“We’ll nae,” Findlay answered. “Graham MacLeod would pursue us to Hell to get what he wishes, so we will ride straight through. My men were cut down, and by my count, he had all but one of his men still alive, so I’d be vastly outnumbered.” Suddenly, Findlay grasped her by the back of the neck and squeezed. “Ye’re lucky that castle is attached to ye or I’d have slit yer throat for killing Jamie MacLeod. But dunnae fash yerself,Sister. I’m certain Father will find ye a new husband quickly.”
“This is madness,” Rory Mac growled the moment Graham called his men to a halt and ordered them all to dismount.
“Aye, it is,” Dermid MacLean agreed. He was one of Alex MacLean’s men. Alex—laird of the MacLean clan—trusted ally and the brother of Lachlan’s wife, had offered Dermid, a seasoned fighter, to go on this mission with Graham as Alex had said the man had a knack for getting into impossible places.
Graham surveyed the group. “I dunnae wish to stop, either,” he said, passing his gaze over each fighter before settling it on Rory Mac. “But I dunnae believe the lass can go on any longer.” He looked to Marsaili.
“I can keep riding,” she assured him in a weak voice. Her colorless face belied her assurances, though.
“I dunnae mean we should nae stop,” Rory Mac fumed. “I mean we should nae pursue Findlay back to Innis Chonnell! ’Tis clear enough that is where he is going, and ye ken as well as I do that there will be great numbers of Campbell fighters there at what’s left of the castle! We are weary!”
“Aye!” came a chorus of agreement from Graham’s men.
“We will be outnumbered greatly,” Dermid added in a quiet voice.
Graham scowled at Dermid. “I thank ye for wishing to help us, but ye are nae a MacLeod. Ye dunnae get a voice in this argument.”
Dermid’s lips parted as if he wanted to say something, but after a moment, he clamped his jaw shut and simply glared at Graham.
Rory Mac, on the other hand, who had never been one to hold back his opinion, said, “We kinnae take her back against the combined forces of Findlay and his father.”
“Then I will retrieve her,” Graham stated in an unbending tone. There was no alternative, and not just because he had promised to bring her to the king. He knew her now. He felt responsible for her.
“We kinnae!” one of his men said.
“Cowards!” Marsaili cried out.
Rory Mac glared at the woman, then focused on Graham once more. “We want vengeance as much as ye do, but it’s folly to try to retrieve Isobel now. We must leave the fight for another day.”
Graham took a breath, preparing to argue, but before he could form his thoughts, Dermid spoke. “The lass could have fled with her brother willingly.”
“Nay,” Cameron said with such fierceness that Graham stilled, feeling certain something had transpired involving Isobel that was now causing Cameron to champion her.
“Speak quickly,” Graham demanded, knowing time was not in their favor.
“She saved my life,” Cameron said simply, quietly, and with a trace of shame. “She was captured by her brother because she sacrificed herself to save me.”
“She saved ye?” Graham asked, astounded.
Cameron shifted, clearly uncomfortable. “Aye. Jamie knocked my sword out of my hands and demanded my vow of allegiance or death. She was there,” he said, looking past Graham. “I’m certain she had intended to flee, as she was on a horse, but then she saw me in need and she stayed to help.”
Graham nodded, imagining she’d decided escaping during the battle was her best chance to flee. The lass had no notion where she was going, but she had fierce determination and an unwavering belief that her father loved her. He suddenly found he hoped she was right. He could not imagine her heartbreak if she discovered her father intended to use her. He still remembered the day his mother told him she loved Lachlan the most because he was the most capable warrior. It had been such a blow to him, and he’d even suspected it long before she had confirmed it. To have been blindsided by such a thing would have been far worse.
Cameron cleared his throat. “I was preparing to die, and then she surprised me by dismounting the horse and coming to my aid. She picked up my sword somehow and plunged it into Jamie’s back in the instant he meant to kill me.” Cameron fell silent. He raised his hand and rubbed it wearily over his face. “I was so distracted with telling our uncle how I felt about him that I was not aware of Findlay’s approach until it was too late. He rode by and snatched her up.” His burning gaze met Graham’s. “She saved me, and I failed her. We must find her.”
“Aye,” Graham agreed, renewed determination flowing through him.
“She will nae be believing so,” Rory Mac said.
“Nay, unless Father has betrayed her by the time we arrive,” Marsaili added.
“What do ye believe the chances of that are?” Graham asked.
“I’d say it’s as likely as rain,” she replied with a grimace.
“Can ye ride more?” he inquired.
She nodded vigorously. “Aye.”
