In celebration of TGTBTU’s June Spotlight on Harlequin Historical, we have an excerpt of Patricia Frances Rowell‘s June release, An Impetuous Abduction. Read on to meet a heroine who finds herself in a serious predicament….

Summary:

Moments after Persephone Hathersage stumbled upon a band of thieves, the terrified young lady was spirited away on horseback! But trepidation soon gave way to scandalous desire when her brooding captor tenderly nursed a feverish Phona back to health.

Spellbound by the battle-scarred blackguard who kept her confined in an ancient fortress, Phona knew any impropriety with this nameless rogue would tarnish her reputation forever, not to mention plunge her into even further peril! However, appearances could be quite deceiving….

E-X-C-E-R-P-T

How long her prudent self might have debated with her more adventurous one, Phona never learned. Suddenly the sound of hoof beats erupted just above her. She looked up to see the stranger on the tall, rawboned black burst over the crest, galloping straight at her, wild hair flying from under the hat. A glimpse of a scowling, dark-bearded visage ended the argument in a heartbeat.

“Run, Firefly!” Phona tugged her mare’s head around and kicked her sharply into motion. The steep slope forbid the pell-mell gallop her pounding heart demanded. A misstep on the rough terrain would likely result in a broken leg for her mount or a broken neck for herself.

And certain capture.

Steady, steady. Every sense clamoring for precipitous flight, Phona forced herself to control her horse. Oh, God. The noise of the chase was growing louder.

And closer.

He would be on her in seconds. She must find a way-

A copse of trees rose in front of her. If she could cut through them, perhaps she would gain some time, and even possibly lose her pursuer. Her little mare dived into the shelter as if she, too, feared for her life. They leaped over small bushes and fallen branches and careened between the trees.

Branches clawed at her face and raked her hat off her head, the scarf all but strangling her before giving way. Seeking protection from nature’s assault, she leaned closer to the mare’s neck, keeping her body as low as possible. The sound of the following hooves faded a bit.

Could it be that the man hesitated to squeeze his big, ugly horse through the narrow spaces? Fortune was favoring her at last. Phona angled away from where she had entered the grove. If she could make her way back to her own land, the ground was easier, and she had known it for a lifetime. She could not imagine that he would hound her all the way to her home.

Phona and the mare emerged from the trees. She glanced to the right, and despair welled up in her. Whatever its deficiencies of appearance, the stranger’s black must be a powerful beast. It had circled the grove in the time it took for her to go through it.

The next few minutes would be a head-to-head race. One which her small mare could hardly hope to win. Doubts notwithstanding, Phona turned down the hill and gave the horse her head.

The contest ended in moments. Thundering hooves pounded up alongside her, and a hard arm circled her waist. Phona fought to keep her seat, but found herself dragged, kicking and trying to scratch, onto the saddle in front of the stranger. His other arm wrapped around her, capturing her arms and clamping her tightly against him. A hand closed over her mouth.

An angry whisper sounded in her ear. “Listen to me and listen well. As you value your life, do exactly as I tell you.”

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