Highlander's Challenge (29 page)

278

Highlander's Challenge

by Jo Barrett

Ian and his small guard silently followed. A mere hour later, they came upon the band's camp. Hiding their horses some distance away, they stealthily moved closer on foot, well hidden by the dense brush.

Colin spied Amelia gagged and tied to a tree at the far edge of the clearing. He cast a quick prayer of thanks to the heavens that she was still alive, but her captors would not be for long. Pulling his claymore free, he prepared to rush into their circle and swiftly remove their heads. A strong hand clamped over his arm.

He snapped his head to the side to see which of his party was fool enough to interfere.

Ian motioned silently toward the wood across from the clearing. Another group of men were closing in on the camp, well in sight of the others. Obviously they were in league with the ones who'd taken Amelia, leaving Colin and his guard outnumbered three to one.

Clenching his teeth hard enough to make his jaw pop, he sheathed his sword. He had to use his head and not let his fury destroy the one person he loved above all others. The newcomers spread out, posting guards as the one in charge greeted his counterpart in the clearing. He couldn't hear what was said, but could see clearly that he was not pleased.

The newcomer waved toward Amelia repeatedly, his face red with rage. He pulled his dirk and shoved the other aside and moved toward her.

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"See to the others," Colin hissed as he made his way quickly toward the clearing. He didn't dare risk waiting to see if his intentions were to cut her free or take her life.

"A fine morn," Colin called as he entered their small circle. As expected the man stopped his advance on Amelia and turned.

It took all his strength not to look at her, to show the slightest flicker of recognition. He was still too far away to put himself between her and a well-honed dagger. Rolling her eyes, Tuck groaned behind her gag. Had he lost his mind? Not only was he outnumbered, he didn't even have his claymore drawn.

"Who be ye?" the one who'd grabbed her asked. The man bearing down on her with the knife, spat out, "Ye dobber, 'tis Colin MacLean."

"Aye, that I am, but I dinnae know your name," Colin replied coolly.

She could see the anger lighting his lion eyes, sensed the intense fury he struggled to contain. Some of which, she surmised was for her, due to her latest blatant refusal to do as he'd ordered.

Okay, so she'd screwed up. She admitted it. But did he have to waltz into enemy territory as if he hadn't a care in the world? Didn't the man have a brain in his hard head?

The one with the knife edged toward Colin, a sinister grin on his craggy face. "Ye know who I be, MacLean. But you'll not be tellin' another soul."

Colin laughed. The big dumb ox actually laughed at the man who matched him in size and was already armed. 280

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"Aye," Colin said, still chortling. "You be a Campbell. 'Tis a shame you Campbells have tae resort tae kidnapping our women. It doesna take much of a man tae prey on the weak. Then your visage isna a pretty one. Mayhap 'tis the only way for you tae get yourself a lass."

His grin broadened as he casually folded his arms across his chest. "Aye, an uglier Campbell I've yet tae meet, but I would think you'd find lassies well enough on your own shores. We've few beauties tae pick from here as 'tis." What the hell was he—Tuck blinked, then blinked again. He was stalling. She carefully shifted her gaze to the far woods from where he'd appeared. If he had guardsmen with him, they were hiding themselves well.

She sucked in a calming breath, doing her best to ignore the stench from the rag in her mouth. She had to trust him. She did trust him. The man she knew, the man she loved wouldn't willingly put himself in a losing situation. He would save her life, of that she had no doubt. Then he'd probably lock her up for the next hundred or so years, but she couldn't blame it for that.

The goons grew weary of his continued babbling and sprang for him, while the one he'd called a Campbell stood by and watched. She winced as Colin took several well-placed blows, but smiled, as best she could under the circumstances, as he laid them out one by one.

Until the one with the knife decided to join in, that is. She screamed through her rag, although ineffectually, but Colin must have heard and spun around to face his new adversary. 281

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She sucked in a disgusting breath as the swipe of the knife missed his throat by mere inches. God, she couldn't live with herself if he died because of her stupidity. As they continued kicking up the dirt, Campbell lashed out with his blade and caught him across the upper arm. Blood oozed through the slice in Colin's shirt, but he paid it little attention.

The ropes cut deeper into Tuck's wrists as she struggled to free herself, determined to help him. She couldn't just sit there and watch. She twisted and squirmed, but it was no use. Stars popped in and out of her line of vision with the strain and she fell still, trying to catch her breath. She couldn't faint, not now.

"'Twould be a great pleasure tae kill you," Colin growled. He'd managed to get a solid grip around Campbell's neck and was close to choking him to death.

She took a quick breath of relief that he'd won against this cretin, but what about the other Campbells?

Ian and William strolled into the clearing as big as you please and took a moment to watch the fight.

"Dinnae kill the bastard, lad. He may be of use," William called.

Ian chuckled and crossed to Tuck. Kneeling beside her, he sliced her bonds and removed her gag. She spat and swiped the back of her hand across her lips. It would take a long time to get that horrid taste out of her mouth.

"What took you so long?" she snapped. "He could've been killed waiting on you to show up."

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Ian chuckled softly. "Now, dear heart, we had to take care of the others first. Can I help it if the man refused to wait? He was determined to reach you before anything untoward could happen. 'Twas difficult enough talking him into letting us accompany him." He gently clasped her shoulder. "He was afraid, as we all were, for your safety, Amelia." She opened her mouth then snapped it closed, completely lost as to what to say. Colin had saved her from a wild boar, offered her a place to stay, tended her when she was sick, and came after her when she pulled one of the biggest blunders of her life. But he'd scared her half to death!

Furious, she got to her feet then quickly gripped the small tree before toppling back to the ground. Swallowing hard against the sudden wave of dizziness, she turned and stomped up to Colin as best she could. Although she would much rather act like one of those ridiculous females and throw herself into his arms. But instead, she resorted to poking him in the chest.

"Have you lost your mind? Do you have a death wish or something? You couldn't wait a few more minutes?" Hearing her barbs, knowing she was alive and well, the vise around Colin's chest eased. He ached to hold her, to tell her of his heart, but the daft female wouldn't let him get a word in.

"You had to risk your stubborn fool neck against four armed men," she continued, struggling to tear the lower half of his sleeve.

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He ripped the cloth away, noting her pale face, but grinned as he caught sight of the emerald flames sparking in her eyes. She had a glorious temper.

Quickly wrapping the piece of cloth around his wound, she tied it off firmly. "What if your guard hadn't won? What then?

We'd both be dead, you big dummy."

His smile quickly waned. She'd nearly lost her life with her foolishness, but had she fled because of him? Would she reject him once he laid his heart bare to her?

The tightness returned to his chest tenfold, spurring his anger. "I dinnae see what you're harping about. You're safe, are you not? And what in bleedin' hell were you thinking? You shouldna be out of your sick bed, you daft female." Dropping her hands, she swayed yet managed to glare at him. "I don't need an overgrown nursemaid." He leaned closer, his fury matching hers. "Nay, you need a keeper."

Her eyes rolling, she said, "Once—an ogre, always—an ogre." She fell against him in a dead faint.

"Blast you, lass. You'll be the end of me yet," he muttered against her curls as he lifted her into his arms. His horse appeared by his side, a worried frown marring young Michael's features where he stood holding the reins.

"She's weak, lad. But I've no doubt she'll be fine." He knew he spoke the truth. Her fire, her courage, her infernal stubbornness would see her through the remnants of Maighread's poison.

Nudging his horse onward, Colin relished the feel of her in his arms. Every breath she took, deep and steady, every beat 284

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of her heart, strong and sure. Aye, his love would recover, but would he, if once she was well and truly healed she still wished to leave him?

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Tuck awoke to the sounds of a busy day below in the bailey coming through her open window. The soft feather mattress cradled her in a comfortable embrace, and she hesitated before opening her eyes. She simply felt too relaxed and didn't want to lose the rare feeling. Well, the dreams she'd had weren't bad either. She'd latched on to the foggy but wonderful memories of being held in Colin's arms on their journey back to Castle Arreyder, keeping away any nightmares of her recent ordeal. The dinner Elspeth had fed her with a fussing Fiona by her side the evening before had done wonders as well. She felt almost like her old self.

Giving way to her need to rise, she stretched like a contented cat. She paused at the sight of her wrists wrapped in cloth. Well, maybe not completely her old self, but close enough. All she needed now was a good breakfast and some fresh air.

She chuckled softly at the noonday sun. Perhaps a good lunch instead. No wonder she felt so rested and hungry. She'd slept for nearly eighteen hours.

Elspeth bustled in, fussing and fuming at her as she climbed from the bed and dressed.

"After what happened tae you yestreen, you've no business getting out of bed."

"I know you mean well, Elspeth, but I can't just lie around. I'm fine, really. I know what I did was wrong. I should've at least waited for..." she sniffed the air and grinned, "...some of 286

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your delicious potato bannocks. Not to mention your wedding. Congratulations, Elspeth. I'm happy for you. Tomorrow's the big day, I hear."

"Dinnae you be trying tae change the subject. You're not well."

She smiled and shook her head. "I promise to take it easy." In her own way, of course. She took Elspeth by the shoulders and guided her toward the door. "Now don't you have some wedding preparations to take care of?" Elspeth huffed, then smiled. "I can see that I'm not going tae convince you tae stay abed. But I'll not be responsible for what happens when
he
finds you up and about." With that comment, she left. Elspeth could only mean one man. Colin.

Tuck shrugged her shoulders and went about devouring her lunch. He'd get over it. And anyway, she wasn't exactly thrilled about his part in yesterday's drama either. To think the man could've gotten himself killed trying to save her. She shuddered and quickly pushed the thought away. After thoroughly cleaning her plate, she made her way downstairs and stepped outside. She paused on the top step, confused by what she was seeing. Aileen and Robert were saddled up and readying to leave.

"Where are they going?" she asked, glancing at Ian.

"Home. Are you sure you should be up and about, dear heart?"

She waved off his question. "Sure, sure, but what about the wedding? I mean, Colin's, not his father's." 287

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He chuckled. "You'll find out soon enough, my sweet. If the man's got any sense."

Shaking her head at his cryptic comment, she watched MacLean take Robert's hand then wave as Aileen and her small guard rode out of the bailey.

"I don't get it. Does this mean there's a truce or what? Did she get ticked because Maighread tried to kill her?"

"Yes, there is a truce of sorts, but Colin and Douglas will be meeting with the MacKenzie in a few days. It appears the Campbells have been impersonating each of the clans, attempting to instigate a war, hoping that in the end they would be able to take over the island." She nodded thoughtfully, recalling the odd tension between the Campbells she'd had the unfortunate luck to meet, and Colin. Yet the fact that Aileen was leaving, still in her single status, had Tuck crossing all her fingers and toes. Did it mean Colin wasn't getting married after all? Did it mean he was free to—she stopped that thought before it could grow and get her hopes up all over again. She wasn't the woman for MacLean. That had been proven time and again. So what if he cared about her enough to risk his life and come after her, it didn't mean he wanted her as a man wants a woman—loves a woman. Is honor was everything. He felt responsible for her. End of story. And not a fairytale. Reminding herself of the painful fact that she was never going to find that stupid happy ending Jenny had always talked about, she was determined to at least repay the kindness of Elspeth and Fiona, and so many others. She would use her skills to help keep the clan safe. 288

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"I guess I'd better get with it, in case the Campbells decide to pay a visit," she said, ignoring the pinch in her heart.

"I do not think—"

She waved off Ian's objection and strolled toward the lists.

"The guys need some more pointers, especially after watching that fight yesterday. The Campbells are definitely not wimps." Michael greeted her with an eagerness that made her smile, and in minutes she was deep into a hefty workout, although William refused to have any part of it, the big chicken. What did they think would happen? She wasn't going to break, for Pete's sake.