“No. But you are completely different. She is wild; you are tame.” He stroked her cheek. “I almost wish youwerelike Kat.”
“If I were, Malcolm wouldn’t have fallen in love with me.”
He laughed and stood. “He is a fool. But then, I have known this all along.”
“What are your plans for Malcolm when he comes to rescue me?”
His chest shook with silent laughter. “You think he will come?”
“I know he will.”
“What a faithful, devoted woman you are.”
“What have you planned, captain?”
He stepped over to the window and peered out. “Well, if Mr. Worthington does come, I shall just have to arrest him for trying to break a prisoner out of jail. Kat planned this months ago. You see, with both Turner and Worthington in jail, there will be an accident and both men will die. Kat will become the wealthy widow, and I will earn my promotion to colonel and become wealthier myself. With Kat by my side, there isn’t anything we cannot conquer.”
“Don’t be too sure of yourself. You are underestimating my husband. He is a brilliant man.”
He turned and faced her, crossing his arms over his chest. “Do you think me dimwitted? Kat and I have a foolproof plan.”
She squirmed, hoping again to loosen the ropes, but they didn’t budge. She sighed in desperation. “All I can say is that evil men like yourself always come out the losers.”
He laughed, stepped away from the window, and headed in her direction. The dark look in his eyes sent chills over her body. Should she remind him of Kat’s warning? The lowering sun threw shadows on his face. He appeared meaner, yet more determined. She swallowed hard.
“I have had enough talk for now.” He knelt beside her and ran his knuckles along her cheek. “I’m bored, and you are the only person who can remedy that matter.”
She pulled back but couldn’t get away from his touch. “Please, captain. My sister will be very upset.”
“Your sister doesn’t need to know.”
She narrowed her eyes. “I will tell her.”
“I will rebut your story.”
His hand moved down her neck, and he stroked the skin at the base of her throat. She wanted to spit in his face but resisted. He would certainly strike her.
She struggled once more with the ropes at her wrists, but they were still too strong, making it impossible to free her hands. “Get away from me,” she yelled.
“Never. I have come to care for you a great deal.”
Following her first instincts, she spat in his face. He pulled back, eyes wide, jaw slack. He scowled and backhanded her across the face. She cried out. Her skin stung from his blow. He raised his hand again, and she cringed, preparing for the next strike.
*
When Malcolm rodecloser to the deserted barn, he wondered if his friend had been correct by telling Malcolm that he’d seen a soldier bring a woman here that resembled his wife. But when he heard his wife’s scream, he said a silent prayer that his friend had been right.
Malcolm rushed into the barn—and then stopped. In the corner, Captain Wilkes’s red uniform caught his attention, as well as the squirming woman he held.
A burst of anger shot through Malcolm, and he itched to grab the sword at his side. Instead, he ran toward the soldier and seized the man by his coat. Malcolm found the strength to pick him up and fling him against the wall.
His wife’s eyes widened, then she squealed his name. He knelt beside her and took her in his arms. “Are you all right?”
She sobbed into his chest, and his heart shattered. He wished he had arrived sooner. It tore him apart knowing he hadn’t stopped another man from harming her. What kind of husband did that make him?
“Shh…” he soothed, stroking her hair. “Captain Wilkes won’t touch you again.”
A yell ripped through the air, and he snapped his head toward the soldier. Wilkes’s foot connected with Malcolm’s chest and knocked him away. Pain shot through his body, and he inhaled sharply, clutching his chest. The captain raised his foot to strike him again, but Malcolm rolled in the opposite direction. He jumped up and faced his opponent.
