The Village-Part Three : The Baroness by David Crerand
Lisle had just turned thirty-years-old when her husband had been killed . A team of inept bandits had tried to rob the tavern and inn that they ran together . Her husband was a big man , and the first ball from the flintlock pistol had barely slowed him , as he charged his assailant . He crashed into the first intruder , huge fists flying , easily overpowering the smaller man . With a bright flash and a tremendous report , the second thief discharged his pistol . The shot struck her husband , shearing away a large portion of his handsome face . The blood spurted from the wound and she cried out to him as he fell .
“ Tomas ,” she screamed and tried to reach his side . The third robber grabbed her by the arm and spun her , flinging her against the bar where she struck her head and fell to the floor , stunned by the blow . Her husband , seeing her injured , struggled to lift himself from the floor .
“ Lisle ,” he sputtered , coming at last to his feet , bloody froth bubbling from his open mouth . He looked to the wife , who he had been unable to defend , and she saw the pain in his eyes . From behind him came the killing blow . A sword pierced his ribcage , passed through his heart , and she was alone with them .
128