Now, as he stood observing the men under his command in their training the next morning, Davidh considered the changes to his life and realised something.
He was not displeased about it at all.
Once his own duties allowed him to be here at Achnacarry more than he was on the roads and rivers around it, he would fulfil his part of their bargain and see to Anna’s son. The boy was skilled in working with wood and his intricately carved animals impressed Davidh more each time a new creature appeared in the boy’s collection. His skills would be a good addition to those of the village’s and keep’s carpenters. And give him and his mother a place in the Cameron Clan since his looks alone claimed his place there.
‘Davidh?’
He startled when he heard his name being called and looked up to see the Lady Elizabeth standing near the fence and strode over to her. Robert was not with her, nor anyone else save her maid. He bowed to her when he stood before her.
‘Forgive my lack of attention, my lady.’ He met her gaze and recognised the merriment there. ‘Have you need of something?’
‘Has Mistress Mackenzie settled in the village?’ the lady asked. Davidh glanced towards the village and his house and nodded.
‘Apparently.’ Whether his tone was somehow unwarranted or inappropriate, he knew not, but the lady’s laughter informed him she thought otherwise. ‘I mean only that the speed of it was a surprise to me, my lady. Once the decision was made, ’twas handled quickly, it seems.’
‘Well, you must admit that you were away for three days of that time.’ The lady’s eyes twinkled again and Davidh wondered if he was to continue as the target of her teasing manner. ‘It takes an organised woman less than that to settle in place.’
He had no reply so he simply nodded and shrugged at the lady’s words. Anna had made her place in his house, that was certain.
‘And the sooner she is settled in, the sooner she might be able to see to the stillroom.’
‘Ah, there is your motive for asking,’ he said, laughing as he realised the lady’s true aim. ‘You wish that chamber seen to.’ Lady Elizabeth smiled then, an enigmatic one that gave him the feeling that she had several reasons for asking after Anna.
‘Aye,’ she said, laying her hand on his forearm. ‘But, I pray you, do not press her to see to it until she is ready. Truly, I think there is little to be salvaged there, but Anna will be a godsend in getting it organised so we ken what we will need to do next.’
‘Well, I will speak to her when I see her. She was up and out before I rose this morn.’ But not without leaving a freshly cooked pot of porridge waiting for him. His mouth watered again at the thought of it.
‘I will let you see to your duties, Davidh,’ the lady said.
He bowed as she took her leave of him, walking towards the keep with her maid trailing behind her. He did turn back to his duties, to the men there practising their skills, and it took little time for him to realise that all his men were present. Including the two or three who he’d assigned to help Anna when she was up at the cottage or needed something heavy moved. He called them to his side.
‘Did Mistress Mackenzie ask for your help this morning?’ To a one, they shrugged or shook their head in reply. ‘Have any of you seen her about her tasks since this morning?’
‘Nay,’ Eonan said. ‘She said she was seeing to the last few things herself this morn.’ The others nodded in agreement.
‘She is there now?’ he asked.
The reports of the outlaws had continued and their movement grew closer to Achnacarry. Not near the village, but some outlying places had seen some evidence of their growing proximity and boldness and the knowledge weighed on him now.
Eonan shrugged as did Micheil and Donald. With a nod he sent them back to their training groups and tried to get back to his own duties. He walked the yard for some time, watching, calling out suggestions, appraising the efforts and skills of the warriors under his command. Soon, though, Davidh could not keep his thoughts here on what he was doing, for they drifted from the yard to the cottage at the top of the falls.
Was Anna up there now? Was her son with her? Though young, his presence might prove a deterrent if stragglers or strangers happened upon them. But with the outlaws that were proceeding with destruction and attacks on their minds...
Whether by design or not, Athdar, his training commander, called a halt then and the men dispersed from the yard. With a nod to his friend, Davidh left, too, but his path took him first to check on the lads, then to the falls.
The burning in his gut warned him there was no time to waste.
Chapter Twelve
Anna pressed back against the boulders as much as she could, hoping and praying that the men did not turn their attentions in her direction. Positioned as she was—only in an alcove in the face of the rocky hillside and one that was open to the fields—she held little confidence that she would not be seen. Of all the days to wear a gown of a brighter hue than her usual work gowns. This one would give her away to anyone looking rather than helping her to blend into the surrounding colours.
The three men argued once more among themselves, keeping their gazes away from her. She knew not what their purpose was when they entered the glen from the path along the hills, but finding her cottage and the well-tended garden changed their intentions. There had been almost nothing left within the cottage, but something had caught their interest.
She realised they’d grown quiet and Anna ducked down as far as she could, watching for a moment when escape might be possible. Unfortunately, to move from this shelter and get to either the path down or the other way out, she would expose herself to the men. Only when the three began to slowly shuffle off in different directions, did she understand the danger that she was in.
‘Weel, now, what do we hiv here?’ one said as he met her gaze and took a step towards her. ‘A sweet treat for us before we head back?’
Anna glanced around her, looking for anything she could use as a weapon. The only thing she carried was the small knife she used to cut branches or blooms from the plants she tended and that would do little damage to these men. The crackle near by startled her and she looked up to see another of them approaching from the direction of the falls. The third one stepped closer and blocked her path to the garden and fields.
Trapped.
Escape...impossible.
Anna tried to stay calm, but her hands shook and her knees trembled.
‘I want her first,’ the one blocking her escape to the falls said. ‘Ye had the other ones before I got ’em and I want this one.’
‘Ye can have her,’ the biggest one said, nodding his head and licking his lips in an obscene gesture. ‘When I am finished wi’ her, ye would no’ want her.’ His huge hand slid down below his belt and she looked away as he fondled himself.
She drew the knife from her belt, even knowing it would do little good, then bent down and picked up a rock she could use to slow them down. Her mouth went dry as they moved closer and the realisation of what was to come filled her thoughts. Pushing the terror back, she struggled to think of a way out. The idea came from where she knew not, but it was the only thing she could do. She lifted her head and called out in a loud voice to them, putting as much courage and confidence into her words as she could.
‘Hear the Witch of Caig Falls!’
Silence met her words, but at least they did not move closer to her.
‘I call on the spirits of the air, earth, fire and water—heed my call!’ She slid the knife in her belt and dropped the rock, raising her arms out before her. ‘Heed my call!’
The winds, thank God, moved just then, rustling through the trees around her and she nearly laughed at the stark expressions on the men’s faces. Knowing she must get out of the alcove to even try to outrun them, she took a step forward.
‘I call on my powers to rise and protec
t me!’ When they stumbled back away from her, Anna slowly slid her feet along the ground, trying to make her movements easy and gliding. ‘I curse you all. You will suffer my wrath.’
‘She’s the witch who lives here!’ the man closest to her yelled out. ‘I dinna want to swive a witch!’ Shaking his head and waving his hands at her, he stumbled back.
Anna took advantage of the moment and ducked and ran, trying to get past them before they could...
‘Witch or no,’ the big one said, grabbing hold of her arm and pulling her back, ‘I will swive her.’ He tossed her to the ground, the impact forcing the breath from her body.
‘I will curse your...manhood and make it shrivel,’ she forced out, pointing at that part of him.
‘Curse it all ye like, witch,’ the big one said, crouching down closer to her as he used his knee to trap her gown and keep her there. ‘My manhood is just fine as ye will find out.’
As he slid his hands down to lift the plaid he wore and she knew her gamble had failed, Anna began to scream and struggle to free herself from his hold.
Then, after a moment of terror, he disappeared from above her and she could move. Scrabbling away, Anna slid back towards the rocks as someone intervened to save her from attack.
Davidh.
Davidh Cameron had saved her.
Anna watched in grim amazement as he knocked the largest man off his feet and then beat him into the dirt. Drawing his sword, he fought off the other two as they charged him with theirs. He moved in a graceful yet deadly dance, drawing them closer and then striking them down. They were dead before their bodies landed in the dirt. She could not take her gaze off Davidh as he defeated the three of them without pause and without a word.
Now, the three vanquished men lay silent and only the sound of his heaving breaths betrayed his exertion. And he still did not look at her. His right fist clasped the hilt of his sword and he held the weapon as though ready to face more foes. She had not noticed the smaller, yet still deadly, dagger in his left hand until now. Then he did turn, but instead of looking at her, he searched the area around the cottage and back into the gardens and fields.
‘Were there only these three?’ he asked, sliding the dagger into his boot and holding out his hand to her. She nodded in a jerky movement and reached out to take his help. Her legs wobbled as she gained her feet and he did not rush her.
‘Did they come from the falls or from the stream?’ he asked. His voice was calm. Too calm. She dared a glance at his face and the cold stare shocked her.
‘The hills along the stream,’ she said.
‘Come. We must return to the village.’ He guided her towards the cottage and then stopped. ‘Can you make it to the path and wait for me there?’
He moved away before she replied, but he was the commander now and expected obedience to the orders he issued. She stumbled a few steps before her legs would obey her own commands and Anna tried not to look back. The racing of her heart made her want to run, run away, run fast, but she forced herself to walk, concentrating only on the sound of the falls and trying not to allow the fear to overpower her now.
A glance over her shoulder revealed him checking the three men who lay motionless on the ground there. Anna stopped and watched him then. He walked away from the two and towards the biggest man. A shudder tore through her as the possibilities of what could have happened had Davidh not arrived struck her. As he raised his head, looking around the clearing for something, he caught sight of her.
‘Have you rope? Something to tie him with?’ he called out to her.
Pulled from her helplessness, Anna nodded and ran back into the cottage. She’d not emptied it of all supplies—indeed, the necessary things used in the garden and fields remained there for use. Anna grabbed a coiled length of cord and took it to Davidh. His expression gave her pause.
‘Come. ’Tis safe now.’
Only then did she realise that she stood but a few yards from him and that her hands shook. And her body trembled. The shudders paralysed her. The sight of the three men—two of them in darkening pools of their own blood and the other one unconscious there—made her stomach roil. Now unable to draw in a breath, her vision clouded and sweat poured down her face and back. The strength in her legs seeped out then and Anna began to tumble down.
‘Anna.’
Davidh’s strong arms surrounded her from behind and kept her from falling. He whispered her name over and over as he held her against his chest. Anna closed her eyes and tried to let go of the fear.
‘Take in a breath,’ he whispered against her hair. She shuddered in a shallow breath. ‘Now, push it out with all your might.’ She failed, for her breath trembled as her body yet did. ‘Come now, lass, count as you draw a breath. Good. Now push out for the same.’ Again, she could not control her body, but soon his soothing voice and warm embrace helped her to do as he said.
‘Again,’ he ordered in a soft yet commanding tone. ‘One...two...three...’
Anna listened to his commands and obeyed them. When she noticed his heated breath as it tickled her ear, she knew she was recovering from the shock of the last minutes. She pushed up to stand on her own and, damn it, she noticed that he yet held her in his strong, warm embrace.
And in that moment, Anna did not want to be any other place in the world.
She closed her eyes, savouring the feel of his strength, his hard-muscled chest against her back, his breath now on her neck, the enticing scent that was his alone. It had been so long since she’d allowed anyone, any man, this close, and in that single moment, she did not want him to let her go.
Then, the cold truth of the situation struck her and she stepped away from him. Her body shivered as the day’s cool air whirled through the inches of separation between them.
‘Let me see to this and I will take you back to the village.’ His calm, cool words reminded her that he was treating her no differently from how he would treat anyone he dealt with.
Anna held out the rope that was yet clenched in her hand and nodded. His movements now were swift and practised as he bound the outlaw who lay unconscious on the ground. In all her years, she’d never been accosted like this. Oh, some men had pressed their attentions with ardent enthusiasm, but none had ever attempted to take her against her will.
The shiver that coursed through her made her understand that the terror had not left her, no matter that she wanted it gone. She turned and walked to the opening in the hillside that led down to the road. Anna heard Davidh’s approach and faced him. He took her hand and guided her down through the pathway along the falls. At one point, he slid his arm around her waist to support her. When they reached the bottom, she expected him to release her, but his arm remained around her. A few more paces and they stood at the road where his horse waited.
‘Anna...’ he began. Instead of releasing her, he turned her to face him and slid his other arm around her. ‘Are you well?’
Before she could answer, he slid his hand up to cup her cheek as he stroked her with his thumb. Anna wanted to say aye, to say something, but the words escaped her when she met his gaze. His brown eyes darkened to almost black as he stared at her.
‘I feared I would not get there in time,’ he whispered. His hand slid around as he entangled his fingers in her hair, caressing the back of her scalp and sending tiny sparks of pleasure down her spine. ‘I heard your scream...’
Anna watched until the very last moment, as he tilted down and touched his lips to hers. Then, she closed her eyes as he kissed her. It was madness. It was hot and possessive. It was...something wonderful and she leaned into him and gave herself over to it.
To him.
* * *
Davidh rarely felt terror. And, if he did, he did not admit to it. Even in the thick of battles or attacks, the excitement and danger of the challenge made him feel alive. But the sound of Anna’s scream as he reached t
he top of the path had made his blood freeze in his veins. After killing the second and third outlaw, he’d turned and planned to kill the one who’d been standing over her. He’d gained control over his rage at the last moment and realised that a live outlaw could give them knowledge about the others who plagued their lands and clans.
The sight of her, lying on the ground, fighting for her life, overruled his usual battle calm. He’d never lost control in a fight before, yet seeing her there, terrified and screaming, tore it from him and he could only think one thing—destroy them. And he nearly had.
If not for her glancing over her shoulder, he would have thrust the bloodied sword into the fallen outlaw’s gut. Her distress and the panic in her gaze stopped him and gave his self-control the chance to reassert itself. Then, his duty as commander took over as he tended to her and then secured the man so he could deal with him later.
Only now, as they reached a safe place, did he allow himself to take in all of her. Her braid had come undone and long, curling locks of auburn hair lay strewn wildly around her heart-shaped face and shoulders. Her forest-green eyes met his gaze and he wanted to lose himself in their depths.
Lose himself in her.
It was such a strange concept to him that he had no defence for it. Nothing to stop him from...kissing her.
Davidh raised his hand to her face, waiting for any sign of hesitation that would stop him. Instead, she lifted her cheek against his palm and a sigh so soft he doubted she heard it escaped her lips. He followed the sigh down and touched his mouth to hers. Sliding his hand into her loosened curls, he slipped his tongue into her heated mouth when she opened to him.
Sweet. She tasted sweet. Davidh lost himself in the pure delight of her mouth, sweeping his tongue deep in to savour the essence of her. That would have been the end of it, if she had not leaned her body against his and let out a soft moan.
A Healer for the Highlander Page 11