But Graham appeared again and valiantly wedged his body between his friend and his friend’s enemy. “I beg ye, do not kill him.” His hands shook when he placed them on his friend’s shoulders. “Callum, look ye to yer sister, please. Do not make her witness this again, I beg ye.”
Callum swallowed so suddenly a slight moan escaped him. He did not want to look at Maggie. “Brodie, get her oot of here. Guard her with yer life.”
“Callum.” Graham still had not let him go. “Ye cannot kill this man. He is Kate’s brother. Ye vowed not to harm him. Hear me, we will find her, I vow it. He had the chance to ambush me outside, but he warned me of Argyll instead.”
Slowly, Callum lifted his gaze to Graham. He waited until his sister was safely out of the barn before he spoke. “If she dies, he dies with her.”
Graham nodded, finally breathing again, and gave Callum’s shoulders a firm pat. “Just let me speak to him, aye?”
Turning to face their captive after Callum nodded, Graham was first struck with pity at the terror in Robert’s eyes. He understood it, for he had felt it, as well, a few moments before. “Rest easy. He is a man of his word and will not kill ye.”
Robert’s eyes darted from Graham’s to Callum’s, then back again. “Where is my sister?” he asked, ignoring his throbbing skull and the fear that made his mouth dry.
“We were hoping you could tell us,” Graham said. “Where is your uncle?”
“I do not know,” Robert told him, tunneling his fingers though his hair and then grimacing at the huge knot on his head. “He struck me last eve. I awoke to find him gone. We came here for my sister, but he said he was going to kill—” Robert paused when he looked at the chieftain. “—MacGregor’s sister.”
Callum moved forward again and Robert took a step back. “When I find Argyll, and I will, his screams will be heard in England.”
“I do not mean to stop you,” Robert promised him. “It was he who put the blade to my father and my grandfather. We must move quickly. I am confident he is not still here. Your men are wasting time searching the castle.”
In one fluid motion, Callum seized Robert’s plaid in both hands and hauled him closer. “Then where should we be searchin’?”
His sister had been trapped here with this beast, Robert thought, unable to look anywhere but into the Devil’s unholy gaze. “Leave Kate out of this feud,” he managed with more courage in his voice than he felt.
Graham closed his eyes, praying that Callum would give him a wee bit more time. He knew Robert feared for Kate at the hands of the outlaw MacGregor. “Robert,” he said hastily. “She has come to no harm here. Camlochlin is her home now—by her choice.”
Robert shook his head with disbelief. He would have laughed if he was not so terrified.
“Aye, she loves him, I swear it,” Graham stunned him further. “And look ye to him. Ye have seen him before—at Kildun—remember? Look at him now and believe that ’tis his love fer her that drives him mad with concern.”
Robert looked, but he was not relieved at what he saw. Instead, his eyes darkened with something worse than horror. “My God, what have you done?” When the MacGregor’s murderous glare impaled him, he did not flinch. “He will kill her. Just as he killed our father for being a sympathizer.”
“Nae,” Callum breathed on a mangled groan, his dark intent fading into complete sorrow he could no longer control. He had done this. He had known Kate’s life would be forfeit for loving him, and he allowed her to love him anyway. “Nae!” This time the word came down like a hammer. He released Robert and headed for the door but turned when he reached it. “You are the one who taught Kate about heroes. Tell me where to look fer yer uncle and help me save her, Robert Campbell, if there’s any honor in ye.”
Robert nodded. He had no other choice but to trust this man. “He has a boat waiting to sail him to the mainland. It is . . .”
Callum was already gone. Robert turned to look at Graham, and then they ran, as well.
Chapter Forty
KATE GRIPPED HER BELLY with one hand and the side of the boat with the other. It felt as if she had been on the water for hours. The waves crashed beneath her, rocking and dipping the vessel until Kate’s skin turned pale green. She felt like she was dying a slow, sickening death, but she used the time leaning over the edge to try to think of what she was going to do about the man watching her. Duncan Campbell looked quite pleased with himself, smiling at her when she met his gaze.
“Why did Robert not come with you?” she asked him, straightening.
“I ordered him to stay at Kildun. I knew I would lose many men coming here, and I was correct.” Duncan gave her a somewhat rueful look. “Many died trying to save you, Katherine.”
She thought of Jamie, and immediately tears clouded her vision. “How many MacGregors did you murder?” she asked, sickened by the sight of this man who was her blood kin.
Duncan’s regard on her grew so dark, Kate thought he was going to haul her over the side. She waited, unafraid. She had no weapon but her feet, and she would use them to render his male organ useless for the next fortnight.
“Your concern for them is most alarming, niece,” he said, remaining where he was.
“You find so many things alarming, Uncle,” she retorted icily. “But I am no coward.”
Duncan wanted to strike her for her cheek, but he would wait until she was in his bed. He felt too jubilant at his own cunning to do anything but grin. He’d outfoxed the Devil! He had walked straight onto MacGregor land and taken his niece from under the rebel’s nose. Hell, but he was clever . . . and braw! His father would even have to admit it, were he alive . . . the bastard. Aye, he had stepped into the hornet’s nest with the courage of a thousand men and walked away unscathed and taken back his pride. He almost laughed at how easy it had been. Colin would never have had the resolve to do such a thing. But then, most sympathizers were afraid of the MacGregors. It was why they aided the outlaws. Liam Campbell despised sympathizers, save one.
Duncan let his eyes graze over Kate’s fine curves. He would not be so forgiving.
