Page 56 of The Highlander's Auctioned Bride
It was as though time stood still as she watched the bow release the arrow and she had seconds with which to act. She tugged violently on the horse’s reins as she felt the arrowhead slice through her upper thigh.
“Come on, girl,” she screamed at the horse.
She saw the man latching another arrow to his bow as she galloped away, striking the horse’s flanks again and again, no clue as to where she was headed, except to escape!
“I believe I could agree to these terms,” Abingdon said.
He was a thickly set man with a square jaw and a large bulbous nose. His cheeks were reddened from too much wine, and his eyes were small and pig-like. James knew Abingdon was desperate to have the Campbells off his land. They had been a nuisance since his father’s time, and his offer was more than fair.
Harris stood stoically by the doors of the great hall of Abingdon Castle, watching the proceedings, one hand on his sword.
“Ye will only lose thirty hectares of land between us with the change, and the Campbells will regain their status as MacLennan tenants.”
“Very well,” Abingdon said, raising a hand as James shook it. “Ye’re a fool to take them on, but I’ll happily relinquish them.”
James nodded, as they both stood.
Turning away, James met Harris at the door. As they made their way back to their horses and left the castle, they both exchanged a look.
“Will it work, dae ye think?” Harris asked.
James shrugged. “I dinnae ken, but it’s worth a try. The sons have been gettin’ along until now. If they can bury their disagreement once and for all and we can welcome them into our clan, it should allow everythin’ to simmer down.”
“It was a good idea.”
“It was Maisie’s,” James replied evasively, and Harris chuckled.
“I kent she would be the makin’ of ye.”
“Ye hold yer tongue,” James replied with a wry grin, but Harris’s words stirred something inside him.
Perhaps he’s right.
The sun was low in the sky over the heather all about them. The tufts of purple flowers were popping up everywhere as they cantered back toward Caste MacLennan.
James had always had good relations with Abingdon, and he had never been more grateful for that as they returned. It was easy to forget how close to his border his lands came and how many wars his father had fought to find peace.
As they trotted through the gates of the courtyard, bantering happily back and forth, there was a shout from the castle entrance.
Harris suddenly became alert and sat up in his saddle. James followed his gaze to see Jean running towards them in the gathering darkness.
“What is it, Jean?” Harris asked, forgetting himself enough to use her Christian name.
“It is Her Ladyship, m’laird,” Jean said as she looked up at James. “She is nowhere to be found.”
James tamped down the immediate bolt of panic and thought logically about where she could be.
“Have ye looked in the library, onevery shelfbecause that woman is known to get lost in her books?”
Jean shook her head. “I’ve looked everywhere, m’laird, the stable hand said she took Lily out shortly after ye left.”
James looked at Harris, his concern not improved by the worry on his face.
“Ye’re sure?”
“Aye,” Jean said, pointing to a young boy with his back to them a little further along by the stables. “Lucas said she left and hasnae returned.”
James turned Kenzie around. “Send word immediately if she returns, and keep watch for her,” he said. “I’ll go to the town, maybe she went back to the bookshop.”
