Free Wild Heart by Lori Brighton Page A

purpose, merely to bait her. She’d barely reached the horse when he wrapped his hands around her waist and tossed her onto the beast. He settled behind her, and she resisted the urge to sink into his strength.
    “My uncle was going to teach me to swim,” she admitted as they made their way down the trail. “But he never returned.”
    She felt his muscles tighten and his interest spike. Twisting her hands into her damp skirt, she slid him a glance. His face was unreadable, his gaze focused straight ahead.
    “When did he go?” he asked.
    “I don’t remember. I was around seven years of age. He sent letters for a while, but then nothing.”
    They came out onto the field, and Leo nudged the mount into a gallop. The rest of the way was traveled in silence. Yet, when the castle came into view she felt a strange sense of disappointment. Truth was, she hadn’t felt so free or relaxed in years.
    Leo slowed the mount in front of the stables.
    “There you are.” The stable master called out. “We wondered what happened to you when Sally returned with an empty saddle. The lad said he saw the young lord here come to your rescue.”
    Ella blushed. Did they know? Had they seen them at the waterfall? Surely they wouldn’t have followed.
    Leo didn’t say a word. The stable master helped her from the mount while Leo effortlessly slid from the beast. Without a farewell, he started down a trail.
    “Leo,” she called out. “The dance instructor will be here early tomorrow. Will you be there?”
    He kept walking.
    “Leo?” she tried once more. The man didn’t bother to turn, didn’t even respond. Before she could read his feelings, he disappeared into the trees.
    “Blasted man,” she snapped. Really, the first thing he needed to learn was manners.

Chapter 5
    “ Leo, wake, my love. ”
    Leo’s lashes fluttered. “Mum?”
    Slowly, her familiar features came into focus. Lantern light flickered over her pale face, while shimmering yellow flames danced in her wide eyes.
    She lifted her finger to her lips. Without another word, she turned her back to him and peeked through the thin crack where the tent flaps refused to join. Orange shadows from the fire outside leapt against canvas walls, creating an eerie glow inside their dwelling. Each crack, each pop, each sizzle of the wood and cow dung made him jump.
    Through the stillness of the night, low voices rumbled like thunder. Two? Three? Leo couldn’t tell how many.
    His mum gasped, the sound harsh in the quiet. Before he could question her, she rushed to the trunk in the corner of the tent, her blue skirts billowing like the hot-air balloon they’d seen last week in Bombay.
    “Leo,” his mum whispered, tossing his trousers to him. “Dress, hurry, we’ve no time to spare.”
    With hands that trembled, Leo tugged his pants into place.
    “But, Mum.” He shook his heavy leather boots to make sure nothing had slipped inside for a quick nap. “What is it? What’s happening?”
    “Leo, go. Slip out the back and go to the village. It’s not far. You remember the path, don’t you, love? Please, you must get help.” She took his hand and pressed something round and cold into his palm. “Show them this. Tell them who your father is, and they will help. Promise them anything, Leo. Anything.”
    Leo swallowed hard and nodded. When he opened his fist, he saw his father’s silver ring with open-mouthed lions on the sides and on top, a flower-shaped emerald. An emerald that seemed to pulse, that pulled him in until he felt as if he were falling…falling…falling .
    “How could you, Will?” his father asked in a hushed tone .
    Leo jerked his gaze from the ring to the shadowed forms outside .
    “The map belongs to the tribe. Do you have any idea what that power could do in the wrong hands? Will, you don’t have to do this. I will give you the money,” Father insisted .
    “Mum, who is—”
    “You don’t deserve to be the keeper of the map,” an unfamiliar voice