Willa hoped they killed each other.
A body was slammed against the coach and then yanked away. Donel growled before saying, “Don’t touch me again, or I swear, I’ll throw you into that vehicle with them. Now help me drag this chaise to the water.”
Ross didn’t offer any protest.
The chaise began moving. Panicked, Willa worked the knot.
The horse grew nervous and balked. Ross swore while Donel shouted orders. “Make sure we are as close to the bank as possible. We are going to pitch it in on its side as if it fell over.”
The coach moved forward a few feet. Matt tugged on her ropes.Don’t do that, Willa silently warned him. That was how she’d made hers so tight, and then she realized he had one hand free—
“We need to cut the horse loose, Donel. There is no sense to this. He’s skittish.”
Choice words were Donel’s answer, and then there was the sound of racing hooves. “I thought you had him, Ross?”
“I can’t see what you are doing. It’s black as hell here. The damn beast bolted before I could hold him.”
“You can go after him as soon as we push this chaise in,” Donel said. “Come, give me a hand. I want this done.”
The chaise began to rock in one direction and then fell back. “Put more into it,” Donel snapped.
“I need to chase that horse before someone else nabs him.”
“The coach first. Come over here. Heave to. One, two, three—”
The chaise tilted. For the span of a heartbeat, it seemed to hold itself up by two wheels, and then it was falling into the water.
Chapter 13
With Willa’s help, Matt had one hand free and he managed to slip the other from the ropes just as the chaise hit the water.
His and Willa’s bodies tumbled over each other. Water poured in through the windows and any cracks in the hired vehicle. Three quarters of the chaise’s cab filled with cold water—and then it hit the riverbed and stopped.
Thank God.
He reached out, catching Willa with one arm and lifting her out of the water so she could breathe. The knot in her gag was wet, and the cold river water made his hands clumsy. He attempted to pull the cloth up and succeeded in lifting it over her head. He yanked the wet gag from her mouth. She took a huge, sputtering breath, her chest heaving as if her lungs couldn’t take in enough air. He covered her mouth with his hand, warning her to silence.
“Keep your head above water,” he whispered.
She nodded, her body going into a spasm of shaking, but she controlled herself as best she could.
“That’s my girl,” he answered. Both of their legs were bound but he could stand propped against the chaise and she rested on his body. The river’s current was swift. There was enough water to send the chaise floating if they weren’t careful. The vehicle rocked slightly as he started trying to untie Willa’s hands.
On the bank, Ross asked, “Did you know it was shallow here?”
“I did. You think I’m going to swim out to cut them free?”
“I’m going for the horse. I don’t want him to run too far.”
“Go on,” Donel answered.
“Don’t enjoy yourself too much,” Ross called. Matt thought of Donel’s knife.
“I’ll meet you at the Blue Boar,” was the barked reply. There was the sound of a horse riding off. Donel would be coming.
The inside of the chaise was ink black. It rested on its side, the door over Matt’s head. He lifted Willa the best he could with one arm to keep her head above the water, while he prepared for that door to open—and yet, when it did, Matt felt his heart give a start.
A human-shaped head was silhouetted against the night sky. Donel couldn’t see anything inside the coach. It was impossible.
