“Sorry,” he whispered in her ear. “I saw him coming and could not think of any other way to go unnoticed.”
She could only nod.
Offering nothing more, Brandon clasped her hand in his once more, and they all but ran into the cold open air of the night. Her chest sucked in the bracing spring air. It had yet to give way to the summer that was mere weeks away, and tonight, she found herself thankful for the cold.
There was only one lantern lit in the stables, tucked in the very back corner.
“I gave the other hands the night off,” Brandon explained, “so we will not be caught here. Still, we must not waste a moment if you are to get away to safety.”
Following him still, she walked into the illuminated stall. There, waiting for her, was an already saddled stallion, the brown of his hair so dark it was nearly black. On his back was a thick bedroll strapped down and a matte leather seat, the stirrups adjusted to her slight stature. Both saddlebags looked full, pushing out on their seams. From the looks of things, Brandon had thought of everything. His explanation confirmed that.
“I packed your favorite dress and all the stockings I could find. There is food that will last you a week, though you should not be riding for more than three days. One of the maids helped me collect all your best herbs and bandages and anything else we could think you might need. Here,” he said reaching for the front of the saddle, “is a dagger long and sharp enough to protect you. I recall you telling me your brother once taught you how to use a bow and arrow, so I’ve included those too.”
He stepped forward and circled her waist with his hands, ready to lift her onto the horse’s back.
“Wait,” she breathed. “I cannae do this. Nae alone. He will find me. He will kill me.”
Brandon shook his head, a hand brushing her hair out of her face.
“He will not. I will make sure of it. Now, take these to Kincaid Castle. Ride north of here. Just over the border, you will come upon a river. Follow it north, taking the western route any chance it is offered. Stay by the water, do not ride on the road.”
As he listed off the instructions, he placed a package of papers, wrapped in string into her hands.
“What is this?” she asked, unsure why Brandon had addressed anything to Laird Kincaid.
“The letters for the Lairds.”
“Why? What is in them?”
He smiled a bittersweet smile at her.
“Enough to turn the tide on this blasted ordeal.”
She nodded slowly, her heart and mind still trying to catch up to all that was happening.
“Come with me,” she begged when his hands went to lift her into the saddle once more. “We can escape together. Ye can put the letters in the Laird’s hands yerself.”
Without giving her the chance to put him off again, Brandon hoisted her into the saddle with ease. He set about checking thestraps and securing her boots in the stirrups. Then he shifted the cloak on her shoulders, smoothing it to cover as much of her frame as possible.
“I cannot go with you, Laura,” he said at last. “If you are going to have any chance at all of escaping with your life, I cannot go. I must stay here and keep the guards distracted. The longer it takes for them to realize you are missing, the longer you have to ride.”
She opened her mouth to protest, but he shook his head, cutting her off.
“Thunder, here, is my best runner. He will fly through these woods, especially with such a small rider like you on his back. You need only to trust him to do so. He will get you to Kincaid quickly. Keep your head down and walk slowly until you pass the last of the tenant houses. And then, as soon as you are in the clear, let him fly.”
“Surely ye can come too, Brandon. Surely, this is nae?—”
“It has to be this way, Laura. If your people are going to have the smallest hope of fending off Dudley, you have to go and you have to go now. I will do all I can to see that you get out of here alive. You must be brave enough to do the rest.” He stopped only when he saw the tears gathering in her eyes. “You can do this. I know you can.”
She leaned over the side of the horse and brushed a hand against his cheek, committing every detail of his handsome face to memory. She knew only too well that there would be no guarantees for them now that he had betrayed his master.
“Thank ye,” she whispered, unable to say anything else.
Words stuck in Brandon’s throat, forcing him only to nod and place a light kiss on her knuckles. He pulled away, stepping just out of her reach and led the horse out of the stables. Sliding the door open to the night, Brandon let go of the reins as shegathered them in her hands. Hastily, he pulled his gloves from his belt and thrust them up at her.
“Here,” he said briskly. “You will need these. Now go.”
She tugged them on, savoring the warmth he had left in them. The sound of Brandon’s palm against Thunder’s flank was the only warning she got before the horse galloped into the yard. Keeping a firm grip on the reins, setting a steady, nondescript pace for the beast, she turned to look over her shoulder. Brandon waved only once as a cascade of her tears streamed down her face. She rode into the night, as if her life depended on it, as if the life of those she loved depended on it—because it did.
