Highland Legends 04 - Captive Highlander (13 page)

“Dear lady,” he whispered, “I
canna live without you. You must come with me to find help.” Ian let her slide
gently back to earth and straightened her clothing and his.

Catching her breath, Katie shot
Ian an angry glare. “You have used my weakness for you to try and change my
mind.”

“God’s blood, woman, we canna
defeat them alone.” Despite his injuries, he caught hold of her and pushed her
in front of him down the passage. Katie whirled and tried to get past him. He
blocked her way. It seemed his infirmities did not hamper him in any way. She
could feel the stickiness of his seed on her thighs as he forced her forward.

Chapter 17

The clatter of hooves rang out in
the passage ahead of them. Ian grabbed Katie and pulled her behind a rock. They
ducked low as Angus Innes and a contingent of men came around the corner
leading their horses. Ian stood and dragged Katie out with him. His father ran
to embrace him.

“You live,” he said holding Ian
close. “I feared the little wench got you killed.” Angus released him and
looked him up and down. “Bad bruises,” he commented indicating Ian’s chest.”

“Some ribs are bruised, but I
dinna think they are broken. I seem able to perform despite my injuries.” With
this statement, he gave Katie a wink. He grinned when her face colored.

His father’s eyes took on a
little sparkle. “What’s this? Are ye wearin’ Blackburn colors now?”

“A useful ruse,” Ian explained.
He smiled. “Father, this is Katie Blackburn.”

Angus’ eyes moved over her with
something near contempt. “You escaped and brought her with you?”

“She freed me and helped me get
this far,” Ian corrected.

“Captor to savior in a matter of
days?”

“Aye, so.”

Keith ran to Katie and gave her a
hug. “Finally did the right thing, little lass.”

“Ian showed me the error of my
ways. Rannoch used his healer’s magic to poison my father. I searched for you
everywhere and learned Rannoch sent you to Angus.” Her face scrunched into a
frown. “What did they do to you?” she asked, rubbing the charred stubble of his
burned beard.

Keith smiled and hung his head.
“I needed a bit of encouragement to help Laird Innes enter Duntaigh Castle in
secret.”

Katie turned to Angus. “I thank
you, Laird Innes, for not killing Keith outright.”

Angus studied Katie, his
expression unreadable. “You look so like your mother,” he said finally. “Lady
Katherine Stuart reborn.”

“I do look like my mother,” Katie
replied. “But Maura tells me I am a bit more adventurous.”

“I loved your mother. She was to
be my second wife before she met your father.”

“I didna ken that, Milord.”

“I dinna imagine your father
would have told you.”

“He didna,” Katie confirmed.

“You must be quite a handful if
you succeeded in taking Ian at unawares. Of course, now that I see you, I
understand why.”

“I did terrible things.”

“Aye, you did, lass. Give me a
reason I shouldna punish you for the evil you have visited upon my only living
son and heir.” Angus looked at Ian. “He has suffered abuse because of you.”

“’Tis true, Milord. But I came to
my senses and helped him escape Rannoch’s wrath.”

“Pray tell, what did Ian do to
bring about Rannoch’s wrath?”

Katie hung her head and felt the
color rising in her face. “He took me, Milord, and now I am no longer
innocent.”

Angus raised an eyebrow at Ian.
“You deflowered Brian Blackburn’s eldest daughter.”

“I love her,” Ian said. “I wish
to marry her.”

“Holy mother of God, all these
years I have prayed for you to find a mate, and now you choose the daughter of
my lost love, the only woman I cared for save your mother?”

“Aye, Father. Katie is the
strong-willed, free spirit I sought all these many years. We are the perfect
match.”

“Like you and Skye MacLean. I ken
you flirted with the idea of marrying her.”

Katie had heard stories of Skye
MacLean’s wild adventures. The whole MacLean family was legendary in the
Highlands. Laird Jared MacLean had taken Asilinn Innes and forced her to marry
him then later defended her when the bishops charged her with witchcraft. Liam
MacLean married the accused murderess Devon Dunsmore, and Skye MacLean vanished
for months only to reappear with no memory of her marriage to Gabriel Ravenwood.
Ian and his family were close to the whole bunch, joined by the marriage of
Ian’s sister to the MacLean laird.

“Skye and I have been friends
since she was twelve. When she came back home suspecting she might be pregnant
and couldna remember her marriage to Gabriel, I thought we might be able to
make it work.” Ian smiled. “Skye was smart enough to ken ‘twas not meant to
be.”

“You asked her to marry you,”
Katie blurted out.

Ian’s blue eyes pierced her.
“Aye, love, but Skye and I never….”

“You never took her the way you
took me, making her think ‘twas her own idea.”

“I never took any woman the way I
took you,” Ian replied. “The others didna matter. My paramours came to me in a
quest for mutual satisfaction, nothing more. I didna lie about my intent with
any of them. It was much more than that with you, sweet Katie.”

Angus grunted. “God’s teeth, Ian,
Brian will have you drawn and quartered for having his daughter without benefit
of marriage.”

“Perchance he would if he could.
Rannoch has used his Irish healer, Sorcha Blaine, to poison Laird Blackburn.
Brian lays helpless while Rannoch plays ward to Katie and her siblings. He
seeks to take Duntaigh Castle by handing Robert the Bruce over to Edward.”

“Sorcha Blaine?” Angus asked.

“Aye, you are familiar with her?”

“I have heard her name before. I
dinna ken where.” Angus rubbed his beard. “Did Sorcha Blaine help Rannoch in
all his plans?”

“Aye,” Katie said quickly.

Ian shrugged. “’Tis hard to tell,
she saved me from being gelded by Rannoch only hours ago. And whatever potion
she gave me didna force me to tell the truth, though that is what she told
Rannoch.”

“What did you tell Rannoch?”

“I made up a tale about the Earl
of Ravenwood and suggested he had English leanings. I told Rannoch that Robert
was going to attack Carraig Castle to lure Edward into Scotland and then kill
him near the border.”

“Excellent.” Angus turned to
Katie. “Now we must leave and gather troops for your family’s rescue.”

“Aye,” Ian agreed. “I wouldna
like all of us to land back in Duntaigh Castle’s dungeon.”

Katie took the opportunity to
make a suggestion. “Ian, Keith is here now. He and I will remain at Duntaigh
while you and your father plan our rescue.”

“Keith may remain. He can hide
himself in the escape cave and do what he can to help your family. This small
band is not enough to take the keep, so you will come with us.”

“I dinna want to leave my family
at Rannoch’s mercy.”

“Katie, to do otherwise puts you
at grave risk. Rannoch would have you and Brianna. I canna let that happen. You
will be my wife.” He put his hand on her flat stomach. “My seed could already
be taking root in your womb. I wilna leave you for Rannoch.”

“He is right, Milady. Rannoch has
no honor. ‘Tis hard to tell what he might do if he found you here,” Keith said.
“Go with Ian and his clan. I will stay here and protect your family.”

Could she have conceived so
quickly? It was not out of the realm of possibility. She had joined with Ian
twice now and each time brought her to new heights of pleasure. “I will go with
you,” she conceded. Katie turned to Keith. “Sorcha plans to initiate Jamie into
the ways of the world. I would have his innocence spared.”

A laugh rumbled up from Keith’s
chest. “Katie, Jamie wilna suffer in his introduction into things that
transpire between a man and woman in the bedchamber. Dinna fret over this.
Jamie will be all the wiser for this experience.”

“She is a monster.”

“Nay, she is a woman of many
talents,” Keith said.

“He is my brother.”

“Aye, so,” Angus said. “Dinna
waste a minute in regret. He will be better for the knowledge.”

Ian put his arm around Katie and
drew her close. “Everything will be alright.” He kissed her lightly on the top
of her head.

Katie jerked away. “So glad to
ken all of you think ‘tis fine for Sorcha to have her way with my brother. He
is still a child.”

Ian laughed. “In your eyes only,
my sweet.” He held out his hand to her. “Come, the sooner we get out of here,
the sooner we can get back and save your family.”

Expelling a deep breath, she took
his hand. He smiled. She frowned. They started the walk back down the secret
passage that led out of the castle. The rest of the company fell in behind them
leading the horses.

When they reached the opening
that led to Rannoch Moore, Angus grabbed Keith by the shirt and pulled him
close. “If you betray us, there will be no place you can hide.” Keith nodded as
Angus released him.

Katie lunged at Angus and struck
him. “Keith is not a traitor to our cause!”

Angus held her back with one arm
and looked at Ian. “Control your woman, Son.”

“I am not his woman yet,” she
spluttered.

Ian and Angus laughed. “Aye, you
are, little lass,” Angus said. “By God, I will see he marries you to protect
the honor of our clan and yours. Ian kens he canna make light with the daughter
of a laird and not marry her, especially when the laird was once my best friend
and your mother my lost love.”

“We will wed at our earliest
convenience, Father. Katie made me promise I would save her family before she
would give me an answer to my proposal.”

“Feisty, that one, she gives you
all and then she waits to accept your proposal. Perchance she will give you the
challenge you need.”

“I am standing right here. Kindly
dinna discuss me as if I were not present,” Katie spat. Turning on her heel,
she knotted her fists at her side and started out of the cave into the bright
sunlight.

Chapter
18

Rannoch unlocked the door to
Katie’s chamber and strode into the room. “God’s blood,” he swore when he saw
the shackles hanging open from her bedpost. “How the hell?” He called to the
guard. “Did anyone visit Lady Katherine?”

“Only her sister, Milord.”

“Which sister?”

“Little Tessa, Milord.”

“No one else?”

“Nay, Milord.”

Rannoch walked across the hall
and pounded on Tessa’s door. She opened it her eyes wide with wonder. “Milord
Rannoch, how may I be of service?”

He grabbed her roughly by the
arm. “Did you free Katie?”

“How could I possibly do that,
Milord?”

“Someone did.”

Tessa shrugged. “’Twas not me,
Milord. I only went to speak with her briefly earlier.”

Rannoch snorted. “Her shackles
could secure you as well.”

“Aye, so, Milord. If that is what
you desire.” Tessa held her hands out. “If you would chain me, I would accept
your authority to do it, Milord. I am in your care and you should do whatever
you see fit.”

“Damn Blackburns! Stay in your chamber.”

“As you say, Milord.”

He left with a slam of the door
and went in search of Draco. Sorcha walked out of Draco’s chamber with a torn
dress and a nasty gash across her breast. She nodded at him as he entered.

Draco stood naked in the center
of the room. “Get dressed and come with me to check on Ian. I suspect something
is afoot. Katie is missing from her chamber.”

Draco pulled on his clothes and
followed Rannoch down the passage that led to the dungeon. When they reached
Ian’s cell, Rannoch cursed again. “Ian and Katie have escaped.”

“So it would seem.”

He struck Draco across the face
and watched his jaw quiver in defiance. Draco did not challenge his authority.
Rannoch assured over the years that Draco knew better. “Your guard is useless.
What now?”

“We must ride outside the gates
to see if they are crossing Rannoch Moor.”

Rannoch nodded his agreement.
“Gather the men and meet me at the north gate.”

“Aye, Milord.”

He watched Draco walk off to
rally the troops. Rannoch made his way to the stables and ordered his horse
made ready. When Draco arrived with the troops, Rannoch gave the signal for
them to mount and ride out.

Sorcha rapped lightly on Jamie’s
door. She heard a stirring inside the chamber then the door opened. He stared
at her agog. She gave him a slight bow. “Milord, I need your assistance.”

“Come,” he said inviting her into
his chamber. “Who did this to you?”

Sorcha teased a tear down her
cheek. “’Twas Draco, Milord. He took me roughly.” Sobbing, she grabbed hold of
Jamie. “Please, Milord, let me stay here so he canna find me again.”

“Come in and rest a bit,” Jamie
said.

Sorcha sat on his bed and lay
back with a deep sigh. “Oh, Jamie, he is a cruel man.”

“I suspected as much,” Jamie said
coming over beside her.

“Do you think you could dress my wound?”
she asked.

“Surely,” he said. He walked
over, dampened a rag, and came back to the bed. He tried to hand it to her.

Sorcha pulled her dress down to
expose her breasts. “Please cleanse it,” she said softly. She felt his tender
strokes as his eyes grew wide in enjoyment of her display. Sorcha took his hand
and led it over her breast. “Jamie, do you ken what would make me feel better?”

“Nay, Milady.”

“A tender touch from a gentle
man,” she whispered as she guided him to touch her rosy nipples.

Jamie took deep breaths as he
touched a woman’s breast for the first time. It felt so good and Sorcha guided
him every step of the way. “Sorcha….”

“Please dinna stop,” she
whispered urgently.

Jamie felt the hardening between
his legs. He knew what was going to happen and he welcomed it. What harm would
it be to see what it was like to be a man and take a woman of great beauty
despite her vile nature?

“What do you want, Sorcha?” he
asked, hoping she wanted exactly what he did.

Her hand touched him intimately.
“I want you, Jamie. Will you take me?”

“I havena known a woman before,”
he whispered.

“I will show you what to do,” she
said. “Will you have me?”

“Aye,” he said, sucking in his
breath as he felt her hand tighten on his stock.

Katie marveled at how fast Ian and
his father organized a plan. They were heading for The Stagg Inn, which sat at
a midpoint between Dunbocan and Cairngorm Castles. Angus dispatched one of the
men to each fortress to gather Innes and MacLean forces for the impending
battle to free her family. They knew Laird Jared MacLean would provide them
whatever help they needed. The blood bond between their clans began when Laird
Innes finally accepted the marriage of his daughter Asilinn to the MacLean
laird, despite the method Jared used to achieve the union. Now the MacLean
heirs were half Innes and half MacLean. This bound the two clans.

Riding between Ian and his
father, Katie felt surrounded by Ian’s kinsmen. She had never seen Ian like
this. He took charge and led the men. His intense blue eyes strayed to her
occasionally. Most of the time, he focused on the way ahead. What did she know
about this man? He kept his promise and rallied his men to save her family. Did
that mean he loved her? She had given him all and admitted it in front of the
Innes warriors. All his kin accepted she belonged to him and that he would
marry her. God help her if he didn’t. She could not resist his touch. Even now,
she reveled in remembrance of their fiery union. If he didna grant her the
honor of marriage, she would be his whore.

For awhile they kept to the cover
of the woods surrounding Loch Laiden. The route slowed their pace as they wound
through narrow woodland trails and rocky outcroppings.

“This way,” Katie said,
indicating a trail she had used on more than one occasion. It would shorten
their path considerably.

Ian’s eyes met hers. “How does
this way differ from the way Rannoch would use from the castle gate?”

“We came out of the secret cave
into the valley. The castle road goes across the high ridge before it drops to
this level.” Katie blanched. “You think they will see us from above.”

“We have good cover here. Where
does your suggested path lead?”

“’Twill bring us into the open,
but there is no way to avoid it. This trail cuts time off the woodland route
and puts us in the open a bit longer. We can make better time going across the
moors.”

Ian leaned across and found her
lips with a warm kiss that took her off guard and left her breathless. “My
love, we follow your advice.”

Angus harrumphed. “Wait until we
camp for that,” he advised. The men stifled their laughter when their laird
glared at them.

Ian grinned. “I canna help
myself. I am truly smitten.”

“So now your captor guides us,”
Angus said rolling his eyes. “Dinna let desire color your judgment. There is
nothing as sweet as a fresh conquest. You wilna come to your senses until you
have had more of her. Considering her station, that should be after the
marriage vows whether she is willing to spread her legs for you or not.” He
looked pointedly at Ian. “You will wait until the marriage is blessed before
you take her again.”

“I told you we will marry. What
we do before that occurs is up to us.”

“By God, she is Brian’s
daughter.”

“Aye, I am well aware of that.”

Katie felt her face flush. “Have
I nothing to say in this matter?”

Angus gave her a cold stare.
“Forgive me, Milady. I assume your willingness based on your past behavior.”

Her chest burned. Unshed tears
welled in her eyes, but she refused to let Angus see her cry. Clearly, her
future father-in-law did not think much of her. Why would he? She was
responsible for Ian’s capture, his beating, and his near ruination at the hand
of Rannoch. It would take time to win Angus over if Ian kept his word and made
her his wife. Biting her lip, she pulled herself up tall in the saddle. “Do you
wish to try my path or not?”

“We will take your advice,” Angus
conceded. “But I dinna like it, lass. If you betray us we are all dead.”

“I promise I dinna lead you
astray. I have everything to gain by helping your cause. ‘Tis my family Rannoch
holds in his clutches.”

“Aye, so,” Angus said.

She thought she saw a hint of a
smile beneath his bushy beard, but she could not be sure. Perchance the way to
gain favor with Angus was to stand up to him.

They turned down her path and
made their way through the silent woods. Mountain ash and tall pines dotted the
sides of the trail. It was almost too quiet as the men and horses followed her
lead. Finally, they reached the edge of the woodland. Rannoch Moor lay
stretched out in front of them.

“How well do you ride, Katie?”
Ian asked. “We must race across the open country avoiding the marshy bogs. This
land can prove treacherous to a careless traveler.”

“I have ridden here for years. I
ken the way around the bogs, Ian. Keith and I had to take this route to bring
you Duntaigh Castle.” With a smile, she broke cover and lit out across the
marshland in front of them. She heard him curse as he and the rest of the men
followed.

They caught up with her in no
time and all rode across the moors as fast as caution would allow. She knew Ian
worried about pursuit. It would not take long for their enemies to find out she
and Ian were missing. Rannoch was coming. It became a matter of when.

“There they are,” Draco said
pointing to the cluster of riders in the valley below.

“They have already joined with
the Innes clan.” Rannoch turned his attention to the riders below.

“What will we do, Milord?” Draco
asked.

“The ridge road overlooks the
valley. It is faster. Draco, take half the men and get in front of them. I will
take the rest of the men and lead them in pursuit. As you go along, set some
archers on the cliffs where the valley narrows. Use the rest of the men to
block their path through the pass at its narrowest point. Drag all the dry
brush you can find and make a wall of tinder. Prepare to light this. Dinna fire
if they send scouts ahead through the pass. When they see us behind them, they
will think they can outrun us. We will drive them to you. Wait until we are all
in the narrow part of the valley, then let loose your arrows and set the fires.
We can ambush them, cut off their escape, and drive them into a wall of fire.”

“An excellent plan, Milord,”
Draco said.

Rannoch turned to his men. “I
want Katie alive. Kill all the rest.” The men raised their sword and cried out
their support. Rannoch smiled. “You outnumber them two to one. Show no mercy.”