me a gypsy wench,â Billy remarked. âI âear theyâre real special, all fire anâ fight. Reckon Iâll find out this very afternoon.â
Jamieâs cold gray eyes glittered. His lips twisted into a leer. Shoving a lock of unruly brown hair from his brow, he stepped nearer. There was hatred in his eyes, hatred and lust that seemed to smoulder. Billy came up beside him, slinging a powerful arm around his friendâs shoulders. My heart was pounding. My throat felt dry. Waves of panic threatened to sweep over me. I held them back, willing myself not to show the least sign of fear.
âWhatâd they teach ya in that swell school you been to, Mary Ellen?â Jamie asked.
âThey taught me not to be intimidated by oafs like you.â
My voice was surprisingly calm. Another gust of wind swept across the flat, open land. My skirts billowed. My hair blew across my cheek. I pushed it back, holding myself straight and distant.
âI reckon they musta fed you real good at that school, Mary Ellen,â Jamie said. âYouâre all growed up.â He nodded. âYeah, youâre all growed up. Real ripe anâ juicy.â
The panic was very near the surface now, and I was trembling inside. I felt so weak, so vulnerable. They were both as strong as oxen, hard with muscle, and I would be powerless against them. Rape was jolly sport for youths like these, any nubile lass their natural prey. How many maidens had they forcibly deflowered? Like animals bursting with energy and appetite, they thought of nothing but release. Right and wrong failed to exist for them. It would be useless to plead, useless to fight.
âSoon as I saw you prancinâ down thâ street so âigh anâ mighty, I knew what I was gonna do,â Jamie snarled.
He moved another step nearer, eyes glittering, his face tight, a mask of hostility. He seemed to seethe with it. I drew back, my composure slipping fast. My heart was beating louder and louder, so loud I felt sure they both could hear. I moved back another step, almost stumbling. Billy chuckled and shoved Jamie aside with rough amiability.
âYouâre scarinâ âer,â he said. âI keep tellinâ ya, Jamie, you gotta gentle âem a little, gotta feel âem up and get âem in thâ mood. âEre, Iâll show ya âow itâs done.â
âDonât touch me,â I said hoarsely.
Billy shook his head. Dark blond waves spilled over his brow, and the almost-pretty face seemed to glow with pleasure. The blue eyes were merry and lascivious, and he smiled a tender, taunting smile.
âCome on now, wench,â he said. His voice was husky and seductive. âDonâtcha wanna be friendly? Me anâ Jamie, weâre a couple oâ swell fellows, really know âow to make a wench âappy. Ask Daisy Clark. Ask Mollie Jeffers. Ask any uv thâ girls. Theyâre all just pantinâ to âave us come a-courtinâ.â
That taunting smile widened, pink lips curling up at both corners, and the eyes were aglow with anticipation. As he seized my arms and pulled me toward him, everything seemed to whirl in a blazing haze of fear and fury. I struggled violently, trying to pull away, and he laughed a rumbling laugh and held my arms even tighter, his fingers biting into my flesh. I cried out and kicked him, slamming my toe against his shin with all the force I could muster. There was a mighty yell, but it wasnât Billy. It was Jamie. Jamie yelled, and Billyâs eyes widened in dismay.
Neither of us had heard the horse and carriage, that carriage that had seemed so tiny when I had seen it in the distance. It was standing but a few yards away, and Jamie was struggling with a man in a dark blue suit. They seemed to be hugging each other, rocking to and fro, and then they broke apart and Jamie staggered backwards and shook his head as though to clear it. Then he charged