The Bearwalker's Daughter (23 page)

Not far behind the fleeing couple, a band of riders pounded over the trail. At least half a dozen men were hard on their heels. In that instant, she knew who they were and why they chased after the lovers. A short distance ahead of Jack and Karin was a lesser known path, seldom traveled. If Jack chose that route, it would lead them to the cabin by a secret trail. If he continued on his present course, the couple would be overtaken before they crossed the stream. They must cross it first.

But Jack wasn’t familiar with this other way and mightn’t even see it. Karin had only a faint memory. Neeley once brought her by this path to visit the old home place and tell her a bit about her mother.

Was this why Neeley had been led here, to direct them? In a moment, it would be too late. She must act now. Like a bird in flight, she neared the couple and hovered above them, Karin’s precious head just beneath her fluttery presence.

Reaching out her fingertips, she touched the girl’s downy cheek.
Karin, lass.
Neeley spoke near her ear.

Karin roused as if she sensed her, glancing around and listening hard. The girl could hear what others couldn’t. Neeley prayed she’d heed her now.
Remember
the
old
way
home. Take that
path, child.

“Jack!” Karin summoned over the wind. “There’s another way to the cabin. There.” She pointed at the shadowy track up ahead. “Hardly anyone uses it.”

Godspeed
. Neeley gave her precious charge a parting touch. With a sigh of relief, she floated above them as Jack wheeled the stallion onto the dim path and out of sight before the approaching riders. He and Karin still had to keep ahead, but this gave them a chance.

And then it seemed to Neeley that the sky was shot through with the most glorious gold light, shimmering more brightly than the sun. She really must go see this wondrous sight...and lifted toward the radiant glow.

Chapter Sixteen

Water rushing over stones alerted Jack to the closeness of the stream. Here and there between the bare branches of trees along the bank, he glimpsed moonlight reflecting off the swift spill.

“Ho—” he panted, reining in his winded mount. The stallion stood, sides heaving, as Jack debated his next move. “Shall we plunge in here or seek a spot farther down?”

“You choose.” Karin’s teeth chattered. “I’ve not come by this route in so long. ’Tis treacherous looking. Even worse than before.”

“A ready hearth and warm bed await us there. You’ve been chilled through once today and are little better now. I badly want you settled in decent shelter.”

“That decision does not yet lie before us. First the stream.” Jack tightened his arm around her waist. “We have to cross somewhere. Might as well be here.”

Nudging Peki in the sides, Jack guided the stallion down the rocky bank through ghostly sycamore trunks to fast-running water. He paused for a moment and surveyed the torrent winking in the moonlight.

Icy water slammed into them like a liquid wall, spraying frigid droplets up into Jack’s face and soaking his high-top moccasins. Karin was getting a worse wetting and could least endure it on top of this day. The big horse shuddered under the assault, but fought to hold his shifting ground. Bracing himself, he pushed on into the center of the frothy deluge.

Woodland debris swirled by them in the darkness. Jack barely distinguished the twigs and branches where the light touched down, and only for an instant. He glimpsed the trunk from a downed tree snapped in half and sailing at them with the force of a cannon ball. Too late, he hauled on the reins, grunting as the missile clipped him smartly on the leg. Peki squealed in pain. It must have caught his shoulder in passing.

That was a mercy. He only hoped the horse wasn’t badly hurt. He could do nothing for him now, thigh high in the pummeling flow. He patted Peki’s saturated neck. “Come on, boy. Let’s go.”

Toughened by months on the trail and the hard slog of battle, the steadfast horse soldiered on through the violent waterway. Blowing hard, he reached the other side and scrambled up the rain- drenched bank.

With a startled cry, Peki lurched to the side. He fought for footing and slid in the mud. Jack hung on as the stallion went down onto his knees. The nimble animal jolted back up onto his hooves, lurching again. He skidded backwards, and then threw himself forward, scrabbling at the slick earth for a foothold.

Jack clung to Karin for dear life. But somehow— he’d never forgive himself—she tore from his arms and tumbled to the ground.

Fern browned by frost padded her fall. But it was hard enough. Worse, he watched in helpless horror as she tumbled over and over down the bank. “Karin!”

An incoherent cry sounded in muffled reply from somewhere below.

Peki righted himself and instinctively dug in his heels. He stood, shaken but steady, as Jack sprang from the saddle, yelling, “Karin!”

No answer this time.

He left his rifle on the leaf-strewn ground and skidded down the bank. Stones bit into his palms as he felt his way. Peering into the darkness, he shouted, “Where are you?”

Nothing.

Dear God. Had she gone into the water? If he only had a torch. Wait—he did.

Snatching the necklace from his pouch, he held it aloft with one hand. Light shone from the gem as he scrambled down the slippery earth, searching for her in the surreal glow.

Where was she? Oh, God, where was she? Shocking fear struck him like a punch to the gut.

Shake it off! Find her! Flashing the light from side to side, he cast the strange illumination over glistening rocks, trampled grass, and fern.
There
!

She lay sprawled on her back at the base of the bank. She’d narrowly missed colliding with a large stone. The water surged past her waist to her chest, but thankfully the greedy flow hadn’t covered her face.

He clambered toward her. “Karin!”

She moaned and lifted her head.

He barely heard her groan over the stream. With the eagerness of a man snatched from the noose, he scrambled the rest of the way—slipping in his haste. He only just stopped. He’d careen into the creek next thing if he weren’t careful. “Are you hurt bad?”

She gasped, “Not sure.”

He closed his hand around a jutting limb for support and held out the necklace to better see her. She was winded and muddied from the fall, but not badly injured as far as he could tell. It was impossible to say what she’d damaged for sure, though her many layers of clothing padded her.

Pushing up on an elbow, she tried to turn onto her side. “Don’t move. I’ll get you.”

Reaching out his free arm, he circled it around her drenched middle. Her mantle, even heavier wet, and saturated skirts, weighed her down as he pulled her up to him.

“I thought I’d lost you,” he said, crushing her to his chest, pressing his lips to her cold face. “That’s twice today. Enough. Sweet Jesus, enough.”

The light guided his way back. With her in tow, he half-crawled, half-climbed up the bank to where the horse waited. He didn’t stop to inspect the sharp twinge in his leg or stem the blood, but cast an expert eye at the cut on Peki’s shoulder. Not too deep. Relieved, he stuffed the necklace back in his pouch and hoisted her up onto the stallion. She slumped forward.

“Hold on.” Grabbing his rifle, he slid it over his shoulder, and swung himself up behind Karin. Snaking a quick arm around her, he held her in place.

“Where on earth do you think you’re going, to
him
?” Thomas called in disbelief. “Come on back!”

How had the posse found them so fast? The shouting and blue light, maybe. Made no difference now. Jack had to get Karin out of here. Their one advantage, they’d crossed the stream ahead of the others.

Gripping her, he dug his heels into Peki’s sides. The stallion leapt away and tore through the jet-black woods. Jack kept doggedly to the trail. If they strayed into the open woods in the dark, they’d grow lost.

At first he wasn’t certain with the thud of hooves. Then he heard it again, the long thin howl. The eerie wail seemed to carry from miles away, but Jack knew how fast the creature could near. Echoing cries joined the leader. More and more unnerving howls rent the night. It sounded like the whole damn pack had come.

“Jack! They’re back!” Karin shook against him.

“It’ll be all right. We’ve a swift mount.” Now, it was up to him and Peki to get away before the creatures closed in on them. The one fortuitous thing in all this devilment was that the ominous threat would beat back his pursuers. At least, for now.

Doing the exact opposite of what he’d undertaken only the evening before, Jack sped Peki back into the ridges and away from the Scots’ settlement where he’d thought to find sanctuary.

Karin shouted over her shoulder, “They’re closer!”

“We’ll outrun them!”

The relentless wolves sprang from behind the trees and underbrush, snapping at Peki’s heels. No matter his fatigue, the horse swept over the inky trail in a flood of terror. Rather than the men, fearsome shadows pursued them alive with toothy snarls.

“Faster!” Jack urged. Not that Peki needed encouragement to give his all with the furies at his tail.

A branch snared Jack’s hat. “Damn.” It was gone.

The stallion tore ahead and the cries grew fainter until they faded away. They must’ve gained on the beasts and were out in front. Finally. Jack slowed Peki to a breath-racking trot.

Karin released a shaky rush of air.

Jack did the same from his constricted lungs in uncertain relief, still straining to hear. He didn’t quite trust the silence, and then—unbelievably, more howls rose in the night. These renewed calls sounded closer than ever as if the pack were almost upon them. He thought he’d outrun the creatures only to find himself assaulted all over again, the sneaky beasts.

Karin shrank against him. “’Tisn’t possible.”

Howls echoed on every side. No outlet remained. Peki came to a snorting halt. Jack kept a steely arm around her, sensing what would follow. With a squeal, the cornered stallion reared up on his hind legs. He might be surrounded, but by heaven, he was a fighter.

Eyes burning like yellow sulfur, the bristling animals stalked toward them. Nearer, nearer.

Jack could shoot one, but wouldn’t have time to reload. That left him to strike out with his knife and tomahawk. So many wolves. Too many to take on alone.

Karin screamed out for all she was worth, “Papa!’

She actually called to him and by such a familiar name—amazing Jack, even amid heart- racing tension. It seemed she saw only one place left to run and one person to run to.

Jack scarcely dared to move. Karin held herself taut. Peki lowered his hooves to the ground and stood trembling. Were the animals really gone? Would Shequenor appear, growling with wrath? Or had her touching plea appeased him?