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breathing was shallow。 Richard knew there was a small cutoff from Hawkers Trail somewhere ahead of the woman。 Hurriedly； he tried to remember exactly where。 The main fork to her left continued around the lake and up the hill to his left； to where he stood and watched。 If she stayed on the main trail he could wait for her； then tell her about the men。 Then what？ Besides； that was too long。 The men would be on her before then。 An idea began to take shape。 He sprang up and started running down the trail
If he could reach her before the men caught her； and before the cutoff； he could take her up the right fork。 That trail led up out of the trees onto open ledges； away from the boundary； and toward the town of Hartland； toward help。 If they were quick； he could hide their tracks。 The men wouldn't know that the two of them had taken the side trail。 They would think she was still on the main trail； at least for a while； long enough to fool them and lead her to safety。
Still winded from the earlier run； Richard panted in labored breaths； running down the trail as fast as he could go。 The path had quickly turned back in to the trees； so at least he didn't have to worry about the men being able to see him。 Shafts of sunlight flashed by as he raced along。 Old pine trees lined the path； leaving a soft mat of needles to cushion his footfalls。
After a time； driving himself headlong down the path； he started looking for the side trail。 He couldn't be sure how far he had gone； the forest offered no view for a fix； and he didn't remember exactly where the cutoff was。 It was small and would be easy to miss。 With every bend bringing new hope that this would be the place he found the cutoff； he pushed himself on。 He tried to think of what he would say to the woman when he finally reached her。 His mind raced as fast as his legs。 She might think he was with her pursuers； or be frightened by him； or not believe him。 He wouldn't have much time to convince her to go with him； that he wanted to help。
ing over the top of a small rise； he looked anew for the fork； but didn't see it and kept running。 Now his breath came in ragged gasps。 He knew that if he didn't reach the split before she did； they would be trapped； and their only options would be to outrun the men； or to fight。 He was too winded for either。 That thought drove him on harder。 Sweat ran down his back； making his shirt stick to his skin。 The coolness of the morning had turned to choking heat； though he knew it was only his exertion that made it seem that way。 The forest passed in a blur to each side as he ran。
Just before a sharp bend to the right； he came at last to the cutoff； almost missing it。 He made a quick search for tracks to if she had been there and taken the small path。 There were none。 Relief washed over him。 He dropped to his knees and sat back on his heels in exhaustion； trying to catch his breath。 The first part had worked。 He had beaten her here。 Now he had to make her believe him before it was too late。
Holding his right hand over a painful stitch in his side and still trying to catch his breath； he started to worry that he was going to look silly。 What if it was just a girl and her brothers playing a game？ He would be the fool。 Everyone but him would have a good laugh。
He looked down at the bite on the back of his hand。…It was red and throbbed painfully。 He remembered the thing in the sky。 He thought about the way she had been walking； with a sense of purpose； not like a child at play。 It was a woman； not a girl。 He remembered the cold fear he had felt when he saw the four men。 Four men warily shadowing a woman： the third strange thing to happen this morning。 The third child of trouble。 No…he shook his head…this was no game； he knew what he had seen。 It was no game。 They were stalking her。
Richard came partway to his feet。 Waves of heat rolled from his body。 Bent over at the waist with his hands braced on his knees； he took a few deep breaths before straightening to his full height。
His eyes fell on the young woman as she came around the bend in front of him。 His breath caught for an instant。 Her brown hair was full； lush； and long； plementing the contours of her body。 She was tall； almost as tall as he； and about the same age。 The dress she wore was like none he had ever seen： almost white； cut square at the neck； interrupted only by a small； tan leather waist pouch。 The weave of the fabric was fine and smooth； almost glistening； and bore none of the lace or frills he was used to seeing； no prints or colors to distract from the way it caressed her form。 The dress was elegant in its simplicity。 She halted； and long graceful folds regally trailing her gathered about her legs。
Richard approached and stopped three strides away so as not to appear a threat。 She stood straight and still； her arms at her side。 Her eyebrows had the graceful arch of a raptor's wings in flight。 Her green eyes came unafraid to his。 The connection was so intense that it threatened to drain his sense of self。 He felt that he had always known her； that she had always been a part of him； 。 that her needs were his needs。 She held him with her gaze as surely as a grip of iron would； searching his eyes as if searching his soul； seeking an answer to something。 I am here to help you； he said in his mind。 He meant it more than any thought he had ever had。
The intensity of her gaze relaxed； loosening its hold on him。 In her eyes he saw something that attracted him more than anything else。 Intelligence。 He saw it flaring there； burning in her； and through it all he felt an overriding sense of her integrity。 Richard felt safe。
A warning flashed in his mind； making him remember why he was there； that time was dear。
〃I was up there〃…he pointed toward the hill he had been on 〃and I saw you。〃 She looked where he pointed。 He looked； too； and realized he was pointing to a tangle of tree limbs。 They couldn't see the hill； because the trees blocked the view。 He dropped his arm dumbly； trying to ignore the miscue。 Her eyes returned to his； waiting。
Richard started over； keeping his voice low。 〃I was up there on a hill； above the lake。 I saw you walking on the path by the shore。 There are some men following you。〃
She betrayed no emotion； but continued to hold his gaze。 〃How many？〃
He thought her question strange； but answered it。 〃Four。〃
The color drained from her face。
She turned her head； surveying the woods behind her； scanning the shadows briefly； then looked back to him once more； her green eyes searching his。
〃Do you choose to help me？〃 Except for her color； her exquisite features gave no hint as to her emotions。
Before his mind could form a thought； he heard himself say； 〃Yes。〃
Her countenance softened。 〃What would you have us do？〃
〃There's a small trail that turns off here。 If we take it； and they stay on this one； we can be away。〃
〃And if they don't？ If they follow our trail？〃
〃I'll hide our tracks。〃 He was shaking his head； trying to reassure her。 〃They won't follow。 Look； there's no time 。 。 。 。〃
〃If they do？〃 she cut him off。 〃Then what is you