Page 29 of Highland Seduction

“Fetch it.” The riding party came closer. “And Ainsley?”

“Aye,” she said again.

“I was angry with myself because I am no’ a jealous man. Until today.”

Chapter 16

Ye’re a fool, Tor.

He could hear Royce’s voice in his ears. He’d said as much the day Tor refused to accept the position as his second. He’d said them many times before, including the morning he left Castle Shaw. For once, Tor feared his brother had been right.

He’d traveled without escort before. Many times, in fact. But this was different. He had Ainsley to protect.

“If I tell ye to ride,” he said to her, just before the Scots reached them, “do it. Follow this road south and dinnae veer from it. I will find ye.”

He did not wish to scare her, but neither did he like the look of these men.

They slowed as they reached him and Ainsley.

“Greetings,” their leader called. Or Tor assumed he was their leader. Though he rode second, he’d been the one to instruct the others to slow down.

“And to ye,” he said to the reivers. At least they were Scots and not English. But Tor did not trust any man who made his way thieving from others.

“Ye travel alone?” the reiver asked. “With just the maid as escort?”

Tor liked the man’s tone less than he did the way he looked at Ainsley. He deliberately did not answer the question. “Are ye heading for Mend Hayle?” he asked, ensuring the men traveled in the opposite direction as they did.

“Aye, have ye come from there?”

“We have.”

When the man began to dismount, Tor did not hesitate. He jumped down, his sword unsheathed, before the reiver’s feet hit the ground.

Unfortunately, his companions did the same.

“We seek no quarrel with ye,” Tor said.

In response, his opponent unsheathed his own sword. Dammit. He’d hoped to reach Berwick without incident, but it seemed such a thing would not be possible.

“We’ve four men and do no’ mean yer wife harm.”

But they did mean to steal from them. He’d told Ainsley to wear little jewelry, but her mount and riding gown told a different tale than the one he’d hoped to convey. As did her bearing. And these reivers thought to take what they did not offer.

“Take another step,” he told the leader, “and all four of ye will regret having attempted to steal from us.”

Without bothering to deny his accusation, their leader was joined by two of the other men. One remained on horseback, which Tor knew he would have to compensate for. He did it with the element of surprise. Rushing the leader and landing a blow so swift upwards that it sent his sword flying through the air, he grabbed the man and pulled him toward his chest. Holding him there, he said to the others, “Ye can continue to ride, or ye can watch his throat slit. I would advise the former, as all three of ye will join him in hell otherwise.”

Though he could easily cut down two of them, all four, with one on horseback and Ainsley behind him, would provide a challenge. If necessary, however, he would see the deed accomplished.

The trick, Adair had told him many times, was not in the words. Nor even the actions. It was to stand tall, not to look away or move even a muscle. Speak slowly, and clearly. And keep yer hands visible at all times. And the most difficult of all, at least to him—

Allow for silence.

He did that now, with effort. Though the leader struggled beneath him, Tor held tight, with the knowledge that Ainsley was behind them, watching. Waiting to see if he would be cut down so these men could take her for a ransom. He’d dearly love to see them claim that from the laird of Clan Shaw.

It was no idle threat he offered. Tor was, indeed, prepared to slit the man’s throat. Thankfully, he’d not need to. Both men mounted as the third said, “If he does no’ follow directly behind us, we return to take her.” He nodded to Ainsley.

“He will be along,” Tor said, only letting the man go when all three were well on their way. Shoving him toward his mount, he warned, “Double back, and I will kill ye.”