Her expression was hard to read in the shadows, but her posture bespoke worry. Was it concern for his being out of bed? Or fear for the men caught behind the stones? The latter was definitely the greater cause for apprehension, but he hated that he might be adding to her angst.
When Wesley halted the horse in front of the group, they moved into action, clearing the opening. Audrey and her father both moved into the corridor, and she stepped beside Levi. Maybe she felt better able to help him if she was close, or maybe she sought his presence for comfort.
One of the men inside, a strong-looking fellow who seemed familiar, spoke up. “I have ropes tied around the largest of the rocks but they’re not long enough to reach out here. Can you back the horse into the room?”
Wesley grunted. “We can try. He’s skittish.”
Levi stepped out of the way as Wesley turned Chaucer and tried to move him backward into the room. The horse balked, especially since the man was attempting to push the horse with brute force instead of giving the simple cues Chaucer was used to.
Levi swung forward. “Can I try?”
The fellow was clearly frustrated, and his agitation wasn’t helping Chaucer keep calm. The desperate need to free the trapped men hung thick in the air, but allowing the horse to feel the panic would work against them.
Wesley allowed Levi to come alongside the gelding and take the rope. The fellow took a step back, and Levi usedthe moment to settle the horse with another rub behind his ears.
“All right, boy. It’s time to back.” After positioning the walking sticks under his arms so he could lean on them and free his hands, he tugged the lead line down to make the gelding’s neck bow, then used the thumb of his other hand to press the tender spot in the horse’s chest. “Ba-ack.” He kept his voice in the singsong tone he’d always used for the command, breaking the simple word into two syllables.
Chaucer’s training came through, and he took one step back, then a second. He’d moved as far as Levi could reach, which meant he’d have to swing forward and reposition himself before giving the horse the command again.
Audrey stepped forward before he could do so, fitting one hand around the rope just above his and placing her other thumb on the horse’s chest where he had. “Ba-ack.” She used the same two-syllable tone, though her sweet voice made the command much more enticing.
Chaucer waited a beat before responding, then he tucked his nose as before and moved a hesitant step backward. Levi hobbled behind her, doing his best to move smoothly enough that he didn’t scare the horse.
But after two more backward steps, Chaucer’s rear hoof stumbled on a loose stone, and his head reared up.
28
Levi leaned forward to calm the horse, but Audrey was already stroking his neck and whispering gentle words in his ear. Chaucer still tensed, but his head lowered under her soothing touch.
“That might be far enough. See if we can hook this rope around him.” The voice sounded from inside, then the man who’d taken charge before stepped into the light.
Levi tried to move near enough to take the rope and tie it around Chaucer, but the space was so small, and with Audrey and the horse already there, he didn’t have room to maneuver with the walking sticks. Thankfully, Durand and the others stood back in an open corner.
The fellow holding the rope tried to fasten it around the gelding, but the ends would only extend as far as his shoulders. At least another arm’s length would be necessary to wrap around his chest. More than that in order to tie a knot.
Audrey stroked Chaucer’s neck. “All right, boy. Let’s take another step back.” Her crooning worked the same charm on the gelding that it did every time with Levi. When she tugged the rope and pressed her thumb into the signal spoton his chest, Chaucer edged backward. Smaller steps this time, but moving the right direction.
The man holding the rope stayed beside them, keeping the thick braided leather cords raised so they could measure exactly how far back the horse had to go.
When Chaucer balked again, Levi held his breath while the fellow measured the rope around the horse’s chest. “This might be enough.”
While he worked with the ends to tie a strong knot with the short amount of cord he had, murmurs sounded from the group standing behind them.
One voice rose above the others. “Hurry. We still haven’t heard sounds from them.” The voice belonged to a female, and the desperation welling in the tone must mean it was Brielle, Evan’s intended.
Levi glanced behind Chaucer to gauge how many rocks had to be moved. The shadows overwhelmed the tunnel that had been cleared, so he couldn’t see how far back it went.
“There. I hope that’s strong enough.” The man stepped back from fastening the knot.
Now for the other hard part—seeing if Chaucer would pull. Levi shuffled to the side to allow the gelding room to step forward, then reached for the lead line.
Audrey shook her head, not releasing her hold. “I’ll walk him.” Stubborn woman.
“He might balk. He’s never worn a harness. He might lurch forward and try to bolt.” Levi shifted his position and reached for the rope again.
“I can handle it.” Audrey crooned the words as she stroked the horse’s nose, though they were clearly meant for Levi.
Perhaps she might have a better chance with the geldingnow, given her ability to charm him. Levi would stay just out of the way, but near enough to grab the halter in case the horse bolted.
