Beside Two Rivers

28





Ethan raced Sanchet across the moors. The smooth mounds ascending above the valley shadowed the rocky edges of bluffs on the hillsides. His hands grew slick inside his leather gloves, and the wind cut through his hair, almost blinding him. Sanchet kicked up clots of earth and heaved his girth with the pace of his hooves.

In the distance, Havendale came into view and Ethan’s brow furrowed as his conviction surged through his body. Sunlight flashed over the glass in the windows that faced him and a host of sparrows flew above the chimneys. He’d find her, loose her from Langbourne’s hold, and return to Fairview with her.

Sanchet flared his nostrils, snorted, and flicked his ears. Suddenly a horse and rider plunged around a bend, followed by one other man on a smaller horse. The rider jerked hard on the reins and skidded the black roan to an uneasy halt in front of Ethan. His crony waited beside him. Langbourne stared hard at Ethan, all color washed from his pinched face. The sky grew darker—an ominous sign that came with the breeze and roughened his hair. His large horse snorted at the flap of wings alighting out of the trees behind Ethan.

“Turn back, Brennan. You are not welcomed on my land.”

A muscle in Ethan’s cheek jerked. “How will you prevent me from going on? I am here for Darcy.”

Langbourne sneered as his horse sidestepped. “I forbid you to trespass, and the law says I can shoot any man who does.”

“The law also says a man may hang for kidnapping.”

“You speak nonsense.”

“You deny you are keeping her here against her will?”

“Certainly I do.”

“I have been told what you did, how you kept her back on threat of murdering her father in cold blood.”

“Whoever told you that is an utter fool. Darcy made the choice to stay. She has not resigned herself to a reunion with either parent.”

“I was told differently.”

“She has grown close to her grandmother and will not leave her.”

“Yes, but not at the expense of her parents.”

“Her father is nothing more than a stranger to her. And her mother? Well, Darcy has so little recollection of Eliza. There is no attachment.”

“Is it not time you stop punishing Eliza? You have a wife and owe it to her to let the past die.”

Langbourne steadied his restless horse and laughed. “You know nothing of my wife.”

“I know that she is unfortunate. It is broadly known you have a mistress.”

“You have reminded me, Brennan, the tongue is the weapon of women, cowards, and fools.”

“Truth is the weapon against evil, sir.”

Scarlet rage rose in Langbourne’s face. “You will not turn your horse and leave my property?”

Ethan moved his horse a pace forward. “Let me pass.”

“No, sir!” With angry stares, the other drew up beside Langbourne and widened the barrier between the two men.

“Let Darcy tell me to my face she will not leave with me,” Ethan said.

Langbourne made no movement to stand down. Instead, he stared at Ethan and moved his hand close to his pistol. Ethan knew he was serious and would carry out his threat. It would be better to live for Darcy than to die.

“I will not allow you to go any further,” said Langbourne. “Even so, you would find her gone for all your efforts.”

Ethan clenched his jaw. “What do you mean?”

“I have sent her away.”

“You are a liar, sir. Darcy knew I would be coming for her.”

“Did she? Well, she told me she believes you to be a scoundrel for not telling her about her mother and wants nothing to do with you or her. Can you not see, Brennan? She did not send Hayward to Fairview out of the kindness of her heart. She threw him out, no matter what that vicar may have told you.”

The urge to pull Langbourne off his horse and strike him down raged through Ethan. Was it not time someone humbled him and sent him to wallow in a mud hole, his fine suit of clothes ruined, his pride spoiled?

“And there is another issue.” As if to test Ethan’s restraint, Langbourne narrowed his eyes and said, “You know Hollen was employed by me?”

Ethan smirked. “I do. That is over too.”

“It will never be over.” Langbourne leaned forward, his eyes spiteful. “Darcy will be the blade to twist in their hearts, and in yours—when I have ruined her.”

With those words, Ethan spurred his horse forward and threw his grip onto Langbourne’s coat. Langbourne raised his arm and pushed him back. His servant hurried to his aid. The horses reared, stomped the ground, and twisted. Langbourne’s hand flew to the grip of his flintlock pistol.

Then without hesitation, with no second thought flickering over his chiseled face, Langbourne ordered his man to move away and leveled the pistol at Ethan.