*
Sometime in themiddle of the night, Keely was awakened when someone grabbed her by the ankles and yanked her through the back of the tent. Though she wanted to scream, she dared not to. Whatever this game was, she’d not give Struan the satisfaction of knowing how afraid she truly was.
Once she was outside, she strained to get up, but the cloaked figure towering over her leaned down and covered her mouth. “Not a word, lass.”
Alex?She nodded vigorously and he removed his hand from her mouth. As if she weighed nothing, he scooped her up and carried her out of the camp. Moments later, he set her on her feet and used his knife to cut the cord about her wrists. As soon as she was free, she threw herself at him, and he caught her, holding her tight in his strong, protective arms.
“How did ye find me?”
He held her at arm’s length. “Petro left a missive in his chamber letting me know where ye’d gone.”
“Have ye found Petro yet?”
“What do ye mean, lass?”
“Struan hit him on the head with a club and left him for dead. I had to beg him to send someone to check on him. Struan promised he would see that Petro got home safely.”
Alex frowned. “The man will pay.”
Keely lowered her gaze to the ground, guilt and shame consuming her. “I-I am…”
She dinna have a chance to apologize, for Alex slanted his mouth over hers, swallowing her words. Desperation unraveled inside of her as she clung to her husband for dear life. The fear that she would never get to see him again, feel his arms about her, taste him, love him… it was too much to hold in. Tears trailed down her cheeks as she kissed him back, hoping in her heart that he’d forgive her stupidity, that he’d understand why she’d left again.
“Keely…”
“Alex.”
“There’s little time to sort this out right now. Ye’re safe here. Hide in the trees and doona come out for anyone but me. I must finish what Struan Sutherland has started or this will never end.”
“I understand, milord.”
He tipped her chin up. “I forgive ye, Keely. But there will be recompense for yer actions.”
She nodded, and would accept any punishment he handed down so long as he was the one administering it.
“Take this.” He shoved something solid into her hand and then disappeared into the night.
It was a dagger, sharp and long and deadly. And she’d use it if she had to. As her husband had commanded, she found a hiding place under a cluster of trees. She held the knife with both hands, too scared to move or even breathe loudly. How her husband managed to find her and get her out of Struan’s tent without getting caught or waking Struan, she’d probably never know. But she owed Alex and God a lifetime of gratitude and obedience. And she’d give it, so long as Alex loved her.
*
Alex entered theSutherland camp again. This time he dinna try to be quiet, he made all the noise it would take to rouse the drunks from sleep. He wanted to fight and kill every man he could get his hands on. No one stirred from their tents, so he picked up a discarded cup and started banging it against the rocks around the campfire.
“Come out and face me like a man, Struan Sutherland.”
The first signs of dawn lit the sky. All the better, for Alex would look the man directly in the eyes as he buried his sword in Struan’s black heart. To steal a maiden from her father’s house was one thing, but to take a married woman from her husband–that crime carried a death sentence. No king or court in Europe would condemn Alex for having his revenge.
“Struan Sutherland!” he screamed for him again.
Finally, several tent flaps opened, and soldiers filed outside but dinna make a move against him.
“Who are ye?” one of the men asked.
“Laird Alexander MacKay.”
“Jesus Christ,” one of the soldiers muttered. “I told him not to take another man’s woman.”
“I willna fight for him,” another said.
