Chapter Fourteen
“Margaret!”
Sorchacried out softly, scrambling to catch her balance as Margaret abruptly brokefree of her grasp and spun around to look behind them. “Be careful,” shesnapped, but knew Margaret was oblivious to her protest.
“Beatham,”Margaret whispered and pressed her tightly clasped hands to her chest.
Asquickly as she could, Sorcha grabbed Margaret firmly by the arm, halting hercousin’s tentative step toward the one calling out her name. It did notsurprise Sorcha to see Beatham waving frantically as he pushed his way throughthe crowds. A quick look toward the tavern revealed that Dougal and his menwere oblivious to this impending disaster. She could not see her aunts in themilling crowd of people either. When she looked back toward Beatham she cursedlong and viciously. The man striding along the path Beatham was clearing wasthe very last man she wanted to see.
“Comealong, Margaret, we must get away.” She yanked Margaret after her as shehurried through the crowd, but Margaret fought to break free. “Will ye ceasefighting me? We must either reach Dougal or find a place to hide.”
“But‘tis Beatham.”
“Aye,‘tis Beatham, and close on his heels is Sir Ruari Kerr. Do ye think that mon isseeking us out to tell us how much he has missed us?”
“Weel,nay, but I must see Beatham.”
“Yewill some time soon, I am sure. Howbeit, today isnotthat time.”
Sheshoved Margaret in front of her then herded the girl through the crowd. To herdismay, once the crowd cleared a little, she found that Beatham, Ruari, and hisman were between her and the tavern where Dougal was. She still could not seeher Aunt Neil either. Grabbing Margaret, who had started toward Beatham again,Sorcha decided they had to hide.
“Mayhapwe should just call for help,” Margaret suggested as Sorcha pulled her throughthe crowded street in a dizzyingly erratic fashion.
“Ifnone of our kinsmen have heard that idiot bellowing your name, how do ye thinkthey will hear us?” Sorcha ducked behind the draped cart of a man sellingbreads and savory cakes.
“Beathamisnae an idiot. Oh, Sorcha, let me go to him. This is what Euphemia meant. Sheknew the fair would make me verra happy because I would see Beatham.”
“Aye,but dinnae forget that she also said there would be trouble, and the trouble isthe hulking black-haired knight following hard on Beatham’s heels.”
“Whatcan he do to us? Arenae there laws that protect people attending a fair?”
“Mayhapnot laws, but custom certainly dictates that he leave us be. Howbeit, he sworehe would make the Hays pay for ransoming him, and I am certain revenge is whyhe is chasing us down. I just wish I kenned what he plans to do with us if hecatches us.”
“Beathamwillnae let him harm us.”
“Nay,and I truly dinnae believe Ruari would harm us anyway. Howbeit, there are a lotof other things he could do. Why, he could kidnap us for ransom, and wherewould that leave us?”
“Iwould be with Beatham.”
“Howwonderful for ye. Being with your beloved could cost Dunweare far more than itcan spare, and what of me? How do ye think my poor bruised heart will fare if Iam thrust into the hold of a mon who wants only passion from me?”
“Oh,”Margaret whispered. “‘Twould be terrible for you.”
“Aye,that it would.” Sorcha touched a finger to her lips and, nudging Margaret infront of her, crawled beneath the cart. “Now, hush, Cousin. They draw near.”
Sorchawas relieved when Margaret grew silent and still at her side. She fullyunderstood how difficult it was for Margaret to ignore Beatham’s calls. Despiteknowing that Ruari was eager for revenge, it was very difficult for Sorcha tohide from him. Just beneath her strong instinct for survival was an equallystrong instinct to run to the man she had foolishly fallen in love with, ifonly to see if the passion they had shared still lingered as strongly in him asit did in her.
Shetensed as she caught sight of three pairs of soft rawhide boots poking beneaththe edge of the drape. Although the man whose cart they crouched beneath had noidea why they were hiding from three well-dressed knights, he decided to takethe side of the women. He denied having seen them. What made Sorcha uneasy wasthe clear disbelief she could detect in Ruari’s rich voice.
Amoment later she saw a gauntleted hand grasp the edge of the cloth and knewthey would be discovered. Sorcha cursed and, still crouched low, ran out fromunder the cart, catching Ruari at the knees. The sharp blow sent him fallingbackward. Unbalanced by her attack, Sorcha almost fell on top of him. Margaretgrabbed her by the arm and yanked her to her feet. Without a word she andMargaret began to run.
“Getthem,” bellowed Ruari as a laughing Rosse helped him to his feet.
“Idinnae ken why Margaret is running away from me,” Beatham said, lookingcrestfallen as two of Ruari’s men who had joined in the chase hurried afterMargaret and Sorcha.
“Mayhapthe lass isnae as witless as I thought,” grumbled Ruari as he brushed himselfoff, glaring at the people who were laughing.
“Yeshouldnae speak so unkindly of my beloved,” Beatham snapped, and he rejoinedthe chase.
