Elsbeth allowed a flicker of defiance to creep into her voice. “You are wrong about him, and that will be your downfall.”
Mr. Strother’s lips curled into a snarl, but before he could reply, the coach hit a deep rut in the road, causing it to jolt violently. He grabbed for balance, his focus slipping momentarily.
It was all she needed.
Without thinking of the repercussions of her actions, Elsbeth lunged forward, her hands striking the wrist of the arm holding the pistol. Mr. Strother cursed, the weapon flying from his grasp and clattering to the floor of the coach. She lunged towards it, but he was quicker, grabbing her by the arm and hauling her back.
“You fool!” he spat out.
Elsbeth twisted and clawed at his hand. “I won’t make it easy for you!”
Mr. Strother reached his hand back and slapped her, sending her flying back against the bench. “You little chit! You are not going to win this,” he said as he retrieved the pistol.
She brought a hand up to her pounding cheek. “I am going to fight you. I won’t stop until I am dead.”
He pointed his pistol at her and cocked it. “That can be arranged, my lady.”
As Elsbeth braced for the inevitable, her heart thundering in her chest, a shout cut through the tense air. “Highwaymen!” the voice bellowed from outside.
The coach jolted slightly as the driver reined in the horses, but Mr. Strother’s reaction was immediate and furious. He struck the roof of the coach with the butt of his pistol, his movements frantic. “Don’t stop! Keep going, you idiot!” he barked, his voice cracking under the weight of panic.
But the coach came to an abrupt, jerking halt despite his orders. The horses neighed loudly, their hooves stamping in protest against the rough stop. Then came the unmistakable sound of a commanding voice booming from outside: “Stand and deliver!”
Niles.
She would recognize that voice anywhere. Relief surged through her. He had come for her. A part of her knew that he always would.
Mr. Strother cursed under his breath as he yanked the curtain aside to peer out the window. “Well, it would indeed appear that I underestimated Lord Westcott. But that hardly matters.” He opened the coach window, the pistol steady in his hand. “Stay back! I’ll kill her if you come any closer.”
From her limited view, Elsbeth saw Niles, Alfred, and Charles on horseback, each man armed and poised for action. Their faces were set with determination, and Niles’s eyes burned with a fury she had never seen before.
“Strother,” Niles’s voice rang out, “you’ve lost. Step out of the coach, and no one needs to get hurt.”
Mr. Strother’s laugh was devoid of any humor. “Spare me the noble speeches, Lord Westcott. I hold all the cards here.”
“Do you?” Alfred interjected. “You’re outnumbered, outgunned, and surrounded. There’s no way out of this for you.”
Mr. Strother’s hand tightened around the pistol, and he jabbed it towards Elsbeth. “That’s where you’re wrong. I have her, and I’m willing to use her to ensure my escape.”
Inside the coach, Elsbeth’s mind raced. She needed to buyNiles and the others time, but every movement she made risked provoking Mr. Strother further. “You think you’re clever, Mr. Strother,” she said, “But you didn’t quite think this through, did you?”
“Quiet!” Mr. Strother barked, but there was a flicker of uncertainty in his eyes. Elsbeth’s words had struck a nerve.
Outside, Charles dismounted his horse and took a step closer to the coach. “Strother, listen to me. If you harm Elsbeth, there won’t be a place on this earth where you can hide. You’ll be hunted until your dying breath.”
Mr. Strother sneered but glanced nervously between the window and Elsbeth. He was cornered, and he knew it. His confidence was fraying.
Taking a deep breath, Niles dismounted as well. “Let her go, Strother,” he commanded. “You have nothing to gain by hurting her. Surrender now, and you might live to see another day.”
Mr. Strother’s grip faltered for the briefest moment, and Elsbeth seized the opportunity, knowing it was her only chance at saving herself. Summoning all her strength, she lunged forward, grabbing his wrist and wrenching the pistol upward. The weapon discharged with a deafening bang, the bullet lodging harmlessly in the roof of the coach.
“Elsbeth!” Niles shouted.
Mr. Strother shoved Elsbeth aside, scrambling to reload the pistol, but Niles reached the door and flung it open with a force that sent it slamming against the side of the coach. He grabbed Mr. Strother by his jacket and yanked him out, throwing him to the ground.
Charles and Alfred were quick to act, disarming Mr. Strother and pinning him to the dirt road. The once-arrogant man now looked small, his face pale and his eyes wide with fear.
Inside the coach, Elsbeth allowed herself to take deep breaths, knowing the nightmare was over. She felt a gentlehand on her arm and looked up to see Niles, his eyes searching hers.
