Authors: Christine Young
Slade pulled her close and brushed his mouth lightly across hers. The kiss was unlike anything he had given her or anyone else. With this kiss, he asked for nothing in return. For the first time in his life, he thought only to give. Slade eased her down onto a fallen tree and sat beside her, cradling her while she shook with a mixture of weariness, terror and relief.
"I've done a damn poor job of protecting you," he murmured. He pulled the satchel of water he'd slung across his back and dampened a cloth. When the cool cloth touched Lainie's face, she drew back.
"It wasn't your job to protect me," she said, pushing his hand away. "You were just going to collect the bounty--remember?"
He remembered all too well. His feelings had changed. "Easy, sweet heart, it's just water, like your tears."
He felt her resilience. Before she said anything, she stiffened. "I'm not crying," she whispered.
"Of course you're not," he agreed a smile twitching at the corner of his mouth.
He continued
,
wiping away the tears on her dirt stained face and pushing the wet strands of hair from her eyes. When he finished, she let off a long ragged breath, her body shaking in his embrace.
"Drink," he said, leaving no room for argument. He felt as if he tortured her with every step.
Without disagreeing, she sipped slowly from the water satchel. Slade watched knowing this peaceful silence and moment of comfort was about to end.
A low sound of pleasure came from her as she swallowed. Holding the satchel with both hands, she drank greedily, ignoring the tiny trickle that escaped at one corner of her mouth.
Slade touched the tiny drops of water with his finger, reveling in the moment then he followed with his tongue. She jumped with the caress and dropped the satchel. He laughed and caught it, closed it, and slung it across his back once again.
"It's time," he said softly.
"One more minute?" she
asked,
her eyes huge with resolve.
"No, if we wait any longer, Jericho's men might figure this out and be on our back trail before we know it."
"Then--"
He hated what he did to her. With gentle fingers he brushed her neck. He found her pulse points.
“If you don't want to see where we're going, I could carry you over my shoulder. A slight pressure here, he touched her, and you would faint. You wouldn't know a thing or see anything until we were safe.”
Lainie closed her eyes for a second almost as if she contemplated what he said.
"You can't carry me over that," she said, pointing in the direction they were about to go.
"You're like a little fox. Agile and lithe. But for all their cunning and grace,
A
fox isn't very big or very heavy."
Slade stood, pulling Lainie to her feet and then off them in a quick easy motion. He shifted his grip, holding her balanced against his hip with one arm. It all happened so quickly, she didn't have time to draw a breath.
"
Slade,
put me down. You can't mean to do this."
An odd strangled sound escaped her lips.
Slade frowned.
"I didn't mean to scare you," he said.
"You didn't," she said faintly. "I just didn't expect--" she wiggled in his arms as if she were asking him to put her down.
But he didn’t want to let go of her. He was afraid that if he put her down, he would lose her. So he waited, watching her.
"It's just…" she was trying to explain something.
He smiled, still waiting, relishing the feel of her body so close to his and knowing she lived, and by taking this crazy path over the mountain, he had not sent her to her death.
She let out a noise that was half sob, half laugh. "I've never had to ask for help."
Slade was left speechless. Those few words told him a lot about her. Slowly, he nodded. And the small motion told him why she hadn't made mention that she was struggling just to stay on her feet let alone jump across cliffs. It simply hadn't occurred to her. She was used to doing for others, not the other way around. She had always been the strong one.
"And I'm not used to having a partner," Slade said. "I've pushed too hard and too fast. I'll make another deal with you."
“What's that?"
"If I'm going too fast for you and you need to rest, you'll tell me."
Gently, he set her on her feet. Slade slid an arm around her waist, and she leaned into him.
"Tired, little fox?" he asked.
She smiled at him. "I'm beyond tired."
"Put your arm around me and I'll help. It's not too far."
"I can--"
Suddenly, Slade touched a finger to Lainie's lips. "Hush," he whispered against her ear. "I hear voices."
She nodded and did as Slade asked. She didn't say anything.
Slade felt her stiffen as if straining to hear the he’d spoken of.
Slade was right. Voices floated up from below. Jericho and his mercenaries had become eager to end this and were searching for them.
"Bloody hell," Slade swore. "Get down!"
But Slade didn't wait for Lainie to respond, He had her pressed on her stomach against the solid rock before she could breathe.
"Keep your head down," he told her in a very soft voice, hoping Jericho wouldn't see or hear them.
Slade handed Lainie the water and drew his bow. She watched him as he began crawling on his stomach toward the ledge where he could look over and see below.
Down the slope where they had begun the treacherous path were three mercenaries leading their horses. They were headed straight for Slade. Red was in the lead. He spotted Slade. When the mercenary shouted, arrows started whizzing and ricocheting off the rocks.
Slade returned the fire, picking targets with care. There wasn't much cover, but the mercenaries made good use of the rugged terrain. They flattened themselves behind boulders and crevices.
Unfortunately, all but Red
were
beyond the range of Slade's longbow. The mercenary took an arrow in the arm but that wouldn't slow the man down for long.
Slade slithered back to Lainie and pulled her to her feet.
"Get ready to run."
To Slade it looked as if she wanted to object, but he shook his head.
"A few steps then jump," he told her. He didn't give her time to think. He thrust her forward. She ran and jumped. He followed her, flying over the black abyss, landing hard and holding her upright when her foot slipped. Seconds later, they were running for their lives.
Slade's hand was clamped around her arm, lifting her, hurtling her forward, then lifting her again the instant her feet touched down.
They had almost reached the horses when arrows started crashing around them, whizzing through the air. Slade made no attempt to take cover. He just tightened his grip on Lainie and ran faster. He knew their best chance of survival was reaching the horses before Jericho's mercenaries could reload.
The rocks evened out and the footing became more solid. They reached the horses. Slade tossed Lainie into her saddle, vaulted onto Baby, and raced toward the valley.
“Whatever happens, trust me, Lainie. Keep going and know that I’ll be there for you. I’m not going to let anything happen to you.” He prayed he spoke true.
The narrow trail continued to climb. Slade kept the horses pointed uphill, not stopping when the path became so narrow that their legs brushed against rocks.
Without warning, the trail opened a little. A large boulder spanned most of the opening to the trail. And in front of them, the valley opened up. But the valley wouldn't provide them with any respite if the mercenaries got through. He spun Baby around and raced back to the packhorses, urging them past the boulder. He turned to Lainie.
"Let's see if we can block the path," he said curtly. "Get off your mare and give me a hand."
She slipped off the horse and walked to Slade. He was putting all his weight into moving the boulder toward the trail. Lainie put her shoulder against the huge rock and pushed with all her strength. Slowly the boulder began to move. Once they got it off its resting spot, it began to roll with a horrifying thunder. The path down hill helped the momentum. Soon it was hurtling downward, finally coming to rest where rock ledges nearly met.
The sound of curses floated up the canyon, now blocked by the boulder. Slade wiped sweat and rain water from his forehead with the back of his arm.
"Time to take a long deep breath and relax," Slade said.
"Really? I don’t think I could have gone on much longer."