Highland Escape - Cathy MacRae Page 0,11

given to a man as wife against her will.

Duncan knew his da did not intend such. However, she did not. Chuckling to himself, he imagined that scene playing out. Pity any man who would attempt such a foolish thing. He would wind up with a dagger buried in his heart, or worse.

Her response to his pledge that she would not be harmed seared through him. For some reason she resurrected memories of his brother, Callum, and that terrible day many years ago that had seen the end of his young life. Something about her called to him to protect her, to ensure her safety. She clearly didn’t believe him and bore the wound to prove her right. Barbarians was the word she’d used. So far, they’d earned the name.

In spite of her manly behavior, Duncan saw her femininity, her loveliness. Like a viper, beautiful but deadly. Best viewed from a distance, treated with respect. She’d been noticeably cold since they left the Lowlands, unaccustomed to the altitude and climate. He considered offering a blanket but thought better of it. She’d want nothing from him but freedom.

Duncan continued to find it difficult to accept a collection of abilities in such a highly unlikely form. The more time he spent around her, the more he wished to know everything about her. He knew he should keep his distance, but for some inexplicable reason he found he could not. His eyes only left her when he closed them to sleep. Her presence consistently pricked at the calm guise he’d carefully crafted for years. Never before had he been more perturbed by a woman. He inwardly cursed his own weakness as he looked forward to seeing her on the morrow.

Chapter 3

Mid-afternoon the next day, Anna realized they’d stopped climbing. As the group threaded its way through a forbidding mountain pass, she was unprepared for the breathtaking beauty of the Highlands that unfolded before her. The mountains rose impossibly tall and massive, lush with greenery and sparkling with water. Streams burst from the stones and cascaded over the rocky crags toward the many lakes they’d passed. The majesty of the rugged terrain made her Lowland home pale in comparison.

Earlier in the day, they’d met another group of men from a different clan. Based on the friendly greetings, these men were personally known by clan MacGregor. Once on their way again, she addressed one of the men who consistently rode next to her. A man she’d heard called Iain.

“What are these mountains, sir?”

Surprise crossed each face within hearing distance. She’d not initiated communication with anyone but Duncan or the laird since her captivity.

“The Grampians, milady.”

His pleasant tone told her he hoped her question would mark the start of conversation. She knew they wondered about her. They can remain curious. I will not stir this matter further. She feared what they might do if they found out she was the daughter of an English baron and granddaughter to the laird of a Lowland clan.

Though, mayhap if I told them about Grandfather, they would exchange coin for my freedom. No, I will not involve clan Elliot. I could not save my English family, but can protect my Scots kin. At least these men provided escort far away from her English enemies. She needed only to find a way to escape. Anna intentionally made no further contact, and eventually the men ignored her again.

As they crested a ridge, a castle loomed in the distance. By early evening, they entered the outskirts of a small town. A cold feeling in the pit of Anna’s stomach told her they’d arrived at their destination.

The village sprawled before the castle. The northern wall of the stone fortification sat just short of a sheer cliff making a rear attack impossible. She’d not seen a better site for a stronghold. Its position gave the inhabitants the advantage of seeing great a distance, and enemies could advance only from the front.

The dark gray stone of the keep matched the stone of the surrounding mountains, making it both beautiful and foreboding. An involuntary shiver crept up Anna’s spine.

Duncan leaned toward her. “Welcome to Ciardun.”

Gray Fortress. The name was apt, though it looked anything but welcoming. The warmth and relief in Duncan’s voice made him sound as though he smelled a well-cooked meal after a long hard day. Obviously, he was glad to be home. Her sense of dread increased as she considered the slim chance of escape once they passed through those formidable gates. She shivered again