Page 19 of Keeping Kate
Moments later, she returned to sit beside Ian Cameron, whose breath had deepened to dozing. Leaning back, she closed her eyes, and for the first time in days, felt safe and began to relax.
“Lass.”A soft growl, a gentle touch. “Lass.”
Startled, she gasped awake. Ian Cameron patted her arm. “Guards are coming.”
Nodding, she heard footsteps and male voices. She sat straighter, senses alert.
One voice, deep and calm among them—she knew its owner. As the men came into partial view beyond the iron bars, she saw Captain Fraser standing with the guards. He turned, saw her, and his piercing gaze gave her a soft shock of recognition, anticipation, alarm. He stood with other men in the corridor, looking directly at her while the others spoke in low tones.
Then Colonel Grant emerged from the shadows followed by four dragoons, all in the red and cream uniforms that she had come to hate. Fraser was the only one in the red coat and black and green plaid of the Highland Watch. Yet he was a red soldier too, she thought, and one of them. She wished she could hate him with equal acrimony.
A guard produced a set of heavy iron keys and came forward to unlock the cell door to pull it open. Kate reached out, gripped Ian’s wrist. He took her hand. A few feet away, Hobb MacDow woke too, sitting up, rubbing his head.
“What the de’il is this! Cameron, lad—”
“I know.” Ian spoke in English this time.
Two of the dragoons entered, filling the cell. One of them held stout iron chains and a set of manacles. Kate gasped and pressed her back to the wall, frightened, not wanting to be chained again. Beside her, Ian sat and watched the men calmly.
“Ian Cameron,” one soldier announced. “You will come with us.”
Kate looked at Ian in sudden alarm. She had not expected that. He looked up. “And where is it I am going?”
“Edinburgh,” Grant answered, stepping into the cell. “Your trial date will be set soon by the Court of Justiciary. Likely you will be executed.”
“A bit hasty to pronounce sentence without trial, Colonel.” Fraser came to the door. “Mr. Cameron, you are to be interviewed by the Lord Justice Clerk, who will determine if you will be tried before the bar in the Court of Justiciary. You will have a chance to speak on your behalf. An advocate can be appointed for you if you prefer. Execution is not guaranteed,” he added. “You can expect to be held for a length of time in Edinburgh, or perhaps sent elsewhere to await a sentence.”
“Aye.” Ian stood, taking his time to come to his full and impressive height. Kate stood too, feeling small in the crowd of tall and robust men. Her heart pounded with dread for her new and already dear friend. She would not look at Fraser.
“Come with us, Mr. Cameron,” Grant said.
Two dragoons took Ian’s arms and placed iron manacles around his wrists, while one of them bent to attach cuffs and chains around on his ankles. He did not resist, though the dragoons seemed to anticipate it, even encourage it with rough handling. Fraser stepped inside the cell too, standing by as if to help if necessary.
Kate went to Ian’s side to take hold of Ian’s broad arm. “Iain mo caran,”she said, “Ian my dear friend, how can I help?”
The Highlander looked down at her, while the dragoons locked the irons around his thick wrists and added another length of chain to join the ankle and wrist bracelets.
“Get away from here however you can, my friend,” he answered in low, rapid Gaelic. “Bring my greetings to the Highland hills before I am dead.”
She caught back a sob and hugged his arm. “You will be fine—you will be free!”
“Get away from him,” Grant snapped, shoving her so hard that she stumbled against the nearby wall.
Fraser muttered something and stepped forward, reaching for Kate. At the same time, Cameron lunged for the colonel with a roar. The dragoons grabbed hold of the Highlander, dragging him toward the door. Fraser took Kate’s arm and pulled her out of the way of the commotion.
“Are you hurt?” he asked.
She shook him off. “Leave me be. Ian!” She ran to the door.
Cameron turned. “A kiss, one touch of magic,” he said in Gaelic. He leaned down and touched his mouth to hers in a fast, poignant kiss. He gave her a little smile as the soldiers took his arms again.
“Ach Dhia,Ian,” Kate whispered.
Cameron looked at Fraser. “You watch after her. She can trust no one else. I give you charge over her.”
Fraser nodded, stepping forward to stand beside Kate. As the others led Ian away, Fraser touched her elbow gently. It felt like a reassurance, a promise. As he walked past to follow the others out of the cell, he did not look back. The quick, subtle contact had sent pleasant shivers through her that lingered, even as one of the guards clanged the iron door shut and locked it.
Kate stood in the middle of the cell, watching as Ian went out of sight. Grant left with them, but Fraser stayed, murmuring with the guards. She drew a long breath.
