Page 58 of Captured by a Laird
“Changed my mind.” David mounted his horse and signaled to Brian, who was returning with him. It would be dark in a couple of hours and he was anxious to be on his way.
“Can’t say I blame ye,” Cochburn said. “I’d ride hard for home if I had a bonny bride like yours waiting for me.”
“I brought what men I can spare,” David said, ignoring the remark. “Send word if D’Orsey arrives.”
“I’m grateful for the help, but ye should take a few of your men back with ye,” Cochburn said. “’Tis no secret that the Blackadders want your head.”
David was not concerned. He had a sixth sense that told him when he was being followed, and it was easier to disappear with one companion than with twenty. While he could fight off an attack if he took more men with him, he preferred to choose the ground and circumstances for the inevitable confrontation with the Blackadders.
“Haven’t ye heard?” David said, cocking an eyebrow. “I can call up a black mist from hell to hide me from my enemies.”
Cochburn was still laughing as David and Brian rode off. They were halfway home and the sky was growing dark when David spotted a lone rider coming toward them.
“That’s Robbie’s horse,” Brian said.
“Aye, and that’s my brother on it.” He spurred his own horse to a gallop, fear rushing through his veins. Something dreadful must have occurred for Robbie to disobey his order. Visions of Blackadder Castle filled with smoke and the sounds of battle filled his head.
When he met his brother, David pulled his horse up hard, causing it to rear.
“What’s happened?” he shouted.
“Ye said ye weren’t coming back till tomorrow,” Robbie said.
Was the lad in shock? David forced himself to wait for Robbie to gather himself and say what disaster had befallen their family and clan. He imagined Alison and the girls screaming while enemy warriors flooded the castle.
“I came to join the siege,” Robbie said.
David stared at his brother, unable to accept what his ears heard. “The castle has not been attacked?”
Robbie shook his head. The frantic beat of David’s heart slowed, and his fear turned to anger.
“Ye disobeyed me for no cause?”
“I’m ready to fight as a man,” Robbie said.
“I gave ye a man’s duty when I placed the care of our family in your hands,” David ground out.
“Laird,” Brian said, and nodded toward the horizon.
A large band of riders were cresting the hill, their outlines silhouetted against the orange sunset. They must have recognized Robbie and followed him all the way from Blackadder Castle, hoping to catch them both.
“Ach, ye wee fool,” David hissed at his brother as he turned his horse around. “Ye had two dozen men behind ye, and ye didn’t notice ye were being followed?”
Robbie’s face finally showed a smidgen of shame.
“This way,” David said, and spurred his horse into the valley below them.
Without being told, Brian fell in behind Robbie, knowing David wanted his brother protected at all costs.
***
David was still fuming when they finally rode into Blackadder Castle after a long night of hiding in muddy ravines and risking good horses riding over rough terrain in the dark.
“We had thirty men chasing us all night, and we lost them!” Robbie shouted to the guards at the gate, and shook his fist in the air.
David held his tongue until they had dismounted and were walking their horses to the stable.
“That was no damned game,” he said through clenched teeth. “Ye could have gotten us all killed.”
