Read Passion's Joy for Free Online Page A

with the superfluity of reins, Joy clung to the frightened animal's neck as if it was a life line. Through the pounding of her heart and the rush of wind, she was too panicked to contemplate just what that laughter meant. She could only keep to her horse as the great creature dashed through brush and forest. Once on the freedom of the road, Libertine broke into a crazed run, slicing through the air at a dizzying speed, knowing only to carry her mistress away as fast and far as her four strong legs were capable.
    Tears of intense relief and fear blinded her along with the wind, and it was four or five miles later before she swallowed her frightened panic and attempted to gain control of the reins. Libertine's fear could have easily fueled another five miles, and mastering it proved a hard struggle. She finally grasped the reins, and with a hard tug of all her strength, she called, "Whoa, whoa! Easy girl... easy...." Libertine gradually slowed to a quick trot, and Joy dug tight with her knees,
    matching her movement to her horse's with the skill of a seasoned rider. Once she had full control, she came to a complete stop to take stock of her situation.
    No one chased her, though as she wiped her tears and drew her first even breath, she found herself the recipient of more than one interested stare. She was dangerously close to the marketplace. A tall woman, with a huge basket of apples on her head and two wide-eyed children hanging on her apron string, watched warily from off the road where she had obviously retreated to in fear of life and limb. An old Cajun fisherman stood nearby with the same expression, and from down the road she caught sight of a band of seamen approaching.
    She slipped from Libertine's back and led her into the safety of the forest as her mind raced over the situation. As soon as that pirate man roused the bounty hunters, the whole world would be looking for her, an old peddler and a tall, strong, young Negro. Hopefully, by this point, Sammy and the Reverend would have gotten the passengers off, hidden the cart and changed back into their respectable unassuming selves. They would probably be riding the bays back at this very moment to fetch her. She must warn them still, for if the bounty hunters were released prematurely, as no doubt they would be—it would not be safe to return until dark, even minus their disguises. Then too, there was no telling what that pirate man would do once he had the real story.
    Joy clutched her sides tightly, trying to quiet the rage of her emotions long enough to think.
    What to do? The trouble was that he—that pirate man—stood between her and Sammy and the Reverend.
    The large, blue eyes darted over the surrounding forest. The only option was to ride Libertine south on a back trail and avoid him. Then she'd head back on to the road a couple of miles south of where he had held her—as close as she dared—and keep on south, praying she ran into her comrades as they were riding north to fetch her. It was the best she could think to do, and if it didn't work, if she could not find them to give warning, she'd simply hide in the forest until it was safe to return home.
    If Joshua ever heard of this one ..
    With a little effort she found the back road through the forest that paralleled the main road.
    She pushed Libertine to a trot, keeping her head down now to avoid the overhanging vines, branches and occasional blankets of moss. The path cut a narrow line through the dense brush, following a stream off and on.
    She had traveled a good distance when, quite suddenly, the path opened to the familiar clearing, and just as panic coursed through her small frame, causing Libertine to lift to the air in response, she saw that no one remained.
    The pirate man was gone! As were the two bound and tied bounty hunters! Her gaze flew to where her pistol had fallen, but that too was gone. All that remained was an imagined terror, and the tension of this brought a sudden kick of heels to