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Both of them continued to clutch the sides of the wagon as the back gate flapped madly at the opening of the now empty cart. Further back, horses tripped and tumbled, falling among the bobbing, scattering grumpackers on the road. When the frightened animals leaped back to their feet again, they were riderless as they darted into the woods to seek safety.
“Yes!” Farrow cried, fisting his hand into the air before flashing me a wild grin. “It worked.”
Indigo shook his head and continued to cling to the jostling cart, appearing vaguely sick to his stomach.
“Only two tails left, princess,” Farrow informed me.
“And we’re out of fruit,” Indy felt the need to impart.
In front of us, the road curved, a nice gentle curve that was easy enough to manage, but it made it impossible to see if anyone was coming head-on. Which also must mean…
Anyone following us would lose visual for a bit, too.
“Can you still see them behind us?” I asked.
“Not at the moment,” Farrow answered. “But they’re definitely still back there.”
I could work with that. “Then hold on.”
Yanking back on the reins, I caused the horse to rear up and judder us to a halt. The breeching boards that helped connect the horse to the cart groaned and began to splinter. Before we could stop completely, I turned us to the right and into the thickness of the woods surrounding us and narrowly guided the horse into the forest.
Both men jumped out of the wagon and grabbed loose branches and leaves to cover us before I could even give the instruction for them to do so. As soon as I had the horse calmed and settled, I leaped from the seat to help disguise us.
The pounding of hoofbeats made my pulse skyrocket.
“They’re coming.”
“Duck behind the wagon,” Indigo advised just as Farrow grabbed my arm and jerked me down out of sight, guiding me behind the cart with him, next to an already crouching Indy.
The three of us hovered there, exchanging severe glances as the riders burst into view on the road. If they had paid any attention to the trees on either side of them, they’d have seen us easily. We’d had no time to properly conceal ourselves.
But they raced on without glancing around, too focused on the road ahead.
As soon as they were gone, the cart gave a groan and collapsed, the wheels falling off their axles and the breeching board tumbling away from the horse as it gave up its last brea
th.
The frightened animal who’d been attached to it—but was now free—whinnied as it took off, racing back toward Blayton.
“Well, there went that ride.” Indigo heaved out a breath and plopped onto the ground, sitting with his back to the broken cart as he obviously needed a moment to settle his racing heartbeat.
Farrow hoisted himself up to see the road, squinting with vigilant concentration. Then he nodded. His gaze was warm with approval and pride as it met mine. “I believe your plan worked, princess. Well done.”
Indigo, on the other hand, mumbled, “Jesus, Nicolette.” He had bent up his knees so he could rest his elbows on them and cradle his bowed face in his hand, but now he looked up at me and arched his eyebrows incredulously. “Where the hell did you learn to drive a horse like that?”
I smiled slowly. “Necessity breeds fast learning, I guess.”
Farrow cracked out a laugh and touched a piece of my hair. “You did fabulous,” he praised.
Though I loved the affection, it felt weird to me, because it reminded me of all his lies. “Thanks,” I said, even as my smile faltered and I eased a step back.
He noticed my reticence and grew sober as well, dropping his hand to his side before glancing at Indigo and sighing. “Do you really know of a place nearby that we can go?”
“Of course.” Scowling irritably at Farrow, Indigo pushed to his feet and straightened to his full height, only to grow even more annoyed to find that the other man was a hair taller. “It’s right on the coast of the Back Sea. We can probably even reach it on foot by the end of tomorrow.”
“Great.” Farrow smirked as he splayed out a hand. “Then lead the way, High Clifter, and get us out of here before they double back to catch us loitering.”
“Gladly,” Indigo growled, flashing his teeth, only to swing toward me and demand, “Are you sure you want him tagging along? You freed him from the dungeon and got him away from the castle. Is that not enough?”
