“Thosefools arenae doing anything,” complained Neil, glaring toward Gartmhor as shemounted her horse.
“Theymust do something,” protested Sorcha as she, too, mounted her little ponyBansith. “They ken that we have Beatham and they cannae wish to play this gameout until money must change hands.”
“Nay,Ruari would certainly not allow that, and my wee Malcolm would grow quitemelancholy if he was forced to make note of another large deficit.” She turnedher mount to face Gartmhor. “Mayhap they but need someone to spit in theireyes.”
“Yearenae going over there, are ye?” Sorcha asked, but Neil had already spurredher mount toward Gartmhor. “Now Ruari will truly think that the Hays are allmad.”
“Weel,this wasnae going to be a true kidnapping anyway,” said Iain as he edged hishorse up next to hers. “And I can understand her annoyance. If we have gone toall this trouble to snatch up a Kerr and then be captured ourselves, Sir Kerrcould at least have the courtesy to follow our rules.” He grinned when Sorchabegan to laugh.
“Oh,aye, Ruari will surely claim this as proof that we have all lost our wits.”
“‘Tismy Neil,” cried Malcolm.
Ruariturned to see his cleric on the high walls of Gartmhor and found that almost asstartling as Neil’s rapid approach. Everyone knew that Malcolm was terrified ofeven the smallest of heights. The man was as white as the finest linen, and hetrembled visibly as he edged nearer. It could well develop that loving Neil Hayfinally gave Malcolm some of the backbone he had always lacked. Ruari shook hishead and turned back to watching Neil just in time to see her rein in at thebase of the walls just below him.
“Malcolm,”she yelled, lifting herself slightly off her saddle, “is that ye up there?”
“Aye,my beloved,” Malcolm replied, swaying a little as he looked down at her.
“Weel,get off of there, ye fool, ere ye swoon and break your neck.” She grinned up athim. “If your witless laird will move his puny legs and do as he ought, ye willbe seeing me soon.”
“Iwill be waiting in the bailey.” Malcolm started down the steps to the ground,and one of the men hurried over to lend him a hand.
“Yehave come to hurl insults at me, have ye, Neil?” Ruari asked, fighting the urgeto laugh again.
“‘Tisclear that ye need to be given a wee push,” she replied. “Or do ye wish to giveus more of your precious coin?”
“Oh,nay, nay. Dinnae play the game too earnestly, however, as we were all on a huntyestereve, and our horses are weary.” He laughed when she waved and rode backto the group from Dunweare.
“Thisis madness,” muttered George as he and Rosse followed Ruari down the narrow stepsto the bailey.
“Nay,‘tis quite clever,” said Rosse, chuckling and shaking his head. “Ruari vowed tostay far away from Sorcha Hay. ‘Twas a debt of blood. He couldnae break it.Howbeit, ‘tis no longer binding now, for the Hays themselves have broken it. Bytaking Beatham and Artur, they have freed Ruari of his troublesome vow. No onewould expect a man to sit idly by and allow his kinsmon to be stolen andransomed.”
“NowDougal must come to me,” Ruari said with a satisfaction he could not hide.
“Didye accomplish anything?” Sorcha asked Neil when her aunt reined in at her side.
“Aye,”Neil replied as she closely watched the heavy gates of Gartmhor and smiled whennearly a dozen men raced through them, riding straight for their little group. “Isuppose we ought to make them chase us for a wee bit.”
“‘Twillmake it less of a jest, although I am not sure that is possible any longer.”
Sorchaspurred Bansith into a gallop knowing full well that her little pony could notoutrun even the smallest and oldest of Ruari’s horses. The rest of her group,mounted on beasts that were a little swifter, quickly drew out ahead of her.She just smiled and shrugged when Ruari reached her side, leaned over, andgrabbed the reins from her hands. As his men continued past them to gather upthe rest of the Hays, he brushed a kiss across her mouth.
“Welcomehome, lass,” Ruari whispered.
“Dougalshall be verra angry,” she said in a quiet voice.
“Oh,aye,” agreed Ruari, “and I hope ye will forgive me if I find some enjoyment inall of this.”
“Yeare forgiven, for I fear I will feel a little of that myself. Dougal has becomenearly as stubborn as ye are.” She winked at him.
Ruarilaughed, swept her from her saddle, and set her in front of him. “Shall we waitfor the others?” he asked in a husky voice as he enclosed her in his arms.
Therewas a glint in his eyes Sorcha recognized with ease, and her desire swiftlyrose to meet it. She curled her arms around his waist and kissed his throat,savoring the soft murmur of pleasure that escaped him. “I believe they can findtheir own way back to Gartmhor. So, we dinnae have much time before Dougalarrives.”
“Thenwe had best cease talking. I can think of far better things to do with mymouth.”
“Oh,aye. So can I.”
