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M ary Kate refused to show fear. Incensed that the high-handed farrier thought she’d go willingly, she kept a tight lock on her emotions.

And the fact that he’d surprised her and tied her up…

! She wanted to rail at him, but needed to gauge his reactions first. Until she could honestly believe she knew how he’d react, she could imagine punching him with her fists!

Then she’d pull his hair, kick him in the shins, and jab her knee to the weakest part of him.

If she kneed him hard enough, it may put him off from whatever he intended to do.

She would not be taken against her will—she was saving herself for Seamus!

Her mind’s eye immediately brought up the image of the tall, broad-shouldered, deep-chested Irishman.

Sapphire eyes that could by turns sear you with anger…

or set you on fire with the depths of the desire she sensed he held in check.

Mary Kate was fairly certain that he had been holding back for months.

Why hadn’t he asked for her hand in marriage a fortnight after they were courting?

Was it something she did or said? And then it occurred to her—she’d constantly talked about Garahan!

She had been so foolish to focus on the day that changed the course of her life, rather than the day that Flaherty had captured her heart.

She should have spoken more about that day.

The wagon lurched to a stop, cutting off her train of thought.

She knew better than to struggle with the ropes binding her wrists, or the gag he’d tied around her face.

Mary Kate had already promised the dolt that Flaherty would find him and beat him within an inch of his life.

Remembering the hint of fear in Monroe’s eyes fed her confidence that Flaherty would come for her.

She had managed to evade the gag until she told Monroe that she would never have spoken to the farrier in the first place, if not for the fact that he was taking care of her ladyship’s favorite mare.

She realized too late that taunting the farrier with the fact that she loved Seamus Flaherty and planned to marry him must have pushed the man too far.

The tight gag tasted vile and smelled worse.

It took all of her composure to remain calm and not let her stomach react to the stench of it.

The man must have used the linen to wipe the sweat from his brow before using it to keep her quiet—the gag was still damp.

Glancing at their surroundings, she was surprised to see a makeshift lean-to between two oak trees.

She could not tell from this distance if he’d used oilcloth or a tarpaulin for a roof, but the hastily stacked logs for the sides of the building were uneven.

It did not appear as if he meant to stay for any length of time.

She hoped the walls would not lean in to the point where they would collapse.

At least the makeshift roof was tied to tree branches on either side of the lean-to.

It should hold. Hopefully, the rain that threatened earlier would hold off until Flaherty rescued her.

Then a sobering thought hit her—had she been discovered missing yet?

Mary Kate said a silent prayer that he would rescue her tonight.

Tomorrow may be too late. Heaven help her, she did not want to think of what could possibly happen overnight being held against her will by the odious… make that odiferous farrier.

Mary Kate had been around Flaherty many times when he’d worked up a sweat performing his duties, but his scent was never malodorous.

She rather liked his healthy scent—a combination of man, with a hint of horse, and honest sweat.

Concentrating on the blue-eyed, auburn-haired giant, she willed him to find her—soon!

Monroe’s punishing grip on her upper arms brought her sharply back to the present. It hurt. Glaring at him only made the blackguard smile. “I like my women full of fire.”

She’d like to roast him over an open firepit! Better yet, she’d like to bury him in a deep pit up to his neck. No, that would not be right. Donovans believed in an eye for an eye. She’d truss him up and gag him, like he’d done to her…and leave him in the woods.

“Whatever you are thinking, I’m all for it!”

The man had little to no brains if he thought she was entertaining any thoughts but those that would cause him as much pain as he was inflicting upon her! Deciding to ignore him and pretend as if his hold weren’t bruising her to the bone, she turned away from him.

“You’ll look at me when I am talking to you!”

She silently refused—how could she do otherwise when he’d gagged her?

He shook her until her head and neck ached, and she wondered if he had damaged her brainbox.

She closed her eyes for a moment to gather her courage before slowly turning to look at him.

She would not quail in front of her enemy.

Monroe had become her enemy the moment he’d tossed her over his shoulder, carried her through the gate, and heaved her into the bed of his wagon.

He’d knocked the wind out of her when she landed on his shoulder.

She’d been momentarily stunned, unable to move, let alone draw in a breath.

Otherwise, he’d never have managed to gag her or tie her up!

Mary Kate wasn’t stunned now, but a hint of fear slithered up her spine.

She did not know him well enough to guess what he was thinking with more than half a chance that she would be correct.

Drawing on her reserves of strength, she ignored the emotions clawing inside of her, and prayed for strength and the chance to escape.

But first she needed to somehow convince her unwanted suitor that she’d consider changing her mind about him.

Anything to get him to untie her—or at least remove the disgusting gag.

“I thought you’d be pleased to spend some time alone with me.”

Digging deep to hide her reaction to his statement, she dared to look away, hoping he wouldn’t bruise her arms further. But he must have decided she was trying to get his attention, because his next words shocked her. “Ah, so you are embarrassed because you do want to be alone with me.”

Lord, save me from this arrogant, odious man! She knew she had to meet his gaze and was horrified to see the lustful intent in his dark eyes. It was clear to her that she would be fighting tooth and nail to preserve her virtue.

Hurry, Flaherty!