“I see you didn’t escape empty handed,” therider observed, following Fallon’s gaze to Shea. “She’spretty.”
“And cunning,” the other man Shea had savedadded. “She rescued us and two idiots from execution. Stole usright out from under the villagers’ noses.”
“Is that right?” The horse’s saddle creakedas the man sat back and turned thoughtful eyes back to Shea.
Fallon ignored this exchange. Whatever he wasthinking was hidden behind an unreadable expression.
Shea was very aware of the size of the men infront of her in a way she had not been before. Fallon and the othershe had rescued were over a head taller than her, their bodiescovered in muscles she suspected were built over years of weaponstraining and combat.
She took another step backward. She wasn’tliking where this was going. A little distance between them seemedlike a good idea. You know, just in case.
“I should be going.” She tried a smile, butit disappeared almost before it formed. “My people probably needhelp. Glad you were able to meet up with your men.”
She straightened her shoulders and noddedsharply at him, hoping he’d let her pass.
The man on the horse snorted. “Are youplanning on keeping her?”
Shea stiffened. Her eyes shot back to Fallonwhose face up to then had been closed off, keeping his thoughtshidden. Now it filled with a fierce possessiveness.
“You’re not going to let me go are you?” sheasked with a sinking feeling.
His eyes held hers as he shook his head once.“No.”
“I saved you and your man.”
“For which I’m grateful, but that doesn’tchange the fact that you’re mine now.”
What did that even mean?
“There are too many of us for you alone tofight, and your men are still hiding,” Fallon told her, havingguessed the path her thoughts had taken.
Shea’s shoulders tightened, and her mouthfirmed into a straight line. What he said was true, but she wasn’tnearly as helpless as she seemed. She’d wait. Bide her time untilshe could get away.
“No harm will come to you from our hands,lady,” Fallon told her quietly.
That depended on his definition of harm. Aman and a woman’s ideas on harm often differed.
Victorious shouts echoed off the rock wallsas Fallon’s men rode into view. That split second of distractionwas what Shea had been waiting for.
She sprinted for the nearest canyon wall.
“Don’t let her escape,” Fallon’s friendyelled.
Lucky for her, the wall was formed of hardrock instead of soft dirt.
Praying under her breath, she grabbed twohandholds, placed a foot in a small indentation in the rock andstarted climbing, moving as quickly as she could. Horse hoovespounded nearer as she headed up and up, frantically trying to getout of reach. She placed her foot in a small groove, tightened hergrip on the wall and then straightened her leg, stepping up andgaining another foot of height on the canyon wall. Her breathcaught as she felt a hand grab her ankle before sliding off as shesquirmed up another few inches. There was a loud curse beneath heras she climbed two more feet to relative safety.
It was only when she felt sure she was out ofarm reach that she glanced down. Fallon glared up at her from theback of his friend’s horse. The original rider slowly saunteredtowards them, seemingly amused at the spectacle. Fallon must havedumped the man off his horse to pursue her.
She threw her head back and gave a shout ofrelief. She’d escaped. She’d won. And boy did it feel good to haveoutsmarted them.
Still laughing slightly, she glanced down andteased, “Guess you won’t be keeping me after all.”
At her words, Fallon’s scowl disappeared, andhis lips tilted slightly upward into a small smile as he relaxedinto the saddle. “Guess not.” The horse paced in a circle as Sheaclimbed a few more feet, going carefully now that she couldn’t beplucked off the cliff. A fall from this height could maim or killher. “The world’s not that big. Next time you might not be solucky.”
She didn’t know what made her do it. Perhapsit was the high from escaping or the rush of being in such adangerous situation, but Shea was in a bit of a playful mood.
She shot a teasing smile back down at him.“You’ll have to catch me first, and I can pretty much guarantee Iknow these hills better than any of you.”
