Chapter 83：The trial

She hadn't considered that the man who had abducted them might kill them. She couldn't think of a possible reason why anyone would want to harm them unless... What if this was Ryan's father and he didn't want Ryan to be taken to the orphanage, to begin with? Perhaps he simply meant to get rid of her and keep Ryan. She steadied her emotions. It was no use in getting worked up over possibilities. She didn't know for sure that he was Ryan's father.

He could be someone else. Whoever he was, she had a responsibility to protect Ryan from what she saw as a threat. The pounding of the horses' hooves on the surprisingly smooth trail was loud. She wondered if it was loud enough to mask the sound of what she was going to do next. She knew that there was only one way she was going to get on the top of the stagecoach.

Making sure her footing and hold on the window frame were secure, she tightened her grip on the club and turned the piece of wood until the nail stuck straight up toward the sky. She knew she would only get one chance at this, so she had to use all of her strength, which wasn't easy when she was slightly trembling.

She counted to three and threw the club over her head and slammed it into the top of the stagecoach. The nail went right through the roof. The driver whirled around to look at her. She gasped when she recognized Harrison Grant Sr. He cursed.

She quickly tugged on the club. Good. It was firmly nailed in place. She scrambled to put her foot on the open window ledge so she could boost herself to the top of the stagecoach. She ignored Ryan who suddenly cried out to her.

Just as she managed to get her entire body on the roof, Harrison pulled back on the horses' reigns so the stagecoach came to an abrupt stop. Had she not been holding onto the piece of wood, she would have gone flying off the stagecoach.

Outwardly shaking now, she quickly squatted in front of the board and struggled to pull it up with her hands. ―You don't know what's good for you, Harrison spat as he stood up in his seat and moved toward her. She frantically pulled on the club.

The club was still in her grasp. ―You should have stayed in the stagecoach, he told her in a low voice that sent shivers down her spine.

―I was going to take you safely out of town and leave you in peace so I could finish off your husband and his uncle, but now you know who I am and what I'm doing. Do you honestly think I can let you live to tell the police about this?

He reached for her foot but she quickly stood up. The pounding in her ears was nearly deafening. The trees around her began to spin around. She knew she was going to faint if she didn't breathe properly. The stupid corset made it hard to breathe and move as it was.

She didn't need this stress too. Harrison gave her the smile that a snake gives its prey before it strikes. She took the moment to steady her nerves and slowly took a deep breath. It worked.