Angel in Black Read Online Free Page A

fought for their lives with all the knowledge she possessed, but it was not enough. Over the years she had lost friends to the diseases winter’s cold brought. It was a losing battle and it terrified her.
    “We can’t hunt for our food in the forests; it takes game from Langsford’s table. We are allotted pitiful amounts of wood, to make certain he doesn’t get cold in his huge mansion. He wastes enough food in one meal to feed this whole village. What he spends on one suit of clothing would provide warm clothes for everyone. Did you know most of these women have little more than a shawl to ward off the cold? And the children — some don’t have shoes. Damn — damn his murdering soul to hell.”
    Rina struggled to control her overwhelming rage. John pulled her to him, holding her as she trembled and tried to calm her. Slowly, the fires inside her subsided in the security and comfort of John’s arms. When she had regained control of her emotions, Rina resumed currying Blackstar’s coat again.
    “Johnny, we must find a way to feed everyone. I can’t bear to watch them suffer and die anymore. Not while rich, hypocritical bastards sit on their fat behinds with their fine ladies dripping in jewels worth a small fortune.”
    “I know how you feel, Kat. But what can we do? You can’t be responsible for everyone in the whole village, not yet anyway. Maybe when Camray is yours again, you can do more to help.” John knew the compassion and love Rina had for the people in Tattershall, but what could a girl of nineteen years do? He understood as an Easton she felt it her duty to care for them and provide for them as best she could. His words fell on deaf ears and he tried again.
    “Langsford is cruel and greedy, but we can’t do anything to stop him. We can’t take what we need or we’d be hung for stealing. There is nothing we can do, Kat.”
    “That’s it,” she cried, her eyes widening at the simplicity of it. “That’s it, Johnny. We should start taking what we need to survive … like Robin Hood.” Rina paused, her eyes gleaming with excitement. She bit her lower lip in contemplation and considered her notion further.
    John knew from the look in her eyes she was serious. “That’s crazy,” he protested. “They would hang us for sure.”
    “Not if they didn’t know who we were. We could wear hoods; conceal our faces, like Langsford did. We could get a couple men from the village, ones we could fully trust, to form a band of highwaymen. All we steal, we will give to families in need. Wealthy people are always on the roads at night and they always have jewels and gold. They’d never expect it.”
    “And what would you suggest we ride? You’re the only one with a fast horse. We’d need good weapons and saddles. Just how do you figure we’d get them?” he demanded.
    Rina gave it some thought before she answered. “I have my sapphire-and-diamond jewelry. I could sell them for the funds we need to buy horses and weapons.”
    “No,” John objected firmly. “That’s all you have left, Kat. You can’t sell them. You would never be able to replace them — they mean so much to you.”
    “My reason for selling them is much more important than my need to hold onto a memory. And I know my parents would understand, after all, they’re only jewels. I’ll always hold my parent’s love in my heart, with or without a memento of our last time together. I would have sold them long ago if Jake and Jenny hadn’t insisted I keep them. But I will not take no for an answer this time. Don’t you see, Johnny? I have to try. I can no longer sit back and do nothing while innocent people die because of one man’s insatiable greed and cruelty. This is one way we can fight back. Will you help me?” Rina pleaded, looking desperately into his eyes.
    He shook his head slowly. When she looked at him like that, he could deny her nothing. “You know I will. Actually, it would be nice to see Langsford through the sight of