Page 93 of A Thistle Beyond Time
“I don’t understand. What happened to him that has you so worried? Did he injure himself?” Jenna was trying to make sense of this situation, but Sophia wasn’t listening to her. Instead, she was practically dragging Jenna in through the stable doors.
The sight that met Jenna’s eyes immediately filled her with terror. Standing over the very still body of Latharn was Jonathan, a gun in his hand.
“Nice of you to join me, Jenna,” he said.
“What are you doing, Jonathan?” Jenna gasped.
“I’m waiting for you. We’re going to steal a few horses and we’re going to ride back to that bridge so we can go home to San Francisco.”
“You’re crazy, if you think I’m going anywhere with you,” Jenna yelled.
“You’re the crazy one, Jenna. We’re leaving and you’re coming with us.” Jonathan stated.
Jenna looked at Sophia who was now sobbing uncontrollably. Obviously, this was not her doing. “No. I’m not leaving.”
“Okay, but poor Latharn here is going to have to die, if you don’t. Next on the list after him will be your man, Cormac.”
“Cormac isn’t going to let you leave here with me. He’ll stop you and you know it,” Jenna stated.
“He might have stopped me, but Cormac, Cailin, every guard, and anyone else I thought might be a threat got a little surprise in their ale tonight.”
“What did you do to them?” Jenna was beginning to panic.
“I drugged them. They’ll all get a good night’s sleep and won’t know anything’s amiss until tomorrow morning when they wake up.”
“Sir Richard gave Jonathan a vial of some potion he said would make everyone sleep.” Sophia cried. “Jonathan made me put it in the ale. He said he’d kill Latharn if I didn’t.”
“Jonathan, you’re even more devious than I gave you credit for.” Jenna looked down at Latharn who was completely knocked out. He obviously wasn’t going to be any help and from the sounds of it, no one else would either.
“Devious. Yeah, that’s me. You’re a smart woman, Jenna. Get your horse and let’s get out of here. You too, Sophia.” Jonathan ordered.
Jenna knew she didn’t stand a chance of escaping. If she tried, he’d surely kill Latharn and then, as he said, Cormac would be next. She’d do as she was told and hope there was a chance to escape sometime during the night.
Jonathan, Sophia and Jenna mounted their horses and headed off through the gates. “We’ll have to hurry,” Jonathan said, as he urged his horse into a gallop, whacking Rose on the rump as he went by. Rose jumped forward into a dead run and Jenna almost lost her seat, but Rose, true to form, slowed just a bit until Jenna was solidly seated in a balanced position. From that point on, they were off down the path and into the woods, riding for all they were worth and as if the hounds of hell were on their tails. Jenna kept alert, waiting for an opportunity to escape, but Jonathan made sure he stayed right with her at all times. Sophia hadn’t stopped crying once and Jonathan was getting quite irritated with her.
“Shut up, Sophia. I’m getting tired of your wailing.”
“Leave her alone, Jonathan,” Jenna shouted. “She’s worried about Latharn!”
“He’ll be fine when he wakes up, but he’ll probably never forgive Sophia for drugging him,” Jonathan laughed cruelly.
Jenna lapsed into silence at that. She really wasn’t interested in engaging Jonathan in conversation anyway. She prayed that Cormac would find her before Jonathan got them to the bridge, but deep down, she didn’t believe it would happen. Especially if, as Jonathan said, they wouldn’t wake up until the morning.
After hours of riding, Jonathan slowed and came to a stop. “I think we’re safe to rest here for a while,” he said. He dismounted and waited for Sophia and Jenna to do the same. “No fire. We don’t want anyone to see us,” he commanded.
“We’ll freeze,” Jenna complained furiously.
“Too bad,” Jonathan barked.
Jenna wasn’t the least bit surprised by the Jonathan she was seeing. Sophia wouldn’t meet Jenna’s eyes, instead keeping her eyes focused anywhere but in her direction. Rose was covered in sweat and Jenna did her best to wipe her down with a plaid she found in her saddlebag. “Rosie, I hope you’re going to be warm enough,” she whispered to the horse. “I’m sorry you got dragged into this.”
“Who are you talking to, Jenna?” Jonathan demanded.
“No one. I’m just making sure Rose is okay.”
“What do you care? You can’t take her with you. Besides, she’s just a dumb animal.” Jonathan kicked some pine needles into a flat spot at the base of a nearby tree, making a bed for himself. “I never understood your thing with animals. Take Chester for instance. That dog should be locked away in the pound. He’s the meanest pooch I’ve ever seen. Yet you and your dumbass cousin love him.”
“Chester is a very good judge of character. He didn’t like you. It’s as simple as that,” Jenna snapped.
