Highland Escape - Cathy MacRae Page 0,5

She then applied a medicated salve to ward off infection and bound it. One after another, men were brought to her, each staring at her in surprise when they arrived for treatment.

While she worked, she repeatedly caught sight of Duncan MacGregor from the corner of her eye. He watched her, his countenance brooding, angry. Though not an overly tall man, he possessed an imposing presence. He carried himself as a seasoned warrior, the scars visible on his arms also giving testament to his experience. He was a man used to having orders obeyed. When his men made eye contact, a nod gained their compliance. The MacGregors appeared highly trained and well disciplined. The slight number of their injured, compared to the number of their enemies now lying dead on the field, proved this fact.

“May I ask why I am being detained, sir?” Anna asked without turning away from the injured man she tended.

When Duncan did not respond, she glanced in his direction. He hadn’t moved. Still standing, legs apart, arms folded across his chest, he wore a grim, inscrutable mask. The heat of anger rose within and her hands clenched around her tools. Held for no perceivable reason, she now endured being ignored as if of no consequence. I should let them treat their own damned wounded. With an effort, she resisted the temptation to pack her bags and cease her hard work.

The healer in her wouldn’t allow her to let these men suffer. Since MacGregor permitted her to see to his men, she knew they had no healer among them. The wounded played no part in their laird’s decision to hold his daughter’s rescuer against her will. As much as she wanted to retaliate for his treatment, her honor wouldn’t allow it. Her father always said a true man or woman of honor behaved such, whether it was expected or not, whether observed or not. Honor did not, however, prevent her from goading her captor.

She waited to speak again until finished with the last man brought to her. “Is that all the wounded, sir?” She bit back the snarl she wanted to use to punctuate her question.

Duncan nodded once.

“Thank you for allowing me to treat your men. I applaud your efforts in stopping barbarians such as those from taking young women against their will.” The sarcasm in her voice apparently fell on deaf ears. Again, she inspired no visible response. The urge to challenge him with physical confrontation swelled, then faded. Even if she could get past him, a large group of men outside the tent would not hesitate to stop her.

Surrounded by seasoned warriors, she saw no chance to escape. She would have to bide her time. After watching her dispatch their enemies, Anna knew they would not see her as a helpless female and would thus be on guard.

Now finished treating the wounded, she wanted to wash the blood and filth away and quench her thirst. After a quiet morning, this day seemed to grow more and more disastrous. Tomorrow promised to be more of the same. If she survived the night.

Chapter 2

The camp noises faded from Duncan’s thoughts. He and his men had killed the main body of the MacNairn party that had captured his beloved sister and her handmaiden. He’d only needed to find and kill the rest of the raiding party and retrieve the girls. He stared at their prisoner skeptically.

When he first spotted the raiding party across the glen with the women, rage filled every corner of his being. As he and his men charged toward the band, a stranger stepped from the trees and dropped three of the enemy by bow before the raiders could react. Another fell before the mysterious ally had drawn swords. Instead of a long sword, claymore, or axe, he’d wielded two falchions, his movements fluid as he avoided the first attack. Striking the sword arm of the attacker, he then delivered the killing blow. The last MacNairn fared no better. Parrying the attack, the mysterious stranger quickly cut the bastard down.

Reining in his horse several paces away, Duncan had immediately noticed the stranger wasn’t a man, but a woman. Impossible! Had he not seen the whole thing played out before him, he never would have believed it. However, ’twas true. This strange woman stopped six Highland warriors with a deadly effectiveness he’d never witnessed before.

Such skill! Such bravery! Never have I seen a woman best a man in combat—much less six men! Heat slid through his veins.