Chapter 3 #2
She snorted in disgust. “Lord help me, I kenned I should nae have trusted ye, Malcolm Gordon,” she murmured, gingerly shifting herself around so she faced the other way.
She wobbled for a moment then steadied herself.
“I suppose me knight in shinin’ armor is gonna get me down as well, is he? ” she asked tightly.
“Ye always were a sharp one, Catriona.” Malcolm chuckled as he stuck his boot in a crevice and hoisted himself up the wall with ease. For a brief moment, they sat side by side on top of the wall before he slid down the other side, his boots hitting the ground with a soft thud.
“Come on and jump then, lass. I’ll catch ye,” he told her, holding up his arms.
Her flush deepened. “Thank ye, but mayhap I can get down by mesel’,” she replied stiffly.
He frowned. “Aye, if ye wantae break yer leg and be taken by Sinclair’s men. Now, stop wastin’ time and jump, will ye?”
She looked at the drop once more, then her shoulders slumped in defeat. “Ach, very well.”
At that moment, there was a great roar and shouts and screams rose up from the direction of the priory. Looking up, Malcolm saw thick columns of smoke filling the sky.
“Oh God! There’ll be naught left of the place by mornin’. What are they daein’ tae the nuns?” Catriona cried, her face crumpling as she craned her neck to look behind her.
Malcolm was glad she could not see anything because he feared the worst. “Even Sinclair wouldnae dare tae hurt nuns,” he lied, prepared to say anything to sway her to come to him. He only wanted to be gone. “Jump, lass!” he barked urgently, curling his fingers in a beckoning gesture. “Jump!”
Something in his appeal must have convinced her. For she took one swift glance behind her, then fixed her eyes upon him, pushed away from the wall, and launched herself at him.
A moment later, Catriona landed in Malcolm’s strong, muscular arms, a whoosh of breath leaving her lungs.
“Well done, lass,” he said, placing her on her feet, waiting while she steadied herself before letting go and starting to walk. “Let’s hurry and get out of here. I’ve stashed me horse up ahead aways. ’Tis a few miles walk, but if we hurry and then ride hard, we could be at me keep before light.”
Catriona stopped dead, forcing him to do the same. She faced him, her eyes full of mistrust. “What? Ye think ye’re takin’ me tae Castle Gordon? But I wantae go home, tae see Duncan. I’m nae goin’ tae yer keep,” she told him, her voice rising.
In the interests of peace and cooperation, Malcolm tamped down his angry response and tried to put himself in her shoes.
“Duncan asked me specifically tae take ye back tae me keep and make sure ye’re safe until he can come and fetch ye or send fer ye.
He’s very worried about the threat Sinclair would pose if he found out ye’re on the road moving towards him.
He could try tae snatch ye. So, even though ye’re nae happy about it, I’m followin’ Duncan’s orders and tryin’ me best tae protect ye. ”
Her brows drew together as she considered this. “When ye put it like that, I suppose I have nay choice but tae go with ye,” she said finally, though a hint of defiance lingering in her eyes.
Malcolm breathed a secret sigh of relief. “Well, thank ye, I feel honored, milady,” he replied, quirking his lips sardonically. “Now come on and move yer feet. Every minute we stand here debatin’, the more chance there is of Sinclair’s men findin’ us.”
He strode ahead into the woods, his sharp eyes easily locating the almost imperceptible trail through the undergrowth whence he had come. When she followed him without further protest, he found himself smiling inwardly.
Thinking the matter settled, she took him by surprise when she suddenly said in a persuasive tone, “I understand what ye say, Malcolm, but mayhap we could come tae an arrangement.”
He glanced at her, suspicion curling in his gut. “What sort of arrangement?”
“Somethin’ that would suit us both. I dinnae want tae be a burden on ye or yer clan, and if Sinclair finds out I’m there, it will put ye all in danger.
So, how about I agree tae go with ye tae yer keep, but when we get there ye give me a change of clothes, some money, some provisions, and a horse?
That’s all I need tae get home by mesel’.
Ye’ll have done yer duty tae me braither, and I’ll be out of yer hair for good. ”
“Nay. That willnae dae at all. I’ll dae what Duncan asks of me tae the letter.” He saw her bottom lip trembling mutinously and tried to lighten the moment. “Now, are ye gonna come with me quietly, or dae I havetae tie ye up and sling ye over me shoulder?” he asked teasingly.
Her mouth fell open. “Did me braither tell ye tae make such threats?” she asked, her face so serious, he almost burst out laughing.
He peeped at her sideways and cocked a brow.
“He said I should dae anythin’ necessary tae protect ye.
I reckon that gives me an awful lot of leeway, and ye should ken I never make idle threats.
Now, stop mitherin’ and get a move on. We’ve still a way tae go before we can ride, and I’m sure ye dinnae want tae be stuck out here all bloody night. ”
She huffed at him, knitting her brows. “I’m comin’, aren’t I? And there’s nay need tae curse. Ye’re nae with yer men in the tavern now.”
“God, how I wish I was,” he muttered, rolling his eyes to the heavens.