Lindsey struggled for breath.From the wayher attacker’s image swam in and out of her line of vision, sheknew that she was fading.Soon there would be no breath left inher, and her life would slowly ebb.Her nails dug into the earthand she balled both hands into fists.As he levered himself aboveher and gave an evil leer, she tossed dirt in his eyes.He screamedwith pain and rage.And in the moment of confusion, Lindsey managedto twist free.But as she scrambled to her feet, he caught her bythe ankle, pulling her down.
All hope of escape vanished.His hand swungout in a wide arc and caught the side of her face, snapping herhead to one side.As if from a great distance she heard his voice,low with fury.“Now lass, you will pay with your life.”
She saw the blade of his knife as he liftedit, preparing to plunge it into her heart And then she heard awild, primitive sound, unlike anything she had ever heard.In herpain-clouded mind, a vicious creature had come to rescue her.Aterrifying cry broke the silence of the night.A cry that was bothanimal and human.
* * *
Jamie’s palms were damp as he threw open thedoor to the castle and raced across the wide expanse of groundsthat separated him from the banks of the loch.He had never knownsuch fear.As he had watched the struggle from his balcony, he hadseen the hat slip and the spill of hair.
Lindsey.God in heaven.It was Lindsey,engaged in battle with a man twice her size.
The distance between them was too great.Heknew, with wrenching certainty, that he would never make it intime.Lindsey’s struggles would only make it worse.Her attackerwould be forced to kill her in order to subdue her.For the fierylass would never give up without a battle.
As he sped across the grounds his fury grewuntil it devoured him.If he could not save Lindsey, he wouldavenge her death.Her attacker would never live to harmanother.
He saw the man’s hand swing out, saw Lindseyfall to the ground, saw the man kneel over her.
Consumed by blind fury he raced on, his mindno longer able to form coherent thoughts.He knew only that thewoman he loved was being savaged.And he could not save her.
He saw the man’s hand lifted, saw the glintof moonlight on the blade of the knife.With a last burst ofdesperation he gave vent to his hopeless rage with a cry oftorment.The sound of it filled the night, along with another, moresavage sound.
Jamie stared in amazement as the dark form ofWolf leaped through the air and landed on the stranger, sending himsprawling.Shrieks of anguish rent the silence as man and beaststruggled.The primitive cries echoed and reechoed on the nightair.And then, as suddenly as it had all begun, there was onlysilence.
Jamie knelt over Lindsey’s still form.Forone terrible moment his heart stopped.
Lindsey’s eyes were closed.Her clothes hadbeen torn from her.Blood and dirt smeared her face, her arms, herbreasts.
With great tenderness, he touched a hand toher throat and felt the feeble pulse.Alive.She was alive.Heexpelled a long, unsteady hiss of breath and drew her into hisarms.
At his touch she stirred.Her lids fluttered,then opened.Through the haze of pain she struggled to evade hishands.
He gathered her close to his heart andwhispered, “Nay, my lady.It is Jamie MacDonald.You are safenow.”
“The man...”
“Lies dead.”
“You killed him?”
“Nay, my lady.I could not reach you intime.”
“Then who...?”
“Wolf.”As if from a distance she heard theheavy panting of the hound as it stood guard over the lifeless bodyof her attacker.
From the direction of the stables, JustinMacLeod hurried forward carrying a torch.He stared in disbelief atthe scene that greeted him.
“My lord.What has happened here?”
“It would seem we have an intruder on theisland.”Jamie’s eyes glittered with smoldering hatred.“Do yourecognize this man, Justin?”
The boatman strode toward the body, thenhalted when Wolf growled, low and deep in his throat.Glancing atJamie he whispered, “Do I dare to go closer, my lord?”
“Aye.”To the animal Jamie called,“Wolf.”
The hound dropped to the ground, all thewhile watching the man who approached.When Justin was close enoughto see the body, he lifted the torch and stared for long minutes,then turned to Jamie.
“I have never seen the man before, my lord.Do you think he followed me here?”
