Read Online With This Ring by Amanda Quick - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Amanda Quick
Tags: Fiction, Historical
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"Harold, there's another one. We are lost."
Leo ignored the woman. He trained his pistol on the highwayman. "I have come to tell you that this is not a healthy district for thieves. If you are not gone by dawn, you will hang."
The man laughed harshly. "I suppose you're the wolf in human form they warned me about at the inn. Well, I've got news for ye-I don't believe in werewolves and the like."
"That's your problem, my friend. Drop the pistol." "I don't think I'll oblige you tonight, master wolf."
The highwayman's self-confidence sent a flash of warning through Leo. Something was not right. This had to be the same highwayman who had taken to his heels when he was faced with Beatrice and her pistol. It was too much to believe that there were two villains plaguing the district at the same time.
Either Beatrice with a pistol was a good deal more intimidating than he was with his own weapon, Leo thought, or else the highwayman had a reason for his newfound boldness.
Leo heard the crackle of a broken twig behind him a fraction of a second too late. Another horse and rider emerged from the trees. Moonlight glinted on the barrel of a pistol.
The rider aimed and fired without hesitation.
W i t h T h i s R i n g
Leo threw himself to the side in the saddle, but the bullet caught him on the shoulder.
For an instant all was chaos. The impact sent a shudder through Leo's arm. He dropped his pistol. Apollo danced nervously and tossed his head. Leo fought to keep his seat. The woman's scream echoed through the woods.
Freezing fire gripped Leo's left shoulder. It could have been much worse, he thought. If he had not shifted in the saddle, the bullet would have taken him in the neck. Every hobby had some drawback.
The first villain roared with laughter. "As ye can see, master wolf-man, I do not hunt alone tonight."
The savage snarl of a great beast shattered the night into a thousand shards of moonlit glass.
Everyone froze.
Leo smiled faintly. "As it happens, neither do U'
The paralyzing effect of Elf's battle cry wore off an instant later. With the exception of Apollo, the horses went wild. They exploded into rearing, plunging confusion.
The coachman seized the opportunity to give his team their heads. The terrified creatures leaped forward, jolting the carriage into motion. The woman shrieked again. "Harold. "
Both highwaymen were too busy trying to control their mounts to pay any attention to the coach as it sped off around the bend.
"What in the name of all that's holy was that?" the first villain shouted.
"It's that wolf the woman at the inn talked about," the second yelled.
"There is no bloody wolf. It's a damned fairy tale, I tell ye."
Leo whistled once. Elf sprang from the undergrowth. He leaped toward the first highwayman, lips drawn back, fangs gleaming.
A m a n d a Q u i c k
"Shoot him," the first man cried. "Kill him, for God's sake."
Leo managed to wrest his spare pistol out of the pocket inside his cloak. He aim&d and fired in a single motion.
The bullet caught the second highwayman in the thigh just as he leveled his pistol at Elf. The man yelled and toppled from his horse. He sprawled on the ground, clutching his wounded leg.
The first man finally lost the struggle to control his mount. He slid sideways to the ground. Elf leaped toward him.
,, Elf," Leo said. "Guard."
The hound came to a halt. He stood over the fallen man, growling softly.,
A strange silence descended on the scene. Leo tried to shake off the unpleasant, light-headed sensation that threatened to creep over him. He was aware of dampness in the vicinity of his burning shoulder.
On the ground, the first highwayman took his terrified gaze off Elf long enough to flick a quick, desperate glance at Leo.
"They told us at the inn-" He broke off to lick his lips. "They said that the Mad Monk guarded only Monkcrest lands."
"They got it wrong," Leo said. "The Mad Monk takes care of his own. And that includes his guests. Last night you
Leo ignored the woman. He trained his pistol on the highwayman. "I have come to tell you that this is not a healthy district for thieves. If you are not gone by dawn, you will hang."
The man laughed harshly. "I suppose you're the wolf in human form they warned me about at the inn. Well, I've got news for ye-I don't believe in werewolves and the like."
"That's your problem, my friend. Drop the pistol." "I don't think I'll oblige you tonight, master wolf."
The highwayman's self-confidence sent a flash of warning through Leo. Something was not right. This had to be the same highwayman who had taken to his heels when he was faced with Beatrice and her pistol. It was too much to believe that there were two villains plaguing the district at the same time.
Either Beatrice with a pistol was a good deal more intimidating than he was with his own weapon, Leo thought, or else the highwayman had a reason for his newfound boldness.
Leo heard the crackle of a broken twig behind him a fraction of a second too late. Another horse and rider emerged from the trees. Moonlight glinted on the barrel of a pistol.
The rider aimed and fired without hesitation.
W i t h T h i s R i n g
Leo threw himself to the side in the saddle, but the bullet caught him on the shoulder.
For an instant all was chaos. The impact sent a shudder through Leo's arm. He dropped his pistol. Apollo danced nervously and tossed his head. Leo fought to keep his seat. The woman's scream echoed through the woods.
Freezing fire gripped Leo's left shoulder. It could have been much worse, he thought. If he had not shifted in the saddle, the bullet would have taken him in the neck. Every hobby had some drawback.
The first villain roared with laughter. "As ye can see, master wolf-man, I do not hunt alone tonight."
The savage snarl of a great beast shattered the night into a thousand shards of moonlit glass.
Everyone froze.
Leo smiled faintly. "As it happens, neither do U'
The paralyzing effect of Elf's battle cry wore off an instant later. With the exception of Apollo, the horses went wild. They exploded into rearing, plunging confusion.
The coachman seized the opportunity to give his team their heads. The terrified creatures leaped forward, jolting the carriage into motion. The woman shrieked again. "Harold. "
Both highwaymen were too busy trying to control their mounts to pay any attention to the coach as it sped off around the bend.
"What in the name of all that's holy was that?" the first villain shouted.
"It's that wolf the woman at the inn talked about," the second yelled.
"There is no bloody wolf. It's a damned fairy tale, I tell ye."
Leo whistled once. Elf sprang from the undergrowth. He leaped toward the first highwayman, lips drawn back, fangs gleaming.
A m a n d a Q u i c k
"Shoot him," the first man cried. "Kill him, for God's sake."
Leo managed to wrest his spare pistol out of the pocket inside his cloak. He aim&d and fired in a single motion.
The bullet caught the second highwayman in the thigh just as he leveled his pistol at Elf. The man yelled and toppled from his horse. He sprawled on the ground, clutching his wounded leg.
The first man finally lost the struggle to control his mount. He slid sideways to the ground. Elf leaped toward him.
,, Elf," Leo said. "Guard."
The hound came to a halt. He stood over the fallen man, growling softly.,
A strange silence descended on the scene. Leo tried to shake off the unpleasant, light-headed sensation that threatened to creep over him. He was aware of dampness in the vicinity of his burning shoulder.
On the ground, the first highwayman took his terrified gaze off Elf long enough to flick a quick, desperate glance at Leo.
"They told us at the inn-" He broke off to lick his lips. "They said that the Mad Monk guarded only Monkcrest lands."
"They got it wrong," Leo said. "The Mad Monk takes care of his own. And that includes his guests. Last night you
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