Kai grabs her hand and yanking her back into the shadow before she can step into the open and run across the street. “No, not safe!”
“Kai!” she gasps. “I need to get to the docks. Aimee is there.”
"This way!" He forces her back into the shadows, and they run down an alley away from the shop. Two men have been trailing Kai, and he led them straight to the dress shop.
The fire was bait to draw Bronnah out. They’ve been watching the streets to see who comes running. Kai leads her down the alley and shouts when one warrior steps into view at the end of the alley.
"Chen," Kai gasps. Dark and deadly, his hands disappear into his long black sleeves, and Kai yanks her the other direction. Bronnah runs with him and wrenches her pistol out of her bodice, praying she won't have to use it.
Kai tosses a handful of marbles on the ground behind them hoping to slow down the warrior, but he leaps across the toys using the brick wall and ricochets off, landing on his feet with a snarl.
Her prayer clearly goes unheard as a second man much larger than the last one steps into view in front of them. The darkness of the alley mixed with her fear causes her to be reckless. She screams and continues running directly at him. Behind her, she can feel the man's hand reaching for her. In a desperate last-ditch act, she stops suddenly dropping into a squat sending the Chen warrior tumbling over her and directly into the larger man.
To her astonishment, they begin to fight. Kai shouts at her and starts to drag her back down the alley away from the street, only to have two more Chen step into view. "Trapped," she cries out.
Ignoring the fighting, grunting, and bodies beating on each other behind her, she points her gun at the two Chen warriors blocking her from the alley. Kai shouts at them in Chinese to move. They ignore his warning, and one flips a small blade at Bronnah. At the last-minute, Kai shoves her, and her pistol goes off, winging one of the warriors. He shouts and falls back against the wall holding his shoulder, then stumbles out of the alley. The other man turns to face them, and Kai jumps in front of her. Bronnah jerks the blade out of her dress and ignores the stinging.
"I will shoot ya! Stay back," she shouts at him. Kai knows they can't go back down the alley, they must get to the street! He pushes her, and she backs away towards the two men who are fighting and blocking the entrance to the street.
“Alright then,” Bronnah takes a deep breath and screams as loud as her lungs will let her. He flinches as she shoots out a lantern above his head. The warrior smiles knowing she just used her last bullet.
Chase struggles to his knees and jerks his bowie knife from the chest of the dead attacker. The sound of the bullet echoes in the alley, and he snarls, leaping to his feet and drawing his pistol just as the second warrior lunges after Bronnah.
“Down,” he roars, and she obeys, pulling Kai with her, Chase shoots the assailant in the forehead. His lifeless body falls back into the alley. Bronnah struggles to her feet pushing Kai behind her and turns to face him.
This is not a Chen warrior, but a man. Chase grabs his cowboy hat off the ground and shoves it on his head. Bronnah shivers at the sheer masculine strength emanating from him. He is wearing a long canvas duster that covers his massive shoulders, and he stalks over to her as he speaks.
"Bronnah O'Dalaigh?"
"Yes," she squeaks.
"My name is Chase Rivers.” Chase shoves his pistol in its holster. “We need to move, they will bring reinforcements.”
Bronnah's knees are weak, and she struggles to stop trembling. "I thought you were in Chicago?"
Chase stares at her and hides his shock. She isn't what he was expecting. Pale skin, dark hair, and grace. A beauty to be sure, he can see why they want her. "Plans changed," he stomps past her to the body of the warrior and searches it. Nothing but weapons.
Kai follows his lead but takes the weapons. He can sell them for cash.
"Badge, Marshall," Bronnah demands, quickly coming to her senses.
Chase’s silver eyes flash, but he quickly pulls out his watch. Bronnah nods with relief, “I need to get to the docks. I have a ship waiting, called the Harbor Breeze.”
“Trains are faster,” Chase starts to say, but she interrupts him and steps past him into the light. A carriage driver sees her waving and pulls over.
"Yes, but they've been watching the depots for days. I haven't been able to get past them. I have a ship waiting, please, that fire was meant for my friend, and she's at the docks."
Chase isn’t stupid enough to question a good plan. “Let’s move then, stay close.”
"Wait." Bronnah smiled at Kai and whispered to him. "You are my guardian angel, I'll never forget you. Now get to safety." Kai hugs her tight and runs off with his weapons. Chase grasps her around the waist and lifts her onto the wagon. Bronnah flinches but doesn't scream. Glancing at Aimee's shop in flames, guilt assails her.
“Take us to the docks please,” Chase said and glanced at his hand. It’s covered in blood. Bronnah, pants, praying the blade hit nothing vital.
“You’re hurt?” He pulls out a handkerchief. “Press it…
“I’m alright,” she snaps accepting it. Chase wipes his hand on his jeans and looks
