A deep crease appeared between James’s brows. “This is Miss Kilbrid,” he said warily. “We were attempting to catch up with the remainder of our party when her horse knocked the shoe loose.”
Sam grunted something indiscernible, then returned his attention to the hoof. The rough scrape of the knife sounded even louder in the ensuing silence.
James glanced at me. “I’ll get the saddles ready.” He started toward the gelding.
I now regretted leaving the inn. The patrons inside might have been curious, but by no means did they display the hostility that radiated from Sam. Even another fly attack would have been preferable to the trepidation that now tensed in my gut.
Instinct squawked a warning when I turned away from the man to follow James. In a heartbeat, the scraping stopped, and my shoulders tensed as though of their own accord.
“Miss Kilbrid!” James cried.
I jerked around just as Sam lunged at me. Stumbling back, I saw him come to a sudden stop, the small blade mere inches from my face. He struggled like a madman against James’s arms, which had clamped around his waist. Cords of muscle bulged in his neck, and an enraged roar broke free in a shower of spittle.
“Run, Miss Kilbrid!” James yelled, his voice strained from the effort to hold so large a man in place.
Sound advice, except if Sam got free. Then I would have a hoof knife in the back. A fire burst to life inside me. I looked into Sam’s red face and slammed a hand straight into his gut.
The man went slack. Losing the counter force, James fell backward, barely catching himself on one knee beneath the man’s full weight.
“God’s blood!” he exclaimed, then his eyes shot to the doorway behind me. “Watch out!”
I spun around, my hand flying up just in time to catch the arm of a curly haired girl. Deranged anger flowed from her eyes as she strained to thrust a butcher knife at me.
The sharp point grazed my nose. Power burst from my hands, and she dropped like a rag doll to the ground.
Chapter Two
A Game of Truth
The girl landed on her back with her knees crumpled at an angle from the sudden fall. The butcher knife rested in the dirt next to her open hand. Eyes closed, she appeared fast asleep. A small, satisfied smile pulled at my lips. Two people... Both out cold the moment their wandering nerve had been disrupted.
James sputtered a curse behind me. “What did you do?” he asked, more accusation than question. “Are they dead? Did you kill them?”
The smile dropped and I shook my head. “They’ve fainted is all.”
The horses stomped nervously in their stalls. James lowered Sam’s large body to the ground and pressed a finger into his neck in search of a pulse.
Knowing what he would find, I focused on the girl. From the mass of golden curls, I assumed her to be Elsie’s sister, Anna. She looked so innocent, I would have thought her incapable of such violence if not for the sting at the end of my nose. I removed a glove and gently dabbed at the wound. The pain sharpened as a drop of blood smeared beneath my finger.
James moved closer, the raggedness of his breath marking the distance. “What did you do to them?” he demanded.
I ignored him and knelt down next to the girl. Why did you attack me? Warming my hands, I reached toward the crown of curly hair.
James grabbed my arm. “Don’t touch her,” he said, hard as steel.
I jerked away, but his grip held. “Let go of me. I mean the girl no harm.”
“Then leave her be. If she has truly fainted, we will fetch smelling salts and water from the inn.”
The temptation to disrupt James’s nerves nearly overcame me. Exhaling a shaky breath, I held the fire at bay just long enough to explain my intentions. “I give you my word not to hurt her. Now release my arm, or you’ll be the next one lying on the ground.”
Angry blood shot straight to his hairline. His nostrils flared, and I could practically see the thoughts fly through his mind.
Yes, Mr. Roth. I’ve already done it twice. I could do it again...with a single touch.
The man proved braver than I expected. Or perhaps just more pigheaded. His grip remained steadfast as his eyes narrowed on my face. “First, you will tell me what you plan to do.”
It was a reasonable request. And as he had already seen my power at work, I would give him an equally reasonable answer. “I am going to read her memories in an attempt to better understand the purpose behind this attack. Then I will search her brain for any abnormalities or injury. When that is done, I will revive her.”
He stared at me for a moment. “This is no time to jest. Tell me honestly what you intend to do with the girl.”
I clenched my other hand to keep from screaming. “Oh, for heaven’s sake! What do you think I’m going to do? Turn her into a toad?” If I could have accomplished that little trick, I would have done it to James long ago. “I’ve told you the truth. Keep a hand on my shoulder if that makes you feel any better, but release my arm before it’s too late and we are discovered.”