Ashlyn (The Highland Clan Book 5) (6 page)

The only problem was she feared she would heave. She wished to vomit her guts all over the light snowfall that covered the ground. The more the horse’s spine dug into her belly, the more she wished to vomit. She fought hard against the tears that threatened to escape. Living her worst nightmare, she couldn’t think what to do. All she could think about was that she’d been kidnapped to take care of a man’s needs. She would heave for sure.

The footfalls of at least two other horses echoed behind her, and then she heard the sound she needed to hear more than any other: “Ash, get up and fight!”

Magnus. She moved her right hand to try to get to her knife, but she couldn’t reach it. Her hair flew all around her face blocking her vision.
Mo chreach
, as her cousin Jake would say, her hair was haunting her. Mayhap the lads had been right, loath though she was to admit it. Grabbing hold of her captor’s leg, she gripped him as hard as she could and bit his leg through his trews, hard enough for him to bellow and strike her, but not before the element of surprise gave her a moment to push against him to sit up.

His fist caught her face just as she managed to sit up in front of the fool. Then the strangest sound she’d ever heard rang through the trees.

Magnus.

Chapter Six

Hellfire, Ashlyn, fight!

Those were the only words that came to mind as he gained ground on her attacker. If he could get her to sit up, he could jump and pull her off the horse. True, they’d both take a rough tumble onto the ground, but she’d be free.

Suddenly, the bastard bellowed as if in pain, and Ashlyn pushed against him to get herself into a sitting position. Then the lout did something Magnus couldn’t tolerate. He punched her with his fist, square to her jaw. A bellow ripped from Magnus’s insides—deeper and more furious than any sound he’d ever issued—he launched himself at her attacker, both arms spread wide enough to knock both his Ashlyn and the fool who’d taken her off the horse.

They flew in two different directions, and the horse ran off into the distance. Luckily, Magnus kept enough of a grip on Ashlyn’s attacker that he followed him to the ground and landed on top of him with a whoosh. Magnus weighed enough to knock the wind out of the lad, which gave him enough time to put his fist in the bastard’s face and pummel his belly before he stood up to unsheathe his sword.

The lout staggered up and went for his own sword, and they parried for but a moment before Magnus stuck his sword into his heart. Ashlyn’s attacker fell to the ground, and gasping for air, Magnus pulled his sword out and wiped it in the snow before returning it to its sheath. The bastard had hit Ashlyn, causing him to lose all sense. He’d reacted with pure emotion, which was the worst way to react in a disaster.

But it didn’t matter. The lad had hit Ashlyn with
his fist
.

Still panting from exertion, he turned around to find Ashlyn, only to see a blur coming directly at him. At the last minute, he held his arms up as the lass launched herself into them, tears running down her face. He couldn’t have been more shocked.

He wrapped her into his warm embrace, quite pleased with how she felt in his arms. It was as if she belonged there.

She stood back and mumbled, “My thanks for coming after me. I do not know what I would have done if, if…”

He placed a finger against her lips. “Hush. It did not happen, and the only reason I was able to put an end to this was because you fought him. Did you hit him in his man parts or what?” He grinned from ear to ear as he brushed the tears off her cheeks.

“Nay, I bit him. ‘Twas the only way I could sit up. And I need to plait my hair. ‘Twas everywhere. I should cut it all off, ‘tis so unruly.”

“Your cousin is almost here.” He turned his head to the side, indicating Jamie was almost upon them. “I’ll plait it later for you. I did it every night for Rhona.”

She stepped away from him before Jamie arrived. In the distance, Magnus could see Braden corralling the horses chewing on a hidden area of grass clear of snow.

“What the hell did you make of them, Magnus? The rest are gone, though seven,” he glanced over Magnus’s shoulder, “make that eight, are now dead. They had no colors, but they clearly wished for Ashlyn.”

Ashlyn hung her head, obviously still shaken by the adventure. Though she’d seen much as a bairn, she had still led a sheltered life within their clan. Had their laird made a mistake in sending her along? Nay. Magnus believed she’d show her true value before they were done.

Jamie tipped his head to his cousin. “Nice job taking out the one who had his sword aimed straight at my belly, Ashlyn. I could not have handled both of them.”

Ashlyn mumbled something that sounded like she was happy to oblige him, but her words were unintelligible. Aye, she was still struggling to calm herself. Braden brought the horses over, so Magnus led Ashlyn over to her horse and heaved her up onto the beast’s back, not giving her the chance to argue about her ability to do it herself. He admired Ashlyn for her independence and her fierce streak, but this was not the time to be obstinate.

Fortunately, she apparently agreed with him because she didn’t argue, just turned her horse back toward the ravine.

“Any other injuries to our men?” Magnus asked as he mounted his horse, his eye on Ashlyn. He feared she’d tumble off her horse in her present state, but she moved ahead of him, her back as straight as one of her arrows.

“Nay,” Jamie said. “There were four guards not far away so they joined in as soon as they heard the shouts. I sent the rest off in search for a clearing. I believe there’s a cave up ahead that will be a good place for us to sleep tonight. We should not be having this trouble at this time of year. Most of the reivers head south to escape the snow.”

Braden returned Ashlyn’s bow to her, and the four of them rode together.

“Ashlyn, you are hale?” Magnus asked after a moment.

“Aye.” But he heard naught else from her.

The incident had shaken her for sure. Magnus lowered his voice, hoping Ashlyn wouldn’t hear him, and said, “The bastard hit her in the face with his fist. She’s likely to have a shining eye by morn.”

“Ashlyn will deal with it. I don’t like that they were able to get to her. We made an error in judgment. We need to discuss this when we’re eating.”

As they rode back, a sound overhead caught their attention, but Ashlyn reacted first, readying her bow and arrow and catching a duck that flew overhead. The bird’s body landed next to Braden.

“Great. We’ve got our dinner,” Braden grinned. “Wonder what the others will eat? Not many rabbits around this time of year.”

A few more ducks followed the other in flight, so Ashlyn took another one out.

“Hellfire!” Braden said. “I’m glad you’re with us, Ashlyn. I couldn’t have hit them.”

Braden retrieved both fowl and hooked them to his saddle as they traveled ahead, watching for signs of the others.

Braden pointed to a clearing off to the side of the main path. Horses were tied up outside a cave. Once they tied their horses to the bushes, they made their way into the shelter. The other four lads stood inside, arms crossed as if they were ready for an argument. Coll started to speak, but Magnus held up a hand to quiet him. He removed the two ducks from Braden’s horse and held them up for all to see.

Coll’s face lit up. “Och, Braden, nice aim! They’ll make a tasty dinner tonight. I thought we were stuck with oatcakes.”

Magnus walked up so his face was less that an arm’s length from Coll’s. “You can thank Ashlyn. She shot them both down, and this one is huge.”

Coll clamped his mouth shut.

***

Once their meal was almost finished, they settled on a few logs arranged just inside the large cave. Jamie stood up and announced, “Ashlyn?”

She spun her head around to stare at her cousin, wondering what the hellfire he was about to say. Did he wish to send her back? She hesitated with bated breath.

Jamie said, “You need to plait your hair.”

Her face fell. “I know. I’ll have it plaited before we leave.” She hoped that would end it. Much as she didn’t wish to agree, she knew it was necessary for her own safety. One, she was easily identified as a lass. Two, her long hair had interfered with her vision.

“Who were they?” Jamie asked. “Anyone recognize them?”

They all denied having any direct knowledge of the attackers.

“I did not know them,” Tormod said. “‘Tis unusual to see a group of men without their plaid.”

“They do not wish to be identified,” Magnus said.

“Mayhap they are—or
were
—MacNiven’s men,” Ashlyn said. Seven faces turned to look at her.

“What?” She shrugged her shoulders. “He hides behind a helm to keep from being recognized. Aline said he went by MacNeil in Castle Dubh. It fits.”

She did not like the way some of the men were casting sideways glances at her. Apparently, she was not the only one who noticed it.

“Problem?” Magnus asked, setting his hand on his thigh.

Ashlyn noticed how Magnus moved his hand closer to his sword whenever he wanted the others’ attention. Silence filled the air as they finished their food.

“No problem, Magnus. Just a comment. They were after the lass.” Coll’s eyes bored into hers. She could feel several sets of eyes on her, but none held as much fury as his did.

Tossing his last bone into the fire, Osgar said, “MacNiven’s men or not, they might not have attacked us at all if not for Ashlyn. She is easily identified.”

Jamie stood, moving closer to Osgar. “She’ll be plaiting her hair on the morrow. Enough discussion on the hair.”

“I’ll be plaiting it for her tonight,” Magnus added.

Jamie continued, “We need to focus on the fact that this could be MacNiven, which I’ll remind you is our charge. On the morrow, we shall search for any signs of where they originated, possibly find a lead to where MacNiven may be. Unfortunately, there are none left to lead us to their chief. It may have been MacNiven, it may have been our usual reivers.”

“Those men would have attacked anyone coming through the ravine. We were just the next ones through. They were after our horses. They noticed the lass and decided to take her, too.” Magnus crossed his arms in front of him, eyeing each of the men in turn. She wondered what was going through his mind.

Jamie replied, “True, but I think we must investigate the possibility it was MacNiven. Anyone else agree with me?”

Ashlyn cleared her throat. “Aye, ‘twas MacNiven’s men. I heard them yell to go for the lass. Aunt Gwyneth was almost sold to someone in the East. Mayhap Ranulf MacNiven plans to sell lasses in the burgh to men who wish to own them. My guess is he’s searching for another source of income now that Hew Gordon is dead. Though he has a substantial amount of gold from Gordon, he’ll need more if he wishes to raise a force strong enough to attack the Ramsays or the Grants. This was his original mission, and I doubt he has given up on it, just changed his method. ‘Tis anyone’s guess as to where he shall go next.”

“So you would have been sold outright?” Braden asked, his eyes wide.

“I believe so.”

“Hellfire, we need to stop the bastard.”

“Mayhap having a lass along interferes with our ability to find MacNiven,” Art said.

“Or mayhap it will bring him to us. She could be our best asset.” Jamie pursed his lips, a look she recognized all too well. Her cousin was daring anyone to disagree with him. “And while we’re discussing our group of guards, allow me to mention a couple of things. First is that Ashlyn took two of the eight men out before she was captured, one that had their sword aimed for my belly. Second thing is that I noticed one of our arrows endangered one of our own. I know not who shot it, but I know the direction it came from.”

“What?” Tormod stood, and the rest of the group followed his lead. “Someone tried to shoot one of us?”

“One of the enemies held a bow,” Osgar shouted. “It did not necessarily come from one of us.”

Questions flew as they all took one another’s measure. Dread slid down Ashlyn’s spine. She’d hoped the attacks had ended after they’d left Clan Grant. Why would one of the men still be after her?

“Who was the target?”

“Who would do that?”

“Why would someone shoot a clanmate?”

Jamie put an end to the discussion. “I saw it, and it was aimed at Ashlyn. It didn’t come from her protector or her family. The conversation ends here with this piece of advice. If you cannot handle traveling with a lass, go home now, and I’ll not hold it against you. Do it again, and I’ll see you dead when we leave you behind. Get some sleep. Ashlyn will be at the back of the cave, and Magnus and I will be in front of her.” The threat was obvious in that last line.

As the others settled in, Magnus took Ashlyn by the arm and led her to the back of the cave. He settled her on a rock and stood behind her, weaving his fingers through her hair to straighten it as best he could.

“Magnus, I can plait my own hair. It just takes a while because ‘tis so long.”

“As I said, I plaited Rhona’s hair all the time. I am quite skilled at it, and she used to say it relaxed her. After the day you’ve had, I think that sounds like a good idea.” He spoke in a low voice, low enough so the others couldn’t hear him as they rustled around in preparation for the night’s rest.

Some of the men were speaking in hushed tones, and Ashlyn was quite pleased that she couldn’t hear what they were saying. It would be a greater challenge to ignore Magnus’s ministrations. His hands massaged her scalp as he pulled the strands apart. She stifled a moan as she leaned back into his hands.

Magnus chuckled, but said naught as he tamed the wild locks and then began his ritual of plaiting them, each touch to her scalp a sweet caress before he pulled the curls back, braiding carefully. She gave him complete control—something she had never willingly done before—leaning her neck and her body whichever way he wished.

Who would have thought such a simple touch could be so…stirring?

“Do not allow the men to upset you. The same happens to any man on his first venture.” The soft tones of his voice soothed her almost as much as his fingers on her scalp.

“Did it happen to you?” She closed her eyes, giving in to the rhythmic pulls of his hands winding her hair together.

“Aye, one of my clanmates tried to suggest that I slowed them down because I am so large. He claimed I could not run fast and it would be a risk to have me along.”