Page 64 of In Bed with a Highland Brute

Murdoch fired the crossbow. The bolt flew out from its place and shot through the metal hatches, striking the man between the shoulder blades. He dropped to the floor and the portcullis dropped two feet, closer to the ground.

A heavy bang from within the tower echoed outward, making many of the soldiers flinch and look around. The portcullis dropped completely to the ground.

“It was the counterweight,” Murdoch called to his soldiers. “The gate will nae lift now.”

Imbued by the words, his soldiers walked forward, meeting the portcullis. They fired bolts and bows relentlessly through the gaps. As the tide turned in the battle and Clyde reappeared on the battlements, a voice rang out across the grounds.

“They’re retreating. They’re turning back!”

Murdoch couldn’t celebrate though as he turned to look at Avery.

Murdoch had his arm around Avery, dragging him into the great hall as Ian carried him from the other side. They burst through the door of the great hall, striding across the open space.

The room had been transformed into a makeshift hospital. Many of the staff had decided to stay too, along with Eloise and the others, ready to help the injured men. There didn’t seem to be a table that was not peppered with blood or bearing the face of an injured man.

“Eloise!” Murdoch called for her, knowing what he had to show her would cripple her.

This is her brother, the man she loves so much. What will she say?

At the far side of the room, Eloise and Callie turned to face him at his call. Callie was the first one to notice just who was injured. A great cry fell from her lips when she saw her husband bleeding so badly. It was animalistic, testament to the pain in her heart.

“Callie.” Eloise reached for her sister-in-law, trying to calm her. She said something that Murdoch couldn’t hear as he laid Avery down on the edge of one of the feasting tables.

Wilson leapt forward as did Callie, the two of them working quickly on Avery’s wound. Eloise was there too, bent over her brother and brushing the dampened hair back from his forehead as she asked him questions about where he was hurting.

Murdoch stepped back, a coldness washing over his body. He and Ian stood beside one another, both breathing heavily as they watched on in fear.

“He cannae die,” Ian muttered after a few seconds, shaking his head. “This cannae happen.”

“It willnae happen,” Murdoch agreed, watching as Eloise and Callie worked. Eloise did everything she was told by Callie and Wallace, and Murdoch watched with his heart aching as he saw the way Eloise blinked away her tears repeatedly.

She is staying strong. Aye, she has the strongest heart I ken.

He admired her greatly, watching her put her grief to the side to concentrate on her brother.

Seconds turned to minutes, and Murdoch was no longer sure how long he stood there, watching on as he was fed reports on the battle and his father reappeared. They talked with Clyde, and the three of them discussed preparations to keep the castle and the clan safe now that the Douglas soldiers had retreated.

“They will return,” Fergus said, his manner somber as they concluded their discussion. “Mark my words, they will return. Rest yerselves, my boys, I beg of ye. I am sorry tae say that this is nae our last night of battle.” He clapped them both on the shoulders, and turned away, with Clyde following behind him.

Murdoch sought out Eloise, unable to even think of resting without her.

They’d finished their attentions to Avery. Wilson and Eloise stepped back as Callie knelt beside her husband on the table. He was unconscious, his wound was now heavily bandaged. She showed no signs of moving from his side.

Eloise walked forward, her tears falling at last.

Murdoch went straight to her and embraced her tightly, apologizing for the state of the blood on his arms from his grazes.

“Are ye all right?” he whispered. “Foolish question, I ken.”

“I dinnae ken what tae feel. Only fear.” She lifted her head off his chest and looked at his arms. “These need attention.”

“Nae here. Let us find somewhere else.” He looked at her, knowing what she needed. She needed distraction in this moment, a way to contend with the grief and fear. “Come with me.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

Eloise followed Murdoch into the library, with one of her hands in his and a small basket in her other hand. She’d gathered together the few bits she needed to attend to Murdoch’s wounds, using a salve that Callie had shown her and some linen strips.

“Why here?” she whispered as Murdoch released her hand and closed the door behind them. He sought out a tinder box and lit a candle, then he went to the fire and lit that too. Eloise followed him toward the hearth, dropping to her knees before the fire in an effort to get warm.