REID SKIDDED TO A STOP. Turning, he saw the woman running off to the north—towards open country. What was the fool woman doing? Didn’t she realize that there was nothing in that direction but miles and miles of empty, barren land?
What did he care? Let the idiotic woman get herself lost or attacked by wolves. She wasn’t his problem. He was about to follow his men into the trees when another thought struck him. Therewassomething out there after all: Muir scouts.
What if that was where she was going? What if she was a Muir spy? What if she’d been placed in that cell deliberately to try to get information from his men? And what information had they given her before he’d arrived?
He could not let her get away.
With a snarl of exasperation, he took off after her, leaving the safety of the trees and pelting across the open ground between it and the castle. It left him dangerously exposed to both arrows from the battlements and to being spotted by the men battling the fire, and any moment he expected to feel an arrow between his shoulder blades. But luck was indeed on his side this day, as he managed to get clear of the castle without an alarm being raised. The Muir garrison must still be battling the burning haystacks. Good. His diversion had done its job.
The lass was running flat out. The strange trews she was wearing allowed her to take long strides, and she flew over the scrubby ground as if she had the very Devil on her tail.
Reid was hampered by his sword which he’d sheathed in the scabbard down his back, and the weapon banged against his shoulder as he ran. Not for the first time, he wished he’d brought his bow. A well-aimed arrow would bring her down in an instant.
The woman glanced over her shoulder, saw him gaining on her, and let out a squawk of fright. She put on another burst of speed. Damn it, she ran like a hare. Reid’s lungs were beginning to burn, but he didn’t slow. He would be damned if he would let a Muir spy ruin all his plans now.
He heard barking behind him, and he glanced over his shoulder to see Bo and Whitefoot streaking after him. They both trailed the ropes he’d used to tether them back at the camp. They caught him and he issued a command, sending them hurtling after the woman.
She yelped as they caught her, knocking her to the ground. Whitefoot stood on her chest while Bo looked back at him, wagging her tail excitedly.
Reid slowed to a walk and staggered up to them. He heaved in great breaths and leaned over, hands on knees while he caught his breath. Only when his breathing had slowed sufficiently did he give Whitefoot a command to move away and let the woman up.
She clambered to her feet, eyes wide, looking around in a panic. The hounds bracketed her, giving her no room for escape.
“That,” Reid wheezed. “Was a stupid thing to do.”
The woman pulled a small silver device from her pocket and brandished it at him. “You’re a lunatic!” she yelled. “You’re all lunatics! Do you think you can behave like this and get away with it? Back off and call your monsters off or I’m calling the police right now!”
“Quiet!” Reid snarled. “Do ye want the Muirs to hear us? Or is that yer plan? Caterwaul loud enough so they’ll hear ye and come running?”
She stared at him. Her mouth worked but no words came out. He couldn’t work out whether she was frightened or furious. Maybe a bit of both. “Don’t you get it?” she grated. “I have absolutely no idea what you’re talking about. Who are ‘the Muirs’? Who are you?” She threw her arms wide. “And where the hell am I?”
He had to give it to her: she was convincing. He called the dogs back and they trotted obediently to his side.
“Enough,” he said to the woman. “Ye are coming with me.”
She crossed her arms and glared at him defiantly. “I am not.”
“Woman,” he growled. “Dinna test my patience or—”
“Or what? You’ll set your dogs on me? You’ll take out that sword of yours and stab me with it?”
Reid gritted his teeth. “I dinna hurt women.”
“Oh, is that supposed to make me feel better? I feel so reassured, I really do. What kind of creep chases after a woman and sets his dogs on her? If you don’t hurt women then why are you chasing me?”
“Because I canna let—”
He trailed off as the dogs suddenly became alert, staring off to the east where a narrow track ran through the heather towards the castle.
Too late Reid heard the clatter of hoofbeats. A lone rider burst upon them, pulling his horse up with a shout, clearly surprised at their presence. He was wearing the Muir plaid.
Reid reacted instinctively. He leapt, knocked the man from the saddle, and they went tumbling to the ground, hitting hard and rolling. The man recovered quickly, landing a punch into Reid’s gut that drove the wind from his lungs.
Before he knew it, the man had flipped him over, and was pinning him into the dirt. Reid got his hands around the man’s shoulders and they heaved against each other, each trying to gain the upper hand. Reid was strong. Years of training had seen to that, but this man? Lord, he was as strong as Reid if not stronger. There were only two men he knew of who could best him in a wrestling bout—one was his brother, and the other—
“Edgar?” Reid gasped.
The man blinked, his grip going slack. Dark eyes settled on Reid, seeming to see him for the first time. Those dark eyes widened slightly.
