Page 38 of Laird Of Her Heart

“You will. I’ll take you to them tomorrow.”

His muscles locked. Irritation at her nonchalance prickled his nape. He glared at her. “Tomorrow?”

She nodded. “Tomorrow.”

He whirled and paced, raking his hair with shaking fingers. “And what is the point of all this?”

Her answer was soft, tremulous, but he heard it. “To keep you safe, of course.”

He whirled around. “Goddamn it Maggie! I am perfectly safe. My men have been warned. They’ve been trained. They are prepared to meet any foe.”

“If you go there, you die.”

“I should turn you over my knee.” Oh, he wanted to. So badly. But he’d never struck a woman and he feared his anger would overcome his restraint. In so many ways. He could not allow himself near enough to touch her or disaster might prevail.

That she shot him a minxish grin didn’t help.

Damn her. She was too alluring by far.

He pushed out of the tent and bellowed at Ewan, though he was near enough that bellowing was not necessary. “Tie her up,” he said. “And make damn sure she doesna get away, or I’ll have your guts for garters.”

And then he stormed off, in the wake of his men, who were heading to the south to find their damn horses.

On foot.

* * *

It was dusk by the time they found the beasts. It took all day because apparently, Maggie was even more duplicitous than he’d imagined. She hadn’t taken them to the south. She’d taken them to the north.

After a long, tiring, frustrating morning, marching through the summer heat, they’d returned to the camp and done what they should have done earlier. Examined the tracks more carefully.

Yes. They did lead off to the south, but then they veered off into a burn and didn’t appear again. When they followed the little stream to the north, they eventually found another trail curving toward the west, and into the woods. And there by a small pond, surrounded with a lea of fresh grass, they found their horses, safe and hale.

At least she’d had the heart to make sure they had water and food.

But that was small consolation.

As they mounted up and led the string of horses back to camp, Dominic realized she’d gotten what she wanted. He would not make it to Urquhart in time for the meeting. Damn it all.

They would leave at first light, and ride hard, though. Perhaps they would not be too late to salvage something.

If indeed it was a true meeting of the minds…and not an ambush.

He thrust that thought aside and focused on his annoyance at her ploy.

He was glad he’d decided not to take her with him. He was glad he was sending her back to Dar, to languish in the dungeon until he returned. He hoped it taught her a lesson. He hoped it taught her that no one betrayed Dominic Dundragon without paying the price.

Although what he would do with her when he returned…?

Hell.

He had no idea.

* * *

She heard the horses coming and blew out a breath.

She knew Dominic was angry, but she could also tell, from the falling shadows, that evening was upon them. It was too late for them to leave. They would not be in Urquhart in the morning.