When Abagail finished showing her other things to look for that would indicate a complication from birth, they gathered their things to leave.
“I’m glad they’re both happy and healthy,” Mari said to the healer. “’Tis a great blessing, to be sure.”
“Aye. Are ye hoping for a similar blessing between you and Cam?”
Mari looked away. The truth would count her as selfish. She did want a bairn with Cam. But she lived in the constant dark shadow of an uncertain future. She didn’t know if she was safe here. Any day could be the day the English showed up to take her back to London to face punishment for her crimes.
It wouldn’t be fair to a child.
“My future is unknown,” Mari said vaguely.
The other woman didn’t respond with words, just a sound of agreement.
They cut between two cottages and headed toward the castle. Suddenly, she heard a noise and turned back to see Abagail had slumped to the ground, the contents of her basket scattered in the mud.
Before she made it to the woman to offer aid, Mari was lifted from her feet. A smelly hand was placed over her mouth, muffling her cry for help. Kicking, she connected with her captor’s shin. He dropped her to the ground, only to snatch her up roughly by the arm and give her a good smack on the head.
Stars swarmed her vision, but she didn’t lose consciousness, even when she was tossed into the back of a cart and a tarp was thrown over her.
“Make haste, before she wakes up and calls for help.” Odd, but the man next to her sounded more like a boy.
Her thoughts went to that night in the clearing when she’d been unable to free herself. All the hands grabbing at her, holding her. She kicked and slapped harder in an effort to fend them off.
“Tie ’er so she don’t escape. I don’t want to lose the reward because you let her get away.”
Mari’s mind cleared at his words. These men were planning to claim a reward by turning her over to the English.
Her hands were bound, and she couldn’t see or move. Her previously injured ankle ached as it bounced along the edge of the cart, her feet sticking over the edge. An idea came to her moments later, and she began wiggling the toes of one foot to tug the boot off the other. If she could get it loose, maybe she could drop it as a clue for Cam to follow.
She only had the two shoes, so she’d need to be careful as to when she dropped them. Maybe she’d be able to loosen her stockings and use those as well. That would take a bit more effort.
When the sound of the wheels softened from hard-packed mud to grass, she knew they’d gone off the path and into a field. It was not a smart plan. The wheels would make marks in the grass that could easily be followed. She realized her captors were not the smartest lads, and hoped that would work in her favor.
She shook the boot loose from her foot and started working on the other. Once again, she listened for a shift in the sounds of the wheels. This time the crunching of leaves indicated they’d entered the woods.
She wiggled the other foot, allowing the second boot to drop. Plucking at the strings of her garters through her skirt, she felt one stocking come loose on her thigh and inched it down slowly. Hindered by the fabric and the numbness in her hands because of the ropes, it seemed to take forever until she was able to take over with her other foot, pulling and tugging until the stocking was dangling from her bare toes.
When the echo of trees faded she knew they had exited the woods, and she dropped the stocking. Tears welled in her eyes as she fussed with the stubborn tie of the other stocking. Her hands were like lumps of wood at the ends of her arms. She squeezed them, causing sharp tingles of pain to shoot down her fingertips. Still, she managed to work the tie loose. Her breathing picked up with her struggles to free the stocking.
She only realized the sound of the wheels on hard dirt when she’d gotten the other stocking in position. How long had they been on a road? She wiggled her toes to free the last clue available to her, and then she rested.
If her clues were not found, she would need her strength to fight these men and win her freedom.
Would others come in their place? How long did she have?
Even if she escaped today, what was in store for her tomorrow?
If there was a reward on her head, she would forever be looking over her shoulder.
…
Cam was grateful for Abagail’s interruption as she entered the bailey, calling his name. He’d wanted to get back to drills, but now his shoulder and chest protested at the weight of his sword.
He’d let the healer squawk at him a bit, then retire to his room to rest with his wife.
His wife, who had been with Abagail earlier but wasn’t with her now. He hushed his men so he could hear the healer tell him a horrid tale. No matter how many questions he asked, she could only tell him she’d been hit from behind, and when she woke, Mari was gone.
“Bryce, Liam, you’re with me. The rest of you spread out through the village until you’ve found my wife.”
He and his men led Abagail back to where she’d been attacked, and they followed a trail of wagon tracks.
They’d already found Mari’s shoes, but Cam had to swallow back a flood of fear when her first stocking was found at the edge of the woods. The bastards were removing her clothing.
What were they doing to his wife? He would find them and sever their heads from their bodies for hurting her.
“This way,” he ordered Liam and Bryce, who were already on the trail.
“Shouldn’t we have more men?” Bryce asked.
“Nay, it’s but one cart. It can’t be more than a few men. It’s clear from the footprints there were at least two. Not very big men, from the size of their feet.”
“What if they’re meeting up with the English?” Liam asked, sitting taller in his saddle. “Not that I wouldn’t slay them all.”
“Relax, lad. If there’s a line of redcoats at the end of the trail, we’ll send you back for the rest of our army.”
A lift of Bryce’s eyebrow told Cam the army might not come. All the more reason to get her back before she was turned over to them.
He spurred his horse, and the others followed behind him. He saw another stocking lying in their path, but he didn’t stop. He could already see the cart rumbling along the road ahead of them and sent his horse after it at a gallop. Bryce let out a war cry and drew his sword, causing the driver to leap from the cart and run for the trees.
“Get him. Bring him to me,” Cam called to Bryce as another lad jumped from the back of the cart and ran in the other direction, leaving the cart to continue down the path with no driver…and presumably with Mari in the back.
“I’ll get that one so ye can see to Lady Mari,” Liam yelled, and tore off after the other lumbering fool.
Cam chased down the cart, which had slowed with no driver and tired horses. He snagged the reins and pulled it to a stop.
“Mari,” he called as he slid down from his horse. He pulled the tarp from the back and found his wife gagged and blinking in the sunlight, her hands tied in front of her. “Are you hurt?” He removed the gag and pulled his dirk to free her hands as she started to weep.
“No. I’m fine.”
“Did they touch you?” he asked when she was sitting up rubbing her hands. He looked into her eyes, silently waiting for a reply that would send him into a rage that would end with blood on his hands.
She shook her head. “No. They spoke of a reward for turning me in.”
“But I found a stocking…” He let his tone ask the question again. Being a Highland lass, she would know what would happen to the men if they’d dishonored her with their foul touch.
She wiped her tears. “I removed them myself, to make a trail for you.”
Finally he relaxed the tension in his spine and pulled her close.
“You are a cl
ever lass. You led us right to you.” He kissed her and smiled when she blushed at his compliment. Ever the lady.
Liam was the first to return with his captive. The boy was big for his age, but probably no more than fifteen. He had a time of it, keeping up behind Liam’s mount, to which he was tied with a rope.
Bryce returned moments later with his quarry thrown over the back of his horse. He tossed the scrawny lad to the ground, who scampered up to his feet to face his punishment.
“Why did ye take my wife against her will?” Cam demanded.
“The tinker had a sheet with her likeness on it. There’s a reward for her return to the English. One hundred pounds.”
Mari sniffed, and Cam didn’t know if she found the sum to be insulting or impressive. He didn’t care, since no one would ever collect it. He’d keep her safe.
“You’d turn over one of your clanswomen for coin?” Cam growled.
“She’s no MacKinlay. She’s sucked English cock. We’d be glad to have her off—”
The crude comment earned the boy a hard crack across the face that put him out cold. Cam stretched his fist, feeling the blood trickle down his knuckles. His ribs protested as he turned to the larger of the two lads, but he was easily able to put the pain out of his mind. Anger kept him focused.
The other boy proved to be smarter than he looked. He bowed to Cam. “I do not share the same sentiment as my companion, I assure you. I was only out to make things easier for my ma and sisters after my da died. I dinna know who she is, nor much care, as long as I’m able to put food on the table for my family.”
“And if your mother or one of your sisters was pictured on that sheet, would you have turned her over to the English to make things easier for the rest under your roof?” Cam asked heatedly.
The boy swallowed, and a tear cleared a path of grime from his cheek. “Nay. I see now what I’ve done, and I’m sorry for it.”
Cam was still too angry to deal justly with the lad. “Bring them to the castle so the laird can mete out their punishments. I can’t look at them. I may kill them just for breathing.”
He set Mari upon his horse and mounted behind her. “Are you sure you’re well, lass?” he asked when she slumped back against him.
“Yes. I am for now.” Her voice hinted at her doubts regarding the future.
They’d been wrong not to talk about what could happen. They should have planned for something such as this. They needed to be ready. He’d trained his men for any potential threat and planned an escape route for his wife, but it had been a while since they’d practiced. He’d become lax.
He hadn’t wanted the possibility of this situation to darken their happiness. But to ignore the problem wouldn’t ensure it stayed away. Problems were like that. Persistent.
“You’ll stay in the keep from now on and only go out with me or one of my men with ye, do you understand?”
She nodded, but it wasn’t good enough. He knew how women could twist things at a whim.
“Say it aloud, that you promise.”
She glanced back at him. “I thought we weren’t asking each other for promises any longer.”
“Aye, but I’ll have this one from you.”
She let out a sigh. “Very well. I promise I’ll not leave the keep unless escorted by a MacKinlay warrior.”
“Thank you. It’s not that I wish to restrict your freedom. I trust ye completely. It’s for your own protection. I can’t lose you, wife. I could hardly breathe when I found that first shoe lying in the mud. I was terrified I’d never see you alive again.”
She squeezed his hand, which he’d wrapped around her waist.
“I’ll be careful,” she said before twisting around to kiss him.
He was grateful for her quick compliance on the matter, but it didn’t ease his concerns. They had spoken of her running away and meeting him on the rise, but beyond that, they had no plan. Where would they go from there? How would they live?
Starting tomorrow, he would double the daily drills and work his men into deadly weapons who could protect his wife adequately. He’d enlist more men from the village to learn to fight. The more men the better.
What men weren’t at drills should be at the smithy helping to make more weapons. As the war chief, it was his duty to protect his people. This new plan would ensure that every MacKinlay was safe on clan lands, not just his wife.
But if the English decided to come for Mari, they would get a war.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
When the group made it back to Dunardry, Cam took Mari’s arm, led her straight up to their chambers, and barred the door.
“What are you doing?” she asked. It was almost time for the evening meal. Much too early to go to bed without starting talk.
Her husband didn’t seem to care. He turned her around and plucked at her laces until her gown fell down around her feet. Then he turned her so she faced him, and kissed her with a passion that bordered on desperation. Instantly, she was caught up in it. Soon she was pulling his shirt from his waistband and loosening his belt.
“I know you’re too bruised from your ordeal for me to take ye, but I need to feel you alive against me, skin to skin.”
“I’m not too sore,” she said honestly. Her leg muscles were still a bit shaky, but the rest of her was fine.
He groaned at her consent and asked her again. “I don’t know if I’ll be able to stop. I want to hear your sounds and slip into your heat. It’s battle lust. Something men go through when they’ve been scared out of their wits.”
“I’m well,” she repeated, needing to feel him for much the same reasons. She’d known what would have happened if those boys had turned her over to the English. Worse, Cam would have hunted them down and tried to get her back. It wouldn’t have mattered how many there were, or how outarmed and outmanned he was. He would have attacked in an effort to save her.
She gasped as he plunged into her. She felt his need in each firm stroke and matched his urgency, crying out when she peaked. He didn’t last much longer, and soon they had collapsed together onto the bed. His heart pounded against her ear.
She remembered the injuries to his chest and ribs and moved to give him room, but he stayed her with a gentle hand on her back. Slowly, like a snake, his arm coiled around her, pulling her tight to his body.
“I’ll never let anyone take you. Never.”
She heard the truth in his promise and made her own. Though silently spoken, it was just as true.
She vowed she would protect him with her life.
…
When Cam was rested from both rescuing and making love to his wife, he made his way to the bailey. Some of his men had remained to practice, while others had dispersed.
He couldn’t give up what was left of the day. There was no time to spare. After sending the men off to fetch the others, he picked up his sword and swung it with a frown. In the weeks he’d spent abed, he’d grown weaker. He’d have to push himself to make up the time lost.
When the men had all gathered, he broke them into two groups. Half were sent out to find ways to leave the castle without using the front gate. The more escape routes, the better.
The rest of his men were put through their paces until the late meal was served. He told them to be there before dawn the next morning, and when they complained, he told them they would stay past dark.
He heard a few of the men grumble as they left, saying they didn’t need extra training to take Baehaven Castle. Cam decided to let them go on thinking that was the cause for the extra effort. The other men didn’t know the reason Mari had been kidnapped, and he wanted to keep it that way.
He trusted his men, but a hundred pounds for a half-English lass—his wife or no—might be more temptation than a poor warrior could pass up. He’d rather not put his wife or his men through that.
He shared the news
with Lach and swore Bryce and Liam to silence on the matter.
“Are you planning to run?” Lach asked when they were alone at the table.
“I want to be prepared for that possibility. If I can take her away until the danger is past, we could come back when they’ve gone.”
“Have you ever seen an English search?” Lach asked with a frown. “They leave no stone unturned. You would need to leave the lands for a long time.”
“Your wife has never needed to live rough on the land for verra long,” Bryce commented.
“I ken it well enough, but she’s a strong woman. She’ll do what needs done.” She’d managed to get from London to the wilds of northern Scotland all on her own. He frowned, thinking of the state she’d been in that day. Thin, dirty, and dressed in ratty clothing.
He liked to imagine Mari as a duchess, sitting in a parlor in pretty dresses with maids to do her bidding. Being married to Cam was not elegant or luxurious. Though he’d never once heard her complain.
“It will not be the only time,” Lach said. “They’ll come back over and over again to check to see if she is here.”
“Then each time they return, we’ll not be here.”
Cam would do whatever it took to protect his wife.
…
While Cam worked every waking hour with his men, Mari spent the days gathering and making spare clothing she could hide beyond the castle in case she needed to flee. Since the incident with the adolescent bounty hunters she had remained in the keep, guarded by one of her husband’s men when he was unavailable.
“You’ve received a letter,” Kenna said, handing her a thin envelope.
Mari used to love to get mail, though she rarely did, thanks to the duke. But now, here at Dunardry, mail addressed to her could only mean trouble.
“Who knows I’m here?” she asked as she took it. They had agreed not even to tell their brothers she was here. If anyone mentioned it to any of the many English soldiers who patrolled the lands, she would be found.
“Read it.”
The missive had been addressed to Kenna, and the seal was broken.
Her Accidental Highlander Husband (MacKinlay Clan) Page 18