Page 59 of Married to her Kilted Enemy

“What’s he doing here?” Maddison whispered, gripping his hand tightly, fear in her eyes.

“Clearly, the bastard never left. He’s been here the whole time, since before the battle,” Odhrán hissed quietly through clenched teeth. “He’s meetin’ with his men. I need tae hear what they’re sayin’.”

The voices carried clearly on the breeze, and it was obvious that a large group of mounted men, including Rollo, were only a few yards away from their hiding place.

“So, Dougray, what have ye got tae report about the battle? I trust ’tis good news and ye got what I wanted,” he heard Rollo say in his oily voice.

“Erm, nae exactly, Maister,” another man, clearly one of Rollo’s captains, replied uncertainly.

“What d’ye mean, nae exactly?” came the brusque response. “D’ye mean tae tell me ye’ve nae got the woman?”

“I’m afraid we were nae able tae get her, Maister. Rufus found her and had her at the point of his sword, but the laird came and attacked him. He had tae run. Twice.”

“Ye damned fools! Can ye nae dae the simplest task without messin’ it up?” Rollo growled angrily.

“I went back and clubbed him over the head with me sword, Maister, but it had nae effect on him. He attacked me again, and I couldnae get the woman. I had tae run tae save meself, or I would nae have been able tae get away and report back,” came another voice. Odhrán felt Maddison stiffen beside him.

“That’s the soldier who attacked me,” she murmured, her fear almost tangible.

“Ye cowardly dolt! Why did ye nae fight him off?” Rollo spat.

“With respect, Maister, the laird’s a mean man tae have tae fight. I already watched him cut down two of me men at the same time. He’s built like a brick outhouse, and he’s a fearsome warrior,” Dougray argued in defense of Rufus.

“Ach, dinnae give me yer bloody excuses. Ye’re all useless!” Rollo told them, cursing. “So, what ye’re tellin’ me is that although I gave ye a hundred men tae attack the castle tae create a diversion, with specific orders tae get the lass and get out, ye’ve failed and come back empty handed but for a pile of me slaughtered men tae show fer it.”

“Aye, Maister, I’m sorry. We failed ye,” came Dougray’s mournful apology. Again, Rollo uttered a string of curses.

But Odhrán barely heard them, for a red mist descended over his field of vision on hearing that confirmation of his worst fears.

That’s why there were so few attackers! He planned the attack as a cover tae kidnap Maddy! What was he gonnae dae tae her?!

The blood in his veins boiled to even think of what fate his vile cousin had had in store for his beloved. He glanced at Maddison when she gripped his hand convulsively, stifling a shocked gasp. All the color had drained from her face, and it was clear she understood exactly what Rollo had planned.

“I promise ye, I’ll cut the bastard intae a thousand pieces and stick his ugly head on a spike,” he whispered urgently, reaching for his weapon belt and his dirk. But Maddison stayed his hand with her own, vehemently shaking her head.

“Nay, Odhrán, dinnae dae anythin’ stupid, please. There’s too many of them. They’ll kill ye, and then they’ll take me,” she whispered fearfully, her eyes pleading with him not to move. Every muscle and bone in his body yearned to leap over the rocks and slice Rollo’s throat open with his blade, naked as he was.

With a supreme effort of will, he managed to fight down the desire for bloody vengeance. She was right. This was not the time to give into his appetite for destruction. He let out a silent exhale and nodded his acquiescence, his bloodlust giving way to his urge to protect her at all costs by pulling her into his arms.

“What are ye orders now, Maister?” Dougray asked.

“Ye might as well go back home, ye pack of idiots,” Rollo roughly berated his men over the sound of his horse turning. “Ye’ve managed tae ruin a good plan with yer incompetence. I need time tae come up with somethin’ else tae get hold of the lass. And this time, ye’d better nae let me down, or ye’ll all be swingin’ from the postern gate by yer necks!”

From their hiding place, Odhrán and Maddison exchanged glances as they heard him ride off at speed, clearly accompanied by a few other riders.

“Well, at least he didnae kill us there and then,” one man said.

“Shut yer face, ye fool!” Dougray admonished him roughly. “’Tis me who’ll hang first if ye let me down next time. So, there will nae be a next time, eh? And as fer ye, Rufus, ye coward, ye’ll be on latrine duties fer the rest of the month.”

“I’d rather clean up shit than fight Laird Lennox,” Dougray declared defiantly before the men kicked up their horses and rode away en masse.

Odhrán stood up slowly and peered over the rocks. “They’ve gone. ’Tis safe tae come out.”

“’Tis as we suspected; Rollo was after me,” Maddison said as they came out on to the grass again. “What did he intend tae dae with me, d’ye think?” she asked with a shudder.

“I dinnae even want tae think about it,” Odhrán told her. “He’s capable of anything, the dirty, schemin’ swine.”

“I just thank God ye came in time tae save me,” she said as they began dressing hurriedly.