Page 45 of In Bed with her Highland Foe

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CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Gilchrist rolled off the other side of the bed, hunkered down onto his knees and snatched up the pistol from beneath his bed.

In the darkness, it was hard to make out his attacker. The short form swept the dagger through the air, though he was not aiming for Gilchrist now. He aimed for the bedclothes, cutting them down from where they hung in the bedhead, so they hovered in the air for a second, masking Gilchrist’s view.

Gilchrist fired, in the hope that the bullet would somehow find its mark. It echoed loudly, the bang ricocheting somewhere in the room. The sound of wood fracturing and splintering followed.

The kitten followed at his heel and darted for cover under the bed, but there was no squeal of pain, nor even a cry of fright. The mysterious figure moved to the side just as the bedclothes fell to the bed. He was advancing once again with the dirk in his hand, and now, Gilchrist only had an unloaded weapon to defend himself with. His weapons belt was on the other side of the room, blocked by his attacker.

Gilchrist stepped back, widening his stance as he adjusted his hold on the pistol, holding onto the barrel with it raised like a club. His other hand took hold of the curtain across the window and tugged it back.

Moonlight bled into the room and fell onto the face of his attacker.

The ratty features he knew so well appeared. It was Larry.

With spittle on his lips and cheeks so red they looked like they had been burned by a hot iron, he launched himself forward with the dirk.

Gilchrist stretched out with his other hand. He caught Larry’s wrist, the one that held the dirk and pressed it back in the air, stopping the blade from finding its mark. He lashed out with the pistol, clubbing Larry across the head, who wailed in pain this time. He stumbled back, dropping the dirk at his feet.

Gilchrist snatched it up, using it his own weapon.

“Larry?” he hissed darkly into the shadows. “Ye doing murder fer yer master now?”

There was a squeak, but no other answer. Larry backed up and landed on the coffer where Gilchrist had left his weapons belt. There was another loaded pistol in that belt. They both realized it at the same time. Gilchrist marched forward, ice settling over his heart as Larry snatched up the weapon and pointed it straight at Gilchrist’s chest.

Gilchrist felt his heartbeat pounding against his ribcage as his eyes settled on the barrel, he could hear it thumping against his eardrums too, waiting for the moment, for he knew he could not reach the pistol in time.

He saw the sparks and heard the bang as the shot erupted. Crippling pain shot through his left arm. He roared at the pain, launching himself forward again, but slower this time. He was half bent forward, feeling the blood trickle down his arm. He didn’t need to look through the darkness to know the wound was bad.

There were sounds elsewhere in the barracks now, loud bangs and shouts. Running footsteps followed.

Gilchrist lashed out with the dirk. He caught Larry in the upper arm, forcing him to drop the pistol. They were in a standoff, both injured and braced over the coffer as Gilchrist refused to give Larry the slightest chance to escape.

Gilchrist wished to shout at him, to demand to know why Larry was prepared to murder for Shay, but he didn’t have the wherewithal. The blood loss was so sudden and fast, and his head was growing light.

Then the door burst open.

“Captain!” Aaden’s voice bellowed along with others.

Gilchrist whipped his head around, not prepared for Larry to lift the pistol. It clubbed him across the side of the temple, and he was knocked to the floor.

A sea of feet and hurrying boots followed past his face. He strained against the pain in his head and arm, rolling on the floor and looking up in time to see the shadowy figure of Larry jump out the window, landing on the grass, running away from the curses that escaped Aaden’s mouth.

“Captain! Captain?” Aaden was now in front of him, crouching down on the floor. “Who was it? Did ye see who it was?”

Gilchrist could tell the truth. He could say it was Larry, but what then? He’d be accused of lying, of trying to cause trouble against Laird Shay. The council surely would not believe such an accusation when they wanted Kyven to marry the man.

“Nay,” the lie fell from his lips.

“God have mercy,” Aaden spat angrily as he stood. “Ye, search the grounds. Ye, gather as many soldiers as ye can tae take with ye. And ye, take the captain tae the healer’s chambers. He’ll need all the help he can get.”

Gilchrist didn’t have the energy to thank him. He tried to push himself up, but his head was swimming and the pain in his arm reverberated up into his shoulders. One of the soldiers ran to him, took his good arm, and tried to help him up.

“What happened, Captain?” Aaden called, hurrying ahead out of the door.

Gilchrist looked down as something attacked his ankle. The cat was trying to nestle into his leg, her hackles raised, her whole-body trembling. He released the soldier and bent down toward her.