Robert rolled his eyes at the order. The woman was bound and being carried off and thought he should run and get someone else to handle this? Madness, he thought with a shake of the head.

“I suggest you get out of my way, Langley,” Charles said pleasantly, drawing his attention back to the man to see that he’d withdrawn a pistol from somewhere on his person and was holding it pointed at him. “Otherwise this could get messy.”

Robert eyed the gun, his body tightening for action, but raised his hands and backed up several feet.

Findlay immediately started forward with his burden.

“I really have to insist that you release my sister-in-law, Findlay. Or things will get messier than you planned.”

Robert and Charles both glanced to the side to see that Richard had followed and now stood to the side, a gun of his own in hand and aimed at the man presently holding Lisa.

“You wouldn’t shoot me, you might hit Lisa,” Findlay said confidently.

“Shoot him! I don’t care if you hit me. He’s just going to torture me anyway.” Lisa cried, and then added fretfully, “Just try not to hit me in the bottom, please Richard. The leg would be better for sitting and lying down while I recover.”

Robert rolled his eyes, and then started forward. He was not allowing Findlay to get away with her, nor was he allowing Lisa to get shot.

“Back Langley,” Charles said, his hand tightening on the pistol as he lost some of his aplomb for the first time during this encounter. “I will shoot.”

“I wouldn’t suggest you do, Findlay,” Daniel growled from behind him as he came around the house.

Charles turned sideways to glance to him while trying to keep Richard and Robert in his view too. He hesitated for a moment and then cursed and suddenly charged toward Robert. Just when Robert thought the man was going to try to charge right over him, Findlay suddenly hefted Lisa off his shoulder and threw her at him like a sack of potatoes.

Robert instinctively lunged to catch Lisa, barely noticing that Findlay had dodged around him and was running for the road.

“Are you all right?” Robert asked, easing Lisa to her feet and peering at her worriedly. He waited long enough to see her nod, and then urged her toward an approaching Daniel and turned to charge after Findlay.