The stranger’s face hardened. His blue eyes darkened as he glanced back at Alex. The man grumbled before bending and slamming his fist into Alex’s face again, knocking him out.
The stranger took her hand. “Come. I will get you out of here.” He pulled her outside and toward the barn.
“Where will we go? There’s nowhere to run. Alex will find me.”
“I will think of something. Give me a moment.”
He rushed them into the barn and toward the back. His gaze flew over every wall. “There has to be some kind of tool I can use as a weapon against him.”
She shook her head. “I don’t think it will do much good. He has a pistol.”
The man stopped and faced her. He clamped his hands on her shoulders and looked deep into her eyes.
“I will not let him harm you, Judith.”
Gasping, she took a step back, breaking the contact. “Pardon me, sir. How do you know my name? I didn’t tell you my Christian name.”
He stood frozen for a few moments as he looked at her. Confusion creased his forehead and narrowed his gaze. “I don’t know, but I know you are Judith Faraday.”
“Do you know my parents?”
He gazed in the distance for another few seconds before meeting her eyes again. “Is your father Viscount Manderville?”
She sucked in a quick breath and covered her mouth. Tears fell from her eyes quicker than before. “Yes. You do know him. How?”
The man shook his head. “I cannot recall.” He scratched his head. “But when I see you in my mind, you are a young girl.”
“I—I wish I recognized you, but I cannot say I do.”
Through the stillness of the night, Alex’s voice shouted, calling her name.
“Oh, no!” She clutched the stranger’s hands. “He’s coming.”
“He won’t get you. I promise.”
He led them further back in the barn. Alex’s voice grew nearer toward the front. He’d be in sight at any moment.
“Look, there is a back door.” He pointed and hurried them toward it.
It took a couple of hard pushes, but the stranger finally opened the door. He grabbed her hand and led her out, then closed the barrier behind them. Down the road, two horsemen rode fast toward the inn. In the moonlight, the figure of the lead rider looked familiar. It wasn’t until he was almost to the inn when recognition struck.
“Trey!”
She yanked away from the stranger’s grasp and ran toward the man she loved. He’d heard her because he stopped the horse and jumped down.
“Trey,” she screamed and ran with outstretched arms.
He ran toward her, and when they met, he held her tight in his embrace and swung her around once.
“Oh, Trey. I never thought I would see you again,” she sobbed, pulling herself closer to his body.
“Shhh… I’m here now, my love.” He kissed her forehead. “Where’s Alex?”
“He was in the barn.” She looked over her shoulder in that direction. She didn’t see him, but the stranger stood back a ways, studying Trey through hooded eyes.
From around the corner, Alex stumbled away from the barn, holding a pistol. Trey moved Judith behind him, blocking her from Alex’s aim.
“Let her go, Lord Trey. She’s not yours.”
