Desert Rogue. Erin Yorke
said the American, chuckling, impressed by her stamina. Most of the women he knew would have been weeping copiously, but her tongue was as venomous as ever. Did nothing shake her?
“I told you the name is Victoria, although you have yet to introduce yourself. For all I know you could be stealing me from Zobeir so your master can claim the fortune I would bring.”
“I am a man who serves no master but myself, unlike your pencil-pushing Hayden Reed.”
“He has a very responsible position, I’ll have you know. In fact, Hayden expects to receive a title in the near future,” bragged Victoria. Why it mattered, she didn’t know, but she could not tolerate this impudent male’s criticism of her fiancé. Hayden had a sound future ahead of him. Given his manner, this blowhard would undoubtedly end up in a jail cell, despite his physical charms, if he continued his explosive bent.
“A title to coincide with your marriage?” guessed Jed with a smirk. “Then I suppose Hayden will have it all. Too bad none of it can make him a man, willing to risk his life for the woman he loves.”
“That’s not true.”
“Vicky, I was with your dear Hayden when he received the kidnapper’s demands. First he protested that he couldn’t raise the ransom. Then, when he learned your mother had pledged the sum, his excuse was that he couldn’t be spared from his office—”
“But you don’t understand, Hayden is an important diplomat. He couldn’t risk—” Even as the words escaped her lips, Victoria realized that, in her heart, she didn’t really believe them. She should have been first in Hayden’s mind, not the money or his career. She should have been worth risking his own life, not that of some man for hire. Damn Hayden! Now she owed her life to this uncouth cad so ill-mannered he had yet to tell her his name. Well, damn him, too, she would not inquire what it was.
“I never asked you to save me. If you prefer to abandon me, go right ahead. I am certain I can get back to Cairo on my own.”
“As much as I would like to do just that, it isn’t in the cards. Hayden, for whatever his reasons, wants you back, and I will deliver you,” grumbled Jed, moving toward the Nile. “I must admit, though, having met you, I don’t understand why he would want you at all. It can’t be a love match—”
“And what would you know about love? With your lack of manners no woman could ever be attracted to you,” retorted Victoria. However, the words she spoke were not entirely true, she had to admit to herself as the stranger took her arm and urged her forward, ignoring her insults. Whether it was the danger of their situation or the uncommon comfort of masculine competence, she couldn’t decide, but for all his faults, her rescuer’s touch was definitely reassuring. That did not mean, however, she need speak to him!
Jed was so preoccupied with hurrying his charge through the ornate gardens surrounding the city that he took no notice of her sudden reticence. Thus far, things had proceeded well enough. All that was left was to rendezvous with the Egyptian, steal a falucca and sail off to freedom. Suddenly there beyond the monkey bread trees was the Nile. This would be the riskiest part of the trip. Jed pulled Victoria under the canopy of the obliging leaves.
“Shh!” he warned, covering her mouth with his large hand as she started to balk. “Once we’ve set sail, you can harangue me all you want, but now I need you quiet and cooperative or we’ll be back in those slave pens faster than you can cry Hayden Reed.”
For one brief, irrational moment, Victoria longed to do nothing other than bite down hard on his oppressive hand and bring her knee up with equal force into his groin. Who was he to order her about in such an infuriating manner? Hayden had never treated her so rudely. Then logic interfered and she realized that the arrogant male with her was the only one on whom she could rely, however uneasily. Leashing her anger, the weary blonde gave a quick nod of her head and he obligingly released her.
“Short of sleeping with you, I will do whatever you say to escape from here and eventually from you,” Victoria continued, her eyes sparkling angrily.
“Believe me, lady, the feeling is mutual, but until then you will have to watch my back while I cover yours. Understood?”
“I already said yes. What more do you want of me?”
Under other circumstances there might have been other responses, but now Jed merely gritted his teeth at her impertinence and scanned the almost deserted area in front of the river gates to the city. Spotting Ali, he felt a sudden surge of confidence as well as relief that the Cairene had escaped, too. His plan would succeed, despite their quarry’s lack of faith in him.
“See the tall Egyptian over there by the right gateway? That is Ali Sharouk, the other half of your rescue party,” Jed explained.
“I would not have thought you needed help,” she retorted, “or rather that you would admit you did.”
“He was not my idea, but since Ali was responsible for setting off those explosions that freed you, I wouldn’t question his presence or his efficiency,” rebuked Jed. “He and I will liberate a falucca while you wait here.”
“I will come with you now.”
“A woman down at the water will rouse attention we don’t want—”
“There doesn’t seem to be anyone here, and besides, in this getup, who would even know I’m a woman?” she protested.
“Don’t underestimate your charms, Vicky,” Jed advised dryly. “No Sudanese I’ve seen has a chest like yours, let alone the curvaceous wiggle in your walk.”
“You are disgusting to notice that at a time like this—”
“I never claimed to be a gentleman, honey.” Noting that Ali had left the gates and was headed for the open area where the faluccas were beached, Jed abandoned the argument.
“Follow me in three minutes,” he ordered as he started off, trusting she was clever enough to obey despite her complaints.
Left alone, Victoria stole a furtive glance around, pleased there was no one in the area to take an interest in her. Perhaps the explosions had drawn whoever might ordinarily linger along the river into the city to see what had occurred. Feeling a bit more reassured, Victoria started after her rescuers just as the muezzin sounded the call for midday prayers.
Seeing Ali begin to make the obligatory gesture of devotion, she was surprised when Jed did not follow suit. Wouldn’t he alert everyone to his foreign origins and criminal intentions? As she watched his movements, Victoria saw him stealthily approach the lone watchman prostrate in prayer.
Minutes later, the guard was still on the ground, but now unconscious and gagged as Ali and Jed lifted a falucca’s sail from the sand and righted the craft. They slid the boat far enough into the water to maintain its balance, still held in place by the anchor that rested ashore.
“Here, Vicky, hurry,” called her savior while Ali moved away and began slicing through the canvas sheeting of the other nearby faluccas. “It won’t be long before the call to prayer is over.”
“But the boat is in the water and there’s no dock—”
“Lift your skirts and wade out to the bow. You’ll only get wet to your calves,” he coaxed, fighting the temptation to drag her into the boat by her hair. “Come on, now. We haven’t much time.”
“Isn’t there another way?”
Then, from up above, near the gates, shots rang out. Victoria dove into the falucca as though propelled by some of Ali’s charges. Jed couldn’t help but chuckle as he ducked his own head to hack at the anchor ropes holding the craft near to the shore.
“Halt, you there! Leave my boat alone or I’ll have the soldier kill you with the next round,” threatened the angry voice.
Raising his head just enough to look over the side, Jed felt a sudden tightening in his gut. He