Free A Knight With Grace: Book 1 of the Assassin Knights Series by Laurel O'Donnell Page A

obvious he was tracking her. He knew the man, had worked with him before. And he didn’t like him. Peter was unscrupulous and untrustworthy.
    Once William entered the cottage, he began to load Hellfire. Grace helped, handing him another bag. William put the saddle on his horse, murmuring softly to Hellfire. When the task was complete, he straightened and looked at Grace. She stared at him, concern furrowing her forehead. He put the saddle on the other horse. He would use Curtis’s horse to confuse Peter by sending the animal down another road. When he was finished, he turned to Grace and stretched out a hand to her.
    She looked down at it. “Perhaps you should go without me.”
    He lowered his hand.
    “You are a good knight. Much different than I expected. I don’t want you hurt because of me.”
    He lifted his hand to her again. “I will not leave without you.”
    She looked at him and he could have swore there was admiration in her eyes. But that couldn’t be. Admiration was not a look people bestowed on him, especially not beautiful noble women. She placed her hand into his. The touch of her warm skin sent a rush through his body. He pulled her gently forward and caught her by the waist. For a moment, he looked down at her. Lord, how he wanted to kiss her lips. They stood that way for a long moment. His gaze moved over her face, caressing every curve. She was beautiful. He had been unprepared for these feelings. And for Grace. He was unworthy of her. He lifted her onto Hellfire. “We’ll have to ride quickly.” He put his foot into the stirrup and mounted behind her. He tied the reins of Mortain’s horse to his pommel and reached around her to take up Hellfire’s reins. “Are you ready?”
    She nodded, wrapping one hand around the pommel of the saddle and one around one of his arms.
    He urged Hellfire forward, and the other horse matched pace. Then he spurred his horse hard into a full out gallop. He charged down the road. He heard a whoosh and bent low over Grace, trying to protect her. He was certain it had been an arrow. Anger rose up in William. A man looking to bring a kidnapped woman back to the castle would not be firing arrows at her. There was much more going on here than met the eye. He kicked Hellfire, urging his steed faster. Faster. His fingers masterfully clutched the reins, maneuvering the horse from side to side, making it harder for the arrows to find their mark. The only positive thing that could come from the existence of arrows was that arrows meant a bow, and a bow meant Peter was most likely standing somewhere, aiming. Peter would have to mount his horse and give chase. Those few moments would give them time to escape. Precious little time, but better than nothing.
    William pushed Hellfire on. The two horses charged down the road, quickly reaching a junction where the road split in two. He untied Mortain’s horse and urged him down the road leading to Willoughby Castle before steering Hellfire down the other fork.
    Grace watched Curtis’s horse ride away. “Do you think it will work?”
    William hoped so, but he was taking no chances. “I don’t know.”
    As they turned a bend in the road, William had to swerve Hellfire to avoid a farmer with a cart full of cabbages who shouted angrily after him. Hellfire stumbled and almost fell, but righted himself.
    William kept up the pace, listening to hear if the farmer shouted again. That would mean Peter was giving chase. But as he listened, the shout never came. Still, William did not relent. The more distance they put between them and the bowman, the better. And William knew Peter would not give up.
    After traveling for a good time at a quick pace, the clouds parted and the sun beat down on them from almost directly over head. William turned Hellfire off of the main road.
    “Where are we going?” Grace asked.
    “I’m hoping that the man will follow Mortain’s horse toward Willoughby Castle. That’s where he’ll expect us to go. He may