Page 18 of Taken By the Heartless Highlander
Noah had many friends in the neighboring clans. If he needed a place to run to, he hadCarraig a’ Chuain, where his grandparents lived. He could also flee to Amelia, swallow his pride, and ask Jack for help.
The more he dwelled on it through the long night, the more he realized how limited Keira’s options could be. Her livelihood was in this village, and it was miles to the closest town. Where else would she go?
By midnight, he was convinced she was in danger.
Much to Callum’s dismay, he had saddled Mac and ridden around the forest to the highest point of the valley to see if there was any movement in the village. He had not wished to ride onto Donaldson land without good reason. As soon as he had reached the spot, he had seen the pyre being built in the village square as the dawn light rose over the hill.
He had spurred Mac onward and ridden at a gallop to get there in time.
“By chance,” he replied quietly. “I was passin’ through.”
Keira’s eyes widened at the lie, but she did not question him further. After another few moments to gather herself, she finally pushed to her feet, with the help of her brother.
Noah kept his sword drawn, looking about them. The villagers appeared to have fled in the aftermath of the aborted burning. He could see a few faces looking out of their windows at him, but one could never be too careful.
He turned to Scott, who had a protective arm around his sister.
“Do ye still have that donkey?” he asked, and Scott nodded in reply. “Get it and bring it to me horse; he is under the trees at the back of the village.” He turned to Keira, who eyed him curiously. “Ye’re all comin’ with me.”
The twins ambled away, Scott holding Daisy’s hand and leading her gently back to the cottage. Noah kept his eyes on them until they were out of sight. Keira had been right; her brother was a capable young man, but they were not among friends here.
He turned back to his charge, who was looking more exhausted than when he had rescued her the morning before. There were dark circles beneath her eyes. He could only imagine the horrors she had experienced, spending a night wherever they had stashed her, listening to the pyre being built outside.
She leaned heavily against a fence post, breathing deeply. He came over to assess what damage he could, lifting her wrists in his hands, frowning at the dark red bruises where they had been bound.
“Are ye hurt anywhere else?” he asked darkly, but she shook her head.
He rubbed his thumbs over the bruises on her wrists, and she gave a small moan of relief that sent an unwanted bolt of heat through his whole body. He hurriedly let her go.
“Why would ye return here?” he asked angrily.
She shivered in the cold morning light, staring back at the pyre behind them; it was like something out of a horrible nightmare.
She glanced at him, something unreadable in her gaze as she sighed, running a finger through her disordered hair.
“I thought they would be asleep. I thought we could slip out when dawn broke. But they were waitin’ for us in me cottage.” She glanced in the direction her brother and sister had gone. “I plan to leave Scotland for good,” she said decisively. “I have been lookin’ into it for a long time, and everythin’ is arranged, but the ship doesnae leave these shores for another month.”
He watched her fingers running through her hair, her elegant hands black with smoke and grazed all over from fighting for her life.
“Ye cannae stay here, lass,” he growled, “ye will come and stay at me castle for the month until the ship leaves.”
Keira stared at him like he had lost his mind.
Perhaps I have,he thought despairingly.
“Ye’ll have me protection whether ye like it or nae, lass. And trust me, I dinnae like it either.”
CHAPTER9
Before she really thought aboutit , Keira threw her arms around Laird MacAllen’s neck.
She did not know whether it was the relief of knowing she would finally be away from the villagers or the knowledge that she was safe. All she was certain of was that he was saving her life.
She had not felt safe since her parents had died. Moving to the village was meant to be the beginning of a new life for them all—instead it had almost been the end.
For the first time she would be able to take a breath, regroup, and plan for a brighter future.
Her arms were only around his neck for a second or so, but the laird tensed considerably. His arms came up as though to return the embrace, but at the last second, his fingers closed gently over her arms and pulled her away from him.
