Part of her thought the only reason she felt this strongly was because he was forbidden. She couldn’t be with him. They came from two entirely different worlds.
Sure, he might have suggested marriage but she knew he hadn’t really meant it. He knew same as her that this could never work, especially not after what she’d done.
She’d distracted him from being able to focus on the clan. She was the reason why they were all hiding out in a cave. It was all her fault. The guilt weighed heavily on her.
She dug out the key and turned it over in her hand. It was such a little thing and yet it had brought her all the way back through time to meet the man of her dreams. Where was he? He’d been gone a long time. She peered around the corner at the mass of people.
They were beginning to stir. “Where’s Gavin?” Will asked, sitting up and stretching. “We must plan what to do next.” He looked at Heather. “Is he with you?”
“I’ve not seen him since last night,” she replied. “Have you?”
“He’s probably outside,” Will said. “I’ll go look.” He vanished out of the cave, returning a minute later. “No sign but his tracks head back the way we came.”
People started to talk. “He’s gone to surrender.”
“He’s left us.”
“He’s run. We should too.”
Heather moved toward them all, her hands outstretched. “Hold on, calm down. We don’t know where he’s gone or why so let’s not panic. Bruce? Where’s Bruce?”
“Here, my lady.”
“Take a couple of men and find us some food. The children must be starving. Someone find a way to fetch us some water too.”
As Bruce and his men headed outside she made her way through the cave, glad to have something to concentrate on. “Anyone injured?” she asked.
No one was but many people were still afraid. She did her best to reassure them, trying not to think why Gavin had gone. He must survive until the peace negotiations, right? Else why was that her deadline for retrieving the knife?
She refused to accept that Tony’s calculations might be wrong. She also refused to think about the wrenching pain she felt from being separated from the man she loved. She found herself praying for the first time in a long time. Please God, she said silently, let him be safe. I couldn’t bear life without him.”
She knew then that she truly did love him. There was no doubt in her mind that for better or worse she was going to stay in this time with him. If he asked her to marry him, she would say yes.
She smiled at the thought. Would she be the wife of a laird living in a castle? Or in the back end of a damp cave? Either way, at least she would have him. If she could just work out where he’d gone.
“Heather,” Bruce called from the cave entrance. “Can I have a word?”
Bruce’s men were bringing in blackberries and hazelnuts, handing them out to the hungry children. Heather watched for a moment before heading outside to join Bruce in the morning light.
In the sunlight she could see an entire vista laid out in front of her. The track they’d taken fell steeply away into a long valley of green pasture surrounded by mountains on either side. In the distance the hills rose again, turning into woodland.
“The castle is on the other side of those woods,” Bruce said. “It looks so close, does it not?”
“You had something you wanted to talk to me about?”
“I ken where Gavin has gone.” Bruce looked at her earnestly.
“Where?”
“Back to the castle.”
“How do you know?”
“He told me last night.”
“But why? He didn’t say anything to me.”
“I suspect he’s going to try and kill the old crone, perhaps Mungo too.”
“But why go alone? I don’t understand.”
Bruce sat down on a rock, stretching his feet out in front of him. “One thing you have to understand about our laird.”
“What?” she asked impatiently, feeling increasingly angry.
“He kens what he’s doing.”
“What? That’s it? I’m just suppose to accept he’s gone off on his own on a suicide mission?”
“He’s gone to save us all. Kill those two and we get the castle back. We can all go home.”
“And if he gets killed. What then?”
Bruce shrugged. “He asked me to keep you safe.”
“Well that’s that then, is it? He dies and your clan spends the rest of their lives hiding in caves, is that it?”
Bruce tapped the rock next to him. “Listen, he won’t fail. If anyone can kill those two, it’s him. I saw him take on three wolves on his own before. He’s not afraid of anything.”
“I wish I wasn’t.”
Bruce put an arm around her shoulder. “It will be fine, trust me. Before you ken it, this will all be a distant memory.”
“Yeah, right. Hang on, what’s that?”
She squinted. Down in the valley figures were emerging from the distant woods. They were nothing more than dots but as she looked more of them emerged. At first the morning haze made it possible to think them nothing more than mirages. But they kept coming closer.
Bruce looked where she was pointing. “Outlaws,” he said. “They have found us. We should not have stopped last night. We should have kept moving. Curses.” He grabbed hold of Heather’s shoulders. “We cannot outrun them. We must fight.”
She nodded, feeling fear rise up inside her. She bit it back down. “I will keep the children inside. Do you have any spare swords.”
“No but we have daggers and a few bows. Why?”
“Give them to the women.”
Bruce managed a laugh. “Women cannot fight.”
“Try any city center on a Saturday night. You’d soon change your mind.”
He frowned. “I don’t understand.”
“That doesn’t matter. I’ll explain later. Look, here’s what we’re going to do.”
He smiled as he listened and when she was done he nodded. “That’s just crazy enough to work. Maybe.”
“We better hope so,” Heather replied. “I just wish Gavin were here.”
“Me too,” Bruce admitted. “But we will make him proud of his clan.”
Heather took one last look at the outlaws emerging from the woodland. By her calculation, she had about twenty minutes until they reached the hill that led up to the cave. That gave her time but not much. Would it be enough? She’d just have to see.
Heading into the cave she called for silence. “Listen up. The outlaws have found us.”
Immediately shouting and crying broke out. “Quiet! We have little time to prepare. Anyone who cannot or will not fight take the children to the back of the cave. They will not need to see this. The rest of you join me over here. Will and John, bring me any spare blades or bows. Hurry!”
She stood by the cave entrance, Bruce giving her updates on how far the outlaws had progressed.
“Do we have a chance?” Will asked as he passed her the last of the daggers.
“If we work together,” she replied. “Go take the men to see Bruce, he knows what to do next.”
She looked at the people who were left. Some of the clan had gone to the back of the cave but not many. Frightened eyes looked back at her. Elderly men, young women, nursemaids, kitchen girls, grooms. “How many of you can fire a bow?” she asked.
Several hands went up. “Those who can fire take a bow. Those who can’t take the arrows and be ready to pass them. I want a line of archers above the cave entrance. Keep out of sight for as long as possible. You will be our first line of defense.”
All the war movies Heather had watched were fresh in her mind. She thought of historical battles she’d seen reenacted on TV shows. The main thing she’d learned was that taking an army head on when you were heavily outnumbered was a foolish thing to do.
“The rest of you, take a dagger and be ready to join Bruce’s men when I give the signal. Remember we have God and ju
stice on our side. If we die today, history will remember us well.”
“We will not die,” Bruce called back. “We will win.”
“I hope so,” she said. “How long?”
“Two minutes. Be ready.”
Heather took her place with the others at the cave entrance, a long dagger in her hand. Could she kill someone? She had no idea. All she knew was she would die defending the children whatever it took.
A little voice whispered at her to run and find a door, unlock it and go home.
The clan had become like family. She would never abandon them like that.
At the bottom of the hill the outlaws were beginning to climb. Bruce had vanished with the others. All the approaching army could see was Heather alone in the cave entrance.
“We seek Gavin MacGregor and Heather Frazer,” Jimmy the Snout called from the front of the group. “They have something we desire.”
“I am Heather Frazer,” Heather called back down. “And perhaps we can discuss terms.”
“Or we can kill you and take the key.”
At the mention of the key, Heather froze. Was all this because of her? If it was she should have run. They would have followed her and left the clan alone.
She shook her head, knowing that was not true. They would have slaughtered all they found anyway. There wasn’t a single peaceful face among the men looking up at her.
“I have no key,” she said at last.
“We will soon find out,” Jimmy said, raising his sword. “Attack!”
The first wave came running up the hill. Heather waited five seconds, then ten. The men were no more than fifty yards away. “Now,” she yelled at the top of her lungs.
From high above the cave arrows flew down. The outlaws were taken by surprise, several of them falling at once.
Jimmy sent in another wave but they had to clamber over the bodies of their fallen comrades. More arrows flew but all too soon they stopped. “That’s it,” Heather said, dagger held in front of her. “Let’s do this.”
She charged forward, screaming at the top of her voice. The others followed her. The outlaws laughed at the sight of so many women and old men coming toward them. Just as they thought they were about to slaughter the MacGregors, Heather turned to the left, the others following her.
The outlaws ran after them, still laughing. Their laughter stopped as from behind the rocks to their left and right Bruce emerged with his men, swords drawn.
The outlaws were surrounded. There was a brief second where nothing happened and then all hell broke loose.
Heather stopped and turned back. The outlaws and the MacGregors were locked in mortal combat.
“Heather Frazer!” a voice called out. She looked up. Keir was holding an ax in his hand, ready to throw it. Just as he hurled it through the air, Bruce jumped in front of her, shield held out to intercept the ax. It embedded itself in the shield as she winced, crouching on the floor under the highlander.
“That was close,” Bruce said, picking the ax from the shield and hurling it back at Keir. It missed him, striking another man in the face. He fell at once, blood spurting from the ax wound. Heather couldn’t stop looking at him. Bruce shook her shoulders, finally gaining her attention. “You better get back to the cave.”
She turned and ran with the women, outlaws yelling abuse at them as they went. Bruce and his men were fighting bravely but Heather could already see the tide was turning.
For every outlaw that fell two fresh ones took his place. Bruce and his men were beginning to tire. Heather felt sick. This was her fault. All of this had happened because of her. She had failed them.
She urged the others toward the cave but a group of outlaws had reached the entrance, blocking their passage.
The archers emerged from hiding above the cave, diving down and plunging into the fray. Heather raised her dagger and ran forward, leading the way. The others followed.
All fear left her as she reached the line of outlaws, her dagger held high. A sword was swung her way and she ducked to avoid it, poking her own knife toward the exposed foot of her attacker. It dug deep and he yelled, hopping away in agony.
Her ears rang with the noise of battle. Staggering back under the weight of attack she ducked again to avoid one sword blow after another. “Stand still,” a voice called. She recognized that voice.
“Jimmy the Snout?”
“You’ve heard of me then?” Jimmy said, sword pointed straight at her. “I will be her right hand man after this. I will give her the key and she will love me for it.” He swung the sword slowly as she held the dagger toward him. “I’ll do you a deal. Give me the key and I’ll let you live.”
“Never.”
“Look around you. You’re outnumbered. I give the word and all this stops. You can save many lives if you just give me the key.”
“Never.”
“You can stop this, Heather.” He lunged and she was just able to bat the sword away. Pushing her dagger toward him she almost made contact.
If she’d had a sword she would have hit him but the dagger blade was too short. Jimmy shifted in place. “Your people are dying,” he said.
She glanced behind her. He was right. The outlaws were winning. “Give it up,” Jimmy said, a wicked smile playing across his lips. “We’ve won.”
18
Gavin looked down at the battle taking place below. Beside him was a bow someone had abandoned. He automatically picked it up and flung it over his shoulder. Now all he needed was some arrows.
When they saw the battle from the woods, Mungo had wanted to storm straight in and charge them all but Gavin could tell at once that was a bad idea.
“They have the higher ground.”
“So? They are distracted.”
“The horses could not charge well on such a steep slope.”
Mungo was itching to throw his men into the battle. Gavin was more than ready but he took a moment to think things through.
“So far the outlaws have not seen us,” he said after a few seconds.
“And?”
“And we can take advantage of that. Give me a dozen of your men and ten minutes. When I give the signal, charge.”
“Where are you going?” he asked as Gavin climbed down from Lairdkiller’s back.
“See the cave up there?”
“What of it?”
“The signal will come from there.”
Gavin didn’t wait. He knew Mungo would obey him, the guilt had been evident while Gavin collected his sword from outside the castle. Mungo had begged for forgiveness during their ride toward the cave, repeatedly apologizing for the things he’d done while bewitched by the old crone’s spell.
He made his way up the side of the mountain, amazed the outlaws hadn’t looked his way. His heart yearned to be with his men in the thick of it but this way was better.
Crouching low he ran from rock to rock, slowly but surely looping around the flank of the battle until he was above the cave.
He peered over the top, catching sight of a battle his men were losing. Not for long, he thought, his eyes moving toward the cave entrance.
He caught sight of Jimmy the Snout a moment later. A group of women with daggers had been caught in the open. How had that happened? Then he saw Heather at the front of them, backing slowly away from Jimmy’s sword.
“Give it up,” Jimmy was saying. “We’ve won.”
“No you haven’t!” he shouted, waving his arm high in the air. Jimmy turned and looked up and so did Heather as a roar of noise sounded from further down the valley.
“Gavin MacGregor?” Jimmy’s jaw fell open as Gavin leaped into the air, landing on his back. Other Frazers followed, diving straight into the middle of the battle.
Jimmy turned his sword to try and get Gavin off his back but he couldn’t make it hit. Gavin clung on, trying to force him off balance. They crashed into other men, bouncing off and then falling to the ground. At once Jimmy fell still. Gavin looked down. His dagger was sticking out of
Jimmy’s chest.
He didn’t pause, scrambling to his feet eager to continue the fight.
He managed a smile. The tide had turned so fast the outlaws were already running. Frazer men on horseback were thundering through the rout, running down the outlaws that didn’t get out of their way quick enough.
The Frazers who’d come with Gavin were making short work of the group by the cave. One of the outlaws yanked an arrow free from the ground, trying to use it as a skewer. It was immediately snapped by a Frazer sword, the man sliced in the stomach a second later.
The outlaws were losing. Another few minutes and the battle would be over.
“Gavin!” a voice shouted.
He spun around in time to see Keir holding a knife to Heather’s stomach.
“Let her go,” Gavin said, taking a step toward them.
“That’s far enough,” Keir said, pushing the knife into Heather’s dress. “Unless you want to see her skewered.”
Gavin froze, hand still on his sword, ready to move at the first opportunity. The others had stopped fighting, all of them watching. Gavin noticed Keith nodding at him. He couldn’t work out why at first, then he smiled, giving a slight nod back.
Keir was backing toward the cave entrance, dragging Heather with him. “You ruined this,” he spat. “Why couldn’t you have let them execute you? Was that too much to ask? I was supposed to intercept her when she came back, get the key, become the crone’s favorite. Not Jimmy, me!”
“Calm down,” Gavin said. “Let’s talk about this.”
“You dead. She comes back and I take the key from her. But no, you had to spoil things by escaping and causing all this bloodshed. No one would have died if you’d just let me do things my way.”
“Susanne died, Keir.”
“That was your fault. I wouldn’t have had to do it if you’d not lived. But I get the last laugh now. I take her with me to the old crone and we give her the key together. She might even let me take Heather as my bride. Wouldn’t that be nice? Can’t you see us as a happy couple together?”
The Key to His Castle: A Clean Time Travel Romance (Clan MacGregor Book 5) Page 17