Page 67 of Intrigued By A Highlander

“Aye. Aye. Whatever you say, Knox.”

“I warned Phelan about harming my wife. Now he dies and if he even thinks of harming those three,” —he nodded over his shoulder— “I’ll make it an even slower death.”

“We didn’t know,” Marley begged.

“Phelan should have warned his warriors. His men paid the press for his failure. If I see you near my wife again… you die as well.”

Marley held up his hands. “You have my word. I’ll never touch her.” The fear in his eyes spiked. “I never saw her. Something hit me an?—”

“Dru, show yourself?” Knox ordered.

She got up from where she had crouched down to help Rona, who had almost collapsed when the fighting ended. She had gone to her and helped Wilbur to settle Rona on the ground. She stood and turned and stepped toward her husband.

“She’s a wee bit of a thing,” Marley said surprised.

“Who took you down with a rock,” Dru reminded.

Marley’s hand went to the back of his head, and he cringed, feeling the large bump there and blood as well.

“See that you deliver the message,” Knox ordered.

“Aye. Aye. I will make sure Phelan gets it.”

Knox was about to shove Marley away when he thought better of it. “Is Phelan near with more men?”

Marely hurried to shake his head. “Nay. He got word that Autumn was spotted about three sunrises west of here.”

“What were your orders?” Knox asked.

“To shadow you in case his information was wrong, and you found Autumn.”

Knox looked around at the dead men and realized one of them was Bowen, one of Phelan’s trackers. Marley was telling the truth. He was too frightened not to. He wasn’t one of Phelan’s brightest or bravest warriors.

Knox freed Marley with a shove. “Don’t waste a moment getting my message to Phelan.”

“I won’t. I won’t, Knox. I’ll get it to him right quick.”

“Then why are you still standing here?” Knox asked and took a rapid step toward him.

Marley backed up, stumbled, righted himself, and took off running.

Knox waited until Marley was out of sight, then he turned to Dru. “You owe me an explanation.”

“You really are a fool, Knox.”

Knox and Dru turned to see Mave walking out of the woods.

Mave shook her head at Dru. “You’re not too bright yourself, Dru.”

Knox stepped toward her. “I’m getting tired of you?—”

Mave rushed at him, her hand striking out to tap her finger to his brow hard. “Use your wit for heaven’s sake. Now help me see to these three, then Dru and you can be on your way. You know where to take her and I advise both of you to hurry and hash out your problems. And, for heaven’s sake, make wise decisions.”

Knox’s eyes still flared with anger, and he turned to Dru. “Work fast. We leave soon.”

A quick glance at the three had Mave saying, “Mostly wounds they will recover from, though the way Wibur holds his side gives cause to pause.”

“Do what you can, Mave,” Rona said, “but the three of us agreed to keep walking.”

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