As different scenarios played out in her mind, Cleopatra felt the cold sting of tears streaming down her cheeks.
“Careful with her. Fetch the horses,” Jude said as Ronan swung Cleopatra around. Her eyes widened to see a group of men camped at the forest’s edge. “We leave at once.”
“Where will she ride?” Ronan asked, tilting his head to Cleopatra. Jude’s eyes narrowed.
“Bind her to my horse,” Jude said. “She can walk until she tires. Maybe then some of that fire will be put out.”
Ronan dropped her hard to the ground and secured her hands. Cleopatra couldn’t help but feel despair as she watched the men gather their supplies.
“Daenae go anywhere,” Ronan smirked as he tied the rope to the horse.
Suddenly, it was as if all the hope had drained from her body as they started on the journey. She looked up to Jude who had his son riding in front of him. The boy’s gaze was filled with pity, but she wouldn’t have a single ounce of it.
She whipped her head to the side as the horse pulled her arms, forcing her to walk. Trying not to give into her weariness, she stumbled along as they crossed the northern border of her father’s realm.
By the way the trees twisted from the wind and the chill in the air, she knew they had traveled further than she had ever dared to go.
“If ye were a lady, I might offer ye a horse, but I fear ye’d just take off with it and I cannae have that,” Jude said. His voice was muffled by the wind. “Yet if ye swear to me ye’ll behave, I’ll let ye ride for a wee bit,” Jude said.
For a moment, Cleopatra thought of not answering. In the core of her being she wished to make the journey as complicated for them as it was for her, yet her leg muscles burned, and her arms ached from being stretched out for so long. She didn’t know if she had it in her to keep going on in such a manner.
“Fine,” she grumbled.
“That is nae swearin’ to me, lass,” Jude said. “Ye’ve walked a long way already and I ken ye’re tired.”
“I swear,” she snapped. “Is that what you want to hear?”
“Aye, that will do,” Jude said as he pulled the reins of his horse. The caravan behind them eased to a stop.
“What is it?” Ronan asked riding hard to Jude’s side.
“Take Hugh,” Jude said helping his son off his horse. “The girl will ride with me.”
“Ye sure ye want to do that?” Ronan asked flashing a malicious glance to Cleopatra.
“The fire is out of her,” Jude said as he slipped off the horse and moved to Cleopatra. She glared at him as he took her by the wrists and walked her to the side of the horse.
“Up ye go,” Jude said helping Cleopatra onto the steed. Terror rippled through her as she clung to the horse’s mane. Jude slipped behind her with ease and took the reins. Her heart fluttered feeling Jude’s body heat pouring on to her back side.
She became very aware of Jude’s arms as they circled around her. Once Jude kicked his heel into the horse’s side, Cleopatra found her balance off.
“Easy there,” Jude said in her ear. “Wouldnae want ye fallin’ from this height. Ye might hurt yerself and then where would we be?”
“Why did you take me?” Cleopatra asked as she felt his hot breath on her neck.
“Ransom,” Jude answered.
“My father will not pay it, no matter how cheap the price,” she said. “He is not like you. He’d rather see my body in a ditch than pay for me to come home.”
“Are ye so certain of that lass?” Jude asked.
If only you knew my Father and knew what he was like, you wouldn’t ask or demand such things.
She lifted her head up and looked into the sky. The light baby blue sky had been masked with gray clouds. A chill in the wind caused her to shudder as she pulled her hand down. The company wasn’t far ahead, but she noticed the trail they were on weaved up the mountain.
“Are we going up there?” Cleopatra asked as fear began to solidify within her.
“Tis nae as bad as it seems,” Jude said as he looked past her.
Cleopatra shifted her attention to the company of men. They had stopped and were waiting for them to catch up. Pressing her lips into a tight line, Cleopatra felt the horse begin to climb the slope of the mountain. Her body pressed into Jude’s. Trying with all her might not to touch him, it became clear struggling was futile.
She leaned forward and closed her eyes. The only solace she had was knowing if the horse fell, she wouldn’t be the only one injured. Slowly the path before them leveled and Cleopatra exhaled the air she had trapped in her lungs.
“We will camp here tonight and lead the horses through the pass come first light,” Jude said over his shoulder. Cleopatra wasn’t sure if she was relieved to have stopped, or if it was merely that the first terror had passed and more was coming.
“Come now,” Jude said slipping off the horse. He reached his arms out to her. Hesitating, she released her grip on the horse’s mane and slid down into Jude’s outstretched arms.
As her foot touched the ground, she stumbled on a rock and her body flew into Jude. He stepped toward her and cradled her in his arms. Cleopatra gasped as she felt his warm body pressing so tightly against hers. She was not expecting him to be so strong, yet as her fingers pressed into his skin, she felt the firmness of his muscles. Her mouth parted as she gazed up at him feeling a flush of fire burning under her skin.
“Forgive me,” she said pushing
