My gaze landed on the dim embers of one of the soldier’s campfires. It would hurt like hell, but maybe I could burn the ropes from my wrists. Burns could heal, right? I’d need to watch out for soldiers stirring from their sleep and not catch my clothes or hair on fire, though.
“I have an idea. Wait here.”
“What are you doing?” Emily hissed, alarm creeping into her voice.
“Just wait.” I wriggled to the end of the wagon and maneuvered to the ground. Then, I waited, listening for any signs of the men. The hooting of an owl and the distant howl of wolves filled the night with their lament.
I crept toward the fire and crouched near it. Taking a deep breath for courage, I pivoted so my back was to the coals. I swung my head forward so my hair fell before my shoulders.
The heat felt great, warming my frigid skin. But it wouldn’t feel so nice in a minute—not when it blistered me. I planned on igniting the rope, then pulling until it gave way, hopefully before I was too badly burned.
Here goes.
I glanced over to the wagon.
I could barely make out Emily’s faint outline, and it looked like she was watching me. That gave me strength. She was expecting me to rescue us.
I held my hands close to the embers and closed my eyes.
The warmth of the fire turned into searing, painful heat as the flames licked my skin and ate at my shirt sleeves. I yanked and tugged at my hands, feeling the rope start to give. Finally, the sisal snapped. I lunged away from the fire and batted my sleeve-covered arms on the damp ground, trying to extinguish the flames. At last, I got the fire out, but not without scorching my skin.
Never mind, I was free. After getting the rest of the rope from my waist, I glanced around the camp. The soft nickers and snorts of the horses added to the symphony of night insects.
I know I can ride in the dark, but can Emily? Better yet—can Charlotte? Only one way to find out.
I returned to the cart and whispered, “All right, Emily. I’m free.”
I held out my hands.
“But are you injured? I saw your shirt caught fire,” Emily said, her expression concerned.
“It’s nothing. Turn over.”
Emily rolled onto her belly, and I quickly freed the knots in her rope.
“Okay, you’re untied. You work on Charlotte while I go get us some horses. Can you ride?” I wound the rope that had bound Charlotte’s waist and wrists, intending to use it as a makeshift halter.
Emily nodded.
“What about your sister?”
“Not very well,” she said.
“One of us will have to ride with her, then. Can you do it?”
Again, Emily nodded.
“Okay, good. We’ll have to hurry, so get her untied and convince her to cooperate.”
“I’ll try,” Emily said determinedly.
“Okay, let’s do this.” I crept toward the horses, staying alert for noises.
When I reached the horses, I discovered the men had left their leather halters on but had removed the reins. Good news and bad news for us. We could lead them but had no way to steer them once we were riding—unless I managed to tie the rope to the halter.
I fastened the ends of the rope to one of the horse’s halters. Then, I slipped my hands inside the halter of another horse and led the pair away from their friends.
The roan-colored horse came willingly, but the Appaloosa, the one I’d managed to put makeshift reins on, balked. I tried to stay calm as I coaxed him along.
