Her legs kicked vainly in empty air, trying to propel her upward, and she felt the wrench of shoulder muscles, but sheer desperation propelled her upward-that, and the nightmare vision of Emmanuel coming into the room and seeing the bottom half of her hanging out of the ceiling.

She could see Chris vainly kicking his leg to free the foot from the trap of the stirrup.

He kicked vainly at the huge stone with his left leg.

His feet kicked vainly for something solid to give him leverage.

Beauty's captor reared his horse, and as Beauty sobbed and wailed, a rope was looped about her shoulders, tightening and securing her to the saddle, her legs kicking vainly and furiously.

He swung by his hands, kicking vainly to regain a measure of footing.

Olmec turned with a snarl, shifting the woman to an uncomfortable and certainly undignified position under one huge arm, where he held her writhing and kicking vainly, like a child.