“Ye’ll keep to the northern pass, aye?” Murtagh stated more in the tone of an order than a suggestion. “More snow there but passable.” He gave the horse standing beside him an affectionate rub on its shaggy neck. “These lads love snow and mud even better. They’ll get ye through whatever ye come upon with no trouble at all.”
Alexander held out his right hand, nodding as Murtagh took it and gripped him by the forearm. “I am most grateful to ye.”
Murtagh gave Alexander's arm a meaningful shake as he nodded toward Catriona. “Get her away from here and dinna bring her back, ye ken?”
Catriona rushed forward. “Hear me when I say I’ll no' be leaving the ones I love to Calum’s merciless ways. I’ll be back as soon as I find a way to rid ourselves of him, I swear it.”
Murtagh looked at her for a long moment, his face more lined with age and weariness than Catriona had ever noticed before. His beard was shot with silver and in dire need of a trim. Catriona smiled. She could just hear Mrs. Aberfeldy fussing at him to tend to his own grooming instead of spending so much time worrying after the horses’ needs.
His already severe squint beneath his gray bushy brows drew in tighter until his eyes were mere slits glinting in the lantern light. He turned back to Alexander as though Catriona had never spoken. “Keep her away from here. The bastard will kill her for certain e'er she returns.”
“I’ll keep her safe,” Alexander replied with a solemn nod. “I swear it.”
'Twould do no good to argue with the gruff old man. She’d learned that long ago. Murtagh had been the father she’d never had, and she loved him. Even though the stoic, grumpy Murtagh had never displayed affection of any kind, she’d always known he’d cared about her. He’d shown his partialness to her in subtle ways. She’d never forget the time he’d selected the finest colt of their herds of rare warhorses, then raised it, and trained it for her use alone even though doing so went against her father’s orders.
But she’d show him. As soon as she and Alexander had a proper plan of attack in place, she’d be back to save them all. She ached to throw her arms around him and hug him goodbye just as she had wished to do with Gaersa, but she knew it would pain him to no end if she did such a thing. Instead, she made her way to her horse, standing at the back of the group of strong, hardy mounts that Murtagh had handpicked for their journey. She almost wept when she spotted the wooden stool Murtagh had fashioned just for her and even marked with her initials so she’d be able to climb aboard the giant hairy-footed horses unassisted whenever she wished. It stood at the ready beside her horse.
Alexander and his men mounted up. Alexander gave Catriona a frowning glance and motioned her forward but the tight narrow space didn’t afford the room needed to weave her large steed to his side at the front of the pack. A sense of being cared for warmed through her and set off an excited fluttery feeling in her middle. She was about to be free and embrace life. She waved him onward, understanding he didn’t like her position at the back of the herd but they’d made it this far.I trust Murtagh and the stable boys. 'Twill be fine, I'm sure.
The horses shifted and sidestepped in place with restless grumbling and snorts, ready and eager to be free of the stable and out in the open air. With Ferd’s help, Murtagh unlatched the widest gate at the front of the stable and walked it open, swinging it into the frigid winds cutting across the outside paddock. They moved to one side, standing at the wide doorway as the horses filed out and turned toward the smaller, more concealed side opening in the curtain wall.
As she passed through the stable door, she touched her gloved hand to her heart then lifted it to Murtagh. He acknowledged the gesture with a single curt nod then turned away, motioning to the boys to man the gate and help him secure the stable. Just as her horse was about to follow the others out through the curtain wall, three sharp reports of gunfire split the frigid night air, exploding in rapid succession like a firing squad, and echoing off the side of the mountain.
Catriona reined in her horse and looked back. Terror closed icy fingers around her throat and squeezed. “No. No, it canna be so,” she choked out, hot tears springing to her eyes but not blinding her to the horror in front of the stable.
Three bodies lay scattered across the ground, limp and lifeless in the golden glow of the lantern light shining out through the still open stable door. Dark stains spread around the crumpled forms. The heat of their spilled blood melted the snow around the bodies, turning it to a vile slush. Murtagh, Willie, and Ferd. Shot in the backs of their heads. Dead because of her.
Alexander shouted her name. Catriona heard him from deep within her terrified stupor, but was powerless to react. Her mount stood still, waiting for instruction. Those instructions weren't within her grasp at the moment. Catriona sat paralyzed by the barbaric end of those who had cared enough to help her, those brave enough to challenge Calum.
Duff and Hew stepped out of the shadows, arms crossed over their chests and cradling their pistols in the crooks of their elbows. The evil pair of miscreants fixed her with dual merciless grins as they sauntered toward her with slow, menacing steps.
The ratcheting sounds of unwinding chains rattled across the bailey. A loud familiar thud sounded behind her, breaking her paralysis so she could turn. The raised portcullis of the curtain wall slammed shut as she faced it. Trapped. Catriona found herself trapped within and Alexander and his men were powerless to help her. The sturdy gate barred them from her, shunning them to the outer side of the wall. With a squeeze of her knees, she urged her mount to the gate, sidling up alongside the thick heavy boards spaced just wide enough to shoot arrows at an invading enemy. She could see Alexander on the other side, witness the anguish in his face. Despair engulfing her, she held out a hand, fingers widespread. Helplessness wrenched a keening wail from the depths of her soul.
“Catriona!” he roared, racing his mount back and forth in front of the gate.
“Save yourself!” she sobbed through the barrier preventing her escape. “Run,” she screamed just as Duff yanked the reins out of her hands and held tight to her horse. The evil fool shoved the barrel of his pistol in between the bars of the gate and pointed it at Alexander. He paused, glanced back at Catriona and winked, then turned back and pulled the trigger.
