the MacDougalls’ bodies in their wake. Away from the clearing, Brodie and Monty stood together.
“The route is clear for Laurel to go to Kilchurn. You and your men take her there, while my men and I ride for Dallmally. Neither the MacArthurs nor the MacGregors can reach Kilchurn from Edenonich without crossing the River Orchy. There’s only one place for them to cross, and it’s downstream from a dam. I have patrols that ride that area to protect it. If we time it right and release the dam, the flood will wash away the MacArthurs and MacGregors. Any who survive will wind up in the estuary to Loch Awe—just in front of Kilchurn village.”
“Do you think the MacFarlanes will rally?” Monty asked doubtfully.
“Mayhap. If they do, it will be the Lamonts and MacDougalls sandwiched between us and the MacFarlanes. If Laurel is behind the walls, then I don’t care whether the MacFarlanes show their faces. I have enough men to obliterate both the Lamonts and MacDougalls. My guess is they think Michael will be there to let them in. Or mayhap they even have someone else within my clan. At this point, naught would surprise me. The MacFarlanes would do well to lend their arm, but I don’t need them.”
Monty nodded as he looked in the direction from which they rode. The peak of Ben More was visible as a hazy outline. Both men mounted and led their men back toward Laurel and Donnan.
“I can summon men from Innes Chonnel, Inishail, and Fraoch Eilean, Monty. She will be safe once she’s home.” Brodie prayed he could get Laurel to Kilchurn before anything more happened. He regretted that his clan’s new lady would arrive without him and that her introduction to her clan and castle would be hide within the keep. But there were few choices left for him. If all went to plan, there would be little more than a skirmish with the Lamonts and MacDougalls. If it didn’t, his clan faced a mighty battle against four enemies. All of whom wanted nothing more than to see the Campbells’ demise. He’d fought too many battles alongside his father to see his people lose even an acre of land. He would fight to the end to defend Laurel, his people, and his home. God help anyone who thought he wouldn’t.
Twenty-Eight
Laurel watched in horror as the Lamonts seemed to multiply before her eyes. She crouched beside Donnan as men arrived from the south and joined those camped at the southern base of the mountain. They fanned out like ants as they moved to encircle the mountain.
“They’ve seen us,” Donnan whispered.
“Likely seen my bluidy hair,” Laurel muttered. She’d grown warm and allowed her arisaid to slip off her head until Donnan pointed out that her hair would be noticeable to those at the foot of the southern trail. She’d hurried to cover herself, but she feared it was too late.
“We need to get back to the horses and ride before they converge on us,” Donnan explained as he motioned to the four Ross men. Laurel looked at Michael and stopped short, Donnan bumping into her.
“He signaled them.” Laurel pointed to a coin in Michael’s hand that glimmered in the sunlight. “He drew their attention.”
Donnan lunged at Michael, jabbing his fist into the man’s face. When Michael stumbled backwards, his ankles now bound along with his hands, he had no way to keep his balance. He pitched toward the edge of the path. Donnan shoved his chest, pushing him over the ledge where they rested. Laurel watched as Michael appeared to soar through the air before his body crashed into the rock face. He rolled and bumped from one crag to another. There was no chance that he survived by the time he reached the ground. The Rosses didn’t wait to see. Laurel had already lifted her skirts and was flying down the path between Donnan and one of the guards, the other two at her back. She skidded along the shale and pebbles, reaching out to Donnan’s shoulder more than once.
When they reached the base near where they’d camped, Donnan whistled. A Ross appeared with their mounts. Laurel didn’t stop to think when Donnan tossed her into the saddle. She slipped her feet into the stirrups and gathered the reins.
“We need to get closer to Kilchurn,” Donnan called as they charged away from Ben More. “There’s no avoiding them. We have to outrun them.”
Laurel knew he spoke the truth. She had a greater