Free Far After Gold by Jen Black Page A

us.” Gamel on his own would be worth avoiding, but in a group he could hardly do them harm. “Not when the other men are with us.”
    Oli looked doubtful, but Emer, used to the friendly families of her island, increased her pace and hurried after the group who disappeared around a bend of the path. The trees closed in around them, and when they rounded the curve, Emer gasped in dismay. Gamel was waiting for them, his shoulders comfortably propped against a tree trunk. The other men had gone on ahead.
    Oli groaned. “This isn’t a good idea….”
    Gamel ignored Oli, but smiled at Emer as they drew closer. “What are you doing out on your own?”
    Emer looked surprised. “Just walking, getting to know the countryside.” Staring at the ugly gaps in his teeth made her think he would do better not to smile.
    Gamel leered, and Emer hastily looked away. “You shouldn’t be out alone.”
    “Why ever not?” She looked down at her youthful guide. “Oli knows the way and we’re not so very far from the settlement.”
    “You could be meeting a lover!” Gamel sniggered as if he’d made a good joke.
    His words were offensive and the nasty way he ran his gaze over her body made her think Oli had been right after all. She closed her mouth, kept her own counsel and set a fast pace in the hope that they would catch up with the hunting party before long. When the trail offered glimpses of the rushing brown river through the trees, she knew they would be back in the steading very soon.
    Even the hunters slowed as they crossed the stepping stones. Feeling safer in their company, Emer relaxed and watched them nimbly transport the carcase across the stones. Gamel waved her ahead of him and Grendel rushed ahead of her. Laughing at the dog’s speed, she skipped across the first few stones with ease and then turned, expecting to see Oli behind her.
    Instead she found Gamel crowding close. Jolted, she turned too quickly and made the mistake of looking down at the water surging through the stones. Dizziness didn’t help. She jerked her head up just as Gamel put an arm about her waist. His breath blew hot and damp on her ear.
    “Steady now! Just stand still, don’t rush! You’ll be fine.” He pulled her slender body back against him, and thrust his own forward against her buttocks.
    Emer felt ill. Oh, dear Lord, Oli was right! She struggled silently, but Gamel did not release her. He chuckled softly and grabbed her breast through the soft fabric of her gown and stroked her, over and over. Emer gagged with revulsion and struggled against him.
    “Let me go!” She could not break free.
    “Oh, this feels good,” Gamel muttered in her ear. “Just wait until I get you to myself one night.”
    “You will never, ever—oh!” Her voice broke on an outraged squawk as his hand scrabbled through the folds of her gown to her groin and gripped her hard.
    Emer dug her nails into the back of his hand and threw herself sideways without a thought about falling in the river and perhaps drowning. She slid out of his grasp, lost what little balance she had and only saved herself by plunging forward onto the next stone.
    Regaining her balance, Emer wheeled round, too furious to care about her safety and kicked at his legs. She caught him behind the knee. Gamel teetered over the swift brown water, arms rotating in an effort to keep his balance. Emer yelped in satisfaction when he toppled over and water closed over his fleshy pink head. The water was not deep, but the swift current rolled him across the rocky, uneven river bed. He’d have a good few bruises come morning.
    Oli whooped with laughter, and Grendel barked from the river bank.
    “Hah!” Emer skipped up and down on the stone, and didn’t wait to see what happened to him. She ran across the rest of the stones as if the furies were after her and tore down the track through the trees with Oli howling with laughter behind her.
    She slowed to catch her breath before she went into the hall.