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As he tip-toed, the scene before him struck like a falling beam and he froze where he stood. Eliza, wearing a gold and cream gown, crouched on the floor weeping
and calling for him. Tears glistened against her fair skin as her skirts billowed around her. The anguish in her voice drove into his chest, stealing his breath with the pain of it. His vision!
His heart bled and he rushed to her.
Eliza propped herself up with one hand and wept into the other. The tremendous load she’d carried, poured from her with all the power of a flooded waterfall. Her muscles cramped and her eyes burned. Even after all her efforts, Samuel would kill the man she loved, and she was powerless to stop it.
“Thomas, I’m so sorry. I only wanted to protect you. I love you.”
“Eliza.”
She gasped and shot her eyes in the direction of the voice of the man she cherished. It couldn’t be . . .
Her lungs heaved. “Thomas?” She blinked, not believing the sight before. The dark coat he wore accentuated his broad shoulders and matched the midnight color of his hair. Pure love poured out of his dark-blue eyes and circled around her quivering heart.
He rushed forward and knelt in front of her, cupping her cheeks in his strong hands. “Did you not believe I would come for you?”
“Are you real?” she said, almost unbelieving. But the feel of his cold hands against her skin, and the way his eyes mapped her face made reality crash into her chest. “Oh, Thomas! I wanted you to come. I wanted to tell you—” Suddenly the blood drained and her heart flogged her ribs. Struggling, she rushed to get up. “You must leave. You can’t be here it’s too dangerous!”
Bending down, he helped Eliza to her feet before pulling her against his strong frame. His solid arms formed a protective shield she never wanted to leave. The sound of his heartbeat made Eliza cling to him all the more. Crooking his finger underneath her chin, Thomas tilted her head upward, folding his soft lips into hers with a quiet moan. All her strength evaporated like mist in the sun and she pressed into him, gripping his thick hair at his neck. His warm mouth roamed hers and an audible sigh escaped her throat as a thrilling tingle splashed over her.
Slowly, he moved his hands to her shoulders and he pushed her away, his breath heaving as much as hers.
Thomas’s deep gaze traced her figure as if assessing her condition.
“Are you alright?” His eyes narrowed as he focused on the cut on her cheek. He brushed it with gentle fingers and his voice hardened. “What’s happened, Eliza? What did he do to you?”
Her hands trembled and her leg muscles ticked. She placed her hands on his chest. “Thomas, I told you not to follow me. Samuel will kill you if he finds you. You have to leave. Now!”
Instead of acknowledging her statement, he tucked his fingers into her hair and smiled. “What love can do, that dares love attempt.”
She pushed away from him as her love and desire for him to live surpassed her own need to be at his side. “I beg you Thomas, you must go. Please! I told Samuel I’d marry him as long as he promised not to kill you, but I overheard him saying he would kill you regardless. You have to get away from here. I couldn’t bear anything happening to you. You must leave now!”
Thomas’s eyes widened, then his brow dipped low. “You sacrificed yourself again. This time for me.” He shook his head and pulled her to him once more. “I knew something was wrong when you left. You should have told me.”
“Thomas, I love you, and that’s why you must go. He’ll kill you the moment he sees you and I have no idea when he’ll be back.”
Thomas looked as if her admonition meant nothing. “I won’t leave you again.”
The backdoor burst open and Eliza’s heart shot to her throat. She pressed a hand to her chest and pushed out a quick breath of relief when Nathaniel entered. “Heavens, Nathaniel! What are you doing here?”
“Hello, Eliza.” He quickly shut the door behind him and motioned to the front. “We have trouble.”
“What is it?” Thomas asked.
Nathaniel gripped tight to a pistol. “He’s here.”
Both Eliza and Thomas snapped their heads in the direction of the front door as it flung wide and Samuel entered with iniquitous strides. Clinging to Thomas’s thick bicep, Eliza felt it flex when their enemy drew near.
Samuel’s eyes melted through Eliza then made their way through each person in the room.
“I figured you would be foolish enough to come.” Samuel’s voice was flat.
“You would have been foolish to figure otherwise,” Thomas answered. He rolled his shoulders back and strengthened his grip around Eliza.
“I’m surprised it took you this long,” Samuel sneered. “I never would have let her go.”
Thomas stiffened.
