Take My Heart (Heroic Rogues Series) (34 page)

Mercedes’ body screamed in pain. Her skull had long since stopped throbbing, but being in one position for a lengthy amount of time stiffened every muscle in her body. When Captain Wilkes was not looking, she’d tugged both her arms and legs, trying to free herself from the ropes. But to no avail. After several hours, she slumped in the corner in exhaustion.

She leaned her head against the wall. Where was William? She blinked back tears threatening to streak down her face. Crying wouldn’t assist William in rescuing her, so why waste her energy?

Henry had stepped outside the barn, and relief flooded through her, if only for a moment. He’d wanted to touch her improperly, but Kat’s jealousy overrode her revenge. Kat had instructed Henry not to lay a finger on Mercedes.

Without wanting it to, a tear slid down her cheek. Her stomach knotted and she bent over. Agony washed through her body and mind from Kat’s betrayal. What had happened to Kat to make her so evil? Kat had always been the twin who could wrap their father around her finger. She’d always received everything she asked for. Even Mercedes had given in to her sister’s spoiled antics. But Kat had always wanted more. Much more...this time at the cost of her own sister.

Henry sauntered back inside, a smirk stretching across his mouth. He picked up the lantern and proceeded to light it. “You had me fooled, you know.” He knelt beside her and lifted a lock of hair, pressing it to his nose, inhaling deeply. “You smell so much better than your sister.”

“You had better not let Kat hear that. You know how she gets when she is angry.”

He sighed and let her hair fall from his fingers. “Yes. She can be such a devil.”

“Captain Wilkes? Tell me, do you believe me to be insane?”

He sat back, his gaze skimming over her face and neck. Her stomach churned.

“If you are, you certainly do not appear to be.”

“What about my sister? Do you think she is ill?”

“No. But you are completely different. She is wild, you are tame.” He stroked her cheek. “I almost wish you were like Kat.”

“If I were, William would not have fallen in love with me.”

He laughed and stood. “He is a fool. But then, I have known this all along.”

“What are your plans for William when he comes to rescue me?”

His chest shook with silent laughter. “You think he will come?”

“I know he will.”

“What a faithful, devoted woman you are.”

“What have you planned, Captain?”

He stepped over to the window and peered out. “I plan on using Mr. Braxton to weed out the other men in his group.”

Her heart sank. She must lead the captain down another path. “What group?”

He glanced over his shoulder and arched an eyebrow. “You know what group I refer to. The only one we have been after of late.”

“What if you are wrong and William is not part of a group?”

He shook his head. “I am not wrong. I know he was behind Mr. Hoskins’ escape.”

“How do you know this?”

He turned and faced her, crossing his arms over his chest. “Do you think me dim-witted? I am privileged to information not even my men know.”

She squirmed, hoping again to loosen the ropes, but they didn’t budge. She sighed in desperation. “All I can say is that Colonel Burwell will be disappointed when he learns you have captured the wrong man.”

Henry laughed, stepped away from the window, and headed in her direction. The dark look in his eyes sent chills over her body, turning it cold with dread. Should she remind him about Kat’s warning? The lowering sun threw shadows on his face. He appeared meaner, yet more determined. She swallowed hard.

“I have had enough talk for now.” He knelt beside her and ran his knuckles along her cheek. “I am bored and you are the only person who can remedy that matter.”

She pulled back, but couldn’t get away from his touch. “Please, Captain. Kat will be very upset.”

“Your sister does not need to know.”

She narrowed her eyes at him. “I will tell her.”

“I will rebut your story.”

His hand moved down her neck, his thumb stroked the skin at the base of her throat. She wanted to spit in his face, but resisted. He would certainly strike her.

She struggled once more with the ropes at her wrists, but they were still too strong, making it impossible to free her hands. “Get away from me,” she yelled.

“Never. I have come to care for you a great deal.”

Following her first instincts, she spit in his face. He pulled back, eyes wide, jaw slack. He scowled and backhanded her across the face. She cried out. Her skin stung from his blow. He raised his hand again, and she cringed, preparing for the next strike.

When William heard his wife’s scream, he rushed into the barn—then stopped. In the corner, Captain Wilkes’ red uniform caught his attention, then the squirming woman the man held.

A burst of anger shot through William’s body and he itched to grab the sword at his side. Instead, he ran toward the soldier and grabbed the man by his coat. William found the strength to pick him up and fling him at the wall. His wife’s eyes widened, then she squealed his name. He knelt beside her and took her in his arms. “Are you all right?”

She sobbed into his chest and his heart shattered. He wished he had arrived sooner. It tore him apart knowing he hadn’t stopped another man from harming her. What kind of husband did that make him?

“
Shhh
…” he soothed as he stroked her hair. “Captain Wilkes will not touch you again.”

A rebel shout ran through the air, and he snapped his head toward the soldier. Wilkes’ foot connected with William’s chest and knocked him away. Pain shot through his body and he inhaled sharply, clutching his chest. The captain raised his foot to strike him again. William rolled in the opposite direction. Gaining his ground, he jumped up and faced his opponent.

Hunched over, arms outstretched, the other man circled him.

“I do not want to kill you this way,” the captain said. “I want you hanged, and I want the whole town to see you as a traitor.”

“It will not happen.” William narrowed his eyes. “Because I plan on killing you right now.”

Henry laughed and shook his head. “What a brave man you pretend to be, but I know many men who are cowards just like you. Killing you will be rewarding.”

“And it will be rewarding to prove you wrong.”

Wilkes lunged at him and gripped William’s throat. The large man’s hands tightened around his neck. William struggled to take in air, but he couldn’t. His head pounded, and his lungs burned. The pressure at his throat began to numb his mind.

He pulled at Wilkes’ hands, but they were unmovable. Using his foot, William lashed out, hitting his opponent’s knee. The man cried out and fell to the ground. Jumping on him, William grabbed the man’s neck and squeezed.

The captain choked, gasping for air. William tightened his grip. The soldier struggled, rolling them both over. But William still held the man’s throat. Wilkes rolled once more, and William’s foot struck an object. Breaking glass from the lantern pulsated through the air. In a whoosh, flames ignited the hay.

He glanced over his shoulder. Fire danced closely, the heat touching his skin. Smoke curled around him, stinging his nose. He coughed. The flames licked at him and threatened to jump on his clothes.

Behind him, Mercedes screamed. “William, hurry.”

William cursed and bounded away from the fire, releasing Wilkes. The captain stood and reached for his saber. William unsheathed his own sword from its scabbard, bringing it up just in time to stop his opponent’s lunge. A muscle twitched in Wilkes’ jaw, his gaze narrowing.

The man parried with such skill, William felt at a disadvantage. Yet, it didn’t matter. Outrage and justice backed him. He fought for his wife, which gave him the needed strength to counterattack.

“I am going to kill you, you blackguard,” Wilkes retorted. “You have humiliated me for the last time.” Breathless and sweating, his lips curled in an evil grin. “This will be the day I cut out your heart.”

“I will deny you the chance.” William moved swiftly away from the other man’s weapon. His own breath came labored, more from anger than weakness.

Around the room they parried. William lunged, and Wilkes jumped away. Fire roared behind the captain, and he scrambled away, stumbling over a burning board.

“You are growing weak, Captain,” William snickered.

“Nonsense.”

The captain thrust his sword forward, slicing William’s arm. A spot of blood quickly dampened his shoulder. He ignored the pain. The movement stilled the other man for a brief moment, and William lunged and stuck the tip of his saber into Wilkes’ chest. Immediately crimson liquid stained the soldier’s white shirtfront as he fell to his knees, the weapon in his hand clinking to the ground beside him.

William stepped over and kicked the steel across the floor. Wide eyes stared up at him, color abandoning his stunned face.

“Are you...going to let...me die...slowly?” Henry rasped.

For all the anger surging through William, he sensed the fright in the captain. He couldn’t bring himself to be anything less than merciful even to his enemy.

“William!”

His wife’s terrified plea brought his attention to her. Flames had spread through the barn, nearing her. He hurried over and knelt beside her. He fumbled with the ropes at her wrist.

The burning wood cracked. The roof creaked and he glanced over to the captain. The man lay on his back, wide-eyed as he stared at the roof. Within seconds, it caved in on top of him.

William grabbed Mercedes, turning away from the burning man. He picked her up and hurried out of the barn.

He gazed into the tearful eyes of his wife. Using his thumb, he wiped away the liquid from her cheeks. “I feared I had lost you.”

“And I feared you would not find me.”

“I would move heaven and earth to find you.” He kissed her forehead.

“William, your shoulder.”

“
’Tis
only a scratch. I will live.” He reached behind her and tugged at the ropes on her wrists. They loosened. “There.” Relief flooding through him.

She shook off the binds and reached for the ties at her ankles. Through the crackling of the burning wood, another blast resounded through the night. A pistol exploded nearby. Pain pierced his injured arm and he cried out, falling into Mercedes.

She screamed.

He grabbed his wound and spun around. Walking away from a tree, Kat pointed the still smoking weapon his way. Her black hair framed her head in an untamable silhouette.

“Katherine, no,” Mercedes cried.

William winced as the pain made his arm useless. “How did you get free?”

She laughed, the eerie lift of her voice drifted through the air like a whistle. “You forgot about my maid, Beth.”

He tightened his hand around his bloody arm. “She’ll not be under my employ for long.”

She shook her head. “Once again I must prove you wrong. She will continue to be my maid. After all, the Widow Braxton will need all the support she can get when her husband dies.”

Mercedes sobbed beside him. He blocked her with his body, keeping himself in front of Kat’s pistol.

“Kat?” His wife sniffed. “Why? Why are you doing this?”

“Because I do not need a husband.”

“But William is not your husband.”

Kat shrugged. “He will be once you are out of the way and I step back into my role as Mrs. Braxton. Besides, I need his wealth in my fight for power. The King’s Army is where that power lies, and I am after everything I can get.”

William scowled. “What are you planning to do with Mercedes?”

A slow smile crossed her face. “You mean Kat, my poor, insane sister? I will send her back to the asylum from where she escaped.”

“You have no heart, Kat.” He glowered.

She shrugged. “Yes, in a sense.” She neared, still pointing the weapon at him.

“You will have to reload if you plan to shoot me again.” He dropped his focus on the pistol.

She shook her head, then brought around her other arm from behind her, displaying a saber. “Not if I kill you another way.”

Kat lifted the rod of sharp steel. Her eyes blazed black with evil. Her mouth pursed as she tightened her hands on the handle. Narrowing her gaze, she focused on him.

Without a doubt, she would kill him. He brought up his arm to block her attack.

* * * *

Mercedes screamed and pressed her body firmly to her husband. Off in the distance, a man’s shout rent the air, and seconds later, another pistol fired.

As Kat turned toward the sound, a bullet hit her chest and her body jerked. She glanced down at the blood oozing from beneath her bodice, her hand touching the quickly spreading fluid. She gasped. Her body crumbled to the ground.

Mercedes scrambled to stand, pushing William away. She ran and fell to her sister’s side. With a shaky hand, she turned her over. Blood covered her sister’s chest. Kat rolled her head and met Mercedes’ gaze. Her sister’s face drained of color, and her lips turned blue.