His Cousin's Lady *Big Sky Brides Book 1*

Chapter 7

*WARNING,  THIS NEXT PART IS A LITTLE GORY!  *

It was morning  now and Serilda  felt sick from what had happened  last night.

Not only had the awful man robbed her of her freedom,  but also her innocence. 

She turned her head as the man stomped in and told her they must leave now.

She nodded and wrapped the blanket tighter around her as he lifted her onto his horse and he climbed on behind.

It was early morning,  maybe about four or five  by Serilda's  calculations.

Little Deer, as she had learned his name was gave her that nasty smile  he wore and again  promised  she could be his squaw and never want for anything.

She felt tears slide down her cheeks and He thumbed them away.  She slapped his hands away  and once again  longed for Justice to rescue her.

A low growl disturbed  the stillness of the cool morning.  Serilda  shivered at the thought of the owner of the growl.  She prayed  it wouldn't get close enough  to hurt her.

A flash  of golden brown caught the corner of her eye.

Serilda  screamed as the large wildcat leapt at them.

Little Deer looked up in surprise.  Everything  seemed frozen in time as the Cougar leapt through the air.

The mare now startled by Seri's  scream bolted Leaving  both Seri and Little Deer at the mercy of the cougar.

Serilda hit the ground with a thud.  She lay unmoving for a moment as Little Deer screamed in agony  as the beast ripped him apart.

Serilda  struggled  to her feet.  She groped for something  to fight with if it became necessary.

Her hand wrapped around  a stick.  It was still rather dark and the sky was heavy  with the promise of more snow.

The menacing  beast now turned from Little Deer and looked at Serilda.

She swung the stick at the beast as he lunged at her.

She felt the blackness closing in.  She heard someone  speak as if they were far away.
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The morning was cold  and snowy.  Justice shivered as he struggled  to light the flames of  his smoldering fire.

Once he got  the fire started he brewed himself a little coffee before packing everything  and kicking  some snow over the open flames.

He investigated the area thoroughly  looking for any sign that a human had been in the area recently.

He found some tracks that hadn't been completely covered in snow.

He followed them back to an uninhabited  cabin that looked like it had been stayed in last night.

Scouting the house thoroughly he looked  for any clues as to who the inhabitants had been.

Finding nothing  he returned to his horse and mounted determined  more than ever to find Serilda.

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It was almost  noon and Waynoka  hadn't seen nor heard from Serilda And she was starting  to hurry.

"Come Achasha."

She called to her young daughter as she toddled along behind her. 

Waynoka swung the toddler into her arms as she bustled into Serilda's makeshift home.