The Highlander Who Stole Christmas - Eliza Knight Page 0,3

belongings.

This was all she could take with her.

Where she would go, she’d not yet decided. Tonight, when it was dark, she would hide the satchel in the barn so that it was there when she was ready to leave. She prayed the feast tomorrow evening would give her some answers.

Until then, she’d need to come up with a plan—any plan, as long as she was gone before midnight struck on Christmas.

Chapter Two

“Thanks for the borrow, sir. Though ye dinna know it yet, ye’ve done a great service to your fellow Scot.” Thane gave a salute to the unconscious man at his feet, speaking as he divested the costumed Father Christmas from his garments and pulled them on himself.

He’d not had any idea of how he was going to sneak into Campbell castle until he’d happened upon the festively dressed man, and then he’d known exactly. Once inside, with Sarah held captive, he could divest himself of the costume and be about his business of abduction.

The old red velvet cloak smelled of must and horses, and other unmentionable things. Probably hadn’t seen a wash since the Christmas before, but he tried not to think about that. Served these traitorous bastards right. They might have fought with the Scots on the field of battle, but Thane had to wonder if deep in their hearts, they were English loving all along.

Father Christmas was distinctly un-Scottish.

He tugged on the makeshift beard and curly, woolen hair that had once been white but now was yellowed with age. Good lord, but it smelled like sour, not so well-preserved, ale.

Dressed, he hopped back onto Destiny’s back and rode casually right through the gates, shouting messages of good tidings to those he passed and tossing little wrapped sweets that had been prepared for the occasion. All the while, in his mind, he recited a prayer for their traitorous deaths. The bastards.

In the bailey, a young lad came forward to take his mount by the reins. He was tall and lanky, hungry-looking. Eyes haunted. Poor bairn had likely been ill-treated by his clansmen.

“Och, wee laddie, I’ve a task for ye.”

The lad cocked his head, interest in his eyes, especially when Thane passed him a coin.

“Rub him down, but then, if ye would, saddle him right back up again and keep him tied to the outside of the barn by the trough.” Thane made an exaggerated look about the bailey teeming with people, some of whom appeared already to be quite into their cups. “I dinna think I’ll be staying as long as I had anticipated.” He gave a slow, exaggerated wink. “And if ye’re a good lad, there’s another coin where the first one came from.”

“Och, Father Christmas, I’d do it for free.” The lad beamed, looking as though the coin were the first that he’d ever seen, and likely the best gift he’d ever received in his entire life.

Thane regretted disappointing the lad when he found out who Thane truly was—the enemy. Would he trade the coin for Lady Sarah’s life? Thane was willing to bet the lad would not.

Guilt ebbed at his conscience. But feeling sorry had no place in his plan, else he might as well walk right out the castle gates and back to where he came from. There was no time for regrets.

As Thane walked about the bailey, tossing out good cheer, sometimes through gritted teeth, he noted the various ways of escape and studied every female he passed in hopes of finding the red-haired beauty. The castle walls were being protected by guards. A good number of them, in fact, but they were all holding various cups likely filled with ale, wine or spirits, and they were all laughing and jesting instead of looking out over the snow-covered moors.

The winds had died down, and the massive bonfires in the bailey warmed the air. People danced and lazed about as if it were the height of summer rather than the middle of winter.

A tug at the bottom of his coat had Thane whirling about a little too exuberantly, afraid that he’d been caught. Much to his horror, the sudden movement sent a small child flying. The wee lass was sprawled on her backside, a look of alarm on her face. That expression alone was enough to make him want to abandon his cause. He’d not set out to frighten children. But her fear was quickly erased when she spied his beard and velvet coat. A tentative smile curved her tiny mouth.

Thane rushed forward, extending