"We need to have a talk, ye and I,” came the gravelly tones.
"What could we possibly have to discuss,” growled Jamie, wincing as his fingers found the knot on the side of his head.
"Quite a lot, I imagine,” was the cynical reply. “I happen to know ye are in love with Eileen Brincairn."
"Who told ye that?” Jamie was instantly alert, brushing aside the pain in his head.
"I have my ways of finding out things. Besides, if ye are looking for it, the signs are all there.” He watched the younger man carefully, gauging his reactions to every word. “I think we could make a satisfactory business arrangement ... that is, if ye are willing."
"I'm listening,” Jamie replied cautiously. He didn't trust Canton McAlester. There were too many unanswered questions in his background. Besides, there had been all kinds of talk and rumors—rumors that did not rebound to Canton's credit.
Canton measured his words carefully, sparsely. “I want the McAlester clan back, and ye want Eileen. I have influence in the courts."
Jamie got his point. “Go on."
"I want ye to get rid of Gallagher if ye can, but if not, when he and Morgan come to rescue Eileen and Kat, we'll get rid of them both. I'll take Kat, and you can have Eileen ... for a price."
"Kat? Eileen? What price?” Jamie was confused. And when did Kat enter the picture?
Canton nodded, and one of his men came forward, holding Kat by one arm, a gag in her mouth. Her bright green eyes stared daggers at Canton and Jamie, and Jamie tried to hide his distaste of her capture. “Why have ye taken Morgan's wife?"
Canton got up and wandered lazily over to Kat and ran his fingers lightly across the swell of breasts that gleamed above the bodice of her emerald dress. “I find I have an interest in this little spitfire,” he murmured. Kat stared boldly at him, refusing to be intimidated. He pulled the gag from her mouth with a laugh, and his dark eyes gleamed in the firelight.
"Morg will kill you for this, monsieur,” snarled Kat, her lovely French accent stealing across Jamie's ears.
"Ye haven't touched her, have ye?” Jamie questioned sharply.
"Nay, not yet. Business first, pleasure later. Eh, my dear?” He grinned wickedly at Kat, and she spit at him.
"I'd kill myself before I'd let you touch me, monsieur,” she replied haughtily.
"That can be arranged, if ye don't please me.” Canton scowled darkly at her for a moment, then turned back to Jamie.
"What makes you think I'd help you?” Jamie asked bravely.
"Simple,” replied Canton amused. “Eileen is being captured as we speak. I have friends far and wide. If ye wish to see her stay alive, ye will help me get rid of Gallagher ... and then when ye and Eileen are married, ye will transfer the amount we agree on over to me. As Lord of Brincairn, of course,” he chuckled wickedly.
"Why don't your men just kill Gallagher, if they are taking Eileen?” Jamie asked carefully. He wasn't sure if Canton was lying or not.
"Don't bother trying to hide the fact that Eileen and Gallagher are alone, I've known it since Eileen took off. I've no doubt Gallagher is a hard man to kill ... that's where you come in. There are other ways, besides physical combat, if a man can get close enough."
Jamie sprang to his feet. “Where are ye taking Eileen?"
"I have a stronghold in the hills. I've no doubt it will be found soon enough. Don't underestimate me, Jamie.” Canton's eyes narrowed. “The majority of the McAlester clan is loyal to me, and those that are undecided can be swayed. They still believe in the old ways, of succession by right.” He held up his hand. “I still have my father's ring. So while Morgan may have the castle, thanks to our little sister, the clan is still unsure of him and his filthy pirates. They are already being gathered for battle, and I intend to challenge Morgan. He had his turn—I'll have mine. And I'll win again, then the clan will back me, and he will have no choice but to turn tail and run."
"Morgan McAlester will never run,” scoffed Jamie. “Especially, not while ye hold his wife."
"Ah, but that's the beauty of my plan. T'would be a shame if he were killed in battle before the challenge was ever answered, wouldn't it?” His cold eyes warmed with the fire of madness.
Jamie did indeed see. With Canton lying to the clan, he was inciting unrest and indecision amongst them. They would be unprepared to back Canton without question as yet, but if Morgan were killed in battle trying to rescue Kat, then Canton would be victorious. No doubt Canton's loyal followers would be prepared to make sure that happened, instead of letting it get as far as the challenge.
"But Morgan has five hundred pirates to fight for him, not to mention the clan members loyal to him, what makes ye think ye could defend this stronghold against them?” Jamie was thinking furiously, trying to garner as much information as he could.
"Enough of this,” hissed Canton. “Ye are stalling. Are ye with me, or do I send your head back to Dungally on a platter?"
"Of course, I am with ye ... I want Eileen. I don't care about the gold, Brincairn has plenty to spare.” Jamie spoke vehemently, because these words were true. His voice dropped, “but if anything happens to her, I will have ye drawn and quartered, make no mistake about that.” His eyes strayed to Kat—mayhap he could instill a bit of fear into Canton to protect her. “And if ye want that wench, ye had best make sure Morgan is dead before ye touch her, else nothing will spare ye if he finds out."
Canton chuckled evilly, but Jamie saw the flash of fear that shone in his cruel eyes. “Ye just let me worry about Morgan; I'll see to him. Ye take care of Gallagher."
He nodded to his men, and they strode forward and took Jamie by the arms. “See that he gets back to his clan,” he instructed them.
Once they were gone, he stood in front of Kat again, his greedy eyes full of lust as his hot gaze wandered over her body. He reached out a finger and ran it over her lush full lips. “Ye are a beauty, one that I shall enjoy taming,” he murmured.
Kat reacted by snapping her small white teeth on his finger and smiled triumphantly when he cursed and drew back.
Canton raised his hand to slap her, but then stopped. “Nay, I will not mark your lovely face ... your backside, however, will be another story. When ye are mine, ye will taste the heavy leather of my strap often—among other things.” He smiled wickedly. “Ye will learn to fear and obey me, my sweet."
He began to unbuckle the heavy leather belt that surrounded his waist. “I think its time ye had a taste of what's in store for ye—ye must learn never to bite me.” He enjoyed the fear in her eyes although she tried to hide it.
Kat stiffened as she watched him take off the thick, tooled belt and double it over in his hands. She spat at his feet. “Morg will kill you for this, monsieur.” Her words were brave, but her knees were already trembling.
The two men holding her, turned her around at Canton's nod, and forced her to bend over with a hand on each shoulder, while they still held her arms. She gasped when she felt her emerald dress being lifted and she tried to stand up, but they held her in place. Kat vowed she would not give him the satisfaction of begging, and she staunchly braced herself for the first blow. Her face burned at the thought of him seeing her lacy pantaloons, but she was thankful he hadn't bared her in front of all these men.
Canton took his time, enjoying the submissive posture Kat presented, even though it was forced. He had no intention of baring her, not in front of these louts. Those charms would be his and his alone to pursue at his leisure. However, the cotton knickers with the green ribbons and lace outlined her shapely derrière in a snug fit from her bent position. He couldn't help reaching out to caress the warm, lovely mounds. When she trembled, he laughed. “Ye like that, sweetling?"
Kat snarled, “Keep your filthy hands off me! I detest your touch!” A few seconds later, a hot burning stripe landed across her right cheek, and she gritted her teeth to prevent the cry that tried to escape her lips. The after burn was just finishing when a second one landed on the left cheek,
and she hissed from the shear hot pain of it.
"Ye will beg for my touch one day,” Canton assured her as he swung the belt across both of her buttocks at the same time, enjoying her groan of pain. Eight more measured blows with his belt, and Kat's knees gave way as she tried to escape the burning stripes. She could no longer hold her position, and she hung from the hands that were holding her, her head sunk to her chest in a gesture of defeat.
Canton had used a full-armed swing on her, hard and heavy—something Morg had never done, and Kat thought she would pass out from the excruciating pain. She was barely aware that she had screamed on that last one and Canton was now satisfied, having made her cry out. He watched as his men lowered her, stomach down, onto a bedroll that had been made out for her and tied her hands together above her head. She would learn, he thought, enjoying her discomfort.
* * * *
Troubled and restless, Eileen was making her way back to the barn from the privy when a rustling in the bushes brought her to a trembling halt. Her eyes searched the darkness, trying to be prepared for an animal to attack her. She began to slowly back up, keeping the rustling bushes in sight. She was unprepared for the heavy hand that came over her mouth from behind and the steel band that snaked around her waist. Another pair of arms appeared and yanked her off her feet, and the two of them carried her towards the rustling brush.
It all happened so fast that Eileen had no time to scream or react before a gag was stuffed into her mouth and tied with another piece of cloth. A blanket was thrown over her, and she was tossed face down over a horse in front of another man on horseback. She could feel her hands and feet being trussed and the cold taste of fear permeated her senses.
She was being kidnapped!
Silently, she begged for Gallagher to wake up. She was sure Canton must be behind this, but what could she do for him now? Morg held the castle. Did he plan to kill her? If so, an arrow from the darkness would have achieved that. No, she thought quickly, he must want her to gain revenge on Morg; there was no other explanation. She had been a fool to go out in the dark alone! She should have listened to Gallagher when he warned her to let him know her needs, but she hadn't.
Another thought struck her—had they killed Gallagher? A stab of fear sliced through her, but then she realized they wouldn't have been so careful to keep her quiet if they had. Relief flooded her, and she realized how much she was coming to care for him—not a good thing in her opinion and it worried her.
The morning highland sun was just casting its first searching fingers across the horizon, seeking out the dark crevices of hidden shadows, when they finally stopped.
Eileen opened her weary eyes and looked around. They had put her upright once they were out of hearing distance, but they kept her tied up and trussed to the saddle, the gag still in place. She was not surprised to see one of the McAlester clansmen holding the leading rope on her horse and she eyed him derisively.
She was grateful when he nudged his horse up beside hers and took the gag off, then shoved a piece of bread in her hands. “Eat,” he commanded, untying the rope that held her tied hands to the saddle horn.
Eileen had learned a long time ago to make the best of a bad situation and she lifted the bread to her mouth. As her teeth bit into the crusty food, she kept her emotions in rigid check, preferring to use her energy for more productive things—things that could lead to her getting away at a later time.
It wasn't long before they heard the sound of horses coming their way. Eileen couldn't suppress a gasp when several riders came into view and one of them was her new sister-in-law, Kat! Canton was leading them, confirming her suspicions that he was behind her capture, but what was Kat doing here?
Canton was leading Kat's horse, and he stopped in front of Eileen, his cruel smile not reaching his cold eyes. “Tis good to see ye again, Eileen."
"Save your platitudes, what is it ye want?” Eileen spoke coldly, her aversion and loathing for her half brother very apparent. “And why do ye have Kat?"
"Because he has a death wish,” snarled Kat. Her hands were tied, like Eileen's, and she was leaning forward in the saddle. It was obvious she was in discomfort, but she pressed her lips tightly together in an effort to endure the agony that riding was giving her.
"Kat belongs to me, now,” chuckled Canton humorlessly. He reached over and ran his finger down the smooth cream of Kat's cheek. “Isn't that right, sweetling?"
"I shall never belong to you, monsieur,” replied Kat grimly. “Did I ever tell you about the time Jacques put his sword into the stomach of the Spaniard that was foolish enough to kidnap my sister? Pedro was still standing on his feet and screaming as his entrails writhed around his feet like snakes trying to climb his ankles. He finally died, but it took a few minutes.” She smiled wickedly, her green eyes glimmering like bright emeralds at the man who was tormenting her. “Pirates don't just get even, they make you—suffer!"
Canton drew back his hand to strike Kat, but then lowered it as she braced herself for the blow. He leaned towards her and spoke gently. “Since ye appear to have enjoyed that particular event, I shall do my best to duplicate it on my half brother. Mayhap ye will enjoy it just as much the second time around."
Kat's face went pale, but she refused to turn away from his stare. It was Canton who finally broke the standoff, and he looked back to Eileen. “As for ye, my dear sister, I have arranged for a new marriage."
It was Eileen's turn to go pale. Her eyes burned into Canton's, and helpless fury rose in her stomach like bile. “I will never do your bidding again; ye cannot force me. Besides, I'm already betrothed, by order of the King himself.” Her chin lifted as she shamelessly sought refuge behind Gallagher's protection.
"Not for long. It seems your betrothed has met with a sudden unexplained death and is being examined by the village doctor as we speak yet they can find nothing to indicate what has killed him. Such a shame, he was only a young man."
"Ye are lying!"
"Don't believe me, if it gives ye hope. After all, I wouldn't want to be the bearer of bad tidings.” His evil grin spoke for itself. “But ye are already betrothed again ... by order of the King, I might add."
"No, it's not possible,” whispered Eileen dazedly. “Who ... who could ye possible marry me to this time?"
"Ye will find out soon ... very soon,” promised Canton. He reached out and lifted her chin. “Don't take it so hard, little sister. Ye'll be pleased to know ye have brought even more gold this time than the last.” He threw his head back and laughed. “Isn't it nice to know ye have increased in value?"
Eileen trembled in impotent fury. “I despise ye, Canton McAlester, and I'll make ye pay for this, if it's the last thing I do.” She yelled after his departing back. “Do ye hear me? I'll make ye pay!” Her voice rose in frenzy and then her shoulders collapsed, and she hunkered over her horse's neck.
Kat was being led away behind Canton, but she looked back at Eileen. “Don't worry, Eileen, this isn't over yet,” she said gently. She was genuinely worried at the dazed look on Eileen's face. The girl looked like she was going into shock. “Morg will come, ye will see. He will come for us."
Eileen's eyes were dry. Her grief went too deep for tears. “He didn't come last time, Kat,” she whispered painfully. “He didn't come last time.” But Kat didn't hear her.
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Chapter Eight
Mute tears trickled down Eileen's pale face, and her head bowed as the horse plodded along, led by Canton's blackguard. The thought of Gallagher being dead filled her with despair, and hopelessness pervaded her being. Whatever passed for a God must have no use for me, she thought dully. She hadn't realized just how much her foolish heart had rooted hope in Gallagher's promises until they were removed.
When Soren's laughing face danced across her mind, she tried to shake off her despondency. She had to keep alive her resolve to defeat Canton; she had to go on—for the sake of her child! Once again she squared the slender shoulder
s that had borne more than their fair share of fickle fate. She would prevail—somehow!
Saracen landed a heavy backhanded blow to the face of his nephew, William. “Where is the Lady Kat? And I want the truth this time!” He leaned in close, his huge fist clutching the front of William's jersey, shaking him like a dog.
"I told ye, I don't know,” snarled William. He held his arm up as his Uncle drew his hand back for another blow. When Morg thundered up on his black stallion, he watched sullenly as the big man leapt from the black horse before it was even stopped. Morg strode over to the group of men that surrounded Saracen and William, his green eyes snapping with dread and anger.
The men Saracen had sent to fetch Morg galloped up behind him, their horses having been left behind by the black's long legged gait.
"Leave him alone, Saracen,” demanded Stephen. William looked at his father then, trepidation and fury in his own pale blue eyes.
"Stay out of this, Stephen,” replied Saracen grimly. “I know ye are my brother, but your son is a traitor to the clan! I've long suspected it!” His burly arm held William fast, unmovable despite the lad's struggles.
"What is going on here? Where is Kat?” Morg roared the questions at Saracen. He glanced at Kat's horse, hobbled to the side, and back at Saracen. He knew she had gone for an early morning ride, but when two clansmen had raced into the castle courtyard, he had known instinctively that there was trouble. He should never have let her out of his sight! They had told him that the Lady Kat had disappeared, and that Saracen had the traitor. He had followed them to the rolling plain beyond the castle that edged the forest.
"Your wife is gone, Morgan,” replied Saracen heavily, “and your two pirate bodyguards have their throats slit.” He pointed his finger at William. “My nephew here just happened to find her horse. The other two horses are gone."
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