Torrian (The Highland Clan Book 2) (20 page)

***

They’d all stayed up late into the night, Heather, Loki, and Father Francis getting to know one another. Brodie, Nicol, his guard, and Loki had talked non-stop about the Battle of Largs and all the stunts Loki had pulled. Heather loved listening to these tales of her brother’s clever-thinking, but she enjoyed watching Kenzie even more. He loved to hoot and laugh about everything his adopted sire had taught him.

At one point, Kenzie had hopped out of his chair and bolted over to his cousins, shouting, “See, I do have the most aunts and uncles. I’m counting again.”

“What are you talking about, Kenzie?” Loki asked.

“I want to have the most kin of all. I’m almost there, you ken. Now I have Heather and Nellie.” His chin jutted up in pride. “See, I had none, now I have more than anyone.”

They’d laughed at the rascal, but Heather understood how serious he was. She’d started to feel the same.

Nellie had been hesitant around her new uncle and grandsire, but Heather believed she would accept them eventually. She’d had little experience around men, so it was still new for her, though she’d accepted Torrian quickly. Mayhap the same would happen for Nellie’s new uncle and grandfather.

Heather and Torrian married the following day with both Father Francis and Father Rab presiding over the ceremony.

Now they had a future full of family and love in front of them. Heather could not stop smiling as Father Rab and Father Francis led them through the service in the chapel. She had Loki to her left while Torrian had Lily to his right, and Nellie stood between them. The rest of the Ramsays and Grants filled the small chapel.

Once they finished exchanging vows, they passed through a wave of congratulatory hugs and kisses and stepped into the courtyard to the waves and cheers of the Ramsay clanspeople. Heather had been concerned about the sheer number of his clan, but with Torrian by her side, she’d had no trouble with the ceremony.

Just as they were about to move the celebration to the great hall, shouts and war whoops sounded from outside the gates.

They were not of the Ramsay kind.

The Buchans had returned.

Screams echoed throughout the courtyard as men, women, and children ran for cover. The Buchans had climbed over the curtain wall using rope ladders, then opened the outside gate, so now men flooded the courtyard, swinging their swords at every Ramsay they saw.

And every Ramsay and Grant warrior pulled their swords out of their sheaths and fought back, going into full battle mode in an instant. Many of the warriors fought their way toward the stables to get on horseback.

Torrian pushed Heather toward the keep, grabbing Nellie and protecting her against his chest as she clutched his plaid.

Once they were safely inside the door, Torrian said, “Bar yourself in your chamber, but I must ask you before I go. Who, lass? I need a name. He could be a part of this.”

Heather trusted her husband, she had to, but she did not want Nellie to hear, so she leaned over and whispered the name into Torrian’s ear.

“Up the stairs with you. Remember, I love you both.”

“Be careful,” Heather cried after him as he rushed out the door, “and Loki and Kenzie, too.”

He simply nodded and continued on his way.

Though Heather did not think she could stand to stay hidden away inside while they were out there risking their lives, Nellie came first. She ran up the stairs with Nellie in her arms, then followed the passageway until she found the lassies’ chamber. She opened the door and pushed Nellie into the room, and followed her in and barred the door behind them. Someone had already brought Bethia, Jennet, Brigid, Sorcha, Molly, and Maggie into the room, and they were all wide-eyed with fear. The guard had his back to her. She knew the Ramsays usually had a guard in with the lassies during times of trouble, so she breathed a sigh of relief at the sight of him.

She ran to the window and pulled back the fur, surprised to see the courtyard was now almost empty except for the men who had already fallen. The meadow outside the curtain wall was a melee of horses, clashing steel, war whoops, and screams of pain. At least that meant the Ramsays had driven them out. The lassies were absolutely silent behind her, probably as terrified as she was.

A hand grabbed her from behind, covering her mouth.

“I told you to stay away from Ramsay castle. Now you’ll pay.” Nellie’s father’s voice crawled up her spine, making her freeze in terror. “Do as I say, Heather, and I’ll leave all the lassies alone. Understood?”

She nodded. He wrenched her backwards and shoved her toward the door.

“Mama!” was the last sound she heard as he yanked her down the staircase to the kitchens.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Torrian had never experienced such a battle. Once on horseback outside the gates, he fought between Jake and Loki. He swung at each warrior who passed in his line of vision, slicing into arms and legs, sending blood spurting everywhere.

He’d never seen so much blood. Had he the time, he might be ill over all the gore, but he knew that would cost him his own life, and he suddenly had very much to live for. Five warriors bore down on the three of them. Torrian concentrated on the three in the middle, knowing instinctively that Loki and Jake would take out the other two. The one in the center was Torrian’s primary focus, but just before he reached him, a stone flew out of nowhere and caught the man square in the temple, throwing him off his horse.

Kenzie. He’d heard the stories of Loki and his slinger in the Battle of Largs. Loki must have passed his skills on to his adopted son. The man’s tumble upset the riders on either side of him, giving Torrian his opening. He swung his sword over his head, connecting with the belly of the bastard on the left and knocking him to the ground. He saw Jake had already unseated his opponent, but couldn’t see Loki. He took another swing toward the third rider headed toward him and sliced the man’s left side, taking him down.

When Torrian finally caught sight of Loki, he breathed a sigh of relief. His cousin had easily dispatched the man who’d charged him. Torrian surveyed the scene again. Uncle Logan and Kyle battled not far from him, Logan bellowing the Ramsay war whoop after each warrior he felled. He searched the area for the men he wished to find, but he only saw Ranulf fighting in the rear.

Arrows sliced through the air, and from the way each connected with its targets, it was clearly the handiwork of Aunt Gwyneth. Just as they charged toward another group of warriors, a lass’s scream rent the air. It was a moment before it registered that it was his name being yelled. He jerked his head to the left in time to see Heather on a horse with another lad. It was not Ranulf, so it could only be Glenn or Dugald.

He flicked the reins of his horse and charged after the man, but the horse slipped into the woods, and Torrian lost sight of him. Four guards were protecting the blackguard’s back. It mattered not—Torrian would take on twice that number to protect his wee wife.

There was the sound of approaching horses behind him, and Torrian glanced over his shoulder to see two horses—Loki, Kenzie riding in front of him, and Jake. He said a quick prayer of thanks, liking his odds much better.

He could not lose her, he just couldn’t.

***

Heather bounced on the back of the horse, swinging against her captor whenever she had the chance. He grabbed her by the hair, wrenching her head back. “You hit me again, and I’ll knock you out. I do not need you awake to have you.”

The threat was enough to change her mind about the attack—instead she tried to figure out where they were headed. It was possible he could be heading toward the cave, but that was too far, she guessed. So the wretch wished to rape her again. Well, this time she’d fight him.

In the meantime, she needed to stay alert and be aware. Torrian would follow for certes. Her hands clung to the horse’s mane as they galloped through the forest, branches swinging and hitting them as the mount bolted down the path.

She prayed and prayed for wee Nellie, for her husband, for all the Ramsays whose lives were now at stake because of the Buchans. Eventually they came to a stop in a small glade, not far from an abandoned hut. Her captor yanked her off the horse, shoving her ahead of him, twisting her arm behind her.

“Why are you here and not fighting?” she asked.

“Because this is not my battle. If Ranulf wishes to play the fool, he can, but I’ll not lose my life over it.”

“Over what? What does he hope to accomplish? The king will not support this.”

“Ranulf thinks he can take over the Highlands, slowly, one clan at a time. The Ramsays are first. You can be sure he will not give up on his goal. But I know everyone else means naught to him, myself included, and I will not die for his goal.”

“I think mayhap you are too afraid to fight.”

He shoved her through the doorway. “You need to close your mouth. I see you’ve changed from the innocent lass of years ago. I liked you better the other way.”

“I’m sure you did. You’ll find I’m not so helpless anymore.” Heather surveyed the small hut, noticing it hadn’t been occupied in a while. There was a pallet in one corner, a table and two chairs in the center, and shelving along the far wall with various tools used for cooking.

“You are still not strong enough to fight me, wee one.” He chucked her under her chin. “I mean to have you, and I will. I warned you to stay away from the Ramsays.” He grasped her chin and placed his lips on hers, forcing them apart, sticking his tongue inside her mouth until she gagged.

The fury in his gaze frightened her. “I disgust you now, do I?”

“You always disgusted me.”

“We shall see how long you dare to look at me in that manner.” He shoved her toward the bed, grabbing her bodice just before she fell backward, ripping it open in the front. “Och, but you do have a nice pair. You always did. I am much better suited for loving than for fighting.”

***

Torrian slowed his horse as Loki drew up beside him, and Jake fell in directly behind them.

“You know where they are headed?” Loki asked.

“Not for certes, but there is a deserted hut not far from here. My guess is that’s where he’s taking her. He has four guards with him.”

Jake said, “He’ll post the four guards outside while he takes her inside.”

Torrian’s jaw clenched. He did not want to think about that, but Jake’s assessment made sense.

“Who is it?” asked Kenzie. “Who stole her? Ranulf, the whoreson?”

Torrian replied, “‘Tis not Ranulf. I saw him fighting at the rear of his warriors.” He wasn’t ready to reveal the name of Nellie’s sire and his suspicions just yet.

Loki snorted. “Somehow, ‘tis not a surprise that he hides in the back.”

“How should we handle this?” Torrian asked. Loki was well-known for his scheming and trickery while Jake had the most experience in battle since his sire was the infamous Alexander Grant. They would surely know better than he did.

“Your lead. ‘Tis your wife,” Loki said. “Trust me, when you see her in his hands, your fury will take over. I know.”

Torrian recognized the truth in his statement. “We’ll take the four guards out first. What’s your choice of weapons?”

“Put Kenzie and me in the trees,” Loki said. “We’ll play with them a bit first. They won’t even know what hit them before ‘tis too late.”

Kenzie giggled. “Aye, my sire taught me how to be really good with my sling, just like he was.” He patted Loki’s arm.

Jake nodded. “You hide in the trees, and Torrian and I will wait in the bushes until you get rid of two of them. Then we can take out the other two.”

A slow smile crept across Loki’s face. “Then whoever has your wife is all yours, cousin.”

“Just do not be too slow with this. I do not want him touching her.”

“Haste will get a knife in your belly, cousin. Be wise,” Jake added.

When they got close, they tied up their horses and crept toward the hut. The four guards were outside just as they expected. Jake found a spot to hide and pointed to a place where Torrian could take cover closer to the hut. Loki lifted Kenzie into a tree the perfect distance to shoot from, then found his own tree to climb.

He winked at Torrian just before he climbed his tree. “Do not worry, cuz. We’ll get her back.”

***

Heather fell backward onto the bed, stunned when she heard her bodice rip. She grabbed what ribbons she could and attempted to right herself just as the sound of the guards arguing reached them, causing her kidnapper to step outside. She searched the small cottage, anxious to find something,
anything
, to use against the bastard. On a small shelf, she found just what she needed—a small dagger. She hid it under the pillow and waited for her attacker to return.

He came in with a huff, closing and barring the door behind him, and said, “Foolish arses cannot follow orders, but they’ll not bother us again. Now I have you all to myself. The first time will be quick, then the next few times I’ll take you as many ways as I can.”

She stood up across from him, directly in front of the bed and stared him straight in the eyes. Even though her heart was racing and her belly was churning, she would not give in to him completely.

He ripped the front of her bodice more. “Aye, I preferred you as you were before.”

Grabbing her arms tight, he hauled her forward and licked a path up her cheek. She cringed, revulsion sickening her.

He slapped her face. “Do not ever look at me like that again. You think you are better than me now that you’ve been in a Ramsay bed? Well, you are not. I do not know what more I could do to please you. Have I ever hurt you before?”

She nodded, though her jaw ached too much from his last blow for her to speak. “When? I tried my best to be gentle with you. You were so young. I did not mean to get you with child, I just wanted the chance to love you. Was that so difficult? You could have stayed in Buchan land and I would have taken care of you and Nellie.”

“You took my maidenhead. That was meant for my husband.” A lone tear trickled down her cheek.

“I suppose I was a scoundrel for that, but you were verra sweet. I brought you gifts, if you recall.” He brushed his thumb across her cheek.

Heather did not answer. She listened for sounds outside, hoping for some sign that Torrian was on his way, but all was quiet.

He pushed her down onto the bed, then lowered himself on top of her, pinning her to the bed, after he loosened his breeches. As soon as she felt his weight on her, she knew her choices were limited. Much as she hated to lie, she would do anything to get free.

She pulled her breast free of her clothing and offered her nipple up to him. “Please,” she whispered, casting her eyes down.

“You see, was that so hard, my sweet? With pleasure.” He leaned toward her breast and licked the underside of it.

As soon as he did, she made her move, grabbing the dagger out from under the pillow and plunging it into his back as hard as she could. He bellowed and reached for the dagger, but she had placed it carefully and he could not locate it. He stood up, raging, and pulled his fist back and hit her square in her belly.

Grasping both of her shoulders, he yanked her out of the bed. “You bitch! You wee bitch! You’ll pay for this. Take it out.” He turned his shoulder to her while he again tried to reach for the dagger.

Heather shook her head and backed away from him, but he grabbed her by the throat and tossed her against the wall.

Her head snapped back against the stones and she crumpled to the ground.