*
Anna hurt everywhere and it wasn't easy to stay upright, yet she would rather die than let these men see what a coward she really was. If Kevin MacGreagor was the monster her father said, she would need a great deal more courage than this to endure him.
She didn't want to think about Kevin MacGreagor and instead, tried to decide what hurt the most. It was her back. The bleeding had stopped and the skin was tightening. The threads of her clothing were stuck to the wounds and pulled when she moved -- which on a horse, was constantly. She wondered if her cold rag would ease her back, but couldn't imagine anything touching the rope burns. The remaining sleeve of her favorite gown was in shreds and when she looked down at her soiled skirt, it was clear her father's degradation was complete.
Thomas could feel the drops of blood hitting his arm, and was worried she would bleed to death before he got her home. "Lean against me, Lass, and hold on. We must go faster." He waited until she complied and then encouraged his horse to gallop.