Read Online Bound to a Warrior by Donna Fletcher - Free Book Online Page B

stopped for the night.
    He looked to Mercy keeping a good gait beside him. As was her way, she had not uttered one complaint, but he could see the tiredness creeping over her lovely face and hear it in her mounting sighs.
    He took hold of her hand and she slowed and glanced up at him.
    â€œDo you think you can make one more hill before we stop for the night?” he asked, nodding toward the distance ahead.
    She gave a look and chuckled. “That little thing? We’ll be over it in no time.”
    He admired her courage, knowing her feet and legs must be protesting, and he smiled. “Then we will rest and feast.”
    â€œThat’s reason enough to conquer that hill.”
    With hands remaining clasped, they made it to the hill in no time and were soon starting up the steep slope. It was easy at first and Duncan believed as Mercy had suggested, they’d be over it fast enough.
    But halfway up, the terrain changed. It turned rocky, making footing more difficult and dangerous, and costing more effort on their part. A few times he and Mercy had almost lost their footing and he was quick to keep a tight hold on her.
    They slowed their pace and climbed more carefully, finding it necessary to hold more tightly to rocks and sturdy branches as they climbed.
    â€œA bit more and we’re there,” he encouraged and she nodded, her breathing too labored to speak.
    Anxious to reach the top only a few feet away, Duncan gave a push forward, grabbing a jutting rock and finding another good rock to plant his foot on, when suddenly both rocks gave way under his weight. He reached out frantically, trying to grab onto something, anything, but whatever he touched crumbled in his hand. With nothing to latch onto, he went plummeting backward and Mercy went with him.

Chapter 8
    M ercy couldn’t avoid the dirt and stones that rained over her. She wanted to glance up at Duncan, just a step or two ahead of her, to see what was wrong, but it was impossible with the falling debris.
    Then with a sudden shock she was violently wrenched away from the hillside and found herself tumbling down the rocky terrain. Duncan swiftly grabbed her around the waist and yanked her against him. He shoved her face against his chest and wrapped his solid body tightly around her. She clung to him just as tightly as they tumbled over and over and over; rocks, stones and sticks jabbing them everywhere.
    It seemed an endless fall when finally they reached the bottom, rolled and slammed into a tree trunk. Mercy was too stunned and frightened to speak. She wanted nothing more than to remain in the protection of Duncan’s strong arms.
    â€œAre you all right?” he asked with an anxious breath.
    â€œI think—” Her breath caught and she fought to regain it.
    â€œEasy, Mercy, easy,” he urged, his hand soothing along her back.
    She tried too hard to breath and she was soon grasping for breath.
    Duncan sat up taking her with him, his arms remaining steady around her. “Calm down, lass,” he said softly. “You’re all right. I’m here.”
    She gasped a couple more times, though his reassuring words soothed her, and then she was finally able to calm herself and breathe easily.
    â€œThat’s it,” he encouraged. “You’re doing well.”
    Once Mercy fully reclaimed control, she felt foolish. Lord, she had jumped off a high cliff shackled to a stranger and landed in deep water when she couldn’t even swim, and she had not felt the intense fear that she had a moment ago.
    She was even more embarrassed when she shuddered uncontrollably.
    Duncan drew her gently against him. She was quick to rest her head to his chest, quick to admit how wonderfully comforting his hard muscles felt and quick to appreciate the soothing rhythm of his strong, rapid heartbeat.
    â€œI lost my hold and my footing,” he said, blaming himself.
    â€œYou kept hold of me though.” Another shudder racked her