been better disposed to bring along a dainty needle and thread. Mayhap
she could sew their enemies' hands to their 0 sides. He stifled a
smile at the humorous thought.
When they reached the head of the columns, Douglas and Jamie gave a nod
of satisfaction. Each member of their party was properly armed.
All weapons were honed to a razor's edge. Turning, they watched as the
riders nudged their horses into a trot. As Lindsey's mount pranced by,
Jamie felt another rush of heat. The damnable woman brought out the
worst in him.
When their company reached the edge of the forest, Jamie took up a
position in front while Douglas Gordon brought up the rear.
Jamie's heart kept tempo with the horses' hooves. With very little
effort, he was on his way to Holyrood, where he would avenge the attack
upon his queen and Brice Camp bell. Cresting a hill, he paused and
watched as the long column of riders passed him. At the sight of a
pretty face framed by a hood of ermine, he frowned. He did not look
forward to making frequent stops on their long journey while the lady
paused to repair her toilette. He would be quick to remind her, with
every pause in their progress, that she was keeping them from their
duty to their queen. Or, he thought with a grim smile, he could urge
the others on ahead while the lady made her frequent stops. Mayhap
then her father would realize his folly. Jamie hand tightened on the
reins. Nay, he would offer no further objection, he decided with sudden
fury. He would not want Douglas Gordon's beloved daughter to face the
dangerous journey with her hair or gown mussed. For the sake of unity
he would hold his tongue and let this spoiled, foolish lass have her
way.
A silvery shadow slipped from the cover of the forest.
"Wolf," Jamie called, pleased to see his bedraggled companion.
The hound fell into position behind Jamie's mount.
Jamie pressed a hand to his lower back and cursed his aching muscles.
Those few days of rest had made him soft. Already his body was
protesting the long hours spent in the saddle.
Bringing his horse to a halt, he drew his cloak tightly around him to
ward off the rain. Lifting his plumed that he wiped the moisture from
his brow and squinted up into the raindrops that pelted him. Judging
by the steady throb of his shoulder and the dark clouds that filled the
sky, the rain would not soon end.
The column of horsemen slogged past, heads lowered against the
downpour. As one hooded figure passed him, he forced himself to sit
straighter in the saddle. It would not do to have the female detect
any weakness in him.
It occurred to Jamie that their company had not made a single stop
since their journey began. He experienced a sudden flash of guilt. If
his muscles were protesting, how much worse would it be for Lindsey?
Yet the lass, to her credit, had not once asked to stop and be allowed
to rest.
Wheeling his horse, he raced past e riders and signaled to the leader
to halt.
"We will take shelter beneath those trees ahead and give our mounts a
rest."
"Aye, my lord."
With a collective look of relief the column of riders headed for the
forest arid climbed wearily from their sad- dies. The canopy of trees
and vines offered a respite from the steady rain. Soon a fire was
raging, and while the horses foraged under Neal's careful watch, the
riders sat on fallen logs or reclined on their cloaks around the fire,
eating their first meal since early morning. Two Highlanders stood
guard on either edge of the clearing.
Jamie leaned his back against the gnarled trunk of a tree and watched
as Lindsey returned to the clearing. Except for the slight limp, she
showed no sign of weariness. Her carriage was erect, her manner
animated as she spoke with her brothers and the other men. Folding her
cloak as a cushion, she knelt before the fire. Her hair was bound
tightly to her head by netting, but a few damp strands had pried loose
to kiss her cheeks.
One of her brothers said something that caused her to laugh. At that
moment she lt)oked across the clearing and caught Jamie staring at her.
For a long moment their gazes met and held.
Lindsey felt her breath catch in her throat. Never before had a man's
eyes held such fascination. It was as if he was reaching out across
the space that divided them and was touching her. It was as intimate
as any embrace. She felt the heat rush to her cheeks. Blinking, she
looked away, hoping to break the spell this giant held over her. But a
moment later she chanced another look. His gaze still burned over her,
causing a rush of heat. She blamed it on the fire and forced herself
to join in the conversation of the others.
She would not allow this tyrant to gain such a strange power over
her.
She could not. But against her will her gaze strayed once more to
where Jamie stood. He was no longer alone. Her father stood beside
him, engaged in ear nest conversation. Even as they spoke, she saw
Jamie's gaze shift to her, and the heat once more stained her cheeks.
Damn the man. And damn this weakness that seemed to come over her
whenever he stared at her so boldly.
She turned away, determined to put him out of her mind. She would
concentrate instead on the excitement of the journey that lay ahead. A
visit to Holyrood, to see the queen. It was every Scot's dream. And
at long last she was living it.
She looked up at the sound of a muffled scream. Before she and the
others could scramble to their feet and unsheathe their weapons, they
found themselves surrounded by a band of fierce highwaymen.
A dagger sang through the air, heading directly toward her father.
"Take arms," Jamie shouted, shoving Douglas Gordon out of harm's way.
A moment later both men were engaged in a deadly battle with several
swordsmen.
The air was filled with cries of rage and pain as sword met sword.
From the cover of the forest, dozens of screaming villains poured
forth, weapons poised for the kill.
As he fought back several attackers, Jamie berated himself for leading
his company into danger. He should have sent riders ahead to scout the
forest before allowing anyone to make camp. He had allowed his concern
for Lindsey's comfort to cloud his thinking. Lindsey.
He glanced across the clearing and was stunned to see the object of his
thoughts holding off two attackers. The bejeweled sword in her hand
slashed with deadly accuracy.
"Lindsey, behind you," he shouted, leaping over a fallen body to reach
her side. But before he could lift a sword in her defense, she had
disposed of the threat.
Several more swordsmen rushed to the aid of their fallen companions,
and Jamie and Lindsey found themselves surrounded.
Standing side by side, they fought bravely, driving back the attackers.
Jamie was amazed by the lady's skill. Though slight of stature, she
plunged her blade with mortal skill. And th
ough the cries of the
wounded filled the air, she did not flinch.
Three swordsmen attacked Jamie at one time, and he found himself
struggling to hold them at bay. Suddenly he felt a sharp pain at his
back. An attacker had crept up from behind and held a sword tip to his
back.
"Lower your weapon or die," a deep voice ordered. Before Jamie could
react, the pressure against his flesh suddenly disappeared. Jamie
glanced around in surprise to see Lindsey disarm the attacker.
For one brief moment their gazes met and held. Though they exchanged
no words, their looks spoke volumes.
Moments later a cry went up from one of the highway men, and those who
were still standing pulled themselves onto the backs of their horses
and disappeared into the for est. In the stillness that followed,
their fallen comrades lay bleeding into the rain-soaked earth.
"How many of our company are wounded?" Jamie cried.
For long moments no one spoke as the fallen men were scrutinized
carefully.
At last a shout went up.
"Three."
"Any dead?"
"Nay, my lord: None of ours are dead."
Jamie breathed a sigh of relief.
"See to their wounds," he commanded.
Seeing blood on Lindsey's gown, Jamie caught her by the arm and led her
to a boulder near the fire.
"You are wounded, my lady," he said, studying her anxiously.
"Sit here."
She seemed surprised by his concern. Glancing down at her gown, she
gave a little laugh.
"Nay.
"Tis not my blood, but the blood of one of the villains who dared to
test my prowess with the sword."
Jamie felt a swift rush of relief, which for some unexplained reason
quickly turned to anger. Through clenched teeth he said, "You should
have hidden yourself when the highwaymen attacked. Have you any idea
what a woman's fate would be at their hands?"
"Hide myself?" She stood up, her hands on her hips, her eyes blazing,
"I will remind you, Jamie MacDonald, that were it not for my skill with
a sword, you would have no voice left with which to scold me."
"Aye. I am grateful that you saved my life, my lady."
He felt his unexpected temper flare anew.
"But if we are attacked again, I order you to hide until the battle is
over." With fury darkening his eyes, he stormed away.
Lindsey watched him, feeling her own temper simmer. Men. Despite the
fact that she had been surrounded by them all her life, she would never
understand them. Did the lout not recognize that she had a need to
take care of herself? Lifting her skirts, she went off in search of
her horse. From his position across the clearing, Jamie accepted a
tankard from one of the men and glowered at Lindsey's retreating back.
God in heaven, she was a distraction. A very dangerous distraction.
For the rest of the journey he must force himself to ignore her and
think only of the safety of everyone. His carelessness had very nearly
cost them their lives. He expelled a hiss of anger. Praise heaven
that in a matter of days he would be at Holyrood and rid of her.
Still brooding, he drained his tankard and set it down. When he
straightened, he saw a blur of movement. Just beyond Lindsey, under
cover of misty rain and the tangle of forest growth, was a man on
horseback. Jamie let out a cry of warning. Everyone in camp looked
up.
In quick strides he was across the clearing and racing into the dense
forest. With sword lifted, he flung Lindsey roughly behind him.
"Advance and prepare to do battle" he shouted to the stranger.
Lindsey let out a gasp at the sight of the man whose dark plaid blended
into the green of their surroundings, shielding him from view.
Though he was only a few feet from her, she had not spotted him until
Jamie called him out.
The man remained motionless, assessing the giant who faced him. For
the space of a heartbeat it appeared that he would draw his sword.
Then, with a slow, dangerous smile, he slid from the saddle and
extended his hand.
"I heard the sound of battle, and thought to lend my sword. But I see
I am not needed."
He saw the lass peer from behind the giant's back and his smile grew.
"I am Ian MacPherson. And the land you stand upon is mine."
Jamie studied the man whose fair hair and pale eyes gave him a
youthful, innocent appearance.
"I am Jamie Mac Donald." As the others surrounded them, Jamie added,
"And these are Douglas Gordon and his family."
Ian offered his hand to each man, taking their measure as he did.
"And the lovely lady?" he asked.
Lindsey stepped from behind Jamie's back.
"This is Lindsey Gordon." Jamie's tone was curt.
"A most beautiful lady." Ian lifted her hand to his lips.
"And a most splendid swordsman."
"How would you know that?" Jamie felt a flash of emotion as he watched
the man kiss Lindsey's hand. Jealousy? Impossible. Never in his life
had he been jealous of any man. Still, for some unexplained reason, he
mistrusted this man on sight.
"I happened upon the fight just as the lady disposed of her attackers,"
Ian said, meeting Lindsey's eyes. He saw the flush on her cheeks and
pressed her fingers a moment longer before releasing them.
"And still you did not come to her defense?" Jamie's voice held a
challenging tone.
"Alas, I was too late."
"Too late or too lazy..."
"Come, my lord MacPherson." Douglas Gordon stepped between them,
hoping to diffuse the anger in Jamie's eyes.
"You will join us for a tankard before we move on?"
"Aye." Ian paused, then turned toward Lindsey.
"That is, if the lovely lady will join me."
With growing anger Jamie watched as Lindsey blushed and moved along by
the stranger's side.
"You handled yourself admirably in battle, my lady. You needed no
man's help to dispose of those villains."
Ian' swords brought a smile of pleasure to Lindsey' slips.
"If only certain other men could understand that."
"Where do you travel in such weather?" Ian's voice drifted back to
Jamie, who paused in the woods to retrieve Lindsey's horse.
"To Edinburgh."
"How fortunate." Jamie's head came up sharply as Ian added, "I journey
there myself. Mayhap I will join you."
Chapter Five
Within the hour their company was prepared to move out.
Jamie watched as Ian MacPherson helped Lindsey into the saddle. The
man's hands lingered overlong at her waist as she settled herself
comfortably. And his gaze lingered overlong on her shapely limbs
before she smoothed her skirts down to cover them.
Jamie felt his dislike for the man grow.
"I have lived all my life in this forest," Ian assured Douglas
Gordon.
He pulled himself into the saddle and turned a smug look in Jamie's
direction.
"No highwayman would dare to attack you while you are in the company of
a MacPherson."
"Then we are grateful for your
protection, my lord," the old man said
as he mounted. Turning to his sons he called, "Come. Let us ride."
As he followed, Jamie brooded. Was he the only one who had doubts
about this MacPherson? When he had first spotted the figure in the
forest, Jamie was quite certain that the man had been watching Lindsey
for evil purposes. De spite Ian's claims otherwise, Jamie was not
convinced. He would wait and watch. Since MacPherson had agreed to
accompany them all the way to Edinburgh, they would be forced to endure
his company for many days.
As Jamie's horse moved out smartly, Wolf raced along under cover of the
forest, keeping Jamie always in view.
By early evening the rain had turned to a fine mist. The horses picked
their way over the spongy grass of a high meadow.
"Darkness comes early in the Highlands," Jamie said to Douglas
Gordon.
"We must soon make camp for the night."
"I know the perfect place," Ian MacPherson called.
"Follow me."
As the others fell into line behind Ian's mount, Jamie took up the
rear, glancing often over his shoulder. It would have been an easy
matter for the highwaymen to follow them. There were too many in their
company to conceal, even when they had been in the dense forest. Now
that they were in an open meadow, they were perfect targets. Worse,
since three of their number had been wounded, they had been forced to
travel at a much slower pace than before.
They passed through glens and fells and made their way to the banks of
a swollen stream.
"This is a fine place to spend the night." Ian slid from the saddle
and rushed to Lindsey's side to assist her.
"We will have fresh water to drink, and the trees will protect us from
any further rain that might fall."
"What is that sound?" Lindsey asked.
"The water rushing over a precipice." Ian pointed to a bend in the
stream, where the water tumbled over rocks before disappearing from
view.
"The stream spills out of sight into a deep gorge" " He turned to
Lindsey. '" Twill lull you to sleep tonight, my lady. "
"I will need no waterfall to help me sleep this night, my lord," she
said with a lilt of laughter.
Ian stared after her as she strolled to where her brothers were already
preparing a fire.
For long minutes Jamie remained on his mount, surveying the scene. He
had not missed the look of appreciation on Ian's face when Lindsey had
walked away. Again he felt the swift rush of anger and cursed himself
for his petty jealousy.
As he watched the others set up camp, it occurred to Jamie that the
thunder of the waterfall would drown out the sound of approaching
horses. Could there be more to Ian MacPherson's plan than a
comfortable place to spend the night? Sliding from the saddle Jamie
went in search of Douglas Gordon.
The old man was speaking in low tones to his sons. They looked up as
Jamie approached.
"I sense danger here," Jamie announced without pre amble.
"Aye. So you feel it, too, lad?" The old man kept his tone low.
"We will post guards throughout the night. Each of my sons will take
his turn making certain that the guards remain alert."
Jamie felt a sense of relief at the older man's words. At least he was
not alone in his fears.
"I will take my turn standing guard, as well."
Douglas nodded.
"Now let us eat and get some rest." They made their way to the
campfire where Lindsey, with Ian's help, had prepared a simple meal.