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CHAPTERNINE
Ash watched the women disappear into the woods along the road, breathing a sigh of relief. Lily would hide them well.
Which left him free to face whatever was coming.
He sent Lockton to the rear of the group, the driver crouching down behind the carriage to aid him in protecting the front. Ash climbed back up into his saddle and prepared for the storm. There wasn’t a doubt in his mind that the ring of thieves planned to attack.
How many were there? He loaded both his pistols as the sound of thundering hooves echoed from both directions. But rather than be frightened, he sank into himself, growing deadly calm as he levelled the first gun.
He’d always been this way in a fight.
Hell, when he’d learned that his father had had a second family, he’d remembered having just such a moment. His mind had cleared, and he’d known without a doubt that his mother could never know. He would protect her from that.
She had already hurt because her husband spent so much time apart from them. And even when he was with them, he acted cold and distant, even angry. But for Ash to understand he behaved so horribly because he loved others—that was too much. His mother already lived as a shell, sad and lonely most of the time. He’d known he had to keep her safe from the truth as clearly as he’d known his own name.
He had that same feeling now.
Calm and control, that would see them through whatever came their way. No matter that his heart was too frozen to give or receive real affection. He could provide Lily safety. That was a promise he could keep.
The first rider appeared.
Ash hesitated for a moment, not wanting to kill an innocent man, but the moment the other rider raised his pistol, Ash didn’t hesitate. He fired.
He heard the bullet hit flesh and then a moment later, the man toppled from his horse.
He only had a moment’s satisfaction when another appeared. Ash didn’t hesitate. Firing a second time, that rider fell. He roared out his triumph even as he scanned the road for more men, and then began to reload.
Behind him, he heard shots fire. He held his ground, however, making certain no other men came from the south. He didn’t look to see where the women were, he didn’t want to even hint at their position, but as a new rider appeared, he fired, another direct hit.
“East!” Lockton’s voice boomed.
Ash spun, realizing a man had broken past the group at the back. Lifting his pistol, he let loose another bullet.
“Damn, you’re a good shot,” Lockton yelled.
He sidestepped to see around the carriage and noted that Clubs, Lockton, and Edge all still held their horses. “Any more coming?”
“I don’t see any.”
“And what of our friend who roomed with you at the stables?”
“No. He wasn’t one of the men we shot…”
Ash grimaced. He didn’t like it. Not a bit. Distantly, he heard a twig snap in the woods where he’d sent the women. Was that one of the ladies? Someone else?
“See anyone coming?” he asked as he swung down from his horse.
“Nope. These seem to be it.”
All told, he counted eight bodies. A good number to be certain, but was that the whole of the party? Had they really attacked with so few? He stepped off the road and into the woods, carefully reloading both pistols.
Something wasn’t right, he could feel it.
He took two more steps when Lockton yelled again. Another volley of shots were fired.
But Ash didn’t join them. They could take care of themselves. His gut told him to check on Lily, Lizzie, and Arabella. A flash of movement caught his gaze ahead and he gritted his teeth. Lily would never move like that if she were hiding. Could it have been one of the other women? Surely Lily had coached them on what to do.
“Where are you, little princess?” a deep voice sang out in the woods. “I know you’re hiding in here, and we’ve got a score to settle.”
