"Help!" I tried again, although my lungs burned and speaking felt like being stabbed with dozens of knives.
A flash of hair appeared in the last glow of the setting sun.
Bartholomew!
Oh, but even if he could make it to the gate in time, he could not get it open before Gideon was upon us!
"Stay back!" my wicked husband roared threateningly behind me, and I felt the waves of angry power rolling off him. "I forbid you to interfere!"
Would Bartholomew obey? The Nightshade lord was dark, dangerous, wealthy.
But the holy man did not stop.
I raced on, wondering if some supernatural force was lending wings to my feet.
Close now. . . almost there. . .
But the horse’s breath rustled my hair as I sped toward the slim hope of safety.
I felt Gideon veer sideways, my skin prickling as he reached out for me, the feel of his leather grip, so close to snatching me up and bearing me back to cruelty and fear and degradation. . .
But just as my husband stretched out his hand I heard the clunk of a key in a lock and miraculously it turned on the first try, the heavy iron gates opening just enough. . . .just enoughfor Brother Bartholomew to reach out for my desperate, straining hands and pull me through the gap.
I tumbled unceremoniously onto the ground and the gate slammed shut behind us.
Gasping for breath, I whirled around as Gideon hit the door, the iron clanging as he slammed his massive boot against the bars.
"Open up!" he snarled, his face twisted in fury. "I demand you open this door!"
Bartholomew helped me to my feet carefully, wrapping his own cloak around my shaking arms.
"Sanctuary," I gasped, clutching him desperately. "Please. I beg for sanctuary in this holy place!"
CHAPTER 18
Deliverance
My husband’s powerful arm came down on the gate with the horsewhip, a terrifically loud clang that fairly rattled my teeth.
"Open this gate!" he roared, hopping off his frothing horse and jerking on the metal bars. “Immediately! That is mywife.”
My legs trembled.
What if Bartholomew obeyed him?
The massive charger stamped its hooves, flanks slick with sweat.
The monk only put an arm around my waist, dragging me further from Gideon's grasping fingers as they strained through the bars.
But his arm was too big, the bars too narrow.
"My lord, this woman has begged for shelter and protection from St. Mary's Abbey and we are bound to help her."
Gideon's jaw looked like hardened granite as he kicked at the lock of the gate with heavy boots, like he would keep going until he broke it open. There was a muscle throbbing under his dark beard.
"Fool! Imbecile! You cannot keep my wife from me! Legally she is my property and I can do as I please with her!"
"I’m not staying there for you tomurderme!" I cried.
