by Wendy Vella
I will see them again, she vowed silently.
Focusing on the cliffs, she listened to what the men above were saying.
“On three.”
“What about four?”
“Why would it be four when it's always three?”
“Who made it three?”
“It's on bloody three and if you say one more word I'm tossing you in after him!”
At least the idiots had chosen not to murder the man first. She would take that small blessing as a good omen. She watched their silhouettes as they swung the unconscious man back and forward.
“One, two, three!”
Eden kept her eyes on his body as it flew through the air and then sucking in a deep breath she watched it hit the water a few feet from where she floated. Diving beneath the surface, using her arms and legs, she propelled herself deeper, following the body as it plummeted.
Eden was a good swimmer, her brothers had ensured that, yet as tightness began to crush her lungs, fear made her frantic to drag in air. Engulfed in terrifying darkness, panic choked her, making it harder to descend. Surging forward with another desperate kick she reached out and something brushed her fingers.
He was wriggling like an eel, his body thrashing for release. Grabbing one of his shoulders then using the man's body like a ladder, Eden struggled to climb down him to reach the ankles. Taking the knife from between her teeth she began to saw through the ropes. It was sharp, but they were moving downward fast and combined with her terror, it made the task almost impossible. Desperate now for air, Eden wrapped her legs around his waist, gripped him tight and sawed harder on the ropes. In seconds she had his feet free. Her lungs were shuddering and her head felt light as the man twisted, also desperate for air. They had to reach the surface quickly so she abandoned the idea of freeing his wrists and gripped the knife between her teeth once again. Grabbing his bound hands, Eden kicked upwards. Together their legs propelled them through the black waters until they broke the surface seconds later.
Eden felt some of her panic ease as she took the knife from her mouth, and gulped in a huge, breath. Wracking coughs came from the man as he tried to suck in air and spit water from his mouth. Looking to the top of the cliffs, she was relieved to see no sign of his captors.
“Quiet!”
He did as she asked, and she tracked the men to the edge of the forest.
“They are gone.”
Eden could not make out the man's features, only hear the deep rasps of breath as he drew them into his body. “Y-your hands.” Her teeth chattered from the cold. “I n-need to untie them.” It took her several attempts but finally she had him freed.
“I— How did you—”
“W-we must reach the rocks.” Eden cut off his words. “They may come back and see us, so we need to m-move fast.”
“Yes.” His words were hoarse as they both struck out for the cliffs. Their progress was slow, exhaustion making Eden's limbs leaden. Putting her head under the water and using her hands and feet she swam as fast as she could toward the rocks. When she came up for air, a wave hit her and she spat and spluttered for several seconds, losing her knife in the process.
“Kick!” he yelled.
Eden took a deep breath and swam with the last of her energy. Seconds later her hands touched the rocks.
“Th-thank you,” the man rasped, gripping the rocks beside her. They both dragged in huge lungfuls of air. “I-I am not sure how or why you were there, but thank you for saving my life.”
Eden's eyes stung from the salt water as she tried to look at him. He appeared big beside her, but she couldn't make out his features. She wondered what he had done to deserve tonight's fate and hoped he was not some horrid, nefarious man who had done evil deeds.
“Are you a good man?”
“What?”
“I-I need to know I have not saved a bad man.” Although if she was honest, she probably would have, but suddenly it seemed important to know, which was possibly because she was feeling light-headed.
“No, I am not a bad man.”
Eden believed the clipped words.
“We must get to safety.” Looking to where Atticus waited for her above, she wondered how they would reach him. The combination of cold and exhaustion had sapped her strength, and surely the man fared little better.
“I-I cannot m-manage without your help, sir. W-we must climb up to my horse,” she said, bracing herself as a wave threatened to drag her off. One arm wrapped around her waist, and she was pulled into the shelter of his arms.
“We will make it because I will let nothing happen to you.” The deep words were whispered into her ear. “I owe you my life.”
Sensing Danger
OTHER BOOKS BY WENDY VELLA
Historical Romances
Regency Rakes Series
Duchess By Chance
Rescued By A Viscount
Tempting Miss Allender
The Langley Sisters Series
Lady In Disguise
Lady In Demand
Lady In Distress
The Lady Plays Her Ace
The Lady Seals Her Fate
The Raven & Sinclair Series
Sensing Danger
Seeing Danger
Touched By Danger
The Lords Of Night Street Series
Lord Gallant
Lord Valiant
Lord Valorous
Lord Noble
Stand-Alone Titles
The Reluctant Countess
Christmas Wishes
The Earl’s Encounter
Contemporary Romances
The Lake Howling Series
A Promise Of Home
The Texan Meets His Match
How Sweet It Is
It Only Took You
Don’t Look Back
A Long Way Home
The Ryker Falls Series
Somebody To Love
