Highland Hellion (Highland Weddings #3)(18)

“As ye said, lass, ye did keep me men from having to fight.”

“And you have freed me from the Gordons,” she was quick to point out. “We are even.”

“No’ while I know ye are returning to a place where ye will be free to venture into danger whenever ye take the whim to,” he declared. “Ye can get on yer horse or I’ll put ye on mine, but ye are coming to McTavish land.”

“I most certainly am not.”

In her agitation, her speech reverted back to pure English pronunciation. But her actions… Well, those she’d learned during her time in the Highlands. Katherine stepped back, widening her stance, and prepared to defend herself.

She was not going anywhere with the beast.

*

Tyree came awake as a bucket of water hit him in the face. He jerked and snarled, flipping over and knocking his knees against the stone floor of the passageway before he gained his feet.

“So,” Diocail Gordon greeted him, “ye thought so little of the lass’s powers that ye decided to have a go at her?”

Tyree looked around, trying to decide if he’d finished what he’d set out to do by coming down to the cells. The door was open, and Diocail was not alone. Some of his men had torches that allowed Tyree to see into the cell.

“Oh, aye,” Diocail said. “She’s gone, and I doubt Colum is going to be too happy about it. Or pleased with the men who lifted the bar.”

“Someone laid me low,” Tyree responded. “I never had the bitch.”

“Ye deny that ye left the hall after declaring ye were intent on making sure she did nae die a virgin?” Diocail questioned.

Tyree hesitated. His wits were clearing, but he recalled his brazen words well—along with the fact that someone had knocked him in the back of the head. But Diocail was smart. The man had plenty of witnesses.

Tyree decided on a new tactic. “Told ye she was a witch.”

“I am no’ the fool who thought to let me cock get near her.”

Tyree snarled at the word fool, but the men surrounding them only shook their heads at him. Diocail had planned the moment well, so Tyree would have to suffer through it.

But he would gain his recompense. On that Tyree was very sure.

Diocail had better sleep lightly.

*

“What the devil?” Cedric declared.

Rolfe pressed Katherine into his man’s arms before he swung up and into the saddle.

“Let’s ride, lads.” He gestured to Cedric. “Hand her up, and mind her feet. She has a wicked kick.”

“Is that what happened to ye?” Adwin asked as he held the horse steady by the bridle and Cedric lifted Katherine up while she fought. Her arms were bound tight to her torso by one of Rolfe’s wide belts.

“Never mind what happened to me.” Rolfe scooped Katherine’s writhing form out of his retainer’s arms and clamped her in front of him on the horse. “Just know we’ve got us a prize to show for our time away. An Englishwoman to ransom.”

Katherine snarled around the strip of wool that he’d used to gag her, and his horse danced in a circle as she struggled. Rolfe clamped his arms around her tightly as his men mounted their horses. He set his heels into the sides of his horse, and the animal happily took off toward home.

Katherine was the only one who argued against it, grumbling against her gag. Rolfe ignored her, keeping his arms locked around her as he headed away from MacPherson land.

“Hate me as ye like, lass,” he offered next to her ear. “But I’ll not close me eyes and wonder if ye are suffering some horrible fate because Marcus MacPherson allows ye to behave like a hellion.”

*

“Gone?” Colum’s eyes bulged. “Curse and rot yer prick! I should have it cut off ye!”

Tyree faced his laird, his hatred festering as he was forced to remain silent while the rest of the clan looked on, feasting on his humiliation.

“She’d transformed into a white stag,” he declared. “Ran me into the wall.”

There was a ripple of fear from those watching. Colum clamped his mouth shut, taking a moment to think.

“A witch for certain.” Tyree spoke directly to his laird. “Now ye know the truth of why the MacPhersons are undefeated in battle. They have a witch.”

“I’m a man, no’ a lad,” Diocail spoke up. “And I’ll no’ be frightened by tales best left to old women around a winter hearth. Ye were in yer cups and went down to rape her. More than one saw ye stagger out of the hall. She managed to cut ye when ye were sober. It’s little wonder she left ye drooling on the floor when ye tried her while drunk.”

“She transformed!” Tyree declared louder. “Unless ye are calling me a liar, Diocail Gordon.”

“I call ye a fool,” he replied calmly. “And if ye want to fight over it, I am yer man.”

“Enough,” Colum said. “Ye’ve both failed me.”

The hall went silent, people leaning forward to see what the laird would say. Colum pointed at Tyree. “Ye were in yer cups. Too many say so for it not to be true. Ye’ll get fifty lashes on that stake, and ye…” Colum pointed at Diocail. “Ye’ll get the same for no’ making sure the gate was secure, for the walls were yer duty last night.”

There was a shift in the hall as those who had pressed forward subtly moved back in an effort to withdraw from their laird’s direct sight. Colum sniffed as he noticed it.