The Scot's Angel - Keira Montclair Page 0,27

“We’ll not tarry. No talking. We travel as fast as we can or we’ll never beat the storm. I’ll lead, and Ewan will take up the rear. Umfrey will ride ahead of you, Grant warrior.”

And off they went to Cameron land. The quiet gave him the chance to plan for his escape. Once they arrived at Lochluin Abbey, they’d have to hide their horses in the forest and enter the building on foot. Perhaps he could convince Henry to leave Umfrey outside to stand guard, which would only leave him with Henry and Ewan to fight off. He knew there were plenty of weapons about in the cellars, so he’d be able to find something to fight them off.

Or perhaps he’d be able to lose them once the storm hit. That possibility seemed stronger. He could find his way out of a storm, and once he did, he knew plenty of places to hide. The only issue was being weaponless.

How the hell would he get his sword back?

***

They got up before dawn and left, just as Dyna had said. Claray was eager to get moving because even she could feel the storm coming now. The winds were increasing, the temperature was dropping, but fortunately, the snow hadn’t begun yet.

They rode fast and hard, making only one stop, and Claray could feel herself getting more and more upset. They hadn’t seen any sign of Thorn. She’d pestered Dyna and Derric with questions all day until she knew they wished to tie a gag around her, but she couldn’t stop herself from worrying.

“Are we nearly there yet?” she asked a few hours later. Dusk was nearly upon them, and that made her nervous…especially since the snow had started.

Snowflakes swirled around them, and the wind buffeted the last leaves on the trees.

“Nearly there. I’d say an hour,” Derric said. “Don’t lag behind. Your mare is tiring. Be kind to her, or she’ll buck you off, Claray.”

“I know, but I can’t stop when I get worried.” She looked over at her sister, needing one of her kind looks, but Dyna had her face well hidden inside her hood. “I’m trying my best.”

“We’re nearly there,” Dyna barked. “Don’t panic!”

Claray did her best to stay calm but gripped the reins of her horse too tightly. She knew it, and yet she couldn’t bring herself to let up. The snow swirled around them in a mesmerizing, relentless pattern that was bound to make her heave. She pulled the hood of her mantle farther forward, doing her best to keep an eye on the horses in front of her.

Dyna yelled back to her, “Keep up, Claray. We have to get to Cameron land. I don’t care to spend a week in a cave in this weather.”

Claray shouted, “I’m trying my best, but my horse isn’t moving any faster. She’s afraid, too.”

Derric moved back and said, “Let up on the reins. You’re hurting her.” As soon as she loosened her grip, he reached over and gave the horse a swat on her flank. The mare hurried forward with a nicker.

Claray followed the path as best she could. There were four guards behind her, at least, so there was no way she’d get lost in this storm. That much soothed her. Her eyebrows were frozen from the wind, her nose hairs tickling her, making her want to sneeze.

“We’re on Cameron land,” Dyna shouted. “We’re almost to the stables.”

They moved on ahead, but then the worst happened. The wind picked up, and the snow fell faster and harder than before. Her horse knocked into the horse in front of her, the mount ridden by one of the guards, but his horse didn’t like it and tried to buck at Claray’s horse.

Her gentle mare spooked and took off like a shot in the wrong direction.

Claray screamed, pulling on the reins, doing her best to control the wild beast, but to no avail. The frightened animal ran faster and harder, bouncing Claray so hard she could barely hang on. “Dyna! Derric! Help me, please!”

Nothing. She heard no one, saw nothing but a white blanket of snow—heavy, thick flakes blocking her view of everything. The wind blew so hard it whistled through the pines, and she covered her face from the bitter cold. Yanking on the reins one more time, she prayed her horse would notice and stop.

She did. The mare stopped so fast she tossed Claray into a deep bank of snow, and by the time she stood up to grab onto her