Free The Blue Seal of Trinity Cove by Linda Maree Malcolm Page B

horse and, after flinging himself onto it, galloped towards her. The horse was large and very healthy and well looked after, thought Wanda, compared to the one that had been chasing her. In what seemed to be only a minute or so, the horse had reached her. Without stopping, the rider leaned forward and grabbed her arm and swung her up onto the horse behind him. Wanda felt safe now and even though she didn’t know this man, who had saved her, she knew she had nothing to fear. She hadn’t quite seen his face yet as he wore a broad-rimmed leather hat but he was somehow very familiar to her. She glanced back over her shoulder as they galloped off and saw that all of the men were now kneeling on the ground, looking at her as though they had given up the chase.

Chapter 10
Rescued
    W hen they arrived at the shack the man told Wanda to go inside. She saw him lead his horse to water and food and take his rifle out of a pouch underneath the saddle bag. He looked inside the rifle and then reached into the saddle bag for bullets to load his gun. Wanda looked around the one-room shack. The smell of the stew baking on the fire made her mouth water and she desperately wanted a drink of water but she thought it inappropriate to help herself. Besides, she didn’t know where it was kept. On the mantle over the fire were small photos of a woman and a blonde-haired little girl. They were very beautiful. The beauty of the woman almost took Wanda’s breath away. She didn’t look like any of the women Wanda was used to seeing in her own tribe. This woman had silky blonde hair that was styled up on top of her head. She had a tiny, thin nose and deep-set blue eyes. Her skin was white as milk and her cheekbones stood out quite a bit. The man entered the shack. He bolted the door and then peered out of the window over the wash basin in the direction of the men.
    â€œThey’ll be here, lassie, it’s just a matter of time; don’t worry about that,” he said, without turning to look at her. He turned a handle and water flowed from a large drum – this fascinated Wanda. He filled a glass and gave it to her. “You must have worked up a thirst with all that running, lass. Why are those blokes after you, do you mind me asking?”
    Wanda looked at him from behind. He was very tall and had broad shoulders and even though he certainly wasn’t young, he didn’t have the slouch of an old man either, she thought to herself.
    â€œThank you,” she said, in her own language, not stopping to think that hers was a different language.
    â€œWhat!” He suddenly turned to her, asking, “What did you say?”
    She shook her shoulders. Maybe he wouldn’t want to help her if he knew that she was a native of the land. She had white skin and wore a pretty dress and that was what made her look as if she was one of his people.
    â€œNo, that’s fine lass,” he said, apologetically and in a softer tone of voice. “You must be exhausted. Now you go and lie down there, lass,” he said pointing to the bed. “And don’t bother none about trying to tell me everything until you’ve had a bit of a sleep. There’s a good girl. And don’t worry about those men, either. They’ll not get into here and get you, I can guarantee it. I have my trusty rifle here and out back I got …” Right at that moment Wanda heard a commotion of barking start up.
    â€œAh, the dogs have caught sight of ’em, I bet that’s it.” He went to the door and called, “Come on boys, come to Pa now.” The old wooden door was pushed right open by the dogs as they bounded into the room and the man was almost knocked over. There were five dogs that were so huge and so ferocious-looking that Wanda was glad she was not going to be opposing them. But then they licked her and the man, with their tails wagging, and she thought that maybe she shouldn’t be afraid of them after