Once they were far enough away from Talia, Seona would have to figure out how to escape Haldane and his men. She might grab Haldane’s dirk and stab him with it. But he was the one protecting her from the rest of the brutish men. If she killed Haldane, any of his men might rape or kill her. No telling what McMurdo would do… most likely kill her without a second thought.
Chapter Thirty-One
Earlier, in the field in front of the tavern, Keegan had snatched one of the Murray guard’s swords, then bested Graybeard, leaving him with several cuts, but spared his life. He’d sent the next one who’d challenged him running away with a deep slice to his sword arm. And now, another of the men who’d invaded their room over the tavern charged him with a sword. He parried and thrust, then drove the other man back several feet.
Keegan darted a quick glance around the field at the crowd of onlookers and noticed Chief Murray a hundred feet away, scowling this way and that, murder in his eyes.
Where was Seona? He must not have found her in the room.
Rebbie stood not far from Murray, looking pale and dazed, his forehead and doublet bloody, but he held a sword in his hand. Keegan was glad he’d awakened.
Fraser, on horseback, rode in behind him, leading Curry. He motioned Keegan forward.
He landed one final blow and sent his opponent’s sword flying, then he hastened toward Fraser.
“Haldane took Seona,” Fraser said in a low tone.
“What?” A sharp blade of fear and outrage sliced through Keegan. “When?”
“A short time ago. Her sister showed up and told us. Haldane kidnapped her first, then released her when he lured Seona out.”
“Which way did they ride?”
“East.”
Dermott approached on his horse, tossed Keegan’s boots to the ground in front of him, then handed him his sporran and sheathed dirk. “I found these behind the tavern.”
Last time Keegan had seen them, they’d been in the chamber. “Seona must have dropped them there.” Fear for her life making his hands unsteady, Keegan pulled on his boots then swung into the saddle. “Let’s go.”
“Lady Talia said they went this way.” Fraser took the lead, kicking his mount into a gallop; Keegan and Dermott followed. Hunched low in their saddles, they rode past boulders and into the forest.
Keegan would kill Haldane. To imagine someone harming Seona was like a dagger to the gut. The roughed-up tracks through the leaves and pine needles were easy to see, but when they came onto a muddy road, thick with tracks which forked in two directions, they drew up.
Hoof beats pounded behind them. Keegan glanced back. Rebbie? Surely, he was not up to this.
When he halted beside them, Keegan asked, “What in blazes are you doing here? You’re injured.” Indeed the earl still looked pale, blood matting his hair.
“’Tis naught. When I saw you lads riding like the devil, I knew something had to be wrong.”
“Aye, Haldane abducted Seona.”
“Saints!” He glanced along the two roads. “North or east?”
Keegan examined the tracks on the muddy ground. “Fresh tracks go both ways. Two of us take one road, and two the other.”
Rebbie nodded and rode off toward the east, Dermott following.
Keegan and Fraser traveled north, their mounts charging at full speed. A pistol shot fired somewhere in front of them.
“Who the hell is shooting?” Keegan said between clenched teeth. He prayed Seona was not in the line of fire.
Two horses waited beside the road up ahead, one shifting about anxiously. Behind a stand of bushes, swords clanged.
Keegan pulled back on the reins, leapt to the ground, and drew his sword. He was aware of Fraser following on foot, but he kept his attention focused forward.
Sticking his head through the bushes, he found McMurdo fighting a younger man with a bushy brown beard. Another man lay on the ground, blood pooling around him. What the devil was going on? Where was Seona?
A scream sounded in the distance, ahead but to the left. A female. It had to be her. He raced forward, the prickly gorse bushes snagging his clothes and scratching his skin.
Up ahead, a red-headed man had someone wearing black thrown over his shoulder. Haldane. Rushing closer, Keegan saw ’twas indeed Seona he carried. She kicked, elbowed him in the back, and fought to free herself. Even though her hands were tied, she yanked his hair.
“Ow! Damn you, lass!” Haldane bent forward, attempting to dump her to the ground, but Seona held onto his long hair.
Haldane glanced his way just before Keegan reached him. He shoved Seona away and lifted his sword.
She did not appear to be injured, thank the saints.
“Let me have her, Haldane.” Keegan forced himself to use a reasonable tone.
“Nay!” He sliced the blade through the air. “Back away.”
Seona’s ankles were bound as well, but she tried to roll away from Haldane.
“Don’t force my hand, cousin.” Although Keegan could not say he and Haldane had ever truly been close, they had trained together since they were lads and eaten many a meal together at Dunnakeil.
“You are not my cousin since you are loyal to that imposter you call a chief,” Haldane snarled.
Haldane knew good and well Dirk was no imposter, but Keegan wasn’t going to argue the point.
“Why did you kidnap Seona?” Keegan knew why, but he wanted to distract Haldane.
“That is none of your concern.”
“Aye, ’tis, considering she is my wife.”
“Your wife? Ha!” Haldane’s pale green eyes glinted with feral energy and he bared his teeth. “Well, if that is true, I can easily make her a widow. She was to marry the MacKay chief, which I will be since Dirk is dead.”
Icy cold slithered through Keegan. To imagine Dirk dying was like enduring a strike to his vitals. The man was like a brother to him.
“Dirk is not dead,” Keegan assured him.
“How do you know?” Haldane smirked. “You haven’t seen him in several days, have you?”
“He’s recovering in a safe place.”
“You hope. But what if he got a grave fever from that arrow wound?”
Dirk had endured a minor fever, but seemed improved last time he’d seen him. Keegan was not going to worry over him now. Seona was his main concern.
“Release Seona before you injure her.”
“Nay.” Haldane advanced, sword in guard position. “Back off or you will cause me to hurt her. If she dies, ’twill be your fault.”
Fraser stepped from the bushes behind Haldane, snatched Seona from the ground, and kicked Haldane forward. He stumbled to his knees but quickly leapt to his feet, looking about wildly. But Fraser had already disappeared back through the bushes with Seona.
Keegan charged forward, ready to kill Haldane in one-on-one combat. ’Twas not what he wanted, but something he had to do in order to protect Seona and to ensure Dirk’s safety.
A glint of fear flashed in Haldane’s eyes and he bolted, fleeing through the gorse.
Nay! Keegan chased him. “Coward!” He shoved through the thorny branches after Haldane, running, dodging in and out of the bushes. But after a few moments, all was quiet and still up ahead. He paused. No movements around him. Only the sounds of swords clashing far behind him.
“Haldane!” Keegan shouted. “Come back and fight like a man.”
Silence met his ears.
“Bastard.” Keeping his sword in hand, he took out his dagger, too, as extra protection should he be ambushed, and proceeded back through the gorse bushes.
Where had Fraser taken Seona?
At the spot where McMurdo had been fighting another man, three scruffy outlaws—he assumed Haldane’s recruits—lay on the ground, apparently dead, given their wounds and the blood surrounding them. Keegan was disappointed McMurdo was not among them. Dermott and Rebbie stood nearby, catching their breaths. Dermott held a cloth against a cut on his upper arm. Seeing they were well,
Keegan hastened away in search of Seona and Fraser. He found them in the narrow road by the horses.
Upon reaching Seona, Keegan sheathed his weapons and drew her into his arms, her slight, curvy frame conforming perfectly to his. Thank God she was alive. “Are you well? Did Haldane hurt you?”
She shook her head against his chest. “Only a few bruises from his rough handling, I think.”
“That bastard.” Keegan glanced at Fraser. “I thank you for helping her.”
“My pleasure.” Fraser gave a slight grin.
Seona pulled back but kept her arm around Keegan’s waist. “Indeed, I appreciate the help, both of you. Did you see my sister?” she asked Fraser.
“Aye, the bonny lass was hiding in the brush behind the tavern. She resembled you so much, I knew she had to be your sister.”
“Was she hurt?”
“Nay. After she told me you’d been kidnapped, I asked her to wait there with one of the trusted MacKenzie guards protecting her.”
“Oh, I thank you.”
Rebbie emerged from the bushes, Dermott following. “Did you kill Haldane?” Rebbie asked.
“Nay.” Keegan wanted to kick himself for not accomplishing what he needed to. “He ran like the vile rodent he is.”
“Coward. He always flees.”
“Aye.”
“Next time. McMurdo got away, too. He took off when Dermott and I showed up.” Rebbie strode toward his horse, then hoisted himself into the saddle.
Keegan glanced down at Seona. “Why did fighting break out among Haldane’s men?”
“One of his new recruits decided he… wanted me and attacked Haldane.” Seona’s face reddened. “Haldane shot him, then his friends joined in the fray. I took advantage of the situation and ran, but Haldane caught me and tied my hands and feet.”
Keegan’s stomach knotted when he imagined her in such a precarious situation. “Are you certain he didn’t hurt you?”
“Aye. I thank you,” she said, darting a quick glance from his eyes to his lips and back.
He leaned down and placed a soft, sweet kiss on her mouth, grateful she wasn’t injured.
“Where is my ‘thank you’ kiss?” Fraser teased.
Seona pulled away, smiling and blushing.
“Shut your gob, Fraser,” Keegan muttered, trying to hide his grin.
A multitude of hoof beats approached from the south, drawing Keegan’s attention and darkening his mood. He knew who they were even before he saw them.
A moment later, four of Murray’s guards reined in their mounts and surveyed the scene. “We’ve come to escort Lady Seona back to her father,” their leader said.
Keegan stepped in front of her. “I’m taking her.”
Smirking, the head guard shrugged. “As long as she goes back to her father, I don’t care who takes her.”
Seona tugged at his clothing.
He turned to her. “Aye?”
“You stay here,” she whispered. “I’ll go back with them.”
“Why?” Keegan frowned.
“Is it not obvious? I don’t want my father and his men to kill you.”
“They won’t kill me. They may try, but chances are they’ll get a blade in the gut.”
“Stubborn,” she muttered.
“Indeed, I am.” Keegan lifted her to his horse and climbed on behind her. He wished he could’ve stolen her away, but he knew she would never leave her sister behind.
Even though he would enjoy holding her in his arms for a few minutes, he had to figure out how the devil they were going to retrieve Talia, then escape Murray and his men.
***
Seona didn’t wish to return to the village or the castle, but she had no choice if she wanted to ensure her sister’s safety. And she didn’t want Keegan anywhere near her father now that his men had surely told him they’d found her and Keegan in bed together at the inn. Her father would be in a killing rage. She prayed he hadn’t already punished Talia for running away.
Riding in front of Keegan, his strong arm around her, Seona turned to him. “We must find Talia.”
“Aye, we will,” he whispered against her ear, then kissed it. Delicious shivers slid down her body. She would love naught more than to sink down into the pleasures Keegan knew how to indulge her with, but now was not the time. She had to focus on finding her sister.
Keegan guided his horse toward the back of the tavern, his friends following. But as soon as they rounded the corner, her father, a few of his men, and Wentworth came into view. Nausea rose within her. Saints! Exactly who she didn’t want to see.
As they rode closer, her father’s face grew redder.
“Where is Talia?” Seona asked.
“Where have you been?” Murray growled, his glare shifting to Keegan.
“Haldane MacKay captured me. Then, thanks be to God, Keegan and his friends came to my rescue.” She gave a quick glance at Wentworth’s sullen face, where he stood stiffly by the tavern’s back door. Simply looking at him made her cringe.
Keegan dismounted and helped her down.
“Where is Talia?” she asked again.
“Inside. Holed up in the storeroom,” her father grumbled. “Go in and talk her into coming out.”
“What do you mean holed up in the storeroom?”
“She’s blocked the door, and she has a knife. She stabbed two of my men in the hands already. She’s gone mad!”
“I see.” ’Twas true that Talia was belligerent. Even if her actions got her into worse trouble, she would keep rebelling.
Seona headed toward the tavern’s back door, Keegan and his friends following.
Her father and Wentworth entered the dim room behind, along with five Murray guards. “I want to talk to you over here, Seona,” her father said in a stern tone.
She gave Keegan a quick glance. His firm mouth, hardened jaw, and icy glare said he was ready to stab someone. But none of them had drawn swords yet, thank the saints.
Her father and Wentworth waited twenty feet away, near the tavern’s huge cold fireplace.
When she joined them, her father asked, “Haldane, you say? Is he Griff MacKay’s youngest son?”
“Aye.” The men had already told her father how Haldane had ambushed them several times on the journey here, trying to kidnap her.
“Did he rape you? Seduce you?” her father demanded.
“Nay.”
“I don’t believe her,” Wentworth muttered between his crooked, yellow teeth. “She doesn’t have the look of an innocent to me. She probably already carries another man’s bastard. I withdraw my suit.” He strode from the tavern, slamming the front door on his way out.
Seona’s heart lightened with a moment of happiness. Marrying that man would’ve been hell on earth. But she was surprised to see her father didn’t attempt to stop him.
“’Twas not Haldane who compromised you; ’twas that one there.” Her father sent a sharp, lethal glare at Keegan.
Seona held her breath, waiting for a battle to break out. But everyone remained silent and still.
“How did Haldane MacKay capture you?” her father asked. “You had to be outside the castle walls. We know the guards were drunk on whisky and not at their posts. You slipped out, did you not?”
“Nay.”
“You’re lying, you little whore,” he muttered, too low for Keegan to hear. “One of the maids saw you slipping out of the kitchen with Rebbinglen. And six of my men saw you in the chamber upstairs with Keegan MacKay. Naked. You sicken me.”
We are married. I love him. He is my husband, she almost said. But she couldn’t yet. She had to take her sister to safety first.
“Where is Talia?”
“There.” He swung his thumb toward an alcove with a closed door. “Get her to come out.”
Seona approached the rough door, made of wide planks. “Talia? Are you in there?”
Silence.
Seona knocked. “Talia? ’Tis me, Seona.”
“Where is Father?” Tali
a asked, her voice muffled behind the thick wood.
“Here in the room behind me.”
“I’m not coming out,” she said in a stubborn tone.
“You cannot stay in there,” Seona said.
“I can. There is food in here. I’ll let you in and you can stay with me. We won’t have to marry the beasts.”
Footsteps approached, and Seona turned to find her father striding closer, a murderous gleam in his eyes. “What is that on your finger?” he yelled.
The wedding band. Fear paralyzed her for a moment, but then she drew in a deep breath for courage, her gaze connecting with Keegan’s—intense blue and arrow sharp. Silently, he and his friends moved closer.
“’Tis a ring,” she said. “I am married.”
Chapter Thirty-Two
“Married?” Chief Murray’s hand flew up and struck Seona’s face.
Fury blasted through Keegan’s veins. He snagged the back of Murray’s collar and yanked him away. The man made a choking sound just before Keegan punched him in the face. The older man bounced off the wall and sprawled to the tavern floor, blood pouring from his nose, curses spewing from his mouth.
Keegan drew his sword to cut down Murray’s guards, for they were sure to attack. But Rebbie, Fraser and Dermott were one step ahead of him on that count. Each of them held blades at the ready.
“Halt!” Rebbie commanded the guards.
“Kill them!” Murray snarled, trying to push up on his elbows.
“I wouldn’t risk it if I were you,” Rebbie warned the guards with a menacing grin and they froze.
Keegan snatched Murray’s sword and dirk from their sheaths and tossed them across the room, then stood on the man’s scabbard, holding him down. “How many times have you hit Seona?” Keegan demanded.
“You bastard,” Murray seethed. “I’m going to kill you.”
“I hope you’ll try.” Keegan went to Seona who still stood by the storeroom door. Her cheek was red and her eyes glinting with fury. “Did he hurt you badly?”
She shook her head. “I’ll be fine.”
“Hold it right there,” Rebbie ordered, drawing Keegan’s attention.
But Murray didn’t obey. He’d crawled to his feet. “Give me your dirk,” he roared at one of his guards.
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