Free La Flamme (Historical Romance) by Constance O'Banyon Page A

help. Hasten!"
    Jacques, hearing the urgency in Ysabel's voice, hurried from his wagon with Marie a step behind him.
    "There," Ysabel pointed, "see them?"
    Without stopping to consider the danger, Jacques plunged into the turbulent water, and with strong forward strokes swam toward the log.
    Marie ran along the banks, wringing her hands. " Imbecile ! You will be drowned, then what will happen to me—alone and friendless in England with no way to get home? Come out of there at once—do you hear me— come out!"
    Ysabel saw that Jacques was having difficulty with the girl, so she plunged into the water and swam to help him, praying that her heavy clothing would not drag her under.
    Sabine was almost unconscious and had long ago lost the feeling in her arms and legs, but she somehow managed to keep her brother on top of the log and out of the icy water.
    Richard, confused about what was happening to him, had been terrified and had sobbed for hours. Just before daylight, he had quieted, and now Sabine feared he might be unconscious.
    Sabine did not know how much longer she could cling to her brother—she was so exhausted. She'd thought that all her strength had been expended, but that was before a man appeared and attempted to take Richard from her. When he tried to pry her hand free of the log, her grip only tightened and she struck at him. Sabine saw him only as the enemy—one of Garreth's men, and she would not relinquish Richard to him.
    Ysabel swam alongside Jacques and grabbed at the girl's hands. "We want only to help," the old woman said in French.
    Suddenly Sabine became calm when the man also spoke to her in French. She reasoned that Garreth's men would speak only English.
    "You must not fight me," Jacques told her, "or we shall all drown."
    Sabine, too weak to struggle, was forced to relinquish Richard to the woman just before she lost consciousness, falling into a deep, silent void. Her last thought was that she must be drowning after all.
    Jacques swam to shore and lifted the limp girl in his arms. She was so cold that he wasn't sure she still lived.
    Ysabel reached shore with the young boy in her arms. She saw the rise and fall of his chest—he was alive. "First we need to get them warm," she said in a commanding voice. "Let us take them into my wagon and 1 will do what I can." She turned to Marie. "Warm some stones and wrap them in heavy cloth." To Jacques, she spoke quickly as he laid the girl on her cot. "I need something warm for them to drink. Perhaps you could make a thin broth by boiling dried meat."
    Without question, Marie and Jacques hurried to do as Ysabel instructed.
    Later, when the boy and girl had been stripped of their wet clothing, wrapped in warm blankets with warm stones at their feet, and had hot broth spooned into their mouths, Ysabel stood back wearily.
    "I have done all I can until we know if they have other injuries. Now, they need sleep."
    "This just will not do," Marie complained, staring at the pale girl. "Two more to feed."
    Ysabel turned on Marie. "I do not believe they are in any condition to eat overmuch."
    Marie backed toward the door, nodding in agreement, and feeling ashamed of her outburst.
     
    The sun had set on the following day before Sabine awoke. She felt a sense of wellbeing and was wrapped in glorious warmth. All she wanted to do was sleep. When she tried to move, however, pain shot through her leg like a hot poker and she moaned.
    "Sleep, ma petite ," a soothing voice urged her in French, reminding her of her mother. "Sleep is what you need."
    Sabine was too weak to protest. Every muscle in her body ached. She sighed and lost herself in the wonderful oblivion of warmth.
    Marie shook her head. "Like as not, they attempted to cross the stream and got caught in the current. The world is inhabited by fools."
    Ysabel picked up the young boy, who had just awakened. He blinked his eyes and smiled. Then he surprised them both by reaching for Marie.
    Marie took him in her arms