th his obvious fear. Felicia continued to steady him with soft words.
“This fellow, Ashton … do you think he has been nabbed, then?” asked one of the magistrate’s men.
“Well, no, I don’t,” Felicia answered at once. “No doubt his horse was startled and broke free of his tether.” It was at this moment all of them went very still as they heard the report of a gun.
“Damn, if we ain’t in for it now,” breathed the magistrate grimly. “Stand aside, girl and then, stay here safely out of the way!”
* * *
Ashton’s game of cat and mouse had proved to be expedient. The mouse had, and he smiled to himself, indeed, come scurrying unawares to the cat!
He had purposely made a bit of noise, stepped heavily on twigs, moved the brush and then waited. He didn’t have his pistol with him, but he had his neckcloth, which he had already undone. With any luck, it just might do the trick.
The culprit Jack obviously heard the crackle of twigs and stopped to listen while Ashton stayed very still, hunched and ready. Evidently his mouse was considering going for the bait.
Ashton watched as Jack slowly put down his bucket and looked toward the woods, his face drawn in a frown. His uncovered hair blew around his face and eyes, and he cursed and worked it backwards with his fingers before he bent to take up a thick branch and smack it against his open palm.
Ashton patiently waited. Jack walked right in his direction, the direction from where he had heard the sounds.
Ashton made his move, and it was like a sudden storm blowing in out of nowhere!
He ran down his prey, sending him backwards in a fury of motion and force. Ashton was well over six foot and muscular. Jack never stood a chance.
Ashton pinned him with deftness and forethought, and then rolled him over in fluid, easy movements, while, stunned and winded, Jack tried to defend himself.
Ashton purposely put his weight on Jack’s back as he straddled the stunned man and then secured his arms by tying them at the wrist with his neckcloth. Jack got off one shout before he was nearly knocked nearly unconscious by Ashton’s fist to lie dazed.
This done, Ashton lifted himself off just enough to roll the man onto his back and immediately stuffed his handkerchief into the man’s open mouth—open because he was about to put up another shout.
Ashton waited because his captive had in fact made enough noise to bring the other out. It was what he had wanted.
Ashton pushed his handkerchief further into the man’s throat and sneered as Jack choked.
He forced the man into the woods and then made him sit on his butt.
Ashton pulled out his shirttails and ripped off a length of its hem, clucking to himself as he told his captive, “Damn shame I have to ruin this … but we can’t have you getting to your feet and taking off, now can we?” He tethered the man’s ankles and then stood for a quiet moment, waiting and listening.
“Jack!” called the other man as he stepped out of the cottage. “Where be ye? Damn fool—Jack?”
Ashton watched expressions flit over the man’s face and saw him take up his gun. Aye, then, this one knew there was trouble and was ready.
The man called again, “Eh then, ye dimwit, where are ye?”
The man, under Ashton’s eye, walked towards him and peered into the woods.
Grumbling, cautiously the man moved across the short patch of weeds at the cottage and stepped out of the clearing and into the woods.
This was all that Ashton needed to instigate his plan.
A rock carefully aimed and forcefully thrown whizzed over the man’s uncovered head. The fellow was already unnerved. This last made him crouch and hold out his gun ever-ready.
“Oi’m armed, oi am,” the man shouted and then, for emphasis, let off a shot into a nearby tree.
Ah, just what he wanted. Before the man could reload, Ashton rushed him and caught him off balance. The man opened his eyes wide and fell backwards. “Whot?” the man cried as he went down.
Ashton gave him no time whatsoever to regain his breath but instead took him by the collar and dragged him a few feet before he planted him a facer. “That is for your manhandling of a young woman.”
It was at this particular moment that the magistrate, his two men, and Felicia—who had not remained behind as he had told her—arrived on the scene.