Page 31 of The Hired Hero
As they rounded a bend, they saw that a short distance up the road, the carriage had pulled over and the coachman had dismounted to examine one of the front wheels.
Caroline drew in her breath, her hands gripping the reins until they were nearly white.
The earl took in her reaction, then reached around to remove something from his bag.
“Don’t make a fuss. Just continue on,” he said quietly as he slipped the pistol into the pocket of his coat. Seeing her eyes widen, he smiled grimly. “I’m not as complete a fool as you imagined. Naturally, I wouldn’t undertake a journey like this unarmed.”
Caroline bit her lip and did as he bade.
As they approached the vehicle at an easy walk, the coachman suddenly straightened and shoved his hands into the pockets of his caped driving coat.
“Trouble?” inquired Davenport politely. He had placed himself between Caroline and the carriage, effectively shielding her from the view of anyone inside the vehicle.
With a snakelike move, the coachman slid into the middle of the road, blocking their passage. At the same time, he drew a brace of pistols from his coat and signaled for them to halt.
“Be on yer way, if ye knows wots good for ye,” he growled at the earl. “Our business is with the lady.” His eyes, half in shadow from the brim of his hat, darted to Caroline. “Get off the horse and get in the carriage.”
Davenport made no move to continue on.
The coachman appeared momentarily disconcerted. “Go on, I tell ye,” he said, waving one of the pistols at the earl. “Stay out of this, or ye’ll be sorry. This don’t concern ye.”
“I fear you’re mistaken,” answered Davenport. “The lady is under my protection.”
The man gave a nasty laugh. “Oh, we’ve no doubt that ye’ve been sampling her pleasures all night, Lord Davenport. But I’m sure ye can find another willing female te warm yer sheets tonight. This one is ours, so be off.”
Caroline didn’t wait for the earl’s reply. She suddenly spurred her mount forward. The horse charged by the startled driver, but it took him only a moment to recover from the surprise.
A shot rang out.
The horse pitched forward, then crumpled to the ground, sending Caroline sprawling in the dust. She dragged herself to her feet, clutching at her jacket. “You bastard,” she cried. “You won’t get what you’re after.”
Davenport hadn’t moved a muscle save for the tightening of his jaw. His eyes went from Caroline, who was standing by the far side of the road, to the driver, whose second pistol was aimed straight at her heart.
“I believe you have the right of it. This is no concern of mine,” he said slowly. “With your leave, I’ll take myself off.”
Caroline’s lips curled into a sardonic smile. No words were needed to convey what she was thinking.
A head masked in black silk appeared from within the carriage and nodded to the coachman.
The other man bared his teeth in a wolfish grin and turned back to the earl. “Very smart, yer lordship. No female is worth the trouble—ye can always get another one.” He motioned with the empty weapon. “Go on, then.”
The earl shrugged and set his stallion into an easy trot. For a brief moment, he passed between Caroline and the driver…
The rest happened with blinding speed. In one motion, he drew his own pistol, whipped around and squeezed off a shot. At the same time, he leaned down, grabbed Caroline by the waist and urged the stallion into a full gallop.
Another shot rent the air, but the horse didn’t falter. Clinging low to Nero’s neck, Davenport kept tight hold of Caroline, shielding her with his broad shoulders. With a flick of the reins, he urged the stallion off the road and toward a fallow field, which was guarded by a tall stone wall overgrown with brambles.
The stallion cleared it with ease, and they disappeared into a glade of trees.
* * *
“Are you all right?”
The earl pulled the tired horse to a halt and set Caroline down on the ground. He slipped from the saddle as well and, with a grateful pat to the lathered flanks, let the stallion drink his fill from a small stream.
“Yes—a few more bruises hardly matter.” She managed a wry half smile and brushed a lock of hair from her face, only adding to the streaks of dirt on her cheek. “I…that is…thank you, sir. You had no reason to take such a risk for me.”
There was a pause, and then, all at once, Caroline sank to her knees, arms hugged to her chest. “I had no right to involve you in this,” she continued, her voice barely above a whisper. “That man was right. Leave while you can. You have done more than enough.”
