Matt punched upward with all his might.
He struck the man square in the face. Donel lost balance and fell backward into the water.
Overjoyed by his good luck, Matt took hold of Willa by the back of her nightdress. He grabbed the side of the door and attempted to pull his big body out of the coach. His bound legs were a hindrance, as was Willa’s weight, even as slight as she was. When he had an arm and elbow outside the coach, he thought to raise Willa up first—
A fist came down on Matt’s head. A flash of stars momentarily blinded his vision. Donel then gripped Matt by the hair to jerk his head back for another blow.
However, Matt was the larger man. He was hampered by his hold on Willa, but he refused to let go of her. Instead, he released his hold on the coach, blindly reaching for Donel. His hand found material, and Matt allowed his weight to fall, dragging the bastard into the cab after him.
Now it was Donel who was thrown off as he landed headfirst into the water swirling up to Matt’s waist. Donel tried to rise, to find his footing.
Fury took hold of Matt. He was fighting for both his and Willa’s lives. It was as if he had the strength of ten men. He used his elbow to smash Donel’s head against the wall.
Donel cried out at the blow, but before he could react, Matt shoved him under the water again. This time, Matt was not going to let him up.
He was also determined to push Willa out the door. He wasn’t gentle. He couldn’t afford to be. Donel had grabbed Matt’s legs and was trying to topple him. However, Willa had blessedly managed to free one hand and, with a boost from Matt, pulled herself out of the coach.
Believing her safe, Matt gave his full attention to his attacker. He brought his hands down, capping the top of Donel’s head.
Matt had the advantage of being taller and more muscular but Donel was a cunning fighter who had his own good amount of strength. He tried to bite Matt’s thigh to make him let go. Matt just pushed him deeper.
The interior of the coach was as black as Hades. Donel’s hands were like claws. He was struggling for breath now, and still Matt held him down.
He thought of Donel’s wicked knife. He didn’t know why the man wasn’t using it.
Donel tried to roll away from him. Matt would not let him escape. If Matt didn’t stop him, Donel would harm Willa. Donel’s hands began to flail. Bubbles rose from him as if he could hold his breath no longer.
Matt pushed him deeper, using his superior strength—
And then the struggle was over.
The fight was gone. Donel’s body sank.
Matt had to forcibly pull his hands back. He was trembling from the exertion, the fear, the misery of what he’d just done.
Exhausted, he fell back against the side of the coach, the movement shifting the vehicle.
“Matt,” Willa shouted, followed by a splash.
Alarmed, Matt reached for the door above him. His muscles quivered from the exertion. There was the sound of more splashing. He roared his frustration and found the extra effort he needed to lift himself out. He flopped into the water, his legs still bound. Willa was right beside the coach. He raised her up. His feet found the riverbed and he braced her against him. She coughed, hacking up water—and then curled into him, shivering.
At first, he thought she was crying. Dear God, she was alive. They both were.
She raised her head. Her eyes had an unholy gleam in the moonlight. “Is he dead?”
“He’s dead.”
“Good. May we go to shore?”
“We may.”
The problem was making their way there. Matt hopped and kicked like a fish to see them to safety. He placed Willa on the bank among the weeds and rushes. His hand hit something metal—Donel’s knife. He must have lost it when he cut the horse loose. Matt now used it to cut the ropes on his legs.
Willa had tried to drag herself higher up the bank. The sky was lightening. The paleness of her nightdress was now a muddy gray. Her bedraggled braid was like a black rope over her shoulder.
“Here,” Matt said, to gain her attention.
She looked to him and he climbed the last bit of the bank to her and began sawing at her ropes. One wrist was still bound to a rope around her waist. She’d torn her nails in trying to save herself, and him.
