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Beguiled

By Deeanne Gist, J. Mark Bertrand

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Excerpt from Beguiled by Deeanne Gist and J. Mark Bertrand

Mrs. Davidson stood at the threshold of the front door in a flowing silk caftan. “Maybe you shouldn’t go out there alone, not with these robberies going on. A young woman, all by herself--” She shivered. “I hate to think about what could happen.”

Rylee answered with a broad smile, ruffling the fur at Toro’s neck. “I’ll be all right. Toro here will watch out for me.”

Waving, Rylee skated into the night. The woman’s concern was touching, but even at night, Rylee knew the city, knew its hidden gardens, its alleyways and shortcuts.

Ducking under a low-hanging branch, she cut down a cobbled path, the mastiff surging forward. Now that she knew it had only been Logan and his photographer lurking in the shadows last night, her fears had mostly disappeared.

Then Toro stopped, bringing her up short.

A silhouette of a man at the other end of the alley ducked into the shadows. A streetlamp flickered, the swaying tree canopy baffling its light.

Her heart lurched. Part of her wanted to turn and run, but she had Toro by her side. And she wouldn’t let her fears drive her off the streets she loved. Still, she shook the leash to get Toro moving and made for the golden streetlamps of Meeting Street, away from the secluded gardens tucked into the side alley.

More shuffling over her shoulder. A footstep sliding over the cobbles. She imagined the shadow gaining on her, ghostly hands reaching out.

The thought seemed crazy. But this wasn’t her imagination. She’d seen the silhouette. She’d heard the movement, in spite of his effort to go unnoticed.

She and Toro reached Meeting Street and headed toward Broad, where even at this hour they were bound to encounter a stray tourist, some late-night partygoers, or even a couple out walking the dog.

She glanced behind, and there he was. Just the crescent of a head eclipsing the light of a streetlamp, too far away to make out any features. It could be anyone.

Then he was gone.

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Excerpted from:
Beguiled by Deeanne Gist and J. Mark Bertrand
Copyright © 2010; ISBN 0764206281
Published by Bethany House Publishers
Unauthorized duplication prohibited.

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