Page 55 of Outrageous

“So, my lord,” Flynn said with a hard glint in his eyes. “It’s all up to you.”

Chapter 11

“Agreed.” Godric stepped back from Flynn but didn’t lower the pistol.

“Don’t do it,” Eva shouted.

Godric glanced down at her, surprised. “I thought you enjoyed a good mill?”

Her jaw sagged and she stared up at him, her eyes wide as she shook her head. “I am not jesting, Godric. He’s a liar—he’ll never keep his word. Please, don’t do it. We’ve got three guns—”

“Four,” their first robber—the frock-wearing arquebus expert—chimed in.

“Four guns,” she corrected. “We can take our chances.”

Godric grinned, amused in spite of the situation. “Don’t you have any faith in me, Eva?” Without waiting for an answer, he glanced at their new ally. “What’s your name?”

“Andrew,” the boy blurted, and then swallowed loudly, the gun he was holding on Flynn wavering. “Um, Andrew Lowell, sir,” he amended.

Godric turned back to Eva and said in a low voice. “I want you to go with Andrew. Keep to the road. Get rid of that damned arquebus and move as fast as you can. One of the postilions told me the nearest village is only three or so miles down the road. If you—”

“No.”

Godric blinked. “I’m sorry, what?”

“No, and don’t use your colonel voice on me, either.” Her words were pure bravado because he could hear the terror in her tone.

“Eva, now is not the time to argue. Now is the time to—”

“Would you leave me behind?”

“That’s hardly the same—”

“It’s exactly the same. I’m not leaving you.” She crossed her arms, the mulish look he’d come to dread shifting her features.

“Er, Colonel Fleming? Are we planning to do this before we all float away like leaves in a stream?” Godric flicked Flynn an irritable look and the other man held up his hands and shrugged. “I’m just sayin’ the rain ain’t slowin’ none.”

Indeed, it seemed to have picked up yet again.

“Eva—”

“No.”

“Blast and damn and bloody hell!”

She flinched at his vulgar tirade but didn’t budge. Godric wondered why his head hadn’t exploded yet—his eyes were hot and dry, even though he felt as if he were treading water.

“Goddammit, Eva,” he ground out, glaring at her stubborn, beautiful face.

“No.” She was as unbudgeable as a boulder.

“Fine,” he snapped. “Take this.” He offered her the gun, butt first. “I want you to go stand by Andrew and I want one promise from you.”

“I’m not leaving.”

He ground his teeth. “Not yet—but if things look bad—” He gave her a hard look. “You’ve boasted that you’ve been to mills—promise you’ll leave if it looks bad for me. Promise. If you really want to help me, then go.”

She swallowed convulsively, her jaw quivering as though she was fighting tears.