Chapter 4 #2
ahead and give our mounts a rest.”
“Aye, my lord.”
With a collective look of relief the column
of riders headed for the forest and climbed wearily from their
saddles. The canopy of trees and vines offered a respite from the
steady rain. Soon a fire was raging, and while the horses foraged
under Neal’s careful watch, the riders sat on fallen logs or
reclined on their cloaks around the fire, eating their first meal
since early morning. Two Highlanders stood guard on either edge of
the clearing.
Jamie leaned his back against the gnarled
trunk of a tree and watched as Lindsey returned to the clearing.
Except for the slight limp, she showed no sign of weariness. Her
carriage was erect, her manner animated as she spoke with her
brothers and the other men. Folding her cloak as a cushion, she
knelt before the fire. Her hair was bound tightly to her head by
netting, but a few damp strands had pried loose to kiss her
cheeks.
One of her brothers said something that
caused her to laugh. At that moment she looked across the clearing
and caught Jamie staring at her. For a long moment their gazes met
and held.
Lindsey felt her breath catch in her throat.
Never before had a man’s eyes held such fascination. It was as if
he was reaching out across the space that divided them and was
touching her. It was as intimate as any embrace. She felt the heat
rush to her cheeks. Blinking, she looked away, hoping to break the
spell this giant held over her. But a moment later she chanced
another look. His gaze still burned over her, causing a rush of
heat. She blamed it on the fire and forced herself to join in the
conversation of the others.
She would not allow this tyrant to gain such
a strange power over her. She could not. But against her will her
gaze strayed once more to where Jamie stood. He was no longer
alone. Her father stood beside him, engaged in earnest
conversation. Even as they spoke, she saw Jamie’s gaze shift to
her, and the heat once more stained her cheeks. Damn the man. And
damn this weakness that seemed to come over her whenever he stared
at her so boldly.
She turned away, determined to put him out of
her mind. She would concentrate instead on the excitement of the
journey that lay ahead. A visit to Holyrood, to see the queen. It
was every Scot’s dream, and at long last she was living it.
She looked up at the sound of a muffled
scream. Before she and the others could scramble to their feet and
unsheathe their weapons, they found themselves surrounded by a band
of fierce highwaymen.
A dagger sang through the air, heading
directly toward her father.
“Take arms,” Jamie shouted, shoving Douglas
Gordon out of harm’s way. A moment later both men were engaged in a
deadly battle with several swordsmen.
The air was filled with cries of rage and
pain as sword met sword. From the cover of the forest, dozens of
screaming villains poured forth, weapons poised for the kill.
As he fought back several attackers, Jamie
berated himself for leading his company into danger. He should have
sent riders ahead to scout the forest before allowing anyone to
make camp. He had allowed his concern for Lindsey’s comfort to
cloud his thinking. Lindsey.
He glanced across the clearing and was
stunned to see the object of his thoughts holding off two
attackers. The bejeweled sword in her hand slashed with deadly
accuracy.
“Lindsey, behind you,” he shouted, leaping
over a fallen body to reach her side. But before he could lift a
sword in her defense, she had disposed of the threat.
Several more swordsmen rushed to the aid of
their fallen companions, and Jamie and Lindsey found themselves
surrounded.
Standing side by side, they fought bravely,
driving back the attackers. Jamie was amazed by the lady’s skill.
Though slight of stature, she plunged her blade with mortal skill.
And though the cries of the wounded filled the air, she did not
flinch.
Three swordsmen attacked Jamie at one time,
and he found himself struggling to hold them at bay. Suddenly he
felt a sharp pain at his back. An attacker had crept up from behind
and held a sword tip to his back.
“Lower your weapon or die,” a deep voice
ordered.
Before Jamie could react, the pressure
against his flesh suddenly disappeared. Jamie glanced around in
surprise to see Lindsey disarm the attacker.
For one brief moment their gazes met and
held. Though they exchanged no words, their looks spoke
volumes.
Moments later a cry went up from one of the
highwaymen, and those who were still standing pulled themselves
onto the backs of their horses and disappeared into the forest. In
the stillness that followed, their fallen comrades lay bleeding
into the rain-soaked earth.
“How many of our company are wounded?” Jamie
cried. For long moments no one spoke as the fallen men were
scrutinized carefully.
At last a shout went up. “Three.”
“Any dead?”
“Nay, my lord. None of ours are dead.”
Jamie breathed a sigh of relief. “See to
their wounds,” he commanded.
Seeing blood on Lindsey’s gown, Jamie caught
her by the arm and led her to a boulder near the fire. “You are
wounded, my lady,” he said, studying her anxiously. “Sit here.”
She seemed surprised by his concern. Glancing
down at her gown, she gave a little laugh. “Nay. ’Tis not my blood,
but the blood of one of the villains who dared to test my prowess
with the sword.”
Jamie felt a swift rush of relief, which for
some unexplained reason quickly turned to anger. Through clenched
teeth he said, “You should have hidden yourself when the highwaymen
attacked. Have you any idea what a woman’s fate would be at their
hands?”
“Hide myself?” She stood up, her hands on her
hips, her eyes blazing. “I will remind you, Jamie MacDonald, that
were it not for my skill with a sword, you would have no voice left
with which to scold me.”
“Aye. I am grateful that you saved my life,
my lady.” He felt his unexpected temper flare anew. “But if we are
attacked again, I order you to hide until the battle is over.” With
fury darkening his eyes, he stormed away.
Lindsey watched him, feeling her own temper
simmer. Men. Despite the fact that she had been surrounded by them
all her life, she would never understand them. Did the lout not
recognize that she had a need to take care of herself?
Lifting her skirts, she went off in search of
her horse.
From his position across the clearing, Jamie
accepted a tankard from one of the men and glowered at Lindsey’s
retreating back. God in heaven, she was a distraction. A very
dangerous distraction. For the rest of the journey he must force
himself to ignore her and think only of the safety of everyone. His
carelessness had very nearly cost them their lives. He expelled a
hiss of anger. Praise heaven that in a matter of days he would be
at Holyrood and rid of her.
Still brooding, he drained his tankard and
set it down. When he straightened, he saw a blur of movement. Just
beyond Lindsey, under cover of misty rain and the tangle of forest
growth, was a man on horseback. Jamie let out a cry of warning.
Everyone in camp looked up. In quick strides he was across the
clearing and racing into the dense forest. With sword lifted, he
flung Lindsey roughly behind him.
“Advance and prepare to do battle,” he
shouted to the stranger.
Lindsey let out a gasp at the sight of the
man whose dark plaid blended into the green of their surroundings,
shielding him from view. Though he was only a few feet from her,
she had not spotted him until Jamie called him out.
The man remained motionless, assessing the
giant who faced him. For the space of a heartbeat it appeared that
he would draw his sword. Then, with a slow, dangerous smile, he
slid from the saddle and extended his hand.
“I heard the sound of battle, and thought to
lend my sword. But I see I am not needed.”
He saw the lass peer from behind the giant’s
back and his smile grew.
“I am Ian MacPherson. And the land you stand
upon is mine.”
Jamie studied the man whose fair hair and
pale eyes gave him a youthful, innocent appearance. “I am Jamie
MacDonald.” As the others surrounded them, Jamie added, “And these
are Douglas Gordon and his family.”
Ian offered his hand to each man, taking
their measure as he did. “And the lovely lady?” he asked.
Lindsey stepped from behind Jamie’s back.
“This is Lindsey Gordon.” Jamie’s tone was
curt.
“A most beautiful lady.” Ian lifted her hand
to his lips. “And a most splendid swordsman.”
“How would you know that?” Jamie felt a flash
of emotion as he watched the man kiss Lindsey’s hand. Jealousy?
Impossible. Never in his life had he been jealous of any man.
Still, for some unexplained reason, he mistrusted this man on
sight.
“I happened upon the fight just as the lady
disposed of her attackers,” Ian said, meeting Lindsey’s eyes. He
saw the flush on her cheeks and pressed her fingers a moment longer
before releasing them.
“And still you did not come to her defense?”
Jamie’s voice held a challenging tone.
“Alas, I was too late.”
“Too late or too lazy...”
“Come, my lord MacPherson.” Douglas Gordon
stepped between them, hoping to diffuse the anger in Jamie’s eyes.
“You will join us for a tankard before we move on?”
“Aye.” Ian paused, then turned toward
Lindsey. “That is, if the lovely lady will join me.”
With growing anger Jamie watched as Lindsey
blushed and moved along by the stranger’s side.
“You handled yourself admirably in battle, my
lady. You needed no man’s help to dispose of those villains.”
Ian’s words brought a smile of pleasure to
Lindsey’s lips. “If only certain other men could understand
that.”
“Where do you travel in such weather?” Ian’s
voice drifted back to Jamie, who paused in the woods to retrieve
Lindsey’s horse.
“To Edinburgh.”
“How fortunate.” Jamie’s head came up sharply
as Ian added, “I journey there myself. Mayhap I will join you.”