“Aye.” Hector’s hands tightened on the horse’s reins, his body poised to carry on. “And ye’re after another now?”
“A woman,” Lucas corrected. “Exhausted and injured. Frightened as well. Saw me fightin’ Aaron.”
“Best ye get goin’,” Hector urged with a sharp nod of his head. “We will take care of every last one of these beasts.”
Hector followed the cavalry without waiting for a response, and Lucas continued. While his pause had been brief, he knew that the woman could have gained significant ground. He was a damn good tracker, though. After his niece’s abduction, Lucas has made a point to hone these skills, becoming the most proficient in the Highlands.
It pained him to be unable to find all of the women on his own; his need to keep anyone else from experiencing pain and loss was a burning pyre in his heart, but the men that accompanied him were more than capable. All of them were deeply dedicated to justice, even if their reasons weren’t as personal as his. They were the best fighters in the Highlands. He had made damn sure of it.
There’s nay one else that I’d trust with a job as important as this one.
He ducked into the underbrush where the grass was stomped, and the twigs were broken. The evidence of her exhaustion showed in her movements and the path that she’d unintentionally left for him. She wasn’t trained to run and hide, and even if she was, she was too tired to hide her route. Her body must be moving on pure desperation, a deep-seated need to ensure that she survived no matter what.
She’s a wee thing, but she’s a fighter—even if she doesnae ken it or believe it.
As Lucas followed her path, a monstrous thrill ran up his spine. It was immediately tempered with guilt that was nearly enoughto make his knees buckle under the weight. He was meant to be protecting her. Hewantedto protect her, yet the idea of finding her seemed to stimulate something much deeper than the simple satisfaction of keeping her safe.
I need to find her before anyone else finds her first. Silly lass, does she nae want to be rescued?He pushed the guilt that threatened to dig its claws in aside. Even if he was satisfied with the chase she was leading him on, that didn’t change his intentions. His reward would be catching her and helping her, earning her trust. He just needed to find her first.
And hewouldbe taking her back to the castle if it were the last thing he did. There, he could ensure she lived a comfortable life where no one else would touch her unless she invited it. Whether that was at Castle McGowan or with her own family, he would do whatever it took to get her there.
Chapter Three
Flora’s feet ached, the arches and soles burning as she flung herself down the path, staying incredibly close to the foliage. Her breath caught at the sound of hooves on the road, and she frantically pressed herself against the trunk of the tree.
“Please daenae see me,” she begged under her breath, willing her body not to collapse from exhaustion. “Please let me escape.”
As the horses passed, she caught the sound of men’s voices. Her heart lurched, and she wondered if perhaps there were more participants in the hunt who were arriving late. When she peeked around the trunk, careful to keep herself as hidden as possible, she saw that all of them were just as imposing as Laird McGowan, though none were quite as muscular as he was.
None of them looked in her direction, which was a blessing she welcomed. Even if they weren’t with the hunt, she didn’t trust them not to have nefarious intentions. So, she waited until theywere out of sight to push herself away from the tree to continue her frantic flight.
She had to get to the nearest village—that was the only thing she knew for sure. When she’d been transported here, they’d kept her and the others blindfolded on the relatively short journey to this location. She wasn’t sure how long she could continue walking like this, but it would likely be at least a few hours. And, once she was there, she’d find a woman and beg for help.
I can only hope that me legs daenae give out and that when I get there, I’ll find a woman who doesnae think any less of me for what has happened and is willin’ to help.
With each step she took, she became less and less sure of whether or not she’d be able to make it. The nightmare that she’d been living in was beginning to catch up with her. As she continued, wincing with pain, she realized that she’d used the last of her strength fighting off Aaron. Now, she felt as if she was seconds away from falling asleep on her feet and succumbing to the pain.
In her current state, she wasn’t going to make it more than a few minutes—not if she kept pushing herself like this. It had been weeks since she’d eaten a proper meal, and she’d never slept well. The few hours she’d gotten before being thrown to the lairds had been burned through long before she decided to make her break.
Flora stopped after a few more minutes of pushing forward, leaning against a tree, and looking behind her. There wasn’tanyone following her, not that she could see or hear. The only thing she detected was a bird flying by, swooping down from the branches before soaring toward the main path.
It seemed as though the men participating in the hunt were still occupied, and Laird McGowan was more concerned about stopping their actions than finding her. Wherever the men who had passed by her had gone, their focus wasn’t on her escape.
She turned her attention to the ground in front of her, covered in underbrush, leaves, and shrubs that promised decent cover. If she hid herself well, she could rest. It would only be for a few moments, just enough to regain a little strength, then she’d be able to make it to safety.
At least, that’s what she told herself.
She went deeper into the woods surrounding the path—deep enough that she wouldn’t be able to be spotted from the road, but not so deep that she’d get lost. Each snap of the twigs and crunch of the leaves beneath her feet made her jump. The fear she felt hadn’t lessened a single bit. It felt even more pressing now that she couldn’t hear the people she was sure were tracking her.
As she hunkered down against a tree, she pulled fallen leaves and vines over her body. Then, she leaned her head back against the trunk. It took her several minutes to quiet her breathing enough to hear the sound of the woods around her. It was almost peaceful, but there was an overwhelming sense of wrongness.
The birds shouldn’t be singing so cheerfully. There shouldn’t be creatures climbing the trees and scampering over the ground in front of her as they played with one another. The sun shouldn’t be shining so brightly, falling across the forest floor in gorgeous, glittering patches that seemed to invite relaxation.
Flora had experienced such cruelty throughout her life, and this had been the worst transgression against her. The weather, she thought, shouldn’t be so pleasant. Storms would be more appropriate, even on an overcast day. And the animals… the animals had no idea, couldn’t comprehend the type of suffering that happened in these woods. If they did, she was sure their songs wouldn’t be so cheerful.
This cannae be real. It must be a nightmare. I’ll wake up. I’ll be back in me faither’s home, and I will nae ever complain about me position again.
Wrapping her arms around her body, both to stave off impossible chills and to provide herself a bit of comfort, she closed her eyes. Her intention wasn’t to fall asleep. It would be unwise, no matter how well she’d hidden herself. All she needed was a few moments to let her muscles rest. When her body was no longer screaming at her, she told herself she would continue on her way and wouldn’t stop until she reached the village.
