Marcus grabbed the bridle and steadied the nervous horse. The stead was a new addition to the Garner estate and he still spooked easily. Once he was calm, Marcus secured the reins to the post. He took up the brush and began grooming the beast, while reassuring him, softly.
Mary appeared in the barn doorway and smiled when she saw the man soothing the beautiful animal. Marcus had come to the estate nearly three weeks before to deliver a letter from her sister-in-law Elizabeth. She had convinced him to stay for the night since he had arrived just past mid-day. When he found out that the new stable master she had hired had left without warning, he offered to stay and help until she could find a new one. She had been nervous about accepting, considering his history with Elizabeth, but with the pregnancy, there was no way she could manage it.
Marcus looked up and saw her watching him. He shook his head at her grin and said, “Good morning, Mrs. Mary.”
“Good morning, Lieutenant. I thought you might be ready for some breakfast. The new stable master should be here within the next few hours, and I know you’re eager to get back to the outpost.” She saw him flinch and let her smile fade.
She knew that he had been using her situation to hide from something. She had watched his melancholy demeanor over the last two and half weeks but had done her best not to pry. He avoided the house when he could, and she had thought, at first, it was to keep from making her uncomfortable. Lately, she had begun to believe that he was avoiding the memories of his time there. She couldn’t think of why, he had only been there once, and that had been for Elizabeth and Anthony’s wedding.
“Thank you, Mrs. Mary. I’ll be in when I finish up here. I want to get Goliath into the pasture to run off some of his anxiety.”
She smiled at the name he had given the horse. “Thank you, Marcus, for helping me these past few weeks. I didn’t want to pull Elizabeth away from her husband to help me with this.” He flinched again at her sister’s name and looked away. Realization hit her, then.
“I’m happy to help out, Mrs. Mary. I didn’t have any plans on where I was going for leave, anyway, and I owe Elizabeth for what she did for me.” Marcus turned his attention to the horse, trying to focus on the task, rather than his thoughts, which seemed to dance in his head more fervently than the skittish horse in front of him.
Mary decided to let it go. The history between him and Elizabeth was complicated, and by the looks of it, had gotten more so, since their last meeting. He had hated her, in the beginning, because of her affliction and interest in Anthony. In a crazed fit of rage, he had beaten her nearly to death and Elizabeth suspected that had Doc not interrupted the assault, he would have forced himself upon her. Mary had set her mind to despise the man, but the more she got to know him, the more she couldn’t help but befriend him. She could see why her sister and brother-in-law had been so willing to forgive him.
From what she understood, Elizabeth had later saved Marcus’s life. The specifics were lost on her, but he had been bitten by a vampire and Elizabeth’s blood had somehow cured him of the virus. Her sister had written that his opinion of her had softened afterward, and when she was poisoned, he had returned the favor by giving his blood to keep her alive. He had also risked his life to rescue her from a powerful coven of vampires.
Mary sighed and said, “Well, don’t be too long. The food won’t be any good if you let it get cold.” At his nod, she turned and headed back to the house.
Marcus’s racing thoughts refused to be tempered, and the horse sensed his growing frustration. He could feel the tenseness in Goliath’s muscles, as the horse began to dance in place. Marcus sighed and placed the brush back on the shelf. “Looks like I’m done, whether I want to be, or not.” He reached up and stroked the bridge of the horse’s nose to ease the animal’s agitation.
An ear-piercing scream rang out from inside the house, and Marcus sprang into a run. He snatched his sword belt from the rack by the door, put it on, and ran for the kitchen, not bothering to hold back his superhuman speed. His boots slid on the stone floor, as he careened into the kitchen, prepared to draw his swords.
“If you want her to live, you’ll refrain from drawing those weapons,” the hooded figure warned. He stood behind Mary, with his hand on her throat and his other arm wrapped tightly around her waist. She whimpered through her firmly set jaw, as tears ran down her face.
Something about the man’s voice struck a chord with Marcus, but he couldn’t place it. He slowly moved his hands away from his blades, as he asked shakily, “What do you want?”
“I’ve come to collect what’s owed me, boy. I had rather not kill this one. Even I have scruples when it comes to killing a pregnant woman. The gods tend to frown upon it.”
Recognition flashed in Marcus’s mind and he recalled the night the vampires had attacked the outpost. Much of that night was burned into his memory and the threat this man spat at him, rang clear through his mind. The lieutenant choked out, “Maximus!”
“Good, you understand. Remove your sword belt and back away!”
Marcus knew better than to test this man. He was dangerous and wouldn’t hesitate to snap Mary’s neck. He carefully unbuckled the belt and let his weapons fall to the floor. “Let her go and I’ll back away, as you asked.”
Cold laughter escaped the hooded figure. “Humans, always so distrustful. Fine, I will release her, but understand, boy, if you don’t do as I ask, when I am done with you, I will come for her.” He kissed Mary on the cheek and let his arms fall away.
Mary shuddered, as his lips touched her face. As soon as his grip loosened, she was on the move. She hurried over to Marcus, “Marcus…”
“Go, Mary. Take my horse and ride as hard and as fast as you can away from here!” He was already backing away from his weapons.
Mary hesitated, but Marcus’s hard stare warned her to do what he said. She scurried from the room and ran to the stables. He breathed a sigh of relief. At least she would be safe from this vampire. He backed into the wall and fought against his instincts, as Maximus closed the distance between them.
The vampire reached behind him and pulled out a pair of manacles and tossed them at Marcus’s feet. “Put them on, so we can be on our way. I want to be at our chosen destination by nightfall and far from any help you could receive.”
The lieutenant set his jaw and never took his eyes from Maximus, as he bent to retrieve the shackles. He knew he was in trouble, but there was nothing he could do. He did not doubt the man’s threats toward Mary. While the man may shun killing her, that well-placed kiss on her cheek told Marcus enough about the punishment he would enact. He snapped the bracelets into place around his wrists and resigned himself to his fate.
Elizabeth took her defensive stance and waited for the soldier to charge her. He quick-stepped forward, and with lightning speed, Elizabeth disarmed the man. He stood stunned at the speed and precision of the strike. She stepped back from him and addressed the crowd surrounding them. “Vampires are faster, stronger, and many have hundreds of years of experience in swordplay and fighting. This is why we train you to fight in pairs. My strike was fast, but my speed still does not compare to a vampire. Gender assumptions that women cannot fight as well as a man, should also be put aside, as Private Jennings has just discovered.”
The private quickly picked up his sword and retreated into the circle of men. Elizabeth carefully looked over at her students and stated, “Does anyone else have any objections to being taught by a woman? Good, report to the armory and retrieve your training gear.” She turned and headed for the table that had been set up as her training station. Quick heavy footfalls warned her of the coming attack but movement to her right had her spinning to prepare a defense.
Anthony surged from the group and threw his sword out to block. Metal met with metal, and the surprised soldier stumbled back from his new opponent. Anthony swung his fist and connected firmly with the man’s jaw. The soldier fell backward and scrambled to put some distance between himself and the angry man.
Elizabeth hurried forward and placed her hand on her husband’s shaking arm. “Anthony…”
“You would attack a superior officer, while her back is turned? You have no place in this unit if this is the kind of man you are. You may not appreciate being taught by a woman or someone with her abilities, but as long as you are within this command, you will afford her the respect due to her station. Is that understood, private?”
The man stammered, “Y-yes, sir. Sorry, sir.”
Anthony spotted two of his former soldiers passing by and yelled, “Brighton, Wilkinson,” he waited for the men to wade through the spectators, then continued, “Can you take this man to a holding cell and inform Councilman Desmond that one of the new recruits thought it wise to attempt to strike a superior officer, while their back was turned?”
The two men turned a baleful gaze on the man, as he was pulling himself from the ground. Wilkinson answered as he turned back to his former captain, “Yes, sir. Doc has been looking for you, Cap… Anthony.”
“Thanks, Wilkinson.” Anthony turned to face his wife and gave her a guarded smile, as the two men escorted the private away and the spectators hurried to the armory. “Corporal, I see your skills have improved over the last few weeks. You’ve been holding back in our sparring sessions.”
She gave him a smile, “Only a little. I could have handled that, Anthony. I knew he was there.”
“I know, but it’s good for them to see you have other people here that support and defend you, Rose. His punishment would have been far worse, had Marcus been here. It’s better for him to learn now, before the new captain returns from leave.” He took her hand and walked with her to the table.
“He’s due back today, isn’t he?”
“Yes. Would you be okay with me going out for a while? I can’t remember the last time he and I spent more than a few days apart. I’ve missed him.”
She wrapped her arms around him, “Of course, as long as your home by bedtime.”
He grinned, “That, he would be hard-pressed to keep me away from.” He kissed her, then added, “I had better get back to Doc. He’ll have my head if he finds out where I’ve been.”
She giggled, “I’ll see you tonight.” She watched him turn and head toward the hospital, then turned her attention back to her paperwork. She pulled out the man’s file that had attacked her and placed it beside the parchment, so she could write up the report, once she was done with the training session.
Yelling soldiers and frightened, neighing horses brought Elizabeth’s attention to the front gate. Several soldiers rushed forward to steady the weary stead that had just galloped into the outpost and help the woman down from the horse. Elizabeth recognized her, then, and rushed toward her sister. “Mary, what has happened?”
The hysterical woman pushed passed the soldiers and wrapped her arms around Elizabeth. It was a moment before she could speak, but she pulled away from the woman and said, “A vampire came into the house, Lizzy. I thought he was going to kill me. He took Marcus.”
“Marcus? What are you…”
“Please, Lizzy! You have to do something!”
“Lieutenant Chadwick, I think it would be wise to prepare some men for battle. Our new captain finds himself in some trouble.” He gave her a nod and she continued, “I’ll take my sister to Doc and retrieve Anthony, while you prepare the men.”
The man spun, yelling orders to the surrounding soldiers, and Elizabeth hurried Mary toward the hospital. “Why was Marcus at the house, Mary?”
She quickly explained the events leading up to the incident that morning. “I didn’t want to leave him, Elizabeth, but I didn’t know what else to do. I hid a short distance away, but when I saw that monster push Marcus outside, all I could think about was getting to you. He had him shackled, Lizzy! Why? How could a vampire be out in the day?”
“Some vampires can tolerate the sun to a degree. It’s still painful to them, though, and it isn’t a common gift. As to your other question, my guess would be that the man who assaulted you was Maximus. He fought with Marcus, during the attack on the outpost, and he discovered that Marcus had been cured of the virus. His blood does something to them that frightened and enraged Maximus. He threatened to return for Marcus and discover the truth about the cure.” They reached the hospital and hurried inside.
The two men turned to the door, as the women entered, and their smiles faded to looks of confusion. “Doc, I’d like you to meet my sister Mary Garner. Could you have a look at her, please?” She looked pointedly at her husband, as she continued, “Maximus showed up at the estate looking for Marcus. He has taken him.”
Doc hurried over to the woman and led her over to a bed to sit down. “How far along are you, dear?”
“Five months.”
Doc quirked an eyebrow and then asked, “Did he hurt you in any way?”
“No. He held me hostage to ensure that Marcus would cooperate. He let me go, and Marcus told me to leave the estate.”
Doc began examining her as he asked, “Any pain or pressure in your stomach?” He made her lay back.
“Just some tightening, like when I stretch too high to get something off a shelf, but constantly so.”
“Where, dear?” She pointed, and Doc pressed around on her stomach in the area.
“Well, I don’t think you’re in any danger, but I think you should stay here and rest for a few days. The stress and the ride here couldn’t have been good for you. When you do head home, you should take the carriage. I don’t want you bouncing around so much.”
“Thank you, Doc.”
“You’re very welcome, dear. Are you quite sure about how far along you are?”
Mary looked at him puzzled, “Yes, Michael and I were only together the one time—the night before…” she wiped a tear from her cheek, and Doc patted her hand.
“Well then, I’m quite sure that you’ve been twice blessed, my dear.”
“What?” Elizabeth shared the exclamation, as well.
He smiled and affirmed, “yes, two babies, it would seem. I want you to take extra care from now on, and it wouldn’t hurt to have a midwife come stay with you.”
“Yes, and I think a few soldiers wouldn’t be a bad idea, either.” Anthony’s solemn look prevented the protest that flew to Mary’s lips and was quashed, as Elizabeth quickly agreed.
“Now that I know you are alright, I have to go. Maximus has a good head start on us, and we need to hurry if we have any hope of finding them. Which direction did they leave in, Mary?”
“Through the back pasture and toward the river.”
“I love you, dear sister. Please, do as Doc asks.” She smiled at Mary’s nod and hurried from the hospital with Anthony.
“I don’t like the idea of you coming along but I know I’ll never talk you out of it.”
She smiled, “I love that you know me so well. Marcus would do the same for me, Anthony, and I’m not leaving you alone to face this man. Marcus is afraid of him and from all accounts, their skills are evenly matched. I’ve seen you spar with Marcus, and we have spent much of the last few weeks crossing blades. You aren’t ambidextrous, and you don’t use a shield. You can hold your own with Marcus but are completely dependent on strategy to win. I don’t think you’ll have that advantage with this man.”
“Marcus isn’t pregnant.” He waved away her objections and continued, “I would argue but you’re right. I would point out your shortcomings, as well, but after this morning’s demonstration with that young private, I can see just how much you’ve been holding back in our sparring sessions. I have a feeling you don’t do that with Marcus.”
“No, I don’t and if I try, he makes me wish I hadn’t.” They reached the mounted soldiers, and a young private met them with their horses. They quickly mounted, and Elizabeth called out to one of the men on the wall, “Corporal Ainsworth, the new recruits need an instructor for today. They seem a little rambunctious, so work them hard for me.” The man smiled at her, as she urged her horse forward, following the soldiers out of the outpost.
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