92
Sophie Oak
The horse snickered. This time it sounded less gentle, more
triumphant, and not in a good way. The horse’s eyes narrowed and
became somewhat cruel.
“Oh, shit,” Meg cursed, knowing something had gone very wrong.
The horse reared up and took off at a gallop. Meg flew with her
and then screamed as the horse plunged them both into the deepest
part of the river. She felt the horse stiffen as something hit it, but it didn’t matter.
Meg’s scream was cut off as water began to fill her lungs.
* * * *
Beck panicked when he realized she had run. She had done it. She
had left him. His heart started to pound. The anger would come later.
Now he was overcome with fear. These woods were dangerous. What
had he been thinking, bringing her through here without a proper
escort? But then, he couldn’t afford a proper escort. Damn him, he
shouldn’t have purchased a wife he couldn’t properly take care of.
She was going to die here, and then he would lie down beside his
brother and allow himself to fade. Maybe that was what he should
have done in the first place.
Stop it. This was no time for doubt or pity. If he was going to save his wayward wife, he needed to think clearly. Find her trail.
It wasn’t hard. His woman didn’t have any idea how to hide it.
Her boot prints were plain in the dirt path. Beck tossed his bow and
quiver over his shoulder. He was fully armed. He had the sword on
his back and some knives placed in various sheaths across his body.
He tossed aside the two rabbits he’d killed for breakfast. His appetite
was completely gone. All that mattered was finding Meg before
something else found her.
As Beck began to jog down the trail, his eyes watched for signs of
he