Jake (The Highland Clan Book 4) (12 page)

She froze. “I cannot do it. I just cannot.” Her eyes went wide as her gaze moved up the curtain wall. “I’ll never be able to climb that high.”

Jake pointed to two spots on the wall. “The wall is not smooth. There are jutting pieces strong enough for a foothold everywhere. ‘Tis an easy climb. You can do it.” She hesitantly placed her foot in the middle of his hands and he picked her leg up and forced her to grab onto a stone sticking out to balance herself, then he found a place for her foot. “Now climb. One foot above the other. More men will follow. The faster you get over the wall, the faster I can come back for Maisie.”

She finally moved, but Jake already heard noises behind him. More guards. “Move quickly, Aline. There are guards coming this way.” He climbed up behind her, and she turned around to glance at the guards.

“Do not look, one foot above the other. One hand on top of another. Climb.”

She did as she was instructed, climbing slowly but steadily. Jake turned around to check their position only to find two guards almost upon them. “Go, sweets.” He noticed Aline had finally scaled the wall and was resting on the top, so he pulled himself up, an arm’s reach from the top. Unfortunately, the worse thing possible happened.

The stone he had grabbed to hoist himself up came loose from the wall, and he tumbled to the ground.

Chapter Thirteen

Aline screamed, though she did her best to squelch it, knowing any sound at all would only bring more of Hew’s guards. Jake landed hard on the ground, but leaped to his feet in a second, the hilt of his sword in his hand. Hew’s men came out of nowhere and were upon Jake in a second. Clinging to the crumbling stones, she watched the battle take place beneath her, praying for Jake to overpower Hew’s men.

Two men stood with their swords drawn, evil grins on their faces.

“Och, lad, you are fool enough to think you can take on two men?”

Jake chuckled. “If you are aught like the last two I drove my sword through, ‘twill be easy.”

They circled Jake while he stood fast in the middle. Aline watched, taking in as much as she could, ready to warn him if need be. Both men swung at him at once, and he held his sword in defensive mode, holding their thrusts off easily. Both surprised, they taunted him again.

“Och, Gus, did you not know we have the infamous Alexander Grant in front of us?”

“Aye?” Gus asked. “But he looks a bit young to be the greatest swordsman in the Highlands. He’s been the best for years. This lad could not be one and the same.”

The first fool swung at him and he parried with him easily. When Gus came at him from the side, Jake swung in a wide arc and knocked his sword out of his hands. Gus stared at him in shock before he collected himself enough to rush after his sword. Jake made quick work of the first fellow, running his sword through his heart while Gus chased his sword.

Gus retrieved his sword and stared at Jake. “Hellfire.” He ran straight at him, but Jake was quick, knocking his sword away again before burying the weapon in Gus’s belly.

Standing over the body, Jake murmured, “Not Alexander Grant, but his son.”

Aline caught movement out of the corner of her eye and yelled, “Jake!” She pointed at the guards heading toward them, at least five, perhaps more. “Quickly! Climb!”

Jake started up the stone wall, only to have his boot grabbed by one guardsman. He lost his balance, falling to the bottom again and landing with a grunt. But this time he was surrounded by five men.

A loud boom tore through the night. “Leave him! I want him alive.”

Hew Gordon sauntered over to the base of the wall. “However, if Aline refuses to come down, you can put a sword in his belly immediately.” He glanced up at her. “What will it be, Aline?”

“Aline,” Jake yelled as he stood, grabbing the hilt of his sword. “Run, jump down and run. Remember my promise.”

“Do that and he’s a dead man.” Hew sneered at her.

“He’ll kill me anyway. Jump.” Jake took a giant leap up the wall again, but two men yanked him back down. He landed hard on the ground, then jumped to his feet immediately.

Gordon turned to one of his men. “Shut him up, but I want him alive and able to talk.”

Three men went at him. Jake managed to fight two of them off, sending both to the ground on their backs with blood running profusely from some injury or another. The remaining guards grabbed him from behind, knocking his sword out of his hand while he went for the third.

It took two only fists to Jake’s face before Aline decided she could take no more. Another fist swung toward Jake’s face, but Aline shouted, “Wait! I’ll come down.”

Gordon nodded to his men, so they stood back, three men containing Jake while she climbed down. One man held him in a neck hold while the other two held his arms.

She stood in front of Hew, the most disgusting sight she’d ever seen, awaiting his judgment. What would they do now? Jake had asked her to trust him, and that was what she would have to do. Surely some of his clanmates were headed in their direction. Jake would not have left without telling someone, would he? If so, they had better hurry. She did not think Hew would allow Jake to live for long.

Hew strolled over to her, cupped one of her cheeks and licked the other with his foul tongue. He repulsed her. She glanced at Jake, whose gaze radiated raw fury, and then stared at the ground.

Hew whispered, “Do I not treat you well, my dear? You know I’ve wanted no one but you, yet you were going to leave me.” He gave her cheek a sharp slap with the flat of his hand.

“Hurt her again and you’re a dead man, Gordon,” Jake spit out through clenched teeth.

Hew pivoted on his heel, a slow turn for effect, something he often did, but then he spun back and slapped her again before making his way over to Jake. Tears threatened to spill down her cheek, not because of the sting, but because of the hopeless situation they were now in. How would they escape? What would happen to Maisie?

Gordon stood in front of Jake. “Who in hellfire are you to come here and tell me what to do? You can find your own wench. I claimed her as mine from her sire. She will be one of mine forever. But one must wonder why you are so interested in her? What clan are you with?”

Jake spit on Hew as soon as he was close enough. “You are one of the sick lads who gets hard by hitting lasses? You are not big enough to hit a man?”

Hew wiped the spit off his face with his sleeve before nodding to one of his men who was awaiting instructions off to the side. The brute punched Jake in the belly while Hew’s other men held him tight. This would not be a fair fight by any means.

Aline could not help herself. As soon as the punch landed, she screamed, “Nay!”

Hew tipped his head toward Aline. “What was that, my dear?”

“Please do not hurt him. I’ll do whatever you want, Hew. Just let him go.” How could she make this end? Guilt raced through her, though she knew she hadn’t asked Jake to come for her. He’d come on his own.

“Aline!” Jake bellowed. “You will not give in to him. Have you forgotten my promise?”

Hew nodded to his man again twice, and the man threw a blow to Jake’s belly before pounding a second one into his face. Hew glanced at Aline, then back at Jake. “Who the hell is this lad to you, Aline? Where did you meet him?”

She shook her head. “He’s naught to me.” She’d never give Hew his real name. If he found out he was a Grant, he’d kill him for sure. Would he kill him anyway? Her throat constricted, her palms dampened, and blood pounded in her chest. A horrible ache built inside her as she watched Hew’s henchman beat the one man who’d treated her with such kindness. “Please, Hew. Let him go.”

“How do you know him?” He stood in front of her, his hands on his hips. “Who is he?”

She shook her head and he reacted like a whip, the same as ever, his hand connecting with her cheek hard enough to make her head snap back.

“You piece of shit, I’ll tear you limb from limb slowly, then feed your ballocks to the vultures.” Jake spat blood from his mouth. “I’ll tell you who I am. Leave her be. I’m the one who found her in the bushes where you left her. Hard to believe she’ll be with you forever if you toss her out as though she’s a piece of waste. You have a sick way of treating your woman.”

Hew grinned. “So that’s it. But what was it you told me, Aline?” He ran his finger down the side of her face again. “Aye, I recall. An old woman found you and healed you, is that not correct?”

She stared at him, wondering where he would strike next, trying her best not to tense for the actual hit, having learned the hard way that it would cause more damage. He punched her in her belly and then caught her as she fell against him.

“You did not answer me, Aline.”

“I’ll kill you. My name is John Alexander Grant, and my sire is Alexander Grant. You’ll call all five hundred of the Grant warriors down on you if you continue. Let her go.”

“Aline?”

Her head lolled against Hew’s shoulder. She wished to pick her head up, but she could not because if she did she would vomit. Never, never had she wished for Jake to see her act this weak. She opened her eyes, catching his gaze. Staring at his handsome face and his beautiful blue eyes, she almost felt them reach out to comfort her. It was odd, but she could feel his strength supporting and strengthening her own. Was such a thing possible?

“Aline, did you not tell me it was an old woman?”

She stared at Jake, wishing she could tell him that she loved him. But how could she love a lad when she knew so little about him? Simple. Without a doubt, he’d never hurt her. She focused again on Hew’s question. “Aye, Hew. Forgive me for my lie. I’ll do as you ask. Please set him free.”

“I should.” He laughed. “The fool says he’s the son of Alexander Grant, the greatest swordsman in the Highlands. That amuses me. Does it not amuse you, Duncan?”

His henchman laughed along with him. “Aye, indeed.”

Hew pushed her to an upright position. He nodded to his man who then delivered another blow to Jake’s midsection.

Aline screeched and grabbed Hew’s arm. “Please, Hew?”

“Aye, I’ve reconsidered. I think I will allow him to leave.”

Something told her it was a trap. He played a game, but she knew not what. She held her breath as he ambled back over to Jake.

“Thank you, Hew,” she said quietly. “I’ll do whatever you ask if you set him free.”

“Grant, ‘tis what you call yourself? I shall allow you to leave, and you may take Aline with you. And if Grant truly is your sire, tell him we are coming for Loki’s keep first.”

Aline could not believe her ears. “Truly? You’ll allow us to leave?” She moved over to stand behind Hew, drawing strength from Jake’s nearness.

“Aye, suddenly you tire me, Aline.” He placed his finger under her chin and lifted her gaze to meet his. “You lied to me. I want naught to do with you again. You shall leave. Go.” His finger under her chin changed to a tight grip around her throat. “Go away, you sicken me.”

Aline gagged, but manage to say, “Maisie?”

“Maisie? I’ll keep Maisie. Why, it shall be a few years, but I like her. Leave me now.” His hand fell to his side and he tipped his head toward Jake. “Go with your boyfriend. Go spread your legs for him.”

“I cannot leave without Maisie,” she choked out in desperation. “Please, just allow Maisie to come with me. Please, Hew?” She glanced at Jake, whose face had contorted to a look of rage she’d never seen before as he fought the three men who held him.

“If you wish to leave, go with your lover. Maisie stays. ‘Tis the only chance you’ll have, my dear.” Hew crossed his arms in front of him, quite pleased with himself because he knew she’d never leave Maisie.

Dead silence settled over the group, but then a rumbling sound started. It came from her, she realized. She could no longer hold the tears inside. Sobs erupted from her as she hugged her arms around her waist. He’d asked her to do the impossible—leave her sister behind.

“You have a choice, Aline. Leave now with him, or I’ll kill him while you watch.”

Chapter Fourteen

“Aline! Agree!” Jake shouted. “You recall my promise?”

“Shut him up!” Hew bellowed.

The fool who’d punched him pulled out a dagger and held it to his throat. He tried to speak again, but the dagger pierced his skin.

Gordon spun around to face him. “Speak again, Grant, and I’ll beat her to a bloody pulp in front of your eyes.”

Jake held his tongue, but he caught her gaze, trying to silently convince her not to give in to the bastard. Yet how could she leave her wee sister with such a man? How could she be forced to choose?

When Aline glanced at him, he could see the apology in her gaze. He blinked at her, telling her he understood the choice she had to make, that he would do the same in her position. She crumpled against Gordon, sobbing, barely able to speak because she cried so hard. “Hew, I’ll not leave you. I’ll do as you ask. Please, please. I’ll stay.”

“You promise to do as I ask?”

“Aye, aught. Please do not hurt Maisie, though. Do not hurt her, and do not hurt Jake.” She sobbed with such abandon, Jake felt even more desperate for the chance to make her tormentors pay.

Hew called another of his men over and pushed Aline toward him. “Take her to my chamber and lock her inside.”

His man scooped her up and took her toward the keep. “Forgive me,” she called out, and Jake knew this time she was speaking to him. “I’m so sorry.”

Jake’s gaze followed her until she turned toward him, and he did his best to tell her with his eyes that he understood, that he’d be back, that Hew Gordon would not get the best of him or the rest of the Grants.

“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry.”

Her whimpering stuck a knife in his heart, and the desire to protect her possessed his entire being.

She was almost inside the keep when Hew bellowed, “Kill him, but take him outside the walls so he doesn’t smell. Leave him where the buzzards can have at him afterwards.” He pitched his voice to ensure he’d be heard.

Echoes of Aline’s screams carried to Jake on the wind. They moved toward the front of the keep only to be stopped by a man in a helm. The chief—it had to be. Blinking his eyes to get as much vision as he could through the blood pouring from a cut on his brow, Jake poured all his effort into identifying the man. But the helm hid too much for him to verify his uncle’s suspicions.

“What the hell are you doing, Gordon? I need your men practicing!” He came closer, but still stood a distance away, his hands on his hips.

“We captured an intruder. He came over the curtain wall.” Hew tipped his head in Jake’s direction.

“Alone?” the chief chortled. “What a fool. Who the hell is he?”

“Does it matter? I’m having my men dispose of him outside the wall.” Hew moved forward, gesturing for his men to follow him, but then stopped.

Jake wondered if he’d kill him right there and leave his body for Aline to see. Mayhap he was even now in front of her window. Or had Gordon changed his mind and thought of a better form of torture? Nay, he would not let this lad get the best of him.

Jake took advantage of the extra time to take stock of the situation and strategize an escape plan. He would not let Aline down. He would find some way to wheedle out of their grasp, and then he would get her out and her sister, too.

After a few words from Hew, his men dragged Jake forward, away from the chief but closer to the chief’s men. Gordon pointed to three of the guards. “Hold. Do you recognize the lad?”

“Who does he say he is?” the chief said. “What clan?”

“He gave us a name, but he lies. I’d like to have someone familiar with the area see if they recognize aught about him.”

The chief motioned to several of his guards and said, “Take a look. See if you recognize him.”

Four retorted, “We just arrived in the Highlands. How would we know?”

Another barked, “You recognize the Grant plaid, do you not?”

Hew and the chief both jerked their head around to stare at Jake.

“Shit,” Hew said, his eyes widened. “He said he was a Grant, but I did not believe him. Thought he stole the plaid off a body.”

The chief took several steps closer, close enough for Jake to finally be certain. He nodded to the chief and said, “Ranulf MacNiven, we meet again.”

The chief flung his helm off and headed straight for Gordon. “You fool! This is Alexander Grant’s son! Have I not told you how many warriors they have? They’ll be on us by daybreak. I do not have all my men here yet. And the ones who are here are not all prepared for battle.”

Jake couldn’t help but smile. He had to hand it to his uncle Logan. Here Ranulf MacNiven was, just as his uncle had predicted. The traitor had done the impossible and escaped his hanging. MacNiven almost had his fingers around Gordon’s throat when a young lad ran through the group screaming, “The Grants are coming. The Grants are coming!” He pointed in the opposite direction of where Jake stood, and every guard fell for his trickery, glancing that way.

Wee Kenzie.

Jake grinned. Chaos followed, just as it always did when Jake’s cousin Loki was around. Ranulf put on his helm and ran toward the front of the keep. Jake leveraged himself against the arms of the guards who held him and kicked both legs in the air, managing to knock two guards down. Kenzie disappeared, but a wave of arrows and stones came out of the air, knocking and scattering men everywhere. Gordon and MacNiven ran for the keep, Ranulf screaming, “Kill them!”

Over his shoulder, Jake heard a familiar voice yell, “Rat bastards! Where you running to?”

Magnus and Loki appeared beside him, and one of them tossed Jake his sword. Together, they took on the guards who’d stayed while Kenzie continued to shoot with his slinger. The deadly arrows continued to come down, proof that Gavin and Gregor sat atop the curtain wall. They had learned their precision from the best, Uncle Logan and Aunt Gwyneth.

Jake fought hard, but was surprised that his knees barely held him up. As soon as they had the opportunity, his friend Magnus, a brute of unbelievable size, picked him up and flung him over his shoulder.

“What the hell, Magnus? We need to go for Aline. Put me down.”

“Hell, nay,” cried Loki, running alongside of him. “We’ll return and take the whole place down, then we’ll get her. You’re going home while you’re still standing. Fool.”

“Aye,” Magnus added, “‘tis a good thing Ashlyn trusted me enough to tell me what you were about. ‘Tis a wonder you are not dead already. I never thought I’d see the day, Grant.” He chuckled as he ran, something Magnus always did. “You lost your mind over a lass. Loki and I are quite enjoying it. We left Jamie home to placate your sire.”

“Put me down,” Jake objected. But they did not waver in their purpose.

Once they reached the wall, Magnus set Jake down so he could climb up, but Jake scrambled back toward the keep. “Shite, Loki, grab him.” The two of them took off after him, but Jake got a sudden burst of strength and bolted toward the keep.

Jake glanced over his shoulder at Loki and Magnus, who had both clearly given up the chase. He called back to them, “Always was faster than you two.”

Loki bellowed, “Faster, but never smarter.” He took off behind Jake.

Jake was secretly glad to have his cousin behind him. Magnus held back, but it was the right thing to do. He was too bulky and not the least bit sneaky.

Loki would be a great help.

***

As soon as they were inside Hew’s chamber, his goon tossed Aline in a heap onto the bed. All she could do was roll over and sob. A few moments later, she heard the key in the lock.

She prayed and prayed that Hew would not kill Jake. How could she ever live with herself if anything happened to him? She had to have faith that somehow, Jake would be able to get away from Hew.

His skills with his sword had been phenomenal. He’d killed four men without any hesitation in their flight to the wall. The lads had not even seen his sword coming before it had been too late. Why had Hew come along at the wrong time? A few more moments and they would have gotten away.

Her gut-wrenching thoughts would not stop. Should she have chosen to go with him? He’d promised to come back and get Maisie, but what if Hew moved her dear sister? She did not even know how to find the chamber where Maisie was kept, so how could she explain it to another?

It didn’t take long for her tears to run dry, so she rolled onto her back and stared at the ceiling. Once silence descended in her room, the din from the outside grew louder, beckoning to her, so she rushed over to the small window and pulled the fur back to peek outside. Guards ran all over the courtyard, yelling at each other. They’d been off to the side of the keep, so she couldn’t see any sign of Jake, but after a little while, Hew Gordon and the chief ran across the courtyard to the stable, accompanied by a flurry of men.

What had happened? She gathered the dagger Ashlyn had given her along with a few other things into a satchel and tied them under her gown. Something had changed below. She fingered the one thing she’d kept of her mother’s, a ring of gold her sire had given her mother that she wore on a cord around her neck. Hoping it would bring her luck, she rubbed it against her gown until it shone brightly. Wee Maisie loved their mother’s ring, convinced it shined from heaven.

Holding her mother’s ring gave her confidence. The level of activity in the courtyard indicated something had happened, and she prayed it meant Jake had somehow been set free.

If Jake had gotten away, she believed he’d be back for her, and she’d go with him. Holding the dagger in her hand, she swung it a few times, practicing how to get a strong grip on the hilt in case she had to use it.

Mayhap she had cried about her situation, but now she vowed to change it. She was done being Hew’s woman. She would get out and find a way to free her sister.

Tiptoeing over to the door, she leaned her ear against it. There were no signs from within the keep—only without—so she grabbed the handle, pushing and pulling to see if there was any way she free herself. The lock was as sound as it had ever been.

More noise came from the courtyard, so she moved over to the window to see if she could determine the cause of all the commotion. The window was barely the size of her head, but it was big enough to see outside. Chaos was building instead of improving. Men ran about clutching their heads, blood dripping from various wounds. Several others were acting like chickens who’d just been beheaded for the evening stew. Hew and the chief had settled outside the stable and were presently engaged in a shouting match, though they were too far away for her to hear them.

A noise sounded from the door, and she turned around in time to see an axe come through the door. Jake Grant entered directly behind it. Aline squelched the squeal she wished to emit, instead launching herself across the room and into his arms.

“I’m so sorry. I’m so glad you are alive.” She pulled back to look at his beaten face. “You will heal? You are bleeding everywhere. Will you forgive me? I’m so happy—” her breath caught, “—that you got away.”

He kissed her soundly on the lips and said, “Come, we must move quickly.”

Another man followed behind him, and she almost yelled, but she recognized him.

“My cousin Loki. ‘Tis time to leave. Have you seen Hew?” He searched her face.

“Aye,” she pointed as he set her on her feet. “He’s talking to the chief outside the stable.”

“Perfect. He’s opposite our route. They think we’ve left.”

“Maisie?” she whispered.

He grabbed her hand to pull her out the door, keeping her behind him as they headed back down the passageway. “We’ll try, but I cannot promise ‘twill happen tonight.”

They crept down a back staircase that led directly out to the rear of the keep. Once on the first floor, they stopped to listen for activity around them. Aline pointed down the staircase toward the cellars. “I only know she’s in a chamber down there.”

Loki took off down the staircase in an attempt to locate Maisie, only to return faster than he’d left. “Go, guardsmen are blocking the doorway and several more are headed our way.”

They opened the door and ran across the back of the keep, Loki pausing to yell to a wee laddie, “Pig-nuts soon at the back door. Take care of them.” Kenzie, the lad she recognized, stood on the wall with two other lads. Grants, they had to be since Loki spoke to them. One of them helped her up the wall while the others fired down at the enemies below them.

She landed at the bottom of the wall on the other side with a thud, only to find herself staring at a giant hulk of a man with a broad smile across his face.

“Good eve to you, my lady. My name is Magnus, and I’m to get you on a horse. Follow me.”

He was so large she couldn’t believe he would be able to run, but he glided through the woods like a deer, sure of foot, glancing over his shoulder now and again to make sure she followed. She continued running as fast as possible, shoving the branches out of her face and wanting to shout to the heavens because she was free, but thoughts of Maisie stopped her.

The thought of leaving her wee sister behind with that monster made her wish to scream and cry, but Jake had made the only decision he could about finding Maisie. He’d tried, and she would forever be grateful for that. After all she’d done to apologize to Hew, he had not allowed her to see Maisie, so that strategy had failed her. They would find another way, but first they needed to get to safety and get Jake hale again. Glancing behind her, she saw his form, but he was not the strong Jake she was used to seeing. With each step he took, it was clear he suffered from the beating he had taken. But he had come back for her.