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The tall one drawled, “Y’all ever know a teacher that didn’t answer questions?”
“Not a one,” replied gray eyes.
“I think we should take her inside and teach her some manners.”
She was one woman against three men, and if they wanted to hurt her, the odds were in their favor. The only thing she had close to a weapon was the thick branch in her hand, so she jammed the smoking end into the blond’s throat. As he screamed and dropped to his knees, she ran.
Heart pounding, every breath filled with fear, she was fast enough to clear the trees and head to the road. His companions, initially caught flat-footed, immediately gave chase. Halfway to the road, she was tackled from behind. She hit the ground so hard, pain exploded in her ribs, and her head spun, but she screamed and fought.
A gunshot rang out. The world froze.
“Move away from her. Now!”
Valinda was so filled with relief, a sob escaped. Approaching was a tall bearded man of color wearing Union blue. Behind his raised rifle, fury ruled his dark-skinned face.
“Ma’am, come stand behind me, please.”
Struggling to her feet, she didn’t hesitate.
The toothless one snarled, “Boy, you’re meddling in something that’s none of your business.”
A bullet blasted the ground by his feet and he jumped with a scream.
“This is my business,” the soldier snarled ominously. “Who’s your commanding officer?”
The two assailants shared a look, hesitating as if weighing whether to answer the big man or not.
He walked closer, rifle still raised. “Do you really want to die today?”
Their eyes widened.
Another shot sounded. Val spun and saw a golden-skinned woman wearing a blue dress and a matching bluetignonstanding in a wagon that had a magnificent ebony stallion tied to the back. She, too, had a raised rifle, and it was pointed at their blond companion who’d just stepped out of the trees. The woman called out a warning. “Stay where you are!”
He didn’t move.
Still shaken, Val wondered who her saviors were. The woman seemed as fierce as the man.
“Going to ask one more time. Who’s your commanding officer?”
Though visibly shaking, they held their tongues.
He eased the trigger back.
Gray eyes shouted, “Lieutenant Crane Jacobs!”
His tall companion snapped at the soldier, “You got no authority here. She’s my wife. Caught her bouncing on another man. Teaching her to respect her vows.”
The bearded soldier turned to Valinda. “Do you know him?”
She shook her head.
He asked, feather soft, “You wouldn’t lie to me, would you,cheri?”
Flooded by a reaction that temporarily swamped her fear, she managed to reply, “No.”
“Good. Hold this, please.”
When he handed her the rifle, her eyes widened. Before she could ask why, he turned back and planted an explosive fist in the face of the man claiming to be her husband. The blow shattered his nose. Blood erupted, and he slowly fell to his knees, then keeled over, out cold.
