Which was ridiculous.She was an arranged match through a newspaper ad.One that Ralph had insisted he attend.The entire point had been not to feel.Something he was usually exceptionally good at.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Yes, you do.Perhaps you’ve just gone too long without a connection to anyone, but you actually got all upset when she talked about that cousin?—”
“Enough,” Wyatt cut him off with a hard push to Ralph’s chest.“I don’t want to discuss it anymore.”
“Fine,” Ralph said.“I’m glad to know you’ll wed, at least.”
It was on the tip of his tongue to ask Ralph why he cared so much.But he knew.Ralph was his family and they took care of one another.Just on the other side of the street, a lone couple walked, stragglers from the group that had left the theater.
Behind the couple, the shadows shifted.
“Did you see that?”
Ralph shook his head, snubbing out his cheroot.“No but don’t think I don’t know that in this regard, your skills far surpass my own.”
“Did you just admit I’m better than you at something?”
Ralph cocked his head.“Now I see it too.How many do you think there are?”
Wyatt moved closer as the couple passed by, strolling arm and arm.“Too many.”
“Why are we waiting?”
“To make sure they actually—” He’d been about to say attack when the first man stepped from the dark alley and made his move.
Jumping from the shadows, he grabbed the theatergoer from behind, locking an arm about the man’s neck.
Wyatt sprung forward, sure Ralph would follow, as four other men poured from the shadows, grabbing the woman, punching the man, pulling at their clothes and other items.
Ralph passed him, letting out a guttural cry that made all five thieves pause.
Wyatt made a note to remember that trick as his cape flapped behind him.
He watched Ralph’s fist fly back and then land in a thief’s face, sending the fellow crashing to the ground.
Wyatt shifted to tackle the thief, locking his arm around the thief’s neck.His punch didn’t have quite the same power as Ralph’s so he settled for heaving his body into the man’s side, his elbow catching the villain just under the ribs.
A sick cry and a rush of air left the man as he slid to the ground.Wyatt had hardly looked up when he realized Ralph had already bested two more men, the last running for his life down the street.
“It’s you,” the woman gushed, dropping to her knees as she reached for her companion.“Harold, we’ve been saved by the Bushy Hero.”
Wyatt rolled his eyes behind his mask.Of all the names… “Are you all right?”
“Fine,” the man answered, his voice rough as he gingerly rose, pulling the woman up too.
“Where’s your carriage?”
“We walked,” the lady supplied as she brushed off her skirts.“We were going to find a hack to take us home.”
“Catch a hack and report to The New Police in the morning to give a statement.”
With a nod, they disappeared even as Ralph began hog-tying the half-conscious men.“I think I’ll come out with you at least until we get you to the altar.”
Wyatt shook his head.He’d be a lot less sore in the morning with Ralph’s help, that was for certain.But the fights and the aching muscles had become his way of numbing all the real pain.Besides, Ralph had spent his whole life protecting Wyatt.The whole point was for Wyatt to give back to Ralph and the rest of the world too.“I don’t need you to come.”
Ralph stood, his hands coming to his hips.“Please.You’re a crap fighter when it comes to large groups.”
