“Ye can take one from the post house livery. I understand there are several stabled there.”
“Thank ye, Mhairi. Ye just relieved my greatest worry.”
Someone knocked on the door. Jamie moved quietly behind it, but Mhairi said, “Perhaps they didna let Neve back in as she expected.” She opened the door, then stepped back, her gaze full of remorse. Two Keith warriors filled the doorframe. “Ye are hiding Aftyn and the Lathan healer. Produce them or the laird will see ye punished.”
“Nay,” Mhairi said. “Ye two are mistaken.”
Jamie was glad the side of the cottage where Aftyn lay was in darkness, and that Mhairi had found a way to tell him how many men were at the door. They may not have seen Aftyn yet.
“Out of the way,” the man said and pushed Mhairi aside to enter. He did see Aftyn then and moved toward her.
Jamie waited for the second man to enter, then shoved the door closed and knocked him out. The first man whirled and drew his dirk. Jamie was unarmed, but unworried for himself. He could handle one man easily. He only feared for the women accidentally being hurt in a fight. He kept his gaze on his opponent and moved away from Mhairi, waving her toward Aftyn. She understood and obeyed instantly.
The warrior took that to mean Jamie’s attention was on her and attacked, but Jamie anticipated him and met his charge with a blow that knocked the dirk from the man’s hand. After that, the fight was over in seconds and the second man lay beside the first.
“Have ye anything to bind them?”
Mhairi found a length of rope. Jamie bound them, hands and feet trussed behind them, then gagged them with strips torn from a sheet. “That should keep them for a while. I’ll be back soon with a horse.”
He opened the door and peered out. The low sun barely penetrated the persistent fog, but there was enough light to see the village was quiet. No one moved about. Most were likely having their evening meal. Jamie slipped out and made his way in the shadows to the post house stables. He picked a mount and saddled it, deciding he’d ride with Aftyn in his arms. Once they reached his men, they’d have the protection of an escort.
But before he could lead the horse he’d picked out of its stall, male voices sounded nearby. More searchers, judging by what he heard them saying to each other. If they entered the stable, they’d find him in the process of stealing a horse and call for help. He didn’t know what penalty the Keith might exact for that, but it wouldn’t be good. With regret, he left the horse and vaulted over the stall wall, dropping behind the stable and making his way back to Mhairi’s in the shadows. Once it was fully dark, he and Aftyn would have to get to the woods on foot. It wasn’t the best plan, but it was the best chance they had to find his men.
When he reached the cottage, he found Mhairi and Aftyn outside, being held by Keith warriors, including the two Jamie had knocked out, who gave him glares when he showed himself that promised retribution, and two more.
* * *
The Keith hadmany reasons to be in a foul mood, Aftyn judged, but not with her, or with Jamie for trying to protect her. They were taken to the laird’s solar, where she related the attack she’d suffered and showed him the bruises that were proper for a lass to display. He studied her bruised and swollen eye for several moments, then ordered their escort to wait near the doorway. Apparently unaware that Braden had men looking already, he sent the captain of the guard to organize a search for the men who’d attacked her. Now that she and Jamie were found, he had men to spare for the task. Aftyn kept her silence, not willing to put Braden in jeopardy.
No mention had yet been made of Jamie’s men, missing from the dungeon, but she had no doubt he’d get to that eventually.
Jamie stood silently beside her, appearing to brood, but Aftyn could see the tension in his shoulders and the way he balanced his body, ready to move in any direction as the need arose. He was wise enough not to make direct eye contact with the laird. That would only be seen as challenging him, which would not improve their situation. At least Jamie wasn’t bound, though she suspected that wouldn’t slow him much if he had to fight. He could play the healer, but the warrior lurked just under the surface. She hoped her father did nothing to bring that out.
Once the guard captain left to carry out the laird’s orders, the Keith leaned back in his chair and turned his gaze to Jamie.
Hoping to forestall that confrontation, Aftyn spoke up. “What will ye do with the men who attacked me when ye find them?”
“That doesna concern ye, lass.”
Heat flared in her body. “How can ye say that? They nearly killed me. I should be allowed to see them punished.”
The laird leaned forward, and she thought she might have caught a glimpse of fatherly concern in his gaze before it hardened again.
“Dinna be daft. A mere lass doesna punish men. I will see to them.”
“The question remains.”
Jamie’s low tone startled Aftyn. He’d yet to speak, and the sound of his voice sent a thrill rushing through her. Then a chill of fear as the laird eyed him.
“Ah, so ye can speak.”
“Aye, and I speak for the sake of yer daughter. They did her grievous harm, and she deserves to be certain they will suffer for it.”
“Grievous… did they take yer innocence?”
The color climbing into his face nearly stole Aftyn’s breath, but she managed to croak out, “Nay. They simply beat and kicked me near to death. When they were satisfied they’d vanquished the useless healer, they left me to live or die as God willed.”
“Then how is it ye stand before me mere hours later?”
