Page 462 of Wicked Highland Heroes

Chapter Seven

Josephine squinted against the morning sun at her mother, who, up ahead on the road, rode a dark chestnut alongside Miss Jane Halloway. This last week, the girl’s parents had paraded her around like a piece of horsemeat for sale—an apt analogy, as far as Josephine was concerned—and Jo had the impression she was relieved to have a quiet day away from any eligible gentlemen.

Jane’s father led the group along with Lord Deeds. They were eight in all and, once the woods gave way to sparser trees, they would leave the road to picnic along the banks of loch Ness.

For Josephine, the only thing she liked about their outing was Lord Wylst’s absence. He, along with Nicholas and her father, had remained at Barthmont Keep. A day free of the three men had been worth the price of her mother’s company.

The sun shone through clouds that reminded the god of light that even its great power could not penetrate the clouds’ airy density should they deign it so. But Jo had lived in Inverness all her life, and knew these clouds would not rain today, despite their show of power.

She had brought a copy of James MacPherson’s translation of Ossian and hoped to lose herself in the poetry. But she feared her mind would return to Lord Wylst and his command that she marry Nicholas. After hearing the baron talk business with Nicholas last night, she feared part of his reason for wanting her to marry Nick was that he felt the connection would give him entry into Nicholas’ world of finance. That possibility terrified her even more than him trying to blackmail her for Nick’s money.

Her heart broke anew. She hadn’t deluded herself. She knew from the moment Wylst appeared in her life she had to get Nick to call off the marriage. But she hadn’t quite let go of the joy she felt upon signing the contract. Nicholas was right. She had fancied herself in love with him since the age of thirteen. That girl’s fantasy grew into a woman’s desire and Nick’s return resurrected the feelings she had convinced herself were dead. And now the baron threatened to expose the truth if she didn’t marry Nicholas. She saw only one solution. She had to get rid of Lord Wylst, and she knew of only one way.

The party turned a bend in the road and Jane’s cry shattered Jo’s thoughts. A carriage blocked the road. Beside the team, a mounted man aimed a gun at the driver. A second highwayman stood and pressed a gun to a young man’s back, while a third brigand—a giant of a man—gripped a woman’s arm. The group froze, all eyes on Jo’s party. Fear lodged in Josephine’s throat.

“By God,” Lord Deeds cursed, and yanked a pistol from the waistband at his back.

“He has a gun!” the highwayman holding the woman shouted.

The young man who stood at gunpoint rammed an elbow into the ribs of the brigand behind him, then whirled and threw a punch to his jaw. The gun roared. The driver dove off the carriage to the other side of the vehicle, and the man pointing his pistol at him fired. Lord Deeds spurred his horse forward just as his wife screamed.

“Ride, ladies!” Mr. Halloway shouted, and urged his horse after Lord Deeds.

Jo’s mother looked at Jane, who had stopped beside her. “Go, Jane.” Her gaze cut to the other ladies. “Mrs. Halloway, Lady Carlisle, Amanda—for God’s sake, ride!”

Lady Carlisle and her daughter obeyed, but Jane sat frozen, eyes glued to her father who raced toward the chaos. Jo’s stomach pitched when the brigand gripping the woman’s arm yanked her against his chest and jammed a gun to her temple. He looked wildly about as he dragged her backwards, away from the men fighting.

“Jane,” Mrs. Halloway cried.

Josephine’s mother reached across the distance between her and Jane, and yanked Jane’s horse’s reins. The beast took several quick backwards steps. Jane broke from the stupor and yanked the reins. Josephine wheeled her horse around to avoid collision with Jane as she turned her mount in a hard circle. She lunged past Josephine in unison with another shot that split the air. Jo gasped when Lord Deeds suddenly listed in the saddle. Mr. Halloway sped past him while the man who had shot at the driver lunged toward the horses.

Her mother’s eyes came around hard on Josephine. “Ride to Barthmont Keep for help. Now.” She kicked her mount’s belly and he sprang toward the commotion in one great leap.

“Mother!” Jo cried.

Confusion washed over Josephine. Her mother had ordered her to go for help but—She looked over her shoulder. The road lay empty. Surely, the other women would send help? She returned her gaze to her mother, who had reached Lord Deeds, slumped over his horse. Her mother grabbed his horse’s reins and, with one hand on his arm to steady him, drove the beast off the road. Jo’s heart rammed against her chest when her mother disappeared into the trees with the viscount.

Eyes on the man still holding the woman, Josephine urged her horse toward the trees on the opposite side of the road where her mother had gone. The brigand who had shot the driver managed to grab the reins of the nearest horse, and leapt into the saddle as Mr. Halloway reached the carriage.

Josephine nearly cried out when the giant highwayman yanked the woman around and shouted, “William!” to his comrade in the saddle.

The man galloped away.

With the highwayman’s back to her, Josephine spurred her horse into the woods and began circling around the carriage. Through the trees, the young man was visible, panting over the motionless body of the brigand he’d been fighting. The driver stood beside him and, he, along with Mr. Halloway who still sat atop his horse, stared at the remaining highwayman. He backed away, using the woman as a shield. She looked like a pale rag doll against his massive frame. The young man took a step toward them.

The brigand jerked. “Stop, or I kill her.”

The young man halted.

Mr. Halloway said, “Kill her, and you face a rope.”

The man gave a harsh laugh. “Ye will hang me one way or another. Get off your horse.”

Mr. Halloway didn’t move.

“Get off, or I shoot her!” the highwayman shouted.

“For God’s sake, man, dismount,” the young man said.