Page 10 of The Highlander Who Loved Me
He moved back a single step, just enough that she could clear her head. “Ye need to trust me.”
“Unfortunately, I do not see it that way. You’ve only served to complicate my affairs.”
“Complicate your affairs?” He cocked a brow. “I saved yer life.”
“I had matters well in hand.”
He stowed her knife in his coat. “Is that so?”
“Of course. We had an arrangement.”
“Those dogs don’t honorarrangements. They know violence, and they know greed. Nothing more. We need to leave. Now.” He eyed the bag in her hand. “What’s in this, the queen’s jewels?”
Stepping closer, she fought to strip the emotion from her tone, from her features. “In a manner of speaking.”
He reached for the valise. “Whatever ye’ve got in this fancy bag, it’s safer with me.”
The cocky gleam in his eyes might have been appealing if she didn’t feel as though her heart was being torn in half. Of course, he didn’t know about that. He didn’t know about Laurel.
Or did he?
Suspicion snaked through her belly, barbed and ugly. She couldn’t hide her fear, but she refused to retreat again.
“I am afraid I must disagree.”
His eyes flashed. “Ye don’t trust me.”
“Not in the least.”
He inclined his head toward the men splayed on the ground. “Do ye at least trust me more than those two louts?”
“To be perfectly frank, I have no reason to harbor any faith in you. I had dealings with these men—a matter of great urgency. I can only hope the damage your interference has caused is not beyond repair.”
“Any business ye had with the likes of them would only end one way.”
“You’ve no way of knowing the nature of my business with these men, nor what the outcome would be. Even pirates have a code of honor.”
“Those men are not bluidy pirates.” MacMasters flung open the door of the carriage. “Get in and I’ll take us away from this hellhole.”
“No.” She steeled her voice and her spine. “I’m not leaving this place with you.”
“I’m not giving ye a choice.”
“Very well.” With a sigh for effect, she turned as if to enter the coach. “I suppose I’m only wasting precious time avoiding the inevitable.”
MacMasters went to the carriage horse, releasing it from its tether. Finally. The chance she’d needed.
Quietly hoisting herself to the driver’s bench, she snatched up the long gun and stepped down to the pavement. One blow with the heavy weapon had been enough to send Munro into an involuntary slumber. Surely this man’s skull could be no thicker.
MacMasters didn’t turn to look at her as he untangled the horse’s reins. “Ye need to get in the coach. We’ve no time to—”
He tilted his head just as the stock plunged toward him.
“Bollocks.” The word was little more than a grunt.
He jerked away.
Crunch.The gun slammed into his shoulder.
