To the remaining men Douglas said, “You willcomb the forest, leaving one man to stay with the wounded.In theevent that my daughter should elude her captor and return to thisplace, you will send a rider to us at once.”
Jamie had little hope that one small femalelike Lindsey could elude a man bent upon evil.
With their thoughts as dark as the sky, Jamieand the Gordons were already saddling their mounts.Within minutesthey disappeared into the surrounding forest.
* * *
For the first few moments of her abduction,Lindsey had been gripped by a paralyzing terror.Now, shestruggled, to catch her breath and calm her racing heart.
The heavy cloak pinned her arms to her sidesand completely covered her head and face.With her head hangingover the horse in such an awkward fashion, she had no sense ofdirection.The blood rushed to her head, leaving her dizzy, buteven under such difficult conditions, certain things became clearto her.They were following the river.She could hear the roar ofthe water and she could hear the horses’ hooves splash through theshallows.There were at least two horsemen.They did not speak, butshe could make out an occasional muffled oath as one or the otherencountered a low-hanging branch.
These must be the highwaymen.In her mind’seye she could see the grim faces of the men who had attacked themin the forest.These were desperate villains, who would snuff out alife for the sake of a warm cloak or a precious jewel.These meremen without family, without honor.Men who did unspeakable thingsto the women they captured.
As they continued to ride, Lindsey struggledto collect her thoughts.She could not allow herself to dwell onthe fear that gnawed at her.She must remain alert.When theopportunity presented itself to escape, she must be ready.
* * *
Jamie studied the marks by the river’s edge,then pulled himself into the saddle and signaled for Robbie andNeal to follow.
“How can you be certain this is the way?”Neal asked.
Jamie met the lad’s troubled look.“One horsecarries a heavy burden.Its prints sink more deeply into the mud.I’ll wager that horse carries both Lindsey and her captor.”
“One horse,” Robbie said, turning towardJamie.“Are you saying there are more than one?”
“Aye.I count two.But if it is thehighwaymen we encountered earlier, they will be returning to anencampment to join the others soon.If possible, we want tointercept them before then.”
“Do you think they have already harmed mysister?”the youngest lad asked.
“Nay.”Jamie’s reply was spoken quickly.Tooquickly.Though he told himself that it was meant merely to comforta troubled lad, he knew better.It was his own comfort he sought.He could not allow himself to dwell upon the harm that would befallLindsey at the hands of those villains.“There is no time to harmher, lad.First they must elude capture.”
He nudged his mount into a run, with theothers close behind him.As they followed a bend in the river, hesaw the prints where the two horses had crossed.On the far side,he found more prints, indicating that they had entered the forest.Jamie felt his hopes plummet.It would be much more difficult tofollow a trail in the gloom of the woods.And much easier forLindsey’s captors to hide.
He glanced into the trusting faces of Nealand Robbie and vowed he would not let them down.Then he turned andled the way into the thickly wooded forest.
* * *
Lindsey struggled to breathe.The coarse woolthat covered her head was choking her.Briars and branches snaggedher, ripping her tender flesh through her clothing as the horseplunged onward.
Suddenly, with no warning, the horses came toa halt.A chorus of harsh voices was raised in greeting.Handsclutched at her, dragging her roughly from the saddle.The breathwas knocked from her lungs as she hit the ground.The cloak wassnatched from her, leaving her gown hiked above her knees.But asshe struggled to modestly arrange her skirts, someone tied a dirtyrag over her eyes.Her arms were twisted painfully behind her; herwrists bound so tightly she cried out.Someone gave her a viciousshove.She fell backward and lay very still, fighting the desire toretch.
“So, lad.Ye did as ye promised.”
A hand touched her hair, sending an icyshiver along her spine.Her captor replied in an odd whisper thatsent tremors through her.It was a cold, deadly sound like none shehad heard before.
The babble of voices moved away, leaving hertrembling with relief.Though she strained, Lindsey could hearnothing more of the conversation other than occasional bursts oflaughter.
She determined that there was a fire somedistance away.Each time a branch was added she felt the rush ofheat and heard the crackle of flame upon dried wood.Then it wouldgrow cool once more.
She shivered in the dampness of the grass.Itmust be nearly dawn.Soon her father and brothers would awaken andmiss her.But how would they ever find her?Her captors had takenso many twists and turns, it had been impossible to chart theircourse.She knew only that they had left the river and had plungeddeeply into the forest.
She shivered again.She must not wait for theothers to free her.She must make her own escape.
Lying very still she moved her fingers overthe dirt until she encountered several sharp stones embedded there.Though it was painful, she managed to rub her bindings over them.In no time she had sustained dozens of tiny cuts, leaving her handsraw and bloody.
She was so engrossed in her task, she failedto hear the low rumble of conversation until she heard, “Aye.Itmight work.But would they pay?Or would they assemble an army tofind her?”
Again there was that terrifying whisper.Thereply was too low to hear.But the burst of lewd laughter thatfollowed sent a fresh ripple of fear through her.She bent to hertask with renewed energy.
