Highland Escape - Cathy MacRae Page 0,12

as the coldness in her stomach increased tenfold.

In an effort to take her mind off her new prison, she took in the scene around her. The looks she received from the villagers-a mixture of harsh, curious, and bemused expressions—reminded her of her plight. Not a friendly face among them. She straightened to her full height, chin held high with an expressionless guise.

She suspected the cause for their curiosity was the way she trailed MacGregor, her reins tied to his saddle. Or perhaps a strange woman dressed like a man piqued their curiosity. No one dared attack someone obviously in his charge. At least he’d kept his word about her safety thus far.

Once they rode past the village, the castle’s presence demanded attention like flames in the darkness. She found it a truly intimidating structure. Not the largest she’d seen, but daunting none the less. Four stone towers, one at each corner, rose high, with a much larger square tower centered along the back curtain wall. A long, two-level stone and wood building connected the back corner towers to the square one.

I wonder if being female will keep me out of the dungeons. Likely not.

A loud commotion marked the return of the laird and his beloved daughter as they entered the keep.

“Worry not, lass, all will be well. Ye have my word.” Duncan leaned closer so his words reached her ears alone.

They dismounted, handing their horses to stable lads, and Duncan led her through the door of the keep and into the main hall. A number of trestle tables and benches stood prepared. Massive hearths at both ends of the hall provided heat for the entire room. A raised dais with a well-appointed table and chairs marked where the laird and family dined.

Continuing toward the back of the room, they strode down a long corridor ending at a thick, locked door. Duncan gently placed his hand on Anna’s upper arm, guiding her toward the heavy door. She jerked away as if burned. Something in his touch affected her, though she fought not to acknowledge it. He scrunched his brow, scowling at her. Judging by his reaction, whatever passed between them he experienced as well.

On the other side of the portal stood four cells with stone walls and iron-reinforced doors. Small, barred windows high on the wall allowed the waning sunlight into each cell. Every door had a barred window looking into the hallway. Apparently this would be her home for the foreseeable future. As she entered a cell, Anna glared a challenge at MacGregor which he did not match. In fact, she swore regret lurked in his eyes. It mattered not. It was an unforgivable fact—they held her prisoner after she’d rescued the laird’s daughter. Barbarians.

Duncan knocked before entering his father’s solar.

“Is she secured?” Kenneth asked, briefly glancing up from the parchment on his desk.

“Aye,” Duncan replied. Disapproval colored his tone.

Kenneth shook his head, taking a deep breath. “Spit it out.”

Duncan shot his father a defiant glare, his body stiff. “Ye dinnae know what ye ask.”

“Aye, I have some idea. Say it.”

Duncan held his father’s gaze as he dropped into the chair across the desk from him, hands gripping the ornately carved arms. “I believe ’tis wrong to imprison the lass. She has earned our trust, not imprisonment.”

Kenneth rubbed a hand across his mouth and chin before answering. “We do not know why she is alone. A lass, even as able as she, does not travel alone unless in trouble. I dinnae want her problems brought here. She cannae cause harm if she is locked up.”

Duncan sprang to his feet, pacing the floor, his hands boldly punctuating his words. “Then confine her to one of the smaller chambers. She should at least be allowed the same courtesies we would offer a guest.”

Kenneth shook his head. “Did ye not see what I saw? She cut through six Highlanders without hesitation. Afterward, she defeated Shamus with very little trouble using two sticks. We could claim the MacNairn are not good fighters, but we both know Shamus is a capable warrior. How do ye keep someone like that confined in a guest room?”

Duncan stopped his pacing. He attempted to wrest his temper into control by dropping his eyes, lowering his voice. “Post a guard or two, bar the door from the outside.”

“Nae!” Kenneth bellowed, a hand cutting across his body.

Duncan grabbed the back of his chair, using the tension in his grip to launch his next volley. “She saved my sister, yer