Page 39 of Highland Storm

“I told ye, he has nothin’ to say about it anymore. Dinna ye understand?”

She heard a sound behind her that sounded like a snarl. Lennox heard it, too, and unsheathed his sword. Then he grabbed Phoebe and held her in front of him like a shield, the coward.

“Stop right there,” came a deep voice from the dark. In the light of the moon filtering through the trees, Logan’s wolf and Hawke stepped out of the brush. Hawke held his sword high, ready to fight.

“Ye’re goin’ to have to kill us first,” shouted Lennox, backing toward his horse, pulling Phoebe along with him.

“Phoebe, step away from him,” commanded Hawke. “I dinna want ye stained with his bluid when I kill him.”

“Nay, dinna fight! No more killin’,” cried Phoebe, not knowing what to do. She didn’t want Lennox to get away with this, but neither did she want Hawke killing another member of her clan. All she wanted was to go home to her father. However, she felt like she also needed Hawke’s protection from Lennox and Euan now. Aye, she needed help. Her father needed help. And the worst part was, she didn’t know whom to turn to in order to get it. “Hawke, just let Lennox go and I’ll come back with ye, I promise. I willna give ye any trouble.”

“Nay! What are ye sayin’, ye fool?” cried Lennox, pulling her along with him. “Ye keep actin’ like this and Euan’s goin’ to want to kill ye just like he did to the messenger.”

“What messenger?” snapped Hawke. “And how many times do I need to tell ye to release the girl?”

“Hawke, what’s goin’ on?” cried one of Hawke’s friends as the three men emerged from the forest.

Hawke used the distraction to his advantage. He reached forward, pulling Phoebe away from Lennox. But when he raised his sword, Phoebe stepped back in between them with her arms spread out.

“Stay here, ye fool, I dinna care,” yelled Lennox, running to his horse as Hawke’s friends ran to help.

“I’ll kill ye,” snarled Hawke, stepping forward. But Phoebe grabbed his arm and held him back, enabling Lennox to mount his steed.

“Phoebe, stop it,” spat Hawke in anger.

“I do no’ want ye to kill him.”

“Damn, now he’s goin’ to ride back to the others and they’ll return with the entire clan before we get to the Highlands.”

“Nay, I willna let him do that.” Without thinking about it, Phoebe flung her throwing knife through the air, hitting Lennox in the shoulder. The man fell from the horse, crying out in pain.

“What . . . just happened?” asked Hawke, looking very confused.

“Hawke, we’re here,” said Caleb, coming to his side with Logan and Ethan. They all had their weapons drawn.

“Is it the MacNabs?” asked Logan. “I’ve got yer back covered.”

“Calm down, it’s only one,” growled Hawke. “Phoebe just stopped him with a throwin’ knife.”

“She did what?” asked Caleb.

“Did I hear ye right?” asked Ethan. “Phoebe took down one of her own?”

“What’s goin’ on here?” asked Logan.

“That’s what I intend to find out.” Hawke stormed over to the MacNab with his sword still drawn. His friends were right on his heels.

“Who are ye and what are ye doin’ here?” asked Hawke, holding his sword out to touch the man’s shoulder. He moaned and tried to reach for the knife sticking out of his back.

“Phoebe, ye fool!” shouted the MacNab. “Ye’ll die for what ye did.”

“Dinna talk that way about the lass again or I’ll kill ye where ye lay,” warned Hawke. “Caleb, get his weapons. Logan, Ethan, we might have to put him out of his misery.”

“Nay!” shouted Phoebe, stepping in front of Hawke with her arms stretched out. “Dinna kill Lennox. He is here alone and as a scout, that’s all.”

“Why shouldna I kill him?” spat Hawke. “Didna he and his friends try, and almost succeed, to do the same to me?”

“I’m only sorry ye lived,” snarled the man.