Hiding Katherine by GG Shalton (most difficult books to read txt) 📕

She touched his face. “What a thoughtful question to ask me. It matters not now as I had made my choice. You will be an earl, and no one will know that Alexander did not sire you.”

“I want to know, Mama.”

She thought for a moment. “Yes, I loved Ian Travis. But Alexander was a great provider and loved you as his own. He also loved the girls and was a good father.”

“You are full of mysteries, Mama.”

She laughed and mounted her horse, and they took off back to Deanna’s.

Chapter 33

A few days into her travel, a storm brimmed on the horizon and Dorian said they needed to seek shelter soon. The tents would not hold up and they would need to look for an inn. They passed a small village, but no lodging was available for them. Dorian tried to use Daniel’s title and name, but even that did not work. He decided to travel south as he knew of some caverns that could fit their riding party and horses. It was a little closer to the English border than he would have liked, but he had to chance it.

They settled into the caves, and the storm came down on them relentlessly. Pounding rain, hail, and wind that was unlike anything she had ever seen. The trip south was a good move and most of their belongings were saved.

The next morning, they set off toward the village they had passed to buy a few supplies before traveling again. They still had a few days before reaching Deanna. Katherine was tired, and her legs were chaffed. When she entered the village, she told the men that she would need to find some salve and would meet them later.

A few of the shops instructed her to the healer’s home a mile outside of the village. She followed their instructions and took an obscured trail through trees and passed a creek that was heavily flooded from the rainfall the night before. The bridge was shaky, but intact as she crossed over it. Trying to look ahead instead of down she glanced at her feet seeing water rushing beneath her, it looked like the creek could burst at any moment. Running the rest of the way over the bridge, she stepped into mud as she eyed a small wooden cottage near the tree line.

She knocked on the door and waited for someone to answer. After several minutes, she knocked again. There was no answer and she walked to the back finding no one at home. After waiting a few moments, she heard a door open and close. She walked around again and saw the door was slightly jarred. Approaching the door, she was pulled back by someone and fell to the ground. She struggled against her attacker as he held her tighter against his chest and lifted her off the ground. Letting out a scream, he covered her mouth with his hand as he shoved a cloth inside of it. She was carried to a horse and a blanket was placed over her head by a second attacker.

“Tie her hands,” a rough voice with an English accent said.

The man roughly held her hands back tying a rope to them as she tried to kick him again.

A deep voice vibrated, “If you don’t stop kicking me, I will kill you.” She was tied to a horse and heard other horses surrounding her.

“I have her. Did you knock the bridge out?”

A different voice replied, “The river has aided us this day. No one is getting across the creek for several hours. We can get to the border by nightfall.”

They rode for hours and her head began to ache from the jostling movement on the horse. Once they stopped, she was untied, but the blanket remained over her head.

“Take the blanket off, no one will hear her now.”

The blanket and cloth in her mouth were removed. A man lifted her off the horse to stand. The blinding light took her a few moments to adjust her eyes. Her legs wobbled until she could finally get her balance. Looking around her, she counted ten men dressed as knights staring at her.

Her voice strained as she asked, “May I have a drink of water?”

One of the men handed her some water and she drank quickly, water dripping from her chin in her rush. “May I take care of some private needs?” The same man escorted her to a bush and stood with his back to her. She looked around thinking about escape but found no reasonable place to run. She finished and walked back to the horse.

She looked at the man who seemed to be in charge. “I am not Scottish. I am English and would not be a good prisoner if that is your intention.”

The man smiled evilly at her. “Is that what you think? We took you for ransom?”

“Is it not?”

“We know who you are, Lady Katherine. We used to work for your father. I never had the pleasure of meeting you, but I did see you once when you were to marry the Earl of Delbert.”

“I don’t understand. Why would you take me now?”

“We no longer work for your father, but I owed your brother Drake a debt when he saved my life. This is his repayment.” He let out a cynical laugh. “Although, I could be persuaded to keep you. You are quite the beauty.” He took his hand running it down her cheek.

She smacked his hand away and turned her face. He scowled and then laughed. “Very well, your fate awaits.”

He called the men and gave her a choice to ride with him or be tied to the horse again. As much as she hated being near him, she agreed to ride with him.

There were no homes close by for them to lodge in, but the trip to the cave took them out of their way south.