Highland Escape - Cathy MacRae Page 0,70

to stare. Duncan squeezed her hand, and a thrill skittered up her arm, across her chest and into her heart. He waited. One by one, he captured the gaze of each man. When he had their full attention, he stepped forward.

“I declare my betrothal to Anna of the clans Elliot and MacGregor.”

The men surged around them, slapping Duncan on the back and voicing their congratulations. After a round of teasing for Duncan and well-wishes for Anna, the men faded away to their posts.

Setting their pallets next to each other, Anna lay in Duncan’s arms and tried to rest. Too excited to sleep, she played with Trean until he tired and curled against her. She lay quietly, listening to Duncan’s even breathing. At last she dozed, but woke when he rose for his turn at watch. When she followed him, he tried to convince her to stay, but she would not be dissuaded.

He sat on the ground against a tree, her back against his chest, his hands caressing her scalp, neck and shoulders. They listened to the sounds of early morning in the forest. Though they spoke no words, something mystical passed between them in the quiet.

Time flew by, and as they made their way back to camp, she could not resist the urge to tease. “If you were pledged to a gentle woman, you would not have her company during your watch, nor would you have a second pair of trained ears and eyes to rely on.”

He captured her around her waist, dragging her back to him. “Och, nor would I be fighting my body to behave when I should be watching and listening.”

“Oh yes you would, though instead of having me near, your thoughts would be of me in our bed.”

She earned a chuckle and a squeeze before he released her. Fingers entwined, they entered camp where Iain prodded the cook fire.

Using pears purchased at the Graham village and honey from their own supplies, Anna made a batch of oatcakes for breakfast. The men quickly dispatched them, and at dawn they were on their way. Trean was still sleepy, so she put him in the wagon.

Clouds threatened rain, and a chill hung in the air. Anna shivered, thankful for the wool they’d purchased. She looked forward to seeing the whole of their inventory once they arrived back home. Home. They were almost home.

Chapter 18

By midmorning, a light rain fell on the MacGregor party, the sky the dull gray of tarnished metal. The men seemed oblivious to the damp inconvenience, but Anna was glad for Trean’s small, warm form tucked against her once again beneath her plaide. She draped her oiled cloth over them and found some relief from the rain as they wound along the edge of the forest. Their track followed close to the river, the trees thick on one side, the river on the other.

A prickling sensation darted up the back of Anna’s neck, alerting her to the presence of others. Noticing the tense line of Duncan’s body, she knew he sensed the same. Pushing Trean into a saddlebag, Anna loosened the ties on her bow strapped to Orion’s saddle.

A crossbow bolt struck Duncan in the thigh. He grunted and stared blankly at the feathered shaft.

“In the trees to the northwest!” Anna cried. Quickly drawing her bow, she struck the first man she spotted.

A second bolt struck Duncan, this time in the shoulder, spinning him in the saddle from the force. Kneeing Orion between Duncan and the attackers, Anna sent another arrow into an enemy.

With a shout, Liam and Ross stopped the carts. Donnan and Rory fired their crossbows, hitting another of their unknown foes. The man pitched from a tree to the ground, writhing in pain. Iain and Malcolm lowered Duncan from his horse and set him on his feet beside the cart. Steel scraped against leather as they drew swords to protect their captain.

Turning Orion to make another pass at the concealed men, Anna found another target, and he, too, fell under her bow.

A shout sounded from the trees. “Dinnae attack the woman, she is worth double unharmed.”

Shock nearly doubled her as she realized she was the reason for the attack, the reason Duncan fell injured. She rode between the wagons and their attackers, scanning for a target. More than a dozen men broke from cover. They ran toward the wagons, swords and axes drawn. She felled the first one with an arrow. Rory and Donnan fired another volley from their crossbows, killing two more.

Re-slinging