Page 54 of Katie's Highlander (Highland Protector 3)
“I don’t want to do this, Ramsay.”
“I dinna give a damn what ye want, Katie.” Ramsay’s face darkened with a furious scowl she’d never seen before. “I want ye safe and right now, that’s all that matters t’me. Yer safety, d’ye ken? I willna lose ye to the cruel uneducated ways of this time.” He took a step closer and snagged hold of her right arm, locking his fingers tight around her wrist. “Now, ye’ll either come with me of yer own free will, or I’ll tote ye o’er m’shoulder like a felled deer. Yer choice, woman.”
The son of a bitch is serious.His reasoning was touching but his technique could use a hell of a lot of work. This situation obviously called for some serious strategizing. Failing at yanking her wrist out his grasp, Katie rolled her eyes. “Fine. I’ll go with you but that doesn’t mean I’m going to do whatever the old druid says.”
It was Ramsay’s turn to roll his eyes as he shook his head. Without a word, he pulled Katie alongside him as they wove their way through the deserted village of Skara Brae to the mound of lounging seals and the stones behind it. As they neared the higher elevation, Katie spotted the thin spiral of smoke rising from somewhere just beyond the crest of the hill.
The closer they drew, the more Katie could pick out the distinct sound of someone humming. Loudly—or she never would’ve heard it over the wind and the waves. Apparently, the old druid was not only still quite alive, but also could carry a tune. They picked their way down the hillside and stepped around the mound of stones, carefully navigating a narrow stretch of steps made out of rocks and boulders carefully fitted together.
As they reached the bottom of the staircase, Katie pulled herairisaidhoff her head and allowed it to drape about her shoulders.Finally, out of the wind. I can actually hear myself think.A shelter of stone with a roof of mud and thatch was built into the side of the pit that protected it from the harsher touch of the winds and rains coming in directly off the sea.
“Wait here,” Ramsay instructed in a tone that dared her to argue. Spear at the ready, he walked toward the door.
She’d give Ramsay a little leniency for his caveman etiquette, but they’d definitely talk later. She wasn’t about to let that bullshit get out of control.
Ramsay beat on the door. “Hello within. We mean ye no harm. We’ve come t’seek yer counsel.”
The door opened and there stood Dwyn.
“ ’Tis damn nigh time ye got here, boy. I thought ye’d ne’er make it.”
“Holy shit.” Katie shook her head and yanked herairisaidhtighter about her shoulders.
“ ’Tis a pleasure t’see ye too, lass,” Dwyn replied with a twinkle in his eyes. He stepped to one side and waved them inside. “Come now. The both of ye. Inside where it’s out of the wind. I’ve stoked the fire and brought whisky enough for us all.”
“Good,” Katie said as she shoved past Ramsay and made her way over to the table beside the fire. “I could definitely use a drink.”
A loud crash behind her had her spinning around. Ramsay had Dwyn by the throat, lifted off the floor by a good foot and a half, and shoved up against the wall.
“Where the hell have ye been, ye manipulatin’ bastard? Where the hell have ye been?” Every vein bulged in Ramsay’s arm and one visibly pulsed at his temple. Ramsay was beyond pissed, and all bets were off. “I’ve been callin’ t’ye night and day. Since when d’ye abandon a protector?”
Dwyn acted as though being hung against the wall was an everyday occurrence. Arms relaxed at his sides, he shrugged. “Ye were ne’er abandoned, young fool. The goddesses and I have been watchin’ o’er ye.” He shrugged again. “No’ that much is goin’ on in the future—other than yer wee sister graduating early from high school. Canny lassie, that one is, smart and braw as she is beautiful.”
Ramsay growled and bounced Dwyn against the wall again.
Time for some damage control.Katie rushed forward and took hold of the arm Ramsay had locked at the elbow to keep Dwyn suspended. “Never piss off the gods, Ramsay. Come on. Let him go.”
“He’s no’ a god,” Ramsay argued through clenched teeth, his face growing redder by the minute.
“Close enough,” Katie shot back with a warning look. Dwyn might not be a god but he was damned sure something powerful if he could flitter back and forth across time anytime he wanted.
Dwyn chuckled and cocked a brow at Ramsay. “Ye’d do well t’listen to yer wife, boy. It appears she’s learned much during her visit to this time.”
“Send us back, ye bastard. We did what the goddesses bade us, now send us back.” Ramsay lowered Dwyn to the floor with a rough shove then stomped over to the fire as if putting space between himself and Dwyn might be best for all concerned.
“I see ye’ve grown quite pompous as high chieftain,” Dwyn observed as he straightened his raggedléineand cloak, which comprised his disguise of a wise old druid. “Have the powers spoken t’ye, told ye that ye’ve done as they wished? If they have, I’m quite impressed because they’ve always restricted their conversations to yer father or myself.”
Katie hurriedly poured three cups of whisky, wondering whether it would help the situation or act like gasoline thrown on a fire.Let this help,she silently prayed as she handed Ramsay and Dwyn a cup then raised her own in the air. “Sláinte mhath.”
Dwyn smiled at her and Ramsay gave her a disbelieving stare. She pointed her cup at Ramsay and repeated. “Sláinte mhath, dammit!”
Dwyn burst out laughing and clapped a hand to Ramsay’s shoulder. “Fine lass, she is, fine lass indeed.Sláinte mhath, lass,Sláinte mhath.”
“Sláinte mhath,” Ramsay grudgingly repeated then chugged the contents of the wooden cup.
Katie welcomed the burn and the less tense atmosphere. Maybe it would be better if she jumped in and asked the questions. “If we haven’t done what the goddesses wanted us to do in this time—then what is it? What are we supposed to do?”
Dwyn studied her for a long uncomfortable moment, easing closer as he watched her. “Yer anxious to return to the future, are ye?”
