As they rolled the cart down to the beach, the cold wind snapped the ends of the blankets that were wrapped around the injured men. Sìleas followed the cart down to the water. While he and Niall carried first Duncan and then Connor from the cart to the boat, she found a stick for Alex to lean on and helped him into the boat.
Ian looked at the three injured men, Alex slumped over and the two others lying across the small boat at the edge of the shore. God only knew how he would get them up the steep steps from the beach to Teàrlag’s cottage, but he would.
He squeezed his brother’s shoulder and turned to say good-bye to Sìleas.
“Ye are the best of men, Ian MacDonald,” she said, her voice firm and her eyes dry and clear. “If anyone can save them, ye will do it.”
She had always had such faith in him—and he needed it now.
“I’ll return as soon as I can.” He took her face in his hands and kissed her hard on the mouth. “Be safe,mo chroí.”
CHAPTER 32
“Take this dirk,” Niall said, handing it to her as they left the beach. “Put it up your sleeve, just in case.”
They took the fork in the path toward Gòrdan’s house and walked at a brisk pace without speaking again, their thoughts on the loved ones they had just left. Relying on Gòrdan to protect her must have been bitter medicine for Ian to swallow, but he hadn’t hesitated to put her safety before his pride.
Sìleas looked over her shoulder and caught a glimpse through the trees of Ian on the beach pushing the boat out into the water. A shiver went through her.
Please, God, watch over Ian and keep him safe for me. Do not let these young men perish.
It was only a half mile to Gòrdan’s, but the path rose and turned so that one could not see from one house to the other. As they rounded a bend, a dozen men on horses appeared in the distance, coming in their direction.
Sìleas sucked in her breath. Was that her stepfather and Angus at the front of the riders? Even from this distance, they would know her by her hair. She could feel their eyes on her. What she had feared for years was coming true.
They were coming for her.
“Run,” she said to Niall. “They are going to take me, and there is nothing ye can do to prevent it.”
“We can make it back to the house,” Niall said, tugging at her arm.
“No! If they come to the house, they’ll see the others leaving in the boat,” she shouted. “They’ll kill them all.”
The MacKinnons had tried to murder Connor once. When they saw that they had failed, they would kill every man in the boat. Ian was the best of fighters, but there were too many of them. He would die trying to save the others. Likely, Payton and Beitris would run out to help and be killed as well. She couldn’t let that happen.
“Please, Niall,” she said. “I’m begging ye to go. It’s me they want.”
“Not without ye.” She heard the familiar whisper of a steel blade as Niall drew his claymore from his back.
“Ye must go so ye can tell Ian they’ve taken me,” she said, holding his arm.
The hooves of the approaching horses vibrated through her feet and echoed in her head.
“It’s too late. Get behind me,” Niall said, shoving her back.
In another moment, a dozen MacKinnon men surrounded them.
“He’s a brave one,” one of the men said with a laugh, as they dismounted. He jumped back, though, when Niall swung his claymore within an inch of his chest.
“Come, laddie, there’s no need for ye to die today,” another man said, “but the lass belongs to us.”
The men moved aside as Murdoc pushed through them on his horse.
“Ye have a lot to answer for, Sìleas,” he said in a hard voice, as he looked down at her. Glancing at Niall, he said, “Who’s the foolish lad ready to die for ye?”
Before she could think of a lie, Niall said in a defiant voice, “I am Niall MacDonald, son of Payton and brother to Ian.”
“Take him,” Murdoc said.
