Highlander Most Wanted Page 0,52
all came in one giant bombardment until he was dizzy.
“Tell me all,” Bowen said curtly. “I want a full report. How long have I been abed? What of the rest of the clan. Did we suffer losses?”
Brodie held up his hand. “Your brother has arrived. It would be far simpler if I only give an accounting once, and he’ll want to hear the whole of it.”
“Teague? What the hell is he doing here?”
“Genevieve sent for him,” Brodie said evenly. “The lass roared the order, in fact. She sent three of your men to intercept your brother. But I’ll explain all when Teague arrives. I expect him at any moment. He was dismounting just moments ago.”
Bowen simmered with impatience, but he fell silent, nodding his agreement that they would discuss all when Teague was present.
He remembered his confrontation with Genevieve on the bank of the river. He certainly remembered seeing her bathing, and how stunningly breathtaking she was. He also remembered well how pale she’d gone when he’d asked her if all he’d heard about her involvement in Eveline’s abduction was true. The lass hadn’t needed to say a word to confirm his suspicions. It was all there to see on her face and in her eyes.
But then he also remembered staring at her in the heat of battle and being convinced she was about to fell him with an arrow, only for her to take out a McHugh warrior behind him who’d been prepared to plunge a dagger into his back. And then she’d rushed to his side, refusing to let him fall to the ground.
After that, everything was a blank. He had no recollection of any of the events that had followed. And he still didn’t know long he’d been in bed out of his senses.
“How long has it been since the battle took place?” Bowen demanded.
“Two full days,” Brodie said.
Bowen swore. ’Twas certainly long enough to be abed with an injury as paltry as his.
The corners of Brodie’s mouth turned up into a slight smile. “If it makes you feel any better, you were abed for so long because we held you down and forced a sleeping draft down your throat.”
Only a little mollified, Bowen leaned back and then pushed himself upward to a sitting position.
They didn’t have long to wait, as Brodie had suspected. Only moments later, Bowen’s chamber door burst open and Teague strode in, his face drawn into grim, worried lines.
His expression lightened when he cast eyes on Bowen, and he hurried to his brother’s bedside.
“Are you all right?” Teague demanded. “I came as fast as I could. We were nearly to Montgomery Keep when your men overtook me.”
“Aye, I am well. ’Tis a paltry wound. Not worthy of two days abed. I’ll be up on the morrow.”
Teague turned to Brodie. “What in God’s name happened?”
Brodie pulled up a chair, turned it backward, and then straddled the seat, resting his arms along the back.
“Patrick McHugh attacked, along with the McGrieves. We beat them back, but not before Bowen was injured. There was an attempt by a McHugh who’d remained behind and sworn allegiance to the Montgomerys. He snuck up on him and nearly stabbed him in the back as he did battle with another warrior.”
Teague quirked up an eyebrow. “And yet he didn’t.”
Brodie shook his head. “Nay. Genevieve felled him with an arrow.”
Teague did an instant double take. “Wait. Genevieve did what?”
“She put an arrow straight through the man’s forehead, and then she finished off the soldier Bowen had been doing battle with. The lass was fierce in battle. And she has good aim.”
Teague glanced at Bowen, his eyebrows drawn together. “What say you about this, Bowen? And what of the matter we discussed before I left?”
Bowen sent Teague a look that instantly silenced his younger brother.
“I’m more interested in the fate of Patrick McHugh. I saw him not in the heat of battle. Is he still lurking out there, hiding in some dark hole? And what of the other members of the McHugh clan. There was one traitor. Were there others?”
Brodie grimaced. “Aye. We found at least three. They were executed at dawn. They aided Patrick and the McGrieves, as well as their kin who rode with Patrick.”
“And Patrick?” Teague asked. “What of him?”
Brodie took in a deep breath. “This is rather interesting. Patrick is dead.”
“Dead? How? And who killed him? Find me the name of the soldier who ended Patrick’s life so he can be handsomely rewarded,” Bowen said.
“Well, that’s the thing,” Brodie