The rider’s horse stopped, which made it easier to struggle against him.
“Woman, cease. Do you wish to lame me?”
Without turning her head to look at the imbecile, she scrunched her forehead. Of course she wanted to lame him. Did he think she’d make this easy?
“Please stop, woman. I’m not going to hurt you.”
Famous last words, she was certain.
Breathing heavily, she took a moment to study his face…and then sucked in a quick breath. Highwaymen weren’t supposed to be this handsome. Windswept black hair waved around his headwhile brilliant blue eyes stared back at her. Didn’t highwaymen wear masks? This one didn’t.
His gaze skimmed over her in a lazy exploration, yet his mouth stretched in a melting grin before he met her eyes.
“Sir, I demand you unhand me.” Her voice shook despite her efforts to sound commanding.
The second rider galloped up to them and pulled his horse to a stop. No doubt another thief, yet he didn’t wear a mask, either. Perhaps these men were not as she expected. If so, what was their purpose?
The man holding her chuckled. “Hawthorne, the woman demands I unhand her.”
The man called Hawthorne shook his head, his gaze never leaving her. “I think you have found an uncooperative lass. I fear she’ll be a handful for you.”
The one holding her laughed as he pulled her closer. She screeched and slapped his hands, but he remained unaffected.
“Yes, Hawthorne, she’s a handful to be sure, but a wench I can tame, nonetheless.”
“Wench?” she shrieked. “Sir, I’m no wench. I’m a lady.” Judith elbowed him in the chest, which was followed by his soft grunt. “And you had better unhand me this second or I’ll injure you in the worst way.”
Hawthorne threw his head back and howled with laughter.
“What’s this?” The one holding her turned her head with his fingers, gripping her chin so she could look at him. Humor sparked in his dark blue eyes. “You proclaim yourself a lady, yet you are threatening me with bodily harm?”
She scowled. “Are you not still holding me prisoner? Therefore, you are no gentleman. Now let me go before I follow through with harming your person.”
He grinned, and her heart did a foolish flip-flop. Those blasted dimples on his cheeks and his hypnotic eyes made hercatch a breath. Though she still wondered about their purpose here, the initial fear began to fade, replaced by irritation.
“Pardon me,” the man said, dripping with sarcasm. “I didn’t know we were in the presence of such nobility.” His gaze slid over her riding habit. “I wasn’t aware that gentle-bred ladies adorned themselves in such a wicked fashion.” He fingered the tears in her sleeves.
Once again, she slapped his hand. “You imbecile. My riding habit is ripped due to the ghastly trees and their branches.”
“What are you doing traipsing through the forest by yourself? From what I understand, gentle-bred ladies are supposed to have an escort.”
“That, sir, is none of your concern.”
Hawthorne chuckled. “I think we have a runaway.”
Her heart sank. They had deduced her purpose.
The handsome man holding Judith waggled his brows. “Will your father pay handsomely for your safe return?”
Her heart clenched at the mention of Pa. If he were alive at this moment, he would kill both rogues.
The thieves’ purpose was now revealed: they wanted money. However, they dressed in finer clothes, not the rags a highwayman would wear. Even their boots were of the finest quality.
She forced down a hard swallow and lifted her chin. “No, my father will not. It would be utterly impossible to get one shilling from him, since he’s buried six feet under.”
The man holding her blinked. “He’s dead?”
“I would hope so. I imagine a living person would find it difficult to breathe buried under the ground like that.”
