“Sophie, stop! It’s me, Gabe!”
She heard his horse’s hooves pounding toward her. She’d never be able to escape him on foot. She jumped up and whirled to face him, grabbing the knife off the ground, ready to defend herself however was necessary.
“Sophie, it’s all right. I’m here to help you.” He looked bewildered. “I won’t hurt you.”
She wanted to believe him, but her heart pounded in disagreement. The thought of Gabe turning against her, trying to kill her, was even worse than Lorencz’s attempt.
Although that had been enough of a shock.
Gabe leaned toward her from the back of his enormous horse. Then she noticed his cheekbone. It was bruised, scraped raw, and swollen. “When the duchess finds out that I escaped and that you’re still alive, she will kill us both. We have to make haste.”
His warm brown eyes looked so sincere, Sophie decided to take the risk. She put the knife into her pocket and placed her hand in his.
Gabe hauled her up in front of him. To remain stable, she was forced to sit astraddle like Gabe. It wasn’t proper, but it was better than getting herself and Gabe killed, and her skirt was full enough that it hid most of her legs. She adjusted it slightly just to be sure.
He slapped the reins and the horse leaped forward. The saddle was roomy, but Sophie was still practically sitting in Gabe’s lap.
“Where are we going? Where will you take me?”
“To Hagenheim, to my family.” His prickly chin brushed her cheek as he bent to speak next to her ear.
“Wait!” Her heart seized at the thought of leaving behind her beloved Gospel of Saint Luke. “I have to get something!” She looked up into his brown eyes. “Please. I need it. We have to go back.”
“We have no time as it is.” After a moment’s pause, he asked, “What is this thing you’re willing to get us killed for?”
“It’s a piece of the Bible, a section from the book of Saint Luke.”
“If we make it to Hagenheim, you can have the entire Bible. I will personally get one for you. But you won’t need the book of Saint Luke if you’re not alive to read it.”
He was right, of course. It made her ache to think of losing her precious book, the words that had comforted her through the past ten years of her life, but not enough for Gabe to lose his life retrieving it.
She turned her head and looked up at him. There was a serious look on his face, which softened when he looked into her eyes. “I’m sorry, Sophie.”
She shook her head, hoping he understood the gesture meant it didn’t matter. She was afraid if she spoke, she might choke on the words.
The bruise on his cheek was quite prominent. She wished she could hurt whoever had hurt him, wished she could command he be thrown in the worst dungeon and locked away for as long as Gabe’s bruise remained visible.
She sighed. It was a silly thought. She’d never have that kind of power. Besides, her former priest would scold her if he knew she was wishing for revenge.
As the trail grew more rugged, Sophie was thrown back into Gabe’s chest by the sudden upward charge of the horse. The spot on the back of her head where Lorencz had slammed her into the tree hit Gabe’s breastbone, sending a sharp, shooting pain through her skull. Gabe wrapped an arm around her waist, holding her snugly, and gripped the reins with his other hand. She turned her neck slightly and rested against him.
They were both silent as Gabe guided the huge horse through the dense trees.
“Are you hurt?” Gabe spoke the words by her ear, his deep voice surprising her, his warm breath like a feather against her ear.
“You don’t need to worry about me. I am well.”
“Are you sure? I can’t imagine how Lorencz managed to tie you to a tree. Did you let him do that to you?”
“Of course not.” Sophie bristled. “I was unconscious. My head hit the tree, and I blacked out.”
“You hit your head? Where?” The hand that had been around her waist was now on her head, rubbing, his fingers probing.
“Stop that.” But she couldn’t get away from his examination.
He found her injury, and she winced at the pain his touch caused.
“That’s a bad bump. It’s bloody too. Are you sure you’re well?”
It was strange he should ask, because at that moment she felt as though her last meal was trying to come back up. She closed her eyes and took deep breaths as Gabe’s arm circled her waist again. The horse’s gait jarred her head and every joint in her body. She hung her head.
“Sophie?”