Текст книги "My notorious highlander"

Автор книги: Vonda Sinclair

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Текущая страница: 8 (всего у книги 17 страниц)

She lifted her hips, boldly meeting each of his thrusts. Damnation, he was fast becoming addicted to this woman. They'd only indulged a few minutes ago. And he feared twice in one day would never be enough for him.

'Twas as if the first time had only been an appetizer and this was the main course. She accepted his scorching kisses, taking everything he was giving and eager for more. Thank the saints, she was a passionate woman who loved carnal pleasures. Or maybe 'twas their special connection and him that fired her up. He hoped.

"So damned good, Jessie," he growled against her mouth.

"Aye. Amazing," she hissed.

Her obvious enjoyment and her ardor for him sent his arousal blazing toward the sky faster than he would've liked. Nay, he had to pace himself and give her more pleasure than she'd ever thought possible. She wouldn't even remember MacBain's name by the time he was through with her this day. Torrin wanted her addicted to the pleasures he could give her. He wanted her to need him and think of him night and day.

Pausing, he moved down and drew her puckered nipple into his mouth while cradling her breasts within his hands. Her breasts were not overly large, nor were they small. Just the right size, to his way of thinking. Beautiful, creamy and perky with rosy pink nipples.

He moaned and switched to her other nipple. As he suckled it, she shoved her hips upward, imbedding him deeper. The sudden decadence of the move gripped him, and he growled. He wished he could bring her to climax several times before he reached his own, but he wasn't sure he could endure it this time.

After licking his thumb, he slid it between their bodies to stroke that highly sensitive pleasure point, that wee rigid bud just above where he slid. While caressing with his thumb, he thrust harder and faster. The expression on her face was beyond blissful. How he loved watching her at the peak of passion.

Her nails dug into his shoulders, tighter and tighter until she screamed, her body flexing hard and bowing upwards. Her nipples grew even harder and he suckled at one while pounding into her at the height of her pleasure. He held back his own release as long as he could. Once hers ebbed, his own crashed in on him, consuming all thought except how much he loved this woman. Aye, she was his, and he was never letting her go.

The pleasure drained away, bit by bit, and he slowly came back to himself, breathing hard. Saints, he felt like he'd climbed a mountain.

"Jessie," he said between hard breaths. "You are amazing."

She giggled, and the playful, happy look in her eyes told him all he needed to know right now.

Lying down beside her on the warm sand, he kissed her and held her close in his arms. The smile would not leave his face and his heart beat with joy and victory. Aye, she was his now, and she would soon realize that of her own free will. He didn't need to use words to convince her of anything. She would feel it when the time was right. He would show her what a joy life could be.

He drew back. "How about another swim? That one was cut short."

She smiled. "Aye, I'm ready to cool off."

He stood, then took her hand and helped her up. Hand in hand, they ran toward the water. He loved how fearless she was, going naked just as he was. She was a good swimmer, too.

For an endless time, they played in the water, splashing each other, swimming and jumping waves. Torrin grabbed her and kissed her every chance he got, and each time aroused him more and more. Soon, he would need her again, and he hoped she would need him as well.

Movement on the beach caught his attention. He blinked the burning salt water from his eyes. Around a dozen men were lined up along the beach. Were his eyes playing tricks on him? "What the hell?"

Jessie turned abruptly. "Who is—? Haldane?"

Chapter Eight

"That little bastard." Rage twisted through Jessie, and she started from the chest-deep water toward her youngest brother, Haldane, an outlaw who knew better than to show his face here.

"You're naked." Torrin grabbed her arm just as a wave crashed over their shoulders.

She muttered a curse and slid behind him while looking over his shoulder. "Haldane!" she yelled over the crashing waves. "Take your men and go!" She pointed firmly. Though Haldane was an adult and was by no means small, he was four years her junior. She'd always ordered him about, but he'd rarely obeyed her, or anyone.

Even at this distance, she saw his satisfied smile. He shook his head, his bright copper hair and short beard gleaming in the sunlight.

"That gray-haired man beside him is McMurdo," Torrin said.

"Aye." Jessie had seen the infamous highwayman only a few times in her life and knew he had killed at least eighteen people, maybe more, including her cousin. Plus, he had come close to killing Dirk.

"We can wait all day," Haldane called, crossing his arms over his chest.

"What do you want?" Torrin demanded.

"My sister is going to gain us entrance at Dunnakeil."

"You're wrong, Haldane!" she yelled.

"What are you going to do about it? I have your clothes and your weapons. There is no escape from Sango Bay except up this bank, unless you have a galley somewhere. Or maybe you can swim for a couple miles in the sea."

"Oh, that bastard," Jessie growled between clenched teeth. "I could choke him." He was right; there was no exit from this bay except behind Haldane and his men. Sheer cliffs enclosed the two sides. "Leave now, Haldane! Or I'll throttle you."

He laughed. "I doubt that, sister. You and your lover are outnumbered. We're armed and you are not."

Her blood ran cold and the chill sea water wasn't helping any. The sun was descending in the western sky, and the wind was growing cooler. How long had she and Torrin been here? Clearly, they should've left an hour ago.

"Leave our clothes at the edge of the water and turn your backs!" she commanded.

Haldane did as she said, leaving their clothes in a pile just beyond the surf, turned his back, then he said something low to McMurdo. Several more of the men faced the bank, but not McMurdo.

"Turn around, McMurdo!" she demanded.

He shook his head. "Are you thinking I've never seen a naked woman afore? Trust me, I've seen a few." His nasty grin revealed several missing teeth.

"Ugh."

"'Slud!" Torrin said. "We need to turn the tables on them."

"Aye. But how? There are a dozen of them and only two of us."

"I'll think of something. Come, let's get dressed. Stay behind me."

How mortifying to have to depend on Torrin to shield her from the view of the outlaws. Gil, a young archer who was formerly a member of the MacKay clan, stood on the hill with his arrow aimed at her and Torrin. With her wet hair hanging over her breasts, at least she was partially covered. Torrin bent and retrieved her smock, then helped her put it on, along with the rest of her clothing, uncaring of his own nudity.

She eyed the outlaws while Torrin dressed. Most of them faced Jessie and Torrin again, vile grins on their unshaven faces. Their unkempt hair and dirty clothing told her what sort of men they were—desperate outlaws just like Haldane. Where had he rounded up such a ragtag group? 'Twas hard to believe her wee brother had turned out so horribly. Their father would be mightily ashamed of his youngest son.

Haldane held her three knives in his hands. She should've kept one of them strapped to her thigh, but she'd known the salt water would rust it. Truth was it would've done her no good. One knife against twelve was naught. Saints! What could they do?

Wait! She remembered she'd sewn a small knife into the hem of this arisaid. She'd never had to use it and had almost forgotten it. But it would be difficult to retrieve. She couldn't simply grab it. She would have to unravel the hem first.

"Good to see you again, Chief." Haldane smirked. "So, you've seduced my whorish sister, have you?"

Torrin launched himself at Haldane, but the two men flanking him stepped forward, their blades poised to slit Torrin's throat.

He halted and Jessie grabbed the back of his shirt. "Pay him no heed. He's but trying to provoke you."

"I don't need you, MacLeod," Haldane boasted. "We can put you out of your misery right here. I only need my sister to convince the guards to open the portcullis at Dunnakeil. The only reason you're still alive is that, being a chief, you might be worth a lot of ransom money."

The look in Torrin's narrowed eyes turned lethal and Jessie knew he would have his revenge. He'd already decided. Of a certainty, he had always been kind to her, but she'd seen how deadly he was to his enemies. If he'd had a sword in his hands, he would've likely cut them all down.

"Leave him be. We'll both go peacefully," she said to appease her brother.

"Aye, you will. Or I'll kill you both," Haldane said.

She frowned, wondering if Haldane could indeed kill his own sister. If not, he would order McMurdo to do it. And she had no doubt he'd kill Torrin if he caused any trouble. Haldane was just like his mother—soulless and coldblooded.

"Both of you, up the bank," Haldane ordered, motioning with his sword.

Torrin took her hand, leading her up the sandy pathway. Though she truly didn't need his help, she accepted it because she loved touching him. He was her only comfort in this treacherous situation. She prayed that Torrin, being a warrior and chief, would come up with a brilliant plan of escape. Or maybe she could, if she put her mind to it. But two against twelve? The odds were overwhelming.

At the top of the bank, Haldane turned to Torrin with a smirk. "By the way, Dirk killed your brother."

Torrin halted, his gaze dark and deadly. "What?" he growled.

Jessie's stomach sank. Was it true?

"Aye, Dirk MacKay, the chief of the MacKay clan, killed Nolan MacLeod. He is your brother, is he not?" Haldane said in a lighthearted tone. How could he enjoy delivering such horrible news to anyone?

Torrin frowned. "Aye."

Jessie tightened her hold on his hand. "He might be lying just to rile you."

Haldane laughed. "I'm not lying, sister."

"Did you witness it?" Torrin asked.

"Nay. But Nolan was with us and then, after a skirmish we had with the rest of the MacKays, he vanished. And good riddance. He was never any help to us."

"He made off with Dirk's woman." McMurdo shook his head, his long gray beard blowing in the wind. "I knew that was a death sentence."

"Lady Isobel?" Jessie asked, her heart leaping into her throat at this news of her best friend. "Nolan attacked Lady Isobel again? Was she hurt?"

"He snatched her from the tent, put her on a horse and rode away with her. Dirk chased after him, and that was the last we saw of Nolan," McMurdo said.

"Was Isobel hurt?" Jessie asked again.

McMurdo shrugged. "We saw her again later with Dirk. She didn't appear hurt, but then Gil shot Dirk in the calf with an arrow." He gave an evil grin.

"I'm hoping he's dead with fever," Haldane said in a hard voice.

"Nay," Jessie said, worry for her older brother clutching at her stomach. He was strong. Surely, he could overcome such an injury. Couldn't he?

"Damn," Torrin muttered. Thinking his younger brother might be dead ripped his heart out. But with the way Nolan had turned corrupt, Torrin had expected him to meet a bad end. For Jessie's brother to have killed his brother… seemed ironic and strange. And he had no doubt Nolan was dead if he'd done what McMurdo said. Dirk would've had no mercy on him for 'twas clear Dirk loved Isobel beyond all reason.

Jessie watched him warily. "You're not going to seek revenge, are you?"

"Nay. If Nolan kidnapped Lady Isobel or hurt her, he deserved what he got. Dirk wouldn't murder someone outright."

"Nay, he wouldn't."

"Did they bury him?" Torrin asked the outlaws.

Haldane shrugged. "Time to go." He strode forward, joining several of his men.

"I'm sure Dirk would've had him buried if he is indeed dead," Jessie said. "We have no proof of it yet."

Torrin nodded. Aye, without doubt. Still, it didn't stop him from remembering Nolan as a wee lad, being slapped and abused by their father. But he couldn't think about that now. He had to focus on how to get himself and Jessie free of Haldane and his men. They were all well-armed and obviously ruthless. Haldane had hired a bunch of outlaws with no loyalties and no qualms about killing anyone for two pence.

"Move along, you two," McMurdo said behind them, his sword raised.

If Jessie wasn't with him, he'd break McMurdo's neck and grab his sword, then he'd run the rest of them through or cut their throats, one by one. At least, as many of them as he could. He was outnumbered, aye, but they were all scrawnier and weaker-looking than him. But he would do naught to put Jessie in danger.

Torrin took her hand and strode forward to catch up to the others. Why the devil hadn't he realized the potential danger of being trapped in that secluded bay? The lure of seducing Jessie had blinded him to everything else. He'd been daft.

When they didn't head toward the castle, Torrin bristled. "Where are you taking us?"

"To a safe place until we get the lay of the land." Haldane gave him a sinister grin.

What did the sneaky bastard have up his sleeve? Mayhap he knew the MacKay guards were likely to shoot him and his cohorts full of arrows before he could make any demands.

Following a roundabout path, over rocky hills and through stands of prickly gorse bushes, Haldane and his men were clearly avoiding the village and the few crofts scattered about the area.

Torrin studied Jessie as he helped her over a huge rock. She appeared concerned and somewhat afraid. Her own little brother was a ruthless outlaw just as his had been. He'd never feared Nolan, but he didn't know everything he'd done either. Haldane was no doubt a murderer, and his partner, McMurdo, certainly was.

An hour later, gloaming was descending upon the land and thick clouds were moving in from the west, further darkening the evening sky. They stopped at a dilapidated byre just off the narrow trail.

"Inside, both of you." Haldane waved Jessie and Torrin toward the doorway.

"'Tis dark in there," Jessie said. "There may be vermin."

"Do you think I care? Get inside," he ordered.

"Can you at least give us a lantern? 'Twill be dark soon," Jessie said.

"Nay. Don't be such a coward."

"Bastard," she muttered.

Haldane pushed her, and she slammed into Torrin.

"Keep your hands off her!" Torrin said.

"Shut your gob, MacLeod. Or you'll end up like your brother. Now get inside." Haldane shoved him toward the doorway into the dark stone structure. His first instinct was to shove back, 'haps even grab Haldane's sword, but he knew not what the outcome would be.

Inside, he did a quick survey of the building. It contained no windows and only one doorway. The thatch was old and full of holes, but still mostly intact.

"MacDonald, tie them together, sitting back to back," Haldane ordered.

He entered with the lantern, along with two more men, and did as he was told. First, he bound each of their wrists together behind their backs with strips of wool plaid, then he made them sit on the hard-packed, damp dirt floor, wrapped a rope around their torsos and tied a knot in it.

Torrin couldn't fight them now with Jessie present. Besides, he didn't like the odds. Once Haldane left them there, maybe they'd have a chance of escaping.

"How are you feeling?" Torrin asked Jessie, once the men left.

"Not so good."

He tried to glance around at her, needing to look into her eyes, but that was impossible, tied back to back in the dark. "Are you in pain? He tied the ropes tight."

"Nay, no pain, but… How will we escape?" she whispered.

"We'll think of something."

They listened to Haldane and his men outside, most of their mumbled words too low to hear, then things grew quiet.

"They must have gone," Torrin said, keeping his voice low. "Let's see if we can stand and move closer to the door. That way, we can see how many guards he left. Push against my back."

She pushed back hard, while he did the same, and soon they were standing. Stepping sideways, they inched closer to the door, then Torrin saw him—the man with a scraggly brown beard pacing back and forth on the trail. Was he the only guard Haldane left? Or was another one patrolling behind the structure?

"Let's move to the back wall," Torrin whispered. Once they did, he said, "Now, let's see if we can find a jagged rock to cut this rope with." They rubbed against the rocks, most of which had been laid with the smooth side toward them. But then the rope snagged. "There's one." Torrin placed the rope that was wrapped around his upper arm against the rough rock and sawed against it. "Is this hurting you?"

"Nay. But I don't feel I'm helping very much."

"You are." He rubbed the rope against the rock with all his strength. He had to do this for Jessie. He had to get her free before her unpredictable brother did something insane. The rock was not as sharp as he would've liked. In the dark, he couldn’t even gage his progress. Still, he kept sawing the rope against the rock until he was near worn out from using the same muscles over and over.

"Saints," he hissed.

"Is there something I can do?" she asked.

"Nay." He had to sever the rope, but could he do it before Haldane returned?

***

Haldane and ten of his men quickly crept along the trail toward Dunnakeil.

"Remain quiet," he whispered. "If the portcullis is open, we'll slip in. If not, we'll see how many guards are patrolling the battlements, and we'll ken what we're up against."

They didn't yet know how many men MacLeod had brought with him, two or three, or a whole regiment. He also needed to know if the clan was out searching for Jessie. 'Twas suppertime and they'd be looking for her soon. Once he had this information and complete darkness fell, so his men could hide better, he'd bring Jessie to the castle and demand entrance… if they didn't want to see her killed before their eyes.

Earlier in the day, Haldane and his men had left their stolen bìrlinn at Smoo Cave. What grand luck that they'd come across Jessie and her lover frolicking in the bay. Haldane snorted, disgusted with his sister. He'd never known her to be a wanton, nor had he expected that match up. 'Twas clear MacLeod was besotted with her, considering how he'd helped her along on their journey through the brush and boulders. He might cause a problem when Haldane separated Jessie from him and brought her to the castle.

"You may have to kill MacLeod," Haldane whispered to McMurdo.

"I thought you wanted to hold him for ransom. You're near out of funds, are you not?"

"I'm thinking he'll be too much trouble for that, especially when I separate him from Jessie."

"He's a chief," McMurdo warned. "His death won't go unnoticed. Every MacLeod in Assynt will be hunting us down."

"Do you think I care? Once I'm chief of the MacKays, I'll have a large fighting force of skilled warriors."

"Won't do you any good if the MacLeods attack and kill half of them."

"You let me worry about the rest of the MacLeods. All you have to do is kill Torrin MacLeod, and then if Dirk shows up, kill him, too."

"Whatever you say," McMurdo muttered in a resigned tone.

Aye, McMurdo would obey his every command. The old man wanted that tomb inside the church too badly to oppose him.

"Why is it you wish to be buried in the church?" Haldane asked.

McMurdo gave him a dark and deadly look from the corner of his eyes, the menace clear even in the gloaming. "The why of it is not your concern, lad."

Even though Haldane ordered McMurdo around a lot, he didn't dare anger him. He knew the grizzled highwayman could turn against him in a trice. And if that happened, Haldane might be dead in two seconds. Or, if McMurdo let him live but deserted them, the MacKays would be much harder to defeat. McMurdo might be ancient, but he was still lethal. Mainly, Haldane needed him to kill Dirk, for his older brother was a formidable opponent, a highly trained and skilled warrior. He had to be taken out before Haldane could be chief.

Once they took possession of Dunnakeil, they could easily accomplish the rest. He would force each member of the clan to obey his command… or die. Their choice.

As they neared the castle, Haldane saw naught out of the ordinary. 'Twas just as it had been the last time he was here several months ago, except fewer guards were patrolling the battlements. He only saw three at the moment, their dark silhouettes clear against the gray sky.

"Hide in the bushes," he told his men in a loud whisper. They silently vanished. He slipped through the bushes until he had a view of the portcullis. 'Twas closed. "Damnation," he muttered.

One man's voice echoed within the bailey. That's when he noticed a large number of men assembled. They might be organizing a search party for Jessie and MacLeod.

How many men were gathered there? He saw a few he didn't recognize. He'd seen most of the MacLeods several months ago when he'd gone to Munrick. For a certainty, they weren't MacKays.

Haldane and his men might have to hide out and pick them off one by one as they fanned out in their search. 'Twould be easier than charging them in battle.

"Come. Let's slip back to the byre," he whispered to his men. "MacDonald and Douglas, you two stay here, well hidden, and count how many men they have. If you get the chance, secretly ambush them one at a time, slit their throats, and hide the bodies."

The two men nodded.

He had to get back to the byre and move Jessie and Torrin further away until they'd thinned out some of the guards. Nay, they'd move Jessie and kill Torrin.

***

Though she didn't want him to be captured, Jessie was glad Torrin was with her. He was working hard to get them loose, and she wished she could help, but she couldn't get to her wee knife with her hands tied.

Torrin's back was warm, solid, and comforting behind her. "Pull hard against me to tighten the rope," he said. "It's starting to fray and unravel."

She leaned away from him, the ropes pressing tightly into her flesh. He continued scraping the rope against the stone. And then it loosened.

"Aye. There we are," he said, quiet triumph in his voice as the rope binding them back to back unwound and fell away. Now they only needed to remove the tight strips of wet wool plaid that secured their wrists behind their backs.

"I'm going to try to break the strip of plaid around your wrists. Tell me if I hurt you."

"Very well."

Although Torrin's wrists were still bound, he moved his fingers over her wrists and the bindings. He tugged at the material from both sides. "Am I hurting you?"

"Nay." It felt tight but not painful.

After a few moments, the material ripped in the silence. "Thank the saints," she whispered. "Now let me get my knife and I'll cut you free."

"What? You have a knife?" Shock was evident in his loudly whispered words.

"Aye. 'Tis hidden."

"Where?"

"Sewn into the hem of my arisaid." She bent and worked at the seam, ripping the thread from the wool material. "'Tis not easy to retrieve, but it has come in handy for the first time ever."

"I'm going to have to use that trick."

When he turned his back to her, she cut the strips of plaid binding his hands.

He sighed and rubbed his wrists. "I thank you. I'm beyond glad to have you as an ally."

She smiled in the darkness, wishing she could see his face. She'd never imagined she would feel so safe with him… protected, even. She relished the deep, rich timbre of his voice, more obvious in the darkness.

"Can I use your knife?" he asked.

"Aye." She handed it to him. "What's your plan?"

"Och. 'Tis tiny. I'm going to disarm the man guarding us. Hopefully, I won't have to kill him. Will you hold it against me if I do?"

"Nay. We have to do what we can to escape, else Haldane may kill us both."

They crept toward the door but hung back. 'Twas lighter outside than inside. Now two men lingered upon the trail.

Torrin drew back. "So, there are two of them. One must have been behind the byre earlier."

"Aye." She bent and picked up a rock. "I'll take care of one of them."

"Are you mad?" Torrin demanded in a harsh whisper.

"I can knock him on the head."

"Nay. You remain in here, in the far corner. If one of them comes after you, then you bash his skull in good."

Typical man orders. "Very well, MacLeod. Have a care, will you?"

"Aye, indeed. How about a kiss for luck?"

Her face burned in the darkness. "Nay. 'Twill distract you."

"Och. You're right. We'll save the kisses for later when we're celebrating our escape. Stay over here, then." His strong hands on her shoulders, he guided her toward the corner.

She waited, watching as he halted at the door, peered out, then slipped outside.

She hastened toward the door, crouched low and looked out. Where had he gone? She didn't even see him. The two guards paced along the trail. She drew back and flattened her body against the wall. Where on earth was Torrin?

Seconds of silence dragged by in which she barely breathed. A shrill squealing sound echoed from behind the byre. It sounded like an animal, an injured rabbit perhaps.

"Go see what that was," one of Haldane's guards said.

"Sounded like supper." He strode out of sight and behind the byre. A thump sounded and someone cried out.

"What the devil?" The other guard followed him, sword drawn.

Blast. She hoped Torrin grabbed the first guard's sword, so he'd be better armed.

Curses echoed. Swords clanged.

Please protect Torrin, she prayed. Taking her rock, she ventured outside and peered around the corner. The two men were engaged in swordplay. But they didn't seem to notice the first guard on the ground stirring. Saints! She had to do something. Before he could notice her, she crept forward and bashed the rock against his head. He grunted and flopped to the ground.

"Jessie, get back inside," Torrin ordered.

When his opponent glanced at her, Torrin took advantage and sliced his blade across the man's chest. He stumbled back, but then charged toward her. Still low to the ground, she ducked and smashed the rock into his knee.

He cried out and crashed to the ground next to her.

Torrin grabbed her arm and helped her stand. "Move away from him."

She leapt back, and Torrin kicked the unmoving man's sword away.

"Is he dead?" Jessie asked.

"Hopefully. I ran the bastard through when he tried to grab you."

"In truth?" She hadn't seen that.

"Aye." Torrin bent and held his hand before the other man's nose. "He's no longer breathing."

Jessie picked up the discarded sword. "I might need this."

"You ken how to wield a sword?" he asked, surprise evident in his voice.

"'Haps not as well as you, but I've had some training." She noticed a large dark stain on Torrin's shirt sleeve. "You're injured!"

"'Tis naught but a scratch. Come. Let's head toward the castle. Is there another route we could use so as to not run into Haldane and his crew?"

"Aye. I'll show you." She led the way around a rocky outcropping and along a narrow trail. When they neared Dunnakeil, low voices rumbled nearby. She ducked behind a gorse bush and he followed suit. The sounds moved along the more oft used trail leading away from the castle. It also led to the byre.

"Haldane may have left one or two of his men to watch the castle. We'll have to be careful," Torrin whispered.

"Aye."

But they also had to hurry or Haldane would discover them gone and start searching for them.

They both stood at the same time.

Again, she was thankful Torrin was with her for she would've been much more afraid had she been alone. She didn't want to tell him this now however. She didn't wish to distract him. They had to approach the castle with much caution even though they were still not on the main trail. The wind off the sea made it difficult to hear any movement in the bushes.

Closer and closer they drew to the castle, to safety.

"Stay behind me," Torrin whispered and got in front of her.

"Why? Do you sense something?"

"Aye." He crept forward one step at a time. "Watch my back."

She felt honored that he trusted her so much. Holding onto the plaid at his back, she turned her head and took a long careful look behind them. Seeing naught in the dusk, she faced forward again, then her gaze searched along the sides of the trail. Just in front of them, the bushes had near overgrown the trail. The deep gloaming only provided enough light to see indistinct outlines of the dark bushes and gray sky.

A shout sounded behind them. Her heart vaulted into her throat.

"Damnation, they've discovered our escape." Torrin grabbed her hand. "Come, let's run the rest of the way. We can't fight all of them."

Holding hands, they dashed through the bushes, the thorns tearing at their clothing. The bushes behind her shuddered and someone grabbed her left arm. She screamed and struck at the person with the sword in her left hand. Since she wasn't left-handed, her blows were weak.

Torrin leapt around her and struck out at the man. She was immediately released. She couldn't see what Torrin was doing in the dimness, but his opponent yelled out and fell into the bushes.

"Come, let's hurry." Taking his hand again, she ran as fast as she could. She tripped over her skirts and started falling, but Torrin caught her and lifted her into his arms. "Hold on around my neck, and I can still use my sword."

She did as he asked, unable to believe his strength, but he was a warrior through and through. They approached the curtain wall, then ran along it toward the portcullis and guard house.

Bushes shook behind them and she saw a few glimpses of pale-colored shirts. "They're getting closer. Hurry," she said.

Torrin increased his speed.

"Guards!" she yelled. "'Tis me, Jessie. Open the gate."

Upon reaching the portcullis, they did not find it open, but several guards lingered outside along with Iain and his men.

"What the devil is happening?" Iain asked.

"Haldane and his band of outlaws are on our heels," Torrin said. "Get Lady Jessie inside!"

Just then the gates opened and Torrin pushed her through. She refused to let go, trying to drag him in after her, but he tore away from her. "Go inside the castle! They have arrows."