She shook her head. “I assure you, my lord, that is not the case. I did not like you kissing me at all, and I beg you not to do itagain.”
“You may beg all you wish, but I plan to kiss you again—andoften.”
“You do not have permission to be so bold. I am no common wench to be spoken to or abused in such away.”
“Your aunt always said you wereheadstrong.”
Sheona whipped her head around to glare at him. “You are cruel to mention my aunt after what she suffered at yourhands.”
“Not by my hands, lass, my father’s. But rest assured, she and I were on good terms. She talked of you often and raved about yourbeauty.”
“You lie. My aunt suffered tremendously the entire time she lived at Knock Castle, as you well know. Why you insist on telling me lies about her I do not understand, but I know differently, my lord, so do not waste yourbreath.”
“You know nothing.” That she thought he had caused her aunt harm bothered him. “I do not know what your aunt told you, and I will only say this once, I did not harm one hair on her head, nor did anyone else except for my father. I cannot, and will not, speak for his actions, only to say they appalled me. If you choose to think I am cruel, that is your choice. You will know the difference soonenough.”
“I doubt that very much, my lord.” She turned her head back to look up at him again. “There is nothing you can ever say or do to convince me there is a MacDonald alive who is not cruel and evil. I will not fall prey to your lies, so you may as well reveal my fate and be done with it. If you have any room for mercy, you will give me time to prepare myself for the horrors I will endure at yourhands.”
Malcolm couldn’t believe his ears. Time to prepare herself? What did she think they would do to her? He thought back to his earlier comment about how she would serve a purpose on the journey. True that when he thought her a common wench, he hoped she would be willing to lift her skirts for him. Now that he knew she was neither common, nor willing, he wouldn’t do anything she didn’t want him to, though that did not stop him from hoping she would want himto.
“Horrors indeed, lass. You think what you will. I would not deny you any pleasure and it would appear, thinking me a monster gives you just that. As I said, you will know soonenough.”
They were coming upon Coire na Creich and would be able to unload the cattle. After that, he intended to find the pass through the Black Cullins and make camp for the night in a secludedplace.
Malcolm was certain she would try to flee during the night so before he did anything else, he tied her rope to a tree where he could watch her while he sorted the cattle. He was relieved when she did not protest, but instead slumped down until she was sitting with her back against the trunk and her head bentlow.
“Once I see to the cattle, I will return and bring you somewhere private so you can see to your needs. My men will not bother you, and you will be safehere.”
“It is of no matter to me whether they or you abuse me, my lord. Until I am back in my father’s care, I will not besafe.”
Malcolm shook his head and walked away. He had to get the cattle sorted and find a place for the night. One wee lass could not consume any more of his time at the moment. He motioned to his friend, Keith McKinnon, to watch Sheona. When he turned back, she hadn’t even looked up. Her defeated posture disturbed him a bit toomuch.
Over the next two hours, Malcolm and the others herded cattle into the fenced area and he assigned dozens of men to stay and guard them. If his father’s campaign to attack Dunvegan had gone as planned, there would far fewer in Rory MacLeod’s army to come seeking the animals and so over the coming days, the various tenants who needed winter meat would be able to come and take from thisbounty.
By the time he returned to the tree to which Sheona was tied, he was exhausted and in need of sleep. Unfortunately, it would be hours yet before he could lay his head down even for a moment. Laughter caught him off guard as heapproached.
“Aye, Keith, ’tis true. He threw the whole lot back into the sea for the seals toeat.”
Keith tipped his head back and laughed hard which made her laugh harder. A twinge of jealousy surprised him that his friend could make her laugh. How foolish. He barely knew the lass, why should he care who made herlaugh?
“I see our prisoner fareswell.”
As soon as she realized he was there, she stopped laughing and instead frowned. This did not please him at all. He’d done nothing to harm her; why should she be so free with Keith and scowl athim?
“Aye, that she does, my friend. A fine sense of humour she has, at that.” Keith turned back to her. “What’s this? Your smiles have disappeared upon our Malcolm’s approach?” He turned to Malcolm. “What have you done to the poor lass? She appears to not likeyou.”
“Enough, Keith.” Malcolm did not want his friend playing with words or making her impression of him any blacker than it was. “Do you wish to eat lass, and perhaps find a private place to see to yourneeds?”
Her face grew bright red at the mention of her privacy. God’s teeth, he hadn’t meant to bring hershame.
“I have seen to her comfort,” Keith said. “She is not in need of anything at the moment. Are you, LadySheona?”
“I am only in need of these ropes being removed from my aching wrists and the safety of my father’shome.”
“Well then, ’tis very disappointed you’ll be by my actions,” Malcolm said. “For you will keep those ropes on your wrists until you are secured at Knock Castle on the morrow and in the meantime…” He unfastened the rope from the tree. “You will be secured tome.”
Malcolm wrapped her rope around his waist and tied it to his belt. Like this, there was about five feet of space allowed between them with the rope pulled taut. With one last look at Keith and Sheona’s shocked faces, he turned and walked to his horse, noting the extra resistance behind him all theway.
