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“I only wanted…” he tried.

“It doesn’t matter what you wanted. It only matters whatshewants, and she doesn’t want to leave with you. Heal yourself and go back the way you came on foot. Edward, I will do anything I have to do to protect my wife, so you will do best to remember that.”

“I’ve got the bags,” Agnes said. “But we don’t have–”

“It’s all right. Get on his horse. I’ll take ours,” Frances said quickly. Then, she looked down at Edward and added, “Tell Knight and anyone else who might care to hear you speak that you ran into bandits who stole your horse and who occupy this area. It’s best if everyone stays away from here.” She slid her knife back into its sheath and helped Agnes get the bags onto the horses. “Ride,” she told her wife. “I’m right behind you.”

Agnes took off on Edward’s horse, and Frances watched her for a moment before she knelt down in front of him.

“Tell me that you understand, Edward.”

He hesitated but nodded.

“She’s my sister.”

“Not anymore. Your sister is dead, isn’t she? She died a long time ago. Say it. Your sister is dead.”

“My sister is dead,” he repeated, still clutching his side.

“Take care of your wound or you’ll soon see it infected.” She stood up and climbed onto her horse. “Remember what I said, Edward.”

He didn’t say anything else, but Frances was pretty sure she saw a small nod before he collapsed all the way to the ground. She took the reins and rode off in the direction she’d sent Agnes. Catching up with her in the woods, they turned north since they’d been riding west at first because Edward would likely send people looking for them in that direction if he didn’t listen to Frances’s orders.

“Did you kill him?” Agnes asked hours later when they started walking the horses, out of immediate danger now.

“No, I didn’t.”

“Should you have?”

“I hope not,” she replied. “With the wound I gave him, he won’t be able to get far for a few days, at least. Then, he’ll be walking, so we can rest the horses up ahead at the river for a while and check our supplies since we didn’t get to do that before we fled. We’ll ride through the night to be safe.”

“All right,” Agnes said.

“How are you?” Frances checked.

“I thought he’d let us be,” Agnes replied after a long moment. “But he only wanted me to replace him with that man so that he could live the life he wanted while I would belong to another.”

“I am sorry, my love.”

“So am I. I loved my brothers once, but no more.” Agnes turned her face toward her. “But I have all the love I need.”

Frances gave her a soft smile.

Not long after, they rested the horses and checked on their supplies before they took off once more, using the cover of darkness to hide them and the rushing river to guide them along their path north. When morning came, Frances found a spot by the river that would give them enough cover, tied up the horses, and they ate a small breakfast. She’d have to start hunting soon because they would be out of what they had packed shortly. When she turned around, after tucking their supplies back onto the horses, she was surprised to see Agnes wading nude into the cool water of the now-lazy river. She smiled softly at her wife, watching her clean herself inthe river. Frances removed her own clothing then and walked into the water, wrapping Agnes up in her arms from behind and looking out at the rolling hills beyond the river.

“What now, Frances?” Agnes asked her.

“Now, we start over,” she replied and kissed her neck.

“How many times must we start over?”

“As many as it takes. Time after time. Forever, if it means you and I get to be together and I get to hold you like this.”

They stayed like that in the water for several minutes before Agnes began shivering from the cold, so they bathed quickly before they made their way to the shore and put their clothes back on. Then, they climbed back onto their horses and rode off as the sun continued to rise amongst rolling hills, a flowing river, and fields of honeysuckle.

CHAPTER 40

“Good morning,” Quinn said as she stood in the doorway to Abby’s office, holding two cups of coffee. “I brought you this.”