Ruby nodded and Lizzie rushed out the door again.
Ruby returned her attention to the sheets. She hauled the duvet aside and jerked the sheets off the bed. Now she had four sheets, and she was sure they'd be long enough to drop her to the ground. Just then, Lizzie returned. By that time, Lizzie thought it was a hassle, always locking and unlocking the door.
"Aye there, lassie, I found somethin' I think might fit ya."
Ruby took the pants, shirt, and boots. Looking old and much too large for her, they were not like any type she had ever seen before. But they would have to do. She thanked Lizzie for her trouble, and when Lizzie left, she got back to work.
She started tying the sheets together. Just then, Westies woke up. He came up to her side and started licking her hand. She patted his head and said, "Good boy, now go play."
Westies barked and jumped excitedly as he rushed away to lie down near the bathroom door. Ruby grinned. The dog was very cute, but unfortunately, she couldn't take him with her.
She went into the bathroom and changed. The trousers were slightly loose around her waist, and the shirt was also too large. She tied the hem of the shirt about her waist so it wouldn't hang loosely on her. She tried on the boots, but found them very uncomfortable, so she took them off and tied the laces together.
Rushing back into the bedroom, she picked up the rope sheets and tied one end to the bedpost.
That finished, she sighed with satisfaction. Hands on hips, she scanned the room for a suitably strong object to break the window. Grinning like the Grinch with his bag of stolen presents on Christmas, she rushed to get the brass candleholder on the bedside table. With her weapon in hand, she flew back toward the window, pulled out a chair, climbed on it--and shutting her eyes, with all her might--smashed the candleholder against the window.
The window shattered into pieces, glass falling everywhere on the floor and outside the building onto the ground below.
Smiling with glee, she jumped down, ran to Westies and said, "Well, it's time. Goodbye, Westies. Have a good life."
Standing up, she found the boots, and hung them over her shoulder as she turned and picked up her rope-sheet. She threw it out the window and glanced down, sucking in her breath. She hated heights. She had always been afraid of them. But she had to conquer her fear and climb down.
With a deep breath, she perched on the window ledge. Then she grabbed onto the first bed sheet and started to rappel downward.
"Don't look down," she whispered to herself.
Slowly, she started descending the rope-sheet.
Woof! Woof! Woof!
Ruby glanced up to see that Westies had climbed onto the window ledge. Presumably, the dog must have jumped on the chair and then onto the window.
She panicked.
"No, Westies, go back inside," she whispered.
The dog kept barking before jumping down to her.
Ruby's heart nearly dropped on the ground as she held her breath, watching the dog jump. He landed against her chest.
"Westies, you naughty boy! How could you do that to me? I'm escaping, you stupid dog. You'll give me away." As she mumbled to the cute dog, now looking at her incomprehensively, she continued her endeavor.
She was surprised she could climb down without too much trouble, despite having the dog in her arms and her fear of heights.
Once she was at the very bottom, she jumped onto the thick grass, landing on her backside with Westies in her arms. She quickly put Westies down on the grass and hastily pulled on the boots, saying, "Look here, boy, I simply can't take you with me. I know you're cute and all, and you'd make me very happy, but I just can't. It's just not meant to be." With that, and having pulled her boots on, she left the dog there and ran across the field. She was just about ready to start crossing the stream when the dog sprinted after her, barking loudly.
"Oh, that stupid dog," she mumbled as she ran toward the forest.
*
SEVEN
The BlackBerry kept ringing insistently as Alec drove into the courtyard. He slammed on the brakes and the car came to a halt. Grabbing for the cell phone, he flipped it on.
"Sue?"
"Alec! I have good news. Alec, I'm at Westwick Castle with Brian and his sister."
Alec grinned. "That's good, Sue, and everything is going according to plan, I daresay?"
"Yes, Alec. This is the best ever," Susan said. "I love you, Alec. Oh, how is Captain Snow, by the way?"
Alec turned the car engine off and opened the door. "I presume the blasted dog is fine."
"What do you mean, you presume? Oh, never mind. I have to go now. It's going to be a cozy evening for me and Brian, just the two of us in front of the fire. It's supposed to rain, and I imagine it'll probably be storming up there." She laughed. "Well, got to go now."
"Hmm," Alec replied, staring off into the distance at the dark clouds gathering. Susan was right. There was a big storm coming tonight.
"Bye then," Susan said before hanging up.
Alec flipped his cell off and walked into the manor.
"Mrs. McKenzie!"
The housekeeper emerged from the drawing room with a vase in her hands. She was just about to arrange the vase with peonies.
"Master Alec?" she said with raised eyebrows.
"Captain Snow all right?" he asked.
"Aye, sir, Captain Snow's havin' a fine time. Found a new friend, he did," she said, nodding her head and grinning from ear to ear.
Alec stood there hesitantly and said, "And, er, Ruby?"
"Aye, Miss Ruby, now there's trouble. Complain she did, sir, about that blasted storm last night. Said she couldn't sleep a wink, she did. Why didn't ya move her ta the room next ta yers? Much nicer there," she suggested, nodding her head.
"She complained about the storm, did she?" Alec asked, his hands in his pockets.
"Aye, she did, sir. I fear fer her, those blasted windows coulda break any day now wif the storm. And lookin' outside now, it wouldna surprise me if they broke tonight."
Alec nodded again. "Thank you, Mrs. McKenzie." He turned and took a step up the stairs.
Just then, there was a continuous yapping from the front door. Alec turned to see Captain Snow racing toward him.
"What's the matter, boy?" Alec said, bending down to pat the dog on the head. The dog jumped up and down, yelping at the top of his little lungs. He ran to the door, turning back to look at Alec, and continued barking furiously.
"What on earth is Captain Snow doin' 'ere?" Mrs. McKenzie said in horror. "'E's supposed ta be wif Miss Ruby upstairs."
Alec snapped his head up and glanced at Mrs. McKenzie, who stared at him with huge brown eyes. He shot up and sprinted toward the stairs, racing across the second floor corridor, before halting at Ruby's door. He unlocked it, and shoved it open.
"Shit!" he growled when he saw the makeshift rope bed sheets dangling just outside the broken window. He rushed down the stairs, taking them three steps at a time.
He was at the front of the manor in seconds with Westies running behind him on his short, little legs.
Alec ran to the north side of the manor, muttering, "Shit!" again when he saw the long bed sheets dangling from the second floor window of Ruby's bedroom. He looked wildly around for her.
Westies reached him then, followed by Mrs. McKenzie, who was still holding the vase. Westies barked and ran toward the stream. He stopped at the bank, jumping up and down there, and turned around to bark at Alec.
Alec raced over to the dog. There he saw a pin-sized Ruby running into the woods.
"Shit!" he swore again.
"Oh dear," Mrs. McKenzie said.
Alec hurried to the barn, found the Land Rover, jumped in it, and started the engine.
That little fool! What is she thinking? Running into the woods when the storm is coming?
Ruby was cold and shivering from head to toe. She hugged herself to keep warm as she staggered, dragging her weary body forward, to where? She didn't know. She was los
t. The woods were so dense with no clear path that could lead her to somewhere safe.
The rain was getting heavier, and now and again, the clouds grumbled loudly as the lightning flashed its anger over her head. She felt afraid.
What if the lightning struck her? What if it struck one of those big trees, causing the tree to fall on her? The thought was too horrible to contemplate.
She kept wandering like a lost toddler, wide-eyed and frightened, and soon lost track of time. The only things that occupied her mind were the thunderous beating of her heart against her quivering chest, her fear that she'd never get out of this horrible maze, and worst of all, knowing she'd probably die here. The blasted storm didn't seem like it would abate anytime soon.
It was raining harder now, soaking her to the bone. The boots didn't help either because they were too big for her small feet. They pained her heels something fierce.
She stopped her wandering, staring with fully dilated pupils at her surroundings. She had been here before. She was sure that it was only a moment ago. Could it really have been only a moment ago? Suddenly, she wanted to break down and cry.
Where was that blasted kidnapper when she needed him? Didn't he realize by now she had escaped? Shouldn't he be coming after her like before? What if she died here? What would happen to her family back home? They'd be devastated.
No, Ruby, think straight. You're an intelligent girl. Think, for God's sake, think!
Okay. Calm down. She took a deep breath and bit her shivering, purple lips. She had to survive this.
She knew she was getting nowhere, and had to seek shelter until the rain stopped. Then she could find her way out of this jungle of woods.
Her mind made up, she looked around, trying to locate a spot to use as a shelter from the storm. Being without her glasses didn't help either, making everything a blur.
Suddenly, her heart soared with happiness. She saw a spot under a big tree where dead, thick branches of leaves hung lower to the ground, acting like a roof. It would shelter her nicely.
A wave of relief to be safe and not soaked to death overcame her. She took two steps and a sudden sharp pain shot from her right foot straight through to her heart. She screamed--her voice echoing in the woods as she fell. Tears filled her eyes as she sobbed.
She lay there in a heap of rain-soaked, dead leaves and tall grasses, biting her lip as her shaky hands moved down her leg to her throbbing ankle.
Through teary eyes, she saw her right leg was trapped between a tangle of vines and roots that camouflaged the sharp end of a dead log, which pierced into her flesh.
She tried not to cry out, but the pain was truly unbearable. Closing her eyes, she prayed for God to help her. The pain increased as she tried to move her leg and more blood rushed out faster, soaking the trousers' material. She cringed, biting her lip as tears rolled down her pale cheeks.
Trying very hard to ignore the pain that was steadily eating away at her body, she managed to sit up and bend her leg enough to move the log. She bit her lip and commanded herself not to faint.
With all her might, using cold-numbed fingers, she tried to push the log away. The pain, however, was excruciating and she felt very tired. She gave up and rested her forehead on her knees as tears kept flowing down her cheeks. She sat there dejectedly and sobbed quietly, knowing in her heart that she would no doubt die here, all alone, in this godforsaken place.
Suddenly, the intense pain vanished. She felt strong, masculine hands touching her leg. Ruby opened her eyes to see Alec slowly moving the big log away. She stifled her scream as the sharp end of the log was slowly extracted from her flesh.
He touched her ankle and turned to look at her, his eyes the color of the stormy sky above them. His face, however, was a mask of composure.
Checking out her ankle, he slowly pulled her leg out from the tenacious vines and roots. Ruby screamed in alarm, looking at her sprained ankle.
Once her leg was free, he rubbed the injured area tenderly and gazed into her misty brown eyes. He didn't say anything, but savagely clutched her in his arms.
Ruby wrapped her arms around his thick, muscular neck and cried her heart out.
He lifted her up and strode carefully back to where he left the Land Rover. All the way, he kept glancing at her to make sure she was all right.
Ruby, on the other hand, couldn't look at him. She hid her face against his neck, sobbing ever so gently as her body shivered uncontrollably.
Fifteen minutes later, they entered the clearing. Alec ran with her in his arms to the Land Rover and quickly put her inside the warm vehicle. He knew she was shivering from cold.
"You all right?" he shouted over the incessant rain. Ruby managed to nod back at him in the affirmative. Alec hastily got into the driver's seat and started the engine.
Not long afterward, the Land Rover came to a halt in front of the manor. Mr. and Mrs. McKenzie were already at the door, waiting impatiently for them. McKenzie rushed out with the big, black umbrella. He came around to Alec, who was getting Ruby out of the car. McKenzie followed them as Alec took Ruby into the manor.
"Come this way," Mrs. McKenzie said at the door, leading them into the drawing room. It was toasty warm from the glowing fire in the huge hearth. Lizzie was there with a big, white towel ready in her hands.
Alec took Ruby to the sofa near the hearth.
"Mrs. McKenzie, get the first aid kit," Alec commanded.
The housekeeper nodded and rushed out the door. She met Mr. McKenzie at the hallway, and told him to find the first aid kit while she prepared something hot for Ruby to eat.
Back in the drawing room, Alec took Ruby's boots off--extra carefully and so gently that he wouldn't hurt her injured leg anymore. Afterwards, he moved up to undo her shirt.
She drew back.
"Ma'am, you will get sick if you don't take that wet shirt off," he said with a no-nonsense tone of voice.
She bit her shivering lip and nodded. He unbuttoned the shirt and helped her out of it. She hugged herself to cover her nakedness. Alec tried not to look at her naked body. He had more important things to attend to.
Lizzie wrapped the big towel around Ruby. "Lemme git a robe fer ya," she said when she saw that the big towel was not much help at warding off the cold for Ruby.
"Come on, let's take your pants off," Alec said.
Ruby reluctantly nodded and stood up. She arranged the towel in such a way, with her still-shaking hands, to cover herself while she slid her pants off.
She could only manage with his help. Ruby was about to sit down when Lizzie came back with the robe. The maid helped Ruby into it before assisting her back onto the seat.
"Start the fire in my room," Alec said to the maid. Lizzie nodded and left to do his bidding.
McKenzie strode in with the first aid kit as Lizzie rushed out the door.
Alec glanced at Ruby's leg, and looked up at her. "This is going to sting a bit," he said.
She nodded, biting her lip.
Alec dipped a cotton bud into the alcohol and touched it against her open wound. Ruby gritted her teeth and grabbed onto the cushion beside her. She tried not to scream at the hot, intensely sharp pain.
Alec cleaned her wound thoroughly, and once all the debris was removed, he applied antibiotic ointment on it before wrapping her lower leg with bandages. When he was finished, he sat beside her and hugged her.
"Are you warm?" he asked.
Ruby nodded, looking up at him, wondering why this captor of hers was so caring. She wanted to weep--for what reason? She didn't know. She just wanted to weep.
"It's okay to cry," he said, stroking her hair.
"I was so scared," she sobbed. "I've never been so scared in my life."
"It's all over and you're safe now," he said.
She nodded, then closed her eyes, resting her head against his warm chest.
They sat like that in front of the fire, and Alec stroked her long hair to comfort her. As for Ruby, she felt safe now, and finally allowed
herself to relax, letting her mind wind down. She fell asleep in his arms.
*
EIGHT
"Poor lassie," Mrs. McKenzie said, looking at Ruby asleep on the sofa. "Musta been very upset 'bout somethin'." She jabbed the fire a couple of times with the iron poker and stood up. Looking at Ruby more closely, she tucked the plaid about the girl properly.
Alec entered the room, still half wet. Since arriving three hours ago, he had not yet changed his wet clothing.
He watched as Mrs. McKenzie mumbled something like "poor wee lassie, shouldna run inta tha' storm" as she touched Ruby's forehead. She glanced up at him just then.
"Poor lassie," she said. "'Er 'ead is rather 'ot. Must be that rain an' all."
"She'll be fine, Mrs. McKenzie," Alec replied, although his expression said otherwise.
The housekeeper nodded unconvincingly and left. Alec came over to sit on the sofa and gazed down at Ruby. He thought she looked so peaceful, but awfully young when she was sleeping. Suddenly, he felt something deeply touching his heart.
He supposed he shouldn't have blamed her for trying to escape again. He never gave her a straight answer as to why he kidnapped her. But what could he tell her? That he was an overprotective brother who loved his sister so much he'd even kidnap a young woman on the chance she could threaten the relationship between his sister and the man she loved?
Ridiculous!
But he knew he'd better come up with an answer fast, and find a way to stop her next attempt to escape. He knew she'd try again very soon.
He touched the back of his hand against her forehead. She was warm, too warm for his liking. He hoped her immune system was strong and she wouldn't get a life-threatening fever from the bone-chilling storm.
It was getting dark, and she had been asleep for three hours now. He supposed he had better take her up to the bedroom. She also needed a shower.
Scooping her up in his arms, he carried her out the door. As he was heading toward the grand stairs, he heard a soft voice, barely above a whisper, saying, "Where are you taking me?"
He glanced down and saw Ruby looking up at him, her eyes sleepy, but bright, and her face flushing red. Shit! She looked sick all right. His gut did an Olympic champion somersault.