They turned off the road and entered the trees, slowing their horses as man and beast avoided low-hanging branches. They weaved through the tree trunks, the animals cautious not to step on exposed roots. Caitlyn’s heart pounded as they rode further into the woods, praying the dim light and uneven terrain slowed the men chasing them. No one spoke as they guided their horses to a walk, attempting to make less noise.
Alex wasn’t sure where they headed. He was unfamiliar with the land they were on, having relied on the road to be their guide. He knew none of the guards knew the area, since he knew his men had never traveled this far north, and he wasn’t sure about Grant. He supposed Grant might have accompanied Caitlyn on her few brief visits to see Cairren. Alex himself had taken a different route the one time he traveled to Foulis.
It wasn’t long before they emerged from the forest and found themselves in another meadow. Unfortunately, steep hills on three sides bordered it. The only way out of the valley seemed to be turning back the way they came. Alex scanned their surroundings, looking for anywhere to hide Caitlyn when the inevitable fight started. He spied a boulder that could at least hide her. He prayed her horse could fit behind it. He didn’t want to sacrifice the mount, but he wouldn’t let it give away Caitlyn’s hiding spot.
“Caity, go behind that rock.” Alex pointed out where he meant. “Do not come out. No matter what you spy or hear. Do not leave that hiding place.”
“Yes, Alex. I promise.” Caitlyn spurred her horse and raced across the short distance. She made it around the far side of the rock only moments before the pack of men broke through the trees. She prayed they hadn’t spied her from a distance. She wondered if she should dismount and try to keep her horse quiet or remain in the saddle in case she couldn’t keep her promise. No one had trained her mare for battle. The animal sensed the danger and was becoming agitated.
“Shh, Goldie.” Caitlyn tried to sooth her fawn-colored mare, who only became more anxious. Keeping her voice low, Caitlyn talked to Goldie as she climbed down from the saddle. She pressed her face against the horse’s long nose and stroked her mane. Goldie settled until the first clash of swords, when she reared and tried to bolt. Caitlyn barely hung onto the reins without getting trampled. “You shall make them hear us. They will leave you for dead and take me. I know you favor Alex’s horse. If you wish to flirt with that destrier again, you’d do well to be quiet.”
Caitlyn whispered as she coaxed her horse, but she was aware Goldie sensed her rising fear as the battle noises grew louder. She dared to peek around the rock and wished she hadn’t. There were more of the enemy on the ground than the men who rode with her, and she recognized Mitcham laying supine. She couldn’t tell if he still breathed. Her eyes jumped to Alex and was shocked, then pleased, and finally terrified as she caught sight of him wielding his sword where he stood. She knew he hadn’t trained with it in months. He fought off two combatants, and from what Caitlyn witnessed, to her eyes, he appeared as though he’d never left the lists. The sword was an extension of his right arm, thrusting and parrying with ease. She winced when he drove his left shoulder into one man’s sternum. She wondered if he felt the pain or if it would come later.
Caitlyn searched for Grant, fearful for her guard, but the experienced warrior fought with confidence. Movement caught her eye, and she watched Mitcham roll onto his hands and knees, shake his head, then rise. Mitcham glanced toward Alex, and Caitlyn felt a moment of relief that the guard would help Alex, but Mitcham dashed it when he turned away and helped Stephen instead. Caitlyn turned her attention back to Alex as he slayed one man, running his sword through his opponent’s chest. The other man raised his arm wide to slash at Alex, but the latter was faster. Alex practically cleaved the man in half. Caitlyn had never seen such strength in a man’s single arm.
Caitlyn ducked back behind the boulder when a man charged between Mitcham and Stephen, running toward her. His bellow, closer than she expected, spooked Goldie. The mare shot out from behind the rock, eyes wild as she bolted away from the fray. Caitlyn swept her gaze around, but there was nowhere for her to go without a horse. She couldn’t outrun the man or climb any of the rocks without her skirts slowing her.
Alex spun around as a man darted past him, headed toward Caitlyn. Without thinking, Alex whistled for Strong, and the ever-faithful animal galloped toward him, having taken shelter near the trees. Alex gritted his teeth against the pain that ricocheted through his body as he hauled himself into the saddle. His need to get to Caitlyn was greater than his concern for his discomfort. When noise came from behind, Alex glanced back to find five more men breaking through the tree line. They were mounted and following Alex. He understood the men had remained hidden, assuming the first wave’s victory. But now that Alex was on horseback and galloping away from them, they emerged to give chase.
Alex spurred Strong until he neared the boulder where Caitlyn hid. He held the reins in his left hand, surprised once again that his hand possessed the strength that it did. He pressed his sword into his left hand, curling his fingers around the hilt. As he held the reins and his sword with his weaker side, he leaned far to his right. He wrapped his arm around Caitlyn’s ribs and yanked her off her feet and pulled her across his lap.
“Lay flat.” Alex’s command wasn’t one Caitlyn would disobey. She’d known he would come for her. Her trust and faith in Alex were implicit. She clung to the stirrup, careful not to give the horse the wrong signal. “Keep your head down, Caity. Trust me.”
“Always.” Caitlyn’s voice was nothing more than a puff of air, but still enough for Alex to hear. He transferred his sword back to his right hand, prepared to defend Caitlyn. They barreled toward the only way out of the valley which meant they raced toward the enemy. Slashing and striking the men who rode too close to Caitlyn for Alex’s comfort, he fought his way past them. A moment before they entered the forest, he whistled a signal he knew his men understood meant he was safe. Their only choice was to trust that he could get Caitlyn and himself back to Stirling on their own. He would have preferred riding with more men to help protect Caitlyn, but he couldn’t risk waiting when their enemy still outnumbered them.
Alex worried about what they might find if they escaped the forest. He didn’t think the group of attackers was larger than the dozen he’d seen, but he couldn’t be certain. He slowed Strong before they reached the road. He was proud of Caitlyn for remaining quiet and still. He strained to hear any movement that didn’t come from nature before inching his steed forward until he could view the road in both directions. When nothing stirred after waiting for a few minutes, he prepared to move back onto the thoroughfare, but Caitlyn tapped his shin. He looked down to find her wiping blood away from her cheek. He helped her struggle to move into a seated position.
“Alex, your arm is bleeding.” Caitlyn pointed to a gash on his left arm. Fear and urgency had kept him from feeling it, but now pain burned along his bicep. “I need to see if I should stitch it.”
“It doesn’t matter if it does. Unless you’re hiding a needle and thread somewhere, there is naught to suture it with. What we need is to find shelter for the night and get off the road.”
“But what aboot the others?” Caitlyn peered around Alex’s shoulder but could see no one.
“They know I left safely with you. They will have won, judging by the men who are already dead, but I couldn’t risk what might happen to you in the process. They’ll try to meet up with us, and when they don’t find us, they’ll go back to Stirling. With luck, we will get there before them, and they won’t send out a search party.”
Caitlyn wanted to argue, but Alex had asked her to trust him, and she did. She held faith that he always believed her safety was paramount, so she remained quiet. She nearly didn’t hear him when he spoke again.
“Are you all right, Caity? Did Goldie hurt you?” Alex brushed hair away from Caitlyn’s face and ran his thumb over her cheekbone.
“Nay. She spooked and reared, but I was already standing. She’s not used to the noise.”
“I spied her run; that’s what made me race to get to you before that mon.” Alex swept his thumb over her cheek several more times before they leaned in. Their lips pressed together as Caitlyn clung to the front of Alex’s doublet, and he wrapped his good arm around her. He swiped his tongue across the seam of her mouth until she opened for him. She flicked her tongue, welcoming him into her mouth. He couldn’t stifle his needy groan as her breasts pushed against him as she squirmed to get closer.
The rustling leaves brought Alex back to reality, chiding himself for losing his common sense while Caitlyn’s kisses drugged him. He scanned their surroundings before nudging Strong. Caitlyn swung her leg over to sit sideways, inspecting Alex’s arm while he maneuvered their horse onto the road. Satisfied that the gash needed sewing but wasn’t life threatening, she leaned against his chest and sighed. Caitlyn’s eyes drifted closed with a sense of security even when she knew they were far from safe. She felt Alex adjust his position until his injured left arm wrapped around her. It surprised them both that he held her against him with ease. They continued south toward Stirling, but the late afternoon light faded rapidly.
“Caity, we passed a group of crofts near here while we rode north. Mayhap we can shelter with one of those families.” Alex wouldn’t admit how his energy drained from him now that they no longer faced an immediate threat. His arm pained him more than he wanted to let on, and Caitlyn was right: he needed stitches. But his only priority was getting her somewhere safe and sheltered for the night. They rode in silence for a half an hour before Caitlyn pointed to the white smoke puffs to their right. They entered the cluster of crofts as the sun set.
“Who goes?” A man’s voice called out. Male heads poked out of each doorway, and Caitlyn realized the cluster of crofts was likely an extended family living together in their own dwellings.
“Alexander Buchanan.” Alex’s voice rang out clearly in the still air. To his relief, Caitlyn didn’t blink as he named another Lowland clan rather than his own. With men pursuing him, Alex neither wanted to risk these people’s lives nor Caitlyn’s by telling the truth.
“And your wife?” The same man demanded.
“Sorcha.” Caitlyn spoke up before leaning back against Alex. She appeared meek, and it wasn’t far from how she felt as more strangers stepped outside to observe them.
“My horse stumbled a ways back. I kept Sorcha from falling, but I wasn’t so fortunate. I landed on a rock and cut my arm. We hoped one of your women could lend Sorcha a needle and thread, then we’ll be on our way.”
“Nay. You can’t be on the roads this late. Not with your wee wifey.” An older woman pushed past a man who could easily have been her grandson. “I’m Helen. Come inside.”
