His Prairie Princess (Prairie Brides 1) Read Free

e thud he heard wasn’t the woman’s head.  But then, what else could it be?  If she had regained conscious she certainly wasn't after that blow!  But a blow to the head because of him was certainly better than what she surely would have suffered at the hands of the outlaws. Besides, once he got away he’d take her straight to Doc Waller in Clear Creek. Yes, that’s what he’d do. 
    Harrison kept moving until he heard the sound of water and headed for it.  H e’d tied his horse near a small stream and the animal couldn’t be far off.   He carried the still form through the trees and upon reaching the stream, caught his breath. He then risked a low whistle.  His horse nickered in return.  It was faint, but he heard it and took off downstream toward the sound. After a few moments he found his mare Juliet right where he left her.  Just in time too.  It started to snow.
       “OK, girl.  You’re going to have to take it from here.”  He said in a low voice as he hefted his load across the saddle.  It was a horrible way to transport the woman, but he didn’t want to take the time to untie her and bring her around.  Time was of the essenc e and he wasn’t about to waste it.  Harrison quickly mounted, lifted her body to slide into the saddle himself and laid her across his lap as best he could.  It was going to be a rough ride with her body wedged between his belly and the saddle horn, but she would stay put that way.
      With one hand on the woman and the reins in the other, he kicked Juliet into action and they were off.  Across the stream, through the woods and all too soon, heading for the open prairie.  The one place he feared they might be caught.  A couple inches of snow covered the ground and even though the crescent moon gave little light, it would probably be enough for the outlaws to see Juliet against the rolling sea of white laid out before him. Not to mention his tracks unless he had some good distance on them.  With luck, it would snow enough in a few moments to hide any trail he’d left and make it harder for the outlaws to follow.
      Harrison slowed Juliet and turned to check the landscape behind them.  Nothing. No light in the trees, no dark forms coming across the snow.  But by now the outlaws would have caught their horses and discovered the woman was gone.  Even if they had been dumb enough not to guard her, they weren’t so dumb they wouldn’t notice her bonds had been cut.  The wolf-pack nothing but a diversion.
    After a few more minutes, Harrison took another quick look at the dark line of pine that bordered the prairie.  It was snowing harde r now, but not so much he couldn't see the light of a lantern flash through the trees. 
    They were coming. 
    He had a good head start, but maybe not enough.  They could still possibly see him.  Taking the woman to Doc Waller then, was out of the question.  His mare Juliet would never make the extra miles to town if he pushed her much harder.  He wished he’d taken his brother’s stallion, Romeo.  For him the race across the open prairie would be no problem.  But Harrison had set out to get the mail, not rescue a damsel in distress!
    He could still lose them by disappearing into the gentle rolling landscape of the prairie.  The outlaws wouldn’t be able to keep a steady eye on him.  Unfortunately, Harrison wouldn’t be able to keep an eye on them either.
    He stopped to take in his surroundings.  The farm was closer.  Juliet could make it with no problem and at least his stepbrothers and father would be there.  They could help protect the woman.  Maybe.
    Help from those three depended on how much they’d been drinking.  In fact, the more he thought about it, he might ha ve to protect her from his stepbrothers and father as well. None of them had been around a woman in a long time and the only soiled dove in the area was indisposed.  The others had been run out of town, which left the one, and not a very good