“Not too far. ‘Tis not safe in the woods until we are on Grant land.”
Her eyes narrowed to slits. “Alex, I need my privacy.”
“You heard my orders. See that you do as you’re bid.”
“Of course, my laird,” she said as she turned away, “whatever you say. I always do what I’m bid. I’m a good lass. Aye, my laird.” She didn’t bother trying to hide her sarcasm.
“Jennie…” Alex snarled. “Do not push me. These are dangerous parts. I see evidence of others in the area. Be agreeable for once or I’ll come and watch you.”
She spun around. “You would not!”
“Aye, I would do it to prevent you from being kidnapped. There are plenty of vagrants about, and a laird’s blood sister is valuable. Tread with care.” He turned and stalked away.
Alex couldn’t see her glare from behind, so she ended it and headed to the spot she had spied before. He would not order her around like one of his guards.
A few minutes later, she headed back from the creek. She hung her head, unable to forget that she was separated from Aedan—from her one opportunity to truly fall in love. And now he was in danger. She thought of that eve on the hill, how special she had felt in his arms. At least she had experienced a kiss and more. She smiled at the beautiful memories.
A second later, the pounding of a horse’s hooves echoed through the trees and shouts of warning met her ears, but to no avail. A strong arm lifted her up by her waist and flung her face down across a horse’s saddle, the rider shouting with satisfaction at his prize. He reined in his horse and took off in the opposite direction. It happened so fast she could do naught to fight or run away. She was caught.
Jennie’s ribs bounced against the horse, taking away her ability to speak and seriously impeding her ability to breathe. The stench from the man invaded her nostrils and she fought to keep from vomiting. She pushed down against the horse in an attempt to move and caught a quick glance at the man behind her. His hair and long beard were stringy and dirty, and he was missing half his teeth. When he grinned, a wave of dizziness hit her and she thought she would empty her stomach for sure. Desperate to escape, no matter how badly it injured her, she tried to push herself off the horse, but she stopped when he slapped her bottom. “Stay there, wee fool. Ye’re mine now, and ye’ll do as I say.”
She closed her eyes, saying a swift prayer for Alex to come for her even though he was probably furious. The hand rubbedher bottom now, and she swung her fist at the man’s leg. He barely seemed to notice. He caught her chin in his hand and said, “Ye sure are a pretty one. My friends will take care of the rest of you, but I got the real prize.”
Jennie heard the bellows and shouts in the distance, a good gauge of how fast they were moving. At first, she could hear every sound as sword met sword. Grunts and screams echoed, and she prayed her brothers would dominate.
Jerking her head away, she heard her brother’s war whoop in the distance and seconds later, her captor flew off his horse. Jennie managed to climb up and grab the reins, fear clenching in her gut.
Alex grabbed the reins of the horse and turned her to lead her back to the clearing. As soon as she had the horse under control, Alex nodded to her and took off toward the melee he had left behind. He pointed to the side and bellowed, “Dismount and get off to the side.”
This time, she didn’t argue. Tears slid down her cheeks as the enormity of what had almost happened sunk into her. She had been stolen just as Alex had said. Had he been any farther away, the horrible man might have succeeded in abducting her. She dismounted and slapped the horse’s hindquarters to get him away from her.
After finding a hiding place behind a group of bushes, she sat down and hugged her knees to try to stop her trembling. Behind her shallow cover, the clash of steel, the screams of pain, and the death continued. One man fell after another, and she couldn’t pull her gaze from the fight. Alex fought like a man possessed. He rode Midnight as if the two were one, his sword arm cutting down invader after invader. She heard high-pitched screams, and only then realized they werehers. The screams came each time a sword slashed near her brother. He was too quick for any of them, and he easily ducked and dodgedeach blow. If anything happened to her brothers, she would never forgive herself. All this fighting was too much for her, but she was beginning to recognize how important it was to have someone who would fight and protect her at all costs.
Alex’s body was covered with sweat and blood as he swung and swung in a fury, his hair free of its tie, long and wavy. Satisfied that he was safe for the moment, she searched the area for Brodie and breathed a sigh of relief when she found him on the opposite edge of the skirmish, his sword delivering death blows as frequently as Alex’s.
But Alex was different: possessed, powerful, unrelenting until the last of the invaders realized their battle was lost and took off. The Grant men broke out into smiles as they realized they were the victors. Swords pointed to the heavens, Grant war whoops abounded, and all celebrated except for one rider.
Alex. Alex spurred Midnight off into the distance following the last of the attackers, letting out the longest and deepest Grant war whoop Jennie had ever heard. Her heart pounded in her chest as she wondered where he was going. Would he come back and wale on her? Was this her fault for not doing as he’d asked? Would he tie her to his horse so she could never wander again?
He finally turned Midnight around and headed back toward their camp at a full gallop, slowing only once, so his steed could rear up on his hind legs in a celebration of the victory. Alex’s arm seemed to reach to the heavens before Midnight settled and came back to the ground. Her brother brought him straight to the creek for water. There was one difference between Alex and the other men, Jennie noticed—there was no smile on his face.
Actually observing him in battle taught her something. Mayhap he didn’t enjoy it as much as she had thought, and he deserved more credit than she had been willing to give him.
Her gaze followed him through the woods. He dismounted and crooked his finger at her. She took one look at the sweat on his body and the look on his face and ran to him. Wrapping her arms around his waist and sobbing into his chest, she choked out an apology that felt so inadequate. “Alex, I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. Forgive me.”
Alex wrapped his arms around her and said, “‘Tis not your fault, lass.”
“Aye, I didn’t do what you bade me to do. I wandered too far.” She sobbed so hard her breath hitched.
“Jennie, those men would have fought us anyway. You were an extra prize.”
“But where would I be now if you had not followed me?”
“Hush, lass, ‘tis over. They are gone and will not return. Mayhap you understand why I could not leave you behind with the number of men headed toward Cameron land. This was a small group of reivers, naught more. Cameron is in for much more than what we just experienced.”
She continued to sob as Alex guided her back toward the clearing, one arm wrapped around her waist. Aedan’s words returned to her, advising her that she had been well protected up until now and had no idea what real danger was. Aye, he had the right of it, she had never seen her brothers in battle before.
The implication of what Alex had said finally sunk in. If these were just reivers, then Aedan’s land was destined for something much worse than she had envisioned. Perhaps it was best she not be there to be a burden to him. Mayhap she had better do as she was told during these turbulent times. “Thank you, Alex, for protecting me and for leaving men with Aedan.”
