Total pages in book: 104
Estimated words: 95326 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 477(@200wpm)___ 381(@250wpm)___ 318(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95326 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 477(@200wpm)___ 381(@250wpm)___ 318(@300wpm)
All went to speak but one was faster than the others. “They all went into the stream.”
“Only the old woman was meant to go in, but the younger woman grabbed hold of her as if to try and prevent her fall and she was dragged in with her.”
“Then the man jumped in after them, “another man said.
“Only one of us can swim and not well,” one other man said.
Cavell knew his wife well. She would have never let Ann drown if she could help it. And to help the woman she would need to know how to swim, and no doubt, her sister Leora had taught her. He also had told his wife often enough that he would keep her safe. She would have no doubt that he would come to her rescue and the only thing she needed to do was to bide her time for him to reach her. He would not be surprised to learn that the thought of purposely falling in the rushing stream had crossed her mind. He had a brave and foolish wife.
“Find out who commands them?” Cavell said to Melvin as he headed to his horse, anxious to go find his wife.
“We don’t know who commands us,” one man said, having heard Cavell. “Only certain men know.”
“Who are they?” Cavell demanded.
“They are dead,” one of the men said.
CHAPTER 27
Elsie got to her feet with difficulty, exhaustion at surviving the raging stream taking its toll on her, not to mention the weight of her wet garments. She needed to hide, no longer hearing the sound of the approaching horse and worried someone lurked nearby. She struggled to take steps up the bank, feeling as if she could barely lift her legs.
“You are a troublesome woman.”
Elsie raised her head with a bit of effort and smiled at Harcus.
“You greet me with a smile?” he asked perplexed and shaking his head.
Her smile widened. “Aye. I am happy to see you since it means my husband is near.”
Harcus scowled. “Not near enough to save you.”
“You lack your brother’s intelligence. No doubt he already knows you are responsible for what has happened.”
He laughed briefly. “You think too highly of him.”
“And you unwisely think too little of him, a costly mistake, in more ways than one for you,” she warned.
Harcus’s brow creased in confusion. “You make no sense.”
“Your plan is ruined. Your brother will learn everything, if he already hasn’t, and he will seek retribution against you.”
“I am not the fool you think I am. Only three men knew who commanded the rogue warriors and I made sure they did not survive the fight. Unfortunately, I have no choice but to see the same fate for you.”
“And if I am the woman the Lowlander searches for, what then?” Elsie asked, keeping him talking to give her husband time to reach her.
“I will convince the person you were the woman they searched for but unfortunately met an untimely death,” Harcus said confidently. “I will accept only half the sum of what they offered and use it to form another troop of mercenaries so I can continue to grow my wealth and power.”
“Wadely and Ann—”
“Are dead,” he said. “You will drown by my hand, and I will convince my brother that I tried to save you but failed and be ever so upset about it.”
Elsie took a quick step back when he stepped toward her.
“By all means return to the raging stream,” he encouraged. “You will never survive another dunk in the stream. You are too exhausted from the last one.”
“HARCUS!”
Elsie sighed, grateful to hear her husband’s powerful voice and watched him quickly dismount his horse. He was a sight to behold, a powerful warrior, confident and strong and with a look of rage in his eyes that would frighten the bravest soul. She was also grateful that he wore the leather vest Wadely had stitched for him, providing extra protection.
Harcus turned. “I did not want to have to kill you, brother. You were never to find out. Now you leave me no choice. You both must die.”
“I knew before arriving here, it was you who commanded the mercenaries.” His brother’s stunned look was what had Cavell explaining while he took stock of the situation and weighed how best he could keep his wife safe. “Your men gladly informed me of the only men who knew your identity, and I recalled seeing you kill all three, not maim, so I could talk with them as my warriors did with those they fought. You, on the other hand, drove your sword through the three men, your intention, to kill. I did not see you after that, no one did. It was easy to surmise why.”
“It matters not,” Harcus said with a shrug. “You both die today.”
“There is only one person here who will die today,” Cavell said and drew his sword.