Free To Love a Thief (Steel Hawk) by Jane Beckenham

back, whatever happens.”
    Nathan lunged for the horse, but the animal skittered, and he lost his grip on the reins as it reared.
    “Nathan!”
    “Go, Rosie, go!”
    But she couldn’t leave him. She held her hand out to him. “Climb on.”
    Nathan reached for her hand at the same time that a guard barged out of the guardhouse. Nathan spun round and grabbed at him, fist flying into the man’s face. The sentry fell flat on his back, but another came at Nathan from behind.
    “Watch out!” Rose’s warning came a second too late as the guard struck out at him, catching him across the head with the butt of his rifle. Nathan fell to the ground. The guard cocked his rifle.

Chapter Six
    Do something.
    Rose yanked at the horse’s reins, and the animal reared onto its back legs, front legs thrashing the air. The beast plunged, catching the guard with a hoof. He stumbled backward and collapsed in a heap.
    “Nathan! Nathan, get up. Get up!” Rose’s screams echoed for what seemed an eon.
    Nathan shoved himself to his feet, pivoted and reached for Rose’s hand.
    From the corner of her eye, Rose spied a movement.
    Another guard.
    “Get on.” She yanked Nathan’s outstretched hand as hard as she could. Suddenly, he sat behind her on the horse, close, one arm wrapped around her middle.
    “Now, Rosie. Ride like the wind.”
    “Get going, beast.” Rose dug her heels into the jittery horse’s sides. It didn’t hesitate but took off, jolting her every which way. “Dear God, I’ll die beneath its hooves.”
    “I’ve got you. Go beneath the arch and then keep left. The river is close. If we can make it that far, we can catch a boat.”
    He’d said if . Not when. Rose leaned forward, gripping the horse’s mane for dear life, urging the animal on.
    Shouts rose behind them, shots ringing out. The buzz of one whizzed far too close. She glanced over her shoulder. “They’re gaining.”
    “That way.” Nathan pointed to a narrow path through a hedgerow. “They can only follow one at a time.”
    “Only?”
    “Better that than the alternative.”
    Rose knew the alternative but found unexpected comfort as Nathan’s hold on her tightened and his body leaned into hers.
    Galloping beneath an archway of tangled oak branches, she ducked as they jabbed into her side. The horse didn’t hesitate and barged into the tangle of oak and yew.
    “Bloody hell,” Nathan groused.
    “What?” Rose tugged at the reins, and the horse slid to a stop. “What’s wrong?”
    “The flag.”
    “What?” She turned in the saddle, her gaze following Nathan’s. There, flying clearly in the breeze, atop a spire of the building they’d just escaped from, was a flag she recognized in an instant. Her breath exploded. “It’s the Zarrenburg flag.”
    “It is, and if we don’t keep moving, we may end back there. Right now, I want to get as far away as we can.”
    “But my papa may be there.”
    “Possibly, but we’re no use to him at the moment. We need to rally and get more information.”
    Rose knew he spoke sense, but seeing that flag flying so clearly and knowing that her father probably lay within the building’s walls, she didn’t want to leave. She wanted to stay and save her father. Instead, heart heavy, fear spiraling, she hunkered down on the horse.
    A volley of shots rang out, along with the echo of horses’ hooves charging through the trees.
    “Come on, Rosie, darling, we need to make haste.” Nathan dug his heels into the horse, jolting them forward. He held on to her, taking the reins from her hands.
    “There!” Nathan shouted. “The river. Make for it.”
    Shouts increased behind them, but a quick glance over her shoulder offered a semblance of relief. The guards were no longer gaining on them.
    Turning back to the river, she spied the gate at the last minute. She squeezed her eyes closed as the horse leapt the rickety fence. Air rushed around them, her lungs refusing to breathe.
    Then they were clear, the horse still