Page 30 of A Knight To Call My Own
“I am coming,” she replied and made her way around the barrier protecting her from his prying eyes. She was almost surprised to see he still had his back turned. When she neared him, he at last faced her to take hold of her elbow, as if the rope was not enough to ensure her captivity.
“I pray you do not request another reprieve from our course this day, my lady, for I am done stopping every five minutes with another sorry excuse passing from your lips,” he all but mocked her, and she knew, without any doubt, he had divined the game she had been attempting to play. ’Twas too bad she had obviously failed to execute her part well enough to outwit him.
“Let go of me, you brute,” she sneered. She could tell her ruse to slow down their every move would no longer be tolerated. Looking into his eyes, she could have sworn he had a look upon his face that appeared as if he was indeed impressed with her stamina to keep trying to escape. It quickly changed, and she liked not the gleam that entered his black, menacing eyes.
Afore she could make any form of protest, Lynet was shocked to feel herself harshly yanked up against his body as he captured her arms at her sides in a steely grip. Her head barely met his chest. Her hands hung useless at her sides so she was unable to do anything other than gasp at the contact of their bodies. She tried to calm her breathing, since the last thing she needed was to have her chest heaving in and out, further tempting his arousal. She was afraid to even move, lest he have other ideas in mind than just holding her. She already could tell where his thoughts had led, considering she could feel his rigid manhood pressed intimately against her.
Her mouth opened to voice her displeasure only to snap shut when the unmistakable sound of a snapping twig echoed in the quiet air. ’Twas not hard to miss such a crunch, given the atmosphere around them afore such a racket had been thick with noiseless tension.
She abruptly found herself tossed behind the giant wall of Calum’s back. She gasped when his fist dug hard into her belly as he made a grab for the rope at her waist. She began to squirm to try and look around him so she, too, could see what had caused such a clamor.
“Be still,” he hissed, giving the rope a hard tug and almost causing her to lose her footing.
“I will be more than happy to, if you would but release me and take your leave. I am more than capable to find my way home,” Lynet purred with sarcasm.
“Shut your mouth, and be silent, else I will be obliged to stuff a rag in your trap. I have had enough of you this day.”
She shoved at his back. He barely moved as he continued to listen intently to their surroundings. And then, she heard it. Slanting her head, Lynet strained to ensure ’twas not just her imagination playing a cruel jest upon her. But, nay…she heard it, yet again, and there was no mistaking the sound this time. ’Twas the softest whistle, sounding much like the trill of a nightingale. How many times in her youth had she heard such a familiar song? ’Twas the most beautiful melody she had ever heard, for the tune practically called out her name.
She tried not to show her eagerness when she raised her head to view Calum. He appeared as if he heard nothing out of the ordinary with the staccato sounds of the chirping bird, even though he roughly grabbed her arm, forcing her to follow him at a brisk pace.
For the first time since her capture, Lynet’s face lit up with pleasure, for she knew something that, apparently, her abductor did not. Male nightingales generally sang out their song to call and attract a mate or to protect their territory. The birds generally only warbled in the eve, or just afore the break of dawn. Since the sun was still up, and night had as yet to descend upon them, it could only mean two things. God had answered her prayers, and, even more importantly, Ian was at last near.
Chapter Sixteen
Ian tossed Connor a silent glare. If he could have pummeled the man for his stupidity, he would have done so, but he knew how the sound would carry in the air like the sharpest clap of thunder resounding across the land.
“I am verra sorry, me laird,” the Highlander muttered.
“Do ye ken what ye are doin’ wit’ yer feet, ye clod?” Angus replied sharply.
Ian raised himself from his crouched position behind the tree as he watched his lady from afar. The element of surprise quickly vanishing afore his very eyes, he watched in dismay when Lynet’s abductor began a fast pace to return to his encampment. Calum of the Duncan clan…he would not have expected him, of all people, to be the ruffian to have stolen his wife. He had thought the man to be determined to win himself a bride, but never foolish enough to take someone from the care of Dristan of Berwyck.
“We must needs hurry if we are to catch them afore they return to his camp,” Rolf voiced what was already running rapidly through Ian’s own thoughts. The older knight flicked his wrist towards the three guards who had followed him from Berwyck and gave a motion towards his eyes for them to be on the lookout.
“Aye,” Ian agreed with a grim expression. “He is sure to have plenty of reinforcements to thwart our plans to free Lynet. Let us away.”
Seven men against who knew how many? The odds of success were certainly not in their favor this day. The urge to follow and protect Lynet surged through Ian’s veins like fire as he moved rapidly across the forest floor. They had not gone far when a disturbing shriek rent the air. Ian charged ahead. All thoughts of remaining silent were now gone, hearing the distressed cry of his wife.
He came upon them, but Calum was too busy to notice he was no longer alone. He held Lynet by her wrist whilst she was doing her best to try to pry his fingers from her bleeding limb. A trail, formed from her slippers, showed in the dirt beneath her feet where Calum had been dragging her against her will.
Ian burst from the cover of the trees into the small open area, despite the fact he could hear Calum’s men in camp within close proximity. All patience he may have had was gone seeing another touching his lady, and he could no longer hold back, nor make any further attempt to remain unheard whilst he rescued her.
“Get your damn hands offmywife!” Ian yelled as he drew his claymore from behind his back. The blade gleamed, as though Ian’s anger were reflected in the shining silver metal.
Calum gave a menacing glare, although, he let his guard down momentarily, to show he was surprised Ian claimed the lady in such a final manner. “Your wife?” he asked and turned his attention back to the woman at his side. “It appears, you have not told me all, my lady.”
“’Twas none of your business,” she announced with a defiant toss of her beautiful head. Ian had never seen her look so glorious in her state of fury, and he thought on how he would not wish to be on the receiving end of such a gaze.
Her blue eyes displayed her resentment of her captor ’til she turned her attention to Ian, and her whole countenance transformed to one of pure joy. Ian’s heart gave a little flip, knowing such a look was for him alone. The distance separating them ceased to exist in his mind whilst they had eyes only for each other. Lynet gave him a smile that silently spoke she had all the confidence in him that he would free her, and, by God, he would not let her down.
“Eh gads, I have no desire, or time, to watch two lovesick fools,” Calum said gruffly. “It seems, I have nothing left to lose, and you leave me no choice, but to fight for the coin you would bring me.”
Afore any could stop him, Calum pulled Lynet most unwillingly into his arms, and Ian watched as the man’s mouth ground onto the lips of his woman. His control snapped at their contact as though ’twere an erupting volcano erupting spewing hot molten lava high into the air. Lynet began squirming in order to free herself. Their brief kiss over, Calum let out a fierce battle cry to alert those nearby that aid was needed. Ian lunged ahead with only one thought in mind. He was going to kill the miserable whoreson for taking such a liberty with his wife!
~***~
“Bloody hell!” Rolf swore afore he, too, joined into the fray. Men seemed to pour from the woods like an army of ants attacking a food source. Clearly, they were outnumbered.
