Chapter 23

CHAPTER 23

The days quickly turned routine. Anna wished for a car. Wished for a hotel and a hot shower. And, most of all, wondered why John had not come after her. Wasn’t he supposed to be a knight? More like a dark, fallen knight. He knew how important going home was to her. He could have at least sent someone to take her as far as London. But no one appeared. As the days passed, she too passed, from sadness to anger.

This morning she’d taken the time to wash. She debated forever then undressed and washed the chemise as best she could. Her best dress she would save until she was almost to London. After dressing in tunic and hose, she laid the wet garments over the rocks to dry. As she sat in the sun, warmth put her to sleep.

When she woke, Anna guessed it must be around lunchtime. The rocks were too exposed. She needed to find somewhere safe to sleep tonight. Not by water; too many people or animals would pass by. A quick bite and then she packed up her dry clothes and trudged along the path. Maybe a few more hours and she would stop for the night.

How dare he not help her after she had freed him? The risk she had taken. Had it meant nothing? Was he so self-absorbed all he could think about was himself? Anna ranted and raved until she was exhausted. Deep down, she knew he was a good man. But it certainly made her feel better to scream and yell and say all kinds of hateful things about the man.

As she was stomping about, Anna lost her footing and fell into a huge mud puddle. As she struggled, the muck pulled at her clothes, pulling her deeper. Oh hell, she must be in a bog. She scrabbled for a branch to pull herself out. There wasn’t even a bush nearby. Her fingers touched mud but couldn’t find anything to pull herself out. Panic made her kick and scream, only making things worse.

Was she going to die out here all alone? The thought of drowning by mud made her feel dizzy.

“No! You will not faint. You will stay calm and figure out a way out of this.”

She screamed, hoping someone would hear her. Screamed until she was hoarse and could only manage a croak. As night fell, Anna was up to her waist in the bog. If someone didn’t find her within the next day or two, she would slowly sink until she drowned. No one would ever know what happened to her.

At least the madwoman had the wits to stay on the path. The moors could be dangerous to those unfamiliar with them. She was easy to track. John made good time on horseback. Why hadn’t the bloody woman stolen a horse? Likely it had not occurred to her, as she did not ride in her own time. Why would she leave without telling him?

Terrible thoughts filled his mind. Had Denby or one of his men promised her gold or a way to get back to her own time in return for betraying him?

He dismounted to examine her tracks. The king’s men were near, but he would not believe her capable of betrayal. She was too full of goodness. He snorted. Though she had taken the stable boys tunic and hose. And stolen a bit of his gold. Why hadn’t she taken the bag?

It looked as though she had taken only what she needed for her travels. He would’ve gladly given her all she asked. He stopped. John had been so consumed with his own problems he had not taken the time to understand what it must mean to be lost in time.

John had made the choice not to tell his brothers he was alive. Anna had a sick father who depended upon her to see to his well-being. Would he not have done the same in her situation?

He tracked her, aware of spending too much time with his own thoughts. Was it possible she’d heard him talking to Henry? He had been in a foul temper and did not mean what he said. He did not wish she had never come. Did not wish her to go.

Nay. He cared for her a great deal, in truth. The thought filled him with fear. Of what would happen if he lost her. If she stayed by his side when the king’s men came for him. For them both. ’Twas only a matter of time until they found him and took him back to answer for his crime all those years ago. Now he was known as John Thornton and the bandit, he had many more crimes to answer for.

Her tracks had taken her in a circle as she tried to avoid some of the more treacherous areas. She was being careful and missed some of the less-used paths that would have taken her in a more direct route through the moors. Did she realize she was not moving forward but in circles?

’Twas the middle of the third day when he saw something ahead. Sunlight turned the mud to gold. John thought his heart would cease beating.

“Anna!”

He heard nothing and tried again. “I’m coming, love. Hold fast.”

As he strained to listen, he swore he heard her voice, hoarse and feeble, carried on the wind to him .

“I’m drowning.”

John jumped from the horse as the final bit of stone around his heart crumbled to dust. She was trapped in a bog up to her breasts.

“I don’t want to die.”

“You will not die. I will not allow you to leave me.” John uncoiled the rope he had brought with him. “You must not thrash about. Take the rope and wrap it around your waist tightly.”

Her eyes were wild, her face pale. John would never forgive himself if he lost her.

“I’m so tired. I don’t think I can do it.”

“You must.”

Her hands shook as she took the rope and pulled it into the muck.

“I know ’tis hard, but do not struggle.” John took the other end and tied it to the saddle. He came back, kneeling at the edge.

“Try to lie back and let your body float upward.”

“The mud is too thick. It will not work.”

He looked into her eyes, willing her to see how much he cared.

“Slow your breathing. Look at me, Anna. Nowhere else. Look to me.” Once he saw she had calmed a bit, he said, “Do you know how to swim?”

“Of course. I grew up in Florida, on the beach.”

“Good. You must think of the bog as the ocean. Lie back and let it lift you up. It will take time, but it will work.”

He did not voice his worry. That he could not free her. He could not risk going back for help. There wasn’t enough time. If he left her much longer, the bog would take her. ’Twas an awful way to die.

The waiting was agony. John told her of his time in the wood. Anything to pass the time. Told her how he became the outlaw.

“…so when Robin died, I became the bandit of the wood. He had seen to it his reputation spread across the realm, and people were afraid to enter the wood.”

“All so he could provide a home for people? ”

“That is why we took nobles for ransom and their gold. They have plenty to spare. People are hungry. They have been burned out of their villages, and they come to the woods seeking shelter.”

“Now that the king knows, will you have to pay for the crimes of being the bandit too?”

“Most likely. We shall worry about it when the time comes. My brothers are wealthy, and so are James and William. Together they are formidable. I did not want to accept their aid, but it appears I have no choice.”

He could see her body lifting. He would not wait any longer.

“I want you to hold on to the rope. Do not struggle.”

“I have faith in you.”

And with that simple declaration, all the reasons why he could not care for her drifted away like dust on the wind. He would love her for as long as he had left. And trust his brothers to protect her if the time came and he was sentenced to death.

He slowly urged the horse forward. The rope tightened and he heard the sounds of the bog trying to hold on to Anna. He urged the horse forward, and with a great sucking sound she was free.

John removed the rope from her. “Do not ever scare me like that again.”

He crushed her to him, heedless of the mud and smell. Lowered his lips to hers. Her lips were soft as the softest silk. Warm. The rest of her was cold. She made a sound in the back of her throat. Her arms came around his neck. Her lips parted and he lost himself in the taste of her. The feel of her against him. When they broke apart, she was breathing heavily, her voice shaking.

“I’m warm now.”

He threw back his head and laughed. Gave thanks he’d found her in time.

“Let’s go home.”