Chapter Six
Quietly, Keegan carried Seona on his back through the trees and closer to the edge of the dark forest. Loud shouts from the two warriors and the clangs of their blades filled the night air.
“’Tis Chief Dirk, fighting with someone,” Seona whispered into Keegan’s ear.
“Aye.” But he couldn’t tell which of the outlaws challenged him.
Dirk could take care of himself, but protecting Isobel while fighting would be much harder.
“Wait right here, behind this tree,” Keegan whispered, lowering Seona to the ground next to a larger tree.
Hopefully, wearing his dark plaid, she would be well-hidden behind the trunk.
He wanted her close-by so he could protect her should the outlaw flee Dirk’s wrath. “I’ll get Isobel.”
“Have a care.”
“Aye.”
Keegan rushed to the perimeter of the wood.
He didn’t wish to distract Dirk, but he had to be sure Isobel remained safe, especially since she hadn’t run like Dirk had ordered her to.
Stubborn woman. She stood thirty feet behind Dirk, well out of range of the two fighters, but still too close for his comfort.
“Isobel. ’Tis me, Keegan,” he said, still hidden in the shadow of the trees, though likely his pale linen shirt could be seen in the moonlight. “Come.”
She gasped and sent a quick glance his way. “Nay. We must help Dirk!”
Keegan crept closer, unable to recognize Dirk’s opponent in the low light. “Who is he fighting?”
“Nolan MacLeod.”
The bastard who had tried to rape Isobel last year? Keegan had never met him, but he’d seen him from a distance.
“Dirk can handle him. Come into the wood where you can hide with Seona.”
In the next instant, Nolan’s sword flew into the air and he fell backward, yelling and grabbing his throat. He sprawled down the embankment, his head almost in the water of the stream. After a few moments, he grew silent and still.
Dirk’s loud breaths were the only sounds in the darkness. Isobel ran to him and he drew her close with one arm.
“Are you injured?” she asked.
“Nay,” Dirk said. “Are you?”
“Nay.”
“Thank the saints. When he snatched you from the tent and took off, I thought my life was over.” Dirk pulled Isobel tighter against him and kissed her.
Keegan moved out of the tree line and closer to the unmoving body of Nolan MacLeod. An ugly dark gash marred his throat.
“Is the bastard dead?” Dirk asked.
Nolan’s eyes gleamed wide and sightless in the moonlight. “Aye. Looks that way.”
“Justice is served,” Dirk said.
“Indeed,” Isobel agreed, staring solemnly at the dead man’s body. “I wanted to kill him myself but… he was too strong for me.”
“Nay, ’twas my duty and responsibility,” Dirk said. “Any other whoreson who hurts you—or even tries to—will meet the same fate.”
Dirk could have lost his beloved wife so easily tonight.
He had to be relieved to finally be rid of the MacLeod knave.
Keegan could only imagine how he must have felt when Isobel was seized.
’Twas the same gut-wrenching feeling he would have if someone kidnapped Seona.
Keegan strode back into the wood and found her where he’d left her, wrapped in his plaid and standing behind the tree.
“All is well now. Nolan MacLeod grabbed Isobel and made off with her, but Dirk killed the blackguard. Neither Dirk nor Isobel is hurt.”
“’Tis good news. I would like to see Isobel,” Seona said, excitement evident in her tone. “What of Haldane?”
“I know not yet. Come.” After sheathing his sword, Keegan lifted Seona into his arms and carried her through the trees.
Though he would never tell her, he was enjoying the sensation of carrying her slim, lithe form in his arms. Once he emerged onto the trail, he set Seona onto her feet but stood between her and Nolan’s dead body. She didn’t need the additional scare.
“Och. I see what happened to your plaid, then,” Dirk said in a light tone.
“Aye. I am ever the gentleman.” Keegan gave a mock courtly bow.
“I’m not certain of that, but you are generous.” Dirk grinned. “Where’s your horse?”
“Hidden in the trees. I’ll go retrieve him.”
While Dirk guarded the women, Keegan returned to the forest for Curry.
A few minutes later, they were all mounted and traveling slowly through the dimness, Keegan’s horse behind Dirk’s. The faint light of dawn gleamed over the dark mountains and white morning mist floated from the burn.
Thankfully, the echo of blades had gone silent and Keegan hoped each member of the MacKay party was unhurt. He wanted to ask Dirk if they’d lost any men, but he and Isobel were sharing a kiss up ahead. Far be it from him to interrupt, but their actions made him crave another taste of Seona.
Her innocent kiss had completely seduced him. From the first time he’d seen her last autumn, her full, bow-shaped lips had driven him mad. He’d been fantasizing about kissing her for months, and now that he knew how delicious her kisses were, he yearned for more. So much more.
Those two minutes had been the most stunning of Keegan’s life. He had to find a way to keep her.
Now, he held her slender form with one arm around her midsection.
Her curvy arse pressing against his groin was even more tempting than the floral scent emanating from her long, glossy hair.
Every aspect of her lured him, but he managed to restrain himself from brushing his lips across her ear.
For the moment, simply holding her close and knowing she was safe was enough.
He focused on guiding the horse along the side of the burn toward camp.
Dirk stopped and waited for Keegan to catch up. “I hope the guards have run the rest of the outlaws through,” Dirk said.
“Aye. Do you ken if any in our party was killed?”
“Nay, I don’t.”
A horse nickered nearby. Halting, Keegan snatched his sword from the scabbard and Dirk did the same. Keegan’s gaze searched the vicinity for the rider. He detected no other movements. The animal dropped his head and continued picking grass.
“Nolan’s horse,” Dirk said.
Keegan eyed the animal in the faint light of dawn. The pale gray horse looked familiar, although scrawnier than the last time he’d seen it. “He may have been riding it, cousin, but ’tis one the outlaws stole from Dunnakeil last winter.”
“Indeed?” Dirk asked.
Since his cousin had only just arrived in Durness last November, he was not yet familiar with their horses. “He’s near starved it to death.”
“Aye. Any man who mistreats women and horses deserves what Nolan got,” Dirk muttered.
“Agreed.” Keegan leapt down and took the horse’s bridle, then, after he was mounted again behind Seona, led it back toward camp.
As the light grew brighter, visibility was not improved for the thick haze gleamed white, giving their surroundings a mystical quality. It seemed unreal, just as it had to kiss Seona in the wood. Like a dream. One he never wanted to wake up from.
“Chief!” a man yelled from the depths of the mist. They halted. A guard named Boyce appeared.
“Aye?” Dirk responded.
“Are any of you hurt?” The brawny man’s dark gaze skimmed over them.
“Nay. We’re well,” Dirk said. “Did everyone in our party survive?”
“Aye. Three men have injuries and are being patched up.”
Dirk nodded. “Were any outlaws killed?”
“Aye. One I’ve never seen before. The rest fled.”
“Make that two. I killed Nolan MacLeod.”
“’Tis good news, m’laird. We’re well rid of the outlaw.”
“What of Haldane and McMurdo?” Keegan asked.
“Escaped.” Boyce lowered his bushy dark brows.
“We’ll get them.” Keegan was determined to stop Haldane from attaining either of his goals.
To Keegan, Dirk was like a brother, and the clan needed him as the chief.
As for Seona, she was growing more precious to Keegan each day.
He wished he could’ve found a way to talk to her months ago.
But he’d thought there was no hope for anything between them.
Now, the time they had left together grew short.
“I only regret we didn’t take them down before we started on this journey with the women,” Dirk said in a low voice.
Keegan nodded, feeling the same intense concern.
“Send three men to bury Nolan MacLeod’s body in the wood and mark the grave with stones. But first, search him and bring his weapons and possessions to me. I’ll make sure his brother gets them,” Dirk told the guard.
“Aye, m’laird.” Boyce bowed and hastened back toward camp.
“I’ll let Torrin MacLeod know where his brother is buried,” Dirk said. “I’d want to know if it was my brother.”
“Aye,” Keegan said. Although he didn’t know the MacLeod chief well, he didn’t think the man would be angered that his outlaw brother was killed at Dirk’s hand. In fact, he should’ve expected it, given what Nolan had tried to do to Isobel.
The four of them rode into camp where the men were packing up the tents and readying everyone to travel.
Keegan was disappointed that his ride with Seona was over.
Holding her close to him was one of the best feelings on earth.
He dismounted, then lifted her down from the horse.
Her dark blue gaze met his in the faint dawn light and her lips curved up in a tiny smile that bewitched him. Damn, how he wanted to kiss her again.
Her haggard-looking aunt appeared and dragged Seona away.
She glanced back at him once, her expression dejected.
He wanted to chase after them, but that would be daft.
His chest ached. He led the recovered horse toward one of the two grooms traveling with them and instructed him to give the gaunt animal extra oats and also check it over for injuries.
Glancing down, Keegan realized he was still only half dressed, though he was fully covered. Hopefully, Seona would return his plaid after she put on her own clothing. The men were sure to tease him about losing his plaid.
Behind him, a man roared as if in pain. His hand flying to his sword hilt, Keegan spun around expecting a surprise attack. But no one moved. “What the devil?”
“Rebbie cauterized Marston’s badly bleeding wound,” Dirk said nearby.