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Crack.
Grant whipped back the shade on the carriage window, craning sideways to see out. Kathleen also leaned forward, straining to see around his broad shoulders.
“Did somebody fire a pistol?” she asked in disbelief.
“Pistol?” Jeannie squeaked.
“Sounds like.” Angus had peered out the other window before glancing at Grant. “A hunter, ye think?”
They heard a shout from the coachman before the carriage gave a hard jolt as it picked up speed. Kathleen fell forward, practically into Grant’s lap. He easily caught her, lifting her straight up and back onto her seat.
“Hold on tight, lass.”
Angus sighed. “And me without my pistol, for once.”
Grant shoved down the window glass. He stuck out his head, took a quick look around, and then pulled back in. His grim expression sent Kathleen’s heart hammering against her ribs.
Reaching inside his greatcoat, Grant pulled out a pocket blade and slipped it into his boot.
“You have your knife?” he asked his grandfather.
Angus patted his chest. “Right here.”
This was obviouslyverybad.
The carriage slowed, then jerked to a halt, rocking on its frame. Kathleen grabbed onto her sister, trying to keep them both from sliding off the seat.
“I take it by your actions that we’re about to be held up,” she asked in as steady a voice as she could manage.
“Looks like,” Grant tersely replied.
Her head swam. Everything, including the light streaming into the carriage from the late afternoon sun, seemed unreal.
“But it’s broad daylight. Who does that?”
He flicked her a veiled look. “We’re about to find out.”
When Kathleen’s stomach all but crawled up her throat, she sternly ordered it down. She wouldnottoss up her crumpets during a robbery. With her luck, she’d probably do it on one of the robbers and be promptly shot.
“Yer popper’s packed in the boot, I take it,” Angus said.
“Like yours.” Grant sounded enormously frustrated.
The old fellow looked disgusted. “Och, we’re growin’ soft. Well, knives it’ll have to be.”
“Donottake yours out unless I tell you to. There are at least four of them, and they’ve obviously neutralized our coachman and Robby. We would only be endangering the ladies.” Grant had gone back to looking out the window but now glanced over his shoulder at his grandfather. “We only fight if absolutely necessary. Understood?”
The old man nodded. “All right, lad. We’ll play it yer way.”
“Good.”
Grant looked at Kathleen and Jeannie. Although his gaze had gone as hard as marble, he remained calm. More than anything,annoyeddescribed his expression, as if one of the horses had thrown a shoe, causing a slight delay.
“I know you’re scared,” he said. “But if you’ll both keep quiet and do exactly what I say, everything will be fine.”
“You promise?” Jeannie asked in a quavering voice.
He flashed a brief smile. “I promise. Nothing bad will happen to you or Kathleen.”
