Chapter 12
“Get down!” Reuben yelled at Kate, watching in horror as she stared at him.
He pushed himself off the ground, running right at her as she spotted the arrow which had barely missed them.
Her eyes had been closed when the bolt went past them, and by the time she would realize what had happened, it would be too late.
Reuben slammed into her from the side, dragging her body down to the ground.
Another arrow whizzed past her head, missing her by just inches.
Reuben spotted a fallen tree ahead and began crawling to it, knowing that if he could hide behind it, they would be out of range of whoever it was that was shooting at them.
He quickly reached the log and called to Kate behind him.
“Follow me!”
He took a look back at her, making sure she was staying low before he peered over the log.
Just as he did, an arrow hit the log, dousing his face with splinters.
The laird quickly ducked, realizing that they were in the presence of a gifted archer.
Knowing that they would move to get an advantage on them, Reuben decided that they had to move.
The next arrow landed next to his foot, telling him that the archer had already begun moving.
“Reuben!” Kate called out.
The laird turned to see that Kate had not left the spot she had started at, and she was trying to get her dress out of some roots which had gotten stuck on her, keeping her in place.
“Stay low!” Reuben yelled. With a single look, he bounded out of his own cover and began running in a zigzag pattern until he got to Kate.
He grabbed her dress and pulled at the part which was stuck, ripping it clean in one swift motion.
Just as he did, an arrow whizzed past them again, and this time Reuben dropped to the ground, clutching his hand.
“Reuben!” Kate yelled, ducking low as another arrow barely missed her. She got flat on the floor and snaked over to Reuben who was lying flat on his back.
“I’m hit,” Reuben began, “But it’s nothin’ I can’t deal with. We need to get out of here.”
“The archer is moving. I can see movement in the trees. If we run, we’ll get hit before we can make it far away.” Kate replied.
Reuben stared at her, wondering what she had in mind. He had been in a fight several times, and especially in situations like these where he felt like the advantage belonged to the enemy. He made a fist as he pondered on who it could be that was trying to kill them.
“We have to get out of the clearing first, the archer can see us clearly,” Reuben said with finality in his voice. Kate nodded instantly and looked to a point where the trees was thickest to the side of them. “On my mark.”
Kate set off running for the trees even before Reuben had asked them to move.
She made it to the trees first, with Reuben reaching her a few seconds later.
They did not stop to see where the arrows had come from, but from the sounds of the bolts hitting the trees around them, they knew the attacker was right behind them.
Reuben watched as Kate got behind a boulder and stayed low.
He got to a tree next to her and crouched by the branches.
He stared out to the other side of the forest, trying to find the archer through the trees, but the foliage was just too much for him to see far, and he hoped it would be the same thing for the individual trying to kill them as well.
“I think we lost him,” said Kate, breathing heavily.
“Aye, but the horses are back the way we came.”
“So if we are going to get out of here, we have to face on the person behind this?” Kate asked, looking at Reuben.
Reuben shook his head. There was no way they would be facing off against anyone.
He was already injured, and as he looked at it, he could see that the cut was deep and he was losing blood.
He considered who could have attacked them, and realized that he had quite a number of enemies.
But none that had the heart to attack his home upfront.
He would not be able to attack, not with Kate there.
If anything were to happen to her, Reuben would not forgive himself.
Watching her, he could see that she had scraped her knee, but that was the most pain she was in.
His mind went to Sweeney. He did not know of the McGowan’s had any archers among their ranks, save for Kate’s late mother, there was no other he was aware of.
But either way, Max could easily get someone hired to try to kill Kate and anyone who was out there with her.
“We wait them out. They can’t stay for long,” said Reuben.
“Why?”
“Because they are in enemy territory. It might not be true, but they would be expecting some of my men in the area at any moment, and that would be enough to get them running. We just have to wait for a little bit, and once they get away, we will double back for the horses and ride back to the estate.”
“What if they know that no one is coming?” Kate asked. “Then we would just be sittin’ ducks, waitin’ for this killer to come here and finish us off.”
“Then what would ye have us do?” Reuben replied, a little upset and reducing his voice so he would not draw attention.
“Where’s yer sword?”
“I didnae think we would need it.”
Reuben realized just how dumb he sounded after the words had come out his mouth.
He had not come with the sword because he believed there was no need for it, also, he did not expect that she had ridden out so far.
He was too far from the castle to turn back to get it when he had realized, and now, they were at a disadvantage against whoever was trying to kill them.
“We need to keep runnin’, Kate!” Reuben called out, looking behind them.
“Nae! That’s the wrong direction! If we head that way, we daenae ken where we’ll end up.” Kate pulled a bolt out of her quiver and locked it in the bow, peaking from behind a tree.
“Well what do ye want us to do?” Reuben asked, letting out a gasp as he felt his arm sting from where the arrow had hit him.
“We fight,” Kate shot back with a grim look on her face.
“Nae, stay still!” Reuben yelled out, but Kate darted off to the side.
He got to his feet, rushing after her, but another arrow flashed right before his eyes, causing him to stop and drop to the ground.
He looked from behind the tree and realized that the shooter was using movement and the sound of leaves rustling and branches creaking to tell where they were.
The Laird decided to do the same. He shut his eyes and focused, listening to the sound of the forest around him.
He heard the sound of birds chirping in the distance, the leaves at the tree tops dancing in the wind, and the creaking of a branch a few meters ahead of him.
He opened his eyes and looked at the tree, glancing up to see the figure hiding up in the trees.
They had used branches and leaves to mask their appearance up in the tree, but he was certain.
“Kate, up in the oak!” Reuben yelled, throwing a branch in the opposite direction he was at.
The branch distracted the shooter, and they turned and fired at the branch, allowing Kate to see where they were in the tree.
Reuben watched as the man leaped out of the tree and hit the ground, turning to run.
A second later, an arrow flew out of Kate’s bow and in through the trees. The sound of a dull thud and a cry told them that she had hit something, but Reuben could not see it. A few moments later, Kate rushed back over with a fearful look on her face, helping him up.
“Did ye hit him?” Reuben asked, looking at her.
“Aye, I got him in the back. It looks bad,” Kate began, and I could hear the fear and trembling in her voice. She had not taken a life before, and she was about to be overwhelmed with guilt for doing it for the first time.
Reuben looked at where the figure had disappeared into. He turned back to her and nodded, taking an arrow from her hand. He looked at the quiver and saw that there were only two arrows left. He grabbed her hand and looked her in the eye, making sure she understood how serious he was.
“Kate, I need ye to stay here, stay right here. Do ye understand?”
Kate nodded. Reuben rubbed a hand against her cheek, pulling her in for a hug. “Be careful,” she whispered.
Rueben nodded and walked slowly towards where the body was last seen.
He held the arrow tightly in his grip, knowing he had just the sharp end to defend him.
If he came face to face with the man, he would have to use it to defend himself.
However, if the man still had his bow, he would be able to kill Reuben before the Laird could react.
So he moved slowly, scanning the forest floor with his eyes as he walked.
A broken twig caught his eyes, and Reuben looked up above it to see a bloody palm print on a tree.
A few leaves, heading to the left of the tree were also covered in blood, and the boots of the man was left in the muddy floor as he made a hasty retreat from where the fight had happened.
From what Reuben could tell, the man had taken a nasty blow and was rushing away to save himself before he bled out.
If he followed the trail, he would be able to find the man, and probably finish him off before he got to the safety of a healer. But that would mean leaving Kate alone and out in the woods, and it would also leave his own injury untreated.
He turned around and headed back, taking some of the arrows he found along with him on his way back.
He took one of the enemy arrows a well, before he reached Kate, who stood in wait, with her bow ready, if the person was not Reuben.
He saw the fear in her eyes, and it melted his heart, making the Laird feel the desire to protect the beautiful woman even more.
Yet she had ignored his instructions and gone right ahead and almost gotten herself killed by firing at the attacker.
“Ye shouldnae have gone out there!” Reuben began as he saw her. “What if he had seen ye first and fired? Ye would be dead right now!”
“Well ye did not seem to have any good ideas, so I decided that I was going to do somethin’!”
Reuben shook his head in disbelief. “Nae, that was wrong. We would have found a way out of this. Ye put yerself in danger like that again, and I will…”
“What’ll ye do, Reuben?” Kate asked, glaring at him.
The Laird rubbed his hair, realizing that there was no point to fighting. “Where did ye learn to shoot like that?”
“From my maither. I haven’t shot in so long, I didnae know I would still be good at it.”
“Aye,” Reuben rubbed his neck, trying to draw it out of him. He had not wanted to admit it, but it had happened. Kate had saved their lives. “Ye…”
“Let’s get back,” said Kate, walking towards where they had left the horses.
“Wait,” Reuben called out.
“What do ye want now, Reuben? I saved our lives, and ye can barely say a thank ye! What is it?” Kate asked, looking at him and noticing the blood which was on his arm for a second time. “Oh.”
She rushed over, ripping some of her clothes clean off, just as Reuben had done just a little while ago. She took it to the wound and wrapped it around firmly. It was not much, but at least it would stifle the bleeding until they were back at the estate where it would be properly treated.
As she worked on the injury, Reuben took a deep breath. He could still smell it, beneath the smell of sweat and earth, the lavender scent of the woman who was in front of him. He leaned in close to her, staring at her. His eyes scanned her face, going from her eyes to her lips, and her cheeks.
The Laird moved his other arm slowly around the small of her waist, pulling her close to him.
She hesitated for a moment, but then she let him.
The feeling drove Reuben to new heights.
He wanted her, and she did not seem to be moving away, which was a good sign.
Brushing her hair off her cheek, he brought his face closer and closer to hers, with the tips of their noses now making contact.
“Ye can stop me any time, Kate.” Reuben whispered in a sultry voice which stunned him as well.
She stared into his eyes, searching quietly.
Unable to hold back anymore, Reuben took another step forward and their lips collided.
The Laird was stunned with just how soft her lips were as they met.
He felt her glide along with him hesitantly for a moment, but then, she kissed him back, pushing herself forward as she let her tongue and lips fought against his own for supremacy.
Reuben felt a wild sense of pleasure rushing through him.
He ran his hand through her hair, holding her face in his own as he took from her.
Their tongues intertwining, battling back and forth for who could have the most. She was more than he had expected, softer than anyone he had ever kissed.
He wanted more of her; the more he kissed her, the more he wanted.
It felt like an insatiable hunger dwelling inside of him, threatening to consume him if he did not fulfill it.
Kate quickly took a step back, staring up at him. Reuben stared at her eyes, seeing the passion turn to insecurity. She was questioning herself, and if she should be kissing him. Reuben took a step forward to hold her again, but she put a hand up, stopping him.
“We need to get back to the castle. There could be more men on their way.”