A mutter reached him. “I feel perfectly filleted.”
“You did well. Don’t fail now!”
He looked back. One of the mounts behind reared, whinnying, and both came to a halt.
“That’ll hold them for a while.”
He slid the now useless gun back into its holster and gave another whistle as he seized back control of the reins. Delia was still crouched over the pommel.
“You can sit up now.”
She let go of Tiger’s mane and pushed up, her breathing ragged. No time to let her recover.
“Hold the pommel! We’ve got to flee!”
With which, he touched his spurs to Tiger’s flanks and the horse shot forward. Giff glanced up at the sky. The sun was dropping and he turned to follow its pointer, heading west.
The trees were growing a little more sparse. They ought to hit the road in a moment. As well, for the pursuit was up again, the riders behind gaining on them.
The ribbon of the road came into sight and Giff made for it. He hoped they would expect him to ride along it, but his only thought was to take the road briefly and head into the trees on the other side. It was their only chance with the flower girl up before him.
Just as Tiger thrust out of the trees and into the road, a shot rang out.
Fire thudded into Giff’s thigh. The impact threw his whole body forward and he cannoned into Delia, who grunted.
“Hell and damnation, I’m hit!”
Without pause for thought, he kept Tiger’s path straight and the horse pounded into the trees on the far side of the road.
The wound made itself felt. Giff paid it scant attention, intent upon the game. He had to lose them now or hell would take him. And the girl with him.
She was leaning to the left, looking down. “You’re bleeding.”
“A flesh wound. Can’t attend to it now. No time.”
Was it merely a flesh wound? If he had a bullet in him, he was for it. Change of plan. Once he’d outfoxed these blighted hunters, he’d have to head for Stepleton. No possible way he could take the flower girl to Weymouth. Not yet awhile. Nothing for it. She’d have to come with him.
Thunder and the devil! His mind was slowing. Losing too much blood. He fought off the dizziness, forcing his concentration to the task of foxing his pursuers. He listened out for the sound of their horses, but his ears felt as if they were filled with cotton. He nudged the girl nestling between his arms.
“Can you hear them?”
“Not any longer.”
He breathed out relief. “Then I think we’ve lost them.”
“Not for long.” Delia was leaning a little to the side, studying the ground. “You’re leaving a trail of blood.”
“The devil and the deuce!”
He pulled Tiger up and slumped a little in the saddle. His mind was none too clear, but one thing emerged intact.
“You’d best get down. Hide yourself. I’ll lead them away from you before they can get to me.”
He caught sight of her swinging hand. A stinging blow landed on his cheek. He flinched back, hissing in a breath, and stared at her.
“What in hell?”
“Wake up!” She both sounded and looked fierce. “I’m not leaving you to get captured, so just stop that nonsense right now!”