Page 59 of A Bridge Through Time
Ashley stole a glance over her shoulder and her heart stuttered in her chest. Their pursuers were nearly upon them and she grabbed Irene’s hand and dragged her along. “Faster!” she panted. “We’re almost there!”
William reached the path first and started the climb up, followed by Irene and Ashley. They had almost made it to the top and Ashley began to gain some confidence that they might get away. The horses had been drawn to a halt at the bottom of the bluff and the men didn’t attempt to follow them on foot. Instead, the men were watching their progress, looking up and apparently laughing as the three cleared the top. Ashley’s heartsank when she scrambled over the top of the cliff and came face to face with another group of men on horses, waiting for them.
Ashley shoved William and his puppy behind her body to protect them, as she quickly surveyed her surroundings. Her eyes came to rest on a familiar face. “Thomas!” she uttered, shocked to see him again.
“Lady Ashley. I’m so happy to discover that you remember me.” Thomas leered at her in a way that made her very uncomfortable. “And this must surely be Lady Irene? Sir Richard will besopleased.”
He nudged his horse closer to Ashley and stared down at her coldly. “You, my little horse thief, shall ride with me.”
“I’m not going anywhere with you.” Ashley knew it was futile to argue, but if she could keep them here for even a few minutes longer, someone from the castle was bound to see them from the battlements and sound the alarm. “I’m sorry about your horse. I didn’t steal it, actually, I just couldn’t risk leaving him there for you to chase after us. He’s at the castle. I can get him for you if you like and then you can let us all go,” she suggested.
“I’m not here for the horse!” Thomas snapped. “I’m here to retrieve you, and Lady Irene. Do not fight me on this, woman. You will not win.”
“I did last time. I’m sure you remember.” Ashley announced bravely, trying not to look as intimidated as she felt.
“I do, and you can be sure you’ll pay for it.”
Ashley turned to run, but Thomas swiftly reached down and grabbed her by the hair with a steely grip, nearly yanking her off her feet. Ashley cried out when searing pain shot through her scalp. Another man who had already dismounted reached her side and swiftly clamped a hand over her mouth, to stifle her screams.
“Get Lady Irene on a horse,” Thomas yelled, still gripping Ashley’s hair viciously, as she struggled against the heavyman holding her, his hand still covering her mouth. “I’m not interested in the boy.”
A second man led a struggling Irene to a bay horse and roughly lifted her to sit in front of the man riding it.
Thomas motioned to one of his men. “Tie the lad up and leave him here. We can’t have him running back to the castle for help and I don’t want to take the brat, or his damnable dog.”
Panicked at what was in store for them, Ashley bit her captor’s hand. The man wrenched his hand away from her mouth and slapped her hard across the face. Ashley’s knees buckled and she would have fallen, except for the tight grip Thomas still had on her hair. Fierce anxiety began to set in when she heard Irene shout out and William sobbing. The large man grabbed her by the throat and pushed her against Thomas’ horse, choking her. She couldn’t breathe and her vision began to get hazy. She tried kicking and thrashing to escape his assault but to no avail. He seemed intent on killing her.
“Thomas,” Irene shouted. “Stop him! He’s going to kill Ashley!”
“Roger, enough!” Thomas ordered, seemingly amused by Ashley’s distress.
Roger released his grip on Ashley’s throat and she sobbed, holding her hands to her throbbing neck.
“Put her up here with me!” Thomas said coldly. “We must get away before we’re sighted.” He glared at Irene who was still yelling and struggling and shouted orders to the man she was seated with. “Keep her quiet!”
Before Ashley knew what was happening, she found herself thrown unceremoniously onto Thomas’s horse and they were galloping off into the trees and away from the castle and any possibility of help.
THIRTY-ONE
After what seemed like hours of being jostled as they galloped across the fields, Thomas slowed their pace to a walk. Ashley did her best to avoid coming into contact with Thomas’s body, but he crushed her against him in a viselike grip. Worse yet, he was enjoying their close proximity and didn't try to hide his pleasure. Ashley found wriggling and twisting in her futile attempts to get away only made matters worse. Her arms were pinned by her sides and she was powerless to free them. Thomas’s hand found its way into the top of her gown and he fondled her breast crudely.
“Don’t touch me,” she hissed between her gritted teeth.
Thomas merely laughed and pinched her nipple with so much force; Ashley had to bite her lip to keep from screaming.
“You are a tasty piece. I shall enjoy having you later.” He leaned forward and licked her neck, chuckling softly.
Bile rose in Ashley’s throat. She needed to get a grip on her fear and go on the offensive. She couldn’t physically hurt Thomas, but surely she could mess with his head.
The other men were certainly enjoying the show, laughing and making lewd remarks as they watched Thomas’ treatment of his captive. Having an audience only seemed to encourage Thomas to go even further with his disgusting groping. Ashley needed to do something to change the situation, and quickly.
“Thomas?” Ashley tried to get his attention, screwing up her nose in disgust as he pressed slobbering wet kisses against her neck.
“Mmmm…”
This was bad. If Ashley couldn’t stop him, Thomas would have her gown removed in no time and what would happen then was too horrible to contemplate.
“Thomas!” she said sharply. “Stop it! Now!”
