Chapter 7
Chapter Seven
Through the mists
that clouded her mind, Lindsey heard the sound of her gown being
torn. A sense of outrage drove her, despite the fact that she was
barely conscious. With fingernails and teeth she scratched and bit
until her attacker let out a hiss of pain.
“Now you will pay, wench,” Argus snarled.
“When I finish with you, you will beg to die.”
He slapped her again with a force that
snapped her head to one side. With a little moan, she fell back,
forced to endure the cruel hands that tore at her garments.
“I am going to enjoy this,” Argus
whispered.
As if from a great distance Lindsey heard
another voice, one she recognized as Jamie MacDonald’s, saying in
deadly coldness, “Not nearly as much as I am going to enjoy killing
you.”
At the icy tone, Argus looked up in terror.
His movements stilled as the cold blade of a knife pressed into his
back.
In a voice low with fury Jamie added, “For
every pain you inflicted upon the lass, I will inflict a hundred
upon you.”
Argus swallowed. “Unless you spare my life,
my men will see that you never leave this place. You had best drop
your weapon.”
“Save your empty threats.” Jamie brought his
arm around the highwayman and pressed his knife to his throat.
“Your men have already been overpowered.” His voice lowered
ominously. “Where is your leader?”
Argus felt sweat bead his forehead as the
rough grasp began to cut off his breath. He could feel the barely
controlled tension in the man’s hands. Any moment now his attacker
would explode. “He rides to the lady’s camp to seek a ransom. It
was he who suggested that we entertain ourselves with her.”
“You miserable cur.” Jamie itched to slit the
man’s throat. But his first thought was of the lass who lay as
still and broken as a wounded bird.
With a vicious shove Jamie tossed the man to
Robbie, who, with Neal, stood guard over the others, who had been
subdued.
“Bind him,” Jamie ordered. “And kill any man
who attempts to escape.”
Lindsey’s brothers had never before witnessed
such blind fury. Jamie MacDonald’s temper was a terrible thing to
see. Without a word they led the villain away.
Sheathing his weapon, Jamie dropped to his
knees and cradled Lindsey in his arms. Blood trickled from her lip,
trailing a crimson ribbon along her creamy throat. Her gown was
torn, revealing bruised flesh. Seeing her, Jamie fought a wave of
emotions: fury at the animal who had inflicted such pain on this
helpless maiden, self-hatred that he had let down his guard and
allowed this terrible thing to happen to one under his protection,
and a sudden rush of tenderness toward the woman who lay before
him.
With her last ounce of energy Lindsey brought
up her hands to ward off any further blows. “Nay,” she cried.
“Leave me.”
“You are safe now, my lady,” Jamie
whispered.
Her lids fluttered. The giant who held her
seemed to swim in and out of her line of vision. In halting tones
she whispered, “Is it truly you, Jamie MacDonald?”
“Aye, my lady. You are safe.”
“Was that Robbie’s voice I heard?”
“Aye, lass. He and Neal accompanied me.
Donald and Murray ride with your father. Your brothers overpowered
the other highwaymen. They will see that the animal who did this to
you does not break free.”
She struggled to gather the remnants of her
torn bodice. “My brothers must not see me like this.”
“Hush, my lady. Lie still. Do not tire
yourself.”
With great tenderness Jamie removed his cloak
and wrapped it around her. But when he attempted to lift her in his
arms she pushed away.
“Nay. I must stand alone. Else they will
think me weak.”
Jamie was aware of the heroic effort she made
to get to her feet. But though she swayed for a moment, she waved
away his hand and took a tentative step, then another, until she
had made it to her brothers’ side near the fire.
To her youngest brother, whose eyes were
troubled at the sight of her, she called, “Do not grieve for me,
Neal. I am unscathed, as you can see.” In a strong voice she said,
“Bring my horse. We must ride to camp and alert Father that I am
alive.”
Neal cast a worried glance at Jamie, who
motioned him to do her bidding. When the horse was brought to her,
Lindsey pulled herself into the saddle and forced herself to sit
very straight. Whatever pain she suffered, whatever fear rippled
through her, she would deal with it later, when she was alone. For
now she must show only the strong woman she had always shown to the
world.
Jamie watched her, marveling at her iron
will. “We will take these highwaymen to our camp and decide later
what is to be done with them.” His tone was deliberately devoid of
emotion, masking the fury that still simmered within him. “Then one
of you must alert your father and brothers that Lindsey has been
found.”
With a tough new hardness to their features,
Neal and Robbie herded the villains onto their horses, binding them
together so that they could not escape.
Jamie studied Lindsey’s stricken features.
There was a pallor to her skin that worried him. Though she was
struggling to put on a brave face for the sake of her brothers, he
sensed that tears were very near the surface. But from her look of
determination he knew that she would insist upon dealing with it in
her own way.
It was Robbie’s hoarse whisper that broke
through his thoughts. Jamie saw the lad’s eyes grow misty before he
turned away and fumbled with the reins of his horse.
“Until now,” the young poet said softly, “I
have been content to write pretty words and envision a world of
beauty. Before this moment I have ne’er wanted to lift a sword
against a man. But I cannot bear the thought of these men soiling
one as precious as our Lindsey. I would have gladly given my life
for her.”
“Aye, lad. I share your feelings,” Jamie said
softly.
Robbie pulled himself into the saddle and sat
a moment, composing his features. When his emotions were under
control he brought his horse alongside Lindsey’s.
“I am grateful,” she whispered to her
brother, “that you were able to find me so quickly.”
“ ’Twas Jamie MacDonald who found you,”
Robbie said. “Were it not for him, all would have been lost. He
drove us unmercifully when we feared we had lost your trail.”
Lindsey glanced beyond her brother to the
giant who stood a little away from them. “Then I am in your debt,
my lord.”
Jamie gave her a slight bow and turned away.
When he had mounted they moved out.
Lindsey set a brisk pace, calling, “Father
will be beside himself until he sees that I am safe.”
Robbie nodded his agreement. “Aye. We must
ease his mind. He was greatly tormented by your abduction.”
At that Lindsey urged her mount into a
run.
From his vantage point, Jamie watched with
grudging admiration.
“Neal. Robbie,” he called, “ride on either
side of the prisoners to assure that none escapes.”
The two lads did as they were told.
As they entered the darkness of the forest,
Lindsey felt the tremors begin. Thin morning sunlight filtered
through the canopy of vines and tangled growth, casting strange
shadows along the trail. Though she struggled, she could not seem
to put aside the dark fears that clutched her, like hands. She
shivered. Cruel, grasping hands. She felt a terrible, wrenching
ache in the pit of her stomach and doubled over in the saddle. But,
the pain would not subside. Though she took deep, calming breaths,
she felt the forest closing in upon her. A little moan escaped her
lips as she felt herself falling. The shock jolted her as she hit
the ground.
Instantly Jamie was beside her. With a look
of concern he cradled her in his strong arms. A cursory examination
told him that she had sustained no serious injury. But it was plain
that the lass had pushed herself beyond the limits. Her skin was
deathly white, her breathing shallow.
Neal hurriedly dismounted and knelt beside
them. His face was etched with concern. “It was as I first
suspected. Lindsey has been harmed by that brute.”
Jamie noted the pleading in Lindsey’s eyes
and kept his tone deliberately bland. “She is unharmed. Your sister
merely needs time to recover her strength.”
When Robbie also dismounted, Jamie saw the
way Lindsey struggled to sit up. Thinking quickly he commanded,
“Take these villains to our camp and see that a rider is dispatched
to your father. I will remain here with Lindsey until she is strong
enough to ride.”
Lindsey shot him a look of gratitude.
“I think we should stay together,” Robbie
protested.
It was obvious that Jamie was accustomed to
taking charge. In brisk tones he said, “Nay. There is your father
to think about. He will be heartsick until he is reassured that his
daughter lives.”
“Jamie is right, Robbie,” Neal agreed.
“Father and the others will be crazed with worry by now.”
“Aye.” Robbie straightened and pulled himself
once more into the saddle. He could see the wisdom of Jamie’s
words. His sister would be safe with Jamie MacDonald. There were
few who could successfully challenge this giant and win. Especially
when the Heartless MacDonald was in such a foul temper. Their
father’s fears must be put to rest.
“You do not mind, Lindsey?” Neal called.
“Nay.” She gave her brothers a reassuring
smile. “I will merely rest for a little while and then I will
follow you soon.”
She watched as the column of horses moved off
through the woods. When at last she turned she was startled to find
Jamie studying her carefully.
At the intensity of his gaze she felt the
heat rush to her cheeks. Lowering her eyes she said, “It seems I am
once again in your debt, my lord. Thank you for sparing me the many
questions of my brothers.”
“And what of my questions, my lady?”
She remained silent.
“Are you harmed, Lindsey?”
“Nay,” she replied quickly. “I am merely...
weary, my lord. I would be alone with my thoughts for a while.”
Jamie’s jaw clenched. Her meaning was quite