“Nothing worse than a few scrapes and scratches from where theytossed her into the ditch.” He offered a lopsided smile. “You know our Merry. A more courageous fighter was never born.”
“Thank heavens. I was so worried about her.”
All humor left Chance as he leveled a narrow-eyed gaze on her. “And you, my dear Felli?” he asked barely above a whisper. “Are you…whole and unharmed?”
She knew what he feared, and adored him even more. “I have a bump on the back of my head. Other than that, I am quite well.” She nodded at Edmund and Mrs. Bean. “Thankfully, thejailersthose terrible men chose are the kindest folk and took good care of me. I have promised them lifetime employment at Broadmere Hall. They risked their lives trying to return me. That is why we borrowed this mule and wagon from the Hogan family. By the way, I owe the Hogans fifty pounds, but would like to pay them more. They risked their well-being too. I believe those horrible ruffians terrorize this area.”
“We shall pay them three times that.” Chance offered Mrs. Bean and Edmund a gracious bow. “You have my eternal gratitude and the safety of Broadmere Hall for taking such good care of my sister.”
Mrs. Bean’s weathered face wrinkled even more with her teary-eyed smile. “Thank you, Your Grace. Thank you ever so much.” She nodded at Felicity. “Her ladyship is a kind soul. We could do no less for her.”
Movement out of the corner of her eye drew Felicity’s attention back to Drake. He had dismounted and was easing toward her. “Felicity?” he asked, his voice ragged. “Are you well?”
She charged over to him and slapped him so hard that it turned his head and made her hand sting. “You have no right to ask me that.”
He bowed his head. “I agree. I do not.”
“I hate you,” she said, the words coming out in a sob. “You lied to me and risked my sister’s life.”
He nodded. “I know there is no excuse, but I lived in terror oflosing you if I told you my uncle still lived.”
“Well, your terrors are now realized.” She wanted to scream, wanted to cry, but instead, she slapped him again. “I trusted you with my heart, and you crushed it.”
“I am sorry,” he whispered.
“You will never be sorry enough, and I will never forgive you.” She turned away from him, facing Chance once again. “Help me back into the wagon, brother dear. It is a long ride home.”
“No!” Drake roared, and threw her to the ground just as a shot rang out.
The magistrate and his men returned fire, then took off after the remaining villain, riding away. Two lay writhing where they had fallen, bleeding from their chests. Felicity recognized the scar-faced man and the mountain of flesh, Mort’s two brothers. It didn’t take long for them to go still.
“Felli.” Chance helped her up and turned her toward Drake. He lay on his side, a dark, wet stain spreading across the back of his jacket.
“Help me down, Edmund,” Mrs. Bean commanded, banging her cane against the wagon’s buckboard. She pointed a bent finger at Felicity. “Press on that wound, gal. Got to slow that bleeding lest he die.”
“She is right.” Chance cut away Drake’s jacket and split the back of his shirt open wide.
Fighting against a surge of nausea and her spinning head, Felicity knelt beside Drake and pressed the wadded rags of his shirt against the wound.
“Hard, gal,” Mrs. Bean ordered her. “If’n he bleeds too much, he’ll be gone.”
Even in all her anger and heartbreak, Felicity had never wished Drake dead. She had wanted him to suffer as she had, but nothing like this. “Don’t you dare die,” she said with a growl that surprised even her.
“Check his front, gal,” Mrs. Bean said. “With any luck, it passed through. He’ll be better for it if’n it did.”
“I shall check,” Chance said, crouching on Drake’s other side. He shook his head. It had not passed through. “We must get him back to town and find a surgeon.”
Hands bloodied, Felicity blinked against the black dots swimming through her vision. She could not swoon. There was no time. She had to stay focused and give Drake the help he needed, even though she felt like shaking him.
The thunder of galloping horses made her look up. It was Mr. Osbourne and his men returning alone. Her heart fell. That had to mean the worst. Mort had escaped.
When the magistrate and his men reached them, they alighted and took over Drake’s care.
“Fear not, my lady.” Mr. Osbourne offered Felicity a formal bow. “Our bullets found purchase in the third man as well. Those three are now standing before the greatest judge of all.”
“Them three will be found wantin’,” Edmund said.
Felicity stared at him in shock.
