She felt Ian’s tension in the taut muscles of his body as he leaned against her, pressing her into the boulder.
“They’re coming for Connor,” he said next to her ear, as the group started around the bend in the road.
“God, no,” she whispered. “What can we do?”
“ ’Tis quicker to Teàrlag’s along the cliff path.” He spun her around and gave her a quick, hard kiss. “I must warn Connor and Duncan. Wait here, and I’ll come back for ye as soon as I can.”
“I’m going with ye,” she said. “Ye might need me.”
“No, you’re staying here. I don’t have time to argue.” He started to leave, but halted. “Damn it!”
She turned to see what had caught his attention. Four of Hugh’s men were settling themselves down at the side of the road, instead of following the others.
“What are they doing?” she whispered.
“Hugh has remembered we used to take the goat path,” he said in a hushed voice. “He’s left these men to cut off Connor and Duncan’s escape by this route.”
When she looked up at him, Ian’s jaw was set and his eyes cold-blue steel.
“Come,” he said, taking her hand. “I can’t leave ye here now.”
CHAPTER 14
Ian stepped onto the log as if he were going up a doorstep instead of walking off a cliff. When she told him earlier that she wanted to go with him, her only thought was that she didn’t want to be separated from him. But fear gripped her belly now.
Ian stood sideways on the log and held his hand out to her. “Hold on, and we’ll cross together.”
Despite the chill in the air, her palms were sweaty. She wiped them on her cloak before reaching out to take his hand. The hand that enveloped hers was dry and warm and reassuring. Gingerly, she put one foot on the log.
“I don’t know if I can do this.”
“Just remember not to look down,” Ian said. “We’ll be on the other side before ye know it.”
She took another step, and now both feet were on the log—and over the cliff. Although she kept her eyes fixed on Ian, she could hear the rushing water below.
“You’re doing fine,” Ian said. “I won’t let ye fall.”
She took another step.
“ ’Tis easier to keep your balance if ye move quickly,” he said, urging her along.
She took another step and another. It was getting easier. She dared to breathe again.
When she was halfway across, her foot hit a clump of moss and slipped. Though she recovered her balance almost at once, her gaze dropped to the churning water far below. Panic shot through her limbs and sweat prickled under her arms. Her feet would not move again.
“Look at me,” Ian said in a tone that said everything would be all right. “I have ye, Sìl. I have ye.”
With an effort, she wrenched her gaze from the crashing waves below to Ian’s face. His expression was confident, reassuring.
“That’s a good lass,” Ian said. “We’re nearly there.”
Step by step, she followed him, squeezing his hand until her fingers ached. An eternity later, she reached the other side, and Ian was lifting her down. The feel of solid earth beneath her feet made her light-headed with relief.
“Ye are going to owe me a hundred kisses for that,” he said, his voice hard and urgent. “We must hurry now.”
Her trial was not over, for they still had to follow the cliff path the rest of the way to Teàrlag’s cottage.
“Can ye let go?” she asked, as Ian pulled her along. “I’ve no feeling left in my fingers.”
