Could it be that these men were the ones who had taken the hapless woman? And were they now intent on treating Willa to what they’d done to her?
She tried not to think too deeply on the subject because it did make her afraid, and right now, she needed all the courage she could muster.
The saddest part was that Matt would come home and not find her in their bed. He’d think she had stayed with her mother. He’d never know that she had come home until it was too late.
The wheels of the vehicle went off the main road. By the way they bounced, they seemed to be on little more than a cow path. Willa hated the rough ride. It was all she could do to protect herself. To her amazement, she managed to slip her index finger loose from her bonds.
The chaise came to a halt. Ross jumped down from the driver’s seat, and a door opened near Willa’s head. She lay still as if she slept and prayed he could not see her hands.
But he was not interested in her hands.
“You are a pretty morsel,” he said. A hand explored her body over her nightdress. There was a chill in the air, but she didn’t shiver from the cold.
His hand squeezed her breast. “I don’t know how much time we have. I’d like a bit of you. Even a taste.” He laughed, the sound without mirth. “Pity what’s going to happen to you.” He gave her breast another squeeze, and then there was the sound of riders.
The door was shut.
God help her.
She thought of Matt. And how she would never have the chance to tell him that he had won her heart. She’d never be able to feel his warmth around her. Or hear his voice—
“Dismount, Your Grace,” she heard Donel say.
“Where is she? I must know my wife is all right before I do another word you say.”
Matt. Her heart leaped with joy, and then froze with fear. They used her to control him.
Her mind screamed at him to run.
The door opened again. “She’s right here,” Ross said. He pulled the pillowcase from her head. A light was held up. Willa went still, keeping her eyes closed because she didn’t want them to see her fear.
“Release her,” Matt ordered. “Let her go and then I will do whatever you wish. Tell Hardesty he has my word on it.”
“You are going to do whatever we wish anyway, Your Grace,” Donel said. “Ross, hold that cudgel over the girl’s head, and if he does anything he shouldn’t, bash her brains in.”
“Aye,” came the answer.
Hot tears pressed against Willa’s eyelids. They were going to kill them both. Together.
She heard Matt dismount. In a cold voice, he said, “What would you have me do now?”
No, Willa wanted to scream. They were going to kill her no matter what.
“Ross, tie him up and put him with his lady.”
In a matter of minutes, Matt’s body was dumped on the floor beside Willa. They pushed her against the seat base as if she was nothing more than a sack of grain, her back to her husband’s. His legs were too long for the width of the vehicle, so Donel and Ross had to double him up. Willa felt very squeezed.
“What now?” Ross wondered.
“Now we drown them. Hardesty wants a coaching accident.”
Ross swore. “Why can’t we just kill them and be done? It’s work to make deaths look like accidents.”
“Oh, well, you can give Hardesty your suggestions yourself. As for me, I’m being paid to drown them.”
“How are we doing that?”
“Drive the vehicle into the river. We’ll make it appear as if they attempted a shortcut to the main road but drove off.”
