by Gwyn Brodie
"Nay." She quickly shook her head. "I'll go with you." Jillian prayed Will still lived, and that someone would come across him soon.
"I thought as much," he said, getting onto his horse. "I had expected it to take some time for me to find you alone at Ravenskull. You saved me a lot of waiting by being here."
Why hadn't she listened to Kade? "Where are you taking me?"
"Edinburgh. I wish to gain passage on a ship to France."
With him holding tightly to her reins, Jillian had no choice but to follow along behind him. She glanced over her shoulder at Will. He'd not moved since Gordon had cut him down. If he were dead, his blood would not only be on Gordon's hands, but on her own as well.
"What is it you want with me?" she asked, almost afraid to hear his answer.
"Och, you'll be most useful to me, Jillian, both as a hostage to provide a shield of protection, should that savage catch up to us, and to satisfy my needs 'til I reach Edinburgh."
Jillian felt sick. The thought of him intimately touching her sent a wave of terror through her. "You're surely aware that I'm no longer a virgin," she said, hoping that would somehow deter him wanting her. "There's also a good chance I'm carrying Kade's child."
He chuckled, a deep, fiendish sound. "Of course you aren't a virgin. You're now experienced enough to ken exactly what I want from you. As for the bairn—" He shrugged. "No matter. When you die, it'll die along with you."
Fear hung over Jillian like a large stone, ready to fall and crush her at any moment. She had to find some way to get away from Gordon. He'd gone completely mad. She'd die before she let him bed her. If only she hadn't lost her sgian dubh. She felt so helpless without it. Once they'd traveled far enough away from Will, so he'd be safe from Gordon's threats, and dawn arrived, she'd flee. 'Til then, she needed to memorize the direction in which they rode. No easy feat by moonlight. Aye, Kade was alive. In her heart she kenned it to be truth, even though Gordon said he was likely dead. He'd come for her. Jillian knew this as surely as she knew the sun would rise. But what if he couldn't find her?
***
The first light of dawn rested just below the horizon. Kade and Galen had ridden all night to reach Ravenskull before MacRae, stopping but long enough to rest and water the horses. Near halfway to Ravenskull, they spotted someone lying beside the road. Suspecting it the trick of a highwayman, they unsheathed their weapons, and rode slowly forward, watchful for any sudden movement.
"'Tis Will," Kade said, quickly jumping down from his horse. "And he's lost a lot of blood." A puddle had formed in the dirt beneath him. "Will, can you hear me?" he said, gently shaking him.
Will groaned and moved his arm. That's when they saw the stab wound beneath his ribs. "I'm sorry, laird. I couldn't keep him from taking her."
Kade frowned. "Taking who?" he asked, afraid in his heart that he already knew the answer.
"Lady Jillian. We'd finished letting the horses drink from the stream, that's when I heard a rider coming. I told her to keep quiet, but her horse whinnied. I tried to fight him off, but he was sitting a horse at the time and I wasn't."
MacRae. Anger and fear for Jillian's safety knotted in his stomach. He swallowed hard. He had to get her away from MacRae. And if he failed? Kade clenched his teeth. He didn't intend to.
Galen helped Will sit up, and gave him some water. "What were you doing out here."
He coughed and grabbed his side. "Lady Jillian insisting on meeting the laird at Lochstorm and asked me to take her. At first, I refused, knowing he wouldn't like it, but she threatened to go alone if I didn't go with her. A lot of good I did her." He winched as they helped him to his feet.
"Do you ken which way they went?" Kade asked, eager to get on with the search. If Will didn't ken anything, it would take him much longer to find her. And he—or Jillian—didn't have time to waste.
He nodded. "I kept going in and out, but I heard him say he plans to board a ship to France in Edinburgh. There's something else, m'laird. He plans to use your lady to take his own pleasure. He said as much. Lady Jillian called him Gordon. Could it have been Gordon MacRae?"
"Aye, 'twas, Will. He managed to elude us at Lochstorm." Kade had been in more battles than he could count, and never had he felt such fear as he now did. "Will, do you think you can sit a horse."
"I don't ken, laird, but I'm willing to try."
Galen found Will's horse grazing nearby.
Together they managed to get him up onto the mare. But he was so weak from loss of blood, he couldn't sit upright. The most he could do was to lie down against the horse's neck.
"Galen, take him back to Ravenskull. I'm heading for Edinburgh. I've got to find Jilly. There's no telling what MacRae plans to do with her. Once he reaches his destination, he'll have no more need of her. Will, rest and heal. I'll check on you when I return."
Will nodded.
Galen grabbed Will's horse by the reins. "Kade, have a care, and Godspeed. I'll catch up to you as soon as I deliver Will to Annag."
"Much thanks." Kade had no more than gotten into the saddle, when he noticed the morning sun glinting off of a shiny object lying in the grass. He jumped down and picked it up. Jillian's sgian dubh. The blade was covered in blood. Kade's heart skipped a beat. He prayed it belonged to MacRae. After placing it into his pack, he headed for Edinburgh. He had just found Jillian again—and happiness—and he didn't intend to lose either.
***
Jillian's eyes refused to stay open. She feared she'd fall asleep and slip from her horse. They'd been riding for several hours at a grueling pace and Gordon had yet to allow them to rest. Her back ached, and she was sorry for poor Bonnie and the other horse. "Could we stop for just a bit? These horses will be of no use to us dead. Besides I need a moment of privacy."
Gordon halted his horse beside a stream and dismounted. "Then get down, but I warn you not to try anything," he said, shoving his shirt off his injured shoulder. He tore a clean bit of fabric from the tail of his shirt and squatted down at the stream to clean the wound. He finished up by drenching it with a portion of the bottle of whisky he'd found on the horse, then turned up the container, drinking the rest.
Jillian was certain the horse didn't belong to him. She'd seen the way he'd pilfered through the pack. He must have stolen it.
Thankful for a few moments off the back of a horse, she dismounted, but sank to the ground. She'd been on Bonnie for so long her legs wouldn't hold her up. After a short while, she managed to get to her feet. A bit unsteady, she led the mare down to the stream for a drink. Jillian knelt and cupped the cool water in her hands and drank. Never had she been so thirsty. She washed her face, hoping the cold water would keep her awake. The horses were still drinking when she got to her feet, and went to find a spot nearby to relieve herself. One where Gordon wouldn't be able to see her, but she could see him.
Blueberries grew in abundance along the path, and Jillian ate as many as she could pick. Her stomach had been growling for the past couple of hours. She looked up to find Gordon leaning against a tree watching her, the lustful look in his eyes made her skin crawl. Pretending she'd not noticed, she continued to pick and eat berries.
Unaware he'd walked up behind her, she was startled when he spoke.
"You do so entice me, Jillian," he said, his breathing rapid. He grabbed her arm and jerked her around to face him.
Jillian's heart pounded, afraid of what he might do. She tried to pull away, but he held tightly onto her arm. "Turn me loose," she shouted, choking back a scream of pure terror.
Gordon chuckled. "Nay, I don't think I will." He leaned forward and tried to kiss her.
She quickly turned her face away. "Please, leave me be."
Ignoring her pleas, he grabbed her chin and forced her to remain still whilst he brought his mouth down over hers. With his other hand, he tore at the laces of her bodice. Jillian cringed as his fingers groped at her flesh. Her hands curled into fists and she hit him. He kept right on kissing and touching her. Then Ji
llian slammed her fist down on his shoulder with all the strength she could muster.
He yelped and grabbed his shoulder.
Jillian thought for a moment he was going to strike her.
He wiped his mouth on the back of his hand. A nasty smile slowly spread across his face. "You're wrong, if you think that kiss is all I'll be taking from you. I'll be finishing this later. But for now, we've wasted enough time here. Get back on your horse."
Jillian let out a sigh of relief and straightened her bodice. He'd ripped several of her laces, but she did her best to cover herself. She'd managed to halt his intentions this time, but what of the next? She had to make sure there wasn't going to be a next. Whilst Gordon wasn't looking, Jillian ripped a small piece of fabric from the hem of her burgundy dress, and hid it in the palm of her hand. Once they were back on the road, she let it fall to the ground, in hopes Kade would find it. If he did, then he'd at least ken he was headed in the right direction.
Whilst they rode, they passed cottage after cottage, with many of the occupants out in the fields tending sheep or crops. Jillian ached to cry out to them for help, but reluctantly decided against it. With but rakes and sticks for weapons against Gordon's broadsword, they would surely die a quick death. Jillian already had Will's blood on her hands. She didn't need that of these people as well.
Up until now, Jillian had purposely been compliant, wanting to catch Gordon off guard when the time came for her to run. "How much longer are we going to travel today?" she called out, his back to her.
"'Tis no concern of yours, but we'll stop by nightfall. In fact, I've been keeping an eye out for a nice, cozy cottage for the two of us to spend the night. After you take care of my—needs, MacLachlan won't be wanting you back."
Pure hatred swept through Jillian, stoking her anger and providing her strength for what she was about to do. Riding beside him, she could see that her reins were no longer wrapped around Gordon's hand as they had been, but lay limply across his arm. One good pull was all it would take for them to fall away.
Jillian looked at her surroundings. Thick wood rose up on either side of the path, and that was where her hope lay. If she turned Bonnie into the forest, she'd have a good chance of making Gordon lose sight of her.
While he looked ahead, Jillian slowly leaned forward and wrapped a length of the reins around her hand. She jerked with all her strength and they fell away.
Jillian didn't wait to see what Gordon did after that, but turned the horse back the way they'd come and kneed her into a run. Up ahead a path led into the wood, and that was where she pointed the mare. Ignoring the branches and briars ripping at her clothing and hair, she leaned down close to Bonnie's neck, to avoid getting knocked off by a low hanging branch.
After a mile or so, and with no Gordon in sight, she slowed the mare to a trot. Jillian prayed she was headed in the right direction. If so, she might run into Kade once she got back onto the path. Urging the mare to quicken her pace, she kept going. Jillian hoped with all her heart that Gordon had given up on finding her and gone on his way.
"Jillian!"
A shard of fear cut through her. He was close. She brought the mare to a halt. Tears blurred her vision as her gaze darted nervously around the wood. Strong winds blew through the pines, distorting her sense of direction. Jillian couldn't discern where Gordon's voice was coming from.
"There's no use in trying to get away from me. I'll find you sooner or later. Surely you weren't so naïve as to think I'd be willing to let you go so easily—not after all the trouble you've caused me. 'Tis because of you, Jillian, that what I had within my grasp is no more. And as I've lost everything, now so shall you. You'll never see your precious Lochstorm again, nor that savage you wed."
She knew he was waiting for her to make a sound. Jillian sat there, barely breathing, knowing that if she moved, he'd ken her whereabouts. Before she even heard him, he was almost upon her. She kneed the mare and raced away from him, her hands trembling as she held tightly to the reins. She didn't dare look back. Gordon must have circled around, for when she thought she'd lost him, he rode out of a stand of trees beside her.
Jillian jerked the mare about, but 'twas too late. Gordon grabbed her by the back of the hair. Holding onto the reins with one hand, she clawed at his fingers with the other. He dragged her from the back of the mare while she kicked and screamed, and let her drop onto the ground. A sharp pain shot through the back of Jillian's head and she cried out.
His face was a glowering mask of rage as he stared down at her. "I've warned you more than once not to run from me."
Jillian touched the lump on the back of her head, realizing the impact had reopened her wound. She brought her hand away covered in blood. "If I keep bleeding like this, I'll die."
He scoffed. "It doesn't matter to me if you die, only that you live long enough for me to reach Edinburgh."
Jillian pulled off her kertch and held it against her head to slow the bleeding. "Once you arrive, what will you do with me?"
He arched an eyebrow in mock surprise. "Need you ask?"
Nay, she didn't need to ask. He'd planned on killing her all along. Kade's face flashed through her mind. If Gordon succeeded in taking her life, Jillian would never again ken the heady sensation of Kade's fingertips caressing her skin, nor hear him whisper her name in the heat of passion. And she had no intention of letting Gordon take all that away from her. A sudden wave of courage and determination swept through her. She'd get away from him—or die trying.
Frantically, she searched for Bonnie. The mare was nowhere in sight. All the commotion must have frightened her and she'd run off. Jillian knew she'd not have much of a chance of getting away from Gordon on foot, but she had to try.
Gordon dismounted and came toward her, holding out a strip of leather. "Give me your hands. I'm going to tie you up. Now that you have no horse, you'll be riding in front of me. I'm looking forward to holding you whilst we're ride."
She ran.
"Damn you," he shouted after her.
Her body shaking with fear and her breath coming in deep gasps, she headed for the densest part of the wood. Frantic, she searched for some place to hide. She found a large hollow log, and though there'd likely be spiders, she quickly crawled inside. Jillian slowly regained control of her breathing, knowing that if she didn't, Gordon would hear her. After several minutes had passed, she heard the crunch of leaves and twigs close by. Jillian closed her eyes and prayed that he would pass her up. A noise at the one end of the log caught Jillian's attention. She held her breath and waited.
"I've told you before, you can't escape me." Gordon was down on his knees peering in at her.
Sheer fright swept through her. She whimpered and scrambled to the far end of the log.
Gordon reached in and grabbed her by the foot, dragging her out.
She kicked at him with her free one and screamed, but 'twas of no use. Gordon was a big man, and had her out of the log and lying at his feet in a matter of seconds. In one swift movement, Jillian dug her fingers into the cool, damp earth, pushed herself to her feet and took off running. She'd gone but a few feet, when he grabbed her arm.
"I've grown sick and tired of chasing you. This time I'm not taking any chances," he said, drawing back his fist.
"Nay!" she screamed, just before his knuckles made contact with her jaw. Down she fell, into a deep, black well of unconsciousness.
Chapter Thirteen
Kade searched hill and glen for Jillian, watching for any sign that would show him he was traveling in the right direction. He glanced up at the sky. 'Twas already the middle of the afternoon. With each passing hour, his fear for her safety increased. If he didn't reach her by nightfall, there was no telling what MacRae might do to her. He'd seen both the lust and the anger in his eyes when Kade had spoken of their coupling. And MacRae was no fool. He knew Kade would come for Jillian. What he didn't ken, was that Kade would follow him through the very gates of hell to get Jillian back. He could only hope t
hat, whilst trying to put some distance between himself and Kade, he'd not yet had time to force himself on Jillian. And if he'd already done so—Kade angrily clenched his teeth—there'd be naught that would keep Kade from wreaking his revenge upon him.
A flash of color on the ground grabbed his attention. He jumped down and picked it up. Jillian must have left it there for him to find. Rubbing it between his fingers, he lifted it to his nose. Now he was certain of it. Her sweet rose scent still clung to the fabric. He wrapped his palm around it.
He remounted and quickened his pace. He couldn't be too far behind them. After a few more miles, he noticed a path leading off into the wood. Fresh hoof tracks disturbed the soft earth and disappeared into the thick growth. Kade decided to take a look. He'd gone but a few feet, when he came across strands of light hair tangled up in the briars. She'd been this way.
Kade got down and led his horse through the wood, closely examining the ground as he went. There appeared to be a great deal of disturbance around a hollow log. He squatted down and peered inside. Jillian had hidden there from MacRae. Her dress had caught on a splinter just inside the mouth of the log, leaving behind a tiny piece of the fabric. Thinking how frightened she must've been whilst hiding there—terrified that MacRae would find her—brought his blood to a boil. His passionate and fearless wife was at the mercy of a brute.
After getting to his feet, he noticed something that sent a shiver of fear snaking up his spine. Near the log, lay a large piece of blood-soaked fabric. Kade picked it up and examined it. 'Twas Jillian's kertch. He cursed beneath his breath. When he got his hands on MacRae, he'd not live long enough to do anyone else harm.
He remounted and kept searching. Time passed, and the sunset coated the surrounding mountains and hills with gold. Up ahead, a horse grazed beside the path with no rider in sight. He unsheathed his broadsword, warily glanced about, and continued on his way.
When he neared the horse, a cold knot formed in the pit of his stomach. 'Twas Jillian's mare. He leaned down and picked up the reins. Kade didn't think the horse had thrown her, for she was an excellent rider. There had to be another reason the mare was there.