Free Chase the Wind by Cindy Holby - Wind 01 - Chase the Wind Page A

mother had a friend who lived here. We used to visit when I was small,” Faith explained. “The lady died when her cabin burned—I was ten, I think.”
    “Does anyone know about this place?” Ian asked. He was briskly rubbing Faith’s arms to keep her warm.
    “I don’t think so; it’s pretty much been forgotten.”
    “We can’t stay here long; we have to move on before they get all the roads covered.”
    Faith nodded in agreement. Her teeth were chattering, and she leaned her head against Ian’s chest. “You know I am supposed to get married tomorrow,” she said into his damp shirt.
    “I guess I showed up just in time, then,” he replied.
    “To stop it?” she asked, looking up at his face in the darkened barn.
    “To be the groom. You weren’t planning on it being someone else, were you?” She caught the flash of his cocky grin in the dark ness. He lowered his head and kissed her, and all the emotion she had held in check flooded to the surface.
    “Oh, Ian, I had to send you away. They were going to kill you.” The words were followed by small, shuddering sobs. “They found out about us, and Randolph had hired men to get you, but he wanted to kill you himself, and my father sold me to him to get out of debt, only he’s really not my father, and I realized I couldn’t marry”—a big sob came out—”and I had to get to you—” Ian pushed her head back into his chest. He was so soaked, a few tears wouldn’t matter.
    “How did they find out?” he asked.
    “I heard Randolph tell”—she couldn’t call the man Father— “Melvin.” The name sounded obscene to her. “He heard you talking to your horse about us.”
    Ian looked at her incredulously, and then his mind flashed back to a stall and a tall chestnut he was brushing and a noise he heard in the stable that day.
    “Faith, I am so sorry. I am an idiot at times, especially around my animals.”
    “I was just so afraid they were going to kill you.”
    “They nearly did,” he said, remembering the rest of that day.
    “They did?” She sobbed again, “Oh, Ian.”
    “Don’t worry, I survived. Besides, only the good die young, haven’t you ever heard that?”
    “That’s what scares me so.” He pulled her close again. The storm was now directly over them, the thunder coming so fast that it was impossible to talk. The wind shook the old timbers, and Ian surveyed the rafters, wondering how much abuse the old place could stand. They stood together in the barn, Ian holding Faith close, stroking her hair. The gray sidled up to Ian’s back, he too wanted the comfort of the man.
    When the lightning seemed to have moved off a bit and the thunder didn’t sound like it was on top of them, they emerged from the rickety shelter. The rain was still falling, but they could travel. They needed to cross the river before they were found. Ian didn’t even want to think about what all this rain was doing to the waters of the Ohio. He just knew they needed to get across. Then maybe he could breathe easier. There was no doubt in his mind about what would happen if they were caught.
    They made their way back up the trail and were soon halted by a tree that had fallen across the path. Ian backed the gray up and sent him into the underbrush towards the trunk end to get around the mess. They floundered about a bit, and then found the path again. They soon were on the road, heading north to the ferry that would take them across to Ohio and safety. Ian regretted running the gray so hard, but felt that the need to escape was greater than the need for caution. Faith clung to his waist, her face buried against his shoulder, his wide frame protecting her from the rain that pelted his face.
    Ian saw lights shining up ahead. He hoped it was a sign that they had come to the small river town that was home to the ferry. That hope turned to dismay when he saw a group of men on horseback holding torches and sheltered under the limbs of a sprawling oak next to the