Page 115 of Claimed Highland Brides

FAST HORSE

Daividh took six men with him, leaving twelve surrounding the keep to guard the family. The sisters were under strict instructions not to leave the walls of the keep. The children as well were to be kept in the nursery, with one soldier watching them. Under no circumstances were strangers to be allowed within the walls of the compound until the laird returned.

As independent-minded as they were, the girls agreed to all the conditions because they were so anxious for Jamesina.

Fiona clung frantically to her husband for a moment. “Ye have tae get her back, Daividh! Remember, I think she might be with child.”

He nodded grimly. “I swear t’ye my love, I shall bring her back.”

Fiona surged up, pressing her lips to his, in blessing and luck. Daividh nodded to her and she watched as he went back through the doors of the keep before turning his horse towards Drumacree. Scouts sent ahead had reported that various crofts had noted the sound of horses’ hooves passing in the night going in that direction. One of Daividh’s best trackers had found a trail, albeit a very faint one. Whoever had Jamesina, they knew how to cover their tracks and were expecting pursuit.

* * *

Jamesina took as much time as she could beside the burn. She was still clumsy and uncoordinated from hours of riding on her stomach, unable to straighten up in any way so it looked perfectly believable when her hands were shaking too much to hold the water even as she surreptitiously surveyed her surroundings, wondering if she might disappear into the underbrush.

What she did not count on is one of her captors scooping up water for her in a bowl and holding it out impatiently. She took it with a resigned sigh and drank before being pulled to her feet and viciously manhandled back to the horse.

The water helped. Her head was clear and she looked behind her at the path they were on. The tall grasses on both sides of the path obscured it from sight. But just as nobody nearby could see her because of it, she could also not see if anyone was following. She decided to take it as a given that somebody was.

Before they’d taken her, her captors had taken the time to tie a skirt around her waist and to cover her with an arisaid since she slept in just her shift. They had placed slippers on her feet, which were not really practical for running or doing anything really except lounging about at home.

I’ll just have to run barefoot.

She sighed with resignation, not even attempting to entertain the notion that she might not escape. She swayed from side to side as the horse trotted on, realizing for the first time that their pace had slackened. In fact, once they’d turned onto this path, her abductors had adopted a distinctly more relaxed attitude.

Either they think they cannae be found in the marshes or this is their territory.

She frowned, not having heard talk of any brigands near Drumacree. She knew the Hunters were agitating at the mines but that was a day and a half’s ride from here in the opposite direction from which they’d come. Jamesina didn’t know what to think.

They rode all day, without stopping for food, and by the time someone pulled her off her horse and set her down on the ground, she was weak with hunger and sick with nausea. She resolved to beg, if she had to, for some food.

Someone lit a fire while another skinned a rabbit. Saliva flooded her mouth and she swallowed hungrily, eyes staring fixedly at the rabbit. Someone snorted nearby and a stone bottle dropped beside her. Removing the cork, she leaned forward to sniff at it.

Cider.

She took a sip, savoring the crisp, tart, cool flavor.

Apple cider.

She took another sip, and then another. Soon she was downing the whole bottle. No sooner had she swallowed than a wave of nausea hit her and she swayed, struggling not to cast up her accounts. The cider was the only sustenance she’d had since she was abducted. She could not afford to lose it.

You should have drunk slower, you idjit!

She sighed, taking deep breaths in order to keep the liquid down. She resisted the urge to heave a few times and for a moment, she thought she’d managed and relaxed in triumph. Her throat took the chance to contract forcefully, and she disgorged all the cider she’d just drank in addition to the water from earlier.

Her captors were muttering amongst themselves in annoyance.

“She’s no sick is she?”

“She looks a bit pale.”

“Neacel isnae gang tae be happy if she’s deid when we arrive.”

She looked up at them, eyes pleading. “I’m sorry. Forgive me. I dinnae ken wha’s wrong wi’ me but I need food. Please.”

“Why should we gi’ ye any food if ye’re jes’ gang tae eject it all?”

“I wilnae. Please.”