Page 37 of Bewitching her Highland Savior

“What are ye doin’ here?” Muriel asked. “And why do ye smell so bad?”

Liam couldn’t help but laugh at that; pushing a hand over his mouth to quiet himself. “I had to climb up through the privy hole,” he said. “Unfortunately, ye’ll have to do the same. I came to get ye out of here.”

“Ye did?” Muriel blinked in surprise but then her eyes narrowed in suspicion. “What changed yer mind?”

“I found out the truth about Macleod,” Liam said. “I’ll explain everythin’ to ye but we must go noo. I had to go through two guards to get here, and if they wake up, we may get caught.”

Liam didn’t have to tell Muriel twice. She stood and followed him eagerly and she didn’t even hesitate to go down the hole. Liam went first, ready to catch her if she fell but she seemed to be as good at climbing as he was.

Questionably good, in fact.

Muriel must have noticed the incredulous look on his face because she laughed, shrugging a shoulder. “I climbed everywhere when I was a bairn. They tried to make me stop a few times because it’s nae verra ladylike but I kept doin’ it until they gave up.”

“Ye’re full of surprises, do ye ken that?” Liam asked, as he took her hand and led her to the back door, where he found the two guards exactly where he had left them. “I must go and do somethin’. I need ye to hide in the woods for a moment. If I dinnae come back in ten minutes, head to the pier and find Angus Flimean. He has a boat, he will take ye to North Uist and from there, ye can head to Barra.”

Just as he made to leave, Muriel grabbed his arm, stopping him. “Wait. What are ye doin’? I cannae leave without ye.”

“I’ll make sure ye dinnae have to,” Liam promised. “But just in case, promise me ye’ll go.”

Muriel hesitated. The last thing that Liam wanted was to make her go through all this alone but he had made a promise to the servant girl, too. He couldn’t leave her behind.

“Promise,” he repeated.

Muriel nodded and after Liam pressed a kiss to her hand, he rushed to the kitchens to find the woman. Apart from the guards that watched the walls, the grounds were deserted so late at night and Liam found the kitchens undisturbed. Just as she had said, the woman was there, leg bouncing nervously and eyes shifting from side to side until she spotted him.

“Ye came,” she said, as though she could hardly believe it.

“Aye. I promised I would,” Liam said. “Come. We must hurry.”

Just as he had done with Muriel, Liam led the woman to the back of the walls. Just as they reached the door, he saw that the guards were beginning to stir, eyes fluttering open.

“Run,” he told her, as he shoved a hand into his pouch of gold, pulling out a couple of coins. He handed them to her, making her close her hand tightly around them. “This should be enough to take ye wherever ye wish to go.”

The woman froze. Liam didn't have time to reassure her that everything was fine. "Run!" he exclaimed again, causing her to break into a sprint. Liam did the same thing, vanishing into the woods just in time.

“Muriel!” he whispered; not daring to shout her name. “Muriel!”

“Here.” Her soft voice came from behind him and Liam turned to see her there, a smile on her lips. “Ye made it.”

Neither of them moved for a few moments. Then Muriel threw herself at him, and Liam drew her into an embrace, wrapping his arms around her tightly.

He would never let her go again.

“We must hurry,” he said. “The guards are already stirring and soon everyone will be lookin’ for ye.”

Muriel nodded and took Liam's hand in hers. He led her through the forest, making sure she didn't trip and hurt herself, and by the time they arrived at the pier, they were both drenched in sweat, panting for air. Luckily, there was no one behind them. There were no shouts or footsteps to indicate that anyone knew where they were.

As they stepped on the boat, Liam said a prayer for the servant girl he had freed. He hadn’t even managed to learn her name but he would never forget her. He could only hope that she would go on to live a good life, far from Macleod’s reach.

If only I could have helped all of them.

There were still so many left in that keep, women who suffered daily at his hands. But at least Muriel was there, safe by his side. No one would touch her as long as Liam lived.

“Ye saved me yet again,” Muriel said as they sailed toward North Uist. “How can I thank ye for everythin’?”

If there was ever a time to be daring, it was now, Liam reasoned. "Ye can kiss me," he said, a cheeky smile on his face.

Muriel drew him close and pressed their lips together just as he finished his sentence.