. He turned to glare at her, shaking the boomerin emphasis. “There’s no almost about it. Each shot was perfectlyplaced and went exactly where I aimed. Almost hit you, my ass.”
He was right, but Shea was loath to admit it.To his face anyway. His ego was big enough as it was. As Danemuttered about how he’d known exactly what he was doing, Sheaturned her attention to the others. She knelt by Cam’s side wherehe was propped up against the wagon’s side.
“How bad are you hurt?”
His face was a mask of pain, and he grimacedat the question. He groaned as the wagon lurched under them. Sheasteadied herself against the wagon’s side.
“They beat him pretty badly,” said the firststranger’s friend. “I did what I could for his ribs, but there maybe injuries beneath the skin that need to be treated.”
The stranger had grey eyes and appeared to bethe same age as his friend. Though more handsome than the otherman, he didn’t carry the same sort of presence. This one seemedmore easygoing, like he enjoyed a laugh.
“I’ll be fine,” Cam said through grittedteeth.
Shea very much doubted that. He had two blackeyes. One had already swollen shut. Blood was caked beneath hisnose and around his mouth. The nose was probably broken. All thatcould be fixed given time. What worried her was the slightbreathlessness he had every time he inhaled. As if something heavywas on his chest when there was no obvious obstruction. Shesuspected with the way he’d been moving earlier that one or both ofhis legs were injured.
She didn’t give voice to her concerns, justclapped him on the shoulder. “I know you will.”
James, watching the conversation, added, “Ofcourse you will. Who’s going to remind me of what a bad idea thistrip was if you aren’t?”
Cam gave a half laugh before wincing andclutching his side. “That’s true. With this latest scheme, I haveammunition against you until we’re old and gray.”
Shea was glad the two could joke with eachother. Sometimes when things got especially bad, laughter was theonly way you got through it. The journey back to their village,given Cam’s physical shape, was going to be one of those times.
“We’re being pursued,” the first strangersaid, his entire attention focused on the village as it grewincreasingly smaller.
Shea looked where he indicated, not noticinganything at first. Dust rose into the air and then small shapestook form as their pursuers thundered after them.
Witt chanced a glance back. “Damn, I washoping it would take them longer to round up the horses.”
“How far to the cliffs?” James asked.
Shea knew what he was really asking. How longuntil they reached the Highland border? If they could just make itto the cliffs, they would be able to lose their followers. Sheaknew a few of the hidden passages at the cliffs’ base in this area.If they put just a little distance between them and the hunters,they could disappear fairly easily.
It wouldn’t take them to the Highlands, butit should hide them long enough that the people chasing them wouldgive up or move on.
She tilted her head as she calculated. It’dtaken two days to reach Edgecomb once they’d finished their descentfrom the Highlands. The wagon could cut that time considerably, butthey would run out of flat ground well before they reached safety.The clunky shape of the wagon just couldn’t navigate the bumps andridges of the uneven land. The first large rock they hit wouldbreak the wagon’s axel, rendering the vehicle useless. Theirpursuers’ horses could move much faster even if the terrain delayedthem.
“Too far.” She glanced back at theirpersistent shadows. Even in such a short time they’d managed togain.
Her mind raced over options, disregarding oneafter another. Witt flicked the reins, urging the horses to greaterspeeds. The wagon shuttered and wobbled under them. Shea prayed itdidn’t shake itself apart before they reached theirdestination.
There was one possibility. Though it wasdangerous. More risky than traveling through red back territory.More nerve racking than trying to rescue prisoners from theexecution platform.
“Dane, how much ammo do you still have?”
“Not much. Why?”
“James, trade places with Dane. I need himback here.”
James patted Cam on the shoulder, beforemoving slowly to the front of the wagon.
Dane crouched beside her and looked at herquestioningly.
