Page 150 of Once Upon A Haunted Castle
Holger took Laura into a storage room where crates and barrels were haphazardly stacked. Jamie stayed in the shadows and inched around the room until he was at Holger’s back.
The tinker put the candle on a barrel. “I want my pin.”
Laura said nothing.
Holger raised the back of his hand, but hesitated. He threw Laura to the ground. Jamie, the berserker, stepped out of hiding. He tapped Holger on the shoulder with one hand, the fist of his other cocked and ready.
The tinker turned. His eyes widened in surprise. Jamie let loose and smashed Holger’s face throwing his full weight behind the punch.
He stood over the man with both his hands fisted at his sides. He prayed for Holger to get up so he could knock him down again. He could stand anything, but nobody touched Laura. He nearly killed Bryce all those years ago for his ill placed words threatening her.
Jamie picked Holger off the floor, his arm back ready to hit him again. Holger’s shirt ripped open, the leather pouch visible around his neck. Laura touched his arm.
“I’m all right.”
Jamie’s heart hammered, his breathing ragged.
“He didn’t hurt me.”
Jamie poked the leather pouch.
“Where did you get this?” Jamie asked in a voice that shook the room.
“It’s mine.” Holger’s chin tipped up and he spit out the words in defiance.
“Another item you bartered for?” Laura asked.
Something in Laura’s voice made Jamie pull up. He glanced at the determined look in her eyes and the quick precise movement of her fingers. She tied imaginary knots. Did she think her games would work?
“Yes.” Holger sneered past Jamie at Laura.
Jamie’s head snapped back to Holger. “When?” He grabbed the man’s jaw with his thumb and forefinger and yanked it so all Holger could see was his face. “When did you barter? Since Angel wore the pouch when she went into the pantry.”
Even in the dim candle light, Jamie saw the tinker’s face turn pale. His eyes looked everywhere, but not at Jamie.
“When?” Jamie demanded, pinching the man’s face with a vise-like grip.
“I was outside the pantry. Those two were yelling at each other. Something about not wanting to get married. She would have none of that. He told her to be quiet. She kept on screaming. I walked away. Thought I would come back later. I got back to the pantry as Mary ran out. So I went in. That’s when I saw her with the linen over her face. He was on the floor with a knife in his chest. The pouch was no good to either of them so I took it.”
The strings of the pouch around Holger’s throat tightened. Jamie glanced at Laura. Her expression was intense, raw and determined. He had never witnessed it before. Her fingers worked faster. Was it possible? He thought the movement only childhood games she played with Lisbeth. He brought his attention back to Holger. The man clawed at his neck.
“The truth,” Laura said softly. Jamie pulled off Holger’s shirt. They saw scars of deep scratches on his chest and neck.
Holger pulled at his throat. He looked at Jamie. He’d find no support there.
“Make her stop,” he begged.
“The truth,” Laura said. Holger looked from one to the other.
“I watched Evan leave the pantry, straightening his clothes. I went in to see his tidbit. I found the girl alone. I thought to have some fun. After all, he’d just had his.” Holger stopped.
Laura’s fingers kept working. Holger’s face turned red.
“I grabbed her from behind and put my hand over her mouth. She fought me. I laughed and told her I liked a woman who needed to be tamed. I thought to persuade her and told her what I’d do to her and her precious Evan if she told anyone about our encounter. I turned her around and pushed her to the floor. Too busy begging for her life, she didn’t scream. She kicked and scratched. As I reached under her skirt, she found my dirk and pulled it out.” In a raspy voice he continued.
“I easily got the dirk from her. That’s when she screamed. I held one of the empty sacks over her face. Stop screaming, I said over and over. Finally, she stopped. I took off the linen. She didn’t move. I stood over her trying to wake her. That’s when Evan walked in. The boy went mad.”
Jamie knew that feeling all too well.
