Chapter Two
When Kaitlyn awoke, the darkness and bitter cold surrounded her.
Disoriented, she sat up and groaned at the ache in her chin. Pungent smoke drifted high into the night sky from a small campfire. And behind the flames, obscured in that darkness, her kidnapper sat attending to the long gash in his side.
"You're awake," he stated without looking up. The sound of his voice was etched with pain. "There's cooked rabbit on the fire. Help yourself."
"I'd rather poke myself in the eye with a fork," she lied, her hand reaching for her swollen jaw. "You punched me!"
"You hit me first," he replied as he threw a lump of meat at her. It landed on Kaitlyn’s grubby dress, and then flopped into a greasy heap upon her lap. "Besides," Digger continued, "you gave me no choice. Now eat. It's sun-up and we've got another few hours of hiking."
The scent of cooked rabbit was delicious. By nature Kaitlyn would never betray her pride. Her defiant stomach, however, quite often did.
Kaitlyn was starved. She knew from watching, ‘I’m a Celebrity. Get Me Out Of Here,’ that whenever in a survival situation, the need to eat and reserve energy was supreme if you wanted to remain lucid in your thinking. How many celebrities had she seen skip a few meals, then burst into tears on live national TV? Kaitlyn winced at the embarrassing memory. The last thing she needed to do was to become delirious, act like a complete pillock, and forget the need for escape.
Chance would be a fine thing.
She looked at the food. Maybe her stomach was right. Just one tiny bite. What harm could it do?
Her muddy hand snatched for the morsel of food. After one mouthful she knew two things. A) Digger could teach Jamie Oliver a thing or two about cooking rabbits and, B) Kaitlyn knew the TV programme did not lie. Her options became crystal clear. She had to escape, but would never survive on her own. Her gaze flickered over to her companion. The light of the fire blazed in his guarded stare. What would it take to convince him to help her, she wondered.
Not a lot. He was a man after all.
Kaitlyn sank her teeth into the small piece of meat and continued to think of escape. Aloud she said, “You're still bleeding?"
The man looked to his wound, then he wiped his hands on his jacket. "I've stitched it best I can. I'll get it cleaned when we get home."
Kaitlyn tossed the rabbit bones and, when she looked back, Digger was cutting her a second portion. His knife sliced with ease through the meat that he handed to her. She took it and ate, ignoring his eyes as they lingered on her fingers, which she licked one by one.
Rabbit had other benefits too. The grease from the meat eased her engagement ring back into place. Free at last, Kaitlyn’s swollen finger pulsed with delight. Blood surged to the tip of her finger like gatecrashers storming a party.
Ignoring the pins and needles that rushed through her hand, she looked at the diamond ring and, for the thousandth time that evening, told herself not to think about Camilla with Seth.
The bloody conniving pair!
Other than the odd pang of murderous rampage surging through her body, Kaitlyn thought she was coping with her emotional catastrophe remarkably well. Even this kidnapping malarkey could work in her favour. The public, always sympathetic to the underdog, would love it. She’d sell her story of heartache and terror to the biggest bidder, appear on a few chat shows along with the customary radio interviews. Maybe a famous producer would make her an outlandish offer she simply could not ignore that’d turn her triumph over tragedy story into a box office wonder. That would be good. Hell, it would show Seth bloody Anderson that she didn’t need him, and never did.
But first she had to get home.
"And just where is your home?" she asked after swallowing the last piece of delicious rabbit. Never had a meal tasted so good. So mouth-watering Kaitlyn feared that she might actually be drooling. Alarmed, she wiped the back of her hand over her mouth.
Phew, just grease and the odd lump of rabbit.
"Tearlach, due north of the Whispering Mountains," was his only answer as he stood to extinguish the fire.
Oh please-
Kaitlyn dug her fingers into the moist earth, and gritted her teeth in denial. Honestly, what was it with her and men? She couldn’t even attract a rational kidnapper!
“I've never heard of it."
"That doesn't surprise me."
"Well, maybe we can come to an agreement," she stated, lifting her head high as she spoke, "but only if you let me go." Kaitlyn's voice was racked high with stubborn pride. She just hoped she had the courage to back it up.
Digger grinded to a halt, turned his head and looked her over from muddy head to grubby toe. "And what do you have that I want?"
Their eyes locked. In that moment, Kaitlyn realised she'd offered him something of interest. "Money?" she replied hopefully.
The man's shoulders dropped. "You don't have any more money. I looked through your purse when you were out for the count."
"You know Seth’s a millionaire,” she encouraged. “He’ll pay you whatever you want.” Please, Seth, don’t let me down!
Digger winced and reached for his waist. "Lady, I don’t know who the hell Seth is.”
Hang on a minute! “But you must know. You’re kidnapping me for his money, aren’t you?”
Digger seemed oblivious to her concerns. “Besides, your money's no good here," he finished.
“It must be good for something?"
"Lighting fires comes to mind."
Kaitlyn snatched at her purse. All her cash was gone. "You used my money to start the fire?" Now how was she going to pay for her ride home?
"It works better than bracken," he replied. "I also made use of the cotton, and some of your hairclips to catch our dinner."
Kaitlyn stood and kicked a small stone in frustration. "What is going on here? You're a soldier. I’m a civilian. You're supposed to look after me."
"That's exactly what I am doing." The man moved his large bulk to one side and pointed with his gun to the darkened forest. "The Gaffe is no ordinary enemy. And as for going home, you can forget it. We're both stuck in the middle of a nightmare, so that rules that little scenario out. But, if you're still hell-bent on leaving, be sure you stay close to the river, hide your scent and hole up somewhere safe at night. Do that and you might survive for a few days."
Kaitlyn was shocked still. She wanted to go home and soak in a luxuriously deep bath, nursing her broken pride by sipping champagne and binging on truffles, but surely he wasn't going to let her go alone? "I don't know the way home."
"Put your brain in first gear! If I knew the way back to our world, would I be stuck in this rat-hole, too?" He was already striding off into the dark.
"What do you mean, and where are you going?"
"I told you, to Tearlach, due north of the-"
"Whispering Mountains, I know, you’ve already told me,” she wailed, rocking indecisively backwards and forwards. “But you can't just leave me here. Not with that thing out there."
"Yes I can."
There was no way she was being dumped twice in one night.
Quick calculation and the necessity for survival forced Kaitlyn's reply. "The hell you will," she said as she raced to keep up with him.

With the break of day, Kaitlyn looked out over the cliff edge they stood on and gasped. The small woods she had trundled through the night before had miraculously grown into an emerald sea of swaying treetops that reached as far and as wide as the eye could see. The narrow footpath that she’d walked was replaced with dense undergrowth that cut through her clothing and scraped at her skin.
Hertfordshire was no more.
“What’s happened to the Manor?” she muttered, throwing her companion a look of disbelief. Hell, what had happened to her life?
“Best not think about it,” he offered. “You’re safe with me.”
Kaitlyn glanced at his wound and failed to agree.
With his arm resting heavily upon Kaitlyn’s shoulders for support, she continued to aid the soldier across a landscape she did not recognise. She was exhausted, a painful stitch began to cramp her side, a dryness clung to the back of her throat and her bare feet screamed in blistering protest.
"Got any water?" she asked as she hurried beside him.
With some difficulty, he swung a flask off his shoulder and handed it to her. She drank deeply, then she handed it back, watching as he, too, drank from the container.
"Can’t we stop for a rest?" she asked.
Kaitlyn watched a bead of sweat run down the length of his face. He wiped at it with the back of his hand, and then shook his head. Kaitlyn groaned under her breath. How on earth was she ever going to escape if Digger never shut his eyes? “But you’re so tired,” she urged.
"We've got another two hours of hiking." His left elbow was pressed against his side, supporting his injury as he spoke. "We can rest when we get to the village. Until then, we'd better push on," he finished, increasing his grip about her shoulders.
On they travelled down a steep, rocky crevice, then through a valley filled with tall grass. Time and again he lost his footing and fell to one knee, only to be hauled back to his feet by Kaitlyn. Finally, the valley led to the banks of a fast flowing river. The water surged past boulders and jagged rocks, its surface white with danger.
Her feet were going to make her pay for this.
"Can you swim?" he asked above the roar of the water.
Kaitlyn stood uncomfortably on the pebbled bank and looked at him in astonishment. "Of course I can swim, but not through that! Please tell me you have a bridge," she said as she released him.
"One that the Gaffes can cross, you mean?" he retorted, his body stooped to one side. "They hate water, not heights. No bridge."
Kaitlyn's shoulders tensed. "If we're going to cross this, shouldn't you put your gun away?" she prompted. “Last thing I want is a bullet lodged in me.”
The soldier focused his attentions on her, his stare penetrating, before holstering his gun.
"Don't look at me like that, you great bully." Kaitlyn shot the soldier one of her finest looks of contempt.
"Getting cocky now I've put me gun away?"
"It's not a nice experience being threatened with your weapon."
"How do you know that's me only weapon?" The big man replied with a weak grin.
Kaitlyn chose to ignore that remark, deciding it best to let her solicitor sort this entire mess out once she got back to London. Ha! You wait Seth, she thought, I can be a bitch, too.
Digger’s voice dragged her from her thoughts.
"The undercurrent is a mother. Watch your footing. Hold onto me belt and don't let go."
Before Kaitlyn could acknowledge the bitter chill of the water that seeped through her torn dress, the two were waist deep. The wild current swept through her clothing, the freezing temperature pinching at her midriff. With one startled gasp she inhaled, her stomach muscles tightening as she tried to keep her upper body above the surface. Then his arm slipped over her shoulders. It was heavy, but warm, and she clung to it for all her worth.
Together they waded further into the wild water. The river bottom was stony. He stumbled. She caught him and felt his weight suddenly increase. In that moment she knew he was on the verge of collapsing. The icy water pounded against her face and stole her breath as Kaitlyn battled to increase her grip on him, but the current was too strong. One by one, her numb fingers were ripped from his belt. Horrified, she watched as the current took him.
The freezing chill of the water slammed against Digger’s chest. He stirred. His eyelids fluttered, and his hand reached for her. Then he vanished. A stone plummeted in her stomach as she witnessed the man dragged below the surface. Against the fierce torrent, she frantically made her way to him. She dove under the water, grabbed him by the hair and pulled his head clear. With his back against her chest and her hand wedged securely under his chin, she fought the last few gruelling feet to the opposite bank.
They collapsed in a heap. Kaitlyn rolled onto her back and tried to catch her breath.
Still, he was too quiet. Sitting upright, she looked down at the soldier and saw that his lips had turned blue. Suddenly, Kaitlyn was petrified of being alone.
"I don't have to spend another night out here with you, do I?" she asked as she poked at his injury. It was the only way she could ensure that he remained conscious. The soldier's eyes flew open and he seethed silently. "I'd rather you shoot me than endure that," she lied as he looked up into her face.
"Do that again and I might just oblige."
"You wouldn't dare. Why save me from that Gaffe, and drag me away from the nearest taxi, only to shoot me?"
Exhausted, the man rolled onto his side, then clambered to his feet and did a mental eye-roll. "You talk too much. Take a breather once in a while. You'll live longer." He flinched and clapped a hand to his waist as he turned to face her.
"My chances of survival would have been much higher if you’d have taken me to London," she replied, her smile saccharine.
"How many more times?” He grabbed her hand and led her away from the river, through a coppice and into a clearing. “If I had let you go, you'd have bloody died.”
Many cabins encircled a wide village green. A small church stood farthest away, a large lodge and barn beside that. In the centre of this group of cottages sat an old looking structure. Bent and curled to disproportion, Kaitlyn thought the object looked rather like a giant gnarled hand reaching out of the earth.
In its vast shadow two women, baskets held tight to their chests, stood gawking at her. Kaitlyn raced to them and grabbed the one who was white haired and bent with age, knocking the basket from her hands.
"Thank God! You've got to help me."
"Merry meet, my herbs! Watch my rheumatism. You're pulling my arm clean from its socket." She dragged one of her hands free to pat Kaitlyn soothingly. "Calm down, it's all right."
Kaitlyn could not believe what she was hearing. "It bloody well is not. We were attacked by a bloody great big hairy thing!” She next pointed an accusing finger at Digger. “And he's a madman with a gun."
"Who, our Digger? Well, you're half right." The old woman looked down at the day's pickings. "Burning balefires. Elowen, will you look at the mess."
Elowen looked from the ground to the stranger; her indigo eyes glared as she barked, "You've ruined them." Infuriated, her harsh gaze shot toward Digger, then softened.
"Hang on to her, Rose," Digger ordered. He walked slowly, bent to one side with his left elbow supporting his ribs. "I found her out in the forest."
"Is she from Durach?"
The soldier stole a sideways glance in Kaitlyn’s direction then shook his head.
"Pack it in then, our Digger. You're scaring her out of her wits. Just look at the girl. Drenched to the skin and shaking in her boots. What have you done to her?"
"Nothing yet, but the day's still young."
"That's a lie. He hit me," Kaitlyn replied, glancing down at herself.
A day without a wash had left her looking weary and bedraggled. The little intact material that remained on her dress was embedded with swamp grime and grass stains. It was also bloodstained and one sleeve had been ripped clean away. Her hair was a bird’s nest and, as she splayed her fingers out before her, she grimaced yet again at the blackness beneath her fingernails. Worse still, huge blisters were forming on the soles of her feet.
"And he forced me here at gunpoint,” she added.
"And I saved your arse," Digger countered as he slumped forward then fell to the ground.
"Digger, you're hurt? Did she do this?" Elowen rushed to his side and ran her fingers over his flushed cheek.
Digger lifted his smock to reveal the extent of the red gash that ran several inches along his waist. "I came across several of Stabler's spies."
"Gaffes? They've found us? Did you let them escape?" Rose asked, her tone anxious for a reply.
Digger groaned in pain. "I got most of them, but one tosser came out of nowhere and lunged at me." His hair glistened with sweat. "I got to her just in time, too." Digger looked up to Elowen's fretful face. He patted her exploring hands and smiled, "It's nothing. Just a scratch."
"Another lie." Kaitlyn spouted. "That wound's infected. You ought to get to a doctor."
"Oh great," Digger cursed. "That's all I need." He coughed as he spoke, then rolled onto his side and attempted to stand. He didn't get very far.
"Here, let me look at it." Kaitlyn took a step in his direction.
"Over my dead body," Elowen clipped. "You could be anyone. What did you have to bring her here for, Digger?"
Digger’s frown softened as he glanced at Kaitlyn. "Well, I weren’t gonna leave her out there."
“I wish you had,” Kaitlyn lied.
Beyond lost, she limped about on the spot and studied the sea of trees that surrounded the village. “Where the hell am I now?” she said as she looked to the west and the setting sun that cast the tip of each tree aflame with its golden light. Kaitlyn had never seen anything quite as beautiful. "And which way is it to London?"
Digger flinched as Elowen applied pressure to his wound and helped him stand. "You ain't going anywhere."
"Oh yes I am, buster," Kaitlyn mumbled, not liking the tone of his voice one bit. "As far away from this place as possible."
"Our Digger be right." The old woman pulled on Kaitlyn's arm. "Tilt at windmills, and you'll do yourself damage. A great river encircles the village. You're safe here, away from the Gaffes."
Kaitlyn dropped her head into her hands. Why hadn’t she listened to Hannah? Why hadn’t she waited for the taxi? Why did she always make such a hash of things? Why oh why oh why-
“And look at your footsies, they’re bleeding,” Rose remarked, pointing at Kaitlyn’s feet with one bony finger. “They’ll be pussing next, you mark me words.”
Oh smashing.
Collecting her thoughts, Kaitlyn brushed the wet hair from her face then glanced back to Digger. His dark eyes waited for her.
"Okay, but I need to use the phone,” Kaitlyn surrendered. She noticed the looks exchanged between Digger and Rose. "My friends," she explained, "they'll be-"
"Thankful you're safe and sound," Rose concluded. "Come on now. Let us show you where you can get cleaned up. You’re plumper than most here,” she remarked, her eyes measuring Kaitlyn’s size. “Most people are when they gets here. But no matter. Our Digger can lend you some of his clothes, then we’ll be telling you about this place."