Page 54 of The Lady of Her Highland Clan

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Her breath coming hard, Fiona raced across the wet glen, her hand in Clyde's. Hot and panting, she dived for cover, running for her life.

Fiona had never been so scared in her life as this. For nineteen years, she had led a sheltered life, protected by her castle and her father's guards. Now, as her hand entwined with Clyde's, she was under attack. And none of it was her doing.

A shard pierced her heart when she thought how Clyde had betrayed her trust. All of this was his fault. He had used her as a pawn in a deal, and the truth cut deep.

The last thing she wanted in the whole world was to be with him, but right then, there was no prospect of her getting free from the soldiers surrounding the glen.

"This way!" Clyde yelled, ushering her to the side of the glen. In truth, Fiona could hardly see by then. The rain was gushing hard and deep into the pores of her skin. Just when it had begun raining, she could not accurately say, only that it had, and now the whole of the glen was soaked in a stream of rain.

"Where?" Fiona gasped as she desperately scrambled over the uneven terrain. In the fast-appearing mud, she was losing her footing and nearly slipped in an attempt to be free.

In front of them, and to the sides, men were everywhere, their robes melding into a sea of blue. They were surrounded; there was no use. In despair, Fiona slowed down. She could hardly move and was hopelessly mired in the mud.

"Over here. Keep yer head down." Clyde helped her along, pressing her head close to him. With stealth, they managed to make it out of sight by hiding beneath the undergrowth.

"Clyde," Fiona murmured. She didn't want to have to cling to him, but right then, it was necessary. Even as she did, conflicted feelings bubbled up in her veins. She was livid. She was mistrusting, and most of all, she was hurt. But when she looked up into Clyde's eyes, it suddenly wasn't so simple.

And anyway, she had no choice. The blue-clad army advanced, growing nearer, but behind the brush and grasses, they had a chance to observe them. It didn't look as if Fraser's men knew where to look.

Grasping her hand, Clyde pulled her along. Despite Fiona's protesting, he urged her on.

"We've got tae get out o' here," he muttered, dragging her to the other side of the glen. As the men advanced, he led them to a cave that Fiona had previously not seen.

Chancing across the open glen was risky. There was a moment they had to come out and show their heads. But fortunately, the men were looking the other way, dictated to by Fraser yelling at them to find them in another direction.

Breathing a sigh, Clyde grinned. "Och, he doesnae ken this land like I do," he said. For a split second, he looked mighty pleased with himself. But then, seeing Fiona's face, he flinched.

"Glad ye’re so happy wi' yerself," Fiona remarked drily. It was an understatement. She was livid but didn't want to show it. That would mean letting him know how much he had hurt her. And she wasn't about to do that.

Instead, Fiona glared coolly at Clyde but said nothing. Together, in the confines of the cave, she tensed unsurely. Being here so near to each other was bittersweet.

Mainly, at that moment, bitter.

Clyde's hand hung down uncertainly, as if about to stroke her. But then he changed his mind. An arm hovered over her experimentally but did not touch.

He was right not to. Fiona looked as if she would snap his arm off if he so much as touched her.

"Fiona," he said anxiously.

Fiona turned her head. She didn't want to hear it. She didn't want to hear anything from him. Briskly, she turned her back, leaving him facing the outline of her shoulders.

"They're going," observed Clyde, watching from the front of the cave.

"Braw," said Fiona. "I'm off."

She moved to leave but felt Clyde's hands stop her.

"Nay, I said going, nae gone," Clyde explained.

Fiona just pushed past him. She had had enough. "Get yer hands off me," she snarled. She really could not help it. Being this near to him, with everything that had happened, was sickening. Pulling away, she looked at him desperately.

"Let me go! I want tae go." By now, she was struggling and beginning to fight.

Glancing outward, Clyde frowned. "Nay," he said. "They'll hear. They'll see!" Clyde hissed from the entrance to the cave. But seeing the determination in her eyes pushed her back.

Ramming Fiona against the cave wall, he apologized with his eyes as he placed a hand over her mouth.