The Accidental Highland Hero (21 page)

It fell with a thud just beyond the goats, not anywhere near the wolves, and the goats panicked. The crouching wolf leapt several feet in the air, nearly making her heart stop. Eilis gasped and dove for another rock, grabbed it up, and turned.

Both wolves targeted an older goat as the rest scattered in every direction.

“Nay!” she screamed and lobbed the rock at the wolf nearer her, this time hitting him in the flank.

He yelped and darted away from the goat. She grabbed another rock.

But it was enough of a distraction that the wolves missed the goat.

Then the horse’s hooves pounded the earth, and the vibration sent the wolves fleeing back into the forest. Eilis clung to the rock, waiting for the wolves to return, but they melted into the darkness. The goats!  She dropped the rock and waved her arms, calling to them like they were her wee bairns, trying to regather them.

“Eilis!” Niall shouted.

Chapter Eleven

A mixture of relief and worry consumed Eilis. They’d want to hang her for attempting escape. But at least word about James’s brother would reach him. Ahead of the group of men, Niall rode, his face scowling.

“Lady,” Niall said through clenched teeth, but he didn’t say anything more. He leaned down and scooped into his lap. “James has his hands full with you. Are you injured?”

“You must tell him about his brother.”

“He will be told, but he will wish that you are taken care of first.” He nodded to the goat herder as he dismounted from one of the men’s horses. “Thanks be to you, Everett. James will reward you well.”

“’Tis reward enough to find his missus and give news of his brother and the Viking.”

“Aye,” Niall agreed.

“Wolves tried to kill one of the goats,” Eilis warned.

“Aye, and you beat them off with rocks. You would make a laird proud if you defended his castle half as well when he was away on business.” Niall turned to his men. “Take care of the wolves.”  Then he tightened his hold around Eilis’s waist and galloped to Craigly as four of the men tore off for the woods and the rest escorted Eilis back. “Have you injuries, my lady?”

“My feet hurt something fierce.”

“Then I will leave you with our healer and Lady Akira.”

“But what about Dougald and Gunnolf?”

“How is it that you came to know about them?”

“I came upon them in a cave. But Dunbarton’s men found them and took them hostage again.”

“’Tis fortunate they did not discover the real treasure.”

“Och, James will not think me a treasure but his worst nightmare.”

Niall smiled.

****

Dougald clasped his hands behind his head as he reclined on the filthy straw again, his chains clinking. He stared at the gray stone ceiling, praying the lass reached a safe place, that James found her and returned her to Craigly soon.

“Another plan, Dougald?” Gunnolf asked from the cell across from his.

“I am considering other options.”

“Think you the lass is safely with James by now?”

“I pray that it is so.”

Gunnolf grunted. “I did not believe you were thinking about how we would get out of our current predicament.”

“Do not tell me you were thinking of means of escape, either.”

“Think you James has interest in the lass?” Gunnolf asked, his voice amused.

“If he has not…” Dougald let Gunnolf come to his own conclusions.

“Aye. Mayhap the lass would be interested in a strong Viking.”

Dougald laughed. “We know not whether James has made her his charge and if he wishes more of a relationship than that.”

“Aye. So let me know as soon as you quit thinking about the bonny lass and come up with a plan.”

****

‘Twas early eve when Niall rode out to see James. His cousin’s expression was hard, his jaw taut

James feared the worst. Yet, not only had Niall lost Eilis when he should have guarded her like his treasury, but he was supposed to be in charge of the castle should anything untoward happen to James. “You are expected to be—”

“’Tis Eilis, my laird. Rather rumpled but well when she returned on foot to Craigly.”

A torrent of emotions washed over James—relief, anger, joy, irritation—and he could not segregate them to deal with any. He clenched his teeth. “What happened?”  Rumpled could mean a lot of things, and his imagination was already running away with him.

“She told us Dunbarton’s men have Dougald and Gunnolf. They were bruised and cut but well otherwise when she discovered them in a cave. She was beside herself with self-loathing, claiming if she had not tethered Nighinn’s horse outside the cave, the Dunbartons would not have found your brother.”

“Nay, they would have searched every cave in the area before long.”

“I told her thus, but she feared she had delayed them overmuch because they worried about her well-being.”

James turned to Fergus. “Have our men return home. Now that we know Dunbarton has taken our men hostage, I will have to negotiate for their safe return. Naught more we can do now.”

And for now, he had other extremely pressing matters as well. A word with Eilis, and he hoped like the devil Niall wasn’t hiding her true condition from him. And he’d have several words with Nighinn and his aunt before he sent them on their way.

****

 As soon as James and his party returned to Craigly, women raced out to greet their husbands or sons. Notably absent was his mother, Aunt Beatrice, Nighinn, and Eilis. He glanced up at Eilis’s chamber window, but there was no sign of anyone. More than concerned, James dismounted while the stable boy grabbed the reins.

In a rush, James headed for the keep.

“She is in Lady Akira’s chamber as it has only one door and no other means of escape,” Niall explained, hurrying to join James.

Ian wasn’t far behind.

“The only place safe for the lady to reside is a locked room.”
James stalked inside. “I want a bath prepared.”

“Aye, I will tell the servants,” Ian said and hurried off.

As much as James had wanted Niall to obey his command to remain at Craigly at all costs, he understood Niall’s actions. And approved.

Although James needed a bath, a meal, and a few hours sleep, he had to see Eilis for himself, to know she was safe. He sighed. She would most likely have never made it to wherever she intended; however, he couldn’t help admire her for giving up her freedom to return and give him news of his brother’s whereabouts. “I need to speak with Eanruig about ransoming Dougald and Gunnolf.”

“Aye,” Niall agreed.

James stalked in the direction of Lady Akira’s chamber while Niall kept up the pace beside him. James glanced at him. “You need not accompany me.”

“Is that an order, cousin?”

James snorted. “I thought I gave you an order to stay here. Why did you not send a messenger in your place?”

“I had to tell you the lass was safe, and your brother was being held prisoner. No messenger would do.”

“Aye, and I am glad for it.”

Niall gave him a worried look. “You will not be too hard on the lass?”

James lifted a brow and considered his cousin’s serious face. “Mean you Eilis or our cousin?”

“Not Nighinn—the devil with her. Eilis I am meaning.”

“The lass gave up her freedom to warn me of Dougald’s imprisonment. Why should I be angry with her?”

“She escaped.”

James clenched his fists. Aye, he was angered with her for her actions. Couldn’t she see how dangerous her efforts had been?  ‘Twould not do to show great relief when he saw her, or she might misconstrue his meaning. He was damned angry with her.

“She is not ill from the weather yesterday?”

“Nay, not this time. She has the heart of a lion, though.”

James glanced at his cousin to see his meaning when he didn’t readily offer an explanation.

Niall smiled broadly. “She single-handedly fought off a pair of wolves that tried to take down a goat under her watchful eye.”

“With her bare hands?”

“Rocks, actually.”

“A goat?”

“Aye. Everett’s goats. He came to warn me about your brother and get help for the lady while she watched his goats. She will make a fine battle maid should a laird wish to wed her and have need of her when he must leave the castle in her hands.”

“With rocks.” James shook his head. He couldn’t think of any lass who would be brave enough to fend off wolves for the sake of a goat. But his stomach clenched when he thought of how the wolves might have killed her.

Reaching the door to his mother’s chamber, James knocked, and the ladies’ voices within grew silent. Footsteps approached; the door opened. Nesta curtsied, but avoided James’s look. She was not at fault. Nighinn had dismissed her, but he could see Nesta felt she had done wrong just the same.

“A word with you, Eilis, if you please,” James said, unable to keep his eyes off her. Despite what Niall had said, her cheeks were colorless, her green eyes avoided his, she wrung her hands in her lap, and looked like she was about to be led to the hangman’s noose.

“Eilis,” he said again, displeased he had to speak more firmly than he had intended.

She rose stiffly from the bench and only then did he realize she probably ached from being out in the inhospitable weather and all the walking and running on foot she must have endured. He noticed then her feet were bandaged, and she wore no shoes.

He cursed to himself then strode across the floor and lifted her off her feet. She gasped, but so did the rest of the ladies. His mother gave him a look to mind his temper. The other ladies’ mouths gaped.

Niall grinned at him.

With the lass secure in his tight embrace and glad she appeared well otherwise, James stalked to the guest chamber with Niall at his side. “I want a guard posted.” Although he did not believe the lass was physically capable of any further escape attempts at the moment. “When I am through speaking with the lady, have Nesta join her.”

“And our cousin?”

“I will speak to her and my aunt after my bath. I will pen a missive also concerning the ransom for my brother and Gunnolf as well.”

“Aye. Did…you want me to remain here?”

“Shut the door on your way out.”

Niall shook his head. “I surmise even if she is not from the enemy clan you do not want me to have her for myself.”

James smiled to himself. His cousin surmised right. The door clunked shut, and James sat Eilis on one of the benches.

She said, “I am sorry—”

James raised his hand to silence her. “None of us could locate my brother and Gunnolf. But you managed when we all failed. I am grateful—”

“Because of me, he was caught,” she insisted.