My Captive Highlander (Highland Adventure Book 7) (6 page)

Having slept little the night before because of worrying,
Maili
removed her
arisaid
, lay down on the bed and pulled the counterpane over her.

A few hours later, she awoke, gasping for breath. She had again seen the future and it was terrible.

The
MacKenzie
chief would attack their castle and lay waste to it. Most of the men would be killed. She saw the vision of their bloody bodies lying strewn about the bailey.

"Nay," she whispered, leaping to her feet. She had to do something. She had to figure out how to help Shamus escape so he could stop his brother.

But he'd said he couldn't take her with him if she did help him. She would go anyway, whether he liked it or not. She would follow.

A knock sounded at the door and she jumped.

Maili opened her bedchamber door to find one of the serving maids waiting there. "The chief sent me to fetch you to supper."

Maili now heard strains of music filtering up from the great hall.
'Twas
the last place she wished to go. Her brother and
Sleat
were there.

"I have a headache. Please tell him I'm not feeling well and will sup in my room this eve."

"Very well, m'lady." The servant curtsied and left.

Maili closed the door. While belting her plaid
arisaid
, a quick plan formed in her mind. She then slipped down the back stairs, to the busy kitchen, where she wrapped two warm berry tarts in a cloth. The maids were so busy, they paid her little mind, except to curtsy in respect and rush to the next chore. She then took a loaf of bread and large chunk of cheese and wrapped them in another cloth. Three bottles of wine were the last items she snatched. She wrapped each in cloth so they wouldn't break, then crammed them into a satchel. She slipped out the kitchen portal and proceeded to the stables. Gloaming was nigh upon them and the torches in the bailey had been lit.

"Finnian, can you saddle my horse?" she asked the lanky thirteen-year-old stable lad. "I'm taking the healer into the village to visit a wee sick lad. If you promise to keep this a secret, I'll give you a treat."

Finnian's eyes widened. "What sort of treat, m'lady?"

"Two bramble tarts."

He grinned and raced to do her bidding, saddling Ruairi in only a few minutes. Her horse was a strong gelding who could handle two riders.

"You promise not to tell anyone I've gone?" she asked when Finnian had finished and stood before her expectantly.

"Aye, of course, m'lady. Upon my honor." He covered his heart with his hand and bowed.

"If anyone asks, tell them I must have saddled the horse myself. Hold Ruairi here. I'll be back for him in a few minutes. Here are your tarts." She handed him the cloth bundle. He'd already gobbled two bites by the time she left the stables.

Moments later, Maili huffed and gasped as she carried the large bucket of well water toward the entrance to the dungeon where the guard stood.

"Here, let me help you with that, Lady Maili."

"I thank you, Dugan."

He smiled and winked, then lifted the bucket as if it weighed naught. "You should not be carrying such a heavy load. Why did you not get one of the manservants to help you with it?"

"They're all busy with their chores."

"Where are you going with this?"

"I'm taking it to the prisoner. He has not bathed since he was brought in. He smells a fright." She already knew Dugan had not been on duty the night before, when the servant had brought the other bucket of water.

"Aye, naught worse than a stinking
MacKenzie
." He chuckled.

Wanting to stamp his toe, she ground her teeth and hid her displeasure. "Would you mind terribly carrying it down there for me? I must hurry, for supper will be starting soon."

"Nay, of course not. '
Twould
be my pleasure to help you in any way I can." He turned to descend the dungeon steps.

She followed, wanting to kick herself because she'd forgotten to bring an empty wine bottle. She would simply have to use a full one. She slipped it from her satchel.

Please, God, forgive me.
She lifted the bottle and smashed it against the back of Dugan's head. He went down like a crumbling stone wall. The scent of wine filled the air, and water from the bucket splashed everywhere. He made no sound, nor did he move.

She prayed she hadn't killed him, for he was the only guard who treated her kindly.

"Saints," Shamus hissed as he observed her through the bars.

"I'm sorry, Dugan," she whispered and pulled the ring of keys from his belt. With trembling hands, she fitted the key into the cell door lock and turned. A click sounded and she pulled the door open.

"Thank you, Maili." Shamus pulled her to him for a quick kiss on the lips which stunned her, but she had no time to enjoy the moment.

She knew Dugan carried a flask of whisky in his sporran at all times. She'd often seen him slip it out and take a sip. She removed it and poured it throughout the cell, to keep her brother's dog from being able to pick up Shamus' scent. He dragged Dugan into the cell, divested him of everything but his long shirt, and put the plaid on himself over the plaid he already wore. "A disguise," he said, pulling the top portion of the plaid over his head. With cut strips of material, he tied Dugan's hands behind his back and put a gag into his mouth.

"I pray he lives," Maili said, locking him inside the cell. "But he will know I hit him. And report it to my brother."

"I doubt he will have any memory of it," Shamus said. "You must go back to your chamber, Maili, and act as if naught happened." Shamus secured Dugan's baldric, sword and dirk onto himself.

She chewed on her fingernail. "Take me with you," she whispered.

"Nay. I cannot. I told you. '
Twould
be kidnapping."

She shook her head. "Not if I go willingly. Please. My brother will punish me severely for this. He will beat me."

"He will not know."

"Aye, he will. He kens well I have brought you many meals. The guard will awaken and remember that I bashed him on the head."

Giving her a dark look of regret, Shamus clenched his jaw. "I must go now before 'tis noticed the guard is gone." He proceeded up the steps toward the exit. She followed as quietly as she could but her breaths came in harsh gasps, not from exertion but from fear. She had to help Shamus escape these walls. This was best for him and her own clan, to protect them from his brother. But now she feared for her own life.

"I brought food," she said, walking briskly behind him toward the stables. Her gaze scanning the bailey, she saw no one about. Most were preparing for supper or serving the meal in the great hall.

"I thank you." Shamus slipped behind a post. "Where is it?"

"In a satchel, hidden in my
arisaid
. I'm coming with you."

"I told you nay, Maili. You will slow me down," he said in a fierce whisper.

She felt as if he'd knifed her in the heart.

"Do not look at me thus," he ordered in a quiet tone.

"I helped you. You're not willing to help me?"

"You'll be much safer here with your clan than you could ever be with me, on the run. I have no notion how I'll get back to my clan's lands. I have no galley. The land is rugged and the mountains high if I must go inland."

"I will keep up. I am strong." Tears burned her eyes.

"Maili," he beseeched her.

"You kissed me. I thought you cared."

"Of course, I care.
'Tis
why I want you to stay where you'll be safe. If your brother gives chase, you could be injured."

She shook her head. "I know the area better than you. I know the best hiding places. I have a horse, and besides that, I have the keys to the postern gate."

"Give them to me."

"Nay."

The portcullis clanged, opening slowly.

Shamus moved behind the stable wall. Maili followed, covering her head with the plaid of her
arisaid
.

Three riders entered and dismounted before the stables.

"See to our horses, lad," one of the men snapped at Finnian. All three hastened toward the great hall.

Finnian took one of the horses inside.

Shamus slipped forward and took the bridle of another.

Maili shook her head. "These horses are tired. My horse is rested and already saddled."

While Shamus hid behind the corner of the stables, Maili went inside and led out her large gelding.

Once she returned, she held out her hand to Shamus. "Here is the key for the postern gate. You go out that way and meet me between here and the village. Hide behind the bushes. I'll ride the horse through the gates and along the road."

Shamus nodded and headed away from her. She prayed he would not be seen and that the guards would not detain her.

Once she was perched upon
Ruairi's
back, she headed for the gates.

"I'm going to the village to visit a sick child," she told the two guards on duty.
'Twas
naught unusual, for she had done this several times before, but she rarely rode out this late.

One nodded and they raised the portcullis. She tapped her heels against the horse's flank and he quickened his pace. Just before the village, she paused and glanced about the bushes. Where was Shamus?

"Shamus," she hissed.

Glancing behind, she discovered him, running to catch up to her. Breathing hard, he paused beside her, then leapt on behind. The horse startled, dancing about and snorting.

Stroking
Ruairi's
neck, she tried to soothe him. "
Shh
, lad.
'Twill
be all right."

"Let us be off before your brother discovers what's happened," Shamus murmured, his breath warming her ear.

Hiding her shiver of awareness, she guided the horse through the bushes and trees, around the edge of the village. She certainly didn't wish to have any witnesses to their escape.

Excitement raced through her veins, for she had avoided marrying
Sleat
, and she was on the run with a fine-looking warrior.

She did not know if Shamus would ever wish to marry her, but she'd try to convince him of her value as a wife. With him, she would always feel safe and cared for. She hadn't known him long but she knew he was a good man… and an expert at kissing.

"Your brother will be expecting us to travel north, toward
MacKenzie
territory," Shamus said, his warm breath sending delicious chills racing down her neck and across her breasts. "We need to head south and find a wee galley."

Amid the chaos of sensation storming through her, it took a moment for his words to register. Such a galley would be too small for her horse to board. She turned her head toward him. "I cannot leave Ruairi."

"Who?"

"My horse."

"'
Twould
be for the best, else your brother will accuse me of horse thievery along with kidnapping a lady. Do you wish me to hang?"

"Of course not!
'Tis
my horse, a gift to me, personally, from my father.
'Tis
not stealing if I take it myself."

"Very well. I'll have to think on it. Mayhap we can take a larger galley."

She nodded.

The longer they rode through the growing darkness, the closer Shamus sat against her. Or maybe she had slid back in the saddle, trying to absorb some of his warmth. She loved how protective he felt nestled tightly against her. Aye, that was it, though she wasn't truly afraid.

Regardless, his hard body rocking and stroking against her back bewitched her and near put her into a trance.

The wind picked up, blowing harder. He draped his plaid around them both, making her feel cozy and tingly. She wished they were lying before a warm fireplace on a sheepskin rug, snuggling naked beneath his plaid. What naughty things might he teach her?

***

Shamus wrapped his arms around Maili, holding the plaid in place and warming her in the windy darkness. He prayed a storm was not blowing in off the sea. Thus far, the sky was clear with only a cloud here and there.

He was glad for the excuse to hold her.
'Twas
the first time he had done so, and though she was much smaller than his own tall frame, she fit perfectly in his arms. With the wind and their mad dash across the moor, the cowl of her
arisaid
had slipped off her head. He restrained the urge to kiss her ear and her neck. Surely the skin was as soft and smooth as velvet. He could not believe the excitement and arousal drumming through him.

He pressed his nose close to her hair. Her wondrous female scent stirred his desires, making him yearn to drag her back hard against his chest. She would feel so good lying upon him. A groan escaped him.

She turned her head. "Are you in pain?"

He choked back a laugh. "Nay." His voice sounded too rough to his own ears.

He hadn't meant to bring her with him. He could've said something scathing and harsh and she would've stayed back there. But he couldn't hurt her like that. Besides, her malicious brother might have punished her if he'd discovered she'd helped Shamus escape. He couldn't stand the thought of anyone hurting her. She was so small and delicate, like a fairy lass. Indeed, she stole his good sense away, causing him to want to do anything she wished.

The moon was high in the sky when tall silhouettes came into view on a hill in the distance.

"What is that?" Shamus whispered into her ear.

"
Clachan
nan
Sìtheach
. The standing stone circle."

He had seen only one before in his life, a relic left over from the ancient past. Had it been built by their distant ancestors, or the fairies, as many believed?