Read Online The Princess Spy by Melanie Dickerson - Free Book Online Page B

his nipping teeth, and led the animal into the stable yard. “I was angry that you didn’t believe me.” After a pause, he added, “And that you didn’t come back.”
    The hurt look on his face, which she only caught a glimpse of as he turned away, sent a stabbing pain through her chest. An angry rebuke would have been preferable.
    “I am sorry. I should not have left you alone when you were a foreigner and without a friend to help you.”
    “I did have someone,” he said quietly, not looking at her. “The priest speaks English. He came and translated for me and convinced the stable master to allow me to work in the stable in exchange for food and a place to sleep.”
    “I am glad.” Margaretha drew closer to him. “I truly am sorry I did not follow through on my promises to you. Will you forgive me?”
    He looked down at her, a softer expression on his face. “I forgive you. But I was not only angry with you. I was worried about what Claybrook might do to you. He is a craven weasel, but also cruel and dangerous.”
    Examining the serious look on his face, she was convinced again that he at least believed what he was saying. However, she still wasn’t sure if she believed it herself.
    He stared at her, a muscle twitching in his jaw. “But he is not here, so we need not be afraid of him now. Are you ready for your ride?”
    “Yes.”
    He bent and held his hands at knee level to help her mount the horse. She quickly placed her foot in his hands, before he should change his mind about letting her ride the stallion. In a moment she was sitting high in the sidesaddle, higher than she had ever been, since the stallion was so much larger than her mare. Her heart galloped, but she smiled, hoping she looked at ease on the powerful beast. She sat still a moment to let the horse get used to her — and said a little prayer that he wouldn’t throw her. Then she nudged him forward with her knee.
    Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the stable master rushing toward them from the other side of the stable yard, his mouth hanging open.
    The horse started forward, then reared. Margaretha clutched the reins, grabbing a fistful of mane along with them. The horse reared again as Colin tried to grab the horse’s neck — and the horse’s pawing hoof came within a finger-width of striking him in the head.
    Somehow Margaretha managed to hang on and stay in the saddle. When he pounded his hooves to the ground, Margaretha’s teeth slammed together so hard she hoped they didn’t break.
    The horse immediately bolted. Again, she was hard-pressed to keep from falling off as her bones seemed to rattle at the violence of his gait. The stallion’s hooves pounded faster and faster, heading straight for the stone well where the horses’ water was drawn.
    The roaring in her ears nearly drowned out all other sound. Her heart pounded in rhythm to the horse’s hooves.
    Was this the end of her life? Why hadn’t she listened to her father? Even Colin had warned her that the horse was dangerous. O God , I don’t want to die. How dishonorable it would be to die this way. Her father would be so disappointed in her, and poor Colin would be blamed for it. O God , help me!
    The horse thundered at an amazing speed, never wavering from his path toward the stone wall around the well. She held on to the horse’s mane with all her strength. Somehow she’d lost her grip on the reins. If they became tangled around the stallion’s legs, he would surely tumble head first and kill them both.
    Still, he continued toward the well. Just when she was certain he would crash into the four-foot-high wall around it, he turned and headed back the way they had come, toward the stable, at the same breakneck speed. The stable master jumped out of the way, but Colin came toward them, raising his arms and yelling at her, “Jump! I’ll catch you!”
    He must be insane to offer to rescue her this way. Still, it was her only hope to be saved from this horse that