“Gwenhwyfar never betrayed Arthur! It’s in the notes.”Why can’t I keep still?
“Arthur might differ with you on that,” Baylor answered and assumed a scholarly tone. “According to legend, Lancelot rescued her in the nick of time. Maybe he will again. Do you feel lucky?”
Why did she get the feeling she was looking up the barrel of Dirty Harry’s gun? Only this Dirty Harry was really the bad guy.
****
Sara heard the crunch of the car’s wheels on the loose gravel that led up to the ranch house and a quiver of apprehension flowed down her spine. She had hoped to be rescued, but she didn’t think Lucas would just drive up to the front door. And ifhe’d brought a copy of the manuscript, what assurance did they have that they’d be leaving alive? Very little. Baylor had spent the last hour laying kindling around the base of the hitching post while she had watched from the porch where he had tied her.
But it was Michael who drove up and stepped out of the car.
“I don’t believe we’ve met,” Baylor said as he finished laying the last piece of wood.
Michael brushed past him to Sara. “Are you all right?” he asked as he turned her around and began to undo the rope.
“What do you think you’re doing?” Baylor asked.
They both turned to see him holding a 9mm handgun.
“A rather nasty piece of equipment. I much prefer older weapons, but I find this is very useful.”
“You can put it away,” Michael said as he stared the man down. “Shoot me and you’ll never see the manuscript.”
Baylor laughed. “No doubt I can find it in your car.”
“Do you think I would be so foolish as to bring the manuscript here?”
He fingered the trigger. “You would be more foolish not to.”
“The one thing I’m not,” Michael said as he finished loosening Sara’s bonds, “is a fool. If you want the damn thing, you play by my rules.”
Baylor lifted an eyebrow. “I don’t think you know who you’re dealing with.”
“No?”
A pale light began to shimmer around Michael and for a moment, Sara thought she saw a flaming Sword in his hand and then it was gone. She shook her head. Perhaps the fear she had bottled up was giving her hallucinations.
Baylor had taken a step back, but at Michael’s surprised look when the aura faded, he stepped forward again. “You were almost impressive, Warlock.”
Sara felt Michael’s mental nudge and sent him what energy she could. His shield had been weakened by the exertion and she wondered why he’d tried it.
“It doesn’t matter who you are,” Michael said. “We play by my rules.”
Baylor seemed almost amused. “By all means then. Explain your rules.”
“Sara leaves. She gets in the car. You and I will walk. The manuscript is buried somewhere between here and the main road. I’ll show you where it is and we drive away.”
Sara watched as Baylor considered the possibilities. He could kill them both and look for the manuscript, but there were lots of cactus and rattlesnakes out there. He didn’t have his henchmen to do the searching. Finally he nodded.
He searched the car before he let her get in and gave them a nasty smile when he unearthed the revolver that Michael had stashed away. “I’ll just take this for insurance.”
Sara drove slowly behind them as they moved along the road. Several hundred yards away, Michael stopped and pointed. “On the other side of that mesquite tree.”
“Show me.”
“I’m not going any farther,” Michael answered. “You’ll just have to trust me.”
“I don’t trust anyone.”
