“I do,” Slatter said with a glare that dared the man to challenge him.

“We’ll see to this and we’ll see our lordship safely returned,” the one man, a front tooth missing and with strips of cloth weaved through the braids to either side of his face, demanded.

“He’s all yours. I care not what you do with him,” Tarass said, with a dismissive wave.

The man with the braids grinned, the toothless space glaring like a black hole in his mouth as he grabbed for Slatter.

“Touch me and I’ll kill you,” Slatter warned, “and that’s a promise.”

The man stopped and gave a nod to the other man. “You’ll follow Tyler and me.”

Slatter turned his voice low for only the two men to hear when he stepped closer to them. “You’ll take me straight to my wife or I’ll kill you slow when the time comes.”

Both men startled for a moment than grinned, Tyler, the one who had yet to speak keeping his voice to a whisper when he said, “It’s me and Dunn who’ll be killing you slow while we enjoy your pretty wife.”

Slatter had to stop himself from reaching out and snapping both men’s necks. He’d wait until later and see them both dead before the day was done. He didn’t look back as he walked off with the two men. Devin would have made himself scarce once outside so that no one would take notice of him. He’d wait and watch and follow and be there when needed.

The two men mounted their horses and Slatter walked in front of them as they made their way out of the village, the rest of Sterling’s men following behind them. It wasn’t long before the two men directed him into the woods while the other men proceeded in another direction.

He was certain that as soon as they departed the village, James would let Tarass know what was going on. He couldn’t help but think that Tarass already knew something was amiss. When he had planned the rescue, his one worry was Tarass’s sentinels. His warriors were skilled and one did not get past them easily. Yet he and Devin had managed to do so. Had Tarass set a trap as well?

But for who?

It seemed it was taking forever to reach his wife, when it truly hadn’t been that long. But he didn’t know Sterling’s plans for Willow and the longer it took to reach her the more harm she could suffer. He prayed that wasn’t so, and prayed even harder that he wouldn’t be too late to save her.

Willow tried to keep a safe distance from Sterling, but he hovered around her like an annoying gnat. The cold stone she sat on chilled her backside and sent a shiver through her now and again. He waited impatiently for Slatter but then so did she. She prayed her husband would arrive soon and this would finally be over.