Mattie turned her head to see Isaac standing a short distance away, a pistol tucked in the waistband of his trousers.
“That was beautiful,” Isaac mocked, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “I have been waiting for the moment when you two finally succumbed to your feelings.”
Winston moved to stand in front of her. “Get off my property.”
Isaac retrieved his pistol and pointed it at Winston, his eyes cold. “You are not in a position to make demands here. It is my turn now.”
“What do you want?” Winston asked, his voice steady despite the threat.
Taking a step closer to them, Isaac growled, “I want my wife and son back.”
“Never!” Winston exclaimed.
“Then I shall be content with Miss Bawden,” Isaac said. “Move aside, my lord.”
Winston stood his ground. “Miss Bawden is going nowhere with you.”
Isaac looked amused. “Did you think I came alone?” he asked. “If so, you would be sorely mistaken. I have taken the liberty of making the guard following Miss Bawden to be indisposed at the moment.”
“Did you kill him?” Winston demanded, his eyes narrowing.
With a mock look of innocence, Isaac replied, “I am not a monster. No, he should wake up soon enough with a pounding headache.”
Mattie turned her head towards the veranda where the footman was stationed and saw he was being held by gunpoint by a short, stout man.
“Miss Bawden, will you step forward, please?” Isaac asked, his voice dangerously polite.
Winston swiped his hand in front of him. “Absolutely not!” he exclaimed. “If you want Miss Bawden, you are going to have to kill me first.”
Isaac cocked the pistol. “My pleasure, my lord.”
Sensing the seriousness of the situation, Mattie moved to stand in front of Winston and put her hands up. “Do not hurt him.”
“What are you doing, Mattie?” Winston asked, his voice filled with anguish. “You can’t go with him.”
She turned back to face him, her eyes pleading for him to understand. “I couldn’t live with myself if you were killed because of me,” she insisted.
Isaac’s taunting voice reached their ears. “We can end this song and dance right now if you will give me Sarah and Matthew.”
“No, I would die first,” Winston said, his voice unwavering.
With a sigh, Isaac remarked, “We are back to you dying, then.” He paused, and his voice grew stern. “Time is up. Give me Miss Bawden.”
Winston took a commanding step towards Isaac, but Mattie placed a hand on his chest, stilling him. “What are you doing?” she asked.
“I won’t let him take you,” Winston responded, his eyes blazing with determination.
“He has a pistol,” Mattie pointed out. “And I do not think it would take much for him to kill you.”
Winston looked at her incredulously. “I can’t lose you… not now.”
Isaac stepped forward and grabbed Mattie’s arm, yanking her back. “If you want Miss Bawden back, you know whatyou have to do.”
Winston’s voice grew thunderous. “If you hurt Miss Bawden?—”
“That is entirely up to you, my lord,” Isaac spat out. “It is your fault that it has come to this.”
Mattie tried to remove her arm from Isaac’s grip, but he held firm, his grasp tightening painfully.
