Tigers usually killed with teeth rather than claws, but the massive paw swinging toward Laura looked lethal enough to finish off both her and the child. She began to roll, cradling Narwa in her arms. If she was on top when the tiger struck, perhaps the boy would escape harm.
Laura found it bizarre to know that in a moment she would be dead. She had never imagined such a lurid ending to her life. Perhaps she should be thinking about the state of her soul, but her last thought was a hope that Papa would be waiting for her, and Tatyana....
The deep boom of a rifle shattered the air, followed an instant later by another shot. The tiger roared again, this time with pain. Laura looked up to see it rear into the air, the terrifying bulk blocking the sun as the beast twisted and lashed out helplessly with its forepaws.
With a hair-curling howl, it collapsed to the earth, legs still thrashing. Before one of the flailing, lethally clawed paws could hit Laura or the child, Kunthi reached them. She was a small woman, but with superhuman strength she seized Laura beneath the shoulders and dragged her clear of the tiger's death throes.
When Laura and the child were safe, Kunthi pulled Narwa into her own embrace, weeping and rocking back and forth as she cradled her son, who was bellowing with outrage.
Too numb and breathless to move, Laura was still sprawled on the ground among Narwa's crushed flowers when Ian arrived on the scene, having covered the distance in an amazingly short time. He dropped to his knees beside her.
"Laura, are you hurt?" he asked urgently. He laid down his rifle and raised her to a sitting position, one arm around her shoulders.
"I don't know," she whispered, having trouble finding the breath to speak. "Its paw struck my right side."
After examining her side and hip, he whistled softly. "You were incredibly lucky. Your canteen took the force of the blow. It was torn off and is lying over by the tiger. Good God, the claws shredded the lower edge of your skirt! I don't see blood, though. Do you feel pain anywhere?"
Laura made a gingerly assessment. Her ribs were sore, but the metal canteen seemed to have prevented any serious injury. "Just bruises, I think." She smiled unsteadily. "Papa gave me that canteen. He said it might save my life, but I don't think this is quite what he had in mind."
"Perhaps he was watching over you this morning." Ian shook his head. "When the tiger knocked you down, I thought you were done for. If it had connected solidly..."
By this time, half the village had gathered around and everyone was chattering excitedly. One of the last to come was Narwa's gray-faced young father, who pushed through the crowd and embraced his wife and child.
More calmly, Punwa examined the dead tiger. "Fine shooting, Cameron Sahib. Both bullets through the heart."
With Ian's help, Laura managed to get to her feet, then shuddered as she stared down at the tiger. The beast was enormous, at least ten feet long from its nose to the tip of its tail. If it had been just a fraction faster, she would be dead now, and probably Narwa with her.
She began to shake and Ian's arm went around her. In spite of the sun's heat, she felt chilled and was grateful for the warmth of his lean body. "How did you manage to shoot twice so quickly?" she asked. "The shots were only a few seconds apart."
"My rifle is a breechloader," he explained. "It can be fired much faster than a conventional muzzleloader, especially when one is terrified out of one's wits."
"It was certainly a more effective weapon than my topi!"
"Yes, but throwing the topi was the difference between escape and disaster. It was quick thinking on your part." His arm tightened around her, and when he spoke again, there was cold anger in his voice. "Look at the tiger's left paw, the crippled one. That's the scar of a bullet. A hunter wounded the beast, then didn't track it down to finish the job. The stupid fool was probably responsible for turning this tiger into a man-eater."
"If the Hindus are right, justice will catch up with him in another life," Laura said with brittle humor. "Perhaps he'll come back as a mouse and be eaten by a cat."
Ian's expression lightened. "I sincerely hope so."
The village headman came over. "You are shaken, memsahib. Would you like a ride back to your camp in a bullock cart?"
Knowing how jarring a bullock cart was, Laura shook her head. "I would rather walk. It will relax me."
Ian said he didn't need another tiger skin, so the headman promised the pelt would be sent to Baipur after it was tanned. From there it would be forwarded to whatever new home Laura chose. She would enjoy walking on this particular beast.
Finally they resumed their interrupted walk to the camp. Laura felt steadier, but she was still glad to take Ian's arm.