Page 57 of The Lady of Her Highland Clan

The man stood in front of her, his knife gleaming. Slowly, he pulled it closer to her throat.

Every muscle in Fiona's body stiffened. She hardly dared breathe.

Advancing from the bushes, a group of soldiers emerged, all draped in the blue plaid of Fraser. They had found her, and every second, they were drawing near. Anxiously, Fiona's eyes reached out to the gray stallion that belonged to Clyde.

Gradually, it emerged from the distance, trotting toward her at speed. Only now could Fiona see the man on the back of it.

She blinked.

It was not Clyde.

Swallowing hard, Fiona had no idea what she was meant to do. Slowly coming closer, the man on horseback grew close enough to see.

It was Fraser. Jumping down from the horse, he waved cheerfully, as if she was an old friend.

"Hoo, there, Miss Duncan, och!" He landed somewhat ineptly as Fiona watched through a stony face. "So good o' ye tae find us. Noo, I've a wee proposition for ye..."

Fiona tensed. Instinctively, she moved to take a step backward, but the man's hand holding her tightened. As did the blade, coming closer still to her cheek. Fiona stayed still, nausea rising in her throat.

Fraser walked closer. He was enjoying this.

"The thing is, och, I am awful sorry, but ye’re going tae be taking a wee trip back tae the Greenock clan." He smiled.

Now in the open light, Fiona appraised him. He was short, squat, and undistinguished in every way. His mousy-brown hair refused to shine, even in the full beam of the sun, and his skin was weak and dull.

Clyde had said he was his cousin, but Fiona failed to detect any similarities at all, apart from their instinct for betrayal.

Something burned sharp in Fiona's side, and it wasn't the man with the knife. Clyde's deception cut deep at her. Now that she was away from him, she had time to think it over. But she didn't want to. In fact, anything was preferable to thinking about Clyde right then. Even having a man point a knife at her throat.

Well, almost.

In front of her, Fraser had walked up, and now Fiona had the chance to regard him in all his mediocre glory.

"Dinnae fash, we'll look after ye right." He shoved his pockmarked face into her face, beaming. Fiona instantly shrunk back. "But unfortunately, I will have tae ask ye tae come wi' us."

Fraser nodded, and the man with the knife dragged her away. Screaming, Fiona tried her hardest to get free but dared not move too fast in case the man's hands slipped.

"Stop!" she yelled. Furious, she faced Fraser. It was only now they were head to head that she

noted that she was about the same height as him. "Where are ye taking me?"

Fraser looked at her with amusement. "Like I said, hen, back to the Greenock castle tower. Dinnae fash, lass. Ye'll be taken good care o', eh, lads?"

Behind her, the men laughed dirtily. Fiona felt her heart pounding like never before.

"Wh-What do ye want wi' me?" she gasped. Fraser drew nearer still, so close she could feel his hot breath on her nose. Fiona almost recoiled in disgust.

"Nothing, lassie," said Fraser. He brought his hand to her face and stroked it gently. Fiona shivered. "Just a muckle big bag o' gold from yer family's coffers."

Once again, the men surrounding her guffawed. Fiona felt a strange mixture of terror and rage surge up in her.

"Crivens, man, ye mean tae say the gold ye cheated me out o' wasnae enough?" Fiona gasped. Her green eyes flamed testily at Fraser.

"Och," said Fraser, placing his head on one side and watching her mockingly. "Are ye nae keeping up? I dinnae have the gold from yer wee hoard. Laird Anderson does. An' anyway, I ken the Duncans are a rich clan an' are good for a muckle pot o' treasures."

Fiona shook her head. "Well, ye'll nae get it!" she said testily. For now, the man with the knife had edged away, but only a little. Fire in her eyes, Fiona prepared to break away. "Ye'll nae get anything from my clan!"

Fraser tut-tutted and was about to say something when behind her, there was a terrible sound. The man holding her flopped forward, dropping his knife instantly. In a flash, Fiona was free!