It had been a cruel thing to say, as now Bids would fuss around her like a mother hen, but he couldn’t help himself.
“I will collect our things.” Warwick walked out whistling and stopped when he saw Samantha in the courtyard.
What the hell was she about?She should be resting. A bitter taste filled his mouth, and he searched for why. Looking back to the gate, he watched two men enter on horseback. Samantha was momentarily obscured, and then when they passed, he couldn’t see her. He heard her scream, however.
Tearing out his earplugs, he sprinted to the entrance and saw the carriage. She yelled out his name. Running to the men who had just arrived, he grabbed the reins of one of the horses.
“I need your mount at once. A woman has been abducted!”
He leapt on the back of the horse.
“I say!”
Ignoring the cries of outrage, Warwick galloped out of the gate. The carriage was fast, but he’d be faster. Kicking the horse’s sides, he urged it on. He gained on the vehicle in a matter of minutes and drew alongside. The driver shot him a look but could do nothing, as he was wrestling with the horses who were galloping.
“Someone’s following!” This was a woman’s voice.
“Let me go!” Samantha was screaming.
Pulling closer, Warwick rose and stood on the saddle. He then leapt and landed on the rear of the carriage with a thud. He managed to grab a leather strap hanging down from the roof, and pulled himself on top.
Fear and rage gave him strength as it surged through him.
“He’s on the roof!” the driver roared. Warwick flattened himself as he pulled out a gun. The horses veered, and the driver had to grab the reins again.
“Tie her up, and we’ll shoot him,” the woman said.
“No! Warwick!” Samantha shrieked.
He crawled to the side and reached down to open the door. He then swung himself down and into it, hoping he didn’t fall. She’d get away if that happened, and he would lose her.
I can’t lose her!
Something hit him hard; briefly he wondered if it was a bullet, but as there was no pain, he discarded that. Warwick then lost his grip on the door and was falling backward. Bracing for the impact, he hit the ground hard. Something then landed on top of him, and the air left his lungs in a whoosh.
“Warwick?” Hands tugged at him, rolling him to his side. He managed to get onto all fours, making hoarse barking sounds as he attempted to breathe. Panic clawed at his throat as he fought to refill his lungs.
“Breathe, Warwick!” A hand rubbed his back.
And then the blessed relief what felt like long minutes later as air filled his body. He inhaled deeply and then slowly exhaled. After several more lungfuls of air, he was able to ease down to a sitting position.
“Is anything broken. Are you hurt?” Samantha ran her hands over his limbs, checking for injuries. “Why won’t you talk to me?”
“I clearly can’t,” he rasped.
“I can’t return to London having broken you on the way. Your family will never forgive me!” She was babbling incoherently.
“I am not broken. Stop fussing, Samantha, for pity’s sake.”
Warwick heard hooves galloping and knew the carriage was fleeing the scene. At least that allowed him a small measure of relief.
“I was not kidnapped—that was you. Your family would not have forgiven me had I allowed that to happen.”
His eyes looked left and right, checking for danger. The road was clear, it was just them sitting in the dirt.
“How can you be well when you hit the ground that hard with me on top of you!” Samantha shrieked.
“You don’t weigh that much.”
