Page 12 of The Highlander’s Gypsy Temptation

“But they are out there watching.” She searched the woods with her eyes. She could not see them, but he had reassured her that they were there.

Nodding in understanding, Bran stood and called out to the men in the trees. “Come out. We ken ye are there. The lass needs tae relieve herself and she does nae need ye taking a peek up her skirts.”

As if by magic, three men emerged from the trees and entered their camp. “MacLeod,” the eldest of them greeted him as they approached. “When did you discover us following you?”

“Ye were waiting for us when we disembarked the birlinn. Before that, Raymond had other men following us.”

The man laughed. “He did, indeed. You never cease to surprise me, MacLeod.”

Bran said nothing in reply. It was clear to Idalia that Bran knew these men, but it was also clear he did not like them or trust them. He turned to her. “Go behind the tree. I will keep watch.”

Idalia nodded in acceptance. She walked over to where he had pointed to and quickly relieved herself. She searched the woods the entire time, to make certain there were not anymore men in the trees. She personally thought that sending three men to follow them was a bit extreme, but apparently, they believed Bran to be a very dangerous man. Idalia observed him quietly from behind the tree. His tall muscular form exuded strength with every move he made. The way he held himself around the other men spoke of caution, his jaw and eyes set in a serious cast.

Dangerous indeed. Her heartbeat picked up every time she was near him. It was irritating. I do not want him or any other man in my life. I wish to be free in every aspect of the word.

“Idalia,” Bran’s voice brought her out of her thoughts, and she focused back on the men in front of her. They were all standing around, staring at her as she stood leaning against the tree. “Are ye well, lass? Have ye finished?”

Idalia blushed but nodded. “I am done.”

“Let us prepare supper,” Bran recommended. “I will go and find us something to eat.”

The other men nodded and set about making a fire and a roasting spit out of sticks. “What of the lass?” the eldest of their guards asked.

“She does nae leave my side,” Bran replied.The eldest nodded. “Then I shall accompany you.” He stood and took up his weapons once more.

Bran did not answer he but turned and walked into the woods. Idalia followed him. She was not about to be left alone with August Raymond’s men. The three of them moved quietly around the loch until they came to a place with fresh tracks. It was clear by the signs that deer frequented the place on a regular basis. Bran motioned for the guard to go one way, while he and Idalia went the other. They followed the trail to a place where they could be afforded some shielding from view and crouched down to wait in silence.

Each man was armed with a bow and arrow. Nobles tended to hunt more as a pastime than a method of survival and would often do so in force, with a group of other lords, as a social outing. Bran and their guard were neither of noble birth nor had qualms about using what the nobles considered to be more mundane methods. Technically, what they were doing was considered poaching, as neither of them owned the land upon which they stood, an offense punishable by extreme measures.

“Who owns this land?” Idalia whispered, somewhat concerned about being caught for Bran’s sake, but another part of her hoping they were so she could explain her situation to a magistrate.

Bran shrugged, “I dinnae ken.” He did not seem to care either way.

“Will we not be arrested for poaching? I would be very happy to be arrested in this moment, but it would not be good for you.”

Bran’s frown deepened at her words. He sat thinking on the matter for a moment, as if formulating a plan in his mind. “What if we use this moment to our advantage?” he whispered.

“How so?” Idalia’s excitement at the idea of escape caused her to grab his sleeve in earnest.

“What if we pretended an attack and in the doing o’ it, ye are lost tae me?”

“Explain,” Idalia turned her full attention to him.

“We are poaching.”

“Correct.”

“Aye, what if we pretended tae be caught and ye were arrested in the attack?” Bran suggested; he held his body tensely with reserve as if he was afraid his own idea would fail.

“Would they believe ye?”

Bran shook his head. “They would never believe I would let ye go without a fight. Ye would have tae fight me, lass, and make it look like more than one man attacked us. August Raymond would have tae believe every word or...”

“Or what?” she asked him. “I am certain that if we play it right, we could leave here together, and you could come home with me to your family, to Andrew.”

“My daughter will be the one tae pay for yer escape. August Raymond holds her life in his hands,” he blurted out. “I could never just leave, not when my daughter remains here.”

“Your daughter?”