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“What is it? Why aren’t you at the lake with your mother? Is she all right?”
“She’s fine,” the boy gasped. “She told me to run ahead.”
Tomlin handed him a glass of water and he took a few quick gulps.
“It’s Miss Lottie.”
Celenk’s blood turned to ice.
“What about her?” he demanded.
“We saw her riding off with a strange man. They was a long way away but it was her. And Mama said that it wasn’t right.”
“Where did you see them?” he asked, trying not to frighten the child with his urgency.
“On the other side of the lake, heading for the woods.”
“That’s where the perimeter was breached,” Temel said grimly.
Celenk was already headed for the door when Borgaz joined him.
“I’ll show you where.”
He nodded grimly and they raced to the barn. Kalpar caught up with them as they were saddling their horses, bringing out his own mount.
“Looks like I’ll get to use my knives after all,” he said coldly when Celenk gave him a questioning look.
“Not if I get there first.”
A few seconds later they were galloping towards the lake and he was praying with all his heart that she was safe.
CHAPTER 18
Lottie subtly tried to adjust her uncomfortable position. As soon as they arrived at their destination, which turned out to be a campsite in the woods outside the farm, her captor had hauled her off the horse, tied a dirty rope around her wrists, and then tied the rope to a tree.
She’d hoped he was alone but there were two other men waiting for him. A big, silent one who watched her far too closely, and a small, thin one who never stopped talking.
“I don’t like this, Evans,” he said for at least the third time. “Are you sure the boss wanted us to take her? Women always complicate things.”
“I’m sure, Harris,” Evans snapped as he had the previous times but he didn’t look at Harris as he spoke and she found herself as dubious about the orders as Harris.
“If you say so,” Harris said doubtfully. “But what happens when he gets the job done? How are we gonna get her back.”
“Maybe we’ll just leave her here for him to find.” Evans shrugged. “Maybe we’ll take her along.”
“I really don’t think that’s a good idea -” Harris began, but the big man interrupted him.
“I do.”
He licked his lips as he watched her and she felt sick.
“I thought you’d like it Mongo,” Evans laughed. “But you’re gonna have to wait until then. Might still need a bargaining chip.”
Mongo gave a disgruntled huff, but remained where he was, still staring at her.
“How long are we gonna have to wait?” Harris whined, also not for the first time. “I hate camping out.”
“Do you think we can just walk into a hotel with a tied up woman?”
