Page 48 of The Storybook Hero
The man’s head jerked back instinctively, a harried expression on his face.
“What do you see.”
The man scratched at his beard. “A women, and a girl.”
The shrieks increased in volume.
“No one else?”
The shake of his head was confirmed by his companion, who took a quick peek inside. “Just the two of them.”
At that, Octavia began to cry as well, loud teary sobs that threatened to dissolve into outright hysteria.
The door slammed shutand the two men backed away.
“Please, like most women, my wife and daughter are easily frightened by strangers,” said Alex, still in a loud voice. He couldn’t resist adding, “My wife is also in a most delicate condition, which makes her even more prone to an attack of nerves. No doubt she will have a headache for days.”
The leader chewed on the edge of his mustache in some confusion. “Who are you? Where have you come from and where are you going?”
“Alexei Menshikov. A baker. From Moscow. We are fleeing the fighting and go to relatives in Novgorod.”
With his weapon still pointed at Alex’s chest, the leader gathered his men around for a hurried conference. After a few minutes, he broke away from the others and slowly circled the sled, stopping to examine the small storage boot at the rear of the sled and sweep his gaze over the roof. He even darted a quick look of his own into the interior, setting off yet another round of shrieks and tears.
Grudgingly satisfied, he tucked his pistol in his belt and motioned Alex on his way. “Be off with you, then. But breathe a word of this to anyone and you shall not survive to see your second born.” He shot a look at the closed door of the sled and muttered, “You should pray to the Almighty that he blesses you with a son.”
Alex needed no further encouragement. A shake of the reins sent the horses into a lurching trot, which he quickly whipped into as fast a gallop as he dared over the icy road. Several miles flew by before he dared stop to let the tired animals recover their wind. He leaped to the ground and flung open the door.
Octavia and Emma were still sitting side by side, skirts covered by a layering of blankets. There was no sign of Nicholas. Alex’s brows drew together until he noticed a slight twitch of the heavy wool at their feet. His face relaxed into a broad smile. “Well done, ladies. A ruse worthy of one of your gothic stories.”
A dark shock of hair poked out from under the edge of the coverings. “May I come out yet?” came a muffled voice. “It’s damned uncomfortable under here.”
“You can’t say ’damned’ in mixed company, Nicholas. You must say ‘deuced’.” cautioned Emma in a low voice.
“Alex says damned. I heard him. A pause. “Twice.”
“Grown-ups get away with more than we do.”
Alex repressed a laugh. “Yes, come on out.” To Octavia he added, “That was damned quick thinking, Miss Hadley. We are indebted to you.”
“I fear the trick would not have worked had Emma not thought to fall into a fit of vapors.”
“Yes, we men may meet pistols at dawn with nary a blink, but even the most hardened scoundrels quail before a female’s tears.”
“So it seems. I shall make note of that.”
“Pray, do not. I can’t imagine you turning truly missus under any conditions.” His expression sobered considerably as Nicholas extracted himself from the tangle of blankets. “They are gone, but not for long. As soon as they reach the inn, they will learn of their mistake and will be back with a vengeance.”
“What do you suggest we do?” asked Octavia softly.
Alex looked grim. “These nags will never outdistance their mounts. And there are few other roads to turn off on, so trying to elude them seems impossible.”
“But we can’t just sit here and wait for them to return,” replied Octavia.
“Of course not.” He paused for a moment. “We must abandon the sled and try to lose ourselves in the forest. If we each take up one of the children along with our supplies, I think we might be able to manage. You can ride, can you not?”
She nodded. “And if I didn’t, I should quickly learn.”
“That’s the spirit. Now all of you, pack up the as quickly as you can—and leave behind anything that is not truly necessary. I am going to lead the horses off the road to somewhere we can conceal the sleigh, at least for a bit. If we can delay pursuit for even a short while, it will help our chances.”
