The two rode off while Lindsey and her fatherslid from the saddle.
Douglas watched as Lindsey knelt to pluck awildflower and lowered her face to breathe in its fragrance.Itbrought a smile to his lips.
“Jamie MacDonald told me that you are like awildflower,” he said.
Lindsey felt the pain, hot and sharp, aroundher heart and wondered when it would end.“Jamie spoke to you ofme?”
“Aye.”Douglas watched his daughter andwondered how much he should reveal.But she seemed so unhappy.Andhe had always been willing to do anything to see her smile.“Hetold me that I had a very special daughter.”Douglas smiled.“And Itold him that I was already aware of that.”
She walked to him and kissed his cheek, thenlay her head on his shoulder.“Father, did you always know, even inthe beginning, that you loved Mother?”
“Aye,” he said without hesitation.“From themoment I met her I knew she was the lass for me.”
“Would you have ever sent her away fromyou?”
Douglas heard the pain in her tone and prayedhe could find the words to comfort her.“The agony of separationwould have been worse than death.”He paused.“But if her safetydepended upon it, I would have been strong enough to send her away.There were times I was grateful that she was safe in my fortresswhile I was doing battle.But always I feared for her.When youlove someone, you cannot help worrying.It is the price we pay forloving, lass.”
He tipped up her chin and stared into hereyes.“Love is not a smooth, easy path through a meadow, Lindsey.More often it is a treacherous course, beset with mountains andvalleys that would test the faith of a saint.”
She felt the sting of tears and blinked themaway quickly.“Is it worth the pain?”
His lips split into a wide smile.“Oh, aye,Lindsey.It is more than worth the pain.”He kissed her hard andquick, then turned toward her horse.“Now, let us find yourbrothers and be on our way.”
As they mounted, Douglas gave a little frown.“They should have returned by now.Draw your weapons.Something isamiss.”
They moved out slowly, with Douglas in thelead.As they crested a hill, they came upon a small clearing justbelow them.And the sight that greeted them brought a torrent ofoaths to the old man’s lips.
Murray and Donald lay bloodied andmotionless.
“God in heaven.”Douglas Gordon’s heartstopped and he urged his horse into the clearing.Before the horsehad even come to a halt he had leaped from the saddle and waskneeling beside his eldest son.
The others gathered around anxiously as hefelt for a pulse.
“He lives.Praise God, he lives.”He rushedto Donald and examined him.“He is also alive.But he has lost muchblood.Here, lass.He needs your help.”
Lindsey slid from the saddle and begantearing her petticoat into strips while Neal rushed to a nearbystream and returned with water.As she bathed their wounds andstemmed the flow of blood, Murray’s lips moved, though no wordscould be heard.
“He tries to speak,” Lindsey called to herfather.Instantly the old man was on his knees beside his son.“What is it, Murray?Can you speak, lad?Who did this terriblething?”
“He is about to say the name Ian MacPherson,old man,” came a voice from behind them.They whirled to see Ianholding a sword, followed by a dozen armed men.“But that would bea lie.You see,” he said with a chilling laugh, “I am not reallyIan MacPherson.Nor am I really interested in protecting the queen.As a matter of fact, it was one of my band who almost succeeded ingetting to the queen at Lochleven.We were offered a handsomereward by Lord Ruthven if we got to the queen before her army ofprotectors.Unfortunately, he was thwarted by the lass.”He shotLindsey a hate-filled look.“I am one of this band of highwaymen.And we are here to seek vengeance.”To his men he shouted, “Tiethem.And see they do not escape.I have waited a lifetime forthis.I intend to savor every minute of it.”
* * *
Jamie rode hard through villages and hamlets,across flower-strewn meadows, over narrow streams and wide riversand into the dense forest.It was an easy matter to follow sevenpeople who had not attempted to hide themselves.But once in theforest, he noted, the trail faded.No matter.He knew where theywere headed.
If his instinct about the man who claimed tobe Ian MacPherson was correct, they would be sequestered in hisevil domain deep in the forest.
His hand tightened on the reins.He had toreach them in time.If he did not, he would be forced to live withthe pain of loss for the rest of his life.For all time he wouldknow that he had sent the woman he loved to her death, rather thanrisk her dishonor.
What terrible irony for one who valued honorabove all things.Yet even honor paled beside the loss of Lindsey’slife.It was fury that drove him.A raging fury that built withevery mile.
* * *
Lindsey felt her heart stop when she sawArgus.The hideously ugly man who had held her captive in theforest bent to tie her hands.His single dark eye blinkedfuriously.“So, my fine and fancy lady, we meet again.It wouldseem the fates keep throwing us together so that I may finally geta chance to sample your charms.”
“If you are human, at least let me take careof my wounded brothers,” Lindsey pleaded.
The man they knew as Ian gave her a chillingsmile.“What good would it do?They are only going to die anyway.As are all of you.”
