Free The Spellbinder (Tom & Laura Series) by John Booth Page B

sir, I can see you are not British, no British man would ever pull a gun on his travelling companions.” Laura said, finally recovering her thoughts and deciding to play for time.
    “You are an enemy of the Hungarian people. A Class A Spellbinder. My country will be delighted when your life blood is soaking into the earth. You British have too many Class A’s, it is not fair.” Bruno paused, as if to consider the unfairness of life.
    “But enough of this. Boy, come and open that door.” He pointed at the other side of the carriage, “Come on, boy, hurry up, or I shall shoot you first.”
    Tom went to the far side of the carriage and levered the door window down. As he lowered it, noise and cold came rushing in, the wind cutting through his clothes. The sounds were overwhelming. They would have to shout to make themselves heard.
    He leant out into the night and used the outer handle to open the door. Tom swung the door open, being careful not to fall out. Bruno waved his gun to order Tom back towards the far bench. Tom sat down reluctantly as it would make it difficult to put his body between Bruno and Laura when the time came.
    Bruno had a speech prepared. He was a professional assassin and liked to let his victims know exactly why they were dying, but his words could not be heard above the clickety-clack of the wheels on the rails and the wind tearing at the open door. All three of them shivered in the cold.
    Laura had an idea. She knew it was ludicrous, but then, so were many of her best ones. It also relied on Tom being quick off the mark. Bruno waved her towards the door. She gathered he wanted her to stand beside the door so that when he shot her she would fall from the carriage and save him the bother of throwing her out. She braced a leg against the bottom of her bench using the leverage that provided to allow her to stand up without holding onto anything. Laura used her hands to rip open her bodice, thrusting her pert young breasts into Bruno’s face.
    Tom saw his chance and attacked, pushing Laura out of the way. He held Bruno’s gun up in the air as they struggled. Laura dived for her bag, she knew she only had seconds to cast a bind and save them. Bruno was certainly stronger than Tom and would prevail in no time at all.
    As Tom struggled to hold onto Bruno, the urge to heal Bruno’s fingers surged through him. ‘ It can hardly hurt’ Tom thought wryly as his hold began to slip. Bruno kneed him in the guts and Tom sagged to the carriage floor, still holding onto the man’s legs as he fell.
    Bruno held the gun in the hand with the two missing fingers. New fingers began to grow from the stumps. Bruno was not aware as they grew through the trigger guard of the gun and began to swell. The trigger guard was far two small to hold three adult fingers.
    The gun went off as the trigger was depressed, the round missing Laura and Tom. Bruno began to scream as his new fingers were crushed against the metal of the guard and his other finger. He shook his hand hysterically, trying to free the gun. In the process he pushed Tom back into his seat. Laura completed her bind, the door behind him flew open as he bind required and he was sucked out into the night.
    It took Laura and Tom several minutes to get the doors closed and the windows pushed up. They sat back on the benches exhausted by their efforts.
    Laura chuckled wearily.
    “You grew his fingers back? Did you know that would help?”
    “No, but I was out of ideas.”
    “It worked out wonderfully, though I did not know you could do that. I did not even know any Healer could do that.”
    “Me neither, I believe your bind on me has done more than we expected”
    “Impressive though,” Laura smiled at the man who had saved her life yet again.
    “Whenever you want two fingers up, I am your man.” Tom said grinning, and was surprised when Laura blushed at his words.
    “Come here,” Laura ordered, hugging and kissing Tom as he leaned against her.
    Tom