Kai turned to his men. “Conn, Oskar, ye can ride in the back of the wagon. And Emeric, get down from that bloody tree!”
Magnus scowled at Alfred. “What should we do with him?”
“The Order will want to question him,” Kai replied. “Ye will take him to Dun Saith.”
Magnus raised an eyebrow then glanced at the bay that Conall had been riding. “That poor beast will never be able to carry me.”
“Nay, it willnae. Take one of the cart horses instead.”
In short order Oskar and Magnus had unhitched one of the cart horses, replacing it in the traces with Conall’s bay. They tied Alfred’s wrists and ankles, and slung him over the horse’s back.
Kai put a hand on Magnus’s broad shoulder. “Ride hard. Tell Laird Callum and Lord Brochan everything we’ve learned. And be careful. If Snarlsson discovers we’ve captured Alfred, he might send someone after ye.”
Magnus nodded, his shaggy hair bouncing around his head. “Dinna worry. I’ll get our little informant to Dun Saith safely.”
“Good man,” Kai said, clapping him on the back. “Now let’s get moving. We’ve tarried too long already.”
Oskar, Conall and Emeric jumped up into the back of the wagon but Caitlin just stood there, as if considering trying to run. Kai held out a hand to her.
“If my lady would like to board?”
She glanced at his hand, at the cart, at the glade around them. Without a word, she took his hand and climbed up onto the wagon seat. Kai climbed up beside her.
He flicked the reins and the cart lurched forward, leaving Magnus and Alfred behind. They headed out onto the rocky path, the cart bouncing over the uneven terrain. Caitlin clung to the bench with white knuckles, looking tense and anxious.
“Relax,” Kai said, casting a reassuring smile in her direction. “We’re just going for a wee ride on the moors.”
She glanced at him, her cheeks flushing, but didn’t reply. Kai let the smile spread across his face.
Ah, but this was what he lived for. They were on the hunt, adventure awaited, and he had a beautiful woman by his side. What more could he want?
Chapter 4
The wind whipped Caitlin’shair around her face, making her blink back tears as she clung to the seat of the bouncing wagon. They had climbed out of the copse and onto the moors. There was a road—of sorts—but it was little more than a rutted track and she saw no other signs of life.
She was uncomfortably aware of Kai’s proximity. The wagon seat was barely big enough to hold the both of them and as a result Kai was squashed right up against her, the warmth of his thigh pressed against hers. She did not want to be this close to him. Hell, she didn’t want to be this close to any of them! What she wanted was to get out of this nightmare and go home.
