Hiding Rose (Saved By Desire 5)

“I need to stop for a bit,” she gasped nearly a mile later when she could no longer keep up the rapid pace, and Barnaby didn’t seem inclined to slow down.

“We can’t,” Barnaby replied firmly.

“You need to put this cloak back on before you are ill,” she gasped in a desperate attempt to get him to stop even for a few minutes. She yanked the cloak off her shoulders, bracing herself against the immediate chill, and threw the cloak over to him. “Put something on or you will get sick.”

“I am fine,” Barnaby breathed.

“You are frozen,” Rose protested. “The last thing either of us need is for you to get ill.”

“Rose,” Barnaby grunted. He tried to catch hold of her hands but he was shaking too much from the cold that had permeated his bones. It was foolish to hold a gun or even attempt to shoot it while he was trembling so badly. While he knew she was right, her lack of covering now put her in incredible danger because her dress would be visible from miles away.

“Keep it on,” she urged him. “Let’s rest for a while.”

“We need to

carry on for a while.” Barnaby contradicted.

As he spoke he studied her flimsy slippers. He knew they afforded her no protection at all from the soggy ground and stone pathway yet she hadn’t murmured one word of protest. He scratched his head and glanced around them but could see little with the heavy rain clouds gathering in the sky. The moon had guided them for the last few minutes, but that had now been obliterated by the deluge yet to come. Their situation was becoming increasingly dire with each hour that passed. So much so that Barnaby knew that if they didn’t find some sort of cover they were going to be dead by morning anyway and it would not be because of Chadwick.

“There is a farmhouse down the road. Look,” Rose gasped excitedly. “Can we not go there?” There was a hint of plea in her voice she made no attempt to hide.

Barnaby hesitated. His first instinct was to shake his head but in all conscience he couldn’t. The house was their only option now. Although Chadwick was likely to go there too if he happened to stumble across it, or at least keep a watch on the place, Barnaby couldn’t keep Rose out in the middle of the moors, unprotected from the elements and slowly freezing to death. He couldn’t have it on his conscience if she became ill and died.

“We have to. If only to get a change of clothing that is warmer,” he replied. “Come on.”

“What do I do with the horse?” Rose asked as she warily eyed the beast behind her.

“We can keep him with us for the time being.” Barnaby turned his attention to the farmhouse now only a few feet away. “Stay here.” He motioned to a low stone wall. “I won’t be long.”

Rose realised he intended to leave her all alone and immediately balked at the idea.

“You can’t leave me here. What if he sees me?”

“Run,” Barnaby replied briskly. “You can’t come with me. Just stay here with the horse. If you hear any gunfire, get onto that horse however you can and get out of here. Don’t hesitate, don’t wait for me, and don’t look back.”

“But I can’t leave you,” she whispered knowing he was asking her to do the unthinkable.

“You must, Rose.”

“No. I won’t.”

There wasn’t the time to waste to argue with her. Heaving a sigh, he did the only thing he could think of. He hauled her against him and kissed her. It was hard, it was over as quickly as it had begun, and it left them both gasping for breath and a little stunned by the ferocity of it. Before he could succumb to temptation again, Barnaby stepped away from her and vaulted over the wall.

“Barnaby,” Rose hissed, only to stare at him in disbelief when he abandoned her.

She stared at the spot in the darkness where he had vanished for several moments before the cutting wind blowing over the wall became too cold to bear. Turning to face the horse, she leant her hips against the wall to wait for Barnaby to return. With nothing else to do, her attention turned to the enigma of the man who had turned her entire life on its head. She felt somewhat proprietary toward him after what they had been through together. It was wrong of her she knew but she just couldn’t see him as a stranger any more. He might have a loved one or, worse, a wife waiting at home for him but out here, with such dangers close at hand, it was difficult to remember that.

“You must,” she whispered aloud. Men like Barnaby were always invariably married or betrothed to some beautiful woman who could do everything with ease. Now that she came to think about it, it would be highly unusual for someone like Barnaby not to have a wife keeping the home fires burning. If she asked him though, would he tell her? He didn’t seem inclined to want to tell her anything about himself, so there was nothing she could do if he did have a lover at home. At some point she would have to insist on him answering a few of her questions for a change but it would have to be later when there was less danger afoot.

Before she could decide on what she should ask him, the crack of a twig nearby broke into her thoughts. To Rose’s nervous senses the noise was as loud and startling as gunfire. Her eyes widened with fear. She knew it wasn’t Barnaby. He had vanished into the night in front of her whereas the noise came from behind her. The horse hadn’t moved. It now stood dozing sleepily next to the wall.

Sick with fear, Rose remained perfectly still and listened for the sound again. It wasn’t long before the dull thud of approaching footsteps drew her attention but it was difficult to tell where they were coming from. Was Barnaby back? Overjoyed at the prospect, Rose pushed away from the wall and turned around.

Her scream was all Barnaby heard. Spinning on his heel he raced back down the garden path, his eyes locked on the two figures he could see wrestling in the shadows. His world slowed to a haunting speed as he watched Chadwick’s arm lift. The heavy weapon he held in his hand was horrifying, especially when it was pointed directly at Rose’s head. Barnaby knew he had seconds to act before she became Chadwick’s third victim. Withdrawing his small pistol from his boot, he took aim and fired. The retort wasn’t as loud as his heavy pistol, which was tucked inside the pocket of his cloak still, but it was enough.

Chadwick jerked violently when the bullet hit his hand. His gun flew through the air and disappeared but that didn’t put the criminal off what he was there to do. Now that he couldn’t shoot her, Chadwick appeared determined to drag Rose away from the area and lifted her off her feet.

“Damn it,” Barnaby swore as he broke into a run, his gaze locked on Chadwick, who stumbled backward beneath the force of Rose’s wriggling protests.