Maggie of the Mist, Madeleine M. [e book reading free TXT] 📗

out of the trees with their horses, one for every attacker. He had managed to climb to his knees when Angus, yelling and trying to hit the tall man who held him by the collar of his shirt, was also tossed aside like those he’d thrown himself.

 

Keith watched with the other two as three of the bounty hunters scooped Redd up and, after tying his hands, tossed him on to the flank of the closest mount. “Move out, boys!” Copper called as she smoothly mounted a rather large, black as night warhorse. There was a man on a horse next to her, his arm in a loose sling and his shoulder had a red stain on the bandage that was wrapped around it. He must be the man Maggie shot at before. The rest of the men mounted stiffly, some rubbing their necks from where they’d been struck, while others nursed bruises and favoured wounded limbs. Struggling, Keith finally made it to his feet and noticed that Maggie was still trading blows with the same guy.

 

Talk about stamina.

 

“Jay. Now.” Copper’s voice had an edge of irritation. Jay grumbled low in his throat, but eventually obeyed. He didn’t get far before Maggie’s fist connected one last time with his jaw. Jay spun to face her, a look promising death apparent in his features, but before he could do much else Copper barked at him. “Jay!” Reluctantly he turned and made his way to his horse.

 

“Redd?” Maggie swayed where she stood, bloodied hands on her side, her face a few shades whiter than a sheet. Her eyes watched the hunters disappearing around a bend in the road, but once they landed on Redd her whole face morphed with shock and rage. “Redd!”

 

Just like that, she dashed after them.

 

Keith took a breath to maybe call her back, but then the ground shook with a newly familiar warning. He looked and saw Ben watching Maggie. He’s going to hit her. The thought popped in his head as he darted after her. She stumbled slightly as another tremor hit, giving him enough time to reach her before the currently flying hunks of ditch could.

 

“Maggie!”

 

He called her name and she skidded to a stop, turning to look at him. Hot tears carved tiny rivers out of the dirt and dust on her face. He reached her in time to yank her away from the first few chunks as they crashed into the spot where she’d been just standing. They both stumbled back, Keith’s hand firmly gripping her upper arm , their chests rising and falling in staggered unison.

 

Maggie took a breath, like she was about to say something – but she didn’t get the chance. More ground shaking, more flying dirt and rock. Together they ran – more like he dragged Maggie as he ran – back towards Vika and Angus, who were currently trying to lean against each other to keep from falling because of the shaking ground beneath them. Suddenly, a large clot above them broke mid-air and pelted them all with sharp stones. Vika and Angus collapsed from the rumbling ground under their feet, exhaustion and probably having been struck in the head with dirt covered stones.

 

Before Maggie could try to get to her cousins, the road beneath them shifted and knocked her back against Keith. His arms wrapped around her as they were tossed away from the other two. Maggie let out a strangled scream as she clung to Keith. When he saw the unforgiving road reaching up to meet them, he pulled Maggie closer and braced himself for impact. They hit the land and Keith found them sliding across it on his back as Maggie lay unconscious in his arms. He squeezed her as close as he could so not to lose her as the top layer of the road made its way under his shirt collar and down his back.

 

Then his head smacked something very solid.

 

Then darkness.

Chapter 15

The first thing Maggie heard was a steady heartbeat.

 

Its constant thump slowly drew her up from darkness. As she shifted, almost every muscle in her body burned in protest. Her stone pulsed against her collar bone. She grimaced as another bout of pain shot through her side. Her eyelids refused to open.

 

The last thing Maggie had seen was Redd’s limp body being tossed over a horse’s rump like a fresh kill. The image flashed in her mind’s eye. Emotional stones began to sink to the pit of her – anger, regret, sadness, fear,

 

A surge of panic washed over her like a giant storm tossed wave, when she tried to pick herself up off the ground and couldn’t. Two strong arms held her in place. At first she thought they’d taken her with them. That she was now their prisoner. But once she forced her eyes open, she felt her entire body relaxed. A strangled breath – because the arms were crushing her – pulled some tension from her body.

 

Keith.

 

Her eyes fell to his face. There was a particularly nasty cut running from his hairline to just above his left eyebrow – among the other scrapes and bruises appearing on the plains of his face. His hair was damp and plastered to his forehead.  Blood ran from the cut, and trickled down his cheek. For a few moments, Maggie had no idea how they had gotten here. The sun was significantly lower in the sky. Her side flared in pain again.

 

Then she remembered. The fog was depleting from her brain. One of the men could throw rocks like they were pebbles. When Maggie had tried running after Redd, he’d chucked a rather big one at her.

 

Imprint

Text: Madeleine M.
Images: Madeleine M.
Editing: Madeleine M., Meaghan McDonald-Walters, Anne Marie M., Violette M., Hilary Marshall, Sarah Ardent, Joan Driscoll, Mary Teresa Trueash
Publication Date: 04-18-2013

All Rights Reserved

Dedication:
For my family, who encouraged me to write, and for those who take time to read my work