Page 45 of To Claim His Highland Bride

“Damn his foul luck.” Eck pushed his fingers through his hair as frustration coiled inside. “Why did the captain send you back here?”

“The captain wants powder and wicks, tools, and men, as many as are willing tae risk the possible dangers.”

A cacophony of voices all raised at once, asserting their willingness to go help Marcus.

Eck raised two fingers to his mouth and released a loud whistle, instantly silencing the men. “I’ll need ten men to stay back with me on this ship. The rest of you can gather the remaining boats and help your captain.”

“I want tae go.” Gordon strode forward to stand tall before Eck.

“You should be in the brig. How did you get out?” Eck frowned at the escaped prisoner.

“When I heard the captain’s wife was trapped behind a wall of rock, I picked the lock and freed myself. I must go and help.”

Eck glared down at the young man, exasperated. “That’s not your choice to make.”

“Before sailing on The Cliodna I was a stonemason. If any one of us knows anything about rocks, ’tis me.” He lifted his shirt, exposing his back. “I’ll take the lashes now in order to fulfil my punishment.”

Eck pressed his lips together, thinking, then finally nodded. “All right. You can go, and there is no need for lashes either. If you can free Rowena, your sentence will be served.”

“Thank you.” Gordon lowered his shirt and stepped back amongst his crewmates to decide who would go with Gordon and Mack back to the cave. In the end, it was determined that they only had enough space on the boats for thirty men, ten in each. After tools were gathered and the powder and wicks placed in a small waterproof barrel, the men set off for Uamh Oir.

Eck stood at the rail and watched as the crew reached the cave, hoping and praying this time their treasure hunting would not end in tragedy.

*

“Rowena? Where are you?” Marcus called through the slight opening in the rock. It was dark in the chamber where there had once been light. He’d returned to the blockage several minutes ago and Rowena had yet to answer him. Had she gone off exploring? He hoped that was all it was. Even so, as the moments of silence stretched out, he felt as though his heart was being cut from his chest. He forced himself to think through the pain, to ignore the incipient panic.

When finally he saw a light flare on the other side of the rocks, his heart soared. “Rowena?”

“I’m here, Marcus.” She reached her fingers up to his, touching the cold tips to his warmer ones.

“My men are here. So many of them from the ship came to help free you. Bryce is helping them bring supplies from the boats. It shouldn’t be long now before you are free.”

“Marcus.” She drew a tremulous breath. “I found a way out as well.”

“What do you mean?”

“There is a tunnel.” She paused. “Except that it is below the water. I’m certain I can swim through it back out to the sea.”

“Nay, Rowena. That sounds too risky.”

“Riskier than trying to bring down these boulders in the next few hours?”

“If that fails then I’ll send everyone away and blow the rocks with powder myself.”

“And bring the entire cave down upon our heads. We’ll both die, Marcus.”

“We are running out of options.” He tried and failed to keep the sound of defeat from his voice.

“Nay, we are not.” Her fingers pushed farther into the opening so that he could feel more of her than before. “Something truly remarkable happened at the underwater tunnel. A seal came to the surface. The seals we saw earlier today know where I am and I think they want to help me escape.”

“How can we trust seals with your life? Nay, Rowena, let my men at least try to free you.”

She was silent for a long while before she finally said, “If that’s what you want, then aye. Let’s give your men two hours to see what they can do. But after that time has passed, I want to go back to the sea tunnel. I understand your fear. But, Marcus, back at Loch Dunvegan the darker-skinned seals helped me before. I honestly believe they will help me again. Perhaps it’s because of the fairy armour, or because I’m a MacLeod, or because they know I truly need their assistance to survive. No matter the reason, I feel it deep inside my core that this is our only hope.”

“You promised you’d give me and my men some time.”

“I did. I will wait.”