Page 17 of The Highlander’s Gypsy Temptation

* * *

Idalia was not certain how long they had walked before they came to the edge of August Raymond’s encampment, but she was so tired she felt as if she might drop at Bran’s feet. She felt as though she had been dragged back and forth across the expanse of Scotland without a moment’s rest. “Where is Mahala being held?” Idalia asked softly as they scanned the encampment from the safety of the trees.

Bran pointed to a tent with several guards stationed around it. “She is in there.”

Idalia recognized the men standing around the tent. They were August’s own personal guards. He had chosen them when his father had died under questionable circumstances. They were large men, well-trained in the art of combat. She clutched Bran’s sleeve. “You cannot go near there. The moment they see you those men will kill you.”

“I am aware,” Bran informed her. “Why do ye think I have nae rescued her before now? I am nae a fool.”

Idalia could read Bran’s body language. It was clear that he intended to do the very thing she had warned against in spite of his words to the contrary. “Love makes fools of us all.”

“Now a letter has been sent tae our people, if anything happens tae me, my brother Andrew will pick up where I left off. If I cannae free Mahala from August’s grasp, then Andrew will.”

“I understand that your daughter is important to you, as family should always be, but you cannot throw your life away in a foolish battle there is no way to win. She would not want that. If August was going to harm her, he would have done so long before now. Has it occurred to you that the reason August waited this long to use your daughter against you is that he needed you to form an attachment to her, so that he might manipulate you into doing his bidding. He has had the child’s entire life to do something, but he has not. Instead of getting rid of her, he kept her long before he knew he could use her against you.”

Bran stared down at her frowning. “What are ye saying?”

“I am saying that I do not believe August actually means your daughter any harm. When you were a part of the encampment, what did she look like? Was she strong and well cared for or weak and filthy?”

Bran quirked his brow. “She was well fed, clean, cared for.”

“Did you ever witness August raising his hand or voice to her?”

Bran shook his head. “I did nae.”

“Did he treat her the way that he treated you, or as if she were his family?”

“In word to me, he claims that she is his shame, but tae her face, I have never heard him say anything against her.”

“As evil as August Raymond is, do his actions speak of a man who intends his niece harm?”

“I cannae take that risk. I have seen the things he is capable of. I cannae risk that he will nae do as he says regarding me daughter. She is only half his sister’s blood. The other half is mine.”

Idalia had hoped to keep him from doing something that would get them both killed. Just as Bran was about to step out into the encampment, the men who had been following them stepped into the clearing.

And to Idalia’s horror, they had within their clutches the young lad who was meant to deliver their message to Tor.

CHAPTER EIGHT

“Call for August,” the elder among them commanded one of the guards. The man immediately obeyed and entered the tent which Bran had just pointed out as Mahala housing.

Idalia laid a hand on Bran’s arm to still him. “That is the lad with our message,” she whispered.

Bran’s brows arched and his body tensed. He sat crouched, ready to spring into action at a moment’s notice. “Are ye certain?”

“I am.”

“That means they ken the truth about our plan.”

“I did not say you helped me in the letter,” Idalia reminded him.

“Nae, but August will ken the truth o’ it nevertheless.” Bran fell silent as August emerged from the tent.

“What is this?” August demanded to know as he came to stand in front of the men.

“The lass escaped.” The elder of the men pulled forth the letter that Idalia had written to Tor for help. He unfolded the letter, its wax seal had already been broken, and handed it to August. “It appears Bran helped her.”

August read the letter, then crumpled it in his fist. Even from their position in the edge of the woods, Idalia could make out the anger on his face from the fire’s light. He scanned the encampment with his eyes and Idalia slunk back further into the shadows, afraid that he would see her. “They are here. Find them,” he commanded, sending his men scurrying to the edges of the encampment.