Highlander's Captive (Highlander Trilogy)

by Donna Fletcher

  “Do not think me foolish enough to believe you fell in love with me at first sight.”

  “I fell in love with what I knew you could bring me, more land than I ever dreamed possible of owning and a title. One look at you and I knew who your father had to be. I had seen him several times, though he did not know me, but the distinct color of his eyes is quite memorable and not seen often. I did some investigating and put all the pieces together.”

  “And you set your plan in motion. You made me believe that you loved me and wanted to spend your life with me. And like the naïve fool I was, I believed you. It was you who arranged for it to look as if my brother sent men to escort me home, wasn’t it. Then you attacked those men, as if rescuing me, and let me know that they were not my brother’s men. Tell me, did you do away with all those men so they would not tell anyone what you did?”

  “I got rid of them so I would not have to pay them,” Owen said.

  “As you will get rid of these men who help you now?” Wintra cringed when he pinched her arm hard.

  “Keep your voice down,” he warned and gave the pinch a twist. “We could have been wed by now and with your father’s blessing if it had not been for Torr.”

  “I thank God every day for Torr and that the King decreed us wed.”

  “The King is a fool and since Torr ruined everything he will pay. I will enjoy you until your husband, your brother, and your father pay the hefty ransom I seek. Then I will leave Scotland never to return.”

  “I never loved you. You were simply a way for me to escape the abbey and find my way home. I would have never wed you.”

  “You would have had no choice,” Owen insisted.

  “At one time I may have believed that, but no more.”

  “You make no sense,” Owen spat, “and I have the perfect way to fill your mouth with other than words.”

  Wintra recalled the scene in the cottage when he had almost forced her to take him in her mouth. She needed to escape and she had a good idea as to how to do it.

  ~~~

  “Have you seen Wintra?” Torr asked Cree as he approached the large fireplace in the Great Hall where Cree stood looking as if he contemplated the day ahead.

  “She went with Dawn to visit Old Mary,” —Cree scowled— “though that was some time ago. They should have returned by now.” Cree shouted to the warrior by the door to go see if Dawn and Wintra were still at Old Mary’s.

  “We cannot say we know each other well,” Torr said, “but I want you to know that I am pleased that you are marrying my sister. You make Dawn happy and I am glad for that.”

  Cree smiled. “She makes me happy as well.” He scowled again. “You better make my sister happy.”

  “I make her happy all the time,” Torr said with a chuckle.

  “Good, then I shall be an uncle very soon.”

  Torr laughed. “And probably many times over.”

  Cree grinned. “As will you.”

  “Then I say we are two lucky men,” Torr said and held his hand out to him. “And I welcome you to our family.”

  Cree took it. “And I welcome you to mine.”

  The warrior returned, hurrying into the hall and speaking as he approached Cree. “Both women left some time ago and no one has seen them since.”

  Cree and Torr exchanged worried looks just before Cree ordered, “Gather some men and search the village.” Cree turned to Torr. “Come with me, we will see if Old Mary knows what goes on.”

  Elsa stopped them before they could reach their destination. “I was just coming to see you. Glenda came to see me and told me that she had seen Dawn and Wintra a while back hurrying behind one of the cottages, though she said that Dawn had looked as if she thought twice before following Wintra. She thought it strange, which is why she mentioned it to me.”

  “Did she say which cottage it was,” Cree asked.

  Elsa pointed to their right. “Glenda also mentioned that she was in the woods this morning, which is where she got the splinter she could not get out of her arm and thought she heard horses and voices. She told me that she was cautious, knowing how dangerous strangers can be. But she saw nothing, only heard what she believed were horses and voices, and then they faded.”

  Cree turned to Torr. “Owen?”

  “The last report from my warriors was that he was well on his way home.”

  “But they did not continue on his trail?” Cree asked.

  “They continued to follow, but Owen is a sly one. I would not be surprised if he made it only appear that it was he who led his troop.”

  “What is wrong?” Kellmara asked as he joined them.

  Cree explained and Kellmara grew angry. “You think it is Owen?”

  “If it proves the women are missing, then it would be the most likely explanation,” Cree said, trying to maintain his own anger.

  “I am going to kill the bastard,” Kellmara said.

  “No! That is for me to do,” Torr warned as they hurried around the cottage.

  Cree, Torr, and Kellmara stood staring at the ground where it was obvious an altercation had taken place. Henry the tracker was immediately summoned.

  After looking over the area, he said, “The shorter one put up a struggle; the other one did not.”

  “Wintra must have put up a good fight,” Torr said imagining his petite wife struggling desperately to free herself.

  “She did,” the tracker said with a nod as he remained on bended knee, observing the area.

  “I am going to make the bastard suffer when I get my hands on him,” Torr said before Cree could claim the privilege.

  Chapter Thirty-three

  They stopped what seemed like hours later, though Wintra prayed that it was not as long as it had felt. She and Dawn would then have a better chance of making it home perhaps by morning the latest once they escaped. She felt so foolish for not having thought better of simply running off to investigate a noise. But she had thought she had nothing to fear and the cry sounded so like a child in pain that she had not been able to ignore it. The worst part was that she had involved Dawn. Cree was going to be furious and she could not blame him. She had to make this right. She had to protect Dawn and get her home safely, though she hoped that their absence had been discovered by now and that Torr and Cree were on their way to rescue them.

  She sent a silent prayer to the heavens. Please, God, let it be so.

  Once they had dismounted Wintra went straight to Dawn, worried that the hard ride may have been too much for her and the babe. “Are you well?” she asked Dawn anxiously.

  Dawn rubbed her back, though nodded.

  Wintra lowered her voice. “We cannot let them take us any further. We must escape now before it is too late.”

  Dawn nodded and patted her chest.

  “You feel the same. Good, I have a plan, but we must be quick about it.” Wintra quickly whispered softly as she fussed with Dawn’s cloak, making it appear as if she saw to her care.

  Dawn squeezed Wintra’s hand when she finished, letting her know that she agreed and was ready to do what was necessary.

  “You will come with me, Wintra,” Owen ordered.

  The two women clung more tightly to each other’s hand when they saw that the small troop had been divided in two. They were about to separate them and they both knew they could not let that happen.

  “We need a moment of privacy in the woods,” Wintra said, knowing they would never be sent alone, but hoping no more than two warriors would be sent with them.

  “Later,” Owen said impatiently.

  Wintra bounced in place. “We cannot wait.”

  A sly smile came over Owen. “Fine, I’ll escort the both of you.” He turned to his warriors. “Do not disturb us.”

  Dawn saw the warrior who had captured her look with disgust on Owen. He had been kind to her while on the horse with him, asking if she fared well and telling her not to worry that no harm would come to her. He had insisted that she and Wintra would be released once the ran
som was paid. The warrior obviously believed what Owen had told him. She, however, did not trust Owen.

  The last she saw of the warrior was him slowly backing away from the small troop as the other warriors grinned, watching Owen disappear into the woods with her and Wintra. He was probably taking his leave, not wanting any part of what was to come, or could he possibly be brave enough to be going for help? She could only hope.

  They walked a distance into the woods before Owen ordered them to stop.

  He pointed to Dawn. “Go do what you must while Wintra pleases me. Then you can take your turn pleasing me.” He grabbed Wintra’s shoulder so hard that she winced and pushed her to her knees. He pulled out a dagger from the sheath at his waist. “And no tricks or I will leave you with a worse scar than your husband’s.”

  Wintra had to stop herself from grabbing for his nose and ripping it off. She could not make any move that would bring the other warrior’s to Owen’s rescue. She and Dawn had no choice but to make a silent escape. It would give them time to put some distance between their captors. She purposely fumbled with the ties at his waist, trying to give Dawn time. She had not counted on it being Owen who would bring them into the woods, but at least he was only one man.

  “Finished already?” Owen asked as Dawn approached. “Damn, what is wrong now?”

  Wintra turned her head to see Dawn doubled over and vomiting. Good Lord, she was sick. She would have to see to this herself and get Dawn help.

  Owen pushed Wintra out of his way. “Pregnant women are nothing but trouble.” He walked over to her annoyed. “Get up and go back to the warriors. I will not have your disgusting mouth on me.”

  Wintra sprang into action and grabbed for the rock she had spied when she had gone down on her knees. She got to her feet and ran at Owen.

  He heard her approach and turned too late. He never saw the blow coming. Dawn hit him in the head with a rock from behind and as he staggered forward, Wintra lashed out at him with the rock, catching him in the forehead before he reeled back and fell to the ground.

  Wintra quickly dropped the rock and held her hand out to Dawn. “You are not ill?”

  Dawn shook her head and patted her stomach, then pointed to what snow still remained on the ground.

  “You used the snow to pretend you were sick,” Wintra said with relief.

  Dawn nodded and took Wintra’s hand. Wintra grabbed the dagger from the ground where it had fallen and they both hurried off, knowing there was no time to waste.

  They kept a brisk pace, Wintra silently berating herself for not killing Owen when she had the chance, then he would never be able to hurt another woman again. She hoped that they had done enough damage to him that he would be unable to chase after them when he came to, or better yet, it would be hours before he regained consciousness.

  Wintra worried that Dawn would grow tired at the fast pace they were keeping, but then she was as determined as Wintra to return home. Wintra kept a watch on her anyway, ready to do whatever was necessary to make sure Dawn got home safely to Cree. And to make certain she got back to Torr.

  ~~~

  “The troop divided,” Cree’s tracker said after examining the ground.

  Cree looked to Torr. “We will have to separate.”

  “You think they separated the women?” Torr asked, his worry for his wife mounting by the minute.

  “If you can wait a moment, I may be able to determine from the tracks if the women were separated,” the tracker Henry said.

  “A moment is all you get,” Cree ordered, knowing the more time lost in following Owen, the longer it would take to find his wife and sister. And find his wife and sister he would. They had traveled hard. The tracker had confirmed that the tracks were fresh, which meant that they were not that far behind them.

  Cree felt the ground rumble and heard the faint pounding of hooves before the tracker glanced up at him with wide eyes.

  Torr looked to Cree. “I hear it?”

  “A rider approaches,” Cree said.

  “Only one?” Torr asked.

  “A single rider,” the tracker confirmed. “Could be a scout that has been sent ahead.”

  Cree signaled his warriors, and they circled with weapons ready.

  The lone rider slowed his fast gait when he caught sight of the mighty warriors prepared for battle, and he knew at that moment that he had made a wise decision. He approached the group at a quick pace and called out to Cree as he got close enough, “I have word of the women.”

  Cree ordered him forward with the snap of his hand and the circle of men parted to allow the man entrance.

  “Speak and be quick about it,” Cree ordered.

  “First, please know that I wanted no part of this. Many of us didn’t, but we had little choice.”

  “You are from the McBride clan,” Cree said.

  “Aye, my lord, I am Neville of the Clan McBride,” he confirmed, “and there is no time to waste. I do not believe that once Owen gets what he wants that he will spare the women or the warriors’ lives. He will take for himself and be gone. I will take you to where I last left the troop.”

  “Are the two women well?” Torr asked.

  “We rode hard and the pregnant one seems tired. As for the petite one, Owen underestimates her, and I hope the two make an escape before he...” Neville let the words drift away. He could not speak aloud what Owen would do to the women.

  “What?” Cree and Torr shouted in unison.

  “Owen was taking the two women into the woods when I left and ordered that he not be disturbed. I am a farmer with little fighting skills, and there are a few of Owen’s men that are just as ruthless and uncaring as he is, so I knew the only thing I could do to help the women was to leave and get help.”

  “We ride,” Cree shouted and his warriors fell into formation and followed their leader.

  Torr worried what Wintra must be going through and that he wasn’t there to save her, but then she would know that he would come for her. And he knew that she would fight heaven and hell to get back to him. They would be reunited. He would have it no other way.

  Cree kept pace behind Neville, though it could be a trap he was leading them into, he doubted it was. It did not actually matter since nothing would stop him from getting to his wife. He did not want to think of what Dawn might be suffering right now. If he did, the whole woods would tremble from the rage he would roar if he let loose his anger.

  He wished his wife had gone for help instead of following after Wintra, but she would have never done that. And he could not fault her action. She was, after all, looking out for his sister. What concerned him more was that neither his wife nor his sister would simply submit to Owen without a fight. Knowing his wife and sister’s tenacity, there was a chance they could very well escape. He prayed if they attempted such a feat that they would be successful, for if they were not the consequences could be deadly.

  Cree also silently berated himself for not letting Dawn get more sleep last night, then she would not be so tired today. But he had come upon her just after she had finished a bath in preparation of their wedding today. Her body had been so shiny and soft, and her scent so enticing that he had not been able to keep his hands off her. They had spent time making love and when he woke in the middle of the night hard from a dream, he had made love to her again. Then she woke early this morning to prepare for the special day, so it was no wonder she was tired. And it was his fault—damn him to hell.

  ~~~

  Owen held his head when he was finally able to sit up and shouted out to his men, then cringed from the pain reverberating through his skull. He would kill the two women for this and be done with them, though not before he got what he deserved. It had taken endless months to court Wintra and to convince her father that they were in love. He had been so close to succeeding in becoming the new Earl of Kellmara, having plans to do away with Kellmara soon after he wed Wintra, and now that was no more. His dreams had vanished in an instant when Cree had announced that
Torr was Wintra’s husband, though he had held out hope that had been dashed much too soon.

  He would, however, have his revenge. They would all pay for what they had done to him, even the mighty Cree.

  Owen wiped the blood from his head, though there wasn’t much. It was the two bumps on his head that caused the most discomfort, especially when he mounted his horse and began to ride. The throb in his head escalated, and he silently swore that the two women would suffer much more pain than he by the time he got done with them. He would make them suffer until they begged to die.

  ~~~

  Wintra saw that Dawn’s steps had turned sluggish, as if it was a burden for her to lift her feet. She needed to rest and though it was unwise for them to stop, Wintra felt they had no choice. She did not want to take the chance of Dawn losing the babe. Cree would never forgive her and she would never forgive herself.

  “We will stop and rest,” Wintra said.

  Dawn looked ready to disagree, then her shoulders slumped and she nodded, as if she too realized that she could not go on. She silently cursed herself for not having gotten more sleep last night, but then she did not regret her time with Cree. She never did. Making love with him always left her feeling safe and cherished, and it made her all the more determined to return home to him.

  Wintra searched the area for a secluded spot to rest. With it being winter, the trees were mostly bare, except for the pines, leaving the forest naked with few places to hide. The only spot that would afford them any cover was an old pine with a thick trunk and low branches.

  “Over there behind the pine tree will be a good place to rest,” Wintra said and once there she helped Dawn to sit. As soon as her head rested back against the tree trunk, she fell asleep.

  Wintra stood beside the tree to keep watch. She would give Dawn a little time, and then wake her and they would go. She kept the dagger clutched tight in her hand as she kept her eyes and ears alert. However, her thoughts wandered to Torr and the joy they had shared these last few weeks. She had been so very happy, and the more intimate she and Torr had become, the more deeply she had fallen in love with him. He was a kind and generous lover and an attentive husband. He was not one to anger fast, at least not with her. He was patient with her, and she loved that about him. She actually loved everything about him and, at the moment, she missed him terribly. She feared she would never see him again, and she could not let that horrible thought take hold, or all would be lost.