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But, no, he handed her off to the lad “Bunky…she rides with you”

“I don’t hold with this, Colin No…this is not the line of work I signed up for,” Bunky said on a grumble

“You signed up as a mate I’m fond of you and you have served me well, but remember, lad, you take your orders from me I make the decisions around here” He put an affectionate hand around the boy’s skinny neck “Now, gag and truss her up Can’t have her screa over the countryside”

Sara handed the secondHeather, saying softly to her, “There now, o better for ye”

“Shut up, Bunky, don’t talk to the mort,” Colin snapped “She isn’t an innocent in this, I told you that, so try and remember it”

Heather tried to calm herself She looked at Bunky, who appeared extremely uncomfortable in his role as co-abductor She couldn’t believe he was already a hardened criminal Could she appeal to him to let her escape?

She saw a blush steal onto Bunky’s cheeks, but as he took Heather’s ar at me like I’m some kind of devil and I’m that sorry I am, but…I don’t have a choice”

“Bunky…take her up on your horse with you now and don’t dawdle,” Colin yelled “Right then, we had better bepace to our boat”

A fewas sheas best she could with her hands behind h

er back Bunky mounted behind her and said, “I’ll try not toFiend seize it all…not toa fine woman such as yerself, even if ye did steal that one’s husband…well, I just don’t hold with it”

Heather didn’t see the point in struggling just then What would be the advantage? She had nowhere to run They would be on her and Colin would ood on his promise to knock her out, and then she would surely be lost No, she simply had to wait for a better opportunity

She was sick with fright, and had but one hope—Godwin He would never believe that she had willingly left him He would know better He would find her He had to find her But dusk had set in and he would not see the horses’ tracks this evening Tomorroould be too late

She ith child—his child, and he would never give up looking for her He would not believe the note Sara was going to give hih he would knoas in her hand He would suspect so He simply had to have faith that she would not leave him

She turned in the saddle and saw Sara watching, a smile wide across her face as they walked their horses off She wouldn’t give up hope She couldn’t, and yet she had an awful feeling in the pit of her being

~ Eight ~