Page 32 of His Runaway Bride
Chapter 14: The Hunt Begins
"What do ye mean she'sbeen taken?"Ewan's roar echoed through the great hall of MacNeil Keep, his voice carrying a fury that made the very stones seem to tremble."What happened to her guards?"
Cameron stood before his laird, his face grim and streaked with mud, his clothes bearing evidence of a hard ride."The guard assigned to her, Malcolm, was found unconscious near the edge of Briar Wood.He's got a nasty gash on his head but he's alive.Says Lady MacNeil insisted on going to gather some plant for her work, something she needed urgently."
"And he let her?"Ewan's voice dropped to a dangerous whisper, more terrifying than his earlier shout.
"He tried to stop her, my laird, but ye ken how determined yer lady wife can be.She convinced him it was just a short way, broad daylight, no danger.She told him to wait at the tree line while she gathered what she needed."Cameron's voice grew heavy."That's when they struck.Malcolm never saw them coming.He was hit from behind.When he came to, she was gone."
Grant stepped forward, his expression as dark as his laird's."We found tracks, hoofprints heading north toward Ferguson lands.And this."He held up a strip of torn plaid, distinctive and unmistakable.
"Fergusons," Ewan breathed, the word carrying the promise of death.
Connor burst through the doors of the great hall, his face thunderous."Is it true?Have those bastards taken Lileas?"
Ewan's jaw clenched so hard the muscle jumped."Aye.And I'm going after her."
"Then I'm coming with ye," Connor declared without hesitation.
"No."Ewan's response was immediate and final."Ye're staying here."
"Like hell I am!"Connor stepped closer, his own temper flaring."She's family now, Ewan.I'll not sit here while—"
"Ye'll stay because Fiona needs ye," Ewan cut him off sharply."She's expecting, Connor.Yer wife needs her husband safe at home, not riding off to battle."
Connor's face flushed with anger."Dinnae use my wife to keep me from this fight!"
"I'm not using anyone," Ewan replied, his voice deadly calm."I'm thinking like a laird should.If something happens to me, this clan needs its heir.They need ye to lead them."
"Ye think I care about being heir when—"
"Ye should!"Ewan's shout rang through the hall again."This clan, these people, Fiona and yer unborn child, they all depend on us making the right choices.I won't risk leaving them defenseless because we both rode off to war."
The brothers stared at each other, the tension between them crackling like lightning.Finally, Connor's shoulders sagged slightly, though his jaw remained set.
"She's like a sister to me now," he said quietly."I can't just do nothing."
"Ye're not doing nothing," Ewan replied, his voice softening marginally."Ye're protecting our clan, our future.That's what Lileas would want."
***
MILES AWAY, IN A SMALLstone cottage that reeked of old smoke and neglect, Lileas sat bound to a rough wooden chair near a poorly tended fire.Her wrists ached from the tight ropes, and her shoulder throbbed where she had been roughly handled during the kidnapping.But it was the crushing weight of her own stupidity that hurt most of all.
Fool, she cursed herself silently.Reckless, stubborn fool.
She had needed nettle root for a tincture, a simple remedy for the seasonal ailments that plagued several clan members, but she had been so focused on her work, so confident in her own abilities, that she had dismissed the very real dangers that surrounded them.Malcolm had tried to warn her, tried to insist they wait for a larger escort, but she had been so certain that a quick trip in broad daylight posed no threat.
