Page 37 of A Bonny Pretender
“Do ye think ye cursed us?” Brigid asked with a smile, trying to lighten the fear in her friend’s soft brown eyes.
“I hope not.” Evie moved over next to Brigid and gripped her hand. “Let me rub that stone of yours.”
Brigid nodded and was about to take the pouch off her wrist when a male voice shouted, “Stand and deliver!”
“Oh, heavens.” Evie gripped the arm strap and squeezed her eyes shut. “Ididcurse us with talk about highwaymen.”
“Ye did no such thing. Deep breaths, Evie, and dinna put yer head out the window,” whispered Brigid as she tried to hear what was happening outside. “Shush so I can hear.”
“Get off the horse, Yer Lordship,” ordered a strange voice.
“Why do you think I have a title?” asked Frank.
“A common man can’t pay fer the likes of a post-chaise. If ye can afford this, there’s more to be had.” The ruffian shouted out orders, cutting off Frank’s response.
“From the leader’s commands, I’d say there’s at least three of them.” Brigid mentally counted the weapons. Frank had two pistols and a sword, and the postillions each carried a firearm. Would they have the chance to use them?
A scruffy face peered in at them, his foul body odor assailing their nostrils before he did. “Out o’ the carriage, me ladies,” he cackled, a bulbous nose dominating a face of gray teeth and greasy dark hair.
Evie pressed her lips together but said nothing, only looked to Brigid. No tears, no hysterics.
Good lass!Brigid thought. Now to stall their exit and give the men time to take care of these scurvy rats.
“I believe I’ll stay where I’m at,” Brigid said with a bright smile. “I dinna like the company out there.”
The chaise began swaying. They could hear Louella whimper as she and Barker climbed down from the bench. Silence, then a scream, and the maid appeared at the window. Another older man, two teeth missing in his leering smile, held her by the hair and shoved her face at the carriage window.
“Ye come out now, and I’ll leave her alone. Ye wait, and I’ll ‘ave some fun with her afore I kill her.” He chuckled and spit to the right. “Yer choice, me lady.”
Brigid locked eyes with Evie and whispered, “Stay calm. These men will thrive on yer fear. Understand?”
Evie nodded.
Gray Teeth opened the door, and the ladies exited. Standing in the gloom of a forest, Brigid scanned the area for a weapon or an escape. To her left was Frank, off his horse with hands up and a scowl on his face as his jaw twitched. Both postillions mimicked the viscount. A giant of a man with a flat face, bald head, and twisted nose held a pistol on the men. He sported one of the postillion’s hats. His homespun clothes with the shiny silk on his head almost made him look comical. But not quite.
Her mouth went dry.
The lad who had stopped them was digging through their trunks and bags. A true babe-of-grace, she thought. He appeared barely five or six with a round, innocent, grubby face that could fool anyone. But when his light brown eyes darted up at her, she saw the fear. He blinked back tears, swallowed, and returned to his task. As he rummaged among the valuables, his small hands trembled. Was he as much a hostage as they were?
On her right stood Evie and Barker the valet, whose expression remained bland as he stood with his hands up.
Brigid held her breath as Twisted Nose walked behind the two post-boys. “Watch the hoity-toity one for a blink, would ye? I need to reduce the numbers.”
Missing Teeth backed away from the group, his arm around Louella’s waist to pull her with him. He swung his pistol back and forth between the viscount and Barker. “Go ahead,” he called to the huge ogre.
Twisted Nose tucked the gun in his waistband, reached up, and smacked the two postillions’ heads together. They crumpled to the ground, and he took his pistol back out of his waistband. “That’s better. Now me head won’t ache from lookin’ back ‘n’ forth.”
“See what ‘appens when ye don’t listen?” asked Missing Teeth, lips close to Louella’s ear, his fist still gripping her light brown curls as he nodded at the prostrate forms. He chortled at her answering whimper.
“My grandda always said men who hurt women were cowards. If ye’re enjoying the poor girl’s pain, then I’d imagine ye’d fall into that category.” Brigid sneered. “It’s bad enough ye’re taking what doesna belong to ye.”
“Listen to the Scottish lass.” Gray Teeth waved the pistol in her face. “I like a woman with bite. I may save ye fer meself.”
“Looks like an even number of women for us, eh, Bull?”
Twisted Nose turned his black gaze on Evie, and a slow grin curved his mouth. “Aye, she’s to my liking. We’ll be livin’ in clover fer awhile wi’ a soft doxy to keep us warm at night.”
Evie’s voice surprised everyone. “I’m warning you to release us. My husband is—”
