Catriona wet her lips and swallowed hard. Her worried glance flitted across each of Alexander’s men then returned to him. “A new regiment. Selected by the king himself to investigate the massacre at Glencoe.” She dabbed the crumpled linen in her fist to her mouth as though she were about to retch. After a hard swallow and the clearing of her throat, she lowered it. “'Tis said they’re searching for witnesses and traitors.”
This didna bode well. They were not traitors—at least not this time. But they had fought against Campbell’s men. They’d fought on the side of the MacDonalds. Alexander shifted his focus back to Calum. Something about the belligerent way the bastard was standing and the pleased with himself expression on his face spoke volumes. Alexander felt certain that Calum had a hand in making certain the king’s men came toTor Ruadh.
“The warmer days have the snow melting at a good pace. Several of the passes are open now—muddy and a challenge, for certain, but clear enough that the soldiers could arrive here within days.” Catriona caught her bottom lip between her teeth, trembling as she stood there with brow furrowed and her face filled with worry.
Catriona looked at him with such desperation he wanted nothing more than to grab her up and take her with them. How could she ask him to leave? His men had risen from their seats around the table, standing at the ready to follow through with whatever he ordered. He stared at them for a long moment. He couldna risk their lives any more than he could risk Catriona’s.
A featherlight touch to his arm pulled his attention back to Catriona. She stood closer, so close, he could feel the heat of her, breathe in the sweet beguiling scent of her. “Please. Ye must go,” she whispered, staring teary-eyed up into his face. “I couldna bear it if anything happened to ye.”
“Well, isn’t that precious,” Calum interrupted with a disgusted snort. “Ye belong to Jameson Campbell, Catriona, and the man was promised a virgin. Now step away and try to behave like a lady true to her betrothed, aye? Dinna shame our clan by acting the whore.”
Alexander lurched a step in Calum’s direction, lifting his cane to club the imperious smile off the fool’s face. “Ye rude bastard. I’ll teach ye shame.”
“Alexander, no!” Catriona stayed the strike with an urgent touch to his forearm. “Please…ye mustn’t.” She drew back her hand, cradling it against her chest. With a graceful bow of her head, she stepped away. “Calum is right. I mustn’t sully the Neal name.” She paused a heartbeat with the fisted linen pressed against her mouth then cleared her throat again. With slow purposeful grace, she lifted her chin. An air of eerie calmness emanated from her. “I’ll speak to Murtagh about horses and supplies for ye and your men. I think it best if ye leave at first light, ye ken? What say ye?”
If there was one thing, as both warrior and man, that Alexander hated more than anything else, it was the feeling of being backed into a corner with no hope of escape. And damned, if that was no’ the exact feeling hammering through him at this verra moment.
He glared at Calum’s simpering face, wishing the man dead on the spot. Clutching his cane so tight that the wood crackled in his grip, Alexander tore his gaze away from Calum and faced Catriona.
“I…” Alexander paused, his enraged rant defused by the merest hint of hope he detected in the wistfulness of Catriona’s eyes. The lass was trying to tell him something. He didna know if it was her stance, the tilt of her head, or the slant of her mouth, but she wished to convey something of great import to him but wasn’t able to because of Calum’s presence. He’d bet his life on it.
“Aye,” he said, struggling to hold his temper. “First light.” He turned to his brethren and gave them a curt nod.
Calum fairly lit up as though he’d swallowed the sun. He stuck out his chest and preened a strand of his greasy red hair back from his face. “Good then. I suggest ye take the pass to the west. I’m told it’s passable. Far safer than the east or the south.”
Did the man think him a fool? The insufferable prig was most assuredly doing his best to send them into an ambush. Alexander drew in a deep breath and held it for a moment, struggling to keep from knocking Calum on his arse. He cleared his throat and forced himself to appear grateful. “The western pass. Aye. We will take your advice since several of us are still healing.” He even managed a smile and a polite nod. “I thank ye for all ye’ve done for us and the hospitality of your clan.”
Calum waved away his words as though they were flies buzzing about his food. “Aye, then. I’ll leave ye to your preparations.” He gave them all a long cold look, crooked nose wrinkled and lip curled as though he smelled a stink. Then he swung about and strode toward a double archway, waving down Hew and Duff as he went. “To my solar, gentleman. We’ve much to discuss.”
The malicious pair, evil grins plastered across their faces, grabbed up their tankards and hurried after him.
As soon as the three men had left the hall, Catriona came to life, stepping forward in her distress and grasping hold of Alexander by his forearms. “Ye ken well enough to stay away from the western pass, aye? I’ve no idea what the wicked fool has planned but I’m sure 'twould be your end.”
“I’m no' a fool, lass.” Alexander took hold of both her hands and gave them a gentle squeeze. “I’ll also no' be leaving ye here unprotected.”
“He’s quite gallant like that,” Graham interrupted as he waved the others forward. “Come. We’ll prepare whilst Alexander works out a plan.”
“Aye,” Magnus agreed, slapping a friendly hand to Alexander’s shoulder as he passed behind him. “We’ll be in the kitchens with the pretty maids. Fetch us when ye’re ready.”
Alexander could tell by the determined set of Catriona’s mouth she was about to unleash quite the lecture. Before she could, he pulled her closer, close enough he could almost see the pounding of her heart beneath her tightly laced bodice. “I will kiss ye here and now, woman, in front of all within this room if ye dinna hear me out.”
Eyes flaring wide and delicate auburn brows arched nearly to her hairline, Catriona gave a quick shake of her head. “Ye mustn’t,” she whispered. “Calum has spies among these tables. His allies are growing in numbers with each passing day. I’m sorely outnumbered, I fear.”
“And that is the only reason the man has allies.” For the sake of Catriona’s pounding heart and ruby cheeks, Alexander eased back a step, putting a bit of space between them and regretfully releasing her hands. “He controls them with fear.”
“Aye,” Catriona gave a sad nod of agreement. “'Tis true but the fact remains, he controls them.”
“What is it ye wished to tell me out of your brother's presence?” Alexander leaned on his cane, wishing he still held Catriona’s hands rather than an infernal piece of wood. “Or did I misread your lovely eyes?”
“What I have to say depends on what ye have to say yourself.” Catriona stole a quick glance around the room. “Ye bade me hear ye out, did ye no'?”
“Aye. I did.”Now, what the hell do I say?He had no plan. No idea of how to save this dear sweet lass from whatever cruel fate her brother had plotted. For that’s all that concerned him. He didna give a damn if the king sent all of Christendom after them. Alexander had been chased before. Caught even and tortured for it. None of that mattered a whit. All that mattered was Catriona and putting the fire back in her eyes. It was then he knew. A single moment of brilliant clarity. He cared for this woman and could never leave her behind. “Will ye come with me, Catriona?”
“Come with ye?” Words so soft. So hesitant.
“Aye. Come with me.” Alexander held his breath, sending up a silent prayer she would agree.
Lips a hair's breadth apart, a hand pressed to the base of her throat, Catriona looked about the hall. “I…I don’t…how can I?” she said, choking out the words with a sad shake of her head. “I canna desert the ones I swore to protect.”
