Page 95 of Wedded to the Devilish Highlander
That’s what Archer had told her when they had trained one morning. She shifted her cloak a little to ensure that her dirk was well-hidden.
She looked around the room. She had only been in his bedchamber twice, but there must be another way out.
She went to the wardrobe and opened it, but it was all it was—a wardrobe. She pressed her hand to the back and pushed in case it was a secret door, but it was to no avail. Then, she went to the window to look out, but she was two floors up, and there was nothing to hang onto outside.
She sat down on the bed, resigned to her fate: she was locked in the room until Archer returned.
He did, eventually. The guards outside greeted him, and then he spoke. Only, the voice she heard wasn’t his. She didn’t recognize it.
She heard a grunt and a thud, followed by a shout, another grunt, and a second thud. Something scratched at the door, and Eileen bolted to the wall beside it to conceal herself. The lock clicked as it was picked, and the door creaked open slowly.
Eileen held her breath as she saw a blade point past the door first, followed by a large, hairy hand, then a forearm, then a man.
She froze for a second. For all her training, it was one thing to go up against a hay dummy and another to fight a man. A man sheknew.
That also delayed her reaction. Her brain couldn’t join the sounds when the door was closed to the face that appeared before her. She couldn’t think clearly enough to figure out whether he was there to attack her or help her.
“Ye’re comin’ with me,” he ordered in a menacing tone.
Before he could take another step, she pulled the dirk from under her shawl and brought it up just like Archer had taught her, driving the blade into his shoulder before yanking it back.
The man cried out in pain, but before she could stab him a second time, he swung the back of his hand and struck her across the cheek. The dirk flew from her grasp as she stumbled back against the wall and hit her head. She fell to the ground with a thump.
“Ye’ll pay for that,” he growled.
The man bent down beside her and quickly bound her hands, before stuffing a cloth in her mouth and tying a strip of fabric around it to keep it there. He yanked her up and stepped to the door to look out into the hallway.
Eileen’s head spun as he dragged her out of the room. She tried to say something, but her mouth wouldn’t move. And even if it did, she was gagged.
She tried to fight against him, but she was too dazed. She wanted to call out for Archer, but it was too late.
“O’Gunn’s been wantin’ to have a wee chat with ye,” the man hissed. “Ye and yer family have been causin’ a lot of trouble.”
28
Archer slumped against the wall beside Reid, hacking and coughing as the smoke burned in his lungs.
“Was there anyone else in there?” he asked the healer.
“Nay, just Reid,” she replied. “Dinnae move and let me take a look at ye.”
Someone brought him some water, and he gulped it down to cool his insides. The healer crouched by him and touched a hand to his face.
“Some burns, but they’re nae so bad. I have some salve for that,” she said.
“Later,” Archer muttered. “I want that fire put out, and I want to ken who started it andhow.”
“The bed and furnishings will be burned to ash, but the fire hasnae touched the medicine cabinet. They’re doin’ a good job of puttin’ it out. It’ll be under control soon.”
“Good.” Archer nodded once. “This is sabotage, plain and simple. I ken it.”
Reid coughed and spluttered beside him, almost falling over as he leaned on him.
“Wh—” he choked out, his voice raspy.
“Whoa, take yer time,” Archer said, steadying him. “Are ye with us?”
The healer moved back to Reid and helped straighten him up. Archer turned and knelt beside him as he peeled his eyes open.
