Page 11 of A Bridge Through Time
"Well, well, what have we here?" the leader spoke with an English accent and leered at her.
"You shot my friend, Cailin and he needs help,” Ashley forced a calm tone and revealed little of the anxiety she was feeling. “He's bleeding badly."
A brief flash of recognition crossed the man's face and then it was gone. "Oh, my, how did that happen?" He looked at the men around him, who just laughed, really ticking Ashley off.
"Where are your clothes, my dear?” he continued. “We heard your screams and we were riding to your rescue. Was Cailin having his way with you?" The stranger still had a lecherous expression on his face, as he perused her body from top to bottom. He was seriously frightening.
Despite her discomfort over what the man might be capable of, Ashley’s patience was wearing thin, and her concern for Cailin overrode her fear. "Don't be a dumb ass. Cailin saved me from Teddy."
"Does Teddy have your clothes then, my dear?"
"Look, I'm not ‘your dear’ and I'm wearing my clothes. You idiots,” she waved her arm to encompass all of them, “are out here, parading around in your fancy costumes and shooting people with real arrows." She obviously wasn't winning this guy over, because he looked reasonably angry right now. Maybe she shouldn't have called him a dumb ass. ”Look, I’m sorry; I’m just upset. Please," she pleaded, "I need your help." She was on the verge of tears, but she was not going to let this jerk see her cry.
"What's your name?" he demanded.
"Ashley."
"Thomas," the apparent leader turned and addressed the man on his right. "I’m sure you’d be happy to take care of our friend, Cailin, and then escort the lovely Ashley out of harm's way." He had an evil grin plastered across his face and Ashley wasn’t sure what to make of him. Could she trust him? She didn’t think so, but she really had no choice.
"Yes, Sir Richard, as you wish," the other man nodded curtly.
With that, everyone but Thomas rode off through the trees, leaving Ashley in their wake.
TEN
Where Sir Richard had been the epitome of tall, dark and handsome, Thomas was not graced with the same features. He was a tall, wiry man with mousy brown hair and a pock marked face. His nose appeared to have been broken at least once or twice and when he smiled at Ashley, his teeth were rotten. He smelled as if he could use a good bath.
"He's over here." Ashley said, leading Thomas to where Cailin still lay. "Hurry, we need to get him to a hospital. Maybe between the two of us, we could get him onto his horse.” She shook her head. “I can't believe your boss just rode off like that. He could've helped us."
“Quiet, woman. Your words make no sense to me. Have you been hit on the head,” he growled angrily.
“No…well, at least I don’t think so.” Although that might help explain this crazy situation she found herself in.
"There is no need for Sir Richard’s help. I'll take care of Cailin as Sir Richard requested, and when I’m done I will enjoy sometime with you, before I deliver you to Sir Richard." Thomas leered rapaciously.
Ashley was stunned into silence. She needed to keep her guard up and be prepared for anything.
Thomas dismounted and headed straight for Cailin. Ashley hoped he had some medical knowledge, but she quickly realized that wasn't the case when he grabbed Cailin by the hair, lifting his head from the ground.
“Cailin, my friend,” Thomas sneered as he crouched down beside him. “This has been a long time coming.” He pulled out a small, sharp dagger and Ashley knew this had all gone terribly wrong.
Not stopping to think about her actions, she launched herself at Thomas, kicking at the hand holding the knife. It went flying through the air when Ashley landed on Thomas' back. He stood and swatted her off his back, as if she were an annoying fly. Ashley rolled across the ground and scrambled back onto her feet. She only hoped she could keep this guy from killing Cailin, which was obviously what Sir Richard had meant by ‘take care of’. Then she remembered her secret weapon and reached for the pepper spray.
Thomas had retrieved the knife and stalked towards Cailin. It was now or never. Ashley ran up behind him, calling his name. "Thomas, wait!" When he turned to look at her, Ashley sprayed him in the eyes with pepper spray. If she weren’t so terrified, she would have thought the expression on his face was comical. Ashley used all her might to push her flattened palm into his previously broken nose, breaking it one more time. Blood poured from his nostrils and with his eyes swollen shut, he was going to be easy to take down. He was walking in circles with his arms spread outwards, trying to find her, and calling her all sorts of nasty names. Ashley stayed cautiously behind him, trying to decide her next move. Whatever it was, she needed tomove quickly and she needed to incapacitate him so she could get Cailin out of here. Spying a good-sized rock laying at her feet, Ashley hoisted it over her head with both hands and brought it crashing down on Thomas' skull, sending him falling hard to the ground. She nudged him with her foot to be certain he was unconscious.
“He should be out for a while, but we need to get out of here now,” she said, talking to herself.
Shaking and nauseous, Ashley ran to Cailin's side. His eyes were open and though in obvious pain he gave her a reassuring grin.
"I saw what ye did. Yer a brave lass." He was struggling to speak. "Thank ye. Ye saved me life."
"Well, I guess we're even then. We need to get out of here before he wakes up. Can you stand?"
"Aye, but first ye'll need to get the arrow out."
"Really?" Ashley stared at him in disbelief.
"If ye dinnae get it out, I ken I'll nae make it verra far."
