Ravenwood(10)

“Then I shouldn’t have to wait long with Thistle for further help to arrive. I will return to wait with him.” She thought she did quite well at keeping her fear from warbling her words. She had no desire to go back into the woods alone, but she also wasn’t about to leave Thistle. She wouldn’t leave anyone for longer than necessary in his state.

“You mean to walk alone, through the woods, at night.” Caleb’s tone certainly told her what he thought of the idea and she prepared herself for an argument.

“I’ve done it already.”

“And you are one bullet down for it,” he said, raising the pistol in front of her eyes. “What did you shoot at? Shadows?”

Elinore eyes darted back toward the forest. “No, I… it was a wolf.” A demon wolf, she wanted to add, but knew what men thought of ladies and such ideas. He’d likely roll his eyes at her and pat her on the head.

Caleb stepped forward quickly, startling her and sending her back a few paces. “You saw it? Did you hit it? What color was it?”

“I don’t know. Grey. White. Grey and white,” she stammered. “I shot it and it attacked me. Then there was another one and they fought. They ran away.” Even to her own ears, she sounded frightened and confused. The entire incident was becoming a blur in her mind. Her arm burned furiously and she could feel each puncture from the wolf’s teeth.

“It attacked you? Did it bite you?” Caleb’s voice was fierce, his eyes wide.

She nodded. “Y-yes.”

He looked her up and down. “Where? Show me.”

She clutched the cloaks she was wearing. “I beg your pardon?”

“Show me the bite.”

Elinore moved backward, coming into contact with the sleek black horse. He was a warm weight against her spine - solid and sure. He nosed her a bit - soft, warm air whiffing across her face. Seemingly satisfied with what he found, he turned slightly away again, waiting for a command from his master. Her hands shook as she raised her arm, the cloaks falling away to reveal the bite. In the moonlight she could see the ruined mess of her dress - bloody and torn. Her arm, which had been painful before she saw it, screamed in sharper agony now that she’d laid eyes on her wounds. Caleb reached out and took her arm, his grip solid against her flesh. She bit back a cry of pain.

“I’m sorry,” he said lowly, though he still turned her arm in his firm grip. He cursed, examining the wound, his lips going tight. He looked back up at her face, his eyes meeting hers. His irises were cold and harsh - a pale shade akin to the moonlight.

“You should not have been traveling tonight.”

“I hardly had a choice in the matter,” Elinore answered tightly, bristling at his accusatory tone.

Caleb pulled a handkerchief out of his pocket, flapped it open and wrapped it around Elinore’s arm. She hissed when he tightened it, tying the ends together.

“You should not stay out here any longer. I must you get you back to the manor.” Caleb caught the bridle of the horse, moving the creature closer to them. He turned to Elinore. “I’ll take you there and then see to Thistlewaite.”

“No.”

“No?”

Elinore jutted her chin out and hoped it wasn’t trembling. “I told you, I shall not leave Mr. Thistlewaite alone and unguarded.” Caleb looked as though he was preparing for a prolonged argument so she added, “The longer you argue, the longer Thistle is alone.”

Had her back not already been against the horse, she was certain the force of his glare would have sent her further away from him. Finally, he nodded grimly and then pulled out his own gun. Her eyes widened and her heart thumped, not understanding what he meant to do. He raised it and fired two shots in the air.

“To draw the attention of the others,” he said flatly. He bent over and made a cradle of his hands, jerking his head at her and then to the horse.

“And we’re going back to the carriage?” Elinore pressed. It wouldn’t do to stand her ground only to be tricked.

“You’ve indicated you won’t go elsewhere.” Caleb’s tone was dour, but he didn’t protest any further. Elinore nodded tersely, setting her boot in his hands. She jumped as well as she could and Caleb added to her momentum, boosting her to sit side-saddle on his horse. He quickly swung up behind, caging her in with his arms when he reached for the reins. Her hands found the saddle to steady herself and with a click of his tongue, the horse broke forward at a fast clip. She gritted her teeth as they headed deeper back into the forest.





Chapter Three





Elinore should have felt more secure going back into the forest now that she wasn’t alone, but her stomach churned with unease. Her arm throbbed deep into the skin, settling into her marrow. Although she wanted to slouch forward with fatigue, she forced herself to sit upright, maintaining her posture. Caleb was a long line of heat against her side and for that, at least, she was grateful. Even through the two cloaks she wore, she could feel the heat of his body against her own, pushing away the chill of the night and the former rain.

Caleb pulled the horse up short when they came upon the carriage and a sound like a growl came from his throat. In the moonlight, her eyes now well-adjusted to the dark, Elinore could make out the overturned shape, the pieces of wood, and the broken reins where the horses had been. The horse trotted over, his feet light even in the mucky earth. Elinore felt Caleb’s body tense slightly before he shifted and dismounted. He made a ‘come here’ gesture with his hands and she tried to carefully slide out of the saddle and into his waiting arms, her body aching and sore from the trials and tribulations of the night. She stumbled slightly as her feet hit the soft earth and Caleb steadied her.