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Pushing and squirming with all she had, Olivia tried to free herself as Garric whimpered from the pain. No matter which way the horse floundered, it seemed Olivia couldn’t free her legs. Her heart skipped and sputtered as the scarred-faced man rode up to her.
Grabbing Olivia by the wrists, she let out a bloodcurdling scream. Her thoughts shifted as the man pulled her by her wrists, causing her back to crack. For a moment, Olivia wondered if she had lost all movement below the waist. No matter what she did to get free, she was trapped.
“Unhand her!”
Olivia’s heart sprang at the sound of the men behind her. In the back of her mind she wondered if Conner was with them. But a small piece of her knew that he wouldn’t be. Immediately the grip around her wrists was gone. Dropping to the ground, tears poured from her eyes as she watched the man dart from the scene. He mounted his horse as it took off and just as quickly as he came on her, he was gone.
“Lady Russel,” the guard’s voice cracked as he came on her. She didn’t know what kind of injuries she had, all she knew was that her body hurt. Every inch of her screamed out in agony. Although she wished more than anything to be able to scream and wallow, she knew she couldn’t, not in front of the men.
“My horse, Garric, get him off me,” Olivia pleaded. The soldiers rushed to help the horse move as others pried Olivia out from under the beast. The moment she was freed, she scrambled from Garric and into the outstretched arms of her savior.
“We must get her inside,” one of the men said. Hot liquid drizzled off her shoulders and side. The very breeze caused the skin to sting as the men escorted Olivia back to the castle. Olivia buried her head into the nook of the soldier’s arm as he carried her over the threshold and into the castle.
“Get a healer down here now,” he barked. “The lady has been injured.”
Glancing about, Olivia noticed the commotion of servants rushing to her aide. Down the hallway she spied Conner standing in the doorway of his study. His eyes were wide with fright and the color drained from his face.
“Olivia,” he gasped. The servants made a path for him as Conner rushed to her side.
“What happened?”
With her lower lip quivering with fright, she looked at Conner as the soldier placed her on her feet. Unable to hold herself upright, she fell into Conner. Mustering all the strength she could, she tried not to cry but seeing Conner unleashed every emotion she ever had.
“I’m so sorry,” she said, throwing her arms about Conner’s neck. Scooping her into his arms, Conner shook his head.
“Find who did this, I want his head on a spike,” Conner demanded. “Now.”
Chapter 21
“Ye must get her upstairs,” the healer said as he pushed through the crowd of servants. Conner made a beeline for the staircase even as he felt his chest tighten. Trying his hardest not to pay any heed to the blood staining her clothes, he pushed through her bedroom door.
“I have ye, my love,” he whispered as he set her down carefully on the bed. “Who did this to ye?”
Olivia shook her head as her face winced from the pain. Conner’s blood ran cold as he sat next to her on the bed, stroking her hair. A lump of fear lodged into his throat as he scanned her. He could tell the wounds on her shoulder and side weren’t life threatening, but he felt helpless to do anything as the healer entered the room.
“Help me undress her,” the healer said in a stern voice.
“Will ye allow it?” Conner asked, staring at Olivia a moment. The pain and panic on her face ripped him to shreds. All he could think about was the fact that he had let her go out for a ride alone.
“Aye,” she answered as she tried to peel off her tattered clothes. Conner’s fingers gently pulled away one layer at a time until she was in nothing but her shift. With the blood-soaked clothes gone, she didn’t look so bad. Her skin was a bit battered and her legs were bruised. He couldn’t believe the damage on her. It looked as if she’d been dragged under a carriage and left in the field with as much mud and grass still clinging to her body.
“Let’s get ye washed up,” the healer said as he tapped Conner on the shoulder. “I’ll be needin’ hot water, and some linens. Maybe have the cook make a spot of tea for the lady as well, aye?”
Conner nodded as he moved away from the bed. Swallowing hard, he found it difficult to move. All he wanted to do was stay by her side. After all, the fact that he’d let her go alone and she came back in this manner seared his consciousness.
“Will she be alright?” Conner asked as he inched closer to the door, refusing to let Olivia out of his sight.
“Aye,” the healer answered as Conner watched the old man carefully move Olivia’s hands and legs around, ensuring nothing was sprained or broken. “The lady is a bit bruised, but the wounds will heal.”
Conner chewed the nail of his thumb, jumping the moment a hand brushed his shoulder.
“What happened?” Damon asked as Conner glanced over his shoulder.
“Nae sure just yet,” Conner answered. “But I want ye to find who did this. Nay doubt the man will have a head start, but brin’ him to me. And get Ana to brin’ up some linen and hot water. As well as some tea or whiskey. Anythin’ to help Olivia.”
“Dae ye think maybe it could have been Henry?” Damon whispered into Conner’s ear. “After all, he seemed awfully interested in yer affections for Olivia did he nae?”
“Aye, but why would he attack? What would he gain by hurtin’ her?”
