Free Too Hot For A Rake by Pearl Wolf Page B

and protect milady. There’s a robbery just ahead, mayhap. Two highwaymen are tryin’ to murder a proper gentleman, by the look of him. Be quiet while Rabu and I see what the lay of the land is. We have to stop them or we’ll be next.” He tied the horses to a tree and crept forward, rifle at the ready. Rabu followed him resolutely, his fists clenched, poised for battle.
    “Oooh, milady! We’re done for!” Amy moaned.
    “Stop that whimpering, you silly chit. Casper and Rabu will protect us. It’s their duty. Quick! We must prepare ourselves. What can we use if they fail? No, no. Don’t look so alarmed and don’t you dare start wailing. Let’s search the carriage. There must be something here we can…”
    A loud shot reached their ears. Amy jumped closer to her mistress. “They…they’ve murdered Casper.”
    “Stop it this instant,” said Helena, exasperated, yet frightened in spite of her admonition. She pushed her abigail to the floor. “Stay right there. Don’t move unless you hear me scream. Then get out and run as fast as you can and find help.”
    Helena cracked the door open just enough to slide down to the ground. She crept quietly toward the direction of the rifle shot. Her eyes flew open at the sight of Casper struggling with one of the masked men while the other held his bleeding leg and groaned. Rabu stood frozen at the side of the road, all resolve to fight now lost. Casper’s rifle lay on the ground near the figure of a third man lying face down, not moving at all.
    She tore her eyes away from him and concentrated on the immediate danger. Rabu was no help and Casper appeared to be losing the struggle. The man with the bleeding leg was trying to inch his way toward the fallen rifle. She found a sturdy branch lying nearby, gripped it with both hands and rushed into the fray.
    “Stop, thief! We’ll have no more of this nonsense!” The startled thug let go of Casper and turned to see where the voice was coming from, giving Casper time to thrust him off.
    “Smith! Watch yer back!” screamed his accomplice. He reached for the rifle just as Helena ran to him and kicked it out of reach. She dropped the branch, picked up the rifle and aimed it at the man called Smith, never taking her eyes off his wounded partner.
    “Casper, can you find something to bind these two brutes with? Rabu and I will stand watch until you return.” She turned to Smith and added, “I also have you in my sight. I’m an excellent shot, my man.”
    Rabu came to his senses and joined her, a look of fearlessness on his face despite his shaking knees.
    “Right and tight, milady.” Casper stood up and brushed himself off. “Can you two hold them until I return, milady?”
    “Of course.”
    “Yes, sah!” said Rabu, recovered from fright.
    The wounded man snorted. “Women don’ know how to shoot and that little man is worthless.”
    “Shut up, Isley. Don’t set ’em off. I don’t fancy me death.”
    Helena let out a harsh laugh. “Try me, Isley. Move one muscle and I’ll shoot the other leg. Lie down, Smith.”
    “All right, miss.” The man lay flat on his back and crossed his arms over his chest as if already dead.
    “You too, Isley. On your back next to your friend. No. Not that close. Just close enough so we can watch you both. That’s right. Now fold your arms over your chest and don’t move.”
    “Can ye let us go just this once, your la’ship? We never done this ’afore, but there’s no honest work to be had and…and we have families to feed,” Smith whined.
    Helena didn’t take her eyes off either highwayman. “You should have thought of that before you murdered that poor gentleman lying over there.”
    “He ain’t dead, miss. Just stunned-like. Go see fer yerself.”
    “Not on your life, you glib-tongued thief. I’ll see to him once you’re both safely bound. If he’s dead, heaven help you. You’ll both hang for it.”
    Casper returned with Amy in tow. “Got the rope, milady. We’re