“Ye had me worried for a moment,” she whispered once she was in their midst. “Why dinna ye wait for me by the yew tree?”
“A small group of soldiers passed by here a half hour ago,” Angus said, his gruff voice low and anxious. “Probably a few of the devil’s lot searching for our prince. It seemed they were on their way north to Inverness, but we decided not to take any chances. We hid well back in those trees there, just over the rise.” He sighed heavily. “‘Tis a good thing ye came no sooner, Maddie.”
“Dinna fret over it,” she said. “The danger is past. See, our yew has already brought us luck once this evening.”
“Aye, so it has,” Angus agreed as the others nodded their heads. “Here are yer pistols, lass, all primed and ready.”
“Thank ye,” she said, taking the two pistols from him and slipping them into her belt, which also held her dirk. She was glad Angus had convinced her to allow him to care for her weapons, especially now that redcoats were quartered in her house. These pistols were the last thing she wanted found in her possession.
Madeleine sensed her kinsmen’s eagerness as they gathered close around her, waiting for her command. It matched her own.
“We’ll ride to Wade’s Road, as we planned, and settle in at the pine grove near Inverfarigaig,” she said quietly. “Ye’ll wait for my signal. If ‘tis safe, we’ll take the first supply train that comes along. Any questions?’
There were none.
“All right, then. We’ve had a week’s rest and a few unwelcome surprises” —she paused, deciding not to mention Garrett’s name— “since last we rode together. But we’ll not think of that now. We’ll think only of the villagers who need fresh meat for their cooking pots.”
They quickly mounted their horses and broke into a gallop along the narrow road to Inverfarigaig. As they passed the ancient yew tree, Madeleine veered her mount toward it. She reached up and yanked off a fresh sprig, sticking it into the pocket of her jacket.
Aye, now she was well protected. She caught up with her kinsmen and passed them, swiftly taking the lead.
***
Garrett lay staring at the ceiling, his head resting in his hands. It was the second night in a row he couldn’t sleep.
He exhaled slowly. If this kept up, he’d be sleeping during the day when he was supposed to be about his mission, which might not even matter. After the miserable day he’d had, he was no closer to discovering anything about Black Jack than if he and his men hadn’t gone out at all. The Highlanders of Strathherrick were as tight-lipped as they came when they were protecting one of their own.
He rolled over and reached for the gold pocket watch lying atop the bedside table. He held it up and squinted at it in the faint moonlight.
Damn! It was half past three already. He’d finished writing in his military journal and had gone to bed near midnight. He had spent almost four useless hours tossing and turning, all the while wondering how he was going to accomplish his mission and if he would ever hold Madeleine in his arms again.
Garrett threw the watch onto the table in disgust and leaned on his elbow. Well, he had a few choices. He could either remain here in bed and chase sleep for another hour, or he could perhaps get something to eat from Glenis’s kitchen. He hoped she wouldn’t mind his intrusion too much.
Or maybe he could take a walk outside, he thought. Some fresh air and exercise might help clear his mind and perhaps even make him drowsy.
He made a quick decision and flung back the covers. It took him only a moment to dress, then he was out the door and walking quietly down the dark hallway.
Suddenly he stopped and turned around slowly. Good God, what was possessing him? He walked back past his room and toward the other end of the hallway…toward Madeleine’s room.
His hand touched the latch. He told himself he merely wanted to see that she was well. Yet he knew it was more than that.
He had the strongest desire to gaze on her beauty while she slept. He hadn’t seen her since the afternoon at the loch, and he felt as if he were starving for a glimpse of her.
Garrett stepped into her room, leaving the door slightly ajar. It had flashed through his mind that she might awaken and take unkindly to his presence in her bedchamber. And she was armed, he thought dryly. He had seen to that. Better to leave the door open, in case he needed to exit quickly to escape her dirk.
He moved stealthily toward the bed as his eyes adjusted to the darkness. He could see a slender form outlined beneath the coverlet. He forced himself to breathe slowly and steadily, although his heart was pounding. He reached out and touched his fingers lightly on the folded edge of the coverlet.
A strong gust of wind suddenly blew into the room from the open window, billowing the long gauze curtains. They flapped and twisted in the breeze, and Garrett backed away, fearing she would wake and find him there. He glanced at the bed regretfully and quickly left the room, closing the door softly behind him. He did not notice that he had failed to secure the latch, and the door slipped open again.
Somewhat shaken, he strode down the hallway to the main staircase. Obviously he would have to wait until tomorrow to see her again, which was probably just as well. If she had found him in her room, her curses would no doubt have awakened the entire household. Her language seemed to become inspired whenever she saw him.
Garrett hurried down the steps, his eyes narrowing angrily.
Heaven help him, were his men becoming as careless and undisciplined as they seemed? The guard was sleeping so soundly, with his chair tilted against the wall and his mouth gaping open, that he didn’t even hear Garrett’s approach.
Garrett kicked one of the chair legs as he walked by, and the chair fell forward. The soldier sprawled onto the floor, groaning and mumbling incoherently.
“Is this how you hold your position, man?” Garrett asked, his expression hard. He slid the knife from his belt, bent over the gaping soldier and grabbed him by the hair. He rested the sharp blade under the man’s right ear.
