Chapter 9

CHAPTER 9

THE NEXT DAY

C harlie woke up before dawn, bathed in a cold sweat from a nightmare about being tied to a stake, choking on the smoke from the smoldering flames that were flaring up from burning branches surrounding her feet. Exhausted but unable to get back to sleep, Charlie dragged herself from bed, dressed, and headed down to the stables intending to help Barry, the young stable hand, feed the horses.

Life had dealt her a disappointing blow last night—and she brought it on herself.

It was her fault the night had turned into a disaster. Charlie had rattled on and on like she had tongue enough for two sets of teeth! Why had she thought that telling Logan she was a witch had been a good idea? One second, Logan was remarking on the oddity of the lush gardens in November, and the next he was staring at her as if she was an oddity. Admittedly, the gardens were lush compared to all the other homes in the area, but Charlie could have just changed the subject instead of blurting out the truth.

She should have known better. Grandmama would be so upset with her for breaking her cardinal rule: never reveal your true self to a mortal without first finding out how they feel about witches.

Aggravated with herself, she made her way downstairs to the kitchen. Opening the larder, she grabbed a small bag of sugar cubes. Cook prided herself on her ability to make cubes from sugar and did not approve of them being fed to the horses. But Charlie found it convenient and helpful when she needed to coax the horses to do her bidding. She also grabbed several apples and stuffed them in her pockets. She briefly lamented leaving her own horse, Sable, back home, but she rarely took her horse with her for such a brief trip. Sable loved sugar cubes and apples, and she felt Justice and Moonbeam would, as well.

Charlie had planned to introduce Logan to her parents at the ball…hoping they would like him, and he them…but it turned out she didn't have to since they hadn't come. According to Grandmama, who'd used her looking glass, she'd received a message from Charlie's mother that Carrie had gone into premature labor and delivered twins. Charlie's parents had discussed the possibility of a premature delivery, given that twins ran in their family and William's family. Had the early labor not coincided with their visit, her parents would have been at the ball as planned. She didn't begrudge their visit to her sister, but she missed them. Charlie had contemplated feigning a headache and asking her grandmother if they could leave early after her blunder with Logan; instead, she'd ended up in the ladies' retiring room to have a good cry…

"How are you this morning, Justice?" She opened her hand, and the black stallion gobbled the sugar cubes. A neigh to the right of her made her laugh. "Moonbeam, I have some for you as well." Smiling, she gave the mare two cubes.

"Lady Charlie, I didn't realize you were here," Barry said as he approached from the other end of the stables. "I 'ave fresh hay and water fer the 'orses, milady."

"Thank you, Barry. They will appreciate that. I've brought an apple for each of them. And I didn't forget you enjoyed them, too," Charlie said, withdrawing a shiny red apple from her pocket.

Barry swept his hat off his head and held it in front of him. "Thank ye kindly, milady," the youth said, accepting the precious fruit. He put down the pitchfork and took a bite. Juice ran down the corners of his mouth. "This is very good. I 'ad to miss my breakfast this morning on account of the head groom being under the weather. I 'ad to be 'ere sooner. So, this apple 'its the spot."

"You are taking such good care of the horses. Is Justice ready to ride?"

"I think so; 'is chest looks almost 'ealed. The doc did a good job, 'e did."

"Are we alone in here?" Charlie asked. She tilted her head, thinking she'd heard voices.

"Oh yes, milady. It's too early for most folk to be up and about."

"I thought I heard something, but I must be imagining it."

Barry shook fresh hay off the tongs of the fork into Justice's stall. "Probably just one of the 'orses scratching around the fresh straw. I'll be right back, Lady Charlie. I have to get more hay."

"Take your time, Barry. There's no rush." Justice let out a snort and stomped his hooves. "Whatever is the matter, Justice?" she asked, reaching out to pat his sleek neck. "I've got a few more sugar cubes left." She reached into her pocket for the treats when she suddenly felt an arm snake around her waist. Charlie had been leaning over the stall gate in an awkward position and they surprised her from behind. Before she could let out a scream, a grimy hand covered her mouth.

Panicking, Charlie struggled and tried to free herself, but whoever it was, had her in a vice-like hold from behind. They shoved a gag in her mouth, and they threw a burlap sack over her head, leaving her in complete darkness.

"Hold on to her, Gunter," said a deep voice. "I've got to tie her hands and feet."

"Aye, she's bucking and kicking like a wild filly," a high-pitched whiny voice replied with a cackling laugh.

Dash it all. If I cannot see, I cannot fight these men. She had often wondered if she could use her other senses to levitate objects, but had never spent the time figuring it out. Grandmama had warned her constantly to practice. Charlie's eyes welled up in tears, now wishing she had.

"Well, lookie here. We came to get the horses…and got the blonde she-wolf, too! It looks like Providence has spoken in our favor today," the deeper voice said. Charlie felt rough hands push her to the ground. Rolling her on her stomach, they tied her wrists behind her back and bound her feet.

Charlie turned the voice over and over in her head, knowing she'd heard it before, along with the whiny one. A foul stench like stale ale mixed with unwashed bodies overtook her senses, and in a flash, she remembered the highwaymen that she and Caden had fought on the night that Logan and Bronson were attacked. How did they get out of gaol?

She felt as tightly trussed as a roast goose on Winter Solstice. With her arms bound, she couldn't use her martial arts training, and with her eyes covered she couldn't use her magical levitation skills on the thieves. She couldn't even scream for help because they'd gagged her. She strained against the bindings, struggling to untie herself.

"These are the 'orses we wanted," the whiny voice said.

Charlie recalled the deeper-voiced thief call the whiny one Gunter.

"The pretty little blonde is a bonus," Gunter cackled again.

"The horses will bring us a pretty penny…but she'll bring us even more," the deeper voice said. "After we have a go at 'er, that is. Here! Take the reins of the stallion and pull it behind your nag. I'll ride this mare."

"Then, I get to ride her first," Gunter slurred, as he groped Charlie's breasts and squeezed.

Charlie gasped in pain as fear shot through her. How am I going to get out of this? As Gunter grabbed her shoulders to turn her over, she knew she'd have to act fast. She tightened the muscles in her abdomen and pushed out with her bound feet with all the effort she could muster. She heard a howl of pain as she connected with a soft, squishy male part.

"Damn wench kicked me in the privates!" Gunter shrieked.

"You may have a tougher time riding her than you thought," the deeper voice scoffed. "Stop whining and fooling around and help me get the horses," he ordered. "There'll be time enough for us to take our pleasure after we get away."

"Right, guv'nor." Gunter kicked her in the side, knocking the breath from her lungs.

Nauseous from the gag and the sharp pain in her torso, Charlie tried to calm her ragged breathing.

A few moments later, she heard Justice's furious snorts again and sounds of a struggle along with a loud thumping of hooves against the gate. Then came a resounding crash, followed by a man's high-pitched scream.

"Damn animal bit me and nearly ripped off my arm!" Gunter wailed.

Charlie felt a rush of wind whoosh by her and heard the rumble of the horse's hooves. The massive stallion must have crashed through the gate and escaped! Charlie would have cheered if she could!

"For God's sake, Theo, help me!"

She heard what sounded like a punch to the face and bones crunching. "Idiot! I told you not to say my name out loud!" the deep voice roared.

"But you called me Gunter. I thought it were all right!"

Gunter howled, following another sound of a punch.

"Never mind that now. I told you to throw the blanket over the beast's head while I grabbed his reins. I should kill you myself for messing this up," Theo muttered.

Charlie felt herself being hauled over a shoulder and tossed over the back of a horse. "Here, take your nag and be thankful you're alive to ride her," Theo said. "And mind the wench. She's a crafty one. Be careful not to let her roll off the horse. I'll deal with the mare. She's not as strong as the stallion."

"That stallion has the strength of ten men," Gunter grumbled. "He's run off, and I can't see him in this thick fog."

"Aye, but I won't leave both horses after all the work of finding them," Theo bit out. "At least we'll take the mare and the girl."

The potent smell of blood mingled with the stale smell of ale and vomit nearly overwhelmed Charlie's senses as Gunter climbed up behind her on the horse. If the thick smell of blood meant anything, the man would likely soon pass out.

Nearby, she heard sounds of a skirmish with another horse—probably the leader, Theo, wrestling with Moonbeam.

Chapelle, if you can hear me, please send help!

Just as Gunter set off with her on the horse, Charlie heard the earth shake as Justice thundered back. She realized Justice must have returned to save Moonbeam. Then she heard more shouts and angry curses.

Gunter groaned, and she felt the reins go slack. He must have fainted, as she'd predicted. Abruptly, the horse broke into a gallop. She heard a thud, as the unconscious Gunter must have fallen off. Desperate to stay on, Charlie tried with all her might to communicate telepathically with the horse, but all she could sense was a wild fear. Faster and faster the horse galloped, and Charlie felt herself slip.

Logan. Please help me!

Charlie felt the horse lifting its body as though it were leaping over something.

She closed her eyes and screamed behind her gag, knowing she was doomed to fall off.

She was going to die, and she had no one to blame but herself.

I'm sorry, Grandmama, for all the times I broke the rules. Chapelle, please tell everyone how sorry I am…

She would never see her family again. Never live to see Caden finally come to his senses and marry dear, sweet, Rose. Never have the chance to meet her baby niece and nephew. Never again hear the musical, lilting laughter of her sister Carrie. Never again feel the warmth and love of her parents…

She felt herself slide and spin as she tumbled off the back of the horse, striking something with her head.

She would never see Logan again.

I love you, Logan.

Her last thought was of Logan kissing her in the garden at the ball.