“Saw no harm in checking things out. Time for conversing is over.”
A shot exploded from inside the carriage, and Teddy covered his head with his arms. The carriage door wrenched open and then he heard the most awful words.
“Stay back,” Cochran warned, “or I’ll kill the girl.”
No longer silent, the night came alive. Masculine voices from all directions hissed curses upon Cochran’s head. Teddy peeked over his arms in time to see the phantom motioning instructions to the two men before melting into the shadows.
Teddy rolled to his knees but froze when Cochran backed into view. He held Sophie against him, her arms and legs dangling like a doll’s and her head rocking back and forth. Sweat bubbled on Teddy’s brow and skated down his sides. Another step back and Cochran would find his hiding place. He glanced at the two ragged men drawing closer.
“Put the Ashcroft girl down,” McCarthy demanded. “You’ve no call to bring her into this.”
“I think having her at my side evens things out nicely.” Cochran whirled around, baring his back to Teddy.
But not before Teddy saw Sophie’s eyes flutter open. Heartened, he gripped his wooden archer tighter and prayed for a heroic plan to come to mind. Nothing surfaced, for his mind was too frozen with fear. If all went wrong, he could lose his friend. His brow scrunched into an angry vee. He couldn’t let that happen.
In the distance, Teddy heard a steady roll of thunder. Cochran heard it, too, and glanced up the road. For an instant, fear slackened the gentleman’s features before they transformed into a slab of hatred.
“I require a horse.” Cochran faced his unseen foes. “Now.”
Teddy heard the sound of feet wading through tall grasses. When McCarthy spoke next, his voice seemed to be within reaching distance.
“You’ll have it,” McCarthy said. “Let the girl go.”
Sophie spotted Teddy then, and he glimpsed her determination, the fire burning in her blue eyes. A new terror gripped Teddy as the thunder grew louder.
“Bring the horse and I’ll deposit her a mile down the road.”
No! Teddy held his breath while waiting for McCarthy’s answer. Cochran would take off on that horse with Sophie and he would never see her again.
Getting his feet underneath him, Teddy waited for Cochran to turn toward the thunder, which seemed to be right on them now. The two ragged young men were shaking their heads and waving him off. Teddy ignored them, catapulting himself onto the scoundrel’s back. Teddy slammed the archer’s wooden arrow into the man’s neck, causing Cochran’s grip on Sophie to loosen. She took the opportunity to squiggle down far enough to sink her teeth into his arm, forcing a roar to rip from Cochran’s injured throat. He dropped her, and Teddy went sailing through the air. His head struck the road, sending shards of pain through his skull.
Teddy heard a feminine scream and a man’s yell a moment before a large black horse trampled his prone body.
Twenty-six
Sebastian pushed Reaper, and the others, to greater speeds. Charging through the night placed them all in peril, but overcoming Cochran’s carriage before he gained the city was paramount. The clouds loosened their hold to reveal a waxing moon. Light sprayed over the road, and Sebastian peered into the distance. The outline of a carriage at the far end of the road materialized, and his pulse leaped with hope.
He glanced over his left shoulder to find Catherine riding low over Gypsy’s neck and Helsford, Danforth, and Jack at her back. Jack had caught up with the two agents in the village mere seconds after Helsford’s informant had passed on precious intelligence about Cochran’s intended flight with Sophie. Once again, Helsford’s informant had provided accurate and timely information in support of their cause. One day, Sebastian would meet their mysterious savior and offer him a job.
“Carriage up ahead.” He caught Catherine’s gaze. “Remember my instructions.”
She nodded, a determined look in her eye.
He had to trust that she would allow him to manage the situation without her interference. But for good measure, he sliced a meaningful glare at Danforth, who nodded.
They gained on Cochran much faster than Sebastian had anticipated. He could see now that the carriage was stopped in the middle of the lane and a man stood next to it. The man must have heard their approach, for he angled around and—
“Oh, dear Lord,” Catherine cried.
Cochran held Sophie against him, her arms and legs swung lifelessly from her body. The backs of Sebastian’s