Page 44 of How to Woo a Highlander

Stealing a horse had been an easy affair. Anderson had helped her choose a docile one who was not averse to strangers, and she had easily slipped out while everyone was preparing the castle for lockdown in the face of the war. Anderson had been worried as expected, telling her that it was dangerous to go anywhere as the clan was facing war. Not knowing how else to appease him she lied that she had left a note for her father telling him to follow her in case of trouble.

She knew that she was leaving all hope of safety and riding straight into the belly of the beast, but she did not regret it. Her heart was with Alastair, and there was nothing left for her if he died.

The tricky part had been following Alastair and his men when they were so alert and trained. It had taken all of her skills to avoid being seen while not losing sight of them. When they had finally stopped, she had been exhausted. She had ridden for so long that even when she left her mount, her thighs still ached as though her legs were still straddling the horse. She felt incredibly weak but pulled herself into the forest after them. She heard Alastair’s plan, and she had to admit that it was brilliant. It was comforting to know that he was using his head and not just foolishly stepping into a den of lions.

She had kept herself hidden by moving around the clearing while they prepared to attack, so was watching from a tree when they burst out and attacked the enemy. Jane had never seen so much blood. Her belly tightened at the scene, but mostly out of worry for Alastair and his men. Each time she saw blood spill, her heart jerked in fear that it was Alastair’s.

Despite her worries, Alastair was not injured. He was instead like a knight of death as he cut down several enemies. She was reminded of the night he’d saved her from the men she’d been gambling with. She realized that what she had seen then was only a glimpse of what Alastair was truly capable of when he fought. He was brave and courageous, each swing of his sword spilling blood. She needed to be brave like him too.

She had noticed before he did, the enemy soldier escaping out of the clearing, hoping to escape. He was quick, running desperately and holding on to his injured arm. She was watching as Alastair commanded his men to follow. They were not fast enough, and at that rate, they would not catch the man. He was approaching the tree where she was perched very fast. She had to make the decision, either she stepped in, or let him escape. The answer was pretty clear after watching Alastair deal with the enemy. She would not allow his plan to be in vain.

She climbed down quickly, reaching the lowest branch just in time as the soldier passed by. She swung herself, kicking him solidly in the side of his head and sending him flying. Landing in a crouching position, her eyes went to his sword where it lay in the dirt. She lurched forward and grabbed it while he raised himself to his knees and looked at her with a bemused expression.

“A lass? What is a lass doin’ here?” he asked, taking in her ripped dress and wild appearance. He shook his head as though seeing an apparition. She looked at the sword in her hand. It was heavier and longer than the one she was used to, but it was the same principle. She needed to act before he egained his senses and realized she was a threat. Steeling herself, she swung, the sword slicing through his neck in an instant.

His eyes were wide with shock as blood leaked out of the open wound, and his hands went to his throat in disbelief. She could feel herself start to go into shock as the light left his gray eyes, and he keeled to the ground. She was only vaguely aware of Alastair’s men running into the scene and meeting her with blood splashed on her skirt and the enemy falling at her feet.

I have just killed a man.

“Is that a woman?” she could hear one of them ask in surprise.

“Did she just kill that man? I think she just killed him,” the other responded.

“Dae ye think she is one of our people?” the first asked again. She turned to them stiffly, dropping the bloodied sword.

“Alastair,” she said. Somehow that was the only thing she could utter before she fell to her knees. Her stomach was lurching much worse than when she was afraid of losing Alastair. She had cut someone, and more than that, she had taken his life. The men hurried to her side and lifted her, heading back to the clearing.

“She mentioned sir’s name. She cannae be an enemy, can she?” the one on her left asked.

“I dinnae think she is an enemy. She just killed that man, and from what I can see, she hasnae taken a life before,” the other responded.

Her head was swimming as they moved her, and she could see the shocked expressions on the faces of the men as they hefted the bodies away.

“Is that a woman?” another voice asked incredulously.

“I thought Alastair asked them to chase a soldier? Where did they find a lass?” another voice asked. All eyes were on her as they approached Alastair. The men let her down gently as she sat on the ground, the blood rushing in her ears.

“Alastair, we found this lass in the forest. She killed the enemy, and I think she kens ye,” one of the men explained. His eyes went wide as he caught sight of her.

“Jane!” he exclaimed.

“Alastair,” she breathed, and the contents of her stomach decided they had enough and came back up her throat. She lurched forwards, vomiting everything along with all the pent-up emotions inside her. With that, she burst into tears.

Chapter Twenty

Jane constantly surprised him, but this was more than he could have ever imagined. She looked so weak that he found himself beside her before even realizing that he had moved. He pushed her hair away from her face as she emptied her stomach. He turned to his men, finding them staring as if she had just fallen from the sky.

He could only imagine what she looked like to them, her dress ripped and exposing her white calves, her hair in a mess, and blood splattered everywhere. He instinctively shielded her from their eyes. She was rather wild and reckless for a woman, but he did not want anyone judging her for it.

“Ye said that she killed a man?” he asked—the two men that had found her nodded.

“Aye, she caught the man who was escapin’, and when we found them, she had slit his throat.”

Jane raised her head and wiped her mouth. He picked her up and headed out of the clearing for the privacy of the forest.

“Continue clearin’ the place. Get rid of the bodies and change yer clothes. Nay one disturbs me if it is nae an emergency,” he ordered. The men mumbled their acknowledgment of his words, clearly thrown by Jane. He could not blame them, and if he had met a woman in her state, dressed with no care and had taken a man’s life, he would have been thrown as well.

He walked quickly, putting some distance between them and his men. Jane nestled into his chest as he carried her off so much that he was reluctant to put her down again. He crouched in front of a tree and sat her down, kneeling in front of her. She sunk back against the tree lifelessly, her legs bent at the knees and tucked under her body.