Jack’s horse reared and he struggled to control him. Unable to use his arms, he clamped his legs tight and made soothing sounds. When he looked again, Maddie was in the middle of the road, her pistol pointed at Bleven’s carriage.
The entire train had slowed to a stop, and the horses were dancing from side to side, their nerves frayed from yet another commotion.
“What the ’ell do ye think yourn doing?” the coachman called to Maddie as Bleven threw open the carriage door and stomped out.
“What the devil is the meaning of this?”
Maddie leveled her gun at Bleven, and though Jack knew this was her best and only strategy, he winced as a half dozen other pistols were immediately trained on her.
“Maddie,” he muttered. Why the hell couldn’t she have run, like he’d told her to? If one of the men shot her, he would kill them all.
“Ah, Your Grace,” Maddie said with a sweet smile for the duke. “Just the man I wanted to see.”
Bleven put his hands on his hips. “Is that so? Have we met, miss? You look familiar.”
“Lady Madeleine, daughter of the Earl of Castleigh, Your Grace. And before you ask why I’m here, let me just say that if you don’t ask questions, I won’t.”
The duke, clearly not bothered by a petite girl with a pistol, shrugged. “Very well. Why have you stopped us? Playing at highway robber?”
“Actually, I’ve come because you have something of mine, or rather, someone of mine.”
Her eyes met Jack’s and then slid away. Jack followed their path, saw her gaze drift to Nick, who was now sitting and looking somewhat woozy, then to Dover.
Jack scowled. Of course. She’d come for Dover.
Maddie pointed to the professor, who was staring at her anxiously. “My fiancé.”
All eyes turned to Mr. Dover, and the professor smiled weakly.
The duke laughed. “That one is your fiancé? More trouble than he’s worth. Take him and be on your way.”
Maddie nodded. “Ride into the woods, Mr. Dover,” she ordered, but she did not lower her pistol. And Jack continued to hold his breath.
The men were silent as Dover disappeared, and then the duke said, “Is that all, Lady Madeleine?”
“One more request, Your Grace.” She prodded her horse forward, closer to him. “A private request.”
He looked up at her, and she leaned down to whisper in his ear. When she had his full attention, she glanced up and screamed, “Now, Ashley!”
Everyone looked around, uncertain what would come next, and then they heard a voice behind them: “Over here, boys!”
Everyone turned, and Jack’s mouth dropped open. Ashley Brittany was naked and waving from the side of the road. “Come and get me!”
Bleven’s men didn’t need much encouragement. Three started for her before she even darted back into the trees. The others were hot on their heels, even as Bleven yelled, “No! Stop!”
But it was too late. Jack’s eyes met Nick’s, and the two men nodded in silent understanding. Nick spurred his horse into the woods, after Ashley, and Jack rode for Bleven.
The duke was facing Maddie again. She was pale, her eyes wide. She glanced up at Jack and cried, “Watch out! He has a pis—”
Bleven swung round, and Jack ducked. The heat of the pistol ball caressed his ear, and he felt the warm blood slide down his cheek. Ignoring it, he plowed his horse into Bleven. The duke jumped out of the way but went down, rolling into a ball.
Maddie didn’t need any direction from him. She kicked her horse into motion, riding ahead. He spurred his own horse faster, caught up to her, and nodded toward the woods opposite those Nick and Ashley had disappeared into.
They had just cleared the tree-line and disappeared behind thicker foliage when Maddie slowed her horse and turned the animal.
“What the hell are you doing now?” Jack demanded.
“Going back for Ashley,” Maddie answered. “I can’t leave her.”
