Page 12 of Highland Ruse

Lady Elizabeth put her hands on her hips, and Kaid knew he was in for a tongue-lashing.

“You expect us to go into the woods,” she said. “Alone.”

He didn’t budge. “Aye.”

She opened her mouth to speak, but he cut her off before she could start.

“Or I could let the two of ye go together while I join ye both to ensure no one leaves.” He shrugged.

Her mouth opened wider, this time in obvious outrage. “How dare you?”

“Then maybe ye should do as he says,” Donnan said with his customary good-natured smile. “One of ye stays while the other goes.”

Elizabeth let her gaze slide over to Donnan and then back to Kaid. He could see the indecision warring on her face.

She heaved a great sigh. “Very well. Leasa, you go first.”

Leasa cast an anxious look toward Kaid.

“Ye’ll be fine,” Kaid offered reassuringly.

Still the frightened maid hesitated.

“Ach, ye’ll be fine, lass. I give ye my word.” Donnan flashed her his ready grin.

As always, his effortless charm worked its magic and Leasa’s shoulders relaxed. This would indeed be a long trek if Donnan was to repeat everything Kaid said.

“Thank you.” Leasa gave a short nod and made her way off the path at a pace somewhere between a walk and a restrained run.

The conversation ceased with her disappearance, so only Lady Elizabeth’s glare filled the space between them. Donnan muttered something about checking the horses and disappeared around the coach.

“Who are you, anyway?” Elizabeth asked.

Kaid looked toward the woods where the maid had disappeared. The lass made enough sound crashing through the brush he didn’t have to guess her location. Based on the volume of her screams earlier, he’d know well enough if she required rescuing. “Dinna ye worry about who I am.”

“Yes, we’ve already had this conversation.” There was a note of frustration in her voice. “What are we to call you?”

“Ye dinna need to call me anyth—”

“Kaid, where did ye want to set up camp tonight?” Donnan peeked his head around the corner. “I think we’re near—” His words dropped, and only then did Kaid realize he was glowering at Donnan.

A triumphant grin showed on Elizabeth’s face. “Kaid.” She nodded toward Donnan. “And who are you?”

Donnan’s uncertainty melted away in an instant, and he bowed low like some damn courtier. “Donnan MacLeod at yer service, my lady.”

With a growl, Kaid snapped forward and hauled Donnan against the cart. “We’ve abducted these women,” he reminded his friend in Gaelic. “Ye need to have a care what we tell them. They now know who we are, and ye almost told them exactly where we are. Ye need to speak to me in Gaelic from now on and give them only what they need to know, aye?”

Donnan’s face hardened into a look Kaid had only seen perhaps twice in their entire lives. “I guess I’m no’ used to kidnapping lasses.”

The slight hit its mark. He released Donnan’s leine, though he didn’t remember having grabbed it in the first place. “I dinna want to do this either,” Kaid said, though he knew it didn’t matter.

Lady Elizabeth frowned and strode toward them with such clipped steps, her skirts kicked out in front of her. “What are you saying?”

Irritation drew tight across Kaid’s shoulders, and he had to collect the scraps of his patience before answering, “Things we obviously dinna want ye to hear.”

Her hand was in the pocket of her large skirts, shifting under the heavy layer of fabric. As if she were seeking something.

He’d never thought to ask them if they were armed. After all, what noblewoman carried weapons on her person? But then, this spitfire might.