Highland Persuasion (The MacLomain Series- Early Years) (20 page)

Alexander scowled. He had a good idea what inspired her to such foolery. Upset, he grabbed her hand and pulled her after him until they’d once more returned to the safety of the fire. The more he thought about it the more frustrated he became. He tore away his fur cloak and towered over her. “What is it about this place that fuels your stupidity, lass?”

She tore away her cloak as well and stood tall. “You wish to risk too much danger!”

“You do the same if not more.”

“At least mine won’t have our friends fall to their death.”

“No, yours will have one taken to be quartered, the other to play whore to this obscene clan.”

“They’ve not the horses to quarter with,” Iosbail countered.

Alexander looked at her amazed. “So any other death for Shamus will do?”

“You’re running away with this,” she defended.

“You’re far gone with this!” he said, truly angry. “And you’ve yet to answer my question about your draw to this place.”

“I’d think it obvious, laddie,” Shamus said softly. “She feels alive.”

Both were about to continue arguing but stopped to stare.

“Aye, I’m just fine I am,” Shamus said.

Iosbail tossed one final dirty look at Alexander before crouching in front of the Irishman and putting the back of her fist to his forehead. “Are you truly then?”

“Aye.”

Alexander couldn’t help but laugh and held a hand down to shake the others. “Good to have you back, my friend.”

Shamus smiled. “Help me up then, laddie.”

When the Irishman stood it was with sure foot, as though he’d had a good rest and was ready for the next thing life offered. Yet when he did it was with a hand over his arm. As if he remembered he had an injury there he patted the spot and said, “Last I knew this limb was going. What happened?”

“Her,” Alexander said, not entirely surprised to see Caitriona, wide-eyed, watching them.

Even after all she’d done the lass appeared timid and afraid. Iosbail went and crouched in front of her, a wide smile on her face. “I’m verra proud of ye, lassie. Have ye any idea the good ye’ve done?”

Alexander would never quite understand why Iosbail slipped so heavily into her Irish lilt at that moment but it appeared she had a grasp on things. Caitriona, though still clearly confused, seemed quite taken with the praise and nodded.

“Can you stand?” Iosbail asked softly.

Caitriona never took her eyes off her mistress.
“Aye, my lady.”

“Verra good, then.”
Iosbail helped her stand then held her hands while she gained her footing. “Do you remember what you did?”

All along he’d known Iosbail was the one meant to lead Caitriona in her new gift and it seemed now the Broun saw that as well. She released one of the Norman lassies hands and took Shamus’s. “You saved him from certain death.”

When both looked at her with confusion she said, “Caitriona, you’ve the power of healing. When you were there to support Shamus your gift ignited and saved him. You now hold the hand that should not have existed had Alexander and I had our way.”

Equally shocked, Caitriona and Shamus stared at their hands then his arm then one another. The Irishman took no time but pulled Caitriona into a strong hug. “Thank ye, lassie. Thank
ye
so much!”

Alexander and Iosbail smiled.

When he pulled back Shamus had water in his eyes. “What a thing you did.”

She smiled politely. “But I’m not so sure, sir.”

“Sir!”
Shamus bellowed.
“Nay.”

Iosbail laughed.
“Caitriona, ‘Tis nothing to fret over.
I will talk to you more about what happened. ‘Tis all easily explained.”

The Norman lass looked at her with confusion but nodded.

“How do you feel now? Well enough?” Iosbail asked.

Caitriona looked at their happy faces and smiled. “I suppose so, my Lady.”

They all laughed. It was, without doubt, a joyous moment.

As much as he disliked doing it, Alexander had to break up the good time. “The sun rises soon. We must make haste to the rocks.”

“’Tis what you fought about when I awoke,” Shamus said soberly.

“Aye,” Alexander said. “We’ve one of two ways to get there.”

“Aye,” Iosbail said. “And his way will kill the lot of us.”

“My way will save the lot of us.”

“So you say.”

“Enough.” Shamus nodded outside. “Tell Caitriona the gist of it then we’ll set things to a vote.”

“A vote?”
Alexander couldn’t believe it. “You’re supposed to do whatever I say is right.”

Iosbail nodded at Caitriona. “And she’s supposed to do the same of me. That means the lads are going one way, the lassies another. Shamus is right. Let them vote.”

Alexander narrowed his eyes. She smiled coyly.

Fine then.

Ever the gentleman he looked at Iosbail. “You explain first.”

So she said, “My way takes us back the way we came. Aye, it will be treacherous but there are now three able warriors to fight. That aside, I’m convinced that if we leave at this hour we will beat those sent by Innis. ‘Tis a route we’ve all been. For that alone we have the advantage.”

Alexander kept his smile to himself and said, “My route is newfound. While steep and
oceanside
, it keeps us out of harm’s way until we are within feet of the Stonehenge. If we leave now, even if the enemy does wait, we have the element of surprise. Why? We come not from the direction they expect.”

“The path the Sinclair speaks of is narrow and a sheer drop off one side. One wrong step will see you falling hundreds of feet into the cold sea.” Iosbail shrugged. “Mine will keep you warm and with sword in hand.”

Alexander had no need to further argue his point. Both Shamus and Caitriona looked at Iosbail with frowns on their faces.

Iosbail’s eyes rounded. “Alexander’s route is far more dangerous. Surely you must see that!”

Shamus clasped her shoulder. “Aye lass, perhaps, but it makes more sense than going back the way we came.”

Alexander nodded. His man saw things well and true.

“I agree,” Caitriona said quickly then bowed her head.

Iosbail frowned. “Nay lass, you’re better protected going back the way we came.”

Though the poor Norman lassie looked defeated she quickly responded, “Nay. ‘Twas the way we came that got us caught to begin with.”

Alexander hid his smile fast when Iosbail’s eyes shot his way.

With a calm, level voice he said, “So we have it then, we’ll go the new route.”

Iosbail all but stuck her nose up at him while she ground her jaw.
“A mistake.”

“And one the majority vote has agreed to make together.”

The Broun said nothing more but he could feel her aggravation. His route didn’t ensure another good battle of the blades. What fun was that for her?

After Caitriona and Shamus had a bite of what they’d cooked earlier, the four left. Though the sun had yet to crest the horizon it wasn’t far off. When they reached the beginning of the path he said, “I’ll lead, the women in between. Shamus will take the rear.”

There was no better way to go about it. 

Caitriona fell in behind him, Iosbail behind her.

The first leg of the journey was easiest. It was when they arrived at the second that he stopped and looked over his shoulder. “I’ve not gone beyond this point. A few feet further and we start around the bend. There we’ll find wind shear. Follow my every step and keep your weight against the rock.”

Though he couldn’t see her face he suspected Iosbail scowled. Regardless, she said nothing. Good lass. Now was not a time to worry the others. Careful, he inched his way along the ever narrowing path. Perhaps three feet wide the way was not easy. Long minutes crawled as he leaned against the rock and moved forward. As anticipated it wasn’t long before the wind increased.

For he and Shamus the weight of the swords at their back would affect balance. The Irishman was a seasoned warrior and knew well how to travel with a blade. It didn’t keep him from worrying though. And God knows a man shouldn’t stress when attempting to conquer anything.

That in mind, Alexander put thoughts of his friends from his mind and continued. The sun inched higher and higher until the new sky lit with a faint orange. Wind increased. One thing he’d left out when convincing them to go this route were the heavy winds that always followed a storm. But Shamus and Iosbail knew. The Norman lass was better off ignorant.

“It’s craggier than I thought,” he whispered to himself. The path should have been more weatherworn and made slippery by the wind but it wasn’t. Though the snow was blown away on the path ahead, nothing was quite as it should be. He suspected that it was as much created by Iosbail’s gods as the safe haven in which they’d found shelter.

Wind whistled around the mountains and became far more forceful every step he took. Yet they’d already come so far. Now they walked adjacent to the ocean, the Stonehenge only a few hundred feet away. Alexander didn’t pause to look down at the raging sea foam below or the massive sun as it finally broke over the horizon.

No, he kept his eyes to the rocks that would take them out of here.

Step by step, he continued…ten feet, twenty feet, and then thirty feet more.

They were going to make it.

So convinced was he that it didn’t occur to him when he slid slightly that the others might do the same on the spot.   

“Help!”

When the cry resounded from behind he didn’t think twice but swung and grabbed onto Caitriona. Though he’d been quick it wasn’t quite quick enough.

Or should he say, not soon enough.

Aye, he caught her wrist but only moments before she fell over the side. Even as he lowered sharply to a crouch he was pulled forward. The only thing that kept him from barreling over the cliff after her was an inch high bit of rock. The heel of his boot caught and he lurched, his back slamming against the rock. Teeth clenched he measured his weight and grabbed her wrist with his other hand.

Meanwhile Caitriona screamed and flailed.

“No, lassie, no!”
Iosbail cried. “You must stay calm and quiet. The Sinclair will save you.”

Alexander had no time to thank the Broun for her sound thinking, but focused his entire body on maintaining the precious act of balance. Thank God, Caitriona seemed to have listened because both her voice and body stilled. He closed his eyes. What fear she must be feeling.

“I’ll pull you up but you must climb out ahead of me as there’s no room behind,” he yelled.

He hated to speak so loudly but he’d be damned if he’d lose her.

Thighs shaking, he slowly stood and pushed back against the rock. In effect, he began to pull her up a fraction at a time. Sweat broke out as he continued. Eventually, after what seemed far too long, she pulled her body onto the ledge and rolled out ahead of him.