This man, Chattan, had seen fit to abduct the MacIntosh’s lady in the midst of that laird unravelling his father’s scheme. The result had landed Chattan and his father in Edinburgh Castle dungeon. Clearly, they had struck some sort of arrangement to free themselves, and evidently Chattan had turned his father’s trust to his advantage.
The thing Angus recalled most clearly from that time was that this man had abducted the lady, not once but twice, and the second time had attacked her viciously. He was a monster, and Angus would not so much as close his eyes until Annabella was safely away from his clutches.
“You must do exactly as I say,” he whispered in her ear, when he thought Chattan was far enough ahead to afford some privacy.
“I do not understand,” she said.
“We will stop for you to relieve yourself. You will go through the woods and back track until you reach my men. Remember Graham said he would send twelve men to track us? They are there, I am certain of it.” He slipped a dagger into her hand. “Hide this now.”
“I am afraid to leave you with this man.”
“You do not need to fear for me. When you reach my men, tell them exactly what you have heard.”
“Are you two lovers, or do you plan my demise?” Chattan said from ahead of them. He slowed his horse and then rode alongside, eyeing them both. “We will be arriving at a safe house soon. You will not need to worry about who you sleep with, my lady. I intend to be sure all my men enjoy your favours this night.”
Angus’s hand shot out and grabbed the man by the neck before he could blink. Chattan’s eyes grew wide for a moment then his expression was masked again.
In a strained voice, Chattan said, “If you truly wish to see your father again, you will release me. I left clear instructions with my men should something untimely happen to me.”
Angus released him with a shove. He could snap the man’s neck with one hand, but where would that get him? No, he needed to remain calm if he was to locate his father and secure Annabella’s safety.
They rode for a couple of hours in silence. Angus prayed his men understood the gravity of the situation from their distance behind them. The sun was setting, and soon Annabella would need to make her move. Angus pulled back on the reins and slid from the horse.
“What do you think you are doing?” Chattan asked.
“I do not wish this female to soil my saddle, so I am allowing her some privacy. She will not be long.”
“Very well,” he said, as he slipped from his horse. “I will watch her to be sure she does not escape.”
Angus moved to stand in front of Chattan and looked down onto his crooked face. “The lass is mine, and I will not share her with you or anyone else.” Angus prayed Annabella would take advantage of the freedom he was allowing her by blocking Chattan’s view. “And I will kill any man who dares lay a finger on her.”
“She is that sweet, is she?” Chattan smirked.
The man’s skin was waxy and his breath stank of rotten meat. Angus was grateful for a strong constitution. He just needed to distract Chattan for a few more moments and she would have a chance to be safe. His heart already ached at the thought of being apart from her.
“She is mine. If you wish to challenge me for her, we can do that here and now.” Angus understood men like this. They considered themselves to have a superior intellect to offset their lack of physical strength.
Chattan swallowed hard. “You know very well I will not challenge you. Now go and see to your whore so we can be on our way.”
Angus grinned as he turned toward the woods. “Have you finished, lass?” he asked the trees. Without even looking, he was certain she had gotten away. He waited a moment or two then asked again. “Answer me, lass!” Angus pushed some of the brush back and stepped into the woods with Chattan tight to his heels. “You let her escape,” the man snarled.
Glancing over his shoulder, Angus said, “I am sure she is here somewhere.” He pushed through the woods, and after a time turned back toward Chattan and shrugged his shoulders. “She won’t get far out here.”
“We cannot search for her any longer. We must return to the horses and make our way to my camp.”
“I will not leave without her,” Angus said, and tried to sound convincing.
“If I am not back at camp by sundown, my men have instructions to slit your father’s throat.”
The only throat that would be slit this night was Chattan’s, as soon as Angus was sure his father was safe.
“Very well, you are clearly in control here. Lead the way.”
Angus followed Chattan back to the horses and they took off into a gallop. A short time later, they reached a small crofter’s cottage where several men stood outside. Angus could not be sure, but assumed from the other men they encountered that these were Cameron as well. Chattan was a clever man; he must know that no MacDonald would ever seek assistance from a Cameron, and that every Cameron would sorely wish to slit a MacDonald’s throat.
“We are here now. Where is my father?”
“All in good time,” Chattan said.
