Chapter 19
Chapter
Nineteen
As the darkness of
the forest closed around them, Lindsey felt a sudden chill.
Thoughts of her last adventure in the Highland forests filled her
mind. With an effort she brushed the gloomy memories aside. This
was nothing more than a morning jaunt. She would be back at the
castle in time for Mistress Macnab’s midday meal.
As she began to follow a well-worn path
through the woods, Ian clutched her reins.
“Nay, my lady. This way.”
“If we leave the path we will be lost.”
“Did I not tell you that I have an uncommon
sense of direction? Trust me.”
Without waiting for her reply he veered off
the path and plunged into the darkened forest. Lindsey
followed.
The foliage was so thick they had to pick
their way carefully over fallen logs and around muddy bogs. The
farther they rode, the deeper grew the forest, until it seemed to
close around them, shutting out all light, all sound.
Ian held several thick branches aside and
reined in his mount, allowing Lindsey to move ahead of him. As she
did, her horse stumbled down a sharp ravine, sending her flying
through the air. She landed with a dull thud on the spongy,
moss-covered floor of the forest.
For several moments she was too stunned to
react. Then, quickly getting to her feet, she was dismayed to see
her horse galloping ahead of her through the thick foliage.
“Nay,” she shouted. “Halt. You must
wait.”
The horse was swallowed up by the woods.
She turned, scanning the wall of trees. Ian
was nowhere to be seen.
“Ian. Where are you?” she shouted.
The only sound she heard was the shrill cry
of a bird. “Ian. This is not amusing. Do not tease,” she called.
“Show yourself.”
Her voice seemed to echo in the mist-shrouded
woods. The forest closed around her. She stood very still, gripped
by a paralyzing chill. It was happening again. The demons that had
plagued her for so long were returning to torment her once
more.
* * *
The queen, accompanied by Neal, waited in the
courtyard to claim her victory. Soon her smile of anticipation
turned to a frown of concern.
“They should have emerged from the woods by
now.”
Neal glanced at the sun, almost directly
overhead. “Aye, Majesty. It is not a large island. They could have
traversed the entire distance by now.”
“Help me from the saddle,” Mary commanded.
Neal assisted her and stood holding the reins of her horse as she
climbed the steps of the castle.
Over her shoulder she called, “Summon me when
your sister returns. I wish to collect what it due me.”
“Aye, Majesty.”
When the door opened, Jamie and Douglas, who
had been deep in conversation, looked up to see the queen’s flushed
face. Both men scrambled to their feet.
“It would seem you exerted great energy on
your ride, Majesty.”
“Aye. I engaged Lindsey in a race. But she
has not yet returned.”
“Where did you ride?” Douglas came forward to
offer his arm.
“The forest.”
Douglas paused and glanced toward Jamie,
whose smile faded to a look of alarm.
“Lindsey is alone in the forest?”
“Nay. Neal and I rode together. Lindsey is
with Ian MacPherson.”
MacPherson. That was even worse. Jamie’s
throat went dry. Struggling to control his voice he asked, “Did you
see the direction they took?”
“Nay, my friend. You know how I hate to lose
a wager. I led the way into the forest and never looked back.”
Jamie was already heading up the stairs
toward his chambers. Strapping on his scabbard, he lifted his sword
from the mantel and hurried from the room.
* * *
As Lindsey picked her way through the
undergrowth, she cursed the clumsy skirts that impeded her
progress. Having had the occasion to wear a lad’s breeches, she
knew that a woman’s clothing put her at a distinct
disadvantage.
She paused a moment, seating herself on a
fallen log. As she lifted a handkerchief to her face she had the
eerie feeling that she was being watched. But when she turned to
glance over her shoulder, she saw no one.
Getting to her feet, she studied the progress
of the sun. It seemed only minutes ago it had been directly
overhead. But already it had begun its arc to the western sky. She
must find her way to the castle before daylight faded. Else she
would be forced to spend a night of terror alone in these
woods.
She tossed her head, refusing to permit such
thoughts. She would think of this forest as a maze. And she would
work her way through it to safety.
She heard the snap of a twig above her and
looked up just in time to see a heavy branch falling toward her.
With a cry she leaped back and watched in horror as the limb
crashed to the ground inches from her. Had she not looked up in
time, she would have been crushed.
She looked through the dense foliage. There
was no one visible. It was merely the wind. She knew she was
imagining dangers that were not really there, but she could not
fight the terror. With her heart pounding she took off at a run,
plunging deeper into the woods.
Behind her, pale, nearly colorless eyes
watched her progress. The sun glinted on fair hair. The hand
holding the dirk tightened its grip.
* * *
The neighing of a horse alerted Jamie that
someone was near. Following the sound, he left the well-worn path
he was traveling and entered the thick forest.
He was a man unaccustomed to fear. It never
occurred to him to worry about his own safety. And yet, since he
had met Lindsey, he had been afraid for her more than once. This
time, the fear bordered on desperation. He must find her, and
soon.
The sound of a woman’s cry turned his blood
to ice. Urging his mount to a run, he tore through the wild,
tangled growth.
“Lindsey,” he shouted. “If you can hear me,
call out so that I may follow the sound of your voice.”
Despite the crackle of brush underfoot,
Lindsey heard Jamie’s words and came to a sudden halt. She turned.
For a brief moment she thought she saw the flutter of crimson in
the woods behind her. She blinked and it was gone.
Cupping her hands to her mouth she shouted,
“Jamie. I am here.”
With her heart pounding, she continued to
call until a horse and rider emerged from the forest.
“Jamie.” With a cry she raced toward him.
He leaned down and lifted her easily into his
arms. “It seems all I do is save your pretty neck,” he muttered
thickly.
“Praise heaven you found me. I was beginning
to fear that I would be forced to spend the night in this...”
She glanced up and the words froze on her
lips. Though he said nothing, the dark scowl on Jamie’s face spoke
volumes.
Her cheeks flamed. And to think that she had
almost hugged him fiercely in her joy at being rescued. In such a
temper he probably would have pushed her away.
Wheeling his mount, they plunged into the
darkness of the forest. They picked their way through the woods
until they emerged on the path. Minutes later they broke free of
the forest and entered the clearing. They rode the entire distance
to the castle in silence.
When they reached the courtyard, Jamie tossed
the reins to Neal, who led the queen’s lathered horse to the
stables.
Taking Lindsey’s arm, Jamie strode up the
steps and sent the door open with a resounding crash. Once inside
he released his death grip on her arm as Douglas and his sons
surrounded Lindsey, embracing her warmly. They looked up when the
queen came hurrying into the room.
“Wherever have you been?” Mary demanded.
“I fear I became hopelessly lost in the
forest,” Lindsey said, feeling the sting of shame upon her
cheeks.
“Where is Ian MacPherson?”
“I know not. I became separated from my horse
during a fall. When I looked around, Ian was nowhere to be seen.
And though I called and called, I never caught sight of him.”
Jamie and Douglas exchanged a glance.
“You look terrible,” Mary said.
Surprised, Lindsey glanced down at her arms
and saw that they had been scratched by brambles and were bleeding
in a dozen different places. Her gown and cloak were likewise torn
and stained with her blood.
“Oh, my,” Mistress Macnab cried when she
entered the withdrawing room and caught sight of Lindsey. “I shall
see to your bath immediately, my lady.”
“Thank you, Mistress Macnab.” Turning to the
queen and her family, Lindsey said softly, “There is no need for
all this fuss. It is not nearly as bad as it looks. A few
scratches. A torn gown.” She turned to include Jamie, who had still
not spoken a word. His features were stiff with anger. “You will
see. I will be fine after my bath.”
“I am relieved that you are unharmed. But you
seem to have forgotten something,” the queen called.
Lindsey arched a brow.
“You owe me ten gold sovereigns.”
“Aye.” Reaching into the pocket of her gown,
Lindsey withdrew the coins.
“Now you may retire to your bath,” Mary said
with a smile of triumph.
Lindsey saw Jamie’s scowl deepen. With a look
of extreme discomfort she turned and followed Mistress Macnab up
the stairs to her chambers.
A few minutes later Ian MacPherson strode
through the door. On his face was a worried frown.
“I have searched everywhere for Lindsey,” he
said. “I found her horse, which I returned to the stables. But
there is no trace of the lady.”
“She is safe,” the queen said. “She returned
a short while ago in the company of Jamie MacDonald.”
“Praise heaven.” Ian made a great show of
relief. “I have been searching for her ever since I found her
mount.”
Without a word Jamie turned away, his jaw
clenched.
* * *
Jamie paced the floor of his chambers, unable
to shake the anger that simmered inside him. On a sideboard, his
half-filled-tankard glinted in the light of the candle’s glow. It
was not ale he needed. There was not enough ale in all of Scotland
to drown his fury.
In the next room he could hear Lindsey,
talking and laughing quietly with Sabina, who was helping her with
her bath.
His hands clenched and unclenched. What was
he to do with Lindsey? If he could, he would lock her here in her