Page 24 of Never Marry a Highlander

She let out with a startled scream and lowered her body over her horse.More arrows flew from behind them.She could hear horses approaching.

Craig turned and returned to her side.“Follow me,” he said and rode off from the rest of the group.The archers with the MacKay men took out their bows and began firing back.She could hear Edith scream and hoped she hadn’t been hit.Craig slowed down and slapped her horse on his rump and the animal took off.

He rode them to a low sone wall and urged his horse to jump.Lorena followed him.“Where are we going?”

“Away,” he shouted over his shoulder.He continued on, but they apparently had been followed by one of the attacking group since another arrow flew past her.

Craig pulled his horse up and jumped from the animal, his sword in his hand.The man following them attempted to draw his bow, but Craig pulled him from his horse and sliced the man’s throat.

Lorena sucked in a deep breath, her heart pounding, breathing rapidly.She put her head down on the horse’s neck, trying to ward off the black dots in her eyes.

Craig walked over to her.“Lorena?”

She shook her head and slid from the horse, right into Craig’s arms before she passed out.

When she awoke, she was lying on the ground.She looked up at Craig who was sitting next to her, legs drawn up, his wrists resting on his knees.“Do ye feel well, lass?”

She rose slowly, not wishing the faintness to return.“Aye.”She took a deep breath and looked around them.“Do ye ken where we are?”

“Aye.We’re on MacKay land and I know this spot.We’re still another full day’s ride before we reach Dun Ugadale.”

“What about the others?”

He looked over at her.“They are strong warriors; I am sure they are fine.”

“Edith?”

“They would protect her.There is more than a dozen of them.”

She licked her lips, needing a drink.Also, to find a bush to relieve herself.“Why did we leave?”

He studied her.“To protect ye.I kenned my men could handle the group who chased us, but I wanted ye out of the way.It was possible for Edith to stay hidden, but it wouldn’t have taken much for one of those brigands to snatch ye off yer horse.”

She stood.“I need to find a bush.”

Craig climbed to his feet and looked around and pointed “O’er there.”He began to walk, and she followed him.

So, her husband thought enough of her safety that he left the group to keep her from being taken from her horse.She fought down the warm feeling that thought brought to her middle but pushed it away.He probably didn’t want her taken because it would cause him problems, keeping him from hisvery important dutieswith having to find her.

No sooner had she left the bushes than a sight drizzle began to fall.Craig looked up at the sky.“Those clouds doona look so good.I’m afraid we’re in for a serious rainstorm.”

“Will we ride through?”

“No’ a good idea.This time of the year rain is quite cold.We’ll see how much time we can put in before the heavier rain starts.”

***

It didn’t take more than a half hour before it became apparent, they needed to stop.Craig had kept them under trees as much as possible to avoid getting too wet.He’d been watching for a place to stay where they could wait out the storm.He knew from his various trips around the MacKay lands that there was an abandoned cottage in the area.

Wiping the water from his face, he pointed to his left side.“There’s a cottage we can stay in until the storm passes.”

They swung their horses in the direction of the small bothy.There was no shed for the horses, but the trees grew plentiful and there were enough leaves to keep the horses from getting too wet.

“Wait here for a minute,” he said, drawing his sword.He pushed the door open and looked around the space.‘Twas dry and the only occupants had been some small animals who’d left droppings behind.

He returned to Lorena and helped her down.“Go inside and see if ye can sweep up the animal leavings while I take care of the horses.”

He led the animals to the driest spot near the bothy and grabbed some grass to rub them down.Satisfied that he did as much as he could for the horses, he splashed through the rain and entered the bothy.