Chapter 4
T he raid had not been quite the success Sandy hoped for, but at least they’d managed to get away. They rode for an hour or two, until Sandy guessed Edmondson’s men would have stopped following them. After all, they hadn’t managed to actually steal anything, so why bother pursuing through the night? Surely this girl wasn’t worth chasing after either, especially through a dark, wild forest. She was very pretty, though, with long blonde hair hanging down her back.
And what an outfit she was wearing! Skin tight leggings, moulded to her every curve. A practical outfit, admittedly. Riding astride would have been difficult in a skirt. Still, it was like no ladies’ outfit he’d ever seen before. He could only hope that his sister never saw it. There would be no talking her out of wearing a garment just the same. Her baggy boys’ breeches were bad enough.
At last, they reached the clearing that Sandy and Tam had chosen earlier. Sandy swung down from the horse, then helped the lady - Brigid - jump down to stand beside him.
“Allow me to introduce my associate,” he said. “Tam Erskine. A good friend.”
Tam bowed low and Brigid nodded awkwardly. No curtsy? Odd. Her cultured voice had led him to expect better manners.
“A pleasure to meet you,” Tam said, then turned to rummage in his saddle bags. Good. He hadn’t told the lady his position or home. That was for the best. After all, they didn’t yet know if they could trust her.
“A fire should be safe enough,” Tam said, producing a flint. “This far from the camp, wild animals are probably a bigger threat than Edmondson’s men.”
“I expect you’re right,” Sandy agreed. “Besides, it’s bloody freezing. Get that started can you, man?”
Tam set to work on the fire, while Sandy unsaddled the horses and began to rub them down. To his surprise, Brigid came to help him with the horses. She seemed comfortable enough around them. A farm girl, perhaps, despite the voice?
“Where are you from, Brigid?” he asked.
She shrugged, not looking at him. “From around here, originally. But I’ve been living in London for a long time.”
Now, that didn’t sound right. He knew just about every pretty woman around here. And her accent sounded English in its entirety. More like a noblewoman than a farm girl, as well.
“Your parents are from near here, then?” he asked.
“More or less,” she said, focusing on the horse.
Sandy suspected she was hiding something. Doubt slithered into his mind. What if this was all a setup? He wouldn’t be the first man to be taken in by a pretty face and a damsel in supposed distress.
“How did Edmondson manage to capture you?” he asked. “And why?”
She shivered, an action which seemed genuine enough. “I was forced into it,” she said. “And if I can’t figure out a better option, I might have to go back to him.”
Sandy frowned. What did she mean? He wanted to ask more, but she’d already turned away from him, heading over to Tam and the fire. He considered pushing her for more details, but he suspected she wasn’t ready to tell him.
She surprised him, though. She paused and looked back over her shoulder.
“Edmondson kidnapped the man I was supposed to marry,” she said. “He’s threatened to hurt him if I don’t do what he wants.”
Sandy stared at her in horror. Kidnapped? He’d heard strange stories about Edmondson, since he’d arrived a few months ago, but this was one of the worst.
“Well, you can rest assured that I will get you to safety,” he promised. “And perhaps then I can help you to rescue this man.”
“Thank you,” Brigid said - although her radiant smile was the only thanks he needed.
After eating the last of Sandy’s supplies, they all settled down to sleep. Brigid lay on one side of the fire, curled up under Sandy’s plaid. Tam and Sandy huddled together on the other side. Brigid fell asleep almost instantly, relaxing against the hard ground. She must have had a difficult and tiring day. Sandy watched her sleep for a little while. The soft light of the fire turned her into a golden goddess, slumbering in her forest kingdom.
“Can we trust her?” Tam asked quietly.
Sandy hesitated. “I think so,” he said at last. “But I can’t be sure. She’s definitely hiding something - but, then again, so are we. At the very least, she has no fondness for Edmondson, and that can only be a good thing.”
Tam nodded.
Something moved in the woods, catching Sandy’s attention. He was on his feet in an instant, reaching for his sword. He scanned the dark trees, but saw nothing. If only his eyes weren’t still half-blind from staring into the fire!
Nothing else moved. Perhaps it had been an owl, or some other small animal. Sandy sank back down beside Tam.
But then a twig cracked - loud and distinct.
“Watch the woman,” Sandy muttered to Tam. He jerked his head at Brigid, who was beginning to sit up, blinking sleepily and rubbing her eyes. Tam nodded and Sandy prowled towards the woods, his sword raised.
Without warning, a dark shape rushed out at him. Sandy swung his sword, but the mysterious figure was quicker. It darted under his sword and swung around behind him. Before Sandy had time to pivot, a knife was at his throat. He froze, feeling his pounding heartbeat focus on the thin edge of the blade.
Then his attacker laughed.
Sandy dropped his blade abruptly, letting out a few angry words. The knife dropped from his throat.
“What the hell were you thinking?” Sandy asked, whirling on Mary. She stood close to him, her knife still in her hand. “I could have killed you!”
Mary laughed up at him, her eyes full of amusement.
“Oh, you’d have to be a lot faster than that,” she said.
Over her shoulder, Sandy saw Brigid staring at them, open-mouthed. Wonderful. He had been utterly humiliated - defeated by a tiny woman - in front of this golden goddess.
Tam burst into applause.
“Brigid,” Sandy said through gritted teeth. “Allow me to present my sister, Mary MacLeod.”
Mary curtsied ostentatiously. Brigid nodded in reply, although she looked confused.
“No more time for lazing about,” Mary said, turning back to Sandy. “Edmondson’s men are already on your trail. And if I could find you so easily, coming from the opposite direction, then they’ll find you too.”
Across the fire, Brigid went white. Sandy could almost feel her panic. Whatever had happened to her, she was clearly terrified of Edmondson. Left to himself, he might have stayed and faced the man. But he wouldn’t put Brigid through that. He needed to get her somewhere safe.
Home.