Page 15 of A Laird and a Fugitive

They turned on their heels and sprinted away, but the men were quick to react. The air was soon filled with the sound of their screams as heavy, rough arms grabbed them and dragged them down. Out of the corner of her eye, Caroline could see Nessa fighting back, scratching and clawing like a feral animal. Tara was dragged out of sight, her scream fading with a helpless look in her eyes. Caroline’s heart broke as she realized that she was incapable of keeping them safe. She had failed them.

Strong hands held her arms together. Pressure was placed on her knees. She was forced to the ground and tasted dirt. The bandit had his knee pressed into her back, and she was unable to move, no matter how much she struggled. He bent down. His breath was hot on the back of her neck. The evil intent of his words made her shudder.

“Ye should nae hae done that, lass. I was all ready tae treat ye well, but now I’m gaeing tae have tae teach ye a lesson.”

He drew a dagger and held it near her eyes, making a show of his weapon. It glinted in the faint light. The tip was sharp, offering nothing but pain. It came nearer her neck, pressing against her flesh in a chill touch.

Then, suddenly, there was a sharp blow and the bandit was knocked off her back and sent sprawling to the ground. Caroline gasped. Turning around, with her hands pressed against the hard ground, she looked up to see the towering figure of Laird Ryan Knox standing before her.

From this vantage point, he might well have been a giant. His fists were giant clubs, while a sword, as yet undrawn, hung from his side. He had a mean countenance and did not offer her a hand to rise. The strength of his blow had been enough to knock the bandit out cold.

“Did ye think ye could escape that easily? I admire the ingenuity, but I told ye that ye would be safer in the castle. Things would be a lot easier if ye just listened tae me,” he said, his expression inscrutable.

Caroline choked on her own breath as she pushed herself into a sitting position. She trembled all over, and she wasn’t sure whether to be relieved that Knox had saved her life, or if he was even worse than the bandits. But she didn’t have time to consider that matter for long.

Tara was out of sight and Nessa was now being held down by two men. They were both so fixated on Nessa that they didn’t notice Knox’s presence. Nessa was snarling and screaming, promising them both a violent end. One of the bandits had deep scratch marks on his cheek, but Caroline feared that Nessa’s vow was not going to be fulfilled.

“Help us. Ye hae tae help us,” she pleaded with desperate words, but Knox was like a statue.

His lips remained closed, his eyes remained cold. Caroline slowly pushed herself to her knees and then to her feet. Her vision traveled up his broad body, which was packed with coiled strength.

“My sisters…” she trailed away, realizing that he wasn’t going to show her mercy. Fraught emotion whirled inside her and carried her forward. She grabbed his collar in a frenzy and beat her small fist against his chest. She wasn’t sure if he even felt the impact of her hammered blows.

“Ye must help us! Ye must!” she repeated, for there was nothing else she could do.

The corner of his mouth rose in a smirk. “I will help ye,” he growled in a low voice, “if ye accept my proposition. I told ye what was required in order tae gae my protection. Sae what is it gaeing tae be, Caroline? Are ye gaeing tae be my wife and save yer sisters, or shall we watch?”

Caroline couldn’t believe a man could be so monstrous, so heartless. She let go of his collar. Her trembled hands rested against him. Tears filled her eyes as she looked over towards Nessa, who was gnashing her teeth like a captive dog, and goodness knows what was happening to Tara. She was in an impossible situation, and the tension in her body threatened to shatter her apart into a thousand tiny pieces.