In the Kingdom's Name (Guardian of Scotland Book 2) Read Online Free Page A

a gap wide enough for a horse to charge through. Digging in his spurs, Andrew barreled ahead, pulling his wife’s mare in his wake.
    Following with focused determination, Eva kicked her heels against her gelding’s barrel, slapping her reins. “Go, go, go!”
    Attacked from the side, William deflected a poleaxe while watching his woman’s old gelding lurch into a gallop. Before the horse cleared the skirmish, a brigand dove sideways and caught Eva’s gown.
    A high-pitched shriek screeched in William’s ears as she sailed through the air, arms flinging wide. The bastard dug his grimy fingers into her waist as together they crashed to the ground.
    Screaming, Eva thrashed, fighting to break free.
    The defiling whoreson trapped her with his leg. Tearing off her veil, he rolled atop her and licked her neck. His sickly laugh rose above the tumult while he yanked up her skirts.
    Rage boiled from William’s gut and erupted through his chest.
    Bursting forward with a thundering roar, he battled through the skirmish. Eva’s hem creeped further up her thighs. Swinging her fists, she beat the cur’s back and thrashed her head. But the plunderer cackled with bloodlust in his eyes.
    Unable to chance striking her with his blade, Wallace grasped the lout by the chin and yanked his head sideways with a sickly crackle of bone and sinew. The slimy varlet’s body fell limp and dropped atop her. Eva screeched with staccato yelps while she squirmed under the dead man.
    Hefting the corpse aside, William grabbed Eva’s wrist and hoisted the only woman he’d ever loved over his shoulder. “I’ll spirit ye away from here.”
    He raced for a riderless horse while the battle surged. A thug stepped into his path. With a kick up the backside, William sent the brigand face down to the dirt and surged forward. No time for decorum, he tossed Eva over the stallion’s neck and leapt aboard. Gathering the reins, he dug in his spurs and galloped for the shelter of dense forest.
    ***
    Too frightened to worry about her stomach pounding against the horse’s withers, Eva gripped the girth strap and held on for dear life while her knuckles turned white. Her breaths came in gasping bursts. Branches slapped her face and legs as William raced for safety.
    Stars darted through her vision before he tugged on the reins and pulled the horse to a stop.
    “We’re out of danger for now.” William dismounted and helped Eva slide to her feet.
    Her knees buckled and he gripped his fingers around her waist. “Steady, lass.”
    She swiped trembling fingers across her face. “Oh God,” she shrieked. “They came from n-nowhere. One minute w-we were alone. And the next…”
    “I ken.” He smoothed his palm over her hip where she’d fallen. “Are ye hurt?”
    “I don’t think so.” Honestly, her entire body felt numb. “Maybe a bit bruised.” She shook so violently, her teeth chattered.
    “There, there, mon amour .” William tucked a strand of hair under her veil and pulled her into his arms. “Ye’re safe now.”
    Eva’s gaze darted to the path they’d taken. “What if they follow us?”
    With a pat to his sword’s hilt, William’s eyes grew dark. “Then they’ll have five pounds of cold iron run through their bellies.”
    Her stomach squelched. Nothing worse than nearly being raped and murdered to stir the fear in one’s blood. “How can you take it? Knowing you could be attacked at any moment? This is no way to live.”
    He pulled her into his arms and clutched her head to his chest. “Och, ye could be attacked by brigands when lying in your bed. ’Tis no use cowering or hiding from them. The only way is to stand and fight. Show them we will not tolerate their brutality.”
    “I was so afraid.” Gulping, she tried to still her unsteady breath. “I can’t fight off a whole band of outlaws. I don’t know the first thing about swinging one of those mammoth swords.”
    He tightened his embrace, like forming a shield of iron around her.